A businessman on trial for assault causing harm and for endangering the life of a burglar who broke into his house was already successfully sued for €175,000 by the man, a court has heard.

GARDAÍ have ruled out foul play after a pensioner and his daughter died in a house fire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A young mother and her son have died in hospital from injuries sustained in a fire at their home in Co Louth over the weekend.