Maria Dempsey will open a major conference on domestic violence next week — the sixth anniversary of her daughter’s horrific murder.

A woman’s claim there was “no justification whatsoever” for a symphysiotomy carried out on her in a Dublin maternity hospital in the 60s when she was 24 years old and 12 days before her first baby was born, has been unanimously rejected by a three-judge Court of Appeal.

The President of the High Court today said it was "really shameful" legislation has not yet been introduced for a system of periodic payments for the catastrophically injured who settle their medical negligence actions.

Paul Nicholls has won a 10th National Hunt trainers' championship at Sandown following second place for Just A Par in the bet365 Gold Cup.

The final of the Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake takes place at Limerick track tonight, and it is probably more open than the betting would suggest.

While a win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase may have so far eluded trainer Willie Mullins, his chances of addressing that rare omission from his CV moved a step nearer after Un De Sceaux gave further notice he is fast becoming the complete package with victory in the Sodexo Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

The new Master of the Rotunda has witnessed the tragedy of parents of babies with fatal foetal abnormalities having to “courier” their child’s remains home because of Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws.

Castlebride Bolt should take plenty of beating in tonight’s sixth race at Youghal.

BRITISH politics is a mess. David Cameron’s Conservatives don’t look comfortable in power. 

Hours before she was last seen alive, Elaine O’Hara is alleged to have texted the man the State claims was Graham Dwyer to tell him she was scared of him and knew her life was in his hands every time they met.

Saturday’s galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham looks like being an informative affair after 12 entries were revealed.

The Young Master will try to turn over a few elder statesmen when going for the hat-trick in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton today.

Your daily, spoiler-free guide to what to look out for on the box.

The High Court has granted an injunction against the Master of the High Court, Edmund Honohan, following his decision to refer papers on a case to the DPP for a perjury investigation.

OXYTOCIN. Women’s love drug. The drug associated with her sexual pleasure, with bringing on her labour and bringing down her breast milk.

Ghost-writing a Gaelic footballer’s autobiography can be a daunting task and the horrific experience suffered by one journalist a few years ago provides a lasting reminder of how it can all go horribly wrong.

An extension of the deep water container terminal in Ringaskiddy is “vital” for the southern region’s future economic wellbeing.

The chief losers in the bid to build a new children’s hospital are extremely disappointed their site was overlooked in favour of a campus that does not have all the advantages the losing Mater site had to offer.

Despite ongoing issues with the weather, it’s been a good week and the highlight for the stable was our apprentice, Charlie Elliott, riding his first winner, aboard Bendzoldan at Leopardstown on Thursday night.

The rain is back and that has led to a lot of plans being binned at the last minute.

Power might be capable of giving Aidan O’Brien an eighth win in today’s Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas.

A leading oncologist has said that the new National Children's Hospital should be built at St James's Hospital in Dublin, and not at the Mater.

Masters of maternity hospitals have a duty of care to women being forced to travel for an abortion, it has been claimed today.

Environmental campaigners told a UK High Court judge today that an Olympic basketball training facility was being built on parkland filled with “lead and asbestos”.

A Bord Iascaigh Mhara employee was asked to leave a public meeting hosted by a group opposed to a planned €3.5m fish farm.

A gang of 11 men plied girls as young as 13 with drink and drugs so they could “pass them around” and use them for sex, a court heard.

Clive Smith is not living in false hope over the chances of Master Minded racing again – although the owner feels it is not an impossibility just yet.

Kauto Star’s trainer Paul Nicholls has cast doubt upon the notion Long Run will emerge a much-improved horse when the pair clash yet again in the William Hill King George VI Chase.

NICKY HENDERSON has vowed to have Long Run primed to defend his crown in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Stephen’s Day.

PAUL NICHOLLS and Clive Smith are weighing up their options for the King George VI Chase at Kempton after both Kauto Star and Master Minded staked their claims for the Stephen’s Day highlight with victories on Saturday.

MASTER Minded is the star attraction among the nine entries for the Monet‘s Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree this weekend.

A spiritual master is selling tours to "heaven".

At least seven police officers have been injured after coming under attack by crowds of rioters in west Belfast last night.

Stephen Fry has joined the cast of 'The Hobbit'.

The Government has today ruled out widespread debt forgiveness for struggling borrowers in the face of a High Court warning that banks are hounding their own customers to suicide.

PRESSURE on the Government to draft laws allowing some debt forgiveness for struggling homeowners and others facing crippling debts has mounted after the Master of the High Court said repossessions were causing untold social harm, including suicides.

MASTER MINDED appointed himself as a King George replacement for the deposed Kauto Star after collecting his eighth top-level prize in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree.

Master Minded is set to step back up to two and a half miles in the John Smith‘s Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday week as connections contemplate trying him over three miles next season.

A preliminary report into a plane crash that killed six people and injured six more will be published today.

WHEN I settled down, after what was an astonishing first day of Cheltenham, I began to reflect on all of the miserable days I suffered over the previous four months.

Dual winner Master Minded and last year’s hero Big Zeb are among a field of 11 for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.