The head of the traffic corps in the Garda Southern Region has said motorists need to slow down when confronted by hailstorms which, on several occasions this week, led to a number of personal injuries and thousands of euro worth of damage to vehicles.

Overall crime levels fell by almost 2% last year, according to official Garda statistics, but crime rates actually increased in five counties, including Dublin.

REGIONAL Garda firearm squads are to be set up despite the reservations of lower and middle-ranking gardaí.

LIMERICK mother Gerardine Murphy is one of thousands of cancer patients from around Munster who will benefit from a new treatment machine switched on in Cork yesterday.