A round up of today's national stories
Hospital calls off surgery due to budget
One of Dublin's main hospitals, Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, has cancelled all non-emergency surgery from mid-August until the end of September due to budget constraints in the health service, it emerged yesterday.
An internal memo to staff said the hospital had to bring its projected overspend of 3 million for the year back in line with the allocated budget. The memo dated August 5th was seen by Fine Gael TD Dr Leo Varadkar. In it, hospital general manager Shay Smyth said a decision had been taken by the hospital executive to cancel all elective work (in-patients and day cases) from August 18th to September 30th inclusive. Cancer patients and other "urgent electives" would not be affected.
Motorists warned over M50 delays
Motorists travelling on the M50 over the coming days have been warned they may face traffic flow problems as works to upgrade the motorway continue.
From 10am today until 8pm on Sunday, the N7 Dublin-Limerick road will be reduced to one lane of inbound traffic between the Monastery Lane junction and the M50 overbridge.
Southbound M50 traffic will be affected from 9pm tomorrow to 9am on Sunday as the southbound ramp from the N7 outbound will be closed. Traffic will be diverted via the N7 on to the M50 southbound from the Monastery Lane/N7 junction.
Man (36) dies in two-car collision
A 36-year-old man has died following a two-vehicle collision in Co Limerick.
The incident occurred between Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale on the N21 Limerick to Tralee road on Wednesday night.
The man, who was travelling alone, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two men who were in the second vehicle were not injured in the crash.
Questioned over woman's death
The man arrested in the Diamond area of Donegal town on Tuesday in connection with the murder of a Derry mother of four was being questioned again last night after hospital treatment.
He was taken from Ballyshannon Garda station to Sligo General Hospital on Thursday night within two hours of his arrest, when he complained of being unwell.
He can be held for 24 hours before being charged or released. It was uncertain yesterday whether the PSNI will seek his extradition to the North or whether he will be tried in the Republic under cross-Border legislation.
Jean Quigley (30), was found murdered at her home in Shantallow, Derry. She had been beaten to death.
Witnesses to sex assault sought
Gardaí yesterday renewed their appeal for witnesses to the serious sexual assault of a teenage girl on Sunday.
The 17-year-old was attacked by a man as she walked through the Jacko Recreational Park in Swords, Co Dublin, at 2.40am. She received serious injuries to her face and head. The man is described as being 18 or 19 years of age. He was wearing a black baseball cap and a zipped black sweatshirt top.
Gardaí believe there were a number of people in the park at the time. Insp Pat Conlon of Swords Garda station urged anyone with information to come forward.
Croker carbon website launched
A new website to help make Croke Park a carbon neutral stadium was launched jointly by ESB and the GAA in Dublin yesterday.
Unveiled by GAA president Nickey Brennan and ESB chief executive Padraig McManus, www.culgreen.ieallows fans to make energy saving pledges which count against the carbon-saving target set by Croke Park.
Fans who pledge their own energy-saving activities on the site will be entered into a monthly draw.