Previous Day
Electricity from the Van De Graf generator makes Emily Gale's hair stand on end. She is a fifth-year student at Laurel Hill school, Limerick, and was attending Trinity College's open day yesterday.
Photograph: Mac Innes Photography
Banks meet over debts after court orders Lynn arrest
Solicitor Michael Lynn is facing arrest after failing to appear in court yesterday to answer questions about his property dealings on which he has amassed estimated debts of €80 million.Ahern had £70,000 when he took cash 'dig-out'
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had £70,000 on deposit when he accepted a cash contribution of £16,500 from four supporters in September 1994, the Mahon tribunal heard yesterday.Revenue official a suspect in tax fraud
A Revenue Commissioners official in his 50s was last night being questioned by gardaí in Dublin on suspicion of involvement in tax evasion by some motor traders.
In Focus
Motors
Every Wednesday
Refugee protection ruling
High Court asylum seeker protection ruling
Education
Full education coverage
World
MEPs protest at absence of treaty referendums
Strasbourg: A group of jeering MEPs disrupted a
ceremony marking the signing of the EU charter of fundamental
rights yesterday, using the opportunity to call for more
referendums on the new EU reform treaty. pHuckabee leads as debate in Iowa fails to ignite
United States: Republican presidential candidates
have met in their final debate before Iowa's caucus on January 3rd,
promising to strengthen the American economy and maintain high
levels of military spending. pState supports Cox for chair of EU group
Brussels: The Government is backing former Munster MEP and president of the European Parliament Pat Cox to chair an influential new reflection group on the future of the EU. pPropaganda war hots up over Nanjing
Japan: A new Japanese movie claims to debunk
Chinese massacre claims, writes
David McNeill in Tokyo p
Ireland
Couple withdraw case over list of tax defaulters
An unidentified man and woman have withdrawn High Court proceedings aimed at stopping their names being published in a list of tax defaulters. pState can exempt schools from water bills
The Government can exempt schools from having to pay water charges, which are costing some of them up to €10,000 annually, the European Commission indicated last night. pLe Pen to bring other far-right groups on Irish visit
Jean-Marie Le Pen plans to bring representatives from several European far-right groups with him to Ireland in February to campaign against the EU reform treaty, his party's deputy leader has told The Irish Times. pFunding threat to childcare services Creche funding
Community childcare services in Ireland could collapse with the loss of thousands of childcare places if Government funding plans are not changed, it has been claimed. pOne-fifth of all penalty points prove pointless
More than one-fifth of all penalty points incurred since the
scheme began in October 2002 cannot be applied because the driver
either has no licence, will not produce a licence, or holds one
issued by a foreign state, it has emerged. pInspection of children's centres urged
Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan has reiterated her call on the Government and health authorities to initiate independent inspections of residential facilities for children with intellectual disabilities. pGardaí seek information on murder
Gardaí hunting the attackers of a man stabbed to death on Monday night have issued a photograph of the victim in an appeal for information. pCourt hears stab victim took abouta line of cocaine
A man who was stabbed through the heart last New Year's Eve during a house party in Tralee had about "one line of cocaine" in his system as well as alcohol, the Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Anne Bolster told the Central Criminal Court in Tralee yesterday. pBrown Thomas to stop selling fur
Brown Thomas is to stop selling fur from next February, the company has announced. p
Finance
Housing slump hits sale of home goods
The housing slowdown hit the Republic's shops in October with sales of household goods slowing, the latest figures show. pIN&M forecasts growth in advertising revenues
Independent News & Media (IN&M) last evening rushed out a pre-close trading statement reaffirming its forecast of "high single-digit growth" in Irish advertising revenues after Johnston Press warned of an advertising slump in its Irish regional newspapers. pDolmen acquires €27m property
Dolmen Corporate Finance has acquired a €27 million development property in Brussels on behalf of its clients. p
Sport
Rangers outwitted by French prowess
UEFA Champions League/Rangers 0 Olympique Lyon
3: Alain Perrin enjoyed little success during his troubled
time in British football as the manager of Portsmouth so he is
entitled to savour this triumph. A stunning three-goal victory from
his Lyon side ensured it is they, and not Rangers, who join
Barcelona in the knockout phase after qualifying from Group E. pMunster await news on Wallace
Rugby News: Munster are still waiting news on the injury to David Wallace's arm before they meet Llanelli in the second leg of their Heineken European Cup Pool Five match on Sunday at Thomond Park. pOlympic career of Jones wiped from the records
Athletics News: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ended the once stellar Olympic career of US sprinter Marion Jones yesterday, taking back her five Sydney 2000 Games medals after she admitted to taking drugs. p
Property
Sales surge as developer drops prices in Ashtown
Brisk sales were reported last weekend at a new homes scheme in Ashtown, Dublin 15 where price drops of up to €100,000 per unit attracted first-time buyers and investors back into the market.
