YESTERDAY, two events dealing with abuse inflicted on the vulnerable, one at either end of the island, one historical, the other contemporary, brought into question our ability to learn from our mistakes. 

AS the family and friends of another Berkeley victim — Lorcán Miller — laid him to rest yesterday, one of his friends who was on that awful balcony made one of those uplifting statements that so resonated with courage and peace that it cannot but leave a lasting, inspiring impression.

IT is alarming, to say the least, that authorities in the City of Berkeley in California have confirmed that no person, builder, owner or commercial entity is being investigated in relation to the balcony collapse last Monday that killed six students and injured seven others.

IRISH truck drivers operating on the Continent are facing dual threats as Europe’s migrant crisis escalates.

EQUALITY is like pregnancy. Just as there is no such thing as à la carte equality there is no such thing as being just a little bit pregnant, you either are or you are not; we either promote equality or we do not. There are no shades or degrees of status or compliance, it is a simple black-or-white equation.

ANY society as familiar with the choreography around the grand sacraments of Catholicism as this one is will easily understand the power of symbolism. 

IT may be overstating the case to say a citadel fell yesterday, but only just. 

THAT which one society regards as an ancient cultural right another may view as a form of needless barbarism.

NEARLY every popular sport faces great challenges that undermine its authenticity, its wellbeing, and the positive contribution it makes to the culture and gaiety of nations.

IT seems more than bizarre that two arms of the State should confront each other in court, that they cannot reconcile their differences as they have, in theory at least, the same objectives — serving the public.