LAST UPDATE | 3 Mar 2023

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news you need to know as you start your day. 

Wexford General Hospital

1. The hospital is set to reopen this morning for maternity services after a fire on Wednesday forced it to evacuate its patients.

While nobody was injured in the fire, more than 200 patients had to be evacuated from the building in a major response from emergency services.

A small group of 29 patients remained in the hospital for treatment but the majority were removed and transferred to other hospitals for treatment.

Greece tain collision

2. Greeks will hold a third day of protests across the country today after a fatal train collision killed at least 57 people, sparking public criticism of government failures in the rail network.

Anger has been mounting since a freight train and passenger train, carrying more than 350 people, collided head-on late Tuesday near Larissa in central Greece.

Island Policy

3. A long-awaited Government plan for island communities has been sent back to the drawing board after the minister in charge told officials to revisit the document and “firm up” its proposals.

Heather Humphreys, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, said the report won’t be published until she is “satisfied that it contains credible actions that will make a difference to our island communities” living off the coast of Ireland.

Garda crime figures

4. New figures show that Ireland saw a rise in major crimes like sexual offences, assaults on Gardaí and vehicle theft last year when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

An Garda Síochána’s provisional crime figures for 2022 showed a rise in most major crimes during 2022 – but the force cautioned that comparisons between 2022 and 2021 “should continue to be considered in the context of Covid-19”.

Decriminalisation

5. A report on efforts to decriminalise drugs in Ireland and four other jurisdictions has concluded that advances have been made in recent years but there is a lack of political will in Ireland.

The report by the Scottish Drugs Forum also claimed that the success of the marriage equality and abortion referendums have aided efforts for decriminalisation by opening discussion on more socially progressive topics.

Refugee accommodation

6. Cabinet is set to sign off on a funding boost worth millions for refugee accommodation projects today. 

It’s understood another facility similar to that of Citywest is being finalised for use. 

Nicola Sturgeon threat

7. A pensioner found guilty of threatening behaviour after posting online about the assassination of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to be sentenced today.

William Curtis, 70, was convicted last month of sending threatening messages to Sturgeon and of sending or causing a threatening message to be sent to former MSP Stewart Stevenson in 2019 following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

US murder case

8.Disgraced US lawyer Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son in a case that chronicled the unravelling of a powerful southern family with tales of privilege, greed and addiction.

The South Carolina jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Murdaugh guilty of two counts of murder at the end of a six-week trial.

Prosecutors think Murdaugh killed his wife and son because he feared his years of stealing millions of dollars would be exposed.

Katie Taylor postponement

9. Katie Taylor has issued a challenge to undisputed light-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron for a showdown at the Three Arena in May.

Taylor posted the message on her Instagram account following the news that her fight against Amanda Serrano had been postponed due to the Puerto Rican suffering an injury.