Students at a college in Ireland are today being offered vaccinations against meningitis after a 21-year-old man died from the disease.

Doctors are urging the 2,000 students who attend Letterkenny Institute of Technology in County Donegal to have the vaccination against the deadly B and C strains of the disease.

The move follows the death last night of Maurice McMenamin, a second-year student who was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis on Saturday.

In a statement, the college said students and staff who were in direct contact with Mr McMenamin had already received treatment.

It added: "As part of an ongoing programme, a vaccination session for students aged up to 23 has been planned for today. This will continue for as long as necessary."

Mr McMenamin's family - his parents Michael and Una, his two brothers, and a younger sister, who is a nursing student at the college - were also receiving medical treatment.