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Munster suffers loss of hundreds of jobs
Munster suffered a double jobs blow yesterday when US company Procter & Gamble confirmed that it would be cutting 280 jobs at its plant in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, and another US firm, Bourns Electronics, announced 80 job losses in Cork city. p

Beaumont doctors halt living transplants
Doctors at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital have written to patients saying they have suspended a living kidney transplant programme just six months after it began. p

Man (27) found guilty of killing Chinese student
A 27-year-old Dublin man was convicted of the murder of a Chinese student by a jury in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin last night. p

Other Stories

Monaghan council decides to continue rezoning
The Monaghan County Development plan is at risk of collapse following the decision of county councillors to continue to rezone land in defiance of warnings from Minister for the Environment Dick Roche. p
Four in 10 students binge drink regularly Online survey: key findings
Four out of 10 students at UCD "binge drink" at least once a week by consuming six or more drinks in one session, new research has indicated. More than one in 10 drink so much at least once a month that they are unable to remember what happened the night before, the research also states. p
Huge garden event planned for Phoenix Park
More than 50,000 people are expected to attend the "Bloom 2007" gardening event in the Phoenix Park, in Dublin, over the June bank holiday weekend. p
Council drops Headfort area change
Meath County Council has upheld the Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) designation of 299 hectares (718 acres) of land around Headfort House, outside Kells, following the withdrawal of an amendment to reduce it by more than 90 per cent. p
Study to shed light on impact of farms
Birds, bees, wasps and worms are among the species to be studied in a new project looking at the impact of farming on Ireland's natural environment. p
State bodies to support Nenagh staff, Minister says
The Government yesterday pledged the support of all State agencies to the 280 workers facing redundancy at the Procter & Gamble plant in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, as workers and local public representatives reacted to the news of the major job losses. p
Politicians roll up sleeves for World Kidney Day
With the coffee and the kidneys and the four nutty gizzards who turned up from Leinster House, it was like a Bloomsday breakfast in March yesterday. If only word had reached across the road to Senator Norris, the picture would have been complete. p
Emergency child sex legislation passes into law
Emergency legislation rushed through the Oireachtas to ensure that adults can be prosecuted for soliciting sexual acts from children was signed into law last night after it passed through the Seanad yesterday. p
Kenny gives FG the call to combat
Fine Gael has put its troops on a war footing ahead of the upcoming election. p
FF rift over fourth candidate
A Fianna Fáil general election candidate has accused members of her own party of staging a "campaign of dirty tricks" against her. p
AGSI backs proposals on handling of armed standoffs
The representative body for senior gardaí has called for recommendations that have arisen out of the John Carthy siege at Abbeylara to be implemented without delay. p
Baby abandoned in Australia may have Irish link
Australian police are searching for a woman they believe has travelled to Ireland after abandoning her baby in a public toilet in Queensland. p
McGahern to get posthumous award
Writer John McGahern is to be posthumously honoured by his colleagues and peers at the Irish Book Awards next week for his contribution to Irish literature. p
Hopeful signs for churches - archbishop
There are signs "of hope and maturity in the life of our churches which are quite unique in our histories and are genuinely encouraging," Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin said yesterday evening. p
Greens prioritise women
The Green Party has promised to make Dáil Éireann less like "a 19th century gentlemen's club" and more like a family friendly workplace if it gets into government after the general election. p
Drivers in fatal crash over alcohol limit
A fatal collision in Co Monaghan last October in which five young men were killed took place after the driver of one car crossed over to the incorrect side of the road and hit the other vehicle head-on, a Coroner's Court was told last night. p
Experiment pays off as children's science magazine wins EU prize
A science magazine for children developed by two staff at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has won a top prize in the EU's annual Descartes Prize for excellence in science communications. p
New female chief at Macra na Feirme
International Women's Day will have a special significance for Macra na Feirme with confirmation that it is to get its first female president. p
Lewis adds signature knits, silks to latest collection
Richard Lewis staged his spring-summer collection last night in the grandeur of 10 Ormond Quay, a historic house originally built for the La Touche banking family. The event had a particular poignancy because the venue had been chosen by Lewis's long-time partner, Jim Greeley, before his sudden death in Dublin last December. p
International day prompts group to call for election of women
The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) yesterday urged women to vote for female candidates in the general election, as it launched its manifesto to mark International Women's Day today. p
MILITARY HISTORY: from Soweto to the Army
Capt Sannah Sithole did not foresee when she answered an advertisement for civilian doctors to help out the UN mission in Liberia that she would end up making history in Ireland. p
InShort
A round-up of today's other stories in brief. p

In the Courts

Typing error in will led to challenge by nephew
A typographical error which occurred during the typing of a will in a solicitor's office led to the will stating that one-fifth of a substantial estate of a widow in Dublin was bequeathed to her niece "Joan Barnewell" when the widow's intention was that it go to her nephew "John Barnewell", the High Court heard yesterday. p
Driver in fatal crash says brake made bus quiver
The driver of the Bus Éireann school bus that crashed, killing five schoolgirls in Co Meath, has said that if the warning light for the anti-lock braking system (ABS) had come on he would have pulled in and contacted the garage. p
Mother says she was not told of problem with baby
A mother has told the High Court that, had she been told while she was in labour that there was something wrong with her baby , she would have "agreed to anything" so the child would be okay. She could not recall being told her child needed to be delivered, she said. p
Soldier's account of 'friendship' disputed
The widow of an Irish soldier who died in Lebanon in 1987 has disputed claims that another soldier, who has sued the Army for damages for alleged post-traumatic stress as a result of that death and other events in Lebanon, had been a friend of her late husband. p
High Court adjourns ex-Team staff case
An action by 44 former engineers with Team Aer Lingus, who are seeking to be treated on the same basis as comparable Aer Lingus staff who remained with the national airline, has been adjourned by the High Court to see if agreement can be reached. p

In the North

North's parties are satisfied with poll turnout
Voting in the Assembly election was reported to be "steady" last night across Northern Ireland. Polling stations in all 18 constituencies were said to be busier throughout the day than during the last Stormont election in November 2003 when slightly more than 63 per cent of the electorate voted.

Moriarty Tribunal

O'Brien snr 'livid' at 'blackmail attempt'
Denis O'Brien snr told the tribunal he was "livid" in September 2002 when £2.5 million sterling was sought from him in what he considered a blackmail attempt. p
Inquiry told of altered statements
Statements from Denis O'Brien snr and intended for the London police were altered in relation to references to Michael Lowry's accountant, Denis O'Connor, the tribunal heard. p

In the Dáil

McCabe killer has right to remission - Ahern
Dail report: Prison authorities have no legal reason to detain one of the four men convicted of the manslaughter of a detective garda beyond his release date in May, according to the Taoiseach. p
Rabbitte queries labour inspector figures
There were heated exchanges between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte over the number of labour inspectors employed by the State. p
Taoiseach and Higgins in row overtax regime
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins traded insults in a Dáil row over Ireland's corporation tax rates. p
Use public transport, Ahern told
John Gormley (Green Party, Dublin South East) suggested that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern change his car and use public transport to lead by example in the carbon neutral campaign. p
Bertie keeps woe at arm's length
Dail Sketch: The private opinion polls must be showing up well for Fianna Fáil, because the Taoiseach was in rare good form in the House yesterday. p
Ireland 'ready' for any emergency
Ireland is as "ready as it can be" to deal with any emergency that may occur, including a nuclear accident or terrorist attack, according to Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea. p
McDowell defends child sex Bill
Seanad report: The non-inclusion of an honest belief defence in emergency legislation facilitating the prosecution of adults for soliciting sexual acts from children did not render the measure infirm, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell stressed. p

Morris Tribunal

Garda corruption claims raised
An Opposition TD who met the then minister for justice John O'Donoghue in June 2000 after receiving a document making anonymous allegations of high- level corruption in An Garda Síochána was more concerned with having the claims investigated than "making it a media issue", a senior civil servant told the Morris tribunal. p

Regional News

Staff row may delay maternity hospital opening
A plan to amalgamate the services of three maternity hospitals in Cork into one new unit later this month may have to be postponed unless agreement can be reached quickly on staffing levels. p
Incinerator design defended at hearing
The proposed incinerator for the northeast would not be visible from Newgrange or the site of the Battle of the Boyne, would operate well within EU standards for emissions, and would not create a traffic hazard, the Bord Pleanála hearing into the project heard yesterday. p
Gardaí investigate report of student's kidnapping
A spokeswoman for Limerick University has confirmed they are treating as "very serious" reports that a student was forced at knife-point to drive two men wearing masks to Dublin airport. p
Marine body says it cannot comment on salvage call
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board says it cannot comment on a request for salvage of the Pere Charles fishing vessel which sank off the southeast coast with the loss of five lives almost two months ago. This follows a meeting of the board yesterday at which the issue was discussed. p
Two in court after raid in Naas
Two men who had been held in Naas Garda station in connection with the attack on Marian Finucane's home appeared at Baltinglass District Court, Co Wicklow, yesterday afternoon. The pair faced charges in relation to different offences, having earlier been released in relation to the Finucane raid. p
Contracts for construction of M3 signed
Contracts for the construction of one of the State's most expensive motorway sections yet, the controversial M3 motorway in Co Meath, have been signed by Siac Ferrovial and the National Roads Authority. The cost of the road, including land, is €900 million. p
Careless driving led to a five-car pile-up
A judge heard yesterday how a young Co Monaghan woman, who was driving with her two-year-old child, caused a five-vehicle pile-upon the N2 Dublin to Derry road when she overtook a car at a junction and collided with the vehicle, causing it to crash into a number of other cars. p
Call for 'holistic' marine policy to avoid conflict over resources
Coastal conflicts such as that involving the Corrib gas project in north Mayo could be avoided if member states took a more "holistic" approach to major projects on European seaboards, according to EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs Joe Borg. p

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