Other stories in brief
Man held in custody on rape charge
A 24-year-old man has been remanded in custody following an appearance at a special sitting of the District Court in Ballina, Co Mayo. He was charged with the rape of a teenage girl in the grounds of a Co Mayo church in the early hours of Friday morning.
Det Sgt James Carroll gave evidence of arresting the Polish man in Limerick on Saturday and charging him with the rape offence outside the Church of the Holy Rosary in Castlebar. When charged, he replied: "I don't know."
Judge Mary Devins refused bail after an objection was raised by Insp Michael Murray and the man was remanded in custody to appear at Castlebar District Court tomorrow.
Support offered after deaths
Members of the public who have been affected by the weekend deaths of a mother and her nine-month- old son in Kilworth, north Cork, have been asked to call the Samaritans or contact the Health Service Executive South for support.
The bodies of Nollaig Kenneally Owen (33) and her son Tadhg were recovered from the river Araglin last Saturday morning. The woman's family became concerned after she failed to return from a walk with her son. They began searching for her and were not far from the river when a passer-by spotted them in the water.
In the small town of Kilworth yesterday, family and friends maintained a presence at the wake at the family home in Main Street. Mother and child were in the same open coffin.
They will be buried today in New Kilcrumper Cemetery, Fermoy, following 2.30pm Mass at St Martin's Church, Kilworth.
Ms Kenneally Owen had recently moved back from Britain with her husband and their baby son.
Bishop pleads for Nigerian boy
The Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, has appealed to Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan to reverse his decision to deport a six-year-old autistic child to Nigeria.
Great Agbonlahor, his twin sister Melissa and mother Olivia are scheduled to appear before the Garda National Immigration Bureau on Thursday for possible deportation back to Ms Agbonlahor's native Nigeria.
Irish people who support the family's stay here formed the Great Justice Action Group some years ago and clergy and community leaders in west Cork and Kerry have also extensively lobbied on their behalf.
Supporters say if Great is deported, he will face a life without treatment for his autism. The bishop urged the minister to take into account the "human situation" of the "special case".
Great, his mother and sister are living in an accommodation centre in Killarney.
Three sought after Bunclody robbery
Gardaí are looking for three men following an armed robbery in Bunclody, Co Wexford, yesterday morning. It is understood the night-time duty manager at the Millrace Hotel was forced at gunpoint to open a safe at about 2.30am. The men made off with what was described as a substantial amount of money.
No staff or customers were injured in the incident.