A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Shaw the new president of Law Society
John D Shaw has succeeded James McGuill as president of the Law Society. He had been the society's senior vice-president.
Mr Shaw follows his father and grandfather into the position, so that for the first time, three generations of one family will have served as the society's president.
His father, Thomas D Shaw, was president of the Law Society in 1988, while his grandfather, Dermot P Shaw, held the office in 1956.
A native of Mullingar, Co Westmeath, he is married to Eileen. They have two children, Caoimhe (12) and Patrick (10).
He was educated in CBS Mullingar primary school and Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare. He graduated with a law degree from UCD and was apprenticed to his father, qualifying as a solicitor in 1989. He has practised in JA Shaw Co since then, where he is a partner.
He will serve a one-year term as president of the 12,000-strong solicitors' profession.
President to speak on human rights
President Mary McAleese will give the Irish Human Rights Commission's third annual human rights lecture in the National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square, Dublin, at 6pm next Tuesday.
To register for the annual lecture, contact Karine Petrasuc at (01) 858 9601 or e-mail at kpetrasuc@ihrc.ie
Criminal law newsletter launched
A new criminal law newsletter has been launched by Firstlaw. Edited by Shane Kilcommins, lecturer in law at UCC, solicitor Michael Staines and barrister Seán Gillane, each issue contains articles and analysis by leading practitioners and academics.
Recent criminal cases with headnotes will be given with links to the full text within the database. New legislation will be annotated.
The law faculty at UCC and the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights are also are part of the editorial team of the Criminal Law Online Service, which will contain coverage of road traffic cases, case-law from the superior courts, and a searchable on-line archive.
It will cost €295 for up to five users, with rates for more users available on request. Those using it can also avail of CPD points.
Mediators meet in Sligo
The 10th annual conference of the Mediators' Institute of Ireland, on the theme "building bridges", will take place in the Clarion Hotel in Sligo on November 14th, 15th and 16th.
It will be opened by Nuala O'Loan, former Northern Ireland police ombudsman, and will deal with mediation in the context of war and conflict resolution, as well as confidentiality in mediation and family mediation.