Security staff at a toy store saw two women loading toys into the boot of a car and then returning to the shop to steal more stuff.

Sales of Power Rangers and Frozen dolls last year helped family-owned Irish toy-seller Smyths enjoy a 34% increase in pre-tax profits in its British and Northern Irish operations to £4.3m (€5.86m).

Capital idea: Some of the world’s best wakeboarders will be in Dublin this weekend for the Waterways Ireland Docklands Summer Festival in Grand Canal Dock. 

“The handwriting is so bad — but at this time of the year you have to smile a little wider.” So says postman Denis McCarthy as he wades through the sea of letters and parcels.

The Irish representative on the Vatican’s new child protection council said "it would have been better" for the survivors of abuse by Brendan Smyth if Cardinal Sean Brady had resigned two years ago.

A place where children once went wild with delight is now being turned into a retreat of quiet contemplation.

The Power Rangers make their Irish debut today, visiting children at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, before embarking on a free live tour of Smyth’s stores during the Easter holidays.

Sales of Furby, Monopoly Millionaire, and learning tablets last year helped the British and Northern Ireland arms of family-owned Irish toy-seller Smyths record combined pre-tax profits of £2.7m (€3.2m).

The countdown to Santa’s arrival officially got under way last night with the annual screening of the ever popular Late Late Toy Show.

THE Puffin ward in the children’s unit, Cork University Hospital, (CUH) is busy.

Columnist Mary Kenny’s call for an inquiry that categorises the abuse by paedophile priest Brendan Smyth will devastate victims and stop them getting help, child abuse survivor Marie Collins said.

IT was a case of better late than never for a group of Lotto players — six days late and €1 million better to be precise.

THE future of Cardinal Seán Brady as head of the Irish Catholic Church is in doubt amid mounting calls for his resignation after allegations that he was involved in a cover-up of abuse by notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.

THE nominees for the 2009 Opel GPA Hurling Team of the Year mirror the Vodafone All Stars with more nominations from losing All-Ireland finalists Tipperary than four-in-a-row kingpins Kilkenny.

How was Ultimate Fighting converted from ‘human cockfighting’ to a multi-million dollar brand? The only way to find out was by getting into the famed Octagon, suggested a brave Adrian Russell.

AS gleeful as the turkey who survives Christmas, bargain hunters yesterday picked and pecked their way through racks of retail reductions, greedy to gobble up any festive leftovers as end-of-year sales kicked off.

BUSINESSMEN who offered to pay for a new children’s hospital on the outskirts of Dublin have been contacted about supporting a rival plan.

NOT quite the Grinch who stole Christmas, but the thieves who relieved a mother-of-three of her childrens’ festive spoils shared the same mean spirit.

TWO of the country's largest retailers have reported mixed results for the past year.

Ireland have made just one change for their final European Nations Cup pool match against France at Dalymount Park, Dublin, tomorrow.

Shelbourne have opened the door again for the chasing pack as they failed to beat dogged Galway in a poor game at Terryland Park.