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Local groups will pay to fix their potholes in new scheme
CASH-STRAPPED communities have been asked by the Government to pay up to 50pc of the cost of fixing their potholes or carrying out the work themselves.
‘Illegal’ treasure trove hoard handed over to museum
A HOARD of almost 900 metal-detected objects dug up by a treasure hunter have been handed over to the National Museum of Ireland.
Suicide risk for men under 21 is four times higher
YOUNG men under 21 years of age are at four times the risk of suicide and many are experiencing bullying and humiliation in schools and colleges.
John Dundon seeks adjournment of Shane Geoghegan murder trial
A LIMERICK man accused of the murder of Garryowen rugby player Shane Geoghegan has brought a High Court action aimed at delaying the start of his trial.
Driver in fatal crash hit traffic-calming island
Father-of-one was the only occupant in the vehicle.
Second day of trawler tragedy inquest
A TWO day coroner’s inquest opens today (Tuesday) into the death of five fishermen who drowned when their trawler struck rocks and sank at the entrance to a west Cork bay.
School refuses to take back student who allegedly sold drugs
A WEST of Ireland secondary school is refusing to take back a student expelled for allegedly selling illegal drugs at school, despite being ordered to do so by Department of Education, the High Court has heard.
Killers executed loner in woods over guns seizure
Man's body was found by children at the weekend.
Standing ovation for Kenny in Boston despite protests
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny received a standing ovation for a charismatic address to Boston College graduates, despite the controversy which surrounded his invitation to the Jesuit school.
Medic says abortion bill will send wrong message to suicidal
THE Government's legislation allowing for the threat of suicide as a ground for abortion could end up giving the wrong message to the suicidal and vulnerable young men in particular, a psychiatrist has warned.
Robbers get five years or less in jail
EIGHT out of 10 convictions for robbery attract sentences of five years or less, according to a new analysis.
Concern at low rate of convictions for clerical abuse cases
ONLY a fraction of more than 700 abuse allegations against 320 priests have resulted in convictions since 1975, according to the Catholic Church's independent child protection watchdog.
Poor planning by councils will be overturned
COUNCILS which give the green light for developments that threaten wildlife or are on flood plains will have their decisions thrown out by the Government.
A mobile phone is stolen every 20 minutes
A MOBILE phone is now stolen every 20 minutes in Ireland with a surge in street robberies involving smartphones.
Teen ordered to plant flowers after drug arrest
A YOUNG offender who was caught with €675 of cocaine has been told he must spend the next six months planting flowers if he wants to avoid a sentence.
27,000 ignore alert over fire-risk dishwasher
JUST over 7pc of consumers owning faulty dishwasher models in Ireland have responded to a fire hazard warning.
Quinn family questions 'generous' redundancy payouts for ex-staff
Report by Quinn into loss of Insurance empire.
Care home residents 'drank too much while socialising'
SOME residents in a nursing home drank too much while socialising locally, putting their safety at risk, inspectors have found.
Insurance firms at centre of data protection report
THE prosecution of three large insurance companies for breaking data protection laws will be among the key points of the 2012 annual report by Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes today.
Latest version of Dracula to be filmed in Belfast
A FILM version of Dracula is to be made in Belfast.
Boyband wannabes on song as Louis seeks next sensation
Louis Walsh 'more than impressed' with talent.
School saved as Hero the bull helps raise €100k
A school which was under threat of closing has won a reprieve after a bull called Hero saved the day.
Price of spuds soars by 85pc as long winter delays crops
FAMILIES have been hit with a 10pc hike in the cost of locally produced food because of the cold winter and delayed spring.
Highest courts to hold extra sittings in effort to tackle caseload logjam
MORE of the country's highest courts are to hold extra sittings later this year in an attempt to tackle "significant delays" and to help break a logjam of backed-up cases.
Body in flat was convicted murderer
A BODY found in a flat had been dead for two months and turned out to be that of a convicted murderer living under an assumed name.
Jail terms for abortion pill use to be debated
THE prospect of women facing up to 14 years in prison for buying abortion pills over the internet is expected to be one of the key topics for discussion at the Oireachtas abortion hearings today.
It's barking mad – Tiny the terrier adopts six orphaned ducklings
DOGS and ducks have been known to be arch enemies but a little terrier called Tiny has taken happily to the role of foster mother to six orphaned ducklings.
Statue of hurling legend Mackey unveiled
A LIFE-sized bronze statue of legendary hurler Mick Mackey has been unveiled in Castleconnell, Co Limerick.
Gun found in harbour
Garda technical experts are examining an Uzi machinegun, which was found in Howth harbour in Dublin.
Finance chief gets key economic data at the local Spar
The Department of Finance Secretary General John Moran has revealed that when it comes to taking the pulse of the real economy, he likes to hear from taxi drivers and the people at his local Spar shop, believing their views to be better "leading indicators" than the reams of statistics provided by his officials.
Support for suicide abortion down: Poll
A SLIM majority (53 per cent) finds abortion acceptable in cases of a threat of suicide – down five points in three months, according to the latest Sunday Independent/ Millward Brown opinion poll.
State faces being sued if IBRC fails to pay debts
THE CEO of a leading German-based investment fund has warned that his company may sue the State should the IBRC fail to honour its commitment to repay millions of euro owed to its subordinated bondholders.
More shops forced to shut doors as town struggles in face of recession
It was a neighbourhood cafe, bakery and cakeshop named after a U2 song, but after three years in business The Sweetest Thing closed its doors for the last time yesterday.
Irish grads sting UK for college fees
Irish students who studied in the UK and who have failed to repay more than €4.3m in student loans are to be tracked down by private investigators hired by the British government, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
Electoral systems changes considered by Constitutional Convention
ALLOWING voting for a local Dail candidate without affecting overall party strengths is among electoral changes being considered by the Constitutional Convention, it was revealed.
Calls to reopen Croppies Acre memorial park
CAMPAIGNERS have demanded the reopening of a memorial park to Irish patriots which was closed just a year after tens of thousands of euro in public money was poured into upgrading it.
King of cafe society Giorgio may have lost his palace, but he'll reign again
AT 5pm on Thursday, Dublin's 'king of cafe society' Giorgio Casari was a king without a kingdom when the Unicorn – the restaurant he had run since 1994 – closed abruptly.
TDs angry at 'attempts to buy peace with unions'
Significant anger and concern among Fine Gael backbenchers has emerged over the Government's ongoing attempts to "buy industrial peace at all costs" with trade unions.
One in seven people on the dole has never worked a single day
One in every seven people on the dole have never worked a single day in their lives, "disturbingly shocking" figures reveal.
Senator fury at RTE over Lowry tapes radio report
FIANNA Fail senator Diarmuid Wilson will be making a complaint to RTE over an "innuendo-laden" item on last Sunday's This Week radio programme dealing with the existence of a tangential "business connection" between him and Lowry tapes whistleblower Kevin Phelan.
Ritz-Carlton granted trespass order in feud over luxury suite
THE international owners of the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, obtained a High Court order last week barring the owner of one of its suites from occupying it.
Garda and PSNI to link systems
THE Garda and PSNI computerised licence-plate recognition systems are being linked together as part of the massive security exercise surrounding the G8 meeting of world leaders in Fermanagh next month.
Judge causes consternation – by working too hard
Another row over the judiciary's work rate has erupted – but this one is over a judge working too hard.
Business 'should give more'
THE Taoiseach's election strategist, Frank Flannery, has urged Ireland's leading businesspeople to loosen their purse strings when it comes to charitable donations.
Anger as gay porn incident cleric is made parish priest
A CLERIC who accidentally showed gay porn to parents of schoolchildren in the North has been appointed parish priest of Clogherhead.
Dowling centre-stage for the final time as he's laid to rest in US
Fewer tears were shed than laughter shared as family and friends gathered to remember Vincent Dowling during a service held on Friday in his adopted home in the United States where he was remembered as obsessive, curious, an Irish treasure and a life-changing influence for scores of actors.
FG backbenchers heap pressure on Cabinet to change draft abortion legislation
FINE Gael back benchers are likely to increase the pressure on the Government to alter the provisions for suicide in the draft abortion legislation after the emergence of key divisions between the masters of the country's two main maternity hospitals.
Teachers fear new special needs plans will be red-tape nightmare
A NEW approach to catering for pupils with special education needs (SEN) is recommended in a major report – but primary teachers warn it could turn into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Thirteen taken ill in water pollution scare
BUSINESSES in Co Roscommon are demanding the county council take immediate action to rectify the ongoing water problems that have left 13 people needing treatment and 10,000 more forced to boil their water.
Grand Slam women inspire 300 new recruits to pick up the oval ball
ALMOST 300 rugby novices had their first introduction to the oval ball as Ireland's Grand Slam winning women's team showed what can be achieved by an amateur squad.
Sex controversy poet opts out of writers' festival
CONTROVERSIAL poet Cathal O Searcaigh has pulled out of an event at next week's Dublin Writers Festival.
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Irish Video
Minister Howlin pays tribute to LRC
Minister Howlin decribed the talks as difficult and paid tribute to the 'incredible stamina' of the LRC and it's chairman.
Medical law experts make submissions on abortion legislation
The health commitee has been told that legislators shouldn't feel under an obligation to provide for suicide in the protection of life in the pregnancy bill
Dan Brown hints at setting new novel in Ireland
The International Best Selling writer Dan Brown has hinted he may set a new novel in Ireland
Study finds clustering of suicide deaths amongst under 18s
A study has found that up to half of suicides by people aged under 18 are as a result of similar type deaths in their community.
Gardaí begin dig in search for suspected murder victim
Gardai searching for a man they believe has been murdered have begun a dig at the house of a former detective Garda
Farmers urged to seek assistance over dying animals
The Farm advisory group has appealed to farmer swho have any animals dying on their land to seek advice and assistance.
Convictions for clerical child abuse 'remain low'
Enda Kenny on Boston abortion protest
Enda Kenny on Boston abortion protest.
Hogan on household charge
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, on the household charge.
Hogan and Bruton on Shatter
Two senior Fine Gael ministers have weighed in heavily behind Justice Minister Alan Shatter in the penalty points controversy.
Features
Calcium, osteoporosis and Coeliac Disease
People with coeliac disease have a higher risk of developing the bone disease osteoporosis
John Rocha talks eyes
John Rocha, known for his signature muted tones, has brought in a vibrant palette for his debut foray in to eyewear
Be fab at 50 ‘Shouts’ Lulu with new Aurora Collection
Lulu unveils a collection of glasses created specifically for stylish women aged 50 plus
Features
Should’ve gone to Specsavers …New Hawkeye will give refs a clear view
‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’, will be a phrase aimed less often at referees, now that the new Hawkeye points detection technology is going live at Croke Park.
A splash of colour as … John Rocha and Specsavers join forces
Bright crimson, blush pink and indigo blue are the keynotes in one of the biggest fashion stories of this year. Designer John Rocha has launched his first ever eyewear collection, teaming up with Specsavers.
Managing cross contamination on a gluten-free diet
One of the problems with managing a gluten free diet is making sure that you don’t accidentally pick up gluten.
