‘New laws needed’ after libel award
The High Court award of €750,000 damages for libel to Denis O’Brien last week reinforced the need for reform of the defamation and privacy laws, Pat Rabitte, the Labour party leader, said yesterday. He said the defamation bill had made no progress because the government insisted on linking it to a privacy bill that was seriously flawed.
Bomb scare
Officers from the army disposal unit were called in to check a suspicious device which was thrown into a house in the O’Malley park estate in Southhill, Limerick, yesterday morning, left. The device was believed to have been a hand grenade. The people in the house were evacuated and nobody was hurt.
Dead man’s family appeal for help
The family of an alleged drug dealer who was shot dead last week have appealed for public help with the garda investigation. Paul Reay, 26, who had three children, was killed and his sister Emmajean injured when a gunman opened fire on their car in Drogheda on Thursday morning. Gardai have linked the shooting to the illegal drugs trade.
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Shop firebomb suspect held
A man has been arrested in connection with Hallowe’en firebomb attacks on Belfast stores. The 22-year-old was being questioned by detectives investigating incidents at premises in Boucher Road on November 1.
Polish homes attacked in Derry
Police are investigating attacks on two properties in Kilrea, Co Derry, which are inhabited by Poles. Three windows were broken at a house at Church Street and one window was broken at a flat in Bridge Street.