One summer evening when John* was 19, he went to a pub to watch the Irish football team playing in the European Championships. He had never been in that pub before and was accompanied by a male relative, writes Jane O'Sullivan

SUSPECTED dissident Republicans were in custody last night after a millionaire businessman was tied up and pistol-whipped, while his pregnant wife was held at gunpoint in what gardaí believe was an extortion bid attempt.

AT least three motorists brought their cars to a stop yesterday morning as they sailed through the Mount Oval estate on the outskirts of Cork city, and proceeded to capture the scene on their camera phone.