The Minister for Justice offered his assistance to the family of the murdered Malawi woman when he met her father, the chief justice of Malawi, yesterday in Dublin.
Mr McDowell met Mr Leonard Unyolo in Department buildings at 11 a.m. for a private meeting, which lasted 30 minutes.
The meeting was at the request of the chief justice who travelled to Ireland last week for the funeral service of his daughter, Ms Paiche Unyolo-Onyemaechi (25), whose badly decomposed body was found in Piltown, two weeks ago.
The chief justice was anxious to make sure there was a system in place to ensure the family were up to speed on the inquiry, the spokeswoman said.
At the private meeting the Minister offered his condolences to the chief justice and his family along with an offer of assistance, she added.
Gardaí have interviewed dozens of people in relation to the death of the woman, but nobody has been arrested to date.
Machine aims to clean up butts
A German cleaning equipment manufacturer has claimed it can solve the cigarette street litter problem resulting from the ban on smoking in the workplace, writes Olivia Kelly.
Karcher has introduced a street cleaning machine, which it says will act as a "giant vacuum" to suck up the cigarette butts which accumulate in the doorways of pubs, restaurants and large workplaces, from smokers congregating outside.
The current street cleaning and sweeping machines used by local authorities are not effective at picking up cigarette butts, particularly in the areas surrounding doorways, said Mr Gerry Cash, managing director of Karcher in Ireland.
A prototype of the cleaner has been built, but the machines, which retail at around €10,000 each, will not be available for sale until October. Mr Cash hopes the machines will be bought by local authorities and contract cleaning firms.
"Ireland is a small market, but given the cigarette litter problem, we're hoping to sell around 100 machines in the first year."
Dublin City Council said it would be meeting the manufacturers of the machine today, and it could not comment on whether it was interested in buying the cleaner until after that meeting.
Man charged with manslaughter
A 25-year-old man has appeared before Limerick District Court charged with killing a man in the city more than three years ago.
Mr Michael Hayes, Galvone Road, Limerick, is charged with the manslaughter of Mr James Kelly at Chestnut Court, Kennedy Park, Limerick, on June 28th, 2001.
The accused is further charged with producing a knife on the same date.
Gardaí told Limerick District Court yesterday that the accused man made no reply when he was cautioned and charged.
It is alleged that Mr Hayes stabbed the deceased following a row.
Judge Leo Malone remanded the accused in custody to appear again before Limerick District Court next week.
Dirty protest at Cork Prison
Three inmates at Cork Prison are continuing a so-called dirty protest but have so far refused to say why, according to a prison spokesman. The protest is by three prisoners in their 20s in the D unit of the prison, which is an isolation wing for prisoners who have been disruptive in prisons around the country.
One of those involved is believed to be a prisoner involved in a hostage-taking situation in Mountjoy in 1997. This is the sixth day of the protest, according to the spokesman, however, other reports indicate that the protest has been continuing for longer.