Family Guy killed off a major character last night. A really major character. We did not expect it to be *SPOILERS*

The sideline regulation controversy is not an obsession for this corner of the newspaper — not just yet anyway — but the matter continues to raise questions, despite Croke Park’s keenness to draw a line under the matter.

I read Colette Browne’s article (Opinion, Feb 27) with interest.

Aviva chairman John McFarlane admitted today the company had moved more slowly because of a culture of collective decision-making at the insurer.

Staff at Aviva whose jobs have been placed at risk in a £400m cost-cutting drive are paying “the price of boardroom failure”, a union said today.

Insurer Aviva has admitted there will be no quick-fix to its problems after profits declined 10% and it warned of more challenging conditions this year.

Brave

Embattled insurance giant Aviva unveiled a major sell-off plan today as part of a broader turnaround in the wake of the resignation of its chief executive Andrew Moss.

Embattled insurance giant Aviva is this week expected to announce proposals to shut or sell a raft of divisions as part of a major turnaround plan.

The performance that prompted Aviva shareholders to oust chief executive Andrew Moss was laid bare in figures today.

Aviva has reportedly come under pressure from two major shareholders to replace chief executive Andrew Moss following a massive protest vote against executive pay.

ONE of the top IRA prisoners in the Maze during the hunger strike wanted John Hume to act as an intermediary to end the protest, state papers have revealed.

ALTHOUGH it is neither advisable nor wise to attempt to “justify” the activities of the Provisional IRA during its violent campaign, some clarity is called for given the recent incident whereby the son of a member of the army of this state who was killed confronted Martin McGuinness.

Insurance giant Aviva today announced that former Australian banking boss John McFarlane will become its chairman from next June.

AER LINGUS chief executive Christoph Mueller was paid more than €1.13m last year — €483,000 of which was made up of a performance-related bonus.

MAZE prison escapee Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane was yesterday awarded €15,500 over his prosecution for the kidnap of supermarket boss Don Tidey in the 1980s.

Maze prison escapee Brendan “Bik” McFarlane was today awarded €15,000 over his prosecution for the kidnap of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

Actor Charlie Sheen was sentenced today after pleading guilty to attacking his wife in a Christmas Day argument in exchange for the withdrawal of more serious charges.

THE “devil” who murdered Irishwoman Mary Griffiths with a bolt gun in front of her children knew she was defenceless from an injury when he attacked her, her sister has said.

A MAN obsessed with an Irish mother-of-three broke into her home and executed her with a bolt gun in front of her terrified daughters.

A SEVERELY disabled baby boy at the centre of a right to life battle which tore his parents apart is to be allowed to die in peace.

The father of tragic “right to life” baby RB today withdrew his opposition to a British High Court plea by doctors and the little boy’s mother for permission to switch off his life support.

THE European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has decided that a full sitting of the court will hear a case taken against the State by former IRA leader Brendan “Bik” McFarlane.

A FRESH medical assessment is to be carried out on a baby boy at the centre of a “right-to-life” legal dispute to decide whether a simple surgical operation could improve his prospects, a British high court judge heard yesterday.

A British High Court judge has begun the unenviable task of deciding whether a baby boy with an active brain locked inside an immobile body should live or die.

The trial of a former IRA chief, Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, on kidnap charges collapsed today after the Special Criminal Court ruled that incriminating statements he allegedly made cannot be used in evidence.

The Special Criminal Court ruled today that an alleged admission by former IRA leader Brendan "Bik" McFarlane that he was at the wood where kidnapped supermarket executive Don Tidey was held captive for 23 days almost 25 years ago cannot be admitted in evidence.

Judges are expected to rule today on whether incriminating statements allegedly made by a former IRA chief can be used against him in his trial on kidnap charges.

THE Special Criminal Court will rule today on an application by lawyers for former IRA leader, Brendan “Bik’’ Mc Farlane, to have alleged admissions by him to gardaí ruled inadmissible.

A senior police officer did not not tell a bail hearing that an ex-IRA chief charged over a violent kidnapping implicated himself in the crime under questioning, a court heard today.

A former IRA chief charged over a violent kidnapping today denied implicating himself in the crime under intense police questioning and accused detectives of making up the claim.

One of Ireland’s most senior gardaí refused today to reveal in court the source of confidential information which led to the arrest of a former IRA chief wanted for a violent kidnapping.

A former IRA chief told detectives investigating the kidnapping of a supermarket boss that he was at a hidden camp where the captive was held, it was claimed in court today.

Maze prison escapee Brendan McFarlane told gardaí that he was "prepared for the big one" when he was questioned about the kidnapping of former supermarket executive Don Tidey, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Maze prison escapee Brendan McFarlane was arrested just hours before the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Mo Mowlam was due to sign his final papers releasing him from parole, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The trial of a former IRA chief charged over the kidnapping of a businessman 25 years ago continues today.

A retired Detective Inspector has told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin of how Donald Tidey was rescued from terrorist kidnappers in Co Leitrim in 1983 after a three-week ordeal.

Prosecution witnesses will begin giving evidence today in the trial of a former IRA chief allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a supermarket boss 25 years ago.

THE Supreme Court has cleared the way for the trial of Maze Prison escapee Brendan “Bik” McFarlane on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

Maze prison escapee Brendan McFarlane today lost his latest legal challenge to stop his trial over the kidnap of a supermarket boss 25 years ago.

MAZE prison escapee Brendan “Bik” McFarlane is to take the Government to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to halt his trial for the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

Firefighters were today said to be exhausted after dealing with weeks of “flooding hell” which has tested the service beyond its limit.

Maze prison escapee Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane has lodged an appeal to the Supreme Court in a bid to prevent his trial going ahead on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

Maze prison escaper Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane is to appeal to the Supreme Court in a bid to prevent his trial going ahead on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.