A round-up of other news stories in brief
Two years in jail for HSE arson attack
A man has been jailed for two years for an arson attack on the headquarters of the HSE South in which €2 million worth of damage was caused.
Thomas Jones (48), Mahon, Cork, pleaded guilty to the charge of arson at the HSE building in Wilton on June 30th.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday that Jones had no particular grievance against the HSE, but had found out that day his brother was suffering from cancer and was very upset.
Judge Cornelius Murphy sentenced him to three years in prison, with the final year suspended on the basis that he be of good behaviour and keep the peace for one year.
Robinson to chair vaccines board
Former president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has been elected as chair of the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, a group that buys vaccines for the world's poorest children.
Mrs Robinson, who has retained a high international profile by promoting action against cancer and climate change, said life-saving immunisations needed to remain a priority for donor governments in spite of the brewing financial crisis.
Supported by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation and several UN agencies, the alliance makes advance commitments to purchase vaccines and then helps poor governments obtain, store and distribute them.
The World Health Organisation estimates its programmes have helped to immunise 213 million children and have prevented 3.4 million deaths through vaccines.
Blue Tongue found in Netherlands
A new strain of Blue Tongue disease which has been found in cattle in the Netherlands has led to a call to farmers from the Minister for Agriculture not to import livestock from countries with the disease.
Brendan Smith said this serotype (BTV6) had not been reported previously in the EU and was not known to be present in Europe or in surrounding areas.
The information available from the Community Reference Laboratory was that the virus isolated was most likely to be a vaccinal strain of BTV6 virus as it bore a strong resemblance to a live attenuated blue tongue vaccine that is produced in South Africa for administration to sheep.
He added that this vaccine was not approved in the EU.
Three years for sex with girl (16)
A Cork farmer has been sentenced to three years in jail after he admitted having sex with a 16-year-old girl and taking pornographic pictures of her on his camera phone.
John Carroll (50), Clashykinleen East, Kiskeam, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to defilement of the girl on June 15th, 2006, and to possessing child pornography on February 12th, 2007.
Judge Moran deferred the sentence until November 20th to allow Carroll to make arrangements for the proper care of his farm animals.