Almost 4,000 legal claims are under way against the state. New figures, released this weekend, show that a third relate to clinical negligence against hospitals and other medical centres. The total value of the outstanding claims is believed to be about €285m, 60% of which relate to clinical claims. Almost two-thirds of these involve obstetrics. The State Claims Agency has also established a specialist unit to contest MRSA compensation claims of which it has 40 on its books.

New year bells

Final preparations were being made for the ringing in of the new year in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin yesterday. Professor Gary McGuire, ringing master of the Christ Church Cathedral Society of Ringers, was testing the bells. “The bells have have been heard throughout Dublin for many years,” he said. The society was established in 1670.

Popularity of helicopters takes off

Ireland’s elite are taking to the skies to beat the gridlock of traffic, with more than one helicopter a month registered with the Irish Aviation Authority during 2006. By the end of the year 140 helicopters had been registered, up from 55 in 2000. A spokesman for the authority said that 15 had been registered in the past year but that the real figure could be significantly higher because many owners registered their aircraft in Britain.

Cash for ‘forgotten emergencies’

Irish Aid yesterday announced assistance funding of €6m for humanitarian emergencies that do not receive international attention, the so-called “forgotten emergencies”.

Prisoner found dead in cell

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday on a man aged 28 who was found dead in his cell at Midlands prison in Portlaoise early on Friday.

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