A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Katy French still seriously ill in hospital
The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed yesterday that the model and socialite Katy French remains "seriously ill" in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan.
However, despite ongoing speculation as to the cause of her collapse at a house party in Ashbourne, Co Meath, at the weekend, a spokeswoman for the hospital again declined to elaborate on this.
Man charged over beer kegs theft
A man has been charged in connection with the theft of 450 kegs of beer from the Guinness Brewery, Victoria Quay, Dublin 8 on November 28th. The development follows a search in Co Meath last Monday by the Detective Unit in Kevin Street Garda station. A quantity of property was recovered.
Two men in their 20s were arrested at Kevin Street on Tuesday and detained for 24 hours under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. One man has been released pending the preparation of a file for the DPP. A second man has been charged and bailed to appear at Kilmainham District Court on December 21st.
Man found guilty of rape in absentia
A Lithuanian national has been convicted of raping and threatening to kill a 24-year-old Latvian woman.
Virginijus Bagdonas (38), Whitehalls, Oldcastle, Co Meath, was not present at the Central Criminal Court to hear the verdict of guilty of rape, false imprisonment and threatening to kill the woman at places in Meath and Cavan on the night of March 11th, 2006.
Mr Justice Barry White told the jury that when Bagdonas failed to appear on the second day of his trial, he had exercised his discretion to continue the hearing in the accused's absence. He did this because the complainant had concluded her evidence and was coming towards the end of her cross-examination and to stop the trial at that point would have been unfair to her.
"It's rare that a jury finds itself determining a case in the absence of the accused but he absconded and now can only be sentenced if and when he is apprehended on foot of the bench warrant I have issued for his arrest," Mr Justice White said.
UK rape accused further remanded
A man wanted by the UK authorities in connection with the alleged rape of a teenage girl five years ago has been further remanded in custody by the High Court. John Renner Dillon is wanted in the UK where he is facing charges for the alleged rape of a then 16-year-old girl in Tyne and Wear in October 2002. It is claimed that, while on bail, he failed to turn up before a magistrates' court in England in October 2002.
Yesterday, Mr Justice Michael Peart remanded Mr Dillon (41), a native of Newcastle, England, to appear before the High Court in two weeks' time.
The UK authorities had issued an appeal for information in relation to Mr Dillon on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.
Mr Dillon was arrested in Dublin on Monday on foot of a European extradition warrant.
Inquest told of deceased's epilepsy
A former air-hostess, whose body was discovered in the bathroom of her Dublin flat by her partner, was on medication for epilepsy and suffered from alcohol dependency, both of which may have played a part in her sudden death, an inquest has heard.
Caroline Murray (41), of Killester Avenue, was discovered by Dessie Casey a day after she had phoned him and asked him to call over because she was feeling unwell. She had been dead for between 12 and 24 hours when discovered on October 11th, 2006.
The Dublin city coroner yesterday told an inquest that the exact cause of death had not been ascertained but her epilepsy and fatty liver may have contributed.
Body of Irish seaman found in Swansea
Welsh police have confirmed that a body found yesterday in Swansea Docks is Brian Daley, a seaman missing from an Irish vessel.
A sub-aqua search team recovered the body from the Kings Dock and took it to Singleton Hospital, Swansea, where it was identified as 20-year-old Mr Daley.
"The next of kin have been informed and a file is being prepared for HM Coroner," according to police.
Mr Daly was last seen working on the deck of the boat shortly after 3am on Sunday. Police had conducted extensive onboard searches and of the surrounding area, together with the sub-aqua team.
Light ceremony for suicide losses
Some of Ireland's leading musicians will take part in the Console Christmas Celebration of Light, which commemorates lives lost through suicide, at
St Patrick's College, Maynooth, next Sunday at 4pm.
Mary Black, Frances Black, Michael English, David Agnew, Eleanor Shanley, Róisín O'Reilly, Beth Neilsen Chapman and Acabella will gather with families and friends of the deceased in solidarity.
They will remember the lives of friends and loved ones lost through suicide in an evening of song, music, poetry and reflection.
The event will include the lighting of candles and a minute's silence.
The service will be hosted by Fr Aidan Troy and author and broadcaster Christy Kenneally. Those wishing to take part should call 01-6102638.
C of I institute director appointed Rev Dr Maurice Elliott is to be the new director of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin. Dr Elliott is currently rector of Shankill parish at Lurgan in Co Armagh.
He has studied at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, Trinity College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast and will take up his appointment in spring next year.
New venue for Latin Mass
The Latin Mass Chaplaincy of the Dublin archdiocese has moved its Sunday Mass to St Kevin's Church on Harrington Street. Previously it celebrated the Latin Mass at St Audeon's on High Street.
The sung Latin Mass will be celebrated in St Kevin's every Sunday at 10.30am and non-working holy days.
The Latin Mass Chaplaincy was established by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in response to Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum last July.