A former detective garda in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation has said he does not believe the reason a superior officer wanted a Garda statement “chopped up” was because it might have been seen as favourable to Ian Bailey.

A former detective garda involved in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation has told the High Court he “totally refutes” claims by Marie Farrell he stripped naked in a holiday home and asked her for sex.

I’VE OFTEN been asked what underpins my attraction to Simon Cowell — bad taste in men, a potential styling project, weird Machiavellian fetish.

THE paddypower.com Grand National at Cork yesterday produced a terrific local victory with the Tom Nagle trained The Bishop Looney digging deep to beat Another Palm.

DAVY RUSSELL certainly looks the pilot to have on one’s side at the first meeting of the National Hunt campaign to be held at Thurles this afternoon.

DERINLAUR opened his account over fences, at the seventh attempt, when making all under Denis Hogan to win the www.tipperaryraces.ie Beginners Chase at Tipperary yesterday.

A COUPLE whose semi-detached home had to be demolished following a gas explosion in an adjoining house have begun an action for damages in the High Court.

A FAMILY homecoming ended in tragedy when a six-year-old boy died in his aunt’s garden after he was struck and killed by a car driven by his teenage sister.