Hi °C | Lo °C THE number of pregnant women with gestational diabetes – too much sugar in the blood – has increased sharply since 2010 when more advice was offered on how it can be detected.
A comparison of the numbers diagnosed in the first six months of 2010 versus 2011 found that cases went up by 22pc, from 1,375 to 1,679, according to a study by the UCD Centre for Human Reproduction and Coombe maternity hospital.
Pig's head charge
A 45-year-old man is to plead not guilty to a charge connected with sending a pig's head in the post to the home of a garda.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Brendan Mahoney of Cabra Park, Dublin 7, appeared in connection with being accused of posting a packet on January 26 last year that contained a pig's head.
NATO praises Irish
The secretary-general of NATO has praised the actions of Irish troops abroad.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Irish forces played a vital role in UN-mandated NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. "I thank them for all they have done," he tweeted before an informal meeting of EU ministers of defence in Dublin.
Pyrite tax exemption
Finance Minister Michael Noonan is amending the property tax legislation to exempt homeowners whose houses are affected by pyrite. Mr Noonan is publishing a special piece of legislation to allow for the exemptions.
The bill will also include a number of changes to the law on the property tax voted through before Christmas. Mr Noonan will also publish the Finance Bill today.
Donkey cruelty shock
ANIMAL welfare officers are dealing with five cases every day of cruelty or neglect to horses and donkeys.
The Irish Society for Prevention to Cruelty to Animals has described the alarming increase in cases as 'a crisis'.
Irish Independent
