Other stories in brief.
Bus Éireann in court over 12 unique buses
Bus Éireann has undertaken before the High Court not to scrap 12 buses claimed to be vital to Ireland's transport heritage, being the only buses ever designed and built in Ireland.
The undertaking applies pending the outcome of full court proceedings.
Dr Michael Grimes (71), owner and curator of the Kells Transport Museum, Tramore Road, Cork, secured the undertaking yesterday after he brought proceedings for an injunction preventing the bus company from disposing of 12 KR class single-decker Bombardier buses.
Bus Éireann chief executive Tim Hayes had written to Minister of State for Trade and Commerce John McGuinness saying the company did not want to donate or sell the buses to Dr Grimes because it was not satisfied the vehicles would be adequately preserved by his museum.
Woman died of hospital infection
A woman who was admitted to a Dublin hospital for a "routine operation" to relieve lower back pain developed a deadly bacterial infection, an inquest has heard, writes Georgina O'Halloran.
Irene Curran (53) Rivervalley Dale, Swords, Co Dublin, was admitted to Beaumont hospital on August 18th, 2005, where she underwent an uneventful spinal operation six days later, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard.
Her condition deteriorated and Ms Curran was diagnosed with pseudomonas originosa pneumonia caused by the "opportunistic" and "vigorous" bacteria, pseudomonas. Ms Curran died on October 15th.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded the cause of death as adult respiratory distress syndrome due to pseudomonas originosa pneumonia. He told the court it was a healthcare acquired infection. However, counsel for Beaumont hospital, Declan Buckley SC, urged the coroner not to use that term because it could lead to the belief that "the infection is being attributed to a dirty hospital".
"This was a nosocomial acquired infection as opposed to a community acquired infection," said the coroner. Nosocomial means hospital acquired.
Woman in AIB case had depression
A former AIB staff officer who alleges she was bullied and psychologically abused at the bank's Cavan town branch has agreed before the High Court that she first told the bank she had a health problem when she finished working for it in May 2000.
Sheila O'Keeffe (48), Drumalee, Co Cavan, is taking the action for alleged bullying and psychological abuse while employed at the bank between 1999 and 2000.
AIB denies negligence or breach of duty and pleads Ms O'Keeffe was not subjected to work-related stress.
Under cross-examination yesterday by Patrick Hanratty SC, for AIB, Ms O'Keeffe agreed she had suffered from depression in November 1998.
She also agreed she was on anti-depressant medication when she applied for the position of staff officer. The hearing continues today.