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Solicitor Thomas Byrne, whose Walkinstown practice has been closed down by the Law Society, appears for the first time in the High Court yesterday. He is being sued by the Law Society and IIB Bank, which is trying to recover EUR9 million it lent to him.

Photograph: Collins

Lynn may resort to bankruptcy law over €70m debt
Solicitor Michael Lynn may use bankruptcy law to protect himself while he tries to resolve his financial difficulties and repay his debts, estimated at more than €70 million.
Health and safety risks exposed in asylum centres
Inspectors who visited asylum-seeker accommodation centres across the State found serious breaches of rules set down by the Department of Justice, according to the most recent inspection reports.
Isolated elderly using alarm for someone to talk to
Loneliness is responsible for the great majority of calls by elderly people to a monitored home alarm system, it was disclosed yesterday.

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Ireland

Man run over by garda was drunk - inquest
A young man who died after he was crushed by a car driven by an off-duty garda on his way home from a night out was lying on the road intoxicated when he was run over, an inquest heard yesterday. p
Obligatory mediation urged in family disputes
Mediation should be compulsory in family law cases where children's welfare is a priority, according to a recommendation made by Dr Carol Coulter, author of the Family Law Reporting Pilot Project. p
Special Bill provision to net Woods €75,000
Former Fianna Fáil minister Michael Woods stands to gain about €75,000 in backdated pension payments through a special provision in a Bill which goes before the Seanad today. p
Woman's false rape claim bad for victims, says judge
A young woman who admitted making a false allegation of rape was told by a judge yesterday that her actions would make things difficult for women coming forward with genuine complaints. p
Norbrook set to create 300 jobs in £83m scheme
Pharmaceuticals company Norbrook is creating up to 300 jobs over the next five years in an £83 million (€119 million) investment, the company has announced. p
Fast track ruled out for airport projects
An Bord Pleanála has rejected an attempt by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to use the new "fast-track" planning process to seek permission for three proposed airport developments. p
Threat to call gardaí on Roebuck client over refund plea
A woman who went to Roebuck Consulting Ltd in Rathgar, Dublin yesterday to ask for a refund of fees for a counselling course was told she was disrupting the centre and that gardaí would be called. p
New report shows increase in car crash rate
There was further bad news for the Government's road safety strategy yesterday with a new report showing a rise in the crash rate. p
Simon calls for 5% rise in homeless funding
The Government should provide a 5 per cent increase in funding for services for homeless people in the budget, and should invest €2.5 billion in new social housing units over the coming year, according to the Simon Communities of Ireland. p
Ministers urged to save Kerry stone walls
Minister for the Environment John Gormley has been urged to intervene to save stone boundary walls along one of the most scenic stretches of the Ring of Kerry, which are currently being replaced by "ugly" precast concrete barriers. p

Finance

Mortgage lending boosts profits at NIB
National Irish Bank (NIB) has reported pretax profits of €21 million for the first nine months of the year, as mortgage lending at the bank continues to soar ahead of the market average. p
€9m loan to solicitor is gone, court told
Solicitor Thomas Byrne was present at the Four Courts in Dublin yesterday when separate proceedings brought against him by the Law Society and IIB Bank plc were before the High Court. p
Paisley to lead trade delegation to US
The North's First Minister Ian Paisley has said he hopes to head an investment drive in the US before Christmas. p

World

Europeans held in Chad charged with kidnapping
Chad: Sixteen Europeans held in Chad on child abduction and fraud charges could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, Chadian authorities have said. p
Kurdish community protests outside Dáil
Turkey: Almost 200 members of Ireland's Kurdish community marched from the Dáil to the Turkish embassy yesterday seeking the Government's help in dissuading Turkey from military action against Kurdish Iraqis. p
Iraqis criticise security staff immunity offer
US: Democrats in Congress have sharply criticised the state department for offering immunity to employees of the Blackwater private security firm under investigation for killing 17 Iraqis in an incident in Baghdad last month. p

Sport

Security issues are raised as Brazil starts to plan for 2014
Although the outcome had been known for months, Brazil's delegation at Fifa House were still thrilled yesterday when their country was named as the 2014 World Cup hosts. p
Cork's Murphy chosen by peers
GAA Players' Football team of the year All-Ireland football champions Kerry have gained seven representatives on the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) Opel Team of the Year for 2007 - one more than achieved on the GAA's All Stars announced earlier this month. p
Ramos era off to a rocky start
Tottenham Hotspur's campaign has rarely strayed from the shambolic so it should have come as little surprise that the presentation of their new manager, Juande Ramos, descended similarly into farce. p