The National Safety Council has urged motorists to take extra care on the roads this bank holiday weekend.

Mild temperatures today helped lure a bumper group of swimmers to an annual Christmas Day dip in the Irish Sea.

Accident investigators were today examining a fishing boat in a bid to establish how it sank with the loss of five lives, including three generations of one family.

The ESB has announced that it is to carry out a series of audits on a number of its facilities after concerns were raised over public safety following the deaths of two Limerick students earlier this month.

The number of accidental drownings in Ireland rose by 60% last year, according to figures released by the Irish Water Safety Association.