The Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) had threatened to instruct staff not to accept keyholding duties from 1 September unless security was considerably enhanced.

This followed a spate of 'tiger kidnappings', including one last February when the assistant manager of a Balbriggan bank was forced to withdraw 500,000 while his wife and two sons were held hostage. The IBOA was seeking panic alarms for keyholders' homes and an allowance for keyholders.

Fine Gael in talks with Flannery
FINE Gael's director of elections and numbers whizz, Frank Flannery, is understood to be in talks with Enda Kenny about playing a continued role at party headquarters.

Well-placed sources confirmed there had been discussions, but stressed the talks were very much at the early stages and any role would not involve a full-time salaried position.

Flannery was a key figure for Fine Gael in the last general election campaign, regularly hosting press briefings and talking up the party's likely seat tally.

Firearms arrest a 'significant' one
GARDAI have described the arrest of a man in Dublin for the possession of a firearm as significant. The 39-yearold man was arrested in the Santry area at around 11.30pm on Friday night as part of an ongoing operation. A silver magnum handgun was found in his possession and he was questioned yesterday.

Incinerators 'out of the equation'
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley yesterday indicated that incineration was no longer a key part of government policy and that An Bord Pleanala should not overrule the recommendations of its own inspectors on that basis. Speaking at the Festival of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire, Gormley said schemes which guaranteed a waste stream to incinerator firms were now out of the equation and emphasis must be placed on reduction, re-use and recycling.

Cork stabbing victim dies A 27-year-old man was being questioned by gardai in Cork yesterday following a stabbing that left a father of two dead.

The 24-year-old died at Cork University Hospital from multiple stab wounds. He is believed to have been stabbed during a fight between a number of men at Ballinure Avenue near St Michael's Cemetery, Blackrock at around 5.30am. Gardai have appealed for witnesses to the incident.

Gardai appeal for Leitrim witnesses
GARDAI have appealed for witnesses to a crash in Co Leitrim in which a 58-year-old pedestrian died after he was hit by a car. The collision happened at Tomrud, Manorhamilton at 9.55pm on Friday night.

The man's body was removed to Sligo General Hospital. Any witnesses have been asked to contact Manorhamilton Garda station.