A Kildare businessman who stole his elderly mother’s credit card to buy hotel breaks and holidays abroad has been spared jail and ordered to pay money back over the next three years.

The Strawberry Tree, Brooklodge Hotel & Macreddin Village, Aughrim, Co Wicklow; 0402 36444; brooklodge.com

Fine food fare at the fiddle festival

A 29-YEAR-OLD Co Corkman who travelled to Killarney for a Christmas staff party was subjected to such a “horrific” attack that he had to learn to speak and walk again, the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee has heard.