Aaron Buckley, from Clara, Co Offaly, died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the Abbey River, close to the Absolute Hotel, shortly after 1pm.

A judge ‘noted with interest’ that a man got free legal aid without question for being involved in a high-speed drunken road chase — in a car he bought for €30,500 from a main dealer, of which €26,300 was paid in cash along with a trade-in car.

The new water charges to be unfolded tomorrow by the Government will remain the same for up to four years, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said.

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan said some of the anti-water charge protestors "don't want to pay at all" before he was heckled and jeered at an event in Limerick today.

Two companies within the Limerick-based construction group Chieftain are to close, owing more than €50m to creditors.