A woman who hired a bouncy castle and a minibus for her son’s 21st birthday through Waterford Vocational Education Committee (VEC) has had her conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal.

While politicians argued the figures inside Leinster House, parents made clear on the streets of Ireland that they reject Government insistence that special needs pupils are getting the right supports in school.

The eagle-eyed fisherman who plucked a wedding ring from the river Lee last week got a free eye test yesterday.