A round-up of today's other news stories in brief...
Rapist to remain in custody
A convicted rapist will know next Thursday if he is to be released from prison after completing eight years of a 16-year sentence for the rape of a 91-year-old woman.
Eamon Foley (48), from Castlederg, Co Tyrone, was convicted of raping Mary Anne McLaughlin in her home on the outskirts of the town nine years ago.
Four weeks after she was raped by Foley, Ms McLaughlin died.
Foley was due to have been released from Magilligan Prison in Co Derry on October 9th last, but he has been held in custody since then charged with breaching his release conditions by failing to supply the police with a suitable address at which he would reside.
An application for bail will be heard next Thursday.
Warrant for girl charged with theft
A bench warrant was issued at Dublin Children's Court yesterday for the arrest of a 16-year-old girl charged with stealing groceries at Christmas.
The girl was arrested for the theft of €259 worth of groceries from Dunnes Stores, in Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock, on December 23rd last.
Garda Glen Millar told Judge Gerard Haughton that after the girl was charged she made no reply and she was then released to appear in court yesterday. Neither the north Dublin girl nor any of her family were present yesterday when her case was called.
Horse passport discounts offered
Horse-owners have been urged by Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan to avail of cut-price equine passports being offered this month and next, writes Seán Mac Connell.
It is mandatory for all horses and donkeys to have a passport under EU regulations. During January and February the Irish Horse Board will reduce the fee charged for passports for horses without pedigree to €25 per animal, a reduction of 28 per cent.
The Irish Piebald and Skewbald Society will reduce the fee charged for passports for horses without pedigree, including a micro-chip, to €45 per animal, a reduction of 31 per cent.
Two escape Galway house fire
Two people escaped after a fire engulfed their house in Galway. The man and a woman were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. The fire caused serious damage to their house at Highfield in the west of the city.
Ballybofey bypass plans accelerate
Plans by Donegal County Council to build a €100 million Ballybofey and Stranorlar bypass took a major step forward yesterday with the publication of 289 compulsory purchase orders.
It is hoped that construction of the 16km (10-mile) dual carriageway can begin next year with works completed by early 2012. Ballybofey is currently a major bottleneck on the route between Letterkenny/Derry and Sligo.