A round-up of today's other home news in brief.
De Rossa 'shocked' by Gaza visit
Irish MEP Proinsias De Rossa said he was "deeply shocked and appalled" by the scenes he witnessed in Gaza when he travelled there with other MEPs last week.
He said the EU and all member states must support international initiatives for inquiries into possible war crimes committed by the Israeli defence forces.
“We were dismayed at the scenes of wanton destruction we saw last Thursday and Friday – the deliberate targeting and destruction by Israeli ground troops and air force of Gaza’s public and economic infrastructure, industrial zones, schools, and, indeed, a hospital and civilian homes,” he said.
Mr De Rossa called for an immediate lifting of the siege, the full-time opening of all border crossings and finance to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population. He said the Government must urge the European Council to engage with all elected representatives to find a lasting and durable solution.
Injured woman gets €17,500
A young woman has been awarded €17,500 damages for injuries she received on a visit to Eamonn Doran’s music pub in Dublin’s Temple Bar five years ago.
The Circuit Civil Court was told yesterday that Aisling Byrne (24), Lower Kimmage Road, Dublin, had been sitting close to the stage in the Crown Alley pub in April 2004 when a group of customers got on to the stage as a band played. One of the group knocked into metal bars, one of which had fallen off the stage, striking Ms Byrne in her lower back.
A 19-year-old student at the time, she had to give up her hobbies of horse riding, running and the gym and had difficulties with her work as a cleaner, the court heard.
Motorcyclist who died named
Gardaí in Co Laois have named the man who died following a motorcycle collision on Sunday morning as James Fleming, Borris, Co Carlow. His motorcycle collided with a car on the Stradbally to Carlow road shortly before 10am.
Gardaí are now appealing for witnesses to contact them on (057) 867 4100.
Maze sports plan ruled out
A shared sports stadium at the site of the former Maze prison, Co Antrim, will not go ahead, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been told, writes Dan Keenan. The long-expected confirmation was given by sports minister Gregory Campbell.
The Maze development was centred on an all-seater sports stadium which the main sporting bodies had agreed to use. Plans also involved a new home for the annual agricultural show as well as hotel and retail facilities.
Unionists had expressed alarm that a retained H-block, earmarked for a conflict transformation centre, would become in effect a “shrine to terror”.
Mr Campbell told the House he would hold further discussions with the governing bodies of the GAA, rugby and soccer to ask them to review their options and to report back.
Criticised for losing hope of hosting some Olympic events, Mr Campbell held out the possibility of some involvement in the 2012 games if there were improvements at Windsor Park.
Death of former chief subeditor
The death has occurred of Tom Glennon, a former chief subeditor of The Irish Times. Mr Glennon (70) joined The Irish Times in 1968 and retired in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Pat and children Una and Eoin. His removal will take place this evening to the Holy Cross Church Dundrum, Dublin, and he will be cremated at Mount Jerome after 10am Mass tomorrow.
Irish Times managing editor (production and design) Joe Breen described Mr Glennon as an “instinctive newspaper man with a great sense of humour who would be remembered fondly by all who knew and worked with him”.