by Thomas Pynchon

It’s been called the letter that launched a literary genre — 16,000 amphetamine-fueled, stream-of-consciousness words written by Neal Cassady to his friend Jack Kerouac in 1950.

A Book of Voyages

One of the Irish Greyhound Board’s chief internal investigators has accused its chairman of attempting to obstruct an inquiry into a race-fixing scam.

One of the Irish Greyhound Board’s chief internal investigators has accused its chairman of attempting to obstruct an inquiry into a race-fixing scam.

Brendan Gleeson will join Chris Hemsworth in 'In the Heart of the Sea'.

The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) faced down an internal revolt after quashing a positive drug test on a dog owned by one of the sport’s biggest backers.

A dog doping case exposed a range of irregularities in the system before the investigator said case closed, writes investigative correspondent Conor Ryan

The Gare St Lazare Players have brought their take on Moby Dick to its home town of New Bedford, says Gerry McCarthy

THE demise of pensioner Michael Faherty, who died at his house in Galway just before last Christmas, was unique in Irish history.

The Passages of Herman Melville

The best wine was certainly kept to last when the draw for the heats of the Town View Foods Champion Stakes was made at Shelbourne yesterday.

A MILLIONAIRE financier being sued by a former employee for discrimination yesterday told a tribunal he never used prostitutes.

A LONDON executive who is suing her boss for £4 million (€2.42m) for discrimination, believes he hired a hit man to kill her, a tribunal heard yesterday.

Eddie O’Sullivan has named a squad split between youth and experience for his first Test as USA Eagles head coach later this month.

USA Rugby have finalised venues for this summer’s Test matches with Ireland and Wales.

Norman Mailer, the macho prince of American letters who for decades reigned as the country’s literary conscience and provocateur, died of renal failure early today, his literary executor said. He was 84.

MEMBERS of Republican Sinn Féin yesterday protested outside the Kerry County Museum in Tralee where an exhibition is being held on William Melville, founder of the British Secret Service.

THE man who helpedto establish the BritishSecret Service and provided the inspiration for James Bond’s boss in Ian Fleming’s books is at last being honoured in the county of his birth.

HANDWRITTEN notes in which the police officer who led the hunt for Jack the Ripper names the man he believes is the killer went on public display yesterday.

The judge who presided over Michael Jackson’s child abuse case has ordered prosecutors to return to the entertainer hundreds of items seized by investigators.

The nightmare is over for Michael Jackson but may be just beginning for British journalist Martin Bashir, now facing a High Court legal action over his pivotal documentary.

MICHAEL JACKSON remained calm and silent as the 10 not guilty verdicts were read to him across a hushed court room in California.

Pop star Michael Jackson has been dramatically cleared of all child abuse charges.

THE jury in Michael Jackson’s sex-abuse trial deliberated yesterday for the third full day as a small army of fans waited anxiously outside court and an adviser to the pop star pleaded for calm.

Michael Jackson committed “exploitation and sexual abuse”, and his only defence has been to attack the credibility of his accuser’s family, a prosecutor said today as closing arguments began.

A subdued Michael Jackson sat silently in court on the eve of closing arguments in his child-molestation trial, well aware that within a matter of days his future will be placed in the hands of a jury.

THE judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial decided yesterday to let stand an instruction that would allow jurors to potentially find Jackson guilty of a misdemeanour count of giving alcohol to a minor.

Jurors in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial were today given their final instructions which will dictate how they reach their verdict.

The judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial decided today to let stand an instruction that would allow jurors to potentially find Jackson guilty of a misdemeanour count of giving alcohol to a minor.

The judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial said jurors may consider allegations of past wrongdoing against the pop star as long as they conclude the allegations are true.

Closing arguments could begin today in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial, taking the three-month case into its final stages.

Lawyers in the Michael Jackson child molestation trial today began discussing proposed instructions the jury will be given before beginning deliberations.

The accuser in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial returned to the courtroom on videotape today as prosecutors showed jurors a 2003 interview in which the boy first told authorities of his allegations against the singer.

The judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial heard arguments today on what the defence should be allowed to ask Jackson’s accuser if the boy returns to the stand.

The judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial said today he may sanction lead defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau for misrepresenting the terms under which Jackson waived his privilege of confidentiality with former lawyer Mark Geragos.

GLOUCESTER have acted swiftly following a hugely disappointing season at Kingsholm by axing director of rugby Nigel Melville.

Michael Jackson’s lawyers opened their case in his child sex and conspiracy trial by calling a young man who grew up knowing the pop star and denying a claim that he showered with the singer.

The only dramatic flourish – a routine motion for acquittal – came from the defence. Otherwise, the end of the prosecution's nearly 10-week case against Michael Jackson was strictly no-frills.

Michael Jackson's defence today asked the judge in his child molestation trial to rule out the testimony of ex-wife Deborah Rowe but did not reveal the reason in open court.

The judge in Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial ruled today that prosecutors may call the mother of two of Jackson’s children to testify against him.

Stung by several recent rulings favourable to the defence, prosecutors in the Michael Jackson child-molestation case said they planned to wrap up their case as early as this week.

PROSECUTORS in the Michael Jackson molestation case lost a key battle when a judge refused their request to allow testimony from a domestic violence expert to explain why the mother of Mr Jackson's accuser lied under oath.