McAleese breaks ankle on skiing trip

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese spent her Christmas in hospital in Austria after breaking her ankle in a skiing accident earlier this week.

Ms McAleese suffered the injury on Christmas Eve after falling on ski slopes near Bad Hofgastein a popular skiing resort around one hour's drive from Salzburg.

The President was on holiday in Austria with her husband Martin and three children when the accident happened as she was boarding a ski lift at the foot of the slopes.

She suffered a heavy fall and was immediately transported to a local hospital where she underwent an operation under general anaesthetic to insert two pins in her fractured bone. Her ankle and lower leg were placed in plaster.

Ms McAleese is expected to be discharged later today after spending the last three days in hospital. She is due to return with her family to Ireland tomorrow.

Many of the President's public engagements over the coming weeks are expected to be cancelled due her restricted mobility.

It is the second occasion in recent years in which Ms McAleese has been involved in a skiing accident. In 1998, she suffered minor bruising when knocked over by another skier while on holiday in France.

A spokesperson for Ms McAleese last night described the President as "a competent skier" who takes regular family skiing holidays. She was accompanied on her latest trip by two gardaí acting as her security

detail. On all occasions that Ms McAleese is abroad, the Presidential Commission exercises and performs the powers and functions conferred on the Head of State, such as signing new legislation.

The three-person commission consists of Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon, Seanad Cathaoirleach Rory Kiely and Chief Justice Ronan Keane.

They are routinely informed when the President is due to be outside the State, said the spokesperson.