A man who was seriously injured during a cycle race on Saturday is facing a 12-week recovery period after he had a surgical plate fitted in his skull.

It has emerged that Health Minister Mary Harney was warned about the infection risk to patients at Ennis General Hospital two years before a hospital superbug contributed to the deaths of 15 patients.

The Health Services Executive Mid-Western Area has denied claims by a group of hospital consultants that patients are being put at risk because senior management have not adequately responded to the needs of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Ennis.