A serial sex offender with “perverted desires” has been jailed for life for the rape and murder of Irish vet Catherine Gowing.

The man who murdered Offaly vet Catherine Gowing will serve a minimum of 37 years in jail, a judge ruled today.

Specialist underwater units and forensic experts continued a massive search operation yesterday near where missing Offaly woman Catherine Gowing’s burned-out car was found last Friday.

Showjumper Cian O'Connor's first two witnesses have been called to give evidence at the hearing in Zurich into whether he should be allowed to keep his Olympic gold medal after his horse - Waterford Crystal - tested positive for banned substances.

Cian O'Connor, the grandson of Irish rugby great Dr Karl Mullen, choked back the tears as Amhran na bhFiann rang out around the Markopoulo centre tonight, singling the end of Ireland's Athens medal drought.