A retired garda chief superintendent yesterday told the High Court he asked the State Solicitor for West Cork in 1998 to raise the Garda case against Ian Bailey directly with the DPP, rather than any of his officials.

Call showed ‘close’ relationship between garda and Bailey witness

A former detective garda in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation has said he does not believe the reason a superior officer wanted a Garda statement “chopped up” was because it might have been seen as favourable to Ian Bailey.

The State Solicitor for West Cork, Malachy Boohig, said he was asked to attend a meeting in Bandon Garda Station in March 1998 where it was made clear gardaí were unhappy the DPP had opted not to charge Ian Bailey over the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Detective Sgt tells superior they had to ‘break’ Bailey’s partner

A 1997 phone call reveals a senior garda working on the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder believed all they had was "very weak circumstantial evidence" against Ian Bailey.

A recorded conversation between gardaí in the investigation of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier included a reference to a statement having to get “chopped up”, the jury in journalist Ian Bailey’s civil action against the State heard yesterday.

Ian Bailey's damages action has been hearing secretly taped garda phone calls in which a detective is heard saying: "That statement has to get chopped up."

Scenario A. A Kilkenny team versus an Offaly team in the Leinster club hurling final in Portlaoise tomorrow. It may not result in a win for the Offaly crowd but the chances are it’ll be close.

Former journalist Ian Bailey has identified a detective whom he alleges told him that he would be 'found dead in a ditch' when he was arrested in connection with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Employing Sgt Maurice McCabe’s talents for the betterment of the Gardaí would show that a genuine effort is being made to change the culture within the force, writes Michael Clifford

A prominent former Garda superintendent who relocated to the Seychelles where he worked to combat crime in the island nation’s version of the Criminal Assets Bureau has died of a suspected heart attack.

THE Ryan and Cloyne reports into child abuse in the Catholic Church could be seen in simple black and white terms: It was easy to loathe the abusers and the parish priests and bishops who colluded to protect them, to shudder at how bereft and powerless the child victims were, and at the torment of parents when they learned what had gone on around them.

Ian Bailey and four of his lawyers were yesterday given permission by the High Court to inspect transcripts of conversations recorded between gardaí at Bandon station and various people, including journalists.

Four gardaí are to receive transcripts of taped conversations at Bandon Garda Station before Ian Bailey who is suing the State for damages following a High Court ruling yesterday.

A quick glance at the Dublin club hurling roll of honour and one trend becomes instantly apparent.

Tomorrow

BALLYBODEN St Enda’s completed a five in-a-row to confirm their dominance in Dublin hurling when overcoming O’Toole’s by 12 points in a disappointing SHC final under lights at Parnell Park yesterday.

DUBLIN have been rocked by the news Conal Keaney is out of tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Limerick after damaging his knee in a motor accident yesterday.

FOR BILL, who went off at 4-11, failed to complete a four-timer when proving no match for Aura About You in the Grade 3 ITBA Fillies Scheme Dawn Run Mares’ Novice Chase at Limerick yesterday.

Trainer Paul Nolan enjoyed a near 141-1 treble at Limerick with Golden Sunbird, Aura About You and Politeo striking gold.

BALLYBODEN St Enda’s manager Liam Hogan has warned Dublin hurling supporters to be patient with Conal Keaney as he renews his inter-county career.

CAN I make a modest suggestion.

KILKENNY champions, O’Loughlin-Gaels saved themselves from the grave with only seconds remaining in normal time and then made Ballyboden St Enda’s (Dublin) pay the ultimate price when they scored a daring win in this thrilling Leinster Club SFC semi-final in Nowlan Park yesterday.

THE removal of heavyweight forces like Ballyhale Shamrocks and Birr has blown the Leinster senior club hurling race wide open.

BOSS Liam Hogan toasted absent friend Stephen Perkins as Ballyboden St Enda’s claimed an historic fourth Dublin SHC title on the trot.

Ballyhale Shamrocks 4-18 Ballyboden St Enda's 0-18

Dublin SHC Final: Ballyboden St. Enda’s 1-16 Craobh Chiarain 0-12

THE gardaí are haemorrhaging key staff, with many senior officers quitting the force to avoid being hit with a threatened tax on retirement lump sums as well as the pension levy.

St Malachy's Castlewellan 0-15 Ashbourne CS 0-7

A Kildare truck driver who transported heroin valued at €1m has been jailed for seven years by Judge Patrick McCartan.

The mother of a six-year-old English boy who fell to his death from a hotel balcony has urged the British authorities to prosecute his father for pushing him.

The mother of a six-year-old boy who died after plunging 50ft to his death from a hotel balcony told an inquest today of rows she had with her ex-husband on the day of the tragedy.

BIRR are confident of being able to call on the services of county players Stephen Brown and Gary Hanniffy for their AIB Leinster club hurling final against Ballyboden-St. Enda’s in Tullamore on Sunday week.

Dublin champions Ballyboden St. Enda’s caused a bit of a shock at Parnell Park this afternoon by beating a vastly experienced Oulart the Ballagh team in the Leinster Senior Club Championship Quarter-final.

GARDAÍ arrested an average of 80 motorists a day on suspicion of drink driving during the four-day bank holiday weekend clampdown.

THE May bank holiday garda clampdown on motoring offences, and especially those related to alcohol consumption, will remain in force until midnight tomorrow.

The motorcyclist who was killed in an accident in Co Cork yesterday has been named by the Gardaí.

A Kildare man who was arrested as part of a Garda Special Branch investigation into the activities of dissident republicans was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

A senior Special Branch officer told the Special Criminal Court today that he went to Bray garda station after he was told by one of his officers that he believed five men arrested for theft were members of the Provisional IRA.

A 31-year-old Louth man charged with membership of the Continuity IRA has been refused bail at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court.