More news in brief.
Fingerprinting mooted for UK air passengers
The British home office may require millions of passengers flying from British airports to be fingerprinted from next year if airport operators proceed with plans to allow domestic and international travellers access to "common departure lounges".
Yesterday's Mail on Sundayreported that the home office was already "putting the finishing touches" to the controversial new measures, despite opposition from Britain's information commissioner or "privacy watchdog".
The creation of common departure areas raises the risk of an international traveller switching tickets with an accomplice booked on a domestic flight, then gaining access to Britain while evading immigration checks.
To meet this risk, the report said, amendments to aviation rules would require passengers to have their fingerprints scanned on going through security into the airside terminal, and then again at their flight departure gate.
In a statement, the UK border agency said: "If airports mix domestic and international passengers, then we will consider requiring fingerprint checks to maintain security."
Young boy killed in farm accident
A young boy was killed at the weekend in a farm accident near the village of Shrule on the Mayo/Galway border.
It is understood that 2-year-old Mark Molloy from Glencorrib, Shrule, was struck by a tractor during haymaking operations on land near Headford.
The Health and Safety Authority is to investigate the incident.
Man's ear bitten off during robbery
A 62-year-old man suffered a terrifying ordeal at the weekend when his ear was bitten off during a robbery at his home in Limerick city.
An intruder confronted the man at 3am on Saturday morning when he arrived home to his house at St Jude's Avenue on the Ballysimon Road.
The victim's ear was bitten off during the attack and he later received 26 stitches to his head at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
A 16-year-old youth was arrested leaving the scene and he appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court yesterday where he was charged in connection with the incident.
He was charged with robbing the house and was also charged with a number of other burglaries and remanded in custody.
The youth was remanded in custody to St Patrick's Institute until tomorrow afternoon, when he is also due to appear before the Children's Court.
Youth injured in dive hospitalised
A 17-year-old youth who was airlifted to hospital in Cork after he dived in to the shallow end of a popular swimming area in Kilkee known as the Pollock Holes.
It is understood that the teenager dived in to one of the shallower pools and struck his head on the bottom, resulting in a serious gash to his head as well as neck and back injuries.
He was taken from the water by Kilkee Marine Rescue Service, and he was taken by a Shannon Coast Guard helicopter to hospital in Cork.