A 15-year-old girl was subjected to a vicious hiding in a daylight brawl in what a judge described as a disturbing attempt at "summary justice".

A holly patrol has been put in place in the Killarney National Park amid fears that the annual hacking down of whole red-berried holly trees for the Christmas market is getting under way.

Such was the ferocity of a stabbing attack in a Limerick apartment, the intended victim received three wounds, one almost fatal, when knives “shredded” the door he was using as a shield to protect himself, a court heard.

Belvedere gained some measure of compensation for their tame exit out of the Leinster Senior Cup by edging out Cistercian Roscrea in the Senior Plate final yesterday.

THE late editor of the Sunday Independent Aengus Fanning was remembered yesterday as a newspaperman who had showed courage in exposing the hidden evils of Irish society.

THE impact of climate change in Ireland is being signalled by dramatically unusual behaviour in butterflies, a conference heard yesterday.

JUST as the presence, or absence, of fish can tell us a lot about the quality of water in rivers andlakes, butterflies are known as an indicator species for measuring changes in the environment.

FINANCIAL incentives should be given to landowners who restore land to provide habitats for endangered species, the Heritage Council has suggested.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS have warned that 29 different species of bird are at risk of extinction in Ireland unless the Government invests €20 million into protecting wildlife.

Community groups, environmental organisations and individuals were today urged to apply for funding from a €1m scheme to protect wildlife in their local areas.

Nature conservation needs farming activity, the Irish Heritage Council has told an international conference in Kilkenny on agriculture and nature in an expanded Europe.