Playboy model and film star Jayne Mansfield was due to perform a cabaret act at the Mount Brandon Hotel in Tralee on April 23, 1967, but the all-powerful Catholic Church was having none of it, writes Dan Buckley

As forensic favourite Kay Scarpetta returns for a 24th installment, bestselling thriller writer Patricia Cornwell talks to Hannah Stephensonabout plastic surgery, how the dramas in her own life have given her a thicker skin, and why she was happy to ignore her 60th birthday.

She has struggled with anorexia, alcohol and depression, among other dramas. But, like her heroine Dr Kay Scarpetta, bestselling novelist Patricia Cornwell has mellowed, she tells Hannah Stephenson.

My wife recently admitted to me that she masturbates a few times a week. I was surprised that she does it at all, to be honest. We’re young and we have a healthy sex life — does that mean that I’m not satisfying her?

Cliff Richard has vowed to clear his name over allegations of sexual abuse.

Police have been contacted by "a number of people" with information following the widespread media coverage of a search of Cliff Richard’s home.

Police have been contacted by “a number of people” with information following the widespread media coverage of a search of Cliff Richard’s home.

Pop star Cliff Richard has dismissed a sex crime claim involving a young boy in the 1980s as “completely false”.

Pop legend Cliff Richard has dismissed a sex crime claim involving a young boy in the 1980s as "completely false".

They pile up, inspiring us, enthralling us, exhausting us; those sublime sporting moments of ecstasy and vindication.

Landing their lead roles in Les Mis was like a wish coming true for its stars, they tell Will Lawrence

Ricky Hatton is hopeful his tale of personal redemption has unified fans and critics alike ahead of his boxing return tomorrow night.

Evangelist Billy Graham, 93, is being treated in hospital for bronchitis.

The neighbours inthis corner of London won’t shed a tear when the Olympics are over and the Irish go home.

An undertaker escaped a criminal conviction yesterday after pleading guilty to illegally exhuming the body of a 95-year-old man from a cemetery.

IT WAS a low point for Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin.

A man was charged after US authorities spotted him with a gun in a North Carolina airport parking lot as President Barack Obama’s plane was departing.

Sarah Palin had Sunday dinner with the Reverend Billy Graham a day before a planned stop on her book tour in eastern North Carolina.

Four people with swine flu have died in the Irish Republic this week as new cases almost doubled, it was announced tonight.

PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama made clear to his aides that he wanted to spend the Christmas holiday in Hawaii, as he had done in years past: there is no more campaign, this will be a true family vacation.

RICKY HATTON signalled his return to form with a classy 11th-round stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi and promised he can continue to improve in future fights.

A REJUVENATED Ricky Hatton is aiming to put the record straight against Paulie Malignaggi tonight after admitting he looked like he was “past it” in his last fight.

RICKY HATTON is looking forward to reawakening his boxing talents when he fights Paulie Malignaggi at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

RICKY HATTON has vowed to put on a “barnstorming” show when he locks horns with Paulie Malignaggi on Saturday.

US evangelist Billy Graham was taken to hospital today after tripping and falling over one of his dogs at his North Carolina home, a hospital spokeswoman said.

RICKY HATTON yesterday laughed off a series of vicious jibes from forthcoming opponent Paulie Malignaggi and launched a vigorous defence of his record in the ring.

Ricky Hatton believes he can prolong his career by becoming a more polished boxer and insists: “I’m not ready for my pipe and slippers yet!”

RICKY HATTON has vowed to produce a more “refined” performance against Paulie Malignaggi after teaming up with new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr — but promised his fans he will still treat them to some typical “crash, bang, wallop” excitement.

RICKY HATTON has ended months of speculation about his future with trainer Billy Graham by revealing the pair are to split with immediate effect, bringing an end to one of the most successful partnerships in British boxing history.

Ricky Hatton will head into his world title clash against Paulie Malignaggi in November without trainer Billy Graham in his corner after confirming their 11-year partnership has come to an end.

MATTHEW MACKLIN takes on former world champion Yori Boy Campas at the next Ladbrokes.com Fight Night in the National Stadium, Dublin, on March 22 and this could be the fight of the year.

Andy Lee's opponent for his homecoming fight in Limerick on February 2 has been confirmed - the unbeaten middleweight will be taking on Argentina's Alejandro Gustavo Falliga.

Ricky Hatton’s trainer Billy Graham has rubbished claims the duo could be set to end their partnership.

RICKY HATTON has made up his mind to fight on following the first defeat of his career to Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Ricky Hatton will fly home to consider his fighting future this week after falling short in his quest to wrest the WBC welterweight title from Floyd Mayweather.

SOMEONE’S ‘0’ had to go when the undefeated Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton went toe-to-toe but both victor and vanquished now face tough decisions about their futures, career choices that will have a knock-on effect for some of boxing’s biggest names.

SUCH is the growing belief in the Ricky Hatton camp that it is not Floyd Mayweather that concerns them most about tonight’s greatly anticipated welterweight showdown, but their man’s susceptibility to cuts.

RICKY HATTON’S trainer Billy Graham has delivered a withering riposte to Floyd Mayweather’s brash proclamations of all-time greatness, insisting the unbeaten Grand Rapids man is no Muhammad Ali — neither inside nor outside the ring.

UNDISPUTED welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr brushed aside Ricky Hatton’s calls for respect ahead of the December 8 showdown between the undefeated boxers and warned the Englishman, “we’re at war”.

Prominent evangelist Billy Graham was discharged from a North Carolina hospital today, nearly two weeks after he was admitted for intestinal bleeding, officials said.

American evangelist Billy Graham was admitted to hospital for evaluation and treatment of an intestinal bleed, officials said.

JASON McKAY will have bigger scalps on his mind when he faces seasoned Romanian Mugurel Sebe in the “Battle on Leeside” at Cork City Hall on Saturday night.

RICKY HATTON will evoke the spirit of Roberto Duran in his quest to become the first man to defeat Floyd Mayweather and establish himself as the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the world.