A round-up of today's other news in brief
Naval divers join search for teenager
The search for missing teenager Conal Owens will continue to focus on the most hazardous areas of the Curracloe, Co Wexford, landscape as it enters its seventh day today. Naval divers yesterday joined the search for the 18-year-old from Kilteel, Co Kildare, who went missing near Curracloe beach late on New Year's Eve. The divers yesterday searched channels in the area, which can be up to 10ft deep in places.
Up to 35 friends had travelled to Curracloe to ring in the new year at a holiday home owned by the family of one of Conal's friends. After they had gathered on the beach, Conal became separated from them.
Belfast woman dies of rabies
A woman who contracted rabies while abroad died in hospital tonight, her family said. Lisa McMurray had been in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital since the condition was diagnosed last month.
Her death was confirmed in a statement from her family.
She had been in Africa a number of times over the last couple of years but began to feel unwell after being home for several months. It is thought she contracted the virus, which is invariably fatal, after being bitten by a rabid dog.
It is believed she may have been infected as far back as December 2006 wile working in an animal sanctuary in South Africa - she sent home emails at the time detailing how she had been scratched while separating two dogs.
Worker killed in factory named
A worker killed in an accident at a Co Waterford chicken processing plant has been named as a 22-year-old Polish man who was engaged to be married.
The Health and Safety Authority is investigating the death of Thomaz Klodnicki at Cappoquin Chickens on Monday morning. He was discovered in a "chill room" shortly before 9am on Monday, according to gardaí in Dungarvan. Sources suggest he died after pallets fell on him as he operated a forklift.
Major cannabis seizure in Lusk
Gardaí have seized €2 million worth of cannabis in a raid in north Co Dublin. The drugs were discovered during a search of a transport company in Lusk yesterday at about 9am. A 47-year-old man was arrested and is being questioned by gardaí at Balbriggan. He can be held for up to a week.
The 300kgs of the drug were packed into fertiliser bags and potato sacks in the warehouse of a small haulage firm off the old Belfast Road. Gardaí believe the drugs are linked to a Dublin criminal gang.
Teenager killed after car hits wall
A 17-year-old has died following a single vehicle crash on the Oldcastle to Loughcrew road Co Meath at 11.30pm on Monday. The road is just off the R154. He was the driver and sole occupant of a car that crashed into a wall.
Blackout blamed on cold weather
About 1,000 households in Galway city were affected by an electricity blackout last night following a fault in the ESB Salthill line. A spokesman said increased demand during the cold weather had put a strain on the system. The ESB said it had warned Galway City Council that three consecutive days of cold could lead to power cuts. An upgrade of the system is now taking place, he said.
Gunman robs bank branch
An undisclosed sum of money was taken during an armed raid on Ulster Bank in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, yesterday morning. A man armed with a handgun held up the bank on George's Street shortly before 11am.