Storms leave more than 5,000 without electricity

THOUSANDS of homes were left without power until yesterday afternoon after storms lashed most parts of the country on Thursday night.

The ESB dispatched hundreds of workers from the early hours of yesterday to restore power, but homeowners and businesses in parts of Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin had to wait until after lunchtime before getting their electricity back.

Winds of up to 75 miles an hour led to dangerous driving conditions in some areas, with roads blocked by fallen trees, while many areas suffered heavy flooding.