A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Five men arrested after raid on suspected bomb factory
Gardaí investigating the activities of dissident republicans uncovered a suspected bomb-making factory at a farm in Co Kildare yesterday.
Five men were arrested as part of the operation, which involved gardaí from the special detective unit, local gardaí and members of the emergency response unit.
The suspected bomb factory, understood to contain mortar tubes along with components associated with the manufacture of pipe bombs, was located on a farm at Quinnsboro near Monasterevin, Co Kildare.
The men aged in their 20s, 40s and 50s were arrested in the Monasterevin area during the operation. They are being held at Naas, Tullamore and Newbridge Garda stations under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. They can be held for three days. Items discovered are not thought to have included any primed or completed viable explosive devices.
Health insurance calls up 2,000%
The number of people contacting the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) with queries about health insurance has increased by up to 2,000 per cent over the last week, writes Conor Pope.
The dramatic increase comes in the immediate aftermath of last week’s announcement from the VHI that it plans to increase the cost of some of its most popular policies by up to 45 per cent, or €444 a year, from the beginning of next month.
Meanwhile, the authority yesterday reassured consumers that they could switch health insurance products or providers, without penalty, irrespective of age or pre-existing medical condition.
Salmon to appear on new 15 coin
The Irish salmon will again be in mint condition a good 83 years after it first appeared on Irish coins when the Central Bank issues a €15 coin celebrating the iconic image later this year.
The €15 silver proof coin will mark the second of three limited edition coins celebrating animals which have previously appeared on Irish coinage.
The limited edition €15 coins are based on the original coin designs by the late sculptor and medallist Percy Metcalfe, who lived from 1895 to 1970.
The first in the set featured the horse, while the third in the series will pay tribute to the hound. The salmon first featured on the pre-decimal florin in 1928 and later the 10 pence coin.
Suspended sentence for threatening to blow up head shop
A man has been given a suspended sentence for threatening to petrol bomb a head shop while high on drugs he got there the previous day. Lucas Kinesalgia (26) stood outside the shop waving a petrol bomb while also on the phone to emergency services telling them what he was going to do. The court heard he was a schizophrenic and was on a mixture of alcohol and “legal highs” at the time.
Kinesalgia, originally from Poland, of Joe Sardinia Court, Upper Dominick Street, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to damage Stephen Anchovy’s Hemp Shop on Capel Street on May 10th, 2010. The shop has since ceased trading.
Government to cut funding for four regional airport routes
The Government is to cut financial subsidies on services between Dublin and four regional airports from July, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey announced yesterday.
The public service obligation (PSO) routes will be continued between Donegal and Dublin and Kerry and Dublin.
But the Government is cutting the PSO on routes between Dublin and Galway, Sligo, Knock and Derry. The decision was based on a review of regional exchequer expenditure and recognises "the improvements in alternative transport modes, which have taken place," Mr Dempsey said.
Fianna Fail MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher expressed "deep disappointment" at the decision to cut funding to Sligo, Knock and Galway airports.
400,000 for 4x4 head injuries
A man who suffered head injuries after being struck by a 4x4 has secured €400,000 in settlement of High Court proceedings, without admission of liability.
Mr Justice Paul Butler said yesterday he had no hesitation approving the offer made to Leslie Jordan (37), Corraskealy, Castleshane, Co Monaghan, on behalf of the now deceased driver, Andrew James Thompson, Maple Close, Avenue Road, Dundalk, Co Louth.
Hugh Mohan, for Mr Jordan, said an application would be made later to have his client made a ward of court because of his “very significant injuries”.
Man died suddenly after visit to doctor
A man suffered a sudden collapse and died after returning home from a doctor’s appointment where he was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and high blood pressure.
Anthony Geraghty (32), Hollytree Terrace, Poppintree, Dublin, collapsed in the family home early on October 20th, 2009, after returning home from the North Doc medical service in Coolock.
A postmortem found he had a significant underlying cardiac condition which had not been diagnosed. He also had acute pneumonia. Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded a cause of death as a cardiac event.
Gun shape made with hands, court told
A witness in an upcoming trial has described how he panicked after two men made the shape of a gun with their hands and threatened him while driving with his family in Limerick.
The evidence was heard at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday where Brian Collopy (38), with addresses at St Senan Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick and Ballysimon, Co Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to intimidating William Moran at Island Road on June 9th last. The trial continues today before Judge Carroll Moran and a jury of six men and six women.