A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Clare assault victim diesin hospital
The 32-year-old father of five who was the victim of a serious assault in Kildysart, Co Clare, on Sunday night died at Ennis General Hospital yesterday.
Vincent Hehir, Glencanauane, Kildysart, was found collapsed in the Main Street with serious head injuries at about 11.30pm. He had been out socialising in the village. He was visiting his mother and father from the UK where he operated a pub. His youngest child is two months old and he has four other children aged up to nine years old.
On Tuesday, Kilrush gardaí arrested three men, aged 33, 23 and 21 in relation to the assault and they were later released without charge with a file to be prepared for the DPP. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the assault.
Injured pillion passenger dies
A female pillion passenger involved in a fatal traffic collision in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, on Monday has died in hospital. Ciara Geraghty (25) Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin, died at Naas General Hospital on Tuesday night. On Monday the driver of the motorcycle, David Patchell (30), Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin, died following the single vehicle collision.
Green Party to hold 'think-in' today
The Green Party will today consider the options available to it in government when it gathers for a meeting of TDs and general election candidates before the resumption of the Dáil at the end of the month.
The Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent said: "This is our final 'think-in' before the general election, and hopefully our last one before entering government, so we've a lot of important work to do."
Two for court on assault charge
Two men are due to appear in court this morning, charged with the assault of a 22-year-old man who remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, two weeks after the incident. One man from Cabra, Dublin, aged 23, and another from Dominick Street, Dublin, aged 21, are to appear in Dublin District Court at 10.30am.
Liam McGowan (22), from Kinlough, Co Leitrim, was returning to his accommodation in Dublin city centre on Sunday, August 20th, when he was knocked to the ground by a single blow to the back of his head.
A spokeswoman for Beaumont Hospital said Mr McGowan remained in a critical condition last night.
Two senior judges to retire in North
Two of the North's most senior judges Lord Justices Sir Michael Nicholson and Sir John Sheil are to retire at the end of the year.
Their successors will come from within the current panel of 10 puisne judges whose elevation will be decided by the Lord Chancellor following recommendations by the Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr. The resulting vacancies on the High Court bench will be advertised later this week.
For the first time, the new judges will be appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission which is made up of lay members, judges, magistrates and legal professionals.
Aging naval ships to be replaced
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea yesterday confirmed that the Government is committed to replacing three aging ships in the Naval Service with new vessels over the next three years and maintaining the force's current ship numbers.
He said the LE Emer will be 30 years old at the end of 2007 and the Cabinet is committed to providing funding for a replacement vessel along with funding to replace the LE Aoife and the LE Aisling which are due for decommissioning in 2009 and 2010.