A round-up of today's other stories in brief
€700,000 to store e-voting machines
Storing the controversial electronic voting system machines is costing the Exchequer almost €700,000 a year, according to Minister for Environment Dick Roche.
He told Independent TD Tony Gregory (Dublin Central) that the system, which will not be used at the next general election, cost €51.065 million to develop.
Storage costs for the system are running at €695,000 a year, but "no maintenance costs have been incurred to date", the Minister said.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question, Mr Roche said his department was examining the possibility of central storage for the voting machines.
Returning officers in each electoral area currently have responsibility for storage of the system and machines.
€250m repaid to PAYE workers
Almost €250 million in tax has been repaid to PAYE earners in the first nine months of this year, according to Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.
He told Labour's finance spokeswoman, Joan Burton, that following reviews of tax liability sought by PAYE taxpayers, €249,161,995 was repaid between January 1st and September 23rd this year.
In a Dáil written reply, the Minister outlined the number of tax review requests each year since 2000.
Mr Cowen said the number of tax reviews ranged from 292,952 in 2000 to 322,361 so far this year.
The largest number of tax reviews was undertaken last year when the tax payments of 350,016 PAYE workers were examined.
SSIAs to cost €587m this year
The special savings investment account (SSIA) scheme is expected to cost the Exchequer €587 million this year, compared to €548 million last year.
Figures released by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen show 1.17 million people opened accounts under the scheme and 1.09 million are still active.
The first accounts will mature in May 2006.
Car crash victim robbed days before
The Galway woman who died in a car crash in Salthill earlier this week had recently had a robbery at her home. Marie Garrod (79), Devon Gardens, Salthill, died when her car crashed into a house on Wednesday afternoon. Schoolchildren were returning from three nearby national schools at the time.
Gardaí believe Mrs Garrod may have suffered a heart attack or stroke before the accident, in which no other vehicle was involved. Last Saturday, Mrs Garrod was asleep at home when her house was broken into and a small quantity of money was taken.
In a separate incident, a 15-year-old boy was killed in a road traffic accident in Co Carlow on Wednesday.
He was named last night as Micheál Keogh, of Williamstown, Rathvilly, Co Carlow.
He was cycling at Haroldstown near Tullow when he was hit by a car at 5.30pm. He died at the scene and his body was taken to St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny for a postmortem.
Over 290 people have died in road traffic accidents so far this year.
Brothers were friends, court told
The wife of a man accused of killing his brother told Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court yesterday the two men had been "friends, brothers and workmates" and she knew no reason why they had quarrelled.
Mother-of-three Fiona McDonnell was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of her husband, Frank McDonnell (35), who pleads not guilty to the manslaughter of Liam McDonnell (31) at Rossmor Estate, Carrowncurry, Castlebar, on March 28th, 2004.
The brothers had a disagreement in Cox's Late Night Bar and Restaurant, Castlebar. The accused then went home and was followed by Liam McDonnell and the fatal incident occurred.
Outlining events on the night, Mrs McDonnell said she was woken at 2.45am by Liam. He was was very aggressive and shouting and told her: "I am going to f***ing kill him", meaning her husband. Witness said she was frightened and pleaded with Liam to calm down and go home.
She went upstairs and thought he had taken her advice. Then she heard shouting in the distance and when she came down the stairs she realised her husband was back.
After an incident outside, he was angry and pleading for her to go over and make sure that Liam was OK. He (Frank) said he thought he had broken his leg.
Pathologist Dr Declan Gilsenan, who carried out a postmortem, said death was due to aspiration of blood due to trauma of the face and also to alcohol intoxication.
Dr Gilsenan said the dead man's blood alcohol limit was three times the legal driving limit which would equate to 10 pints or possibly even more.
The trial continues.
Two arrested over man's shooting
A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with a shooting in Waterford which occurred shortly before midnight on September 27th.
Joseph Flynn (26), from Waterford's Military Barracks, was shot in the stomach near a school in the Ballybeg housing estate.
Schoolboy murder trial put back
The start of the the trial of a Cork student for the alleged murder of 11-year-old Robert Holohan near Midleton last January has been put back from October 18th to November 29th.
Yesterday defence lawyers sought the adjournment on behalf of Wayne O'Donoghue, who is charged with the boy's murder on January 12th.
Man lost legs after being set on fire
A Kilkenny man who suspected a friend was HIV positive, used firelighters to set him alight as he lay intoxicated, the Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard yesterday.
Mr Thomas O'Grady (24) of Fatima Place, Kilkenny, denies two counts of attempting to murder Mr Paul Barry (43), of Ossory Park, Kilkenny, on 10 October 10th, 1999, at Pennesfatherslot, Hebron Road, Kilkenny.
On the first day of the trial, prosecuting counsel Mr Edward Comyn SC, told the jury that Mr Barry subsequently had both legs amputated.
The case continues.
Firm fails to halt house-building
A development company has lost a High Court bid to halt the construction by another company of a development of 255 houses at Delgany Woods, between Delgany and Killincarrig, Greystones, Co Wicklow.
It had been submitted by Altara that the Ventola's development was being conducted in breach of a condition imposed by An Bord Pleanála which, it said, was intended to ensure that the road network in the immediate area was completed before the last 130 houses were constructed.