A round up of today's other stories from around the country in brief.
Electricity worker killed in accident
An electricity worker who was due to marry at Christmas died in an accident at work yesterday.
Jacques Coetzee (30) was electrocuted while helping to erect a pole in a field near Carrigallen, Co Leitrim.
The South African was employed by a Cavan-based civil engineering firm, P and S, contracted by the ESB to erect poles.
ESB officials said it is believed he died when he grabbed a metal stay-wire for a pole as it came into contact with a live overhead wire carrying 20,000 volts.
The pole was on a mechanical digger and was being moved into position by workers connecting electricity to a single house.
Some homes in the area were blacked out for 20 minutes by the accident shortly before 10.30am. Mr Coetzee was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.15am.
He lived in Belturbet, Co Cavan, and was engaged to an Irish woman. They were due to be married next St Stephen's Day.
Inquiries have been opened by gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority.
Firm faces new pollution controls
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced extra safeguards to prevent German pharmaceutical firm Schwarz Pharma from polluting the Shannon area.
The EPA had previously issued a new draft licence to the firm, imposing stiffer controls to prevent it breaching its integrated pollution control (IPC) licence.
During the lifetime of its existing licence, Schwarz Pharma has made court appearances over alleged breaches and was ordered to pay €58,944 between fines and costs in 2003 after pleading guilty to a licence breach. The firm is being prosecuted over nine other alleged breaches of its IPC licence.It has spent more than €6 million this year on environmental safeguards at the plant, where bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients are produced.
Six-year ban for fleeing motorist
A motorist who drove at up to 120 kph to escape gardaí into Northern Ireland has been given a suspended jail sentence and banned from driving for six years.
Kevin McNally (34), of Oakland Drive, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to three charges of dangerous driving at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Judge Pat McCartan imposed a four month sentence on each count but suspended them for two years on condition he was bound to keep the peace. He also fined him €1,000 on each charge and disqualified him from driving for six years.
Donegal woman 100 today
A Co Donegal woman who celebrates her 100th birthday today says the secret to her long life is early to bed, early to rise, and avoiding alcohol.
Bridget McGee, of Meenacreive, Annagry will celebrate with family and friends.
"I go to bed early and get up early and I think that is good for a person. It's nice to be able to move about and do things for yourself at my age.
" I feel great and am looking forward to all the celebrations tonight," she said.