Why does Santa live at the North Pole? How does he fit all those presents onto his sleigh? And how on earth does he get the reindeer to fly? These and many other Christmas mysteries are solved today by the Junior Infants of Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighin in Carrigaline, Co Cork. Áilín Quinlan reports

Water charges protester Diarmaid Ó Cadhla, of The People’s Convention, was convicted and fined €300 at Cork District Court yesterday for failing to file a document related to electoral donations with the Standards in Public Office Commission after the 2011 general election.

Shane O’Connell received the gift of a new heart for Christmas and is looking forward to a healthier and happier new year.

A 33-year-old father of three who had been forced to live in a hospital for 20 months as he awaited a heart transplant has received a new heart.

EDINBURGH took on the appearance of a human zoo last night as thousands of supporters of the Leinster Lions and Leicester Tigers began to arrive in the Scottish capital in advance of today’s Heineken Cup final.