A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Two statues stolen from memorial park
Outrage has been expressed in Arklow, Co Wicklow over the theft of two statues from a garden dedicated to the remembrance of sailors lost at sea, writes Peter Thompson.
The theft is believed to have taken place under cover of darkness last week.
The statues, by Tinahely- based sculptor Vincent Browne from a design by artist Bob Harcus, are of cast bronze, life size, and depict a woman and her child staring out to sea in the hope of sighting their husband and father respectively.
They were among four statues which were the central features of the Arklow Seafarers' Memorial Park, off the town's South Quay. The park was opened last August.
Mr Browne said yesterday that the pieces, like all large cast-bronze works, were hollow and therefore lighter than they appeared. This would have enabled the thieves to remove them without the use of a crane.
Retired sea captain Thomas Myler, who was among the leading campaigners to establish the memorial garden, said to replace the statues would cost about €30,000, but their value as scrap was "less than €1,000".
Two remanded on murder charge
Two men have been remanded in custody after they were charged yesterday with the murder of a father of two who died after being stabbed during a row in a Cork city suburb earlier this year.
John Brett (24), Leitrim Street, Cork, and Jason Quinlan (29), Loughmahon Drive, Mahon, Cork, were charged with the murder of Brian McKee (24) at Ballinure Avenue, Mahon, Cork, on August 25th last.
Both men made no reply when charged, the Cork District Court was told. They are to appear before the court again on December 19th.
Museum for 1916 patriot planned
Plans are proceeding for a museum in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, to honour Thomas MacDonagh, one of the 1916 Rising leaders.
North Tipperary County Council is considering an application by Cloughjordan Community Development Committee seeking permission to establish a museum in honour of the patriot, on the site believed to be his birthplace.
The committee has lodged an application for planning permission for a redevelopment of MacDonagh House on the main street. It has also submitted plans to provide an information/interpretive centre, museum and internet cafe on the site, which is located within the Cloughjordan Architectural Conservation Area.
Garda inquiry into fire at school
A Garda investigation is under way into the cause of a fire at a secondary school in Templemore, Co Tipperary.
A number of units of North Tipperary fire brigade tackled the blaze which broke out early yesterday.
Our Lady's Secondary School at Main Street, Templemore, was closed yesterday due to extensive smoke damage. The fire broke out in an office.