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Blaze destroys historic church
A NORTH Dublin landmark went up in flames last night as a fire swept through the former church attached to the Artane industrial school.
Death toll on roads rises to 204 after weekend tragedies
TWO people died after car accidents at the weekend, bringing the death toll on the nation's roads so far this year to 204, writes Patricia McDonagh.
Tax refund bill tops €535m as claims pour in
ONE-third of the workforce reclaimed over €535m from the taxman last year amid warnings of tough economic times ahead.
'Astonishing' €2m bill for transport plan advisers
TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey spent €2m on consultants in the first six months of 2008 -- with most of the money splurged on promoting the Transport 21 blueprint.
Deadly C diff now attacks more patients than MRSA
THE deadly C difficile superbug has eclipsed MRSA as the leading cause of hospital infections, according to new figures.
Grealish's future to top agenda at next PD party meeting
THE Progressive Democrats could be left with just one representative in the Dail later this week, as speculation intensifies that Galway West TD Noel Grealish will quit the party to join Fianna Fail.
Young dad questioned by police over death of baby son
A 24-YEAR-OLD father is being questioned by police about the death of his three-month-old son.
Pursuit crash victim had 'no badness in him'
THE funeral will take place today of a young man killed in a car crash while being pursued by gardai.
Faithful prepare for record-breaking pilgrimage to Lourdes
The sick and the young yesterday set out on the largest-ever pilgrimage to Lourdes from the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Roche to press for action on Belarus trip ban
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheal Martin will meet with Chernobyl Children's Project (CCP) founder Adi Roche today to discuss the controversial ban by the Belarusian government on children travelling on overseas aid trips.
US takes biggest gamble in history
THE world's biggest financial bail-out was staged by the American government yesterday in a bid to ease the global credit crisis.
Two rescued as speedboat sinks
TWO men were lucky to escape with their lives yesterday after their speedboat capsized, plunging them into heavy seas.
Hurler is pitch perfect two years after near-fatal injury
A YOUNG hurler whose life hung in the balance after he was struck on the head during a match celebrated his recovery at the weekend.
'It took us 45 years to get here and we won't be coming back any time soon'
AS IF any further proof of their calibre were required, Kilkenny steamrolled their way to the top spot on the hurling roll of honour with a substantial win over Waterford in Croke Park yesterday.
Fans' fury as rail delay forces them to miss first match
HURLING fans were left fuming yesterday after rail works forced many to miss yesterday's minor final curtain-raiser at Croke Park.
Gardai foil organised fist fight in midlands
EXTRA gardai were deployed to a midlands town yesterday to prevent a bare-knuckle fight organised by Travellers.
Foul play ruled out in canal death
GARDAI last night ruled out foul play after a man's body was found on a bank of the Royal Canal in Dublin.
facelift for old clock after ravages of time
Dublin's oldest public clock -- on St Patrick's Cathedral -- is getting a facelift to restore it to tick-tock order.
Tax evasion not seen by public as a serious crime
A NEW survey has found that cheating the taxman is not considered by the public to be a serious crime.
Lack of rehab beds forces mum to travel abroad
A YOUNG mother battling both MRSA and 'locked-in' syndrome will undergo rehab in Britain after an unsuccessful seven-month battle to secure a bed in Ireland.
Planning law to strip politicians of powers in flood risk areas
COUNTY councillors will no longer be able to overturn expert advice and grant planning permission in areas at risk of flooding.
Minister and brother split over supermarket on floodplain
A JUNIOR minister who is backing a retail giant's proposal to build a supermarket on a floodplain is facing strong opposition from his brother.
Forecasters sound alarm as more dark clouds rumble in
IRELAND is set for another soaking this week, with severe rain and the threat of further flooding.
Apartments plan scaled back over river fears
PERMISSION for 46 houses in an extension to Athlone's Shamrock Lodge Hotel has been refused because of flooding concerns.
The 'Here We Go' days are back with a vengeance
THERE is a time for optimism of the quiet kind -- but this, apparently, is not it.
Cervical smear contract forces top labs to shut
Shane Phelan Investigative Correspondent
Transplant team celebrates bumper medal haul
Colin Bartley
HSE bosses to re-open tender for dialysis unit
HEALTH service bosses have had to re-open a lucrative tender for dialysis services after a controversial German-owned company failed to deliver within the timeframe.
Outrage as works force 40km detour on school run
FAMILIES are faced with a 40km detour twice a day during the school run -- because of pipelaying just 100 metres from their homes.
Pushing the boat out for couple's dream wedding
A LUCKY Dublin bride and her groom could be celebrating their wedding reception onboard a celebrity yacht where Princess Grace also toasted her marriage.
Union's HQ occupied by members
THE headquarters of a construction industry trade union was last night occupied by 18 workers who barricaded the building and said they will not move until the union leadership has resigned.
Fine Gael rules out support for rescue strategy
FINE Gael last night ruled out a replay of the 1980s Tallaght Strategy which saw it support the Government on planned financial measures during a worsening economic climate.
Key week for social partners in talks on pay deal
CRUNCH talks to hammer out a new national pay deal began this morning, with unions and businesses converging in Government Buildings.
Young families emigrate as brain drain grips economy
THE flailing Irish economy is facing a new "brain drain" as tens of thousands of skilled workers emigrate in search of a better life.
'We love being outdoors and feel it's a better life'
ONE month into the move of a lifetime, and the Gernon family from Dublin have no regrets.
End of the world 'is not nigh'
The scientists behind the world's biggest ever physics experiment have received death threats from critics who claim it could destroy the world.
US commander in Iraq is moving on
US General David Petraeus, credited with helping staunch violence in Iraq, will hand over command of US forces there to Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno on September 16, a military spokesman said yesterday.
It's waterworks for Waterford as Cats keep claws on title
IN WARM sunshine they sat outside Enoteca d'Asti quaffing bottles of Barbera and demolishing plates of spaghetti vecchia Napoli.
Clinics 'ready for surge in students bingeing on sex, drugs and drink'
THE number of students seeking emergency contraception and treatment for drug and alcohol-related illness is set to soar this week after many headed back to college.
Lenihan set on 1pc income tax hike
FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan will face his toughest week in office yet as he clashes with his Cabinet colleagues over their Budget allocations for the next year.
Reuters backs down on false INBS report
WORLD-renowned business newswire service Reuters has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown after publishing a report which claimed that the Irish Nationwide Building Society was in "talks with their lenders to avoid insolvency".
Jail smugglers hid drugs in baby clothes
An attempt to flood Mountjoy Prison with a consignment of high-grade heroin concealed in a baby's romper suit has been thwarted by a sniffer dog.
Aer Lingus plane in bomb hoax
GARDAI demanded handwriting samples from 223 passengers and nine crew members during a major security operation at Dublin Airport after a note was found on an Aer Lingus plane warning of a bomb on board.
Sun expected in Croker
The sun is expected to make a rare appearance today just in time for the All-Ireland final -- but more heavy rain is on the way this week with no sign of an Indian summer.
Gormley overturns zoning decision at centre of Waterford land probe
A controversial zoning decision in Co Waterford, which is the subject of a on-going garda investigation, has been overturned by Environment minister John Gormley.
We have left our children to sink or swim in the moral mire
A young girl publicly gives a blow job to get a cigarette from some boy in a bar. Sure, she's been drinking. Perhaps, too, she's been snorting. Certainly as a student she's at the age where living in the fast lane is considered chic. Sensibly we can see she's not necessarily the norm. And most assuredly it's not helpful to simply feel shocked. However unfashionable, we should feel sickened.
Team which jailed Veronica killers 'utterly exasperated'
THE minister who set up the Criminal Assets Bureau and one of the top investigators in the Veronica Guerin case have spoken of their anger and frustration that John Gilligan's gang is still operating from prison.
Buyers grab apartments as new loans lure pays off
DRASTIC measures taken by two prominent developers to revive the property market succeeded yesterday in attracting some buyers, showing there is some life left in the Irish housing market.
So what are we bid for these historic, superb, iconic State buildings?
HOW much are Dublin's 'iconic' buildings worth? The owners say €1, but valuers are more adventurous.
Neary case hospital in 'crisis' alert
THE hospital at the centre of the Michael Neary scandal has reached crisis point because of overcrowding and a lack of resources.
