Previous Day
Rapist's sentence increased to 10 years
The Court of Criminal Appeal (CCA) has upheld the DPP's
arguments that a three-year suspended sentence imposed on a man for
the rape of a mother of three while she slept was "unduly lenient"
and has instead jailed the man for seven years. p
Minister urged to rectify 'flaws' in system
The woman at the centre of yesterday's court case has called on the Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, to rectify the "serious flaws in our criminal justice system" and to ensure that this "never ever happens again". p
Tribunal to question Taoiseach over payments
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to resume giving evidence to the Mahon tribunal today concerning his personal finances. p
Dukes angered as think-tank ends his term
Former opposition leader and minister for finance Alan Dukes has
complained about "discourteous" treatment by the board of the
Institute of European Affairs following its decision that his term
of office as director general should not be extended again. p
Other Stories
Dubliners pay more than rest of State for common services
Dubliners are paying up to 41 per cent more for common services such as hairdressing, according to the latest comparison of prices in the capital and the rest of the State by the Central Statistics Office. pGormley renews licence for Meath stag hunt
A significant concession has been offered by the Department of the Environment to the State's only stag hunt, which has been given a new licence. pWater charge to be based on size of school
The Cabinet will decide on the size of flat-rate water charges to be faced by schools at its first meeting in early January, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said. pShatter urges constitutional reforms be child centred
The Fine Gael spokesman on children's rights, Alan Shatter, has warned that any constitutional referendum on children must be truly child-centred and not "constitutional window dressing". pEU commissioners at odds over car emissions
A dispute over the best way to reduce CO2 emissions from cars broke into the open yesterday when the EU's industry commissioner refused to present a draft law setting fines for car manufacturers. pDelay in EU plan for health treatment abroad
The European Commission has delayed publication of a controversial healthcare plan that would enable people to travel abroad more easily to seek medical treatment. pBikers 24 times more likely to die in road crashes
Motorcyclists in Ireland are 24 times more likely to die in road crashes than car drivers, according to a report published yesterday. pTeenager (14) among two held over Dublin shooting
Gardaí were last night questioning two youths, one of them aged 14, about a shooting incident in which a man sustained head and face pellet injuries. pMan in court today over stabbing murder in Dublin
A man is expected to appear before the courts as early as today to face charges in relation to the murder of Michael Hughes in Dublin at the weekend. pGardaí investigate death in Waterford
Gardaí have requested the assistance of the State Pathologist's office in investigating the sudden death of a 26-year-old man in Waterford city yesterday afternoon. pCensus shows women losing out on top jobs
Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in decision making in Ireland and have lower incomes and hourly earnings than men, according to a new report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). pCSO report: some key findings
The number of women living as lone parents with children under 20 has risen from 65,600 to 122,800 since 1997. The number of lone male parents has increased from 8,100 to 9,700. pHeart disease deaths up for first time in 20 years
Almost 3,000 people died from heart disease in the first three months of this year, 10 per cent more than during the same period last year. p'Persistent' inequality still exists in Irish workplaces
The "significant and persistent" gender inequality in Irish workplaces, where women are much more likely to have low-paid, insecure jobs, can only be overturned when employers introduce systems to deal with the imbalance, says the head of the Equality Authority. pApproval of house units up in 2007- CSO
New figures issued by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicate local authorities granted 16 per cent more planning permissions for apartments in the third quarter of 2007 than for the same period in 2006. pNo Lotto winner as rollover jackpot to top €13m
People who found their attempts to purchase tickets for last night's €11.4 million Lotto draw thwarted by long queues can breathe a sigh of relief as there was no winner of the jackpot. pMore funds for dogs for autistic children
A project providing assistance dogs for children with autism received a €500,000 boost yesterday as the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin announced funding for the scheme. pHuman rights group calls for 'rendition' inspections
A comprehensive inspection and monitoring regime should be put in place to ensure that no foreign aircraft suspected of involvement in "extraordinary rendition" uses Ireland as a transit point, the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) told an Oireachtas committee meeting yesterday. pIrish call for total ban of Brazilian beef turned down by EU
Ireland yesterday voted for a total ban on the import of beef from Brazil when the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health met to endorse restrictions on imports in Brussels. pMajor upgrade of Irish studies at UCD
UCD president Dr Hugh Brady, who faced criticism for his decision to downgrade Old Irish, has pushed through a major new investment in Irish and Celtic studies at the university. pStars fall on Dublin for 'PS I Love You' premiere
"I love the Guinness," Oscar-winner Hilary Swank told reporters
outside Dublin's Savoy cinema last night, although it was anyone's
guess where the super-slim actress had been putting it as she
stepped delicately down the red carpet on her way into the European
premiere of her new film,
PS I Love You . pUS student with child in school to get visa
Gardaí have withdrawn a threat to deport Erin Britton, an American student who was recently told she would be sent home unless she removed her son from a Galway national school. pThreat to Irish walled towns highlighted
A vital and fragile part of Ireland's heritage will be lost forever if walled towns are not protected, according to the author of a new book commissioned by the Heritage Council. pRhino's keepers hope for glittering success
All that glitters is not necessarily gold, as keepers at the African Plains section of Dublin zoo have learned. pIn Short
A roundup of today's other news stories in brief p
Inquiry viewed as 'a mistake going nowhere'
Politicians thought it was a mistake to set up the planning tribunal when it was first established, former lobbyist Frank Dunlop said yesterday. pWitnesses unable to confirm size of sums in Ahern safes
Two witnesses told the tribunal yesterday that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern did keep cash in two safes in his offices between 1987 and 1994, but neither could confirm if the sums were sizeable. p
'Slab' Murphy trial for Special Criminal Court
Prominent Republican Thomas "Slab" Murphy will go on trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin next year for alleged revenue offences. pPriest gets four years for sexual abuse
A 78-year-old priest who sexually abused several girls over a 25-year period has been given a four-year sentence by Judge Patrick McCartan who suspended all but 18 months he must serve. pWoman wanted 'cola and tomatoes' instead of blood
A woman who received a blood transfusion against her Jehovah Witness religious beliefs at the Coombe Women's Hospital has told the High Court she believed an alternative remedy of Coca-Cola and tomatoes should have been given to her when she refused the transfusion. pTravel agent with false documents gets three years
A travel agent who had false identity documents for a group of children has been given a three-year sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. pAppeal on heroin conviction rejected
The Court of Criminal Appeal has rejected an appeal by a Dublin man against his conviction for possession of heroin worth an estimated street value of €1.6 million. pGrandmother gets 10 years for having drugs
A Tipperary grandmother has received a 10-year jail sentence for possessing more than €320,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply. pIn Short
A roundup of today's other court stories in brief p
Water charges statement before schools re-open
A comprehensive Government statement on the interim water charges to be levied on schools is expected to be issued before they re-open in January, according to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. pIrish veto over EU tax changes will remain, Ahern states
Ireland will continue to have a veto over tax sovereignty, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil, as he was questioned about the EU reform treaty referendum. pGilmore calls for increase in allowance for asylum seekers
Ireland's policy on asylum seekers compares "with the best in the world" Taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted as he was accused of being "Scrooge-like" over the failure to increase the direct provision allowance since its introduction in 1999. pMinister defends decision not to grant prospecting licences
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan said his decision not to grant prospecting licences to two companies which would have allowed them to search for uranium in Donegal was taken after careful consideration. pRyan highlights potential of waves and tides for power
The Government is giving priority to investment in research technology development and innovation in ocean energy, Minister for Communications and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan told the Dáil. pDáil sat 76 days this year
The Dáil adjourned for Christmas yesterday, and will return on Wednesday, January 30th. The Seanad sits today, then it will adjourn until late January. pBertie's bloom sets off effusive tone
Dáil Sketch/Marie O'Halloran: It is a rare occasion in the Dáil when talk turns to exotic blooms but Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny couldn't stop mentioning orchids and it was all because of the Christmas card Bertie Ahern sent him. pAhern urged to make U-turn on explanations to tribunal
Seanad report: The Taoiseach should do another U-turn by coming clean at the Mahon tribunal on his explanations about his finances, said Eugene Regan, Fine Gael spokesman on justice. p
Quinns reassured after meeting with Lenihan and the Taoiseach
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern made a surprise appearance at a meeting
between Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan and the parents of
murdered South Armagh man Paul Quinn in Leinster House
yesterday. p
Fishermen 'satisfied' with new EU deal
Ireland's share of catches next year from the EU "pond" has been welcomed by the Federation of Irish Fishermen, following annual all-night negotiations in Brussels. pIarnród Éireann hails €400m railcars
"It is not what we are used to," commented onlookers as the
first of Iarnród Éireann's new €400 million fleet
of sleek, inter-city railcars went into service at Connolly
Station, Dublin yesterday. pChristmas turkey to cost up to 20% more
Irish consumers will have to pay up to 20 per cent more for their fresh Christmas turkey because of rising feed costs, the avian flu outbreak in Britain and a truckers' dispute in Italy. pCall for judicial inquiry into order's policy on sex abusers
There has been a call for an inquiry headed by a judge of the Supreme Court into how the Brothers of Charity dealt with sex abusers among their members "given that sexual abuse has been unearthed in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway in Brother of Charity establishments". pMan cleared of Limerick murder refused his defence costs
Clare businessman Anthony Kelly, one of the three men cleared of the murder of a Limerick bouncer in November, has been denied his application for the cost of his defence at the Central Criminal Court. pGolf resort group told to pay €500,000
A company which owns an 18-hole championship golf course and luxury holiday complex in Blarney, Co Cork, has been ordered by the High Court to pay more than half a million euro to a golf design company. pIn Short
A roundup of today's other regional news stories in brief p
