A round-up of other news in brief...
Quinn calls on O'Donoghue to go
The Labour Party’s Ruairí Quinn TD yesterday called on Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue to resign over the “scandal” caused in relation to his foreign travel expenses and the staffing levels in his office.
Mr Quinn told Newstalk radio yesterday it was unacceptable for a figure who is supposed to be apolitical to have a “political adviser” and to have extra staff.
“I personally think that he, Deputy O’Donoghue, has caused scandal in this Republic and he should resign,” he said.
Mr Quinn also queried the actions by the independent Ceann Comhairle in “pumping up his office”.
Man to appeal murder conviction
A man jailed for at least 30 years for the murder of two teenage friends is to appeal his conviction, it emerged yesterday. Steven Leslie Brown (28) was jailed for the killings of David McIlwaine (18) and Andrew Robb (19) near Tandragee, Co Armagh in February 2000.
A judge who sentenced Brown described the murders as “among the most gruesome of the past 40 years in Northern Ireland”. Lawyers for Brown said yesterday they were seeking transcripts from the case as part of a planned challenge to the conviction. The case was adjourned until November when a date for the appeal application will be set.
Norris wins gay icon of year award
Senator David Norris has been named as the gay icon of the year in a new awards ceremony created by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation.
Mr Norris was awarded the Molly Malone Irish Gay Icon of the Year award, while Ivana Bacik received the Gay-Friendly Politician of the Year award at the inaugural annual Gay and Lesbian Awards, or Galas.
Person of the Year was jointly awarded to Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan, campaigners for marriage equality. The couple are awaiting a date for their Supreme Court appeal to a High Court ruling against their claim to have their marriage recognised.
Other winners included Rory O’Neill (aka Miss Panti) of Panti Bar who won the LGBT business award; Jackie McKeown, journalist of the year; Noel Walsh, volunteer of the year, and Mick Quinlan, who received the HIV campaigner award.
No short-term investment in DAB radio
Commercial broadcasters will not invest in a switch to digital radio in the short term, according to a new research report funded by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, writes John Collins.
RTÉ offers a digital radio service in most of Leinster, Cork and Limerick, based on the digital audio broadcasting (DAB) standard.
Commercial stations including Today FM, Newstalk and Radio Kerry took part in an RTÉ-organised trial which ran from 2007-08, but ceased broadcasting in DAB when it ended. Interviews with radio executives found the commercial sector favours investment in DAB+, a more advanced technology than DAB.
Newgrange solstice winners
Fifty lucky winners were drawn from 32,955 entries to be inside the chamber at the winter solstice at Newgrange this year.
The winners, who are from all over the world, along with a partner, will have the chance to see the passage and chamber of the 5,000- year-old mound illuminated this year.
Children from three local schools picked this year’s winners.