A convicted arsonist who tied a belt around a woman’s neck and threatened to kill her during a violent rape lasting over two hours has today failed in an appeal against the severity of his seven-year sentence.

FATHER Brendan Hoban, parish priest, theologian, writer and one of the founders of the Association of Catholic Priests, is prepared to go to jail rather than break the traditional seal of confession.

A Dublin father of three who later prayed for a woman he had violently raped having just met her that night at a house party has been sentenced to seven years at the Central Criminal Court.

A Dublin father-of-three who violently raped a woman he had just met that night at a house party has been remanded in custody pending sentence at the Central Criminal Court.

BARRY COURTNEY was just 19 when he was knocked down outside his home in Virginia, Co Cavan.

Liam Mulvihill has today announced his retirement as director general of the GAA, a position he has held for the past 28 years.

BRUCE Springsteen’s devastation at the death of legendary promoter Jim Aiken was revealed yesterday as the entertainment world turned out for his memorial service.

DRUG treatment substantially reduces drug use, drug dealing and criminal activity, according to a major study.

SOME quarters of the dairy sector have reacted very negatively to the quota system that Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan plans to introduce in 2007.

THE diocesan response to allegations of child abuse in Ferns, although varied over a span of 40 years, comes in for severe and damning criticism as successive bishops failed to protect vulnerable children from priests they knew to be abusers.

A famous school in the west of Ireland is closing its doors to boarders after a tradition lasting more than 200 years.

MORE young people must be encouraged to enter the priesthood with only eight ordinations taking place across the country this year, it was urged yesterday.

The FAI have announced several friendly fixtures during the following two weeks, before the season proper kicks off when Shelbourne take on UCD at Tolka Park on Wednesday March 16.

PETER CANAVAN makes his first NFL start of the season for Tyrone in Sunday’s Ulster derby against All-Ireland champions Armagh at Omagh.

Monsignor Desmond Farrell has described the ordination of up to 12 priests from Maynooth College as a reminder of the college's primary purpose.

The former president of Maynooth College is to meet a Government-appointed lawyer this week to discuss allegations made against the former president of the college, Monsignor Micheal Ledwith.

The trustees of Maynooth College have named the senior barrister who will investigate claims of sexual harassment by the seminar’s former vice president.

Maynooth college is to establish an investigation into complaints about alleged sexual harassment of seminarians at the institution.

Senior ranking members of the clergy are beginning their second day of intense discussions at Maynooth College in Kildare.

The bishop’s conference is meeting in Maynooth College for what is being viewed as a crucial gathering.

A new report out this morning has revealed a disturbing drop out rate in Irish Universities particularily in high tech courses.

A leading Catholic theologian has criticised the Vatican's decision to appoint Archbishop of Dublin Desmond Connell a cardinal as "ill-judged and insensitive".