Tallaght stabbing
Gardaí have arrested a man on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of a 25-year-old man in Dublin on Tuesday evening.
The man was arrested in Dundalk, Co Louth on Wednesday afternoon and is currently being held at Tallaght Garda station.
Gardaí attended the scene at Mac Uilliam Road shortly after 7pm on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old had sustained serious injuries and was taken to Tallaght University Hospital where he later died. A second man, aged in his 40s, was also injured during the incident.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact Tallaght Garda station.
Maternity roadmap
Advocates are calling on the Government to publish a detailed roadmap on how maternity restrictions will be eased over the coming weeks and months.
Linda Kelly, a campaigner for better maternity care, said women are being made to feel like “second-class citizens” by the ongoing restrictions in the country’s maternity units.
Earlier, the master of the Rotunda Maternity Hospital, Prof Fergal Malone defended their restrictions on partners attending with patients, saying there has recently been “a significant increase” in pregnant women contracting “severe” Covid-19 infections.
Healthcare staff shortages
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) is warning of severe staff shortages this winter, adding doctors are looking ahead with a sense of "despair and foreboding".
The group said 5,000 additional medical specialists are needed to address the shortages, as well as 1,660 GPs.
Hospital overcrowding continues to be a concern, with the highest level of overcrowding during the pandemic recorded earlier this week. The IMO said 5,000 extra beds will be needed to meet the demand.
Meanwhile, staff at University Hospital Limerick are treating the highest number of Covid patients (16) and suspected Covid patients (13) in the State, in addition to having the highest number of patients waiting on trolleys according to the latest figures.
Weather warning
Met Éireann has issued a status yellow warning for “unseasonably windy” conditions in western coastal counties.
The warning covers counties Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo, lasting from 6am-3pm on Thursday, and will also extend to Kerry between 8am-11am and Cork from 9am-3pm.
Winds are set to be strongest along the coast, as well as exposed and higher terrain, while sea conditions will also be very rough.
Car park assault
A Dublin man is to face trial accused of sexually assaulting a female in a Dunnes Stores car park.
The man, who is in his 60s, appeared before Judge Brian O’Shea at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.
He is accused of sexually assaulting the complainant, who was already known to him, on a date earlier this year, at the car park of a north Dublin branch of the retail chain.
Reporting restrictions have been put in place in order to protect the identity of the complainant.
Covid: 1,819 additional cases, 206 in hospital
A further 1,819 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the State.
There are 206 coronavirus patients in hospital, with 36 in intensive care units.
Two-thirds of the Republic's total population are fully vaccinated, according to the latest figures.
