Innovative Irish companies in the agri-food, energy and IT sectors are among those being recognised for their work today.

Accounting firm Grant Thornton received an additional €2.8m in fees last year bringing to €13m the amount the firm has received for acting as administrators to the Quinn Insurance group.

When a farmer investigated noises in his barn at 2.20am he found a “blind” man wearing a balaclava and a head-torch, with a veterinary inspection glove, a brush shaft, rope, and a penknife, crouching down in an attempt to hide.