A round up of today's other stories in brief.
Inquiry into council funds discrepancies
An investigation has been launched into the alleged misappropriation of funds by a council official in Co Cork after discrepancies were discovered in a set of general accounts, writes Barry Roche.
A spokesman for Cork County Council confirmed that an employee had been suspended pending an internal investigation. He said the council would not be making any further comment until that investigation had been completed.
The alleged misappropriation dates from about April of this year and was uncovered by another council employee in late October. The official was suspended last week.
Remand in driving case
A Co Monaghan woman was remanded on continuing bail to a further sitting of the Circuit Criminal Court in Monaghan on January 10th next when she faced charges of dangerous driving and causing the deaths of a man and woman in a road accident near Castleblayney on September 18th last year.
Frances Flanagan of Lurganmore, Castleblayney, was also charged with a drink-driving.
The charges arose from an incident on the main N2 Dublin/Derry Road at Corleadargan, Co Monaghan.
Two passengers in Ms Flanagan's car, Seamus Walsh of Lisaquill, Broomfield, Co Monaghan, and mother of two Theresa Murray, Bellview, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, were fatally injured in the crash.
Arranmore marks sea tragedy
Arranmore islanders yesterday quietly marked the 70th anniversary of the worst sea tragedy off their shore in Co Donegal.
They cast a wreath on the waters from the Arranmore Lifeboat near the spot where 19 locals lost their lives in 1935, writes Paddy Clancy.
Parish priest Fr Pat Ward recited prayers and gave a blessing.
The only two islanders still living on Arranmore who were alive during the tragedy, Eddie Gallagher (99) and Phil Boyle (82), shared memories of the day with neighbours and fishermen.
Just one person, Paddy Gallagher, survived. Six of his family drowned.
Guide for female victims of violence
A new guide to services in Cork and Kerry in relation to violence against women is now available, writes Olivia Kelleher.
Officially launched in Cork yesterday, the new guide provides information about services and support available to women in violent situations.
The guide is published by the Southern Regional Committee on Violence against Women in Cork and Kerry. The committee comprises 12 organisations funded by the HSE Southern Area including the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre and the Sexual Violence Centre in Cork.
Town remembers Chernobyl
Tralee, Co Kerry, is to commemorate the heroism of firefighters at the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. A Labour Party motion, put forward by Cllr Miriam McGillycuddy at Monday night's town council meeting, sets out to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the disaster.
It praises the role played by firemen, soldiers and thousands of others who gave their lives to contain the blaze.
Cllr McGillycuddy said those who had sacrificed their lives in preventing total meltdown had saved Europe from nuclear catastrophe. Those who continued to suffer should also be remembered, she said. The motion was unanimously accepted.
The Chernobyl event in Tralee is to be held on April 26th next. The council is to write to the government of Belarus expressing the gratitude of the people of Kerry.
Ahern defends Callely traffic advertisement
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night defended a decision by Minister of State for Transport Ivor Callely to appear in a newspaper advertisement promoting Operation Freeflow, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent.
The advertisement includes a photograph of the Minister and a quote highlighting efforts to cut traffic congestion in Dublin in the run-up to Christmas.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte claimed yesterday that the move was part of a campaign by Government politicians to indulge in self-promotion prior to the next general election.
Galway man wins 'Mastermind'
An Irish computer programmer has won the final of the BBC quiz programme Mastermind.
Patrick Gibson, who was born in Galway and lives in Wigan, chose the television series Father Ted as his specialist topic.
Last year, Mr Gibson won the £1 million jackpot on the ITV quiz show Who wants to be a millionaire?
RUC aided trauma victims, court told
The RUC was well ahead of the field in providing treatment for officers who suffered trauma over 30 years of terrorism, the High Court in Belfast heard.The claim was made yesterday by counsel Nicholas Hanna, opening the defence case in the claim for damages brought by 5,000 retired and serving officers.
Teacher jailed for assaults on girl
A 49-year-old school teacher was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail after he was convicted of four counts of sexually assaulting one of his pupils in the science laboratory of the school where he taught.
John O'Mahony, Bluid West, Skibbereen, Co Cork, had denied 13 counts of sexually assaulting the girl at various dates in the early 1990s but was found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of four of the counts between 1990 and 1992. Det Garda Jim Keane said the girl was in her early teens when the abuse happened shortly after she began attending the secondary school and that it happened during lunch hours in the science laboratory.