Customs officers at Rosslare Europort, Co Wexford, have made a second major seizure of cigarettes.
The seizure of three million cigarettes, worth about €800,000, was made at around 10 p.m. on Monday.
The cigarettes were found in a container of tyres which arrived by ferry from Cherbourg. The driver of the articulated lorry, who is a holder of a UK passport, was questioned and released. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The seizure was the second to occur at Rosslare this week. Cigarettes worth an estimated €1.25 million were seized by Customs officers on Saturday.
North West Radio to go off air
North West Radio confirmed yesterday that it would go off air at midnight on October 1st, but pledged that its marathon legal battle with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) would continue .
Chief executive Mr Paul Claffey said that the station, named the top local station of 2003, had not sought an extension of its broadcasting licence beyond the end of this month, and had not been offered an extension by the BCI. Ocean FM is taking over the licence in the north-west.
Committee on Curtin adjourns
The Oireachtas committee investigating Judge Brian Curtin adjourned for two weeks yesterday without hearing medical evidence on his state of health.
The meeting was to start yesterday, and run for three days, to hear evidence from his doctors and examine his medical records. However, a crucial medical witness was unable to attend, and the meeting was adjourned until Monday, September 27th.
Cardinal's book is replaced
The first 3,000-copy run of The Minding of the Planet, a book by the former Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Cahal Daly, has been replaced in bookshops.
Launched in Belfast and Dublin two weeks ago, it was discovered to have a significant number of printing errors on the back cover and inside. A spokeswoman for the publishers, Veritas, said last night the printers had taken responsibility for the errors, and readers who had bought original copies could have these replaced on request.
New TCD nursing school opens
An Art Deco building on Dublin's D'Olier Street has been refurbished at a cost of €16.7 million to house Trinity College's school of nursing and midwifery studies.
It was officially opened yesterday by the Minister of State for Health, Mr Brian Lenihan.
St Canice's Cathedral to close
Major work on its 150-year-old heating system means St Canice's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Kilkenny will be closed to visitors from today until October 11th. The cathedral's round tower will remain open.
Westport wins floral award
Westport, Co Mayo, has been awarded a gold medal at the Entente Florale competition in France. Representing Ireland in the towns category, it emerged with glowing tributes from the international jury.