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Ahern 'go-between' for bank money men

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has emerged as a go-between as part of talks to assemble a multi-billion rescue of the Irish banking sector.

Famous football trophies thrill fans on visit to west

By Tom Shiel

Passengers on the daily flight from Manchester to Knock yesterday were bemused to see two shiny trophies occupying two prime seats in the aircraft.

Ahern pal Burke will not face sex assault charges

By Sam Smyth

FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's close friend Joe Burke will not face charges for an alleged sexual assault, the Irish Independent can reveal.

Aer Lingus staff reluctant to vote on new work deal

By Anne-Marie Walsh Industry Correspondent

SOME Aer Lingus workers are said to be reluctant to vote on a new package of proposals that may avert a strike before Christmas.

Treaty is our 'only hope' of retaining EU post

IRELAND could keep its EU commissioner but will first have to ratify the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum, it emerged yesterday.

Ireland 17 Argentina 3

Ireland survived a potentially-fraught encounter with Argentina at Croke Park to guarantee their inclusion among the second seeds at the 2011 World Cup draw.

Former GAA president may run for election

By Michael Brennan

FORMER GAA president Sean Kelly is on the brink of running for Fine Gael in next year's European elections.

Supermarkets on alert for basket-case thieves

By Fiach Kelly

IT'S the ultimate basket case of a crime. Forget the crown jewels or the Northern Bank raid, thieves on Dublin's northside have their eyes on a far more practical bounty -- robbing shopping baskets from their local supermarkets.

Owner 'devastated' as bank seizes Kinnitty Castle

THE owner of luxury hotel Kinnitty Castle says he is "devastated" after bank officials moved in and seized the property.

'Lenihan levy' finally targets top earners

THE country's highest earners were hit hard yesterday as the Government introduced a new 3pc levy on those earning more than €250,000 a year.

Children in Haiti dying of starvation after storms destroy food

four-year-old Venecia Lonis hangs from a strap attached to a scale, her wide eyes lifeless, her emaciated arms dangling weakly.

Brennan true to Bohs' cause

IT was half past six in the morning and bitterly cold when Killian Brennan kneeled down, started mixing plaster in the dark with his hand and wondered exactly what he was doing here. How it had come to this.

BoI shareholders seek legal advice over deal

Three major foreign shareholders in Bank of Ireland have sought legal advise in recent days about taking an injunction if existing shareholders are locked out of a potential multi-billion deal to invest in the 225-year-old lender.

Entertainment

Ross keeps job
Jonathan Ross is set to keep his job as a BBC presenter, despite the Andrew Sachs obscene phone calls scandal, after the corporation's governing body today agreed the "right action" had been taken against him

Madonna and Guy Ritchie in 'quickie' divorce

Pop star Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are to get a divorce in London today according to the High Court where so-called "quickie" divorces are formalised

Lavish party on luxurious desert island

A lavish A-list three-day party for more than 2,000 guests kicked off in Dubai last night with a performance by Kylie Minogue.

Jacko to testify in UK over sheikh's $7m claim

Pop superstar Michael Jackson is to make a personal appearance at the British High Court next week to defend allegations he owes an Arab sheikh $7m (€5.6m).

'Dancing pig in Cuban heels' quits while ahead
John Sergeant, the rotund 64-year-old who became one of the favourites to win this year's Strictly Come Dancing, despite being labelled "a dancing pig in Cuban heels"

Red carpet rolled out for epic 'Australia'

Red carpets were rolled out in Sydney and the dusty outback yesterday for the world premiere of the epic movie 'Australia'

Sheikh, rattle and roll
An Arab sheikh suing Michael Jackson for $7m (€5.5m) was trying to get the international recording star to sing the sheikh's own songs, it was revealed at the High Court in London yesterday

Coming of age

U2 initially intended to release their twelfth studio album last Friday. It has been suggested that part of the reason that it's been shelved for early 2009 is today's release of The Killers' third album, Day & Age, or at least that's what frontman Brandon Flowers likes to think.

O'Keeffe accuses teachers of 'scaremongering' tactics

EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe was embroiled in another heated row with teachers' unions yesterday.

Suicide and the recession link

The fact that leading experts are forecasting a rise in the suicide rate as the recession takes hold is a serious cause for concern. Steps must be taken to ensure that there is an emergency service at weekends.

19:58 Fine Gael calls for implementation of 12-month pay freeze
19:32 Three arrested following Limerick drug seizure
19:29 FT: Manchester United 0-0 Aston Villa
19:17 FT: Wales 9 New Zealand 29
17:57 Shock defeat for Australia
17:52 PSNI appeal for witnesses to fatal road crash

19:58 Fine Gael calls for implementation of 12-month pay freeze
19:32 Three arrested following Limerick drug seizure
17:52 PSNI appeal for witnesses to fatal road crash
15:58 25,000 protest in Cork over education cuts
15:39 Fine Gael calls for 25-year jail term for gangland murderers

15:05 Panda attacks student in Chinese zoo
14:16 Pirates release Greek chemical tanker
14:08 Obama outlines plans to get America out of credit crunch
13:46 'Indiana Jones' crystal skull goes on display
13:15 British fugitive killed in Pakistan

19:29 FT: Manchester United 0-0 Aston Villa
19:17 FT: Wales 9 New Zealand 29
17:57 Shock defeat for Australia
17:14 Chelsea still top of Premier League
17:10 FT:Man City 3-0 Arsenal

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Columnist Comments

• Taking bluntness to an art form

You could read many things into the body language of Brian O'Driscoll and Declan Kidney in the Shelbourne Hotel on Thursday morning as Ronan O'Gara so stirringly invoked the spirit of Munster, but gratitude was not among them.

• When the only thing left to do is scarper

You have to feel sorry for the middle classes just now. Not only is the economy in freefall, but they have had to face several peculiarly bourgeois credit-crunch dilemmas.

• Nine months ago Bertie opened a fabulous hotel

Freddie Mercury's Bohemian Rhapsody asks questions. "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" The song echoed through a specially-beautiful area of East Cork this week when word came of a luxurious new hotel and resort closing down, after only nine months' trading.