A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Warm weather to continue over weekend
One of the warmest Aprils on record is set to continue over the weekend with temperatures again set to reach more than 20 degrees in some parts of the country, writes Mark Rodden.
Met Éireann said this April is set to be one of the warmest on record in many parts of the country.
20 years for smuggling cocaine
A man who was involved in the transportation of cocaine valued at nearly €900,000 has been given 20 years in consecutive sentences by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Keith Mason (32), of Ruairi O'Connor House, Dublin 1, and a Nigerian co-accused, Issa Okin (31), of Westwood Court, Mary Street, Tralee, pleaded guilty to possession of the cocaine for sale or supply on February 14th, 2006. Okin was given a 10-year jail term, with two years suspended.
3,000 counterfeit DVDs seized
A total of 3,000 counterfeit DVDS and 60 imitation pellet guns were seized by gardaí in Co Longford yesterday, writes Mark Rodden.
The goods were found at five properties around Edgesworthstown by gardaí and Irish National Federation Against Copyright Theft personnel. Gardaí said the DVDs were valued at €80,000.
Call to prioritise drug problem
The next government needs to give greater priority to the problems of drugs in society, a pre-election conference was told yesterday, writes Ronan McGreevy. Representatives from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin attended the debate hosted by the Merchants Quay Ireland Project.
Man dies after stabbing in Belfast
A man died in hospital yesterday after a stabbing incident in south Belfast.
The man, believed to be in his late 50s, suffered stab wounds at Grays Park Drive in the Belvoir area.