InShort

More news in brief

More news in brief

Dublin city centre commuters endured significant traffic delays yesterday evening following a Garda evacuation and search of the Shelbourne Hotel and Department of Agriculture.

Gardaí carried out a search of both buildings after a bomb alert was issued against the hotel at approximately 6pm.

The Department of Agriculture was searched as a precautionary measure but gardaí called off the alert after a prolonged search of both buildings.

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AA Roadwatch said that congestion had been most notable in the areas of Leeson Street, St Stephen's Green east and north and Nassau Street.

However, Nicola Hudson of AA Roadwatch, said that the traffic delays incurred by motorists was due to no single factor and could be attributed to the wet weather and the bank holiday traffic.

Man shot in legs in Armagh

A man was being treated in hospital last night after he was shot in what police said appeared to be a paramilitary-style attack. He was attacked while walking though an underpass in the Niall's Crescent underpass area of Armagh city around 11.30pm on Monday night, a republican area of the city.

A group of up to five masked men grabbed him and shot him once in each leg in an attack that bore all the hallmarks of a paramilitary "punishment" shooting.

The man's injuries are understood not to be life-threatening.

Warehouses destroyed by fire

A fire destroyed nine warehouses in Dublin city centre yesterday. Five units of the Dublin Fire Brigade responded to a call at 7am and took six hours to bring the fire under control.

The vacant warehouses, at Seville Place near Amiens Street, consist of a series of stone arches and are owned by Iarnród Éireann.

Wrong number for bird flu helpline

Pamphlets issued by the Department of Agriculture and Food to all bird flock owners list an incorrect number for the bird flu helpline.

A spokesperson for the department stated that the number on the pamphlet is incorrect and should read 1890-252283.

Scleroderma conference

The Irish Raynaud's & Scleroderma Society Annual Awareness Conference takes place at the Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday.

Raynaud's is a common disorder in Ireland, and in 2 per cent of cases it is the first symptom of scleroderma.

Various experts and consultants will be addressing the conference including Dr Robert Thompson, a consultant rheumatologist at University Hospital in Aintree, Liverpool.

Armed raider robs credit union

A raider armed with a handgun held up staff at the Carlow Credit Union yesterday morning. A Garda spokesman in Carlow said no one was hurt during the incident and that "a small amount of cash was stolen".

Gardaí believe the robbery "may be connected with drugs activity in the town".

Traveller play in new venue

A controversial play about a Traveller accused of murdering his father which premiered last night in Galway has been moved from Leisureland to An Taibhdhearc.

Although a number of venues were reluctant to host the production and two people had turned down a role in the play which involved expressing anti-Traveller sentiment, the move to An Taibhdhearc was for "technical" reasons, according to the producer.