A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Man may have fallen to his death in Sligo
Gardaí investigating the death of a man whose body was found in the centre of Sligo town early yesterday believe that he may have died as a result of a fall.
He was named last night as Muhammad Khalilur Bahman (49), a Bangladeshi national who had worked as a medical registrar at Sligo General Hospital for two years. His body was found lying face down with apparent head injuries shortly after 6am at Rockwood Parade beside the river Garavogue.
The area was sealed off for technical examination while detectives interviewed nearby residents.
State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy conducted a postmortem. Dr Bahman is believed to have been married with a young family.
Unofficial rail action at Galway
A lightning unofficial strike at Galway train station yesterday saw up to 250 passengers to Dublin delayed as the 3pm service was cancelled. Eleven employees walked out of the station at 2.45pm but had returned to work by 4pm.
Passengers were brought to Dublin by bus.
The unofficial action followed the dismissal of a staff member yesterday. After an emergency meeting between Iarnród Éireann and unions Siptu and the NBRU, it was decided that the individual would appeal.
Autobiography of Quinn is launched
The autobiography of former minister for finance Ruairí Quinn, Straight Left: A Journey Into Politics, was launched last night by broadcaster Olivia O'Leary.
Mr Quinn said he hoped the book would close the gap between the perception that the public had of politicians and the reality.
Palestinian delegate to move
The Palestinian delegate- general to Ireland, Ali Halimeh, is leaving next month to take up a new post as ambassador to South Africa, writes Deaglán de Bréadún, Foreign Affairs Correspondent. One of the most high-profile members of the diplomatic corps, Mr Halimeh took up office four years ago, following the sudden death of his predecessor, Yusuf Allan.
Previously ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Halimeh kept Middle East issues to the forefront of political debate in Ireland. The new posting is seen as a tribute to his work as a lobbyist for the Palestinian cause.
O'Reilly driving case adjourned
The widower of murdered Dublin woman Rachel O'Reilly appeared in Balbriggan District Court yesterday in relation to two driving offences, alleged to have taken place less than two months after her death.
The case against Joe O'Reilly for failure to produce a driving licence and insurance documents has been adjourned until October 13th.
Mr O'Reilly (33) was stopped by gardaí outside Balbriggan on November 23rd last. His wife was found dead at their home in the Naul in Dublin on October 4th last. No one has been charged with her murder.
Swim Ireland aware of claims
The national governing body for swimming last night said it was aware that gardaí were investigating allegations concerning the swimming pool at New Ross, Co Wexford.
Swim Ireland said that because the investigation was under way it would be inappropriate to comment.
30kg of cocaine seized in Dublin raid
Cocaine and a mixing agent weighing 30kg were seized following the search of an apartment in north Dublin by the Garda National Drugs Unit at 1.30pm yesterday. Gardaí believe 50kg of cocaine worth €5 million was delivered to the apartment recently, but much of it had been processed and distributed, writes Ali Bracken.
Some €30,000 in cash was also found during the raid.
The seizure was made at Addison Park, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, and one man was arrested at the scene. A second man was later arrested in relation to the seizure in the East Wall area of Dublin at 2.30pm.
The drugs and mixing agent are to be analysed at Garda headquarters. Last night the Garda press office said a street value was not yet known but that a high quantity of mixing agent was present.
Both men arrested are in their 30s.
School volunteers should be funded
The Department of Education should provide funding to train volunteers on school boards of management, a Dáil committee heard yesterday.
Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science, Fr Dan O'Connor, general secretary of the Catholic Primary School Management Association, said the department had removed all funding for training of boards, and since 2002 individual dioceses had provided the finance and the programme for training board members.
"We have requested Minister Hanafin to consider providing board training for 2005-07," he said.
Speaking on "Whole School Evaluation", Fr O'Connor said it should include the whole context of the challenges being coped with by pupils, parents and staff, to avoid discrimination against schools with a positive approach to pupils from ethnic minorities.