A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Independent journalists vote for package
Journalists at Independent News and Media have voted by 133 votes to 90 to accept a revised plan for voluntary redundancies.
Under the package those leaving will receive payments of eight weeks' pay per year of service up to a maximum of €250,000. More than 90 freelance journalists are to be made permanent as part of the overall agreement.
An earlier plan was rejected by members of the National Union of Journalists.
NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said there was still widespread concern at the plan to outsource editorial production jobs and that the behaviour of Independent News and Media highlighted the need for urgent reform of legislation governing redundancies and the transfer of undertakings.
Wallace finishes M3 report
The director of the National Museum, Dr Pat Wallace, has completed his recommendations in relation to the discovery of a national monument on the route of the M3 motorway in Co Meath.
Details of Dr Wallace's opinion have not been revealed but the Department of the Environment's chief archaeologist will now consider his opinions and the ultimate decision on the preservation or otherwise of the monument will be issued to the National Roads Authority.
Enda Tyrrell of the Eurolink M3 Ltd consortium, which is building the motorway, said yesterday "the 500-metre exclusion zone at Lismullin, required as a result of the new archaeological discovery, does not affect our day-to- day work on the project and the works are proceeding as scheduled."
Six arrested over fatal fire released
All six people arrested in Co Tipperary earlier this week during a Garda investigation into a fatal house fire in Clonmel have been released without charge. A file is being prepared for the DPP.
Four men and two women aged in their late 20s and early 30s were arrested last Tuesday during early-morning searches of houses in the Clonmel area and were detained under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Two men and both women were released without charge on Wednesday. The remaining two men, whose detention had been extended up to 72 hours, were released yesterday.
Armed robbery at Tramore PO
Gardaí in Tramore, Co Waterford, are investigating a robbery of the post office in Stradbally, Co Waterford, at 9am yesterday. Two men entered the post office, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun and the other with what appeared to be a wrench. A third man was in a silver car outside.
A Garda statement said there were only staff members there at the time and the men got away with an undisclosed amount of money. No shots were fired and no one was injured. The car was found burned out a short time later along the Stradbally-Kilmacthomas Road. No arrests have been made.
Firefighters tackle Mayo gorse fires
Mayo Fire Brigade was battling three gorse and forestry fires last night, at Ross, Castlebar; Corlummin, Foxford, and Clarkfield, Knock.
The worst outbreak was at Ross where 30 acres of Coillte forestry were destroyed. At the height of the blaze, five fire brigade units were battling to bring the outbreak under control.
Elderly woman killed by van
A woman in her 80s died after been struck by a van yesterday morning in the village of Freshford, Co Kilkenny. The woman, who has not yet been named, was hit by the vehicle at about 9am on the main Kilkenny to Thurles road.