Dublin stabbing
Gardaí are investigating an incident in Dublin which led to the death of a 25-year-old man.
Officers attended the scene in Tallaght on Tuesday evening, shortly after 7pm, where the man was discovered with serious injuries.
He was taken to Tallaght University Hospital where he later died.
A Garda spokesman said a second man, aged in his 40s, was also injured during the incident. He was brought to the same hospital to be treated for his injuries which were not life-threatening.
Gardaí are now appealing for anyone with information to contact Tallaght Garda station.
Rotunda restrictions
The master of the Rotunda Maternity Hospital has defended ongoing restrictions on partners attending with patients, saying there has recently been “a significant increase” in pregnant women contracting “severe” Covid-19 infections.
Prof Fergal Malone said restrictions could not be lifted when 60 per cent of patients and partners “walking around the Rotunda” were not vaccinated.
According to figures from a weekly survey on the vaccination status of patients and their partners, this week, only 39 per cent of expectant mothers were vaccinated and only 41 per cent of their partners were fully vaccinated.
"If we can get that vaccination number up – we will see it being safe to relax all restrictions," Prof Malone said.
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.
Harrington homecoming
Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington received a hero's welcome in Dublin on Tuesday evening.
The boxer arrived into Dublin Airport shortly after 1pm with the remaining Team Ireland athletes and support staff following the end of the 2020 Games on Sunday.
Harrington was paraded through Dublin's north inner city in an open-top bus, around the Portland Row area where her family live. Locals pulled out all the stops in decorating the streets and lined the route to cheer on the local golden girl.
Speaking after her arrival home, Harrington said: "It’s just fantastic to give people (something) to be smiling about, to be joyful for."
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.
