A judge at the Children's Court has asked for the Minister for Children Francis Fitzgerald, or a representative on her behalf, and the head of the Irish Youth Justice Service to attend court today to explain the lack of detention and custodial places for juvenile offenders. RTE News has learned that, on at least eighteen separate occasions in the last three weeks, the court has been unable to detain children charged or convicted of offences because of the lack of detention spaces.
The prosecutor in the kidnapping case in the US state of Ohio has said he will press charges for each act of sexual violence allegedly committed by Ariel Castro. The 52-year-old former school bus driver has already been charged with several counts of kidnapping and rape for holding Amanda Berry, Gina De Hey-sus and Michelle Knight captive at a house in Cleveland for many years. The prosecutor, Timothy McGinty, said Mr Castro would face the death penalty, if convicted under state law of charges of aggravated murder, in the course of a kidnapping. The aggravated murder charges relate to alleged forced miscarriages suffered by one victim.
A British Olympic sailor has died after a catamaran capsized during a training session for the America's Cup in California. 36-year-old Andrew Simpson - a double Olympic medallist - was one of an 11-man crew on board the Swedish Artemis Racing catamaran in San Francisco Bay. The team website said Mr Simpson was trapped under the boat and efforts to revive him failed.
A fire in Edgeworthstown in County Longford has been brought under control. The blaze broke out last night in a large kerosene tank behind a row of houses on the main street. Four units of the fire brigade attended the scene. There were no reports of injuries.
The Weather Forecast: Early morning rain will clear from Leinster and Ulster and the day will brighten up with good sunny spells. However showers will gradually develop and they will become more widespread this afternoon and evening. Breezy with highest temperatures 11 to 14 degrees.