Increased spending on agency staff and the provision of 41 extra acute beds in Limerick hospitals have been cited as some of the main factors contributing to a €18.5m overspend in a Mid-West group of hospitals.

Junior doctors came off gruelling shifts to walk the picket lines outside hospitals across Ireland yesterday.

One junior doctor in the Mid-West last year received €88,409 in overtime payments, the HSE confirmed yesterday.

A FORMER two-time All Star Limerick hurler appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with a hit and run last year.

DOUBTS about the future of the proposed €100 million private clinic at Adare Manor have been dispelled following a meeting of its management committee.