A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Unofficial rail action causes chaos in Cork
Mainline and commuter rail services out of Kent station in Cork were disrupted yesterday resulting in an estimated 1,000 plus travellers having to be transferred by bus after a small number of track maintenance staff staged an unofficial stoppage.
The action, which began at 2pm, had resulted in the disruption of some nine mainline services by 6pm with Iarnród Éireann making alternative arrangements to carry travellers between Cork and Mallow and from Mallow to Cork.
World trade talks are put on hold
World trade talks cannot restart until after the US mid-term elections in November, EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson said, reports Marie O'Halloran from Strasbourg.
He told the EU parliament that "we will have to wait until the elections are over before we can entertain the possibility of resuming these talks".
Mr Mandelson has said the Doha round of the WTO trade talks would be in serious crisis if the November opportunity was missed but added: "I remain firmly committed to this round and I want to work with you to reach that goal."
Mr Mandelson reiterated the EU's offer of a €20 billion downsizing in Europe's agriculture, a move angrily opposed by Irish MEPs in their contribution to the debate.
Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland North West Seán Ó Neachtain, who called for the exclusion of agriculture from the talks, said it "makes up a mere 5 per cent of world trade, yet the blame for the continuous stalling of the WTO talks is being dumped firmly at European farm gates".
Assault suspects released by gardaí
Kilrush gardaí last night released three men they were questioning in relation to a serious assault which has left Kildysart man, Vincent Hehir (32) gravely injured.
The father of five was assaulted in Kildysart on Sunday night and remains in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at Ennis General Hospital.
Supt Joseph McKeown said: "A file is being prepared for the DPP."
Motorcyclist killed in Kildare named
A motorcyclist who was killed near Monasterevin, Co Kildare on Monday afternoon has been named as 30-year-old David Patchell, from Jamestown Road in Inchicore, Dublin.
Mr Patchell died when his motorcycle crashed on the northbound lane of the motorway.
A female pillion passenger was taken to Naas General Hospital after the accident with serious injuries.
Man (76) rescued on Croagh Patrick
Climbing in the dark, Mayo Mountain Rescue Team rescued a 76-year-old man who had got into difficulty and was in danger from the cold on Croagh Patrick.
The climber, originally from Co Clare but presently living in Chicago, had started climbing the mountain at 3pm on
Monday afternoon but had got into difficulty near the summit.
Area used by dealers 'offensive'
Selling drugs in a working class community is "particularly offensive," Judge Conal Gibbons said yesterday. He was speaking after he refused to impose an alternative to prison for a man found selling cannabis in Dublin's Sean McDermott Street.
"I'm not suggesting he should go down to Ailesbury Road and do it, but I find it particularly offensive in this area," the judge said in imposing a six-month sentence.
David Rock (21), Gardiner Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to selling €30 worth of the drug to an undercover garda on October 21st, 2004.