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Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is greeted by party members at the Fine Gael Ardfheis last night. Hundreds of delegates will attend the two-day event at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin.

Garda apology to Shortt for wrongs suffered
The Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, has apologised to Co Donegal nightclub owner Frank Shortt, who was wrongly convicted of allowing the sale of drugs on his premises. In a letter to Mr Shortt, Mr Conroy expresses his "sincere sorrow and regret" for "the irresponsible actions of some members of An Garda Síochána". Shane Hegarty and Conor Lally report.
Findings oppose Ryanair bid to take over Aer Lingus
The prospect of Ryanair taking over Aer Lingus receded last night as the European Commission formally expressed its concern about the low cost airline's takeover bid, writes Jamie Smyth in Brussels.
Burlington set to be sold to developer for €280m
The Burlington Hotel in Dublin 4 is set to be sold by Jurys Doyle for €280 million to Bernard McNamara, one of the country's biggest property developers. Ciarán Hancock reports.

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Ireland

Quarryvale hearings to resume in April
Owen O'Callaghan v Mahon tribunal case: The Mahon tribunal is to resume public hearings at the end of April into the controversial rezoning of land at Quarryvale in west Dublin, in which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be a witness. p
Promise of €48m to tackle parasite crisis welcomed
Mayor of Galway Niall Ó Brolcháin has welcomed a promise by Minister for Environment Dick Roche to expedite €48 million in funds to tackle Galway's water pollution crisis. p
DPP defends handling of Murphy case
The Director of Public Prosecution, James Hamilton, has defended his handling of the Brian Murphy case. Conor Lally , Crime Correspondent, reports. p
Traffic garda arrested for drink-driving
A Garda superintendent appointed two weeks ago to take charge of traffic management and road safety in the Garda's western region has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. Conor Lally , Crime Correspondent, reports. p
Heaney work a unanimous choice
Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney has won this year's Irish Times Poetry Now Award for his latest collection, District and Circle . The award, in recognition of the best collection by an Irish poet in the past year, will be announced this afternoon as part of the Poetry Now Festival in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. p
Court upholds convictions of 'Colombia Three'
Controversy over the so-called "Colombia Three" case has been revived by a decision of the Supreme Court in Bogota to uphold the 17-year sentences against the three Irishmen for training Marxist guerrillas in IRA bomb-making techniques. p
Kenny says health being privatised by stealth
The Government's is trying "to privatise the public health system by stealth" by sanctioning private hospitals on public hospital grounds, Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny has claimed. Mark Hennessy , Political Correspondent, reports. p
10% of teenagers have high blood pressure - study
A study into fitness in young people has found that almost 10 per cent of 15- to 17-year-olds suffer from high blood pressure. Fiona Gartland reports. p
Online fraudsters preying on Irish consumers
Financial scams could be costing the Irish economy €350 million a year, according to the National Consumer Agency (NCA) and the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA). p

World

Blair says 'parading' prisoners will add to disgust
BRITAIN: British prime minister Tony Blair has voiced rising anger and "disgust" at Iran's patent manipulation of members of the Royal Navy crew seized by Iranian revolutionary guards in the Gulf. p
Mugabe faces challenge from party dissidents
ZIMBABWE: Robert Mugabe sought to secure his future as Zimbabwe's president yesterday amid growing dissent in his party at the economic and political chaos in the country. p
No-talent singer could sound fatal note for 'Idol'
America Letter: It's one of the most successful franchises in television history, attracting more votes each year than a US presidential election, but American Idol may be facing its biggest threat yet - from a skinny 17-year-old from Seattle. p
Russian party leader wants Putin to stay on
RUSSIA: Vladimir Putin's term should be extended, one of the country's most senior parliamentarians suggested last night, rekindling speculation about the Russian president's plans. p

Finance

Setanta set to pay €230m for live soccer rights
Irish pay television broadcaster Setanta Sports is set to pay approximately €230 million as its part of the successful joint bid with ITV for live and exclusive rights to the FA Cup and England home internationals from 2008. p
€6.5m bonus for financier behind Eircom takeover
Babcock & Brown financier Rob Topfer received a €6.5 million bonus last year after he orchestrated the takeover of Eircom by the Australian investment fund. p
Fears for 100 jobs at Galtee Meats growing
Fears were growing last night for the future of some 100 jobs at the former Galtee Meats plant in Mitchelstown in north Cork after union representatives and workers were requested to attend separate meetings with management at the factory next Monday. p

Sport

Munster's defence never gets started
RUGBY: Munster are Heineken European Cup champions no longer. It would have taken a near vintage Munster effort to subdue a deeply impressive and much more hard-running, aggressive and high tempo Llanelli last night in Stradey Park, where the Scarlets hadn't lost in 14 months, and this was far from Munster at their best. p
Difficult day for the Irish - whatever side they were on
CRICKET/Ireland v England: It was a difficult day for the Irish in Georgetown yesterday - whatever side they were on. Ireland's batsmen were left with too big a mountain to climb as some late-order hitting by England changed the course of the game. The underdogs came up short, being bowled out for 218 to lose by 48 runs. p
GAA club win leave to fight single use
SOCCER/Shamrock Rovers' stadium: One of Dublin's oldest GAA clubs have been permitted by the High Court to bring a legal challenge to a decision that the stadium proposed to be the new home of Shamrock Rovers be developed as a soccer-only venue. p