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Brother to be placed in institution
The 76-year-old Brother of Charity who was jailed for 36 years for sexually abusing young boys in his care in the 1950s and 1960s is to be freed from prison next week. He will be placed in an institution, the name of which will not be released. p
Ruling puts 'no win, no fee' cases in doubt
A decision by a High Court Taxing Master has cast doubt on whether solicitors who act on a "no win, no fee" basis, and who are awarded their legal costs by a court, will actually receive their costs from the losing party. p
Vodafone moves to block calls by phone thieves
Vodafone Ireland will block stolen mobile phone handsets from making or receiving calls on its network from the start of December in an effort to reduce mobile phone crime. The block will start once the handset is reported stolen. p
Other Stories
FG calls for inquiry into new BSE case
A call for an investigation into the discovery of another case of BSE in an animal born after Irish feed controls became fully effective has been made by Fine Gael's agriculture spokesman, Mr Billy Timmins. pMater due to resume admissions after beds shortage
Dublin's Mater Hospital says it hopes to resume elective surgery admissions today after up to a dozen hospital beds were freed up yesterday evening. pProtest by taxi drivers to cause serious disruption
Serious traffic disruption is feared in Dublin next Thursday when taxi drivers are due to stage a major demonstration. pBoy expelled for dealing drugs at private school
A youth was expelled after he was caught dealing drugs at a private, fee-paying school in Dublin, a court heard yesterday. p€80m allocated for teacher supervision
The Government has allocated €80 million to cover the cost of teacher supervision and substitution duties next year. The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, has confirmed that this allocation has been made in the estimates. pStudent found dead on golf driving range
A student from Dublin City University (DCU) was found dead on a golf driving range at Citywest, west Dublin, on Thursday morning. pTDs want Dail debate on Colombia visit
Efforts will be made next week officially to distance Dáil Éireann from the visit by two TDs and a Senator to the resumption of the trial of the Colombia Three in Bogota in early December. pNurse claims phrases deleted
A statement by a psychiatric nurse about an incident in which a disturbed patient died at Cork University Hospital contained alterations when it was returned by a Southern Health Board official to the nurse in typed form, the High Court heard yesterday. pBinchy calls for trespass law repeal
The controversial trespass legislation allowing gardaí to seize and impound Traveller caravans without a court order is unjust and should be repealed, according to Prof William Binchy. p
Downpours create havoc for many as roads remain impassable
Floods and bad road conditions created havoc yesterday in counties Meath, Kildare and north Wicklow. Many roads remained flooded last night. pOver-development a suspect in quest to find causes of flood levels
Those worst affected by this week's flooding are asking why it caused such mayhem. Conor Lally reports pRoad users urged to be cautious
The National Safety Council is reminding all road users to exercise extreme caution in hazardous driving conditions. pRueful Dublin residents see homes ravaged by floodwater
Paddy Oglesby had an overnight bag packed by his front door yesterday. But he hoped he wouldn't have to use it. "I'll go if needs be, but I'd rather stay. You don't want to walk out if you can help save your house," he said. pOver 200 people evacuated in north Dublin
More than 200 people were evacuated from their homes in north Dublin yesterday as the heavy downpours over the past 48 hours brought more flood chaos to the area. pGreen TD calls on Government to update flood control plans
The Government should move to overhaul flood control procedures because of an increasing incidence of severe weather incidents, according to the Green Party's environment spokesman, Mr Ciaran Cuffe. pInsurers advise policyholders to take some 'sensible precautions'
With a risk that flooding may persist over coming days, residential and commercial property dwellers have been advised by the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) to take "sensible precautions to prevent further damage to their property". p€60m potato crop in main tillage areas is under threat
Flooding in the main tillage areas is posing a major threat to €60 million worth of main crop potatoes which farmers are unable to harvest because of rain. pDrier weather forecast for the weekend
Flood waters should subside during drier weather this weekend. Although some showers are forecast for the east today and tomorrow, they are not expected to be heavy or prolonged. p
Time to seriously examine State investment plan
Analysis: The value obtained for much State investment over the past few years is questionable, writes Cliff Taylor pDepartment clarifies grant eligibility
The Department of Environment and Local Government has moved to clarify the situation regarding grants for first-time property buyers. pEnterprise agency cuts worry business
One of the sectors likely to be hurt most in the harsh aftermath of the Estimates is construction, writes Una McCaffrey pRoad schemes and Dublin metro lose out
TRANSPORT: Dublin's metro system and a number of road schemes which had been ready to go to construction are emerging as the big losers in Government financing. pSIPTU, unemployed sharply criticise cuts in Government spending
UNION REACTION: The Government's spending cuts were sharply criticised yesterday by SIPTU, the country's biggest trade union, which described them as "savage". pUniversity heads warn staff cuts are inevitable
EDUCATION: University heads have warned that staff cuts are inevitable across the sector, unless the cutbacks agreed in the estimates are reversed. pCork FF TD to seek reversal of decision on grant
FIRST-TIME BUYERS' GRANT: The Government will be asked to drop its decision to abolish grants for first-time house buyers at next week's Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting by Mr Noel O'Flynn TD. pPromise to raise child payment in doubt
CHILD BENEFIT: The Government's commitment to increase child benefit by around €400 million in this year's Budget may not be met fully, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs has said. pGovernment likely to target tax breaks in Budget
TAX ALLOWANCES: Cutbacks in a range of tax allowances and shelters are to be considered as part of revenue-raising measures in the Budget, according to Government sources. This will be done in a bid to raise revenue and help hold down borrowing. pGAA will have to reapply for funding for Croke Park
GAA: There is no provision for funding to the GAA in relation to its redevelopment of Croke Park in the 2003 Estimates for spending on Sports and Recreation Services. pRules on SSIAs may be adjusted - McCreevy
SAVINGS SCHEME: The Exchequer faces a rise of up to 40 per cent in funding the Special Saving Incentive Account scheme unless the Minister for Finance amends its terms in the Budget. If everyone increased their current savings to the €254 per month limit - admittedly a highly unlikely scenario - it would cost the Government €892 million per annum. p
Doctor was negligent in removing womb
The removal of a woman's womb by a Co Louth gynaecologist shortly after the birth of her first baby by Caesarean section would have been unnecessary had he carried out certain procedures at the time, the High Court found yesterday. pVictims outraged by decision to release child sex abuser from jail
Victims of a Brother of Charity who admitted that he could not remember the names of all the boys he had abused expressed their outrage yesterday after it was ruled in a Cork court that the elderly cleric be freed from prison next week p
Meeting to consider escalating postal dispute
An escalation of the dispute which has disrupted some postal services around the country is to be considered by sub-post office owners at a meeting in Dublin today. pHelicopter rescue service 'by next January'
The long-promised 24-hour search-and-rescue helicopter service for the south-east coast will be in place next January, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, has said. p
