A judge at Cork District Court is reportedly due to issue a ruling today that could see thousands of drink-driving cases being struck out across the country.

The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said the State will put up a strong defence if there are problems regarding the legality of drink-driving prosecutions.

THE Government is paying the penalty for hasty legislation on road safety, a legal expert warned yesterday.

Gardaí arrested a man today and charged him with conspiring with others to commit an assault on John Butler at Gurranebraher Road, Cork on October 7, 2002.

Dual All-Ireland winning star Teddy McCarthy was accused today of being threatening or abusive and assaulting a man in the early hours of New Year's Day.

A fourth man was arrested and charged in Cork today with being a member of the Real IRA.

An elderly woman who made headlines for threatening to kill her next door neighbour and blow up his van had her case finalised today as she avoided jail and was bound to the peace for one year.

A prisoner escaped from Cork District Court today, the second escape from the building in recent times.

Gardai arrested a young woman from Doneraile in North Cork and charged her today with having an AK47 Kalashnikov assault rifle at her home contrary to the Offences Against the State Act.