Today's other Irish news in brief
Funeral of retired judge Conor Maguire
The funeral took place yesterday of the retired judge and European Commission official Conor Maguire. He had also served as chairman of the Censorship of Films Appeal Board.
From being a judge of the Circuit Court in Dublin he went to Brussels as a legal expert in EEC headquarters. He was later appointed head of the European Commission office in Dublin.
After his retirement Mr Maguire became well-known among jazz fans as presenter of the RTÉ Radio programme featuring big band music, In the Mood. He died peacefully in a nursing home in Wicklow and is survived by his wife Katriona, three children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His requiem Mass and burial took place in Brittas Bay yesterday.
Coastal search for missing man
A search is continuing in a coastal area of Co Wexford for a man who went missing on New Year's Eve.
The 18-year-old, who was named locally as Conal Owens of Naas, Co Kildare, became separated from his friends as they walked near Curracloe beach at approximately 10pm.
He spoke to the other members of the group by mobile phone shortly afterwards but has not been seen since.
Tourists rescued from mountain
A party of four Dutch tourists who became lost on New Year's Day while trekking on a remote mountain route in Co Mayo were eventually located by rescuers after they had called for assistance.
According to Mayo Mountain Rescue Team, which located the walkers, the four were "cold, hungry and tired" after their ordeal but were otherwise uninjured and in good spirits.
Gardaí requested assistance from the mountain rescue unit after receiving a distress call at about 5pm from the group while they were negotiating what is known as the Letterkeen Loop walking trail in the Nephin Beg mountains.
Robbery of jewellery shop
Gardaí in Tralee, Co Kerry, have appealed for information after a robbery of a jewellers in the town centre in which precious gems and rings were stolen.
Shortly after 10.30am yesterday a number of men armed with what is believed to be iron bars burst into John Ross jewellers in Castle Street. Staff were left shaken after being forced to hand over two trays of rings. The estimated value is at least €20,000.
Raiders assault restaurant chef
Raiders armed with an iron bar assaulted a chef at a Wexford town restaurant on New Year's Day as horrified customers looked on.
The chef was struck over the head with a table and hit in the arm and hand with an iron bar as he tried to move the two men away from the busy Potato Market restaurant on Crescent Quay.
The two men forced their way in and demanded money from head chef Mohammed El Nashar. However, the chef told them there was no money in the office and managed to trick the men into believing he was leading them to the till as he calmly ushered them outside on to the street and closed the door behind them.
They then began to attack the door and windows outside the restaurant in an attempt to get back in so the chef went out and asked them to leave. They then set upon him. Gardaí responding to a customer's call arrested the men.
Hospital visits curtailed by bug
Because of a suspected outbreak of the winter vomiting bug at Mullingar Regional Hospital, the HSE has advised relatives to keep visits to a minimum and for those with nausea or other symptoms to contact the hospital by phone.