A roundup of today's other stories in brief
Two held after robbery in Santry
Gardaí have arrested two men following an armed robbery in Santry, Dublin. The robbery took place at a travel agency in the Woodford Industrial Estate, off the old Airport Road, at about 2pm yesterday. Two men held up staff using an imitation firearm. They escaped by car with an undisclosed sum of money and handbags belonging to staff.
Staff described the raiders who were caught and arrested at Strand Road.
Gardaí said they recovered the imitation firearm and handbags at the scene of the arrest. The two men are being held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Lorry-driver stabbed by thieves
A lorry-driver in Co Tyrone was attacked and stabbed by a man and a teenager during a raid on his vehicle near the Ulster- American Folk Park in Omagh yesterday.
The driver was stopped in a lay-by off the Beltany Road just after 2pm by the man, who opened the passenger door and climbed into the cab, police said.
He ordered the driver to go to the Gortrush industrial estate then to the Bankmore Road, where he was told to stop.
There, according to a PSNI spokeswoman, a youth aged about 15 siphoned fuel from the vehicle.
"The driver was forced to hand over his watch and a sum of money before one of the men stabbed him in the arm," she said. The driver needed hospital treatment for his wound.
It is believed the robbers used a blue transit van. - (PA)
Man found dead in Belfast named
The man found dead in a house in east Belfast has been named by the PSNI as William Weir (46), McMaster Street off the lower Newtownards Road. His body was discovered on Tuesday in Tower Street.
A murder investigation has begun and three people have been taken into custody for questioning.
Mobile phone mast refused
Planning permission has been refused for a controversial mobile phone mast on a hill near a village in Co Limerick.
More than 200 people took part in a protest march last month against plans to erect a Vodafone mast on Daly's Hill overlooking the village of Broadford.
Opponents said the location was in an area of scenic beauty, which overlooked the local school.
Vodafone Ireland Ltd had lodged a planning application with Limerick County Council to erect an 18m (60ft) mast and associated works. Planning officials who refused the application said the proposed mast would not be able to assimilate into the local landscape.
Limerick County Council said the height and location of the mast would be obtrusive.
Waterford seeks 2011 Tall Ships
Waterford is mounting a bid to host the international Tall Ships Race again in 2011. The city is estimated to have reaped €30 million in direct economic benefits from last year's status as "first host port".
More than 450,000 spectators flocked to the city quays, the Suir estuary and Dunmore East to watch the parade of sail on July 9th.
Waterford City Council has held initial discussions with the event organisers, Sail Training International, for a return visit in five years and a more detailed submission is now being prepared.
Conference on rising oil prices
The implications of rising oil prices will be explored at a conference in Dublin tomorrow. "Rethinking Energy Use" will look at Ireland's options to reduce its dependence on oil and other fossil fuels.
Further details from convergence@sustainable.ie or telephone (01) 674 6396.