In Short

A roundup of today's other news stories in brief

A roundup of today's other news stories in brief

Court rules interview inadmissible

A Garda interview of a father of 10 accused of IRA membership was ruled inadmissible by the Special Criminal Court yesterday because the defendant was so ill he was at risk of a stroke.

Dr Conall Cooper was giving evidence in the trial of Art Sherwin (55), of Ballinagappa Road, Clane, Co Kildare, who denies membership of an illegal organisation.

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Dr Cooper said that when he called to the Garda station, the accused complained of a splitting headache and neck pain. When he measured Mr Sherwin's blood pressure, he discovered it was extremely high.

The court found the interview was not admissible because the accused was unable to concentrate on the questions.

The trial continues.

Department backs Donegal bridge

The Department of the Environment has given the go-ahead for the construction of the biggest bridge in Co Donegal. Donegal County Council has been authorised by the department to accept the tender of Ascon Limited to build a €17.5 million bridge across Mulroy Bay in the north of the county.

Niall Blaney TD, who has spearheaded the campaign for the bridge, said the project "will bring an injection of life to areas which have been dwindling in population".Construction of the 350m bridge, connecting the Rosguill and Fanad peninsulas, will start next year and it is due to be completed by 2009.

Yeats exhibition wins award

The National Library of Ireland has won a major award for its current exhibition, "WB Yeats and His Times".

The Interpret Britain and Ireland Award was presented on behalf of the British-based Association for Heritage Interpretation to National Library director Aonghus Ó hAonghusa at a ceremony in Bristol recently by heritage campaigner and broadcaster Lloyd Grossman.

The citation praised the exhibition's use of diverse means, particularly information technology, to provide an "outstanding experience" for visitors.