Cardinal Keith O’Brien last night admitted that his sexual conduct had at times “fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal”.

The man who was until recently Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric tonight apologised for sexual conduct that had at times “fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal”.

On Feb 23, Cardinal Keith O’Brien was reported to have said that many priests struggle with celibacy and should be able to marry and have a family.

The Catholic Church in Britain was in turmoil today after its most senior cleric, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who faces allegations of “inappropriate” behaviour, announced he is stepping down.

Britain’s most senior Catholic clergyman has said he would be “happy” for priests to be able to marry.

A former Vita Cortex worker who spent five months on a factory sit-in said she is now prepared to go to jail for not paying the household tax.

Less than 50 paying customers turned out at sun-splashed Fraher Field, Dungarvan, yesterday for this final round tie.

Cork boss John Cleary hailed his side’s spirit after they emerged with a dramatic extra-time success against Kerry in last night’s Munster U21 final in Tralee.

They needed more than 80 minutes of action to get over the line but ultimately Cork’s trip to Austin Stack Park in Tralee proved fruitful last night as they retained their Cadbury’s Munster U21 football title with a narrow success over Kerry.

Kerry U21 boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice urged his team not to get carried away by last night’s 31-point demolition of Waterford in an extremely one-sided Munster football championship semi-final.

ALL-Ireland minor football medallist Philip Quirke scored two second-half goals to settle yesterday’s Tipperary SFC semi-final and send Moyle Rovers through to a first decider since 2009.

CORK edged out Kerry by two points to claim their 28th Munster JFC crown in a lacklustre decider played last night in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Before an attendance of 949, Cork’s superiority came to the fore and in truth the scoreboard at the final whistle concealed their dominance, an injury-time goal by Kerry midfielder Andrew Garnett putting a gloss on the scoreboard.

WITHOUT ever needing to move out of second gear, Kerry booked their spot in the Munster JFC final with the minimum of fuss on Saturday.

CONTROVERSIAL graduation fees will not be introduced at University College Cork (UCC) this year.

UNIVERSITY College Cork Students’ Union has criticised the college president’s support for increased or new charges for third-level education.

POPE Benedict XVI praised Britain as a “force for good” yesterday as thousands of people turned out to greet him on the first day of his historic visit.

SUPPORT services for schools, colleges and education centres working with low-skilled students could come under pressure as Vocational Education Committees (VECs) have been told to cut non-teaching staff by up to 10% by the end of 2012.

A group of students staged a protest today outside the office of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, over what they see as the failure to address the problems of high youth unemployment and emigration.

SCOTLAND’S Roman Catholic leader attacked America’s “culture of vengeance” yesterday as he defended the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

A touch of scoring class from Cork corner-forward Brian Hurley was the crucial intervention in deciding yesterday’s ESB Munster MFC final in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

The “waterboy” for a highly sophisticated cannabis growing operation has been given a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

SHOCKING footage of the weekend assault on Tipperary referee Willie Barrett has appeared on the internet.

FORMER intercounty referee Willie Barrett abandoned a club hurling match in Tipperary on Saturday after he was struck twice by a ‘supporter’ wielding a hurley.

CORK progressed as expected in last night’s ESB Munster MFC quarter-final at Cusack Park in Ennis but no one in their camp need to be reminded that they made heavy weather of seeing off a brave and spirited Clare side.

STUDENTS staged a protest at University College Cork (UCC) yesterday over the planned introduction of a €65 graduation fee.

A LABOUR TD has called on University College Cork (UCC) to scrap its plans to introduce a “ridiculous” graduation fee.

STUDENTS at University College Cork (UCC) may organise their own graduation ceremonies this year to avoid a controversial new graduation charge, it emerged yesterday.

THE Munster Council last night confirmed they will investigate unruly scenes which marred Sunday’s provincial club junior football championship semi-final at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

FOR the first time in Britain, researchers at Newcastle University have created human-animal hybrid embryos, amid an ongoing political row about a disputed embryo research bill that is due to be put to parliament next month.

BOXING returns to the Neptune Stadium for the first time in 21 years on Saturday night (7pm) when the Cork County Board of the IABA stage a charity show in aid of the Leukaemia Ward at the Mercy Hospital.

A 71-year-old woman dropped to four stone in weight and lost the will to live following her husband’s death, an inquest heard today.

It is now the duty of 120 cardinals to decide who will head the millions of Catholics around the globe.

Defender Keith O’Brien, 24, has completed his transfer from Dublin amateur outfit Cherry Orchard to Kildare County this afternoon, as the Thoroughbreds bolster their ranks in their attempts to finish higher than last season’s agonising fifth place.

Pope John Paul II has officially appointed 30 new cardinals to the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.