ireland.com - The Irish Times

Haemophilia society criticises McDowell
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, was accused yesterday of trying to undermine the Government's commitment to an investigation into multinational drugs companies making blood products. p

McBrearty family's requests rejected by inquiry
MORRIS TRIBUNAL: The chairman of the Morris tribunal has refused a request by the McBrearty family to seek a broadening of the inquiry's terms of reference to cover the State's handling of allegations of Garda corruption in Co Donegal. p

Concern at aspects of EU policy on fuel security
The Government has warned that the European Commission's efforts to gain greater control over the European Union's energy security policy could cost consumers hundreds of millions of euro. p

Other Stories

Investigator criticises 'arrogant' chairman
MORRIS TRIBUNAL: A private investigator employed by Mr Frank McBrearty snr at the height of the publican's alleged harassment by gardaí has criticised Mr Justice Morris for what he claimed was "unbelievable arrogance" in the running of the tribunal. p
Garda's suspension case dismissed
The High Court has dismissed a challenge by a Co Donegal garda to her suspension, which came into effect the day after the Court of Criminal Appeal (CCA) certified a miscarriage of justice in the case of Co Donegal nightclub owner, Mr Frank Shortt. p
Mitchell shares optimistic vision on conflict
There is no such thing as an international conflict that cannot be ended, the US Senator George Mitchell has told an audience in Dublin. p
Westlife manager dismisses chart-rig charge
Westlife manager Mr Louis Walsh said yesterday he "could not care less" about allegations that he rigged the charts by bulk-buying Boyzone singles. p
Rabbitte critical of insurance firms
A sense of anger characterises the average citizen's dealings with the insurance industry and customers feel that they are being severely exploited, the leader of the Labour Party, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said yesterday. p
Sex crime prosecutions plummet
The surge in sex crime in recent years has been accompanied by a startling drop in the rate of prosecutions, according to Dr Ian O'Donnell of UCD. p
Few defendants use their right to opt for trial by jury, research shows
Very few defendants opt to have their cases tried by jury, even though they have that right, according to recent research. p
Tribunal judge bewails lack of premises
The Office of Public Works' failure to provide a tribunal of inquiry into the killing of a man by gardaí with offices has delayed the investigation by months, the head of the tribunal has complained. Mr Justice Barr said suitable offices had been offered to the OPW last July but it had so far failed to sign contracts. p
NI bodies to be restored by February, says Ahern
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has again set February as the target date for the restoration of the Stormont Executive. The move would be the precursor to fresh Assembly elections in May. p
Minister says house-builders must cut prices
House-builders must cut their prices following the Government's abolition of the first-time buyers' grant or homebuyers will buckle, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, has said. p
Agreement will stand or fall on Patten, says Ferris
The next three weeks will see the Good Friday agreement "stand or fall", the Sinn Féin TD, Mr Martin Ferris, has said at a debate on the peace process with the PUP leader, Mr David Ervine, and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue. p
Claims about bacon prices disputed
A spokesman for the pig processing industry has rejected as "misleading" claims of a huge increase in the wholesale mark-up on bacon in the past 20 years. p
Engine breakdown delays 350
A total of 350 rail passengers travelling on the 10.45 a.m. Cork- Dublin train were delayed by 3½ hours yesterday when an engine broke down in Portlaoise. p
UCD society to honour Chomsky
The controversial critic of American foreign policy, linguist Dr Noam Chomsky, is to be honoured by UCD's Literary and Historical Society next Tuesday. p
Tests show residues of drugs in beef are declining
The level of drug residues found in beef in the past year is expected to be significantly lower than 2001 levels, according to early indications from the Department of Agriculture. The final figures will not be available until next spring. p
Depth psychology unnecessary for Post staff in handling hostile dogs
Irish postal workers are more wily than their German counterparts when it comes to negotiating with angry dogs - or perhaps Irish dogs are better behaved. p
Group dissociates itself from boycott
The Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) has dissociated itself from a boycott of Irish business and service on December 2nd. p

The Flood Tribunal

Cosgrave's failure to comply led to tribunal summons
Former Fine Gael TD Mr Liam Cosgrave was summonsed to appear before the Flood tribunal last year after he failed to comply with repeated requests for a detailed statement. p
Tribunal told of Dunlop 'incentive' fee
Mr Frank Dunlop received a £30,000 "incentive fee" for lobbying county councillors to rezone land in south Dublin on behalf of three prominent businessmen, the tribunal has heard. p
Darragh paid Dunlop on rezoning
The father-in-law of kidnap victim Mr John O'Grady has told the Flood tribunal he formed an attitude to political donations in 1987 after a £1.5 million ransom was demanded from him from "a political organisation" in return for his son-in-law's life. p
Lawlor was at meeting 'in consultative capacity'
Former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor was at a meeting in Leinster House in 1991 "in a consultative capacity" on how to apply for rezoning of lands now owned by Jackson Way Properties Ltd, the tribunal heard yesterday. p
Lawlor's credibility sinks to new low level
Analysis: Contradictions are multiplying as county councillors go into denial, writes Paul Cullen p

In The Courts

10 years for rape added to life term
A young Cork man who is serving a life sentence for the murder of a beautician, Ms Rachel Kiely, has been jailed for 10 years by Mr Justice Butler at the Central Criminal Court for raping her. p
Developers seek to build apartments on Yeats house lands
Two property developers are seeking leave from the High Court to challenge a refusal of planning permission for the construction of 18 apartments on lands at Riversdale House, Rathfarnham, Dublin. The court was told Riversdale House is a protected structure associated with the poet W.B. Yeats. p
Two men jailed for role in insurance fraud
A Longford company director has been jailed for six years by Judge Yvonne Murphy at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in insurance fraud scams totalling almost £324,000. p
Court told of risk to post staff
A consultant orthopaedic surgeon told the High Court yesterday that delivering post through a low-level, letter-box posed a risk to postal workers. p
Pushing incident at lake denied
A retired teacher has denied that one of the alleged victims of sexual abuse at a special school in Limerick was ever pushed in a lake and left to find his own way back from a school outing. p
Cork man jailed for his role in knife attack
A 48-year-old man who took part in a vicious attack on a Cork father of six in which a giant "X" was carved on the victim's back with a knife was sentenced to three years' imprisonment yesterday. p
Man awarded €60,000 for unfair dismissal
A warhouse manager, sacked after telling his boss he took damaged goods from the company, was unfairly dismissed, a judge said yesterday. p
Witness feared for her life, court told
A witness who implicated a 27-year-old Dublin man in a double murder retracted her statement as she feared he would kill her, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday. p

Regional News

Identity fears said to foster hostility to foreigners
Fear of loss of identity and community is fostering inhospitable attitudes to newcomers and asylum-seekers, Mr Joe McDonagh, chairman of the National Anti-Racism Committee, has said. p
Building site is closed on safety grounds
An order closing a construction site for 23 houses in Co Tipperary was issued by the High Court yesterday. p
Application over half-built house adjourned
An application by Kerry County Council for an order to demolish a half-built house, which has been refused planning permission on an elevated site on the Ring of Kerry, was adjourned at the Circuit Court in Killarney yesterday. p
Initiatives planned for the elderly welcomed
A number of initiatives for older people suggested by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Mr Ivor Callely, have been welcomed by the chief executive of Age Action Ireland, Mr Robin Webster. p
Union official assails economic 'incompetence' of Coalition
The Government has been accused by a leading trade unionist of economic incompetence and of pursuing policies that "time and again showed bias in favour of the better-off". p

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