THERE can be few events that challenge a parent, a spouse or a family like the suicide of a loved one. It is always a life-defining, earth-shattering tragedy.

DISMISSING critics with the pathetic, transparent and threadbare accusations of cynicism or negativity has become the default bolt hole for politicians defending broken promises or squandered opportunities.

FINANCIAL regulator Patrick Neary is trying to establish if there was malicious intent behind some of the rumours circulated about financial institutions recently. The suspicion is that institutions were undermined by innuendo setting them up for an undervalue killing.

TODAY we publish a deeply disturbing survey on rape and rape victims that should make us all stop and think about how we judge women, their attackers and our society’s attitude towards what provokes sexual crimes.

IF TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern did not have the Mahon Tribunal to distract public attention from the litany of scandals that pass for management in our health services he would have to invent something equally distracting.

THERE are few enough things we can do in the short term to hasten an economic recovery that would return us to the dizzy heights of a few short years ago.

It IS traditional for the three teacher’s unions — the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI), and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) — to hold annual conferences during Easter week.

An TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern came under some strong personal criticism yesterday from a protester who complained that Mr Ahern was not fit to commemorate the men and women of the Easter Rebellion.

At its annual conference this week the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors highlighted the need for an out-of-hours service for the care and welfare of children in need.

Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Some of the events of the past year were unimaginable 10 years ago.