A round-up of today's other news stories in brief
46 jobs to go as Limerick plant closes
Some 46 jobs are to be lost at the Microtherm plant in Bruff, Co Limerick, it was announced yesterday.
Workers at the plant, which was the single biggest employer in the town, were told of the decision to close yesterday morning.
In a statement Microtherm's directors said the company was insolvent and that they had applied to the creditors to have the plant wound up voluntarily.
The company, which manufactures thermostats, is part of a giant German-based group which has sister plants elsewhere in Europe.
Microtherm managing director Brendan Corrigan, last night confirmed that the company had gone into liquidation and the winding up process was under way.
"The directors of Microtherm have carefully considered the financial status of the company and bearing in mind all the current market conditions, including the rising costs in its running and unfortunately for all concerned, concluded that it is unable to continue in business," he said.
The news of the closure came exactly two weeks after one of the largest employers in Co Limerick, Castlemahon Foods in Newcastlewest, announced that it had also gone into liquidation with the loss of more than 300 jobs.
Addict (23) who hijacked car jailed
A heroin addict who hijacked a car and threatened a passenger in it with a blood-filled syringe, saying he would give him Aids if he did not co-operate, was jailed for a total of four years at Dundalk Circuit Court yesterday.
Charles Moran (23), with addresses at Rathmullen Park and Beechwood Drive, Drogheda, drove the car at speed towards Swords and at one point held the syringe just six inches from the passenger's neck, the court heard.
He pleaded guilty to nine offences which took place at three different shops in Drogheda over a matter of hours on the night of January 13th this year.
The charges included two for attempting to hijack cars and two for possession of a syringe with intent to cause injury.
Other charges were for robbery, endangerment, car jacking, attacking with a syringe and false imprisonment.
Boy (13) arrested after air-rifle fired
A teenager has been arrested after an air rifle was fired into a school playground in Ballymena, Co Antrim, yesterday.
Police are not aware of injuries after the lunchtime incident at Dunclug College. The 13-year-old boy was detained on suspicion of firearms charges.
Police do not suspect a sectarian motive.
Mass rate affected by priest shortage
A shortage of priests in the diocese of Kerry is leading to a curtailment in the number of Masses.
The Tralee area will soon see weekday Masses reduced and further changes are also being considered throughout the diocese.
Dean of Kerry Mgr Dan O'Riordan said yesterday that Kerry had 110 churches, some in sparsely populated areas.
Although these churches would not close, in the future not all of them would have regular Sunday Masses, he said.
Amid calls from Mass-goers for Polish priests to be introduced, Mgr O'Riordan said Killarney now had a Polish chaplain.
Speaking on Radio Kerry, Mgr Riordan also said private Baptisms could also expect to be curtailed.
In any case, Baptism should take place with the community at large, he said.
Only one man from the diocese has started studying for the priesthood this year.