Garda decisions to cancel leave and ease stringent controls on overtime in Co Louth reflect the “seriousness and urgency” of the situation in Drogheda, senior officers have said.

Your morning bulletin.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)  has launched an investigation into the temporary loss of a Garda sub-machine gun and ammunition, citing reports of an “apparent lack of security” in the incident.

A garda suffered swelling and bad bruising to his head, and had his left eye swollen shut, after being subjected to a ferocious beating with metal baseball bat.

People leaving Shannon Airport and others at check-in desks were attacked by a group of armed men and women who forced them back into the terminal and held them hostage.

High-visibility armed patrols in Dublin have been reduced by up to 30% because of overtime cuts, separate garda sources have said.

Gardaí pursued and subdued a young man after he produced a knife and threatened officers in Athlone.

A counter terrorism exercise is currently being carried out by An Garda Síochána in Dublin city centre.

A larger anti-terrorism unit, more armed gardaí on the streets, round-the-clock regional support units and specially trained garda dispatchers for terrorist and firearms incidents are all being put in place to deal with potential terror threats.

The dedicated Armed Support Unit for Dublin has dealt with 248 serious incidents in a three-month period, it emerged yesterday.

The Garda Commissioner says she hopes a new armed task force can be a deterant for criminal gangs.

An elite armed Garda unit for Dublin is being launched today without a dedicated boss at its helm because of persistent vacancies, writes Cormac O'Keeffe of the Irish Examiner.

Croke Park has experienced many historic moments in its lifetime but none so futuristic as being able to view game highlights from your stadium seat.

A young woman was rescued from Bray Head today after she called Garda Control Centre saying that she was lost and disorientated with her surroundings on Bray Head

THERE was some small relief for struggling homeowners yesterday with news they will not face interest charges if they fall into arrears on their mortgage.

Workers digging at the future site of a Wal-Mart store in suburban Mesa, Arizona, have unearthed the bones of a prehistoric camel that is estimated to be about 10,000 years old.

DUBLIN Airport could be paralysed by a security staff strike over the October Bank Holiday weekend after workers yesterday raised the possibility of a total withdrawal of labour.

Loyalist paramilitaries fired shots at the hideaway of jailed Ulster terror boss Johnny Adair’s exiled wife, police said tonight.

Qantas Airways Ltd said a combination of flight reschedulings and the use of larger planes on key routes has minimised the impact of any cancellations caused by today's strike by ground staff.

Qantas Airways Ltd said domestic flights in Britain have been extensively rescheduled or cancelled due to a strike by staff tomorrow, but said all international services will fly.

An Australian union has threatened to ground Oasis on their current tour Down Under.