In Short

Other stories in brief.

Security staff demand new measures

The fitting of panic alarm systems in the homes of staff, armed escorts for high- risk deliveries and the enforcement of security background checks on staff being recruited are among the demands of cash-in-transit security personnel following recent robberies.

Security workers employed by cash-in-transit companies may refuse to service high-risk delivery and collection locations where secure parking and other protective measures are not being met.

Senior SIPTU shop stewards are recommending this course of action after the latest security van heist during which a union member and his wife were held hostage.

PUP leader vows to retain seat

Dawn Purvis, the new leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, has vowed to retain the party's seat at Stormont.

Ms Purvis told The Irish Times she is determined to represent the PUP in the Assembly and to carry on the work of David Ervine, who died almost three weeks ago. Elections are scheduled for March 7th.

"We have more than a reasonable chance of keeping the PUP seat in Stormont - I'm absolutely determined and convinced that we will keep it. That is my number one priority," she said.

Hundreds attend judge's removal

Hundreds attended the removal in Dublin last night of High Court judge Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, who died last Saturday.

Fr Paul Lavelle, parish priest at the Church of the Three Patrons in Rathgar, told mourners Mr Justice O'Donovan had reached the pinnacle of his profession.

"He was a man who went to the top of his profession and was a high achiever in sport: he was a good rugby player and a golfer. He was a very lively, outgoing, highly intelligent man.

Mr Justice O'Donovan, who was 69, served for almost 11 years as a High Court judge.

The removal was attended by his wife, Sara, sons Derry, Donough and David, his brothers, sister and members of the extended family. A large number of friends and colleagues from the legal world were also in attendance. His body will be cremated at Mount Jerome after funeral Mass at 11am today.

Airport drugs seizures increase

More than 546kgs of drugs worth over €7 million were seized at Dublin airport last year - over €2 million more than the previous year.

According to information obtained from the Customs division of Revenue (Irish Tax and Customs), there were 207 drugs seizures worth €7,069,328, 26 more than the previous year's haul which was valued at €4.842 million.

There were also 1,885 seizures of cigarettes totalling almost 22 million and worth €7,476,929 at the airport along with 61 seizures of tobacco weighing 242.5kgs and valued at almost €70,000.