A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
'Elaborate hoax' led to €
20,000 search operation in Tralee Bay
A major sea and shoreline search of Tralee Bay which was begun on Sunday night has proved to be what the authorities described as “a very elaborate hoax”.
The search, costing at least €20,000, was officially called off at 10am yesterday after naval sea riders from the LE Ciara made one last search of the area. The caller said a boat had run aground at the entrance to Barrow harbour. He said one of the crew members was attempting to swim ashore.
PJ Brick, press officer with Fenit RNLI, said it was an elaborate hoax, and that lives had been put at risk. However, he said people who genuinely believed they saw someone in trouble should not be discouraged from calling the emergency services. These were not hoax calls, but calls with good intent even if they turned out to be nothing.
Mother killed in school-run crash
A Co Limerick mother was killed when she crashed while driving her 10-year-old son to school.
The victim, named locally as Katherine McNabb (41), from Glenview Drive, Hospital, Co Limerick, died after her car hit an icy patch on the main road between Hospital and Herbertstown shortly after 9am.
The woman’s car left the road and collided with a wooden fence.
She was taken by ambulance to the Midwestern Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Her son survived without serious injuries. Witnesses are asked to contact gardaí in Bruff on 061-382940.
Aran swimmers raise funds for hospital
The Swim Aran Group has met Temple Street Children’s Hospital fundraising co-ordinator Aisling Andrews, who has accepted a cheque for €28,184.
The 13 participants braved high seas and Atlantic currents to swim from Inisheer beach to Doolin Pier on August 21st last.
Stringent safety measures were in place and each swimmer was shadowed by a kayak.