METRO Wednesday, December 2, 2009 D Baby smothered to death on flight A MOTHER accidentally smothered her four-week-old baby daughter to death on a flight after she fell asleep while breastfeeding. Crew on the United Airlines jet were alerted by the 29-year-old womans screams and a doctor on the plane frantically tried to revive the little girl. The flight from Washington DC to Kuwait was then diverted to Heathrow Airport. The little girl was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. Scotland Yard said the death was being treated as unexplained and no arrests have been made. Jail officer slipped drugs to inmate A PRISON officer is facing a ten- year sentence for smuggling drugs to a convicted murderer to feed his own cocaine habit, a Dublin court has heard. Dillon OBrien, 37, pleaded guilty to six charges, which include smuggling mobiles phones, vodka and drugs in to an inmate between 2005 and 2007 and conspiring to smuggle. He also admitted possession of cocaine in his home. The father- of-three will be sentenced on Monday along with two co-accused, an inmate and his brother. OBrien joined the prison service in January 2000. MENU THE Home Digest 4 Guilty Pleasures Celebrity gossip 6 World Digest 10 MetroLife Arts and Entertainment 18-19 60 Second Interview Author Sue Townsend 20 Letters & Puzzles 16 & 22 TV 20-21 Classifieds 23-24 Sport 25-28 Help keep Dublin clean and tidy for everyone by taking your Metro with you and recycling it Workers sickies down for yuletide SICKIES are expected to plummet this Christmas because of job fears. Almost one in three 18 to 35-year- olds admitted they have phoned in ill after a night on the tiles during the festive season, according to a survey by Alka-Seltzer. But more than half said they would not be repeating the stunt this year as it might reflect badly on their commitment to their work at a time of rising unemployment. There has been enough progress to suspend the strike, he said. Talks on the Budget cuts will resume at Government Buildings this morn- ing. But angry teachers lashed out at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions negotiating team claiming they had no mandate to open talks with the Gov- ernment on pay cuts. Representatives from the INTO, TUI and Siptu claimed it the greatest be- trayal in the history of the Irish trade union movement before branding Congress negotiators Government agents. The Cabinet discussed a progress report on the talks which include as- surances on keeping pay rates and pensions. But Gregor Kerr of the INTO said the union considered unpaid leave to be a pay cut by another name. It is completely unacceptable, he added. Meanwhile last night, details were reported of the Budget, suggesting the Government will cut public sector pay by five per cent. Child benefit will be cut by ten per cent but will be not be taxed or means- tested and all other benefits except the old age pension will be cut by five per cent, according to TV3 news. TODAY: Cool and bright. Sunny spells and showers. Max 10C. TOMORROW: Cold and windy with some showers. Max 7C METRO Weather Priest pays out 433,000 to Revenue A PRIEST, a postman and a popular folk singer were among the tax dodgers named in the latest defaulters list. Cork cleric Father Tadhg ODonovan handed over more than 433,000 for under-declaring income and capital gains taxes, according to the Revenue document. The Whitechurch-based priest and landlord had already been fined more than 6,000 last year after reaching a 213,000 settlement for failing to declare rental income from properties. Retired postmaster Thomas Wiseman, also from Cork, paid 1.3million in tax, interest and penalties for under-declaring Vat, income tax, PAYE and PRSI and Catch Me If You Can singer Brendan Shine was fined 2,000 for failing to lodge an income tax return. The list totals 17.66million for the period July to September. The largest settlement of more than 1.36million was paid by Dublin property company Parkland Investments for under-declaring its corporation tax. Strike called off as talks continue ASECONDone-daystrikeby250,000 public sector workers due to take place tomorrow was called off last night as Government and unions edged closer to agreeing 1.3billion in pay cuts. Despite the breakthrough, teaching unions were facing internal revolt over proposed wage cuts and reform. Negotiators have been locked in talks centred on two weeks unpaid leave and reform of shift patterns to cut overtime. A Government statement said Taoi- seach Brian Cowen welcomed the suspension of Thursdays strike. Bernard Harbor, from the Impact trade union, said the basis of a deal to secure the bulk of savings through un- paid leave has been agreed. BY COn DOheRTY Strike news welcome: Brian Cowen TEDDY READY SNOW Sophie Kirwan, six, from Swords who was on hand to announce that hibernian Aviva health is currently supporting the Barnardos childrens charity this Christmas by offering to contribute 50 for every new health policy signed up for four weeks from november 30 to December 30 Picture: Fennells Thousands flooded out may never come home THOUSANDS of people flooded out of their homes may never return, it has been claimed. Junior minister Martin Mansergh, who oversees the Office Of Public Works, said resettlement may be their only alternative following the devastation caused by the heaviest rain on record. Relocation is inevitable in some cases, Mr Mansergh said. People have said it isnt possible to go on living in particular areas, so I think thats going to have to be addressed. Thousands of acres in parts of the west, mid-west and south were still under water after the heaviest rain and worst floods on record. Up to 18,000 people in the Ballinasloe and mid-Galway areas were being warned to boil water after traces of human or animal waste were found in supplies. In south-east Clare, about 20 families evacuated during flooding along the River Shannon have been told they can return to their homes. A 12million flood fund has been put in place by the Government for affected homeowners and businesses with ministers insisting the first payment will be made in the next fortnight. Rain fell on almost every day last month, according to Met ireann, with between 22 and 27 wet days compared with the norm of between 13 and 20. Rainfall totals were at their highest levels since figures began a century ago. Other bizarre weather during the month saw a tornado in Longford and the highest amount of sunshine, 80 hours, in deluged Cork. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html