I kept coming back to the image of two old fellas sitting on bar stools chatting away about future-proofing the economy without noticing that the fourth wall of the pub had already fallen over the cliff.

THE family of a woman who died at St James’ Hospital in Dublin five days after being admitted with repeated complaints of vomiting and stomach cramps has expressed “grave concern” about the level of care provided by a doctor at the hospital.

AN Irish surgeon who pioneered keyhole surgery in Ireland 18 years’ ago received a lifetime award at the “Medical Oscars” in Dublin last night.