A round-up of other stories in brief....
O Ceidigh unlikely to stand for FF
Aviation entrepreneur Pádraig Ó Ceidigh is unlikely to allow his name to go forward as a Fianna Fáil candidate for the European elections in the North-West constituency, writes Harry McGee, Political Staff.
Senior figures in Fianna Fáil, including Taoiseach Brian Cowen, have been in discussions with Mr Ó Ceidigh over a number of weeks hoping to persuade him to represent the party in the three-seat constituency.
Major review of gambling laws
The Department of Justice has begun a major review of gambling regulations, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern announced yesterday.
The department is to revise the gambling code and will come up with options for a new legal framework taking into account “significant technological changes” in the sector in the past few years.
Gilmore criticises tax increases
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has criticised the Government over the new taxes facing working people from this month.
Speaking during a visit to Cork yesterday, Mr Gilmore said working people would soon realise the full extent of the tax hit that Fianna Fáil had forced on them.
He said it was a very sad May Day and not a day of celebration for working people. Yesterday saw the tax hikes announced in the emergency budget affect many wage packets for the first time. Mr Gilmore said he expected people’s anger at Government policy to be expressed when the country went to the polls in the local and European elections.
Rapist sentenced for stabbing
A convicted rapist who stabbed a man he believed was “slagging” him about his conviction has been given a four-year sentence by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Brian Shevlin’s previous convictions include a nine-year sentence for rape and he is serving a three-year sentence for threatening gardaí with blood-soaked knives when they tried to arrest him.
Shevlin (31), Seán Casey Estate, Summerhill, pleaded guilty to assaulting the man causing him harm on December 7th, 2005.
Judge Ryan suspended the final year of his sentence on strict conditions.
Accused to get bugging pledge
A high-profile dissident republican accused of murdering two soldiers is to receive assurances that his legal consultations in custody are not being bugged, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday.
Lawyers for the Northern Ireland Prison Service confirmed Colin Duffy would be told no covert surveillance would be used against him.
Mr Duffy (41) is charged with the double killing of Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar outside an army base in Antrim on March 7th.
Mr Duffy, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, is also being held on five counts of attempted murder and possession of arms and ammunition in connection with the Real IRA shootings. He has delayed a High Court application for bail until he receives confirmation that no one is listening in to any conversations with his lawyer.
Athenry-Ennis rail service to reopen
After a gap of more than three decades, trains are to roll again from Athenry, Co Galway to Ennis, Co Clare. The reopening of the 36-mile stretch of track is scheduled for September.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Minister for Rural Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív travelled to Claremorris, Co Mayo yesterday to confirm that work on the Western Rail Corridor is to continue despite financial cutbacks.
The corridor runs from Ennis to Collooney, Co Sligo. New stations will open at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan and Craughwell this year.