SINN FÉIN claimed the first salvo of a “dirty tricks” campaign had been fired ahead of the next election after a confidential garda report linking party TD Martin Ferris to the beating of a small-time drug courier was leaked yesterday.

ALMOST 1,500 drivers were arrested for drink driving in a Christmas garda blitz, up 200 on the previous campaign.

AN Irish hepatitis C sufferer remains in a critical condition in a London hospital and there are still no immediate plans to give her a potentially life-saving liver transplant.