A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Scrap metal value leading to surge in Donegal car robberies
A Garda inspector has confirmed a surge in the value of scrap metal is the reason behind a number of second-hand cars being stolen in east Donegal recently.
Insp Pat O’Donnell said criminals are actively scouting for vehicles parked outside houses and along roads that they can steal and sell for scrap in Northern Ireland.
Old cars can command a scrappage fee of about €100. Gardaí are investigating a series of such thefts recently in the Letterkenny, Drumkeen and Ballybofey areas.
The latest incident took place in Letterkenny last Wednesday evening when an unused 95DL-registered Opel Corsa was stolen from outside a house in the Glendale Manor estate.
That car was taken some time between 4pm and 8pm.
Hearing date set for IMF protester
A man arrested at Government Buildings during protests against the IMF bailout appeared in court yesterday to have a hearing date set.
Raymond Walker (42), Sherrard Street Lower, Dublin, had been arrested during protests on November 21st last while standing in front of a car carrying Minister for Tourism, Mary Hanafin on Merrion Street.
He was charged with obstructing a garda, interfering with the passage of a vehicle and engaging in threatening behaviour.
Murder trial set to begin this week
A 20-year-old man is due to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court on Friday accused of murdering another man four years ago.
Jonathan Fitzgerald, who has an address at South Claughan Road, Garryowen, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Noel Crawford at O’Malley Park in 2006.
Crawford (40) was shot on December 18th of that year.
The trial, expected to take up to three weeks, is due to get under way before Mr Justice Barry White on Friday.