ireland.com - The Irish Times

Murder inquiry after teenager's body found
Gardaí have begun a murder investigation after the body of a 19-year-old father of one was found on waste ground in a Limerick housing estate yesterday morning. Conor Lally and Kathryn Hayes report. p

EPA issues draft licence for incinerator at Poolbeg
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a draft licence to Dublin City Council to operate its proposed Poolbeg incinerator. p

Mother in breach of abduction convention
The Supreme Court has declared that a mother's decision to keep her three-year-old twin sons in Britain contrary to the wishes of their unmarried father is a breach of the Hague international convention on child abduction because it breaches the rights of custody of the District Court here. p

Decisions on custody and access have yet to be made
Analysis: The court's finding does not advance Mr G's case for guardianship, writes Carol Coulter . p

Other Stories

Authority given initial findings on RTÉ cocaine programme
RTÉ Authority members were yesterday briefed on the circumstances surrounding the broadcasting of the documentary High Society. Ronan McGreevy reports. p
BCC upholds complaints against 'Prime Time'
Complaints against a Prime Time programme for the use of the term "basket case" four times in connection with mental illness have been upheld by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC). p
Garda chief appoints senior officers
The new Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, has reshuffled his senior management team after formally taking over from Noel Conroy on Wednesday. p
MEP to monitor Lusk dump hearing
The petitions committee of the EU parliament is to send a non-Irish member to attend the upcoming oral hearing into Fingal County Council's plans for a "superdump" at Lusk in north Co Dublin. John Downes reports. p
Spanish MEP to attend Lusk dump hearing
The petitions committee of the EU parliament is to send a non-Irish member to attend the upcoming oral hearing into Fingal County Council's plans for a "superdump" at Lusk in north Co Dublin. p
€5.3m plan to attract walkers and cyclists
A €5.3 million initiative to provide outdoor recreation facilities for walkers and cyclists across the State has been unveiled by Coillte and Fáilte Ireland. p
Concern over effect of policies for young homeless
Some Government policies aimed at meeting the needs of homeless young people may be inadvertently accelerating their descent into homelessness, according to new research. Carl O'Brien , Social Affairs Correspondent, reports. p
Goodbye cheques, hello balances
Many Irish farmers are bound to be unhappy with the news that the cheque-in-the-post era will come to an end next year, writes Seán Mac Connell , Agriculture Correspondent p
Ireland 'bottom of league' in wealth-sharing
Ireland is "bottom of the league" in Europe when it comes to giving workers a share of national wealth, Prof Kathleen Lynch of UCD's Equality Studies Centre told a conference on equality yesterday. p
Legal services ombudsman to be established
The Government has announced that it is bringing forward legislation to establish a legal services ombudsman. Carol Coulter , Legal Affairs Editor, reports. p
Education 'central to integration'
The way English is taught to immigrant children must be urgently examined, a conference organised by the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants has been told. p
Scramble expected for tickets to Springsteen gig
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at the RDS arena in Dublin next May 22nd, it was announced yesterday. Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Wednesday, November 28th, and are expected to sell out within minutes. p
Advice for the seasonal shopper
The National Consumer Agency (NCA) has advised consumers to shop sensibly for Christmas to ensure the festive season remains as trouble-free as possible. Paul Cullen , Consumer Affairs Correspondent, reports. p
NUI Galway delegation strengthens links with Chinese institutions
The president of NUI Galway, Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, is leading a college delegation to China to strengthen links between the university and 17 Chinese institutions. Clifford Coonan reports. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief. p

Cancer Services

HSE knew of ultrasound problems weeks ago
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said last night that it first knew several weeks ago that there were doubts about the results of ultrasound scans carried out on some patients with suspected breast cancer at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. Martin Wall reports p
Ultrasound review was not unexpected
Ultrasound complements mammography as a diagnostic tool, explains Dr Muiris Houston , Medical Correspondent p
Harney says she was not told about review of breast ultrasounds
Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney said last night that she only learned of the existence of a review of breast ultrasounds as her officials prepared for Dáil questions. Mark Hennessy , Political Correspondent, reports. p
Alarm bells
How the crisis in breast cancer diagnosis in Portlaoise unfolded. p

In the Courts

Father hopes for return by Christmas
The unmarried father of three-year-old twin boys, who were taken to England by their mother without his knowledge or consent, is hoping they will return to Ireland before Christmas. p
Libel action halted after newspaper article
A High Court action by RTÉ broadcaster Paddy O'Gorman for libel in a newspaper article was suddenly halted yesterday after complaints that another newspaper article about the first day of the case was prejudicial. p
Farmer cleared of evading excise duty on cider
A north Co Dublin farmer has been acquitted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of evading excise duty on cider he made and sold at farmers' markets. p
Appeal against seven years for child assault dismissed
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a man against the severity of a seven-year sentence imposed on him for sexually assaulting two girls aged 12 and six. The man had videotaped an assault on one of the girls. p
Wife who killed husband acquitted
A mother of two who stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife after he had subjected her and her children to a regime of domestic violence was yesterday acquitted of his manslaughter. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief. p

Mahon Tribunal

Richardson says Ahern took loan to buy property
A £22,500 goodwill loan to Bertie Ahern in 1993 was accepted by him "with a view ultimately to acquiring a property for himself", rather than to cover legal expenses associated with his marital separation, the Mahon tribunal was told yesterday. Fiona Gartland reports. p
Contributors were asked for cash so matter would be 'confidential'
Contributors to a loan for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern were asked to give cash so that the matter would remain confidential and because Mr Ahern might reject cheques, the tribunal was told. p
Returns not filed for firm linked with FF
The company used by Des Richardson to invoice Fianna Fáil for fees when he was operating as its chief fundraiser in the early 1990s did not file returns to the Companies Office, the tribunal heard. Colm Keena reports. p
Big-hearted Des gave dig-out to friend down on uppers
A few modest flutters and a couple of pints with the lads. For nearly three decades, the Christmas Race Meeting at Leopardstown has been an annual treat for Bertie Ahern and his Drumcondra Mafia, writes Miriam Lord. p
Richardson had multiple fundraising roles
Analysis: A payment to Bertie Ahern was recorded as a contribution to his constituency operation, writes Colm Keena . p

In the Dáil

Ryan gives chilling warning on global warming
Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan has issued a stark warning of climatic Armageddon unless there is a dramatic reduction in global emissions. Marie O'Halloran reports. p
Byrne criticises 'red tape' around drug taskforces
Local drugs taskforces have the potential to do great work in dealing with the challenge of drug abuse but are increasingly "tied up in red tape and bureaucracy", the Dáil has been told. p
Dáil told of work on beef ban
Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan insisted that the banning of Brazilian beef was a matter for the European Commission. "The commissioner is charged with the health of the people in the EU, and he is the competent authority." p
Cowen faces calls to reform pensions
A debate was taking place on pensions arising from detailed actuarial reviews and the Green Paper, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen told the Dáil. p
No change when it comes to reform
Dáil Sketch: Dáil reform has long become the demand of the opposition of the day, to be dismissed in a sea of waffle and posturing by the serving government. p
Departments reviewing data security - Cowen
Reviews by all Government departments of data security are expected to be completed early in the new year, according to Tánaiste Brian Cowen. p
Poolbeg decision condemned
Seanad Report: Decisions were being made by independent bodies for political reasons because powers had been abrogated in legislation and politicians could not stand over that, Dan Boyle (GP), deputy leader of the Seanad, said. p

In the North

Police question boyfriend of murdered Derry girl
Police in Limavady were yesterday still questioning the boyfriend of a local girl who was murdered in the Co Derry town on Wednesday night. George Jackson reports. p
Trimble wants equal security for North against terror threats
The British government is coming under pressure to assure people in Northern Ireland that they will not be given lesser protection against external terrorism as a result of moves toward electronic borders. p
MP's spy claim denied by Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin has denied allegations made by a DUP MP in the House of Commons that Mid Ulster Assembly member Francie Molloy was a police informer. p

Regional News

Toddler killed after fall from flats window
A coroner in Cork has recommended that building regulations be complied with in the future when work is being carried out on the windows of apartment buildings where children are living. p
Decision on appeal by jailed councillor due next week
A decision will be given next Tuesday on an appeal by Galway county councillor Michael Fahy against his conviction for fraud and attempted theft. p
Keane nephew jailed for theft of €37,000 Audi car
A nephew of murdered Limerick crime figure Kieran Keane has been jailed for 10 months for stealing a high-powered car worth €37,000. p
Coroner warns on unforeseen cocaine effects
The unpredictable effects of cocaine on the body brought about the death of a 22-year-old Cork man earlier this year, an inquest heard yesterday. p
Houses plan for Slane angers locals
Residents and conservation groups in Slane, Co Meath, are angered by a proposal to vary the new county development plan, fearing the measure would lead to the building of 65 houses in the village centre on land containing protected structures. p

Sections

Search for

Services

Most popular stories

Property

Jobs

Motors

Dating