An Irish gang is accused of being behind a series of scams across Australia's Gold Coast.

29-year-old David Walsh - who was originally from Enniscorthy in County Wexford - sustained a fatal stab wound to his neck at a house in western Sydney last night.

An Irishman was yesterday charged with aggravated assault after an Australian politician was allegedly kicked in the back during a press conference about tougher laws on alcohol- fuelled violence.

Walls of flames 100ft high swept through parched eucalyptus forests and destroyed at least three homes as several fires raged out of control north of Sydney today.