A Dublin man accused of possessing almost €3m worth of drugs and an assault rifle told Gardaí that he and his brother, who was caught with 15 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition, lived "separate lives" and were like "chalk and cheese".

Prominent republican Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy will move to appeal his conviction for tax evasion later this year.

A trial date will most likely be set next month for Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy on charges of falsely imprisoning Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water charges protest in Jobstown almost 18 months ago.

A man who stabbed his brother to death in 2006 came out of prison and set fire to his friend’s apartment after falling out with him.

The State has dropped a charge of possession of €2.5m worth of ecstasy against a man in light of last week’s Court of Appeal ruling.

A drive to promote Tralee as a key retail and tourism centre was launched last night.

An unemployed Swords mechanic who was caught moving drugs twice within two weeks in order to clear his drug debt has been sentenced to eight years with the last two years suspended.

Two Romanian men have been jailed for 16 months for their roles in duplicating credit cards as part of an international fraud operation.

A Mongolian mature student has escaped deportation and has received a two-year suspended sentence for smuggling €12,400 of cigarettes into Ireland.

An Angolan father of five who defrauded the State of €60,000 after he signed on the dole while working in a Dublin hotel has been given a suspended sentence on condition that he refund the money.

A Montessori School owner must sell her home after defrauding a building society out of almost €50,000 by using a chequebook for a closed Scout Association of Ireland bank account.

A customs officer has denied he was "selective" in laws he enforced when investigating the case of a north county businessman charged with failing to pay tax on cider he produced and sold in farmers' markets.

GOVERNMENT plans to have gangland murders and other serious crimes brought before the Special Criminal Court could be premature, a criminal barrister has warned.

Full-time: Meath 2-13 Wicklow 1-08

COUNCILLORS in Tralee have called on Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin to resign from his position.

THERE is still very petty and begrudging criticism of religious orders in relation to their contribution for the compensation scheme for victims of abuse in institutional care.