An attempt could be made today to avert a damaging pre-election split in Fianna Fáil in the West.

THE planning enforcement officer at Roscommon County who opened the letter that arrived on her desk in mid November must have experienced, at the very least, a mild frisson of surprise.

GARDAÍ are hoping a note accompanying a bullet and a coffin will give them clues to the identity of the person who sent the items to a senior civil servant.

Gardai and prison authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at Castlereagh Jail, Co Roscommon.