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Gardaí raid 150 premises in Limerick region
IN POSSIBLY the biggest operation of its kind in the history of the State, more than 250 gardaí searched 150 premises in the midwest yesterday as part of an investigation into Limerick criminal gangs. The offices of a number of accountants and solicitors were also visited. p

McGuinness tells investment conference 'old days are gone'
DEPUTY FIRST Minister Martin McGuinness proclaimed what may prove to be the end of the Northern Ireland troubles when he told an investment conference in Belfast yesterday: “The old days are gone, the old days will never return.” p

Museum buys Harry Clarke piece at London auction of Irish artworks
A SIGNIFICANT stained-glass work by the renowned Irish artist Harry Clarke is to return to his native Dublin after it was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland yesterday. p

Motion defuses Ó Searcaigh row at Aosdána
THE EXPECTED row within Aosdána, arising from the controversial documentary about poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh, was defused yesterday when the annual general assembly agreed to a motion endorsing the Arts Council’s child welfare protection policy. p

Ahern Judgment

Ahern succeeds in court challenge to Mahon tribunal
FORMER TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has won his High Court challenge to the handling by the Mahon tribunal of aspects of its inquiries into lodgements to Mr Ahern’s accounts when he was minister for finance in 1993 and 1994. p
Judgment speaks for itself, says Ahern
THERE WAS a sense of vindication evident in former taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s brief reaction to winning his High Court challenge against rulings made by the Mahon tribunal. p
Constitution defends both private citizens and public representatives
ANALYSIS: The High Court has re-stated people's rights before tribunals, writes Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Editor p
Only 'court of public opinion' may judge Dáil statements
BERTIE AHERN "may be judged by the court of public opinion" over the accuracy or otherwise of Dáil statements about his financial affairs but not by the Mahon tribunal, the High Court ruled. p

In the Dáil

Clarify Privacy Bill's limbo status, FG tells Ahern
FINE GAEL has called on new Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to clarify the “limbo” status of the Privacy Bill, as the Defamation Bill was introduced in the Dáil. p
Management companies for apartments to be regulated
THE GOVERNMENT is to publish legislation during the current Dáil session regulating management companies in apartment complexes, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern told the House. p
Timing of Morris report defended
TÁNAISTE MARY Coughlan defended the timing of the publication of the Morris tribunal report into the conduct of some gardaí in Donegal. p
Dempsey denies failure on Dublin transport plans
MINISTER FOR Transport Noel Dempsey has rejected Labour Party claims of inadequate preparation for and information about traffic and business disruption in Dublin while major infrastructural projects are under construction. p
Lisbon will be 'defeated' if farmers reject it
SEANAD REPORT: WARNING THAT the Lisbon Treaty referendum would be defeated if the farming community and rural dwellers did not support it, Denis O’Donovan (FF) said he had been disappointed with the turnout at meetings that had been held in his constituency to promote a positive result. A debate on agriculture and the World Trade Organisation talks was needed to enable voters to make up their minds on Lisbon, he stressed. p
Drink and drugs threat to rural life
RURAL LIFE is being destroyed by people buying “drink and drugs for little or nothing” and then being killed on the roads, the Dáil has heard. p
Labour calls for debate on Burma
LABOUR’S FOREIGN affairs spokesman, Michael D Higgins, called for a Dáil debate on the situation in Burma. p
Coughlan hosts theatre of smiles as a passing Cowen pops in
DÁIL SKETCH: IT WAS a special occasion indeed - for more than one reason. Surprisingly Taoiseach Brian Cowen graced the Dáil with his presence on a Thursday, having indicated he would stick to his predecessor's practice of only attending on two Dáil days. p

In the Courts

Court orders €1.7m repayment in Bula case
THE HIGH Court has granted judgment for €1.7 million to Tom Roche, the chairman of National Toll Roads, against former business partner and former brother-in-law Michael Wymes, in proceedings arising from the collapse of Bula Mines 25 years ago. p
Judge finds housing code breaches rights
THE HIGH Court has declared that a provision of the Housing Acts is incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. p
Coombe facing €1m legal bill over transfusion case
THE COOMBE Women’s Hospital in Dublin is facing a costs bill of over €1 million for its successful High Court action for declarations that it was entitled to administer a necessary blood transfusion to a female member of the Jehovah’s Witness faith against her wishes. p
Man ordered to remove slogans alleging corruption
A MAN who daubed a gable wall on his property in Howth, Co Dublin, with allegedly defamatory statements about his neighbours and statements claiming corruption in the planning process has been ordered by the High Court to remove the slogans. p
Creche owner who bit child pays €11,000
A CRECHE owner bit a three-year-old child on the arm to teach him a lesson about biting other children, a judge heard yesterday. p
In Short
Other court stories in brief p

Other Stories

Changes expected in junior ministries
FIANNA FÁIL TDs are expecting across-the-board changes in the junior ranks when the Cabinet decides on the composition of the second-tier Ministers on Tuesday. p
Security measures eroding civil liberties, says data commissioner
THE DATA Protection Commissioner has warned of an increasing erosion of civil liberties through the introduction of security measures that infringe on the right to privacy of citizens. p
Ballot on industrial action gets go-ahead
INO ANNUAL CONFERENCE: DELEGATES AT the Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) annual conference yesterday voted to ballot the union’s 40,000 members on a fresh campaign of industrial action. p
Cancer crisis victim accuses Drumm of spinning report
BREAST CANCER misdiagnosis victim Rebecca O’Malley has strongly criticised the chief executive of the HSE, Prof Brendan Drumm, and reiterated her belief that he should consider his position. p
Shortage of staff leaves patients locked in
PATIENTS AT Dublin’s Central Mental Hospital were locked in their rooms yesterday morning because of a staff shortage linked to the lengthy psychiatric nurses’ dispute. p
Campaigners tag Dublin Port Co land transfer plan 'bizarre'
CAMPAIGNERS opposing Dublin Port Company’s 21-hectare expansion into Dublin Bay have described a company proposal to give up its lands on Bull Island, if it gets planning permission for expansion, as desperate and “bizarre”. p
OPW and gardaí dismantle motorway protesters' tents
THE TENTS and tepees used by motorway protesters on the lower slopes of the Hill of Tara were dismantled yesterday morning by the Office of Public Works. p
Prospective candidates eye Kitt seat
PROSPECTIVE FIANNA Fáil general election candidates in Dublin South will start jockeying for position shortly, following local TD, Tom Kitt’s decision not to run again. p
Coughlan denies Morris report timing 'a stroke'
TÁNAISTE MARY Coughlan has denied that the decision to publish the sixth report of the Morris tribunal on the day the new Government was formed was designed to overshadow the damaging report. p
Harney defends Cabinet reshuffle
MINISTER FOR Health Mary Harney has rejected criticism that the Cabinet reshuffle was not radical enough and said Taoiseach Brian Cowen had made “lots of significant changes”. p
Treaty will keep Ireland neutral, says Cox
THE "MUTUAL assistance" clause in the Lisbon Treaty will allow Ireland to make its own decisions on whether, if and how to come to another member state's assistance in the event of armed aggression, Pat Cox, former president of the EU said yesterday. p
Anti-bullying project wins top award
STUDENTS FROM Ennis, Co Clare, have been named Young Social Innovators of the Year for their anti-bullying project. p
Ambulance crews renew strike threat
AMBULANCE CREWS have renewed a threat of all-out industrial action in a row over the use of private ambulance services. p
EU report critical of airline websites
ONE IN three airline and travel websites mislead consumers, according to a report from the European Commission. p
Academia 'can help to tackle poverty'
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS with higher education bodies in developing countries can help tackle the problems of the world’s poorest and least-achieving nations, President Mary McAleese told a conference in Dublin yesterday. p
Bord Pleanála rules against Lough Derg private marina
AN BORD Pleanála has rejected plans for the retention of a private marina on the shore of Lough Derg in Co Tipperary. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief p

Regional News

Man who put water at risk with illegal dump fined €1m
A WICKLOW businessman has been fined €1 million for putting the drinking water in Blessington at risk of contamination by illegally dumping industrial waste. p
File on missing €7m loan to go to DPP
A HIGH Court judge has described the circumstances of a multimillion land deal in Co Offaly, in which €7 million lent by a bank has gone missing, as the “most dishonest transaction” he has ever encountered as a serving judge. p
Crewman dies after being hit by heavy rope
A FATHER of three died yesterday from serious head injuries sustained when he was struck by a heavy rope on a fishing vessel off the coast of Cork. p
Killarney trumps Tralee as Marks & Spencer store opens
THE RETAIL giant Marks Spencer will open its flagship Kerry store in Killarney later this morning in a move that is seen as a feather in the tourist town's cap over its larger neighbour, Tralee. "MS Killarney" will be the company's 18th shop in the Republic and its 35th on the island. p
Open verdict on death of woman after heavy fall
AN OPEN verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a 47-year-old woman after a heavy fall. Breda Ryan, Kilnap Place, Farranree, Cork, died at Cork University Hospital on March 12th, 2007, after she fell in her partner's home while intoxicated. p
In Short
A round-up of other stories in brief p

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