A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Hospital sued by patient with brain damage
A man who claims he has been left with irreversible brain damage because of negligence in his treatment at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin, has taken a High Court action for damages.
David Payne (44), a father of three, has sued St Vincent's Private Hospital at Herbert Avenue, Dublin, and a consultant cardiologist at the hospital, Ken McDonald, over his treatment in November 2000. The defendants deny the claims.
Tobacco firms seek dismissal of action
Three tobacco companies and the State have asked the High Court to dismiss claims for damages brought against them by a number of smokers on grounds that the "inordinate and inexcusable" delay in bringing the claims has prejudiced their entitlement to a fair trial.
The 17 smokers have sued the companies claiming damages for personal injuries due to alleged smoking-related illnesses. They claim the companies have known since about 1950 that cigarettes are harmful and addictive and had concealed and suppressed those harmful effects from the people of Ireland.
It is claimed the companies "marketed and designed cigarettes to reinforce their appeal and addictive properties to attract all people in Ireland including children". Such actions constituted "assault and battery".
The claim against the Minister for Health and the Attorney General is grounded on alleged failure by the State to effectively regulate the sale of tobacco products. The State should have known since 1942 that cigarettes were addictive and from 1950 ought to have known that they were harmful and likely to cause illnesses, it is claimed.
In preliminary motions yesterday, the hearing of which is expected to last several days, PJ Carroll & Co Ltd, Player and Wills Ireland Ltd, Gallaher (Dublin) Ltd, and the Minister for Health and Children, Ireland and the Attorney General applied to have the claims struck out on the basis that the "inordinate delay" in taking the proceedings had prejudiced the entitlement of the defendants to a fair trial.
Inquest into man's death adjourned
An inquest into the death of a man whose family has alleged he was murdered by a former IRA hitman was adjourned for a year yesterday because Garda inquiries into the death are continuing, writes Ali Bracken.
Joseph Rafferty (29), a Dublin courier and father of one, was shot dead outside his apartment in the Ongar Park estate, Blanchardstown, on April 12th, 2005, by a lone gunman.
His family claims he was shot dead by a former IRA hitman after becoming embroiled in a dispute with a family from the south inner city.
Mr Rafferty's family has accused Sinn Féin of shielding those who murdered him. They were invited to the White House last March to meet US president George Bush.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said he was satisfied no republican had anything to do with the murder.
The Rafferty family has also held talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte. It has also met a delegation from the Independent Monitoring Commission in Dublin.