A roundup of today's other regional stories in brief
Attacker ordered to pay victim €25,000
A 25-year-old man who hit another man in the face with a drinking glass, leaving his face permanently scarred, has been ordered to pay €25,000 to his victim.
Darren Hughes (25), Lower Camass, Bruff, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty in Limerick Circuit Court to assault causing serious harm to Timothy O'Keefe at Houlihan's Bar, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, on June 6th 2007.
Judge Carroll Moran said he had taken into account the accused man's guilty plea, but said a sum of €15,000 paid to the victim was not adequate.
He increased the amount to €25,000.
Garda road death case adjourned
The case of a 19-year-old man charged in connection with the deaths of a garda and a fireman killed in a road crash in Co Limerick last year has been adjourned until next month.
Garda Brian Kelleher (46) and fireman Michael Liston (47) were both on duty and helping to clear an accident outside Foynes when they were killed on February 25th, 2007.
Niall Shannon from Lenamore, Ballylongford, Co Kerry, is charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of both men.
Yesterday at Limerick Circuit Court, State counsel John O'Sullivan asked that legal aid be extended to included a second legal counsel, a motor assessor and an engineer.
Judge Carroll Moran agreed to the request and adjourned the case until February 8th next.
TDs barred from planning section
TDs and Clare County Council members are to be barred from the non-public sections of the council's planning department, writes Gordon Deegan.
At the council's January meeting, a motion by Cllr Brian Meaney (Green) to have Clare's four Dáil deputies banned from access to non-public sections of the planning offices received support from his colleagues.
However, tense exchanges ensued after councillors were informed that the council executive was also planning to ban councillors from non-public sections on a trial period.
The opposition from councillors to the proposal prompted Clare mayor Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) to call a closed council meeting this Friday to reach agreement on the issue.
Inquiry into water crisis in Galway
Galway City Council is to be investigated to assess all aspects of the water crisis that gripped the city and surrounding areas last year.
Terms of reference for an independent investigation, which is expected to be carried out within three months, have been agreed by city councillors.
Gardaí talk to man burned in attack
Gardaí were last night interviewing a Polish man who suffered serious burn injuries in a brutal attack in Limerick at the weekend.
Detectives travelled to Cork University Hospital with an interpreter to speak to the 35-year-old who suffered injuries to his face and hand when a flammable liquid was thrown on him and set alight.