Paul Bradford admits it’s going to be an uphill battle for the fledgling party, writes Sean O’Riordan

Trainer Philip Fenton faces an investigation by horseracing’s regulatory body after being found guilty of eight counts of possessing unlicensed animal remedies, including a "potent" anabolic steroid.

A leading Irish racehorse trainer has been fined €6,000 for possession of steroids and other banned substances at his stables.

Veterinary inspectors waited four weeks to give a leading Irish racehorse trainer a list of steroids and medicine allegedly found in a cardboard box in his stables, a court has heard.

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin were among hundreds of mourners who gathered yesterday to pay tribute at the funeral of former minister Noel Davern, who died suddenly at the weekend.

The mayor of Limerick, Cllr Gerry McLoughlin, was among the many public figures who attended the funeral yesterday of Limerick journalist Arthur Quinlan.

Shamrock Rovers open their FAI Ford Cup campaign with a home tie against First Division side Athlone Town at Tallaght Stadium, kick-off 8pm.

THE Ennis General Hospital bed numbers were reduced from 125 to 88 in 1988 under the Fianna Fáil Government. There followed a period of further removals of ancillary services.

BERTIE AHERN has not yet named the ‘temporary’ senators who will replace the four Taoiseach’s nominees in the outgoing Seanad who have been elected to the Dáil.

Cork City 2 Dungannon Swifts 1

JOHN FROST wants in-form St. Patrick’s Athletic to put their Setanta Sports Cup semi-final qualification ‘to bed’ with victory over Dungannon Swifts at Richmond Park tonight.

Tired of waiting for an opportunity to try to stop the war in Iraq, some US Democrats say they want to use legislation approving billions of dollars in war spending to insist that President George Bush not send more troops.

The DPP is being asked to consider an appeal of the Circuit Court decision clearing five anti-war protestors of causing criminal damage to a US Navy plane at Shannon Airport over three years.

Former minister Brendan Daly has been added to the Fianna Fáil ticket in Clare for the next General Election.

Senator Brendan Daly has failed to secure a Fianna Fáil nomination to stand for the Clare constituency in the General Election.

FIANNA FÁIL was heading for another bruising convention showdown last night as the party’s election high command was warned not to “parachute” a high-profile candidate into Clare over the heads of delegates.

YOUNG people under stress are being urged to send a mobile phone text to the Samaritans.

The Leinster football championship gets underway today with a double-header at Croke Park.

KILDARE manager Padraig Nolan accepts his side are raging favourites to beat Wicklow in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Leinster senior football championship at Croke Park tomorrow.

Wicklow boss Hugh Kenny has named six newcomers on his team to face Kildare in the Leinster football championship at Croke Park on Sunday.

A ROW erupted between an anti-abortion group and a powerful Oireachtas Committee yesterday amid allegations that almost 9,000 of the group’s submissions had been destroyed.

THE commission which has responsibility for Dáil and Seanad budgets should enquire into the cost and extent of foreign travel by senators and TDs.

Political Editor Harry McGee wonders how much of the €1.25 million spent by TDs and senators on foreign travel in the two years to August 2004 was a necessary expense.

NON-GOVERNMENT foreign travel by TDs and senators has cost the taxpayer at least €1.25 million since June 2002, figures compiled by the Oireachtas have revealed.

THE press duly made their way to the relevant suites at Listowel last week, essentially summoned to hear the “new” code of conduct for bookmakers agreed between them and Horse Racing Ireland.

AT a casual glance, it appeared to be the usual list from the revenue commissioners, naming and shaming the publicans, parish priests and assorted others who are conscientious objectors to paying their tax.

TDS GOT an average of €65,700 in expenses last year with senators receiving an average of €44,500.

IRELAND is one of the bad boys of Europe. Again.

LEGISLATION is needed to control the use of camera phones to protect children, says a Fianna Fáil senator,

BRIGHT sunshine at the opening of the Listowel races yesterday helped lift some of the gloom hanging over the Kingdom following the shock defeat by Armagh in the All-Ireland football final.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are battling it out in Clare ahead of this year's general election.