A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Gardaí seek witnesses to fatal crash in Co Wicklow
Gardaí are seeking witnesses to a fatal collision in Co Wicklow in the early hours of Christmas morning.
A 41-year-old pedestrian was on the southbound carriageway of the N11 at Coynes Cross, north of Ashford, when he was struck by a car at about 1.30am. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man (21) was arrested and later released.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have seen the man walking or who saw the collision or a Black Fiat Diablo van (09WW) prior to the collision to contact Bray gardaí (01-6665300), or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Troubles' victim group to continue
Justice for the Forgotten, the organisation which represents victims of the Troubles in the Republic, is to continue its work for at least three months after entering into a short-term working arrangement with the Pat Finucane Centre in Derry.
The group said last July that it was facing closure after the Government discontinued funding for the office and advised those depending on its services to apply for financial assistance through the Victims of Crime fund. Spokeswoman for Justice for the Forgotten Margaret Urwin said it was "very pleased" about the arrangement with the Pat Finucane Centre.
Armed man at Garda station
Gardaí in Co Offaly were given an unwelcome festive surprise when an armed man appeared outside a Garda station on Christmas morning. Officers at Tullamore Garda station were discovered a balaclava-clad man in full combat gear carrying an automatic rifle at 5am on December 25th.
The man, who is believed to be Polish, was arrested and found to be carrying an imitation rifle. He was detained at the station and is expected to be transferred to Dublin to appear before a District Court today.
Family's appeal over missing man
The family of a Co Mayo man who went missing in the Netherlands in 2008 have doubled a reward for information about him.
Single carpenter James Patrick Grealis (26), was last seen as he checked out of a B&B in the city of Breda, in southern Holland, on October 23rd, 2008. He had lived and worked in the Netherlands for more than a year.
Helped by neighbours and friends on Achill Island, the Grealis family raised a €10,000 reward but their appeals and a poster campaign in the Netherlands drew a blank. "We are doubling the reward to €20,000 as a last resort," said his sister Helen Grealis.