Brown Rudnick, the US law firm which advised two bidders involved in the controversial €5.7bn of Project Eagle loans sold by Nama last year, yesterday said it would co-operate with all inquiries into the transaction.

Leinster forwards coach Leo Cullen has no qualms about putting the province’s youngsters up against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens today.

Leinster have dismissed the theory that the province is entering a difficult period of transition with the loss of key players already confirmed and more expected once the current season ends.

Former Ireland international and Leinster player Girvan Dempsey has been appointed to the role of Academy Manager for Leinster.

Northern Ireland Attorney General John Larkin twice rejected attempts to settle his High Court action against Peter Hain before they agreed to halt the proceedings in advance of a full hearing, the former Secretary of State has claimed.

The trial of two men accused of murdering a PSNI officer in the North has been adjourned to next year after another defendant involved in the case tried to sack her legal team.

IT took almost four hours of energy-sapping action to separate them, but Tyrone finally triumphed to qualify for the Ulster U21 Football Championship semi-finals.

TYRONE and Down will meet for a third time on Saturday after their Ulster U21FC quarter-final replay finished level after extra-time at Healy Park last night.

Tyrone 2-11 Cavan 0-14

TWO second-half goals, one each from Martin Penrose and Paddy McNiece settled this McKenna Cup semi-final at Brewster Park last night.

Tyrone 1-13 Donegal 0-13

WITH words of praise ringing in his ears from Leinster’s coaching and playing staff, Malcolm O’Kelly yesterday officially announced his retirement for the end of the season after a long and distinguished career, 15 of them as a professional player.

Former Ireland full back Girvan Dempsey will be inducted into the Bord Gáis Energy IRUPA Hall of Fame, joining other greats such as Mick Galwey, Anthony Foley, David Humphreys and Keith Wood.

LEINSTER have included internationals Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O’Brien, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton in their squad for Saturday’s Magners League clash with Scarlets at the RDS (6.30pm).

MICHAEL CHEIKA copped a fair share of flak for resting his frontline troops last week but final judgment will rest on tomorrow’s crucial Heineken Cup tie in Llanelli.

Authorities in the North were ordered to withdraw medical guidance on abortion today after a High Court Judge ruled it was potentially misleading.

Leinster backs coach Alan Gaffney is well aware of the threat posed by The Scarlets as Leinster go to Wales in search of an first round win in the Magner's League.

FOR 10, long dispiriting years, Brian O’Driscoll has toiled in the cause of Leinster.

THE IRELAND A team to face England Saxons at Donnybrook on Friday throws up a number of debatable selections with national head coach Declan Kidney opting to include nine uncapped players along with more experienced hands in Andrew Trimble, Eoin Reddan and Neil Best.

AT some stage tomorrow David Blair or Chris Paterson will launch a kick towards the skies over the RDS which will descend in Rob Kearney’s vicinity.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika is more optimistic than pessimistic about his list of injured players making their way back to full health.

FOR many, Saturday’s Twickenham clash between England and Ireland represents no more than a dead rubber, a fight for third place in the Six Nations table and a chance of redemption for two beleaguered head coaches.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan acclaimed the finishing that underpinned the 34-13 RBS 6 Nations victory over Scotland at Croke Park today.

Brian O’Driscoll has challenged Geordan Murphy to inflict fresh misery on ailing Scotland after making a dramatic return to the Ireland team.

Geordan Murphy will start Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland tomorrow, after Girvan Dempsey was ruled out with a hip injury.

SEVEN days later than might have been advisable, Eddie O’Sullivan has given first starts in the RBS Six Nations Championship to Leinster’s Rob Kearney, Bernard Jackman and Jamie Heaslip.

A Government legal challenge over the North's former Victims’ Commissioner should be dropped after Peter Hain’s resignation, campaigners said today.

ROB KEARNEY has promised that the Leinster backs will come out with all guns blazing in today’s do-or-die Heineken Cup clash with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Leinster will wait on the fitness of Brian O'Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey and Stephen Knoop for their Heineken Cup tie with Edinburgh on Friday.

GEORDAN MURPHY may be recalled to the Irish team for Sunday’s crucial World Cup game against Argentina at the Parc des Princes following an injury to Girvan Dempsey.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL equals an Irish record of which he had little knowledge when he leads his country in Saturday’s World Cup game against Georgia in the Stade Chaban Delmas.

The appointment of a police widow as the North’s interim victims’ commissioner was designed to placate the DUP, a report confirmed today.

YOU never expect to come away disappointed from an interview with the unfailingly friendly Girvan Dempsey, but it happened.

Eddie O’Sullivan insists the solidity offered by Girvan Dempsey outweighs his perceived lack of attacking talent in a position the Ireland coach compares to a goalkeeper.

WHAT do you do when you’re recognised as one of the finest full-backs in rugby, yet you can’t get your place on your own national team?

Recommendations empowering victims and survivors of the Northern conflict are to be published this week.

A couple were found guilty today of inflicting years of brutal cruelty and humiliation on seven children which only ended with the suspected suicide of one of their victims.

FOR Luke Fitzgerald and Stephen Ferris, it has been a dizzyingly rapid ascent. But having reached the pinnacle of Irish rugby with their international debuts at the weekend, both have their feet firmly back on the ground.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika will hope his new charges have shaken off the cobwebs that cost them victory last week in Wales when they take on the Glasgow Warriors in Donnybrook in the Celtic League on Saturday.

DESPITE battered bodies and bruised egos, it’s back to work for many of the Irish squad.

Ireland second row Paul O’Connell claims no radical surgery is required in the wake of his side’s RBS 6 Nations failure.

Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy has described skipper Brian O’Driscoll as “the complete centre”.

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan has frequently stated that the toughest part of his job is telling players they have been dropped.

IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan yesterday questioned the wisdom of introducing a “draconian rule” a week ahead of the start of the Six Nations Championship.