The family of a 15-year-old boy who drowned in the River Shannon heard today how a lifebuoy which could have possibly saved their son's life had been removed by vandals.  

Revised procedures at a Tipperary care centre where a woman with special needs was mistakenly locked on a bus for a day last week are being reviewed by the HSE.

THE Limerick-based engineering group, Kirby Engineering stated yesterday that 2010 was “a relatively good year” for the group in spite of pre-tax profits declining by 34% to €1 million.