A YOUNG garda was hospitalised with minor injuries yesterday after he tried to stop a hijacked truck in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The truck was making a delivery in Tullamore when it was stolen shortly after 4.30am. The driver was in the rear of the truck unloading at the time. He remained in the back of the truck but was not injured.

A 27-year old garda tried to stop the hijacking and sustained minor injuries. A 22-year-old man was in custody yesterday in relation to the incident.

Pipe bomb found in Omagh

AN investigation is under way following the discovery of a suspected pipe bomb during a search of a property in Omagh, according to police. The device, described as "viable", was found in a garage at Hospital Road at around 6.25pm on Friday.

Return of Latin mass welcomed

A GROUP representing Irish people who are devoted to the traditional Latin mass, the Tridentine mass, has warmly welcomed a decision by Pope Benedict XVI to permit the mass to be celebrated by all priests.

The Latin ceremony was revised in the 1960s after a Vatican Council ruling.

'Atmosphere of fear' for teachers

TEACHERS have claimed that a clause in the Employment Equality Act allowing religious orders to sack teachers who undermine the religious ethos of their school is creating "an atmosphere of fear."

Diarmaid de Paor, assistant general secretary of the ASTI, told the ICTU conference in Bundoran that teachers must be able to communicate with their students in an open and honest manner in relation to issues such as homophobic bullying.