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Minister rejects claim on Shannon in report
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has clashed with the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) over claims that the United States has used Irish airports for "extraordinary rendition" of terrorist suspects. p

Girl (18) died by suicide, inquest finds
A woman whose teenage daughter took her own life after she was bullied by other teenagers has issued an appeal to young people in a similar situation to confide in their friends and family members. p

Asbestosis claims songwriter's life
Singer/songwriter Christie Hennessy has died at the age of 62. p

Other Stories

Road rage 'less likely' cause of man's fatal stabbing
A father of two who was stabbed to death in a laneway in Dublin may not have been the victim of road rage as had been first suggested, the Garda has said. p
Man held over woman's death
Gardaí in Limerick were last night questioning a 23-year-old man about the death of a mother of two whose body was found in a city hotel at the weekend. p
Mother seeks justice for son
The mother of murdered Limerick teenager Richard "Happy" Kelly, whose body was found over a year after he went missing, said yesterday she would fight for justice for her son. p
Hidden Torment: diary entries
The parents of Leanne Wolfe took part in a special Documentary on One, broadcast on RTÉ radio last Sunday. Below is a selection of Leanne's diary entries. p
Warning of 'near misses' in hospitals
There have been a number of "near misses" for both mothers and babies at Dublin's three main maternity hospitals as a result of staffing shortages, it was confirmed yesterday. p
Crib 'ban' a denial of freedom, says imam
A Muslim leader has claimed that RTÉ's objection to the word "crib" in a Veritas advertisement could be seen as suppression of religious freedom. p
Garda says drug party raids are difficult
Garda spokesman Supt Kevin Donohoe has admitted that raids on parties and clubs where cocaine is being used could be problematic. "The way that cocaine, and drugs in general, are taken is a difficult criminal activity to detect," he said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme. p
Funeral of drugs victim marked by emotional scenes
The funeral of 23-year-old John Grey, who died at the weekend more than two weeks after taking drugs at a party in his family home, took place amid emotional scenes at a packed St Saviour's Church, Ballybeg, Waterford, yesterday. p
Coroner hears inquests into three cocaine deaths
Dublin County Coroner's Court yesterday heard inquests into the cocaine-related deaths of three young people from west Dublin. One death was that of a young mother. p
400 witnesses expected in biggest cocaine trial
The State expects to call more than 400 witnesses in the trial of four Englishmen charged in connection with the biggest cocaine seizure in the history of the State, a court was told yesterday. p
Coroner finds drugs played role in two deaths
Drugs played a role in two accidental deaths investigated at Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday. p
Rescue teams begin search in Killaloe for missing man (23)
A search and rescue operation was launched yesterday in Killaloe, Co Clare for a young man who was reported missing after failing to return home or turn up for work on Monday. p
Interest shown in plans for Swords
Preliminary plans for the redevelopment of Swords, Co Dublin, as a city with a population of 100,000, have attracted strong interest from the public. p
Eighteen men investigated in abuse inquiry
Eighteen men, including 11 Brothers of Charity, were investigated in connection with allegations of the sexual abuse of 21 intellectually disabled children in Galway, according to a report published yesterday. p
Main points
The inquiry into allegations of abuse at the Brothers of Charity services in Galway recommends: p
Prison officers set for stoppage
Hundreds of prison officers around the country are to hold a one-hour protest today as part of a row with prison service management over new security measures which staff maintain will lengthen their working day. p
'Vulnerable people' let down, says Minister
The report was described last night by a Government Minister as "a further example of how some of the most vulnerable people in society were badly let down in the past". p
Couple died of smoke inhalation, court told
A father of seven probably died while trying to rescue his girlfriend from a smoke-filled room, a coroner said yesterday. p
Rendition raised with US eight times
The issue of "extraordinary rendition" has been raised with the US authorities by the Government on at least eight occasions, according to a document published in the Irish Human Rights Commission report on the subject, published yesterday. p
Claim of 'fake' rural housing tests
People seeking planning permission for one-off housing in some rural areas are submitting "fake tests" stating sites are suitable for drainage and sewage systems when they are not, the chairman of An Bord Pleanála, John O'Connor, has told an Oireachtas committee. p
Ahern concern over EU treaties
The European Union reform treaty referendum and one offering stronger constitutional rights to children should be held on the same day, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday. p
Argos and union to return to LRC
Management at retailer Argos and trade union Mandate are to go back to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) tomorrow in a bid to avert industrial action scheduled for next week. p
Simon seeks more healthcare for homeless
The Simon Communities of Ireland have called for wider specialised healthcare for the homeless after the charity's annual review revealed that 55 people who used its services last year died prematurely. p
Accuracy of mammograms varies greatly - report
The accuracy of mammograms carried out on women with symptoms of breast disease varies widely and is linked to the radiologist who reads the specialised X-ray, research published last night has found. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief... p

In the North

SF warns on devolution of policing
Sinn Féin has warned against any "backsliding" on the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Assembly after the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson yesterday warned it could not happen prior to the complete dismantling of IRA structures. p
PSNI tackles new disruption - Ikea
Belfast is preparing for the opening of Ireland's first Ikea store tomorrow in a manner similar to the way it prepared for contentious parades. p

Regional News

Farmers to invest over €1.1bn on farms
In what is being interpreted as a sign of confidence in the industry, Irish farmers plan to invest more than €1.1 billion on their farms next year, a conference in Tullamore, Co Offaly, heard yesterday. p
Service in Ennis for 140 murdered women
The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, has stated that every time a woman is murdered, we are diminished as a society. He was speaking at a memorial service in Ennis, Co Clare, to commemorate the 140 women murdered in Ireland since December 1995. p
Opening of Kilkenny pole-dancing club halted
The proposed opening of a pole-dancing club in Kilkenny has been temporarily halted by in the District Court. p
'Pole-dancing' club plan denounced
Councillors in Kilkenny have denounced a planned "pole-dancing" club in the city and called on the public to boycott it. Mayor Marie Fitzpatrick (Labour) said she had been inundated by complaints from members of the public who had been "phoning me and stopping me in the street" to express their opposition. p
Disputed land will 'soon be sold'
The 66-acre tract of land at the centre of a family dispute in Co Clare will soon be sold, the auctioneer looking after its sale said yesterday. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief... p

In the Dáil

Bilateral deal for undocumented in US being reviewed
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has reiterated in the Dáil that the Government is reviewing the possibility of a bilateral agreement with the US for the estimated 25,000 undocumented Irish living there. p
Open season on Bertie's gesture of goodwill
There is no need for panic among the Taoiseach and his Ministers. Remember, there is a branch of MABS in Lombard Street, just a few minutes' walk from Leinster House. Ample parking for state cars is available. p
Government defers pay increases for Ministers
The Government has decided to defer the first part of Cabinet pay rises by a year and to pay the remainder of the increase in 2009 and 2010, according to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. "The full costs will not come on the exchequer until 2011, which will be 11 years after the last report by the review body," Mr Ahern told the Dáil. p
500,000 drivers have penalty points
Almost half a million people have been issued with penalty points and 93 drivers have 12 points resulting in six months disqualification, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey told the Dáil. p
Taoiseach calls for stronger enforcement of drug laws
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern called for a stronger enforcement of the law to deal with the distribution and use of illegal drugs. p
Ahern wants referendums on one day
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he favoured holding the EU treaty and children's referendums on the same day. p
'Fair publication' defamation defence proposal condemned
Seanad report: A provision in the Defamation Bill would have far-reaching consequences because it set up a defence which effectively meant that a publisher could print an untruth and defame somebody, Eugene Regan (FG) said. p

In the Courts

Man awarded €600,000 for wife's death in A&E
An man who watched his wife die while he pleaded for help for her in a hospital accident and emergency department has secured €600,000 in settlement of his High Court action alleging negligence against the Health Service Executive (HSE) in his wife's treatment. Liability was admitted by the HSE in the case. p
Barrister to pay €200,000 to settle dispute
A barrister has agreed to pay €200,000, including costs, as part of the terms of settlement of a two-year dispute over a Dublin city centre premises, the High Court was told yesterday. p
ESB worker's elbow injury claim
An ESB worker who claims he has developed tennis elbow and an injury to his thumb as a result of having to operate a "dangerous" tool for crimping cables, has brought a High Court action for damages. p
Sentence reversed on drink driving fatality
The Court of Criminal Appeal has overturned a suspended five-year sentence imposed on a man for dangerous driving causing the death of another man and has instead directed him to carry out 240 hours of community service. p
Christmas tree sales site disputed
A dispute over the sale of Christmas trees from a site in Dalkey, Co Dublin, will come before the High Court today . p
Schoolboy to stand trial over fatal stabbing of student (18)
A schoolboy charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Leaving Certificate student last May was returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court yesterday. p
Man pleads guilty to 21 charges of rape and indecent assault
A man has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 21 charges of raping and indecently assaulting a male and female extended family members over a 10-year period. p
Judge refuses to sentence cocaine addict for robbery
A cocaine addict who injected the drug intravenously has been told by Judge Patrick McCartan that it would not be in her best interest to sentence her for a knife-point robbery at this time and remanded her in custody. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief... p

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