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.