A crew member in his 40s died on board the super trawler, Atlantic Dawn after his leg became trapped in machinery, an inquest into his death in Cork heard yesterday. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Mr Michael McGuinness of Donegal died last Saturday following the incident while the ship was off Africa.
The vessel berthed at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, yesterday. Mr McGuinness's body was then brought to Cork University Hospital for post mortem.
Cork forensic team examines car
A forensic examination was being carried out yesterday on a car which may have been used as a getaway vehicle in the murder of a Cork man. John Butler (20) , a father of one, was shot dead in front of his girlfriend on October 7th as they made their way home from a night out in the city.
The gunman is believed to have fled the scene in a car. A car which was seized in Blarney, Co Cork, on Monday night was being examined yesterday by forensics experts. Detectives meanwhile searched for the weapon at farmland area in Kerry Pike, Cork, yesterday.
Supervised bonfires in Galway agreed
Galway City Council has decided to go ahead with a pilot scheme to concentrate Hallowe'en bonfires at sites where they can be supervised by responsible adults. Representatives of the local authority are to meet gardaí, the Galway Fire Brigade and local residents to find sites which are suitable before the October 31st celebrations.
The council has called on garages and tyre companies to ensure that tyres are not made available for the lighting of bonfires.
The director of services, Mr Joe O'Neill, said Galway City Council had noted concerns over injuries to people and property, the consumption of alcohol or drugs, anti-social behaviour and damage to public amenities. "Concern has also been expressed regarding the burden placed on the resources of the gardaí, fire service and city council in dealing with the bonfires," Mr O'Neill added.
Support for teenage parents urged
Public servants and legislators must support teenage parents, the Minister for Children has said. At the publication yesterday of an evaluation report on a pilot initiative, the Teen Parents Support Projects, Mr Brian Lenihan said: "We must support the young parents who are sometimes faced with the very basic difficulties of housing accommodation and affordable day care facilities for their child when they want to resume their further education."
Some 2,876 babies were born to teenage mothers in 2001, according to the CSO.
Under the initiative, four projects have been running in Dublin, Limerick and Galway since early 2000. They aim to provide one-to-one support to pregnant and post-natal teens for three years.
The evaluation reports that 76 per cent of those teenage parents who used the projects found their lives were "much better" as a result.Mr Lenihan said the health board executive planned to expand and develop the initiative.
Waterford hospital suspects vomit bug
A third hospital in the south-east is now suspected of having cases of the winter vomiting virus. Two patients at the 121-bed St Patrick's Hospital in Waterford reported symptoms yesterday consistent with the virus.
The patients have been isolated and the South Eastern Health Board is appealing to the public not to visit the hospital, apart from in exceptional circumstances. St Patrick's caters primarily for elderly patients.
Plans for Galway fire station approved
Plans for the construction of a new €3 million fire station on the eastern outskirts of Galway city have been approved by Galway City Council. The proposed new headquarters for the Galway Fire Brigade will be located on a roundabout near the main Galway to Dublin road, while the service will also retain its existing Father Griffin Road facility to cater for the west side of the city.