A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
HSE review as woman dies in childbirth
The HSE has said it is to carry out a full review of the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in childbirth at Kerry General Hospital in Tralee, writes Anne Lucey.
The woman died after giving birth yesterday at the Tralee hospital. The coroner had been notified and a postmortem is to be carried out today at the hospital, a spokeswoman said.
The HSE expressed its deepest sympathy to the woman's family. It is understood she was in her mid-30s and from outside Kerry. It is also understood that the baby is in a serious condition.
Burren World Heritage plan
The 32 members of Clare County Council are expected to back a proposal today to have the Burren included as a World Heritage Site, writes Gordon Deegan .
Currently, there are only two Irish heritage sites on the prestigious Unesco World Heritage List: Brú na Bóinne in Co Meath and Skellig Michael off the Co Kerry coast. In a report to go before the council, acting council senior planner John Bradley states that the Burren "has the requisite designations and potential to meet the stringent requirements of Unesco World Heritage status".
Drugs worth €117,000 seized
Gardaí in Tipperary yesterday seized drugs with an estimated street value of €117,500.
Gardaí stopped a van outside Portlaoise and found 5kg of cannabis resin along with 5kg of cannabis estimated to have a street value of €95,000.
The male driver (34) was arrested and taken to Thurles Garda station. Gardaí carried out two follow-up searches on houses in the Borrisoleigh area of Tipperary and found cannabis with an estimated street value of €18,500 along with heroin with a estimated street value of €4,000.
A man (32) was arrested at the scene.
Grannies being used to hide cash
Hardened criminals in Northern Ireland are increasingly using their "grannies" to hide their ill-gotten gains, police claimed yesterday.
Fearful of enhanced police powers to seize money and property, drug dealers and racketeers are persuading elderly relatives to hold onto their criminal profits, according to the PSNI's financial investigation unit.
Acting Det Chief Insp Todd Clements said grandparents were pretending cash from burglaries, drug deals and extortion was actually their life savings. - (PA)
Service for ex-RUC chief
Family and friends of former Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable Sir John Hermon gathered in Belfast yesterday to commemorate his life.
The thanksgiving service at St Anne's Cathedral came two months after the 79-year-old died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. His wife and current North Down Ulster Unionist MP Lady Sylvia Hermon was joined by a number of dignitaries at the event.
Man seriously ill after stabbing
An 18-year-old man suffered serious injuries after being stabbed repeatedly in a weekend attack. He was stabbed during the assault in a house in Ballynahinch, Co Down around 4am.