GARDAI in Dublin have renewed warnings to the gay community to take care following a series of attacks against gay men by homophobic gangs in and around the George's Street, Dame Street and the Christchurch area.

Victims are asked to contact gay liaison garda officers in Pearse Street garda station.

TERENCE WHEELOCK INQUIRY SOUGHT

PROTESTORS at Store Street garda station in Dublin yesterday appealed for an independent inquiry into the death of Terence Wheelock while in garda custody.

The 20-year-old died in September 2005, three months after he was found unconscious in a cell in Store Street.

Gardai claim he tried to hang himself.

BORD PLEANALA APOLOGISE TO SHELL

AN BORD Pleanala has apologised to Shell for a "serious error" it made in a planning case on Thursday that was published on Friday.

Instead of printing that a large manhole for the Corrib Gas pipeline would not require planning permission, the board printed the manhole was "not exempted development".

MILKMAN KILLED IN FREAK ACCIDENT

A MILKMAN was killed in a freak accident in north Belfast yesterday morning when he was trapped by his own milk float.

The victim, Harry Kerr, in his 40s, was delivering milk at Sunningdale Drive when the vehicle, perhaps because the hand brake had not been properly applied, rolled and fatally collided with him.

Police, who do not suspect a crime, said the accident happened at around 6 am.

Meanwhile, Aiden O'Kane (47) died after a road collision in Co Tyrone.

His Mitsubishi spacewagon left the Aghafad Road, near Strabane, at around 2 am. No other vehicles were involved and police have appealed for witnesses to the incident.

AER LINGUS FLIGHT EMERGENCY AVERTED

AN AER Lingus flight to Frankfurt landed safely at Dublin airport yesterday morning after reporting technical difficulties.

The plane was experiencing problems with its hydraulic systems when crew radioed ahead and a runway at the airport was closed as a precaution. The airport was shut for about 30 minutes as emergency crews were scrambled.

ARMED BANK ROBBERS SHOOT AT GARDAI

TWO men were arrested yesterday following an attempted robbery at a bank in Dublin.

Armed gardai confronted the men as they tried to leave the AIB on the Crumlin road at 12 noon yesterday. One shot was fired by gardai, but no one was injured. A handgun and cash were recovered from the scene.

ADAMS NAMES NEW SF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

THE Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, has named the party's three representatives on the Preparation for Government Committee which is due to meet at Stormont on Monday.

Speaking at the party's Ard Chomhairle meeting in Dublin, he said Martin McGuinness, Michelle Gildernew and Conor Murphy would represent Sinn Fein on the committee.