ireland.com - The Irish Times

People wealthier but debt-ridden
Irish people are healthier, wealthier and better educated than ever before. Yet they are also saddled with record debt, increased crime and relatively high levels of poverty. p

Millstreet Poles ahead in numbers
Millstreet, Co Cork, has the highest proportion of Polish residents of any town or village in the country, new figures show. p

Award to publican marks end of long legal saga
The award of almost €2.5 million to Frank McBrearty snr in respect of damage suffered by his business as a result of Garda harassment marks the end of a legal saga. A decade ago, the Raphoe publican first sought an injunction to stop excessive Garda attention to his music venue. p

Many private apartments sub-standard
Three-quarters of private apartment schemes in Dublin have inadequate fire safety provisions, and a large number are dirty, have no security measures and are inaccessible to disabled people, according to the biggest apartment survey ever undertaken by Dublin City Council. p

Apartment management firms criticised by council
Apartment management companies are not living up to their financial and legal obligations and are putting apartment owners at risk of having unsaleable homes, according to a damning report from Dublin City Council. p

Other Stories

Quinn murder 'barbaric and sinful', mourners told
Paul Quinn, the 21-year-old man bludgeoned to death on a Co Monaghan farm last weekend, was laid to rest yesterday after requiem Mass at his local parish church of St Patrick's in Cullyhanna, Co Armagh. p
Cullyhanna anger aimed at SF/IRA
The depth of anger within the tiny village of Cullyhanna over the murder of Paul Quinn became evident in the immediate aftermath of the young man's burial yesterday. p
Sex trafficking suspect arrested in Dublin
A man has been arrested in Dublin in connection with a Dutch investigation into a child trafficking ring that forced Nigerian children into prostitution in Europe. p
Review outlines Shannon-Heathrow events
The Department of Transport's top official urged the chairman of Aer Lingus in mid-June not to make any speedy decisions to cease or reduce services between Heathrow and Shannon. p
Expert warns of threat to media
Considering freedom of the press as a universal human right could lead to less and not more press freedom, a legal expert has argued. p
Irish journalist is new editor of 'Observer'
Dublin-born journalist John Mulholland is to become the editor of the Observer newspaper next January. p
Warning of UN concern at move to expand role of special court
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has expressed concern about the prospect of expanding the remit of the Special Criminal Court to include gangland crime. It said that to do so, as mooted this week, would put Ireland "in the dock" with the United Nations Human Rights Committee. p
55,000 toys recalled in lead scare
The world's largest toymaker, Mattel, yesterday recalled more than 55,000 toys due to concerns that the products contain high levels of lead. p
Learner must be accompanied on second licence
More than 120,000 motorists on a second provisional licence will not be allowed to drive unaccompanied from October 30th under measures introduced by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey. p
The new regulations: Q&A
Likely questions about the new requirements answered. p
Byrne insists new strategy will be implemented
If measures included in the new Road Safety Strategy were fully implemented the State could be among the top five countries in Europe for road safety by 2012, Gay Byrne, chairman of the Road Safety Authority, said yesterday. p
Steps to cut road deaths on 'long finger'
Fine Gael complained last night that the measures most likely to be effective in curbing road deaths have been long-fingered and one will not be introduced for over a year, while lower alcohol limits are two years away. p
Social isolation linked to gun crime
A psychiatrist attached to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum endorsed views expressed by the British Medical Journal which argue that tackling social isolation and increasing child protection may be more effective than gun control in reducing violence and gun crime among young people. p
End support for criminal gangs, President urges
President Mary McAleese has said that the only way to stop gangland criminals from flourishing is for people to refuse to buy the illegal material they sell. p
'Renaissance man' remembered
The meteorologist Brendan McWilliams bridged the gap between science and humanity and was the original Renaissance man, his Requiem Mass heard yesterday. p
HSE, pharmacists set for fresh talks
Talks aimed at trying to sort out the issues which led to the recent dispute between the Health Service Executive and pharmacists are to begin in Dublin next Wednesday. p
In short
More news in brief. p

In the Courts

Rape may warrant life term, court rules
The maximum life sentence may be imposed in rape cases in "rare and exceptional circumstances" even when there is a guilty plea, the Supreme Court has ruled. The fact of a guilty plea does not mean there must be a reduction in sentence, it said yesterday in a major judgment clarifying the law on sentencing in such cases. p
Jury in doorman murder trial sees CCTV footage
The Central Criminal Court jury in the trial of four men accused of the fatal shooting of a Limerick bouncer have been shown footage of a man alleged to be one of the accused on the night of the shooting. p
Convictions for reckless endangerment overturned
The Supreme Court has unanimously overturned the convictions and sentences of two young men, cousins Fergal Cagney and Ronan McGrath, for "reckless endangerment" arising from an incident in Dublin during which another man was hit with a blow, fell on to the road and died later in hospital. p
'Harassment' campaign claimed
A Quinn Direct insurance claims manager contacted the home of a woman involved in an accident up to 15 times in an attempt to persuade her to accept a settlement offer arising from a motor accident, the High Court was told yesterday. The manager also advised the family against taking legal advice, it was claimed. p
Manslaughter trial fails due to missing witness
The trial of a Waterford man charged with the manslaughter of a 47-year-old collapsed yesterday because a prosecution witness was out of the country and "uncontactable". p
EU court rules Irish landfill broke directive
Europe's highest court has ruled that the Government broke EU law by authorising a landfill in Wicklow despite knowing that potentially dangerous pollutants would seep into the Avoca river. p
In short
More court reports in brief. p

In the North

Boost to investment in North
The North's Minister for Finance Peter Robinson has aimed his first budget at boosting investment, competitiveness and increasing the private wealth-creating sector. Despite a drive for much greater efficiency in the public sector which upset some trade unionists, the Minister is also appealing for public support via a massive programme of investment. p
Robinson crafts clever compromise
Budget was as much about underpinning devolution as about the economy, writes Dan Keenan . p
Spending programme
The main points. p
New dig to find man killed by IRA in 1975
Efforts have resumed to find the body of Columba McVeigh who was abducted and killed by the IRA when he was 19 years old. p
British and Irish border controls might 'integrate'
The successful development of "electronic" borders and the necessary protection of the Common Travel Area between the UK and the Republic will require the virtual integration of British and Irish immigration controls. p

In the Dáil

Ireland is 'land of sleazy brothels'
Irish men are paying for sex with foreign women who have been forced into prostitution, the Dáil was told. p
76 women have been trafficked in already - Lenihan
At least 76 women have been trafficked into Ireland in the past seven years for sexual exploitation, according to Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan who introduced legislation carrying penalties of up to life imprisonment for such exploitation. p
Cowen denies claim of Shannon cover-up
Tánaiste Brian Cowen has rejected a Labour Party claim that the Government was engaged in a "political conspiracy to cover up what was known about Shannon" and the loss of the Aer Lingus Heathrow slots to Belfast. p
Minister says loan issue will be studied
Any outstanding issues relating to how solicitors deal with mortgage lending will be addressed, the Dáil was assured. p
Idea of tribunal debate rejected
A claim by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that Dáil rules required a debate on the completion of public hearings of the Mahon tribunal was rejected by Tánaiste Brian Cowen. p
Brian broods while the Bull Homer nods
Dáil Sketch /Michael O'Regan: The Opposition sent out an advance party yesterday to fire a Scud missile at the Government, ahead of a full-scale attack when Bertie Ahern returns to the House next week. p
Harris unwittingly votes for and against Government
Seanad report: Eoghan Harris, a nominee of the Taoiseach, caused problems for Seanad administrators when it was found that he had voted for and against the Government on whether yesterday's business schedule should be changed. p

Regional News

County Council sacks employee for breach of code
Waterford County Council has confirmed that it has dismissed a council employee for breaches of its code of conduct for staff, but declined to elaborate on the reasons for the dismissal. p
Shell advisers had no consent to drill
The Department of the Environment is considering what action to take with the Corrib gas developers, following an admission by Shell consultants that they drilled in a special area of conservation (SAC) in north Mayo without the appropriate consent. p
Call for law to help voluntary patients
The urgent need to introduce legislation to provide protection for "voluntary" patients in Irish psychiatric institutions has been highlighted at a seminar in Cork. p
Book on sinking of boats launched
Family and friends of the fishermen lost at sea off the southeast coast earlier this year attended the launch of a new book about the tragedy in Waterford last night. p

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