A High Court judge apologised to the family of an eight-year-old boy with cerebral palsy because legislation to allow for periodic payments orders has not yet been brought in.

A 29-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Michael Gannon in Skerries.

A 29-year-old man is still being questioned by Gardaí in Co Dublin in connection with the murder of Michael Gannon.

A murder investigation is formally underway following the fatal stabbing of a grandfather in Dublin.

Gardaí are expected to launch a murder inquiry following the fatal stabbing of a grandfather in Dublin.

A man in his 20s remains in Garda custody following the fatal stabbing of a man in Skerries, Co Dublin yesterday evening.

THE value of court judgments against companies for the recovery of unpaid debt continued to rise in the first quarter of this year, hitting almost €20 million.

CONNACHT saw a historic surge in debt recovery court judgements during 2009, while Dublin and Munster are weathering the economic storm better than most.

THERE continues to be a surge in the number of creditors’ meetings being held, with the construction sector still dominating.

COURT judgments (CJs) against companies for the recovery of unpaid debt continues to rise, with €9.4 million worth lodged in the third quarter of this year.

ONE-in-four of all creditor meetings held in the secondquarter of this year were for firms in the construction industry.

THE number of court judgments against companies for the recovery of unpaid debt has ballooned to €9.1 million for the first six months of 2009.

THE number of failed companies soared 60% over the last year while the number of new firms starting up dropped by a fifth.

A man who slashed his girlfriend's teenage sister with a 'Stanley' knife in a savage and frenzied attack has been given a two-year sentence by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.