Other stories in brief.
First conviction for having mobile in jail
An inmate at Limerick prison has become one of the first prisoners in the country convicted under the provisions of a new Act, which makes it an offence to have a mobile phone in jail.
Denis Kelly (20), Kanturk Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Limerick District Court to having a phone without the permission of the governor on August 20th 2007.
Last year he received a six-year jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to possession of heroin at Castleconnell, Co Limerick, in August 2006.
The charges against Kelly in relation to the possession of the mobile phone had been struck out but they were re-entered again earlier this week. Yesterday Judge Tom O'Donnell said it was accepted by the State that this was the first time a charge of this nature had been struck out despite the fact that the accused man had pleaded guilty. He said certain privileges had been withdrawn from Kelly.
He accepted it was a serious matter and applied the Probation Act but warned this was not a precedent. Under the Prisoners Act 2007 any prisoner convicted of possession of a mobile phone can face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of up to €5,000.
Trial of man for rape of girl (11)
The trial has opened in the Central Criminal Court of a Roscommon man accused of raping a then 11-year-old girl over 25 years ago. The 49-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to one charge of raping her in 1982 and 29 charges of indecently assaulting her on dates between 1979 and 1986. The trial before Judge Kevin O'Higgins continues with a jury.
Shortage of rushes for crosses
A shortage of rushes is threatening an age-old Irish tradition, the making of St Brigid's crosses to celebrate February 1st, the first day of spring, writes Francis Toner.
So scarce are rushes that landowners are being asked to inform a Mayo based charity of any location where the reeds are growing profusely. The scarcity is jeopardising the efforts of Aid for Belarusian Children (ABC). Every year, ABC volunteers manufacture 1,000 St Bridget's crosses and sell them for charity. Money raised by the Mayo branch helps bring up to 15 children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to Ireland for a holiday.
Wife of ill co-pilot arrives in Clare
The wife of an Air Canada co-pilot, who was admitted to a psychiatric unit in Co Clare on Monday after an incident on board a transatlantic flight, has arrived in Ireland, writes Pat Flynn.
The unnamed Air Canada first officer had to be restrained by cabin crew and forcibly removed from the cockpit after he suffered an episode on board the flight from Toronto to London Heathrow. Flight 848 diverted to Shannon early on Monday where a doctor and paramedics met the aircraft. The co-pilot was taken to the Acute Psychiatric Unit at Ennis General Hospital.