A round-up of today's other home news, in brief
Stansted closure affects Ryanair fliers
Hundreds of passengers due to fly with Ryanair between Stansted Airport and Ireland yesterday had travel plans disrupted when a protest by climate change activists led to the closure of the runway.
Police arrested more than 50 protesters after they breached the perimeter fence around 3am and chained themselves together about 50m from the runway.
The members of the Plane Stupid group were protesting at British government proposals to expand Stansted and raise the number of flights from the airport. Their protest forced the runway to remain closed for three hours.
This resulted in delays and long queues at the airport yesterday due to cancellation of 52 Ryanair flights.
Presbyterian church vandalised
A Presbyterian church in Co Donegal faces a repair bill of up to €30,000 after a weekend arson attack on its community hall.
Vandals smashed through the door and set fire to a chair-lift for the disabled in the hall of the church in the village of St Johnston. The building was smoke-damaged.
Church member Ian McCracken said yesterday he did not believe the attack was sectarian. "I think it was vandalism, but unfortunately the vandalism seems to us to be a bit more directed towards Protestant property.''
New TV channel to be introduced
The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has signed a contract with City Channel Easter Europe for a new digital television channel targeting eastern European viewers in the Dublin area.
City 7, which is to be available on the UPC digital platform starting in the New Year, plans to offer niche programming. The station is to transmit programmes in areas such as health, music, motoring and lifestyle.
Trawler held over fishing rules
A trawler and its Spanish skipper and crew are under arrest in Killybegs, Co Donegal on suspicion of breaching EU and Irish fishing regulations.
Judge Kevin Kilrane at Donegal District Court yesterday granted gardaí permission to detain the vessel, the John-Loren, its master, Roberto Viqqeira, and crew for 48 hours while investigations into allegations of under-reporting the size of a catch continue.
Road deaths up despite campaign
Sizeable investment in road safety, including traffic calming measures and a strongly directed public safety awareness campaign, have failed to stem the tide of road deaths in Kerry, which have increased this year.
The rise in road deaths in Kerry in 2008 was "of very serious concern", said Charles O'Sullivan, the county council's director of transport. The number of deaths now stood at 19, just two fewer than the peak number of 21 two years ago, and four more than in 2007.
Lithuanian wins legal challenge
A Lithuanian man based in Co Tyrone today won a legal challenge against his initial agreement to being extradited back to eastern Europe.
Marc Ballan, who is wanted in the Baltic republic in connection with the alleged fraud of an ex-business partner, sought a judicial review after being refused permission to withdraw his consent. He claimed to have received inadequate legal advice from his first lawyer, and that returning to Lithuania could threaten his life.
Mr Ballan had been refused permission to withdraw consent by Belfast Recorder Judge Burgess. In the High Court Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr quashed the Recorder's decision and ruled that he was obliged to investigate whether Mr Ballan had given valid consent.