Two seven-year-old girls have handed ministers a petition signed by 30,000 people demanding a judge lead the inquiry into church-run, state-sanctioned institutions for single mothers.

Emotions will run high this Easter Weekend for Irish marathon runner Bobby Hilliard, ahead of his 26-mile re-run of the Boston Marathon course.

The Bank of England will hold interest rates at record lows once more tomorrow, amid speculation it will have to change the threshold for considering a hike in the cost of borrowing within months.

An Irish runner caught up in the Boston marathon attack has vowed to compete in the event next year.

An Irishman who competed in yesterday’s ill-fated Boston marathon was deeply traumatised last night by the explosions that left two dead and dozens injured and from which his wife had a lucky escape.

The descendants of the great houses of the South-West, whose social life once revolved around each other, gathered for the first time in more than 100 years at Muckross House in Killarney over the weekend.

New York came to sunny West Cork as Clonakilty got its bite of the Big Apple’s Hurricane Sandy mop-up and 2,500 athletes worked up a pre-Christmas appetite at the town’s third Waterfront Marathon series of races.

The Hilliard Ensemble’s appearance at Triskel Christchurch is a dream come true for the organiser, writes Jo Kerrigan

THE family of a private detective found with an axe in his head received apologies from police and lawyers as three men were cleared of murder.

THE Chartered Accountants Regulatory Board Disciplinary Tribunal found that Mark Hilliard, a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland with an address at Ashfield Park, Naas, Co Kildare, acted in breach of the institute’s code of ethics for members — fundamental principles: integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care in issuing cheques which were not honoured.

THEY might be studying texts thousands of years old but it’s all part of a high-tech course available without leaving home.

HURRAY!

THE economic crisis is prompting more people to turn to God.

PAUL BURRELL took an engagement ring off the dead body of Diana, Princess of Wales, and kept it, his former bodyguard claimed yesterday.

Paul Burrell took an engagement ring off the dead body of Diana, Princess of Wales and kept it, his former bodyguard claimed today.

More than 23 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport last year – up 10% on 2006, it was announced today.

PASSENGERS travelling through Dublin Airport can expect a better experience with the opening a €120 million facility on Sunday.

AUTUMN may be the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but it’s also the time for some prime farm sales.

WITH a general election looming, a warning has been given of a rush to rezone land for housing in Kerry.

WITH a general election looming, a warning has been given of a rush to rezone land for housing in Kerry.

THE Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell yesterday backed the Director of Public Prosecutions amid public disquiet over the handling of the Wayne O’Donoghue case.

THERE was a sensational development at last night’s Meath County Convention in Navan when Fintan Ginnity, chairman for the last 20 years, was defeated by Brendan Dempsey.

Many of the estimated 900 Irish prisoners in UK jails suffer discrimination and endure lives of quiet desperation, it was claimed today.

DUBLIN residents have vowed to object to plans for a second €130 million runway at the State airport on the grounds of noise pollution.

AN ARMY major, his wife and a college lecturer were yesterday found guilty of cheating their way to the top prize on the British TV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

An army major and his wife had debts of more than £50,000 (€73,000) when he allegedly “cheated” his way to the top prize on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, a court heard today.

AN army major used an accomplice’s strategic coughing to “cheat his way” to the top prize in Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, a court was told yesterday.

A Dublin man who set fire to a house while its owners were sleeping inside has been given a three year suspended sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.