More news in brief
An English mother who fled to Ireland to try stopping British social services taking her child has had her newborn baby taken from her by gardaí.
The 32-year-old woman from the Great Yarmouth area gave birth to her sixth child on Monday at Wexford General Hospital - but gardaí took the baby boy when he was an hour old.
Yesterday morning at New Ross District Court, social workers for the HSE obtained full custody of the healthy boy, having secured an emergency care order.
Supt John Roche of Wexford Garda Station said gardaí were informed of the situation by the Health Service Executive - which was tipped off by the National Health Service in England.
Fire at Naval Service HQ
Firefighters from Cork city and county, together with a team of naval firefighters assisted by a special harbour fire fighting team, were last night battling a fire in a warehouse at the Irish Naval Service headquarters at Haulbowline in Cork harbour.
It is understood the fire broke out at the warehouse at about 9pm.
Cork harbour master Capt Pat Farnan said the tug Gerry O'Sullivan which has fire fighting capabilities also assisted. Initial reports indicated that no one had been injured.
Paisley wins Oldie award
First Minister and DUP leader Ian Paisley (81) has been awarded the 2008 Oldie of the Year award for agreeing to enter into a power-sharing agreement with Sinn Féin last year. The award was made yesterday afternoon by broadcaster Terry Wogan at a ceremony in London yesterday but Paisley was not present to receive it. It was awarded "for his agreeing to share power with Sinn Féin and as a consolation prize for not winning the Nobel Peace Prize". Former winners of the award include Sir David Attenborough, Ranulph Fiennes, Sir John Mortimer, Dame Thora Hird, Richard Wilson and Spike Milligan.
Mayo hospital campaign lost
Mayo General Hospital has conceded defeat in the campaign to retain breast cancer services as part of a network with Galway.
The hospital's manager Tony Canavan said in a statement last night that it was clear that the proposal to provide the service as a satellite of University College Hospital Galway was "not a viable alternative to the stated national policy".
Dublin pair win debate award
Two Leaving Cert students at Loreto, St Stephen's Green, Dublin have won the prestigious Oxford Schools Debating Competition.
Rebecca McGrath and Julia Lawlor won top prize in last weekend's competition which attracts entries from over 80 schools from all over Britain .
It was the first time that the Republic was represented in the competition.
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