Siptu to meet Cappoquin workers over plant sale

SIPTU is to meet with workers at Cappoquin Chickens in Waterford in the coming days following the sale of the plant to two private investors in Britain. Two members of the O'Connell family which founded the company have also taken minority stakes.

The plant went into examinership during the summer and was expected to close at the end of the month with the loss of about 200 jobs. Most of those jobs are now safe. However, workers will have to take a pay cut of around €80 a week.

'QE2' farewell tour arrives in Belfast

World-famous cruise liner the QE2 sailed into the port of Belfast yesterday as part of its final tour. The public was given a chance to view the ship from across the river at the Paint Hall, Queen's Road. The viewing site holds up to 1,200 people. Belfast is one of the cities hosting to the QE2 during her year-long farewell tour.

Bike gardaí make €200,000 drugs bust

A routine garda bike patrol was responsible for a major drug haul in Dublin on Friday night. Heroin and cannabis with an estimated street value of €200,000 was seized.

Officers in Ballyfermot in Dublin arrested two men while on routine mountain bike patrol on Rossmore Road and seized a kilo of heroin and a quantity of cannabis resin at about 9.30pm on Friday night. The drugs were undergoing forensic tests at the weekend. One man aged in his mid-20s and an 18-year-old were yesterday being detained at Ballyfermot garda station under Section 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Man held after €10m drugs haul

A 42-year-old man was yesterday charged at a special sitting of Wexford District Court in connection with the seizure of €10m worth of drugs at Rosslare Europort (right). Ali Orhun from The Netherlands was charged with possession of cannabis resin with intent to supply and with importation of the drug. He was remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court until Friday.

Assault puts Derry teenager in hospital

A teenager was in hospital in Derry yesterday after suffering head and body injuries in serious overnight assault. Two youths aged 17 were arrested after the 19-year-old was assaulted by at least three people in the Foyle Street area of Derry.

Aer Lingus to meet unions over job cuts

Aer Lingus management will meet with unions tomorrow to outline its major job cuts plan which was agreed by the board last Friday. While unions and management remained tight-lipped, 1,500 job cuts and a reduction in its transatlantic services are said to be 'on the table'.

Hearing on Meath incinerator

North East Against Incineration (NEAI), a Co Meath environmental organisation, will continue to present its case against the proposed incinerator at Nobber tomorrow. An oral hearing is being held by An Bord Pleanála at the Newgrange hotel in Navan where 60 locals are expected to make their case.

Libertas may contest EU poll

The chairman of the anti-Lisbon treaty group, Libertas, has confirmed the organisation is considering running candidates in next year's European elections, as first reported in the Sunday Tribune. Speaking on RTÉ's Late Late Show on Friday night, Declan Ganley said he would like to give the people of Europe "the choice that their governments in Brussels did not give them".

Body found in canal

The body of a man in his 40s was found in a canal near Dorset Street in Dublin yesterday evening. Gardaí are not treating the incident as suspicious.

Woman dies in Co Tipperary crash

A woman in her 30s has died in a road crash in Co Tipperary. The single-car collision happened on the Kilkenny to Clonmel Road yesterday morning.