THE HSE and the Garda Síochána have launched an inquiry into allegations of sexual and physical abuse at a Cork school while it was run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

FEARS were growing among victims yesterday that the former principal of a Co Cork boarding school could leave the country permanently after a deluge of victims spoke out about his alleged reign of terror.

Robbie Williams attempted to make light of his former bandmate Mark Owen’s personal woes, joking it was “nice” that he was not the one in trouble.

Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro and Al Pacino want to dress up as women and play sisters in a comedy.

An investment group backed by Irish tycoons JP McManus and John Magnier was today reported to be in talks to buy Chrysalis’s radio arm for up to £180m (€267m).

The boss of UK music publishing and radio group Chrysalis is today understood to be considering the possibility of a management buyout of the firm’s radio business if private equity backing can be secured.

UTV owners of Limerick Live 95 FM have successfully fought off a bid by a new Limerick consortium to acquire the licence the station held for 10 years.

UK media group Chrysalis today said listeners defected from its radio arm in the final quarter of 2004, but claimed the worst of a downturn in advertising was over.