Today's other news stories in brief
Shots fired into house in north Dublin
A Garda investigation was under way last night into an incident in which a man fired up to six shots into a house in Dublin's north inner city.
Gardaí said that two people were believed to have been in the house at the time.
No-one was injured in the attack. The scene of the incident, which took place at Portland Row, was being preserved last night pending a technical examination. The incident took place at about 6pm.
Woman killed in Waterford crash
A 66-year-old woman died when the car in which she was travelling was involved in a collision in Co Waterford on Saturday at about 6pm. The woman was a front seat passenger in one of two cars which collided on the N25 at Ballyduff West, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford.
Gardaí said that the woman was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital with serious injuries where she later died. The two cars involved were travelling in opposite directions when the crash occurred.
SDLP exploring options - Durkan
An SDLP working group looking at the future of the party is exploring all political options, its leader Mark Durkan insisted yesterday.
Speaking at a meeting in Belfast of the Association of SDLP Councillors, Mr Durkan said the working group would be engaging not just with politicians in the Republic but also unionists and others in Northern Ireland. There has been persistent specualtion about an SDLP merger with Fianna Fáil.
Man remanded on drugs charge
A 42-year-old man has been remanded in custody after he was charged over the weekend in connection with a €70,000 cocaine seizure after gardaí stopped a van on the Fermoy bypass in north Cork on Thursday night.
John Walsh, of Trieneragh, Duagh, Listowel, Co Kerry, appeared before Fermoy District Court on Saturday charged with possession of cocaine and the possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Strawhall, Fermoy on April 3rd.
Det Garda Kathleen O'Sullivan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that Mr Walsh made no reply to the charges when they were put to him after caution.
Judge Michael Pattwell refused bail and remanded Mr Walsh in custody to appear again at Fermoy District Court on April 11th.
Support group attacks shortfall
Men and women living with Alopecia, a condition that causes people to lose their hair, have criticised "glaring discrepancies" in State support in various parts of the country - often leaving them with a shortfall of €2,200 per year to pay for their wigs.
The nationwide Alopecia Support Group has claimed the purchase of new wigs can cost an individual up to €2,800 a year, but they get as little as €600 funding in some Health Service Executive regions.
"The problem is that in some parts of the country, people with Alopecia receive just €600 per year - and they could be spending up to €3,000 a year on wigs," said Liz Shiel, the founder of the Alopecia Support Group, who also runs the website www.alopecia.ie. She said a wig can be damaged beyond use after just two months because of regular washing.
The Alopecia Support Group's next meeting is in Moran's Red Cow Hotel, Dublin, on May 22nd.