In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

Two arrested over attack on PSNI officer

A man and woman have been arrested in relation to the attempted murder of an off duty PSNI officer in Co Tyrone on Friday. They were arrested on Friday night and have been taken to the PSNI's serious crimes suite at Antrim police station for questioning. They can be held for 72 hours before being released or charged.

Four others who were earlier arrested in connection with the same attack in Spamount, near Castlederg, are still in police custody. An extension has been granted and they can now be held for a further four days.

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They were detained at various locations across Co Tyrone by officers investigating the booby-trap bombing of the officer's car in which he received serious lower body injuries. Four men arrested at different locations in Co Tyrone on Thursday morning, are still being held.

Dissident republicans have been blamed for the attack.

Drugs worth 150,000 seized

Two men are due to appear before the courts this morning in connection with the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of €150,000 in Dalkey, south Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

Gardaí from the Garda national drugs unit and Dún Laoghaire drugs unit stopped and searched a car on Corrig Road, Dalkey, at 3pm on Saturday. A Garda spokesman said they discovered a quantity of herbal cannabis during the search, and arrested the two occupants.

"In a follow-up search at a house at Corrig Road, a quantity of cocaine was recovered and a third man was arrested," he said.

The two men - aged 29 and 52 - will appear before Dún Laoghaire District Court at 10.30am in relation to the incident. The third man arrested in connection with the seizure has been released and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Cork homes lose power supply

Thousands of homes were without power in Cork city on Saturday following a major electrical fault.

Most traffic lights in the area have also failed due to the damage at three ESB sub stations on the north side of the city.

Heritage project for schools

More than 120,000 primary school children are expected to benefit from an expanded scheme which promotes outdoor learning and interaction with nature and heritage.

The "Heritage in Schools" programme is an initiative of the Heritage Council, which funds the majority of the costs. It is administered by the INTO.

As part of the expanded initiative, a new Heritage in Schools Directory, listing over 150 local environmental and heritage specialists by county, will be circulated to primary schools this month. Schools then select the heritage expert of their choice and book a visit with the INTO.

The overall budget for this year's scheme is €450,000. Schools will contribute about €80,000 of this, with reductions for disadvantaged schools.

Call to improve rural transport

Irish Rural Link, which campaigns on rural issues has claimed reducing the drink-driving limit could have serious consequences for mental health in remote towns and villages nationwide.

Formed in 1991, the group says transport links need to be improved before further cuts are made in the blood alcohol limit. The group supports efforts to improve road safety, but says members claim more and more people are choosing not to socialise in pubs because they have no viable means of getting home after having a drink. The group insists this is leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Irish Rural Link chief executive Séamus Boland says the problem needs to be addressed by Government as a matter of urgency.