The Cork city councillor whose dramatic high-speed pursuit led to the capture and eventual jailing of a notorious Dublin-based house break-in gang has launched a Neighbourhood Watch- style text service.

IT could be the night of the diva in Madrid at the MTV Europe awards tomorrow, with Lady Gaga and Katy Perry leading the field with five nominations apiece and Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Parker hosting the event.

THE Irish economy is home to 83 pharmaceutical plants accounting for 17,000 jobs and total exports of €35 billion last year.