ireland.com - The Irish Times

Paucity of hospital stroke services highlighted
A "complete absence" of stroke services in Irish hospitals, in spite of the fact that stroke is the third most common cause of death in Ireland, was highlighted yesterday by the Irish Heart Foundation. p

Challenge to inquest verdict on identity of dead baby
A High Court challenge has been initiated aimed at overturning the unanimous verdict of an inquest jury that an unidentified female baby found murdered in a laneway in Dun Laoghaire more than 30 years ago was the child of Cynthia Owen. p

First of McCabe's killers to be freed next week
The first of four men who were convicted for their part in the killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe is to be released from Castlerea prison next week. p

Leaders celebrate 'complex, shared history'
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the North's First Minister Ian Paisley joined each other at the Battle of the Boyne site in Co Meath yesterday in a groundbreaking exercise in celebrating Ireland's "complex, shared" history. Gerry Moriarty and Mark Hennessy report. p

Election2007

Poll findings encourage parties to increase their efforts
Poll reaction: The Taoiseach yesterday appealed to Fianna Fáil supporters to maximise the party's support and to vote on polling day. Commenting on yesterday's Irish Times /TNS mrbi poll, which showed support for Fianna Fáil up two percentage points, Mr Ahern said the party is "docked" 5 per cent in the poll because people do not turn up. p
Mary Lou tells it straight on the black and white issues
On the canvass: Tuesday evening and Eddie O'Reilly stands by the van in St Finbarr's GAA club in Cabra, waiting. Mary Lou McDonald is on the train back from Stormont after a day of history and the canvass awaits. Tom Humphries with Mary Lou McDonald
Middle-class constituency may spring a surprise
The challenge by Fine Gael and Labour for the last seat and Liz O'Donnell's electoral vulnerability are the key political issues in the Dublin South five-seater. p
Overdose of 'remarkable scenes'
On the airwaves: On Thursday evening, the nation turned on RTÉ's Six One News to be greeted with what newsreader Sharon Ní Bheoláin described as "remarkable scenes". The phrase is almost worn out from use during this campaign so far. p
A touch of masochism gives way to foot massage
On the canvass: Candidates get used to packs of snarling dogs. They learn stoicism in the face of non-functioning doorbells. They keep smiling when the umpteenth gas card, stunned by her own originality, folds her arms and smirks : "So what are you going to do for me?" Kathy Sheridan with Nicky Kelly
SF opposes State subvention of private schools
SF education policy: Sinn Féin will oppose any State subvention for fee-paying schools if in government, its education spokesman Seán Crowe said yesterday. p
Gormley not taken by tax 'sweeteners'
Green briefing: The Green Party has said it will not go into coalition with parties that are offering voters a "tax cuts cash bonanza" at the expense of social and health services. p
Online interview
The Green Party's Trevor Sargent was the first party leader to take part in ireland.com's online question-and-answer session yesterday, with the questioners' main concern proving to be the party's intentions following the election. p
Even heifers left waiting as Bertie's tour gathers momentum
Ahern campaign: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's campaigning up to now may have lacked some of the star appeal of past election battles, but Drogheda yesterday proved that he can still draw the crowds. Mark Hennessy and Seán MacConnell report. p
Kenny says Taoiseach's attack broke pledge to focus on policies
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said attacks by the Taoiseach on his competence were undermining Mr Ahern's own promise to focus on policies rather than personalities. Barry Roche and Anne Lucey report. p
Ahern supports arbitration in nurses' dispute
FF health briefing: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday voiced support for a proposal to appoint an international expert to arbitrate in nurses' claim for a 35-hour week. Liam Reid reports. p
Fourth Estate 'whippersnapper' fails to ruffle Ahern over dollars
Taoiseach's finances: The Taoiseach said yesterday that he had "never received any dollars" when questioned at the daily Fianna Fáil election press conference about his personal finances. p
Higgins rules out deal with FF or FG
Socialist manifesto: The Socialist Party has rejected being part of any Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael-led coalition government even if it wins two or more seats and holds the balance of power. p
Campaign trail: an election miscellany
Compiled by Carl O'Brien
At a glance
What happened yesterday. p
My election
Mrs Maureen Cullen from Tullamore, Co Offaly, works in the home. p

Other Stories

Nursing stoppages cost €3m per week - Drumm
The industrial action by nurses is now costing the health service up to €3 million a week, head of the Health Service Executive Prof Brendan Drumm said yesterday. Eithne Donnellan and Dr Muiris Houston report. p
Around the country
Cork: Nurses in Cork vowed yesterday to continue their industrial action until they achieve a satisfactory outcome. p
GP says general practice can provide more disease care
General practitioners (GPs) could provide a greater level of care for people with chronic disease if they were properly resourced, a leading family doctor has said. p
Decentralisation's 'fatal flaws' criticised
Almost half of the applications for Civil Service posts under decentralisation are from staff already based outside Dublin who are looking to move to another provincial location. p
Funeral of businessman and art lover
The funeral has taken place of well-known businessman and art collector Vincent Ferguson in Co Sligo. Mr Ferguson, who was 75, died suddenly at his home in Rosses Point on Tuesday. p
Trinity Ball ticket sales hit record
Tickets for this weekend's Trinity Ball - an annual, black-tie event for Trinity College Dublin students, staff, alumni and friends - were the fastest-selling in recent memory, with all 6,000 sold out a full three weeks before the event. p
'Liveline' debate protest censured
Unbalanced debate, inappropriate sexual content and indirect advertising were among six complaints upheld by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) in its decisions for April. p

Battle of the Boyne site visit

Observe the sons of Ulster strolling to the Boyne
It was the sweet normality of the occasion that was so striking, writes Miriam Lord at Oldbridge House p
Party 'happy' it was not invited
Sinn Féin's non-participation: Sinn Féin was not invited to attend the Battle of the Boyne battlefield visit yesterday, but the party appears content to have stood aside from the event. p
Leaders' speeches
Ahern speech: 'I want to warmly welcome you all to the site of the Battle of the Boyne today. I extend a special welcome to the First Minister, Dr Ian Paisley, and Baroness Eileen, and to all who have travelled from Northern Ireland to be here with us. p

In the Courts

Man (24) gets seven years for attempted rape
A man who is serving an eight-year sentence for raping a woman has been jailed for an additional seven years for the attempted rape of another victim by Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins at the Central Criminal Court. p
Paedophile's past catches up with him
A chance meeting in a hackney cab led to the conviction yesterday of a paedophile for the sexual abuse of a little girl 33 years ago. p
Autistic boy in fresh appeal to Minister over deportation
A six-year-old autistic Nigerian boy who faces deportation has lodged another application with Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to stay in this country. p
Skip lorry driver's conviction is upheld
A truck driver who admitted 'making s***e' of Tánaiste Michael McDowell's garden has lost his appeal against a conviction for drink driving. p
Nigerian wins right to challenge refusal
A man with HIV, whose wife also has HIV and whose Irish-born four-year-old daughter has Aids, has secured leave from the High Court to bring a legal claim that he is entitled to refugee status on grounds that he and his family will be denied essential medical care for HIV/Aids in Nigeria. p
Sentence reduced in abuse case
A man who suffered "appalling" sexual and physical abuse by his father has succeeded in having the sentence imposed on him for sexually abusing his brother and sister reduced from eight to three years. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief. p

Morris Tribunal

Former detectives at odds over claims of secret taping
Two former detectives clashed at the Morris tribunal on its 600th day over allegations that confidential meetings were secretly recorded by gardaí in Donegal. p

Regional News

Appeal against Rossiter sentence dismissed
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a man against a 2-and-a-half-year sentence imposed for assault causing harm to Brian Rossiter, the Co Tipperary teenager who became ill while in Garda custody and who died some days later. p
Locals mourn for mother and girls killed in car crash
Prayers were offered in Ballyduff, Co Waterford, yesterday for local woman Bernie Cassidy (39) and her two young daughters who died in a crash between Urlingford and Cashel, Co Tipperary, on Thursday afternoon. p
Work starts on Waterford bridge
Work has begun on construction of the State's longest cable-stayed bridge, which will connect the Waterford city bypass to the M9 motorway, both of which are currently under construction. p
Protest over Wogan honour
A former Limerick city councillor has objected to Limerick's most famous broadcaster, Terry Wogan, receiving the Freedom of the City this June, due to the negative remarks he made nearly 27 years ago about Limerick and, in particular, the lack of notable females the city has produced. p
'Political will' needed to save rural communities
It was increasingly obvious that rural communities would not survive unless ways could be found to maintain and increase the levels of services being provided in rural areas, the Irish Rural Link (IRL) conference in Cavan was told yesterday. p

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