THE government has appointed the North's former police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan to the role of special UN envoy on women and peacekeeping.

The announcement was made yesterday by foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin to mark International Women's Day which is celebrated today. O'Loan was the North's police ombudsman from 1999 to 2007 and she is a former human rights lawyer.

She will travel to Liberia in her new capacity as Ireland's Special Envoy on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Cyclist injured

A CYCLIST was in hospital last night with serious injuries after an accident in the Sandyford area of South County Dublin yesterday morning.

There were no other vehicles involved in the accident and the 32-year old man who was involved was taken to St Vincent's University Hospital.

Wooside Road, where the accident took place, remained closed for a time yesterday.-

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