It is no longer sustainable to maintain laws that visit cruelty on the most vulnerable on the basis of one particular religion, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford

Steve Collins has indicated that his family might return to Ireland now that his son’s murderers have been jailed for life.

A convicted murderer who produced what he claimed to be a mobile phone while giving evidence at the trial of two Limerick men charged with the murder of Roy Collins was instead in possession of a television remote control, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

A man serving a life sentence for murder has told the Special Criminal Court his first cousin, Wayne Dundon, told him he ordered the killing of Limerick businessman Roy Collins.

A convicted Limerick criminal who is giving evidence at the trial of two men charged with the murder of businessman Roy Collins was described as a "crooked, snaky c**t" by his sister’s partner, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Cork SHC semi-final

Ballymartle 2-12 Blackrock 0-17

Rebel minister Lucinda Creighton faces a vote for her political future today when she must decide whether to back the abortion legislation.

It is as if the cabinet lobbed the abortion issue into the committee and ran for cover as havoc ensued, writes Michael Clifford.

At the Oireachtas hearings Dr Anthony McCarthy said there is no treatment for suicide.

DEVIOUS women and manipulative psychiatrists were recurring themes at the Oireachtas Health Committee hearings yesterday.

Abortion is not a treatment for suicidal tendencies and there are no statistics on women threatening to kill themselves who do not want a pregnancy, a leading psychologists told an Oireachtas committee.

The President of the College of Psychiatrists in Ireland says he and his colleagues will not be fooled by women claiming to be suicidal to get an abortion.

A leading doctor and barrister has warned that under the draft abortion legislation, a woman who wants to terminate her pregnancy because she is suicidal could have grounds to take a discrimination case on the grounds of mental health.

As ministers hold crisis talks on abortion, the focus is not on an agreement that is safest for women, but a solution that is safest politically, says political correspondent Mary Regan

HOW does a person “prove” themselves to be suicidal? By killing herself or himself?

Doctors on both sides of the abortion debate yesterday united to condemn proposals that suicidal women be assessed by a six-consultant panel before being granted permission to terminate a pregnancy.

A psychiatric specialist has warned the Government that proposals to force potentially suicidal pregnant women to be assessed by six doctors are idiotic and a sick joke.

Those who want legislation based on the X case often suggest that, in the difficult situation where a pregnant mother expresses suicidal thoughts, there are two options.

Two of the country’s top psychiatrists have clashed over the potential impact of legislation allowing abortion on the grounds of suicidal risk.

Ballymartle 1-17 Na Piarsaigh 0-17

Round four of the Cork senior hurling championship at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday and also the unofficial Carrigdhoun divisional final as these two old foes went toe to toe in a typical tight derby battle.

It was like 1992 all over again, with a team from Co Clare coming to the heart of Co Cork football territory, and taking home the trophies.

THE Irish biofuels industry died on Jan 1, 2011 when a government tax relief scheme designed to foster the sector was replaced with one which has completely failed to do so. As a result, almost all of the country’s bioethanol, biodiesel, and oil-crushing plants were switched off.

ALCOHOL kills one person every seven hours, a public health expert has said.

Midleton 1-17 Ballymartle 0-18

TO the wider hurling public Darren McCarthy has carved a reputation as an excellent goalkeeper with Cork underage teams but for his club Ballymartle he will forever be associated with his contributions outfield after the stunning conclusion to yesterday’s All-Ireland club IHC final in Croke Park.

THE euphoria had yet to abate after Ballymartle’s county PIHC triumph last October when their players focus shifted to greater challenges. Manager Anthony McCarthy and coach Eddie Murphy assembled the panel after the victory over Tracton and enquired what was the attitude towards the upcoming provincial and national campaigns.

A SCRAPPY encounter in this Munster club IHC semi-final in Ballyagran yesterday, but a dominant second-half performance was enough to see Ballymartle qualify for the final against Tipp side Borrisokane in Mallow on Sunday week.

HAVING been defeated by Douglas last year, Ballymartle knew yesterday’s victory was one to savour, marking as it did their first ascent to the senior ranks in Cork hurling.

An attempt by five Limerick men to appeal their murder convictions to the country’s highest court failed today.

Five Limerick men have lost a bid to bring an appeal against their convictions for the murder of crime boss Kieran Keane to the Supreme Court.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment in the case of five Limerick men who want their appeal against their murder conviction to be dealt with by the Supreme Court.

A bid by five Limerick men to have an appeal against their murder convictions dealt with by the Supreme Court gets underway before the Court of Criminal Appeal on Monday next.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has rejected today an appeal brought by a Co Galway man against his conviction for the murder of an elderly woman more than 25 years ago.

Five men serving prison sentences for the murder of a notorious Limerick crime boss today had their application to appeal the convictions dismissed.

The man who claimed that a priest sexually abused him threatened to report a leading psychiatrist to the Irish Medical Council for refusing to prescribe a specific drug to treat his self-diagnosed 'bipolar disorder'.

Nemo Rangers 3-16 Ballymartle 1-14