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Hens make their escape from the scene on a bend just outside Ballinagh, Co Cavan, where a truck shed its load of 6,500 chickens. Most of the birds were rounded up to continue their journey to the slaughterhouse.

Photograph: Alan Betson.

Gardai told McDowell of decision not to prosecute
Gardaí informed the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, that they would not be proceeding with a prosecution of Frank Connolly before the Minister went public on allegations that Mr Connolly had travelled to Colombia on a false passport.
Shake-up of anti-competitive dentistry practices urged
A radical shake-up of anti-competitive practices in the dental profession is recommended in a new report.
ESRI calls for action to cool property market
The Government needs to introduce policies to "take money" out of the property market if it is to avoid the risks attached to the sector, according to the latest analysis from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

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World

Tired people in horror town join the lines to vote
IRAQ: Even by Iraq's standards of violence the town of Tal Afar has a hideous reputation. Not just among its dwindling, weary population but among the American troops who arrived here to snuff out a sustained and ferocious insurgency. p
Bush backs down and agrees to ban torture
US: President Bush has agreed to ban cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of any detainee in US custody, regardless of the prisoner's legal status or location. p
Blair expected to offer further cut in EU rebate
Talks to agree a new EU budget will resume today, with Britain expected to table a new proposal offering to cut its rebate further to secure an agreement. p
Shepherd finds 70 foetuses in forest
ROMANIA: A shepherd has discovered more than 70 human foetuses and three adult human skulls in the forests of northeast Romania. p
Immigrant smuggling ring smashed
FRANCE: Italian, French and British police say they have smashed an international people smuggling ring that flooded Europe with thousands of illegal immigrants in recent years, according to police officials. p

Ireland

Revenue queries €1.97m PPARS contract
The Revenue is investigating one of the consultancy contracts awarded by the health service as part of the controversial PPARS computer system. p
State's computer experts refusing to move
Most of the Government's most experienced information and computer technology (ICT) specialists are refusing to decentralise. p
Breaches of code could see TV alcohol advert ban
A ban on alcohol advertising on TV could yet be introduced if advertisers and broadcasters fail to adhere to a new code of conduct, Minister for Health Mary Harney has indicated. p
Doctor on list of sex offenders after assault
A doctor has been placed on the register of sex offenders after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a nurse following a Christmas party in Limerick. p
Couple win right of appeal on order to deport
The Bulgarian parents of two Irish-born children, one of whom died when he was just four months old and is buried in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery, have secured leave from the High Court to bring a legal challenge to a deportation order served on them. p
British police arrest Irish priest
A Co Fermanagh parish priest was arrested by police in Liverpool yesterday after meeting detectives there by arrangement. Fr Jeremiah McGrath (63) has been held for further questioning. p
Chickens flee their coop in scramble for freedom
One of the great mysteries of life - which comes first, the chicken or the egg? - was resolved for a Co Cavan couple yesterday. Betty and Mattie Finnegan of Garrymore Cross, Ballinagh, now know that chickens come after the eggs. p
Union and management to get legal advice on ferry deal
Siptu officials involved in negotiations with Irish Ferries management will spend the weekend with lawyers in a bid to build a "legal framework" around Wednesday's agreement, the union said yesterday. p

Finance

Fyffes to set up €200m listed property firm
Fruit importers Fyffes is to ask shareholders to approve the transfer of €200 million worth of the group's property assets into a new, separately quoted property company, Bluestone Properties. Siobhán Creaton , Finance Correspondent, reports. p
WTO talks deadlocked as EU, US disagree on subsidies
The World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong remained deadlocked last night as pressure mounted on the European Union to agree a firm date for eliminating farm export subsidies, write Marc Coleman , Economics Editor, in Hong Kong and Jennifer Duggan. p

Sport

Keane finally makes his move
Twenty-seven days since his relationship with Alex Ferguson was officially declared over, Roy Keane checked in at Celtic yesterday with a new grade-two crop and a typically blunt explanation for why he had been ushered out of Manchester United and what his new team-mates could look forward to. "I'm not in this game to be popular," he said. p
GAA still just short of ISC's drug code
Drug-testing issue: The GAA and the Irish Sports Council have yet to agree full implementation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code on drug abuse in sport. Procedures have been updated in line with the Wada standards, as operated in this country by the ISC, but a couple of critical areas remain for resolution. p