More regional news in brief.
Trial begins in Tipperary murder
The trial of a father-of-two charged with the murder of a 20-year-old woman at her Co Tipperary home last year opens this morning in Cork.
A jury of five women and seven men was sworn in yesterday for the trial of Kevin Prendergast (31), Knockeen, Grange, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
Mr Prendergast pleaded not guilty to the murder of Joanne Mangan in Tipperary on October 16th, 2007.
He also pleaded not guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Mangan's brother Edward (23) on the same occasion.
Five arrests after drugs searches
Five men are to appear in court next week following a drugs clamp-down in Sligo and Leitrim.
The men were arrested during searches of 12 houses over three days in Sligo town and Dromahair. Undisclosed quantities of cannabis and cocaine as well as what gardaí called "cultivation equipment" were seized.
O'Donoghue will not press charges
Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue will not press charges against a man who was questioned after the Kerry South TD was assaulted at a race meeting in Killarney last May.
A 50-year-old man had been arrested and questioned by gardaí after Mr O'Donoghue was punched in the back of the neck on May 11th last.
The man was released without charge. A file on the matter is with the DPP.
School secretary stole
THE former secretary of the Christian Brothers primary school in New Ross was given a suspended two-year prison sentence by Judge Michael Smith at Wexford Circuit Criminal court yesterday.
Kathleen Wickham (43), of New Ross, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty to stealing from and defrauding the school of €55,834 between March 18th, 2003, and February 12th, 2006.
Defence counsel said the defendant agreed to pay back €400 per month.
Grace Kelly cottage to be restored
A cottage in west Mayo, home to Princess Grace of Monaco's paternal ancestors in the 1800s, is to be restored in a joint project involving the Grimaldi family and Mayo County Council.
Work on the ruins of the former thatched farmhouse near Newport, where John Bernard Kelly, grandfather of Princess Grace, was born, will begin later this year.
Future 'bright' for Kerry airport
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said Kerry airport had "a very bright future" and links with Rome as well as Barcelona were on the cards for 2009.
This would depend on new facilities coming on stream at the airport which is already "bursting at the seams", he said.