Senior executives at News International were “surprised” to hear claims from jailed former News of the World royal correspondent Clive Goodman that phone hacking was widespread at the paper, the company’s former personnel chief told MPs today.

THEY may be still savouring last month’s 36th All-Ireland football title, but Kerry have suffered an early blow for 2010 with confirmation that Tommy Walsh has agreed a preliminary agreement with AFL outfit St Kilda. His club and inter-county colleague David Moran has also been offered an early trial with the same club.

Setanta Ó hAilpín's Australian Rules career is in doubt after he was suspended for fighting with his Carlton Blues team-mate Cameron Cloke at training.