Bill Linnane meets up for an exclusive interview with members of the Hennessy dynasty and finds out why the Irish connection is still strong with the famous brandy producing family.

Civil rights leaders have condemned the decision not to charge a white New York City police officer over the chokehold death of a black man and are planning a march and a summit on racial justice in Washington.

The school shooting in Connecticut is likely to reignite the debate surrounding the purchase of firearms in the US.

President Barack Obama pledged to work with leaders on all sides to “arrive at a consensus” on how to reduce gun crime across the US after the Colorado shootings drew attention to the issue in an election year.

US President Barack Obama has called for tougher background checks on Americans trying to buy a gun as he and Republican challenger Mitt Romney engaged in their most extensive discussions on the gun control issue since last week’s massacre in a Colorado theatre.