A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Priest's warning to service performers
A Co Donegal priest has said he plans to expel musicians and photographers from his chapel if they don’t liaise with him before weddings and funerals.
Buncrana parish priest Fr John Walsh has banned all secular music during religious services and has also issued a warning to photographers and videographers.
“Photographers and video recordists can be a bit enthusiastic about where they position themselves, but I don’t want them standing in front of me when I’m marrying people,” he said. “While I would have great reservations about hurting bereaved people, there has to be liaison.”
Eight million cigarettes seized by Customs officers were counterfeit
Some eight million cigarettes found when Customs officers stopped and searched an articulated truck near the Dublin-Meath border on Wednesday night were counterfeit, it was confirmed yesterday.
The contraband was in a 40-ft container that came into Dublin Port. It was kept under surveillance by Customs officers from Dublin as it headed northwards on the M1 motorway.
Along with a second truck, it was stopped at the motorway toll plaza near Drogheda at about 9pm by Customs officers who had assistance from gardaí in Laytown.
A revenue spokesperson said the cigarettes had an estimated retail value of €3.4 million. Two men were arrested at the toll plaza. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.