Leading politicians, local authority chiefs, and a Garda chief superintendent have defended Waterford’s reputation in the light of the recent harassment of residents in the city.

A government minister responsible for new communities has admitted he would be "terrified" if he was a member of the Roma community living in Ireland at the moment.

An anti-racism rally is due to take place in Waterford this afternoon in response to a number of demonstrations against the city's Roma community last weekend.

MEMBERS of the Nigerian community filed in and out of Idehen and Mabel Osaghae’s rented townhouse on a hill overlooking Waterford’s quays yesterday afternoon, trying to console them after their son’s death.

The Minister for Justice has responded strongly to claims by a refugee support group that asylum seekers are frequently malnourished because they do not like the food provided to them.