A total of 56 people were killed in workplace accidents reported to the Health and Safety Authority last year, according to new reports.

The number of people fatally injured in workplace accidents has risen sharply since 2013. New statistics show 56 were killed at their place of work in 2014 compared to 47 the year before.

Former solicitor, financial adviser, and Fianna Fáil councillor Gary O’Flynn was yesterday jailed for three years for soliciting someone to murder a detective, a taxman, and an accountant because of a fraud inquiry against him.

Former solicitor, financial adviser and Fianna Fáil councillor Gary O’Flynn was arrested and charged with nine fraud charges yesterday.

A leading UK-based shareholder advisory group has recommended investors vote against resolutions at the annual general meetings of Guinness parent company, Diageo, and Ryanair.

Seven people were arrested yesterday on different charges related to an alleged mortgages fraud amounting to a total of almost €1m against Bank of Ireland.

Concerns have been raised at the fall in the number of health and safety inspectors tasked with inspecting workplaces at a time when the number of people in work is rapidly increasing.

Companies flouting health and safety standards have been hit with one of the highest ever total annual fines issued in this country, after 47 deaths occurred in Irish workplaces last year.

Rehab’s chief executive has insisted there is nothing untoward about the involvement of close family members in a coffin importation firm which was directly linked to the charity.

Former Fianna Fáil councillor Gary O’Flynn, who is facing 22 sample counts of financial deception, was described as being “in quite a destitute situation” as he applied for free legal aid.

Former Fianna Fáil member of Cork City Council, Gary O’Flynn, was formally arrested and charged with 22 counts of financial deception yesterday.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has expressed concern about its ability to monitor safety standards across many sectors due to a reduction in staffing levels.

A businessman who defrauded a local authority of a six-figure sum in a parking disc and bin tags’ scam is still living a lavish lifestyle.

Luxury cars, including two Porches and one Mercedes, were found outside the home of a man who stole over €123,000 from Cork City Council in a scam involving the sale of parking discs and bin tags to shops.

Seven neighbouring food companies in north Cork and east Limerick have boosted their business by launching the umbrella brand A Taste of Ballyhoura Country.

Betting exchange company Betfair plan to make a splash with their initial foray into major greyhound racing sponsorship this weekend.

A PLEASANT young man called Leonard arrived at the cottage door last week, bearing a large box from Knocknamuck in Co Cork.

A RETIRED school teacher received fatal injuries when hit by a falling branch which had been broken off when hit by a passing lorry, an inquest heard yesterday.

THE HSE has been forced to bail out a major hospital charity with taxpayers’ money.

THE release of convicted rapist Larry Murphy has sparked fresh debate over whether the details of sex offenders, such as addresses, should be made known to the wider community.

An events organiser who took €204,000 in deposits from sixth year students for their debs and graduation balls blew it all on gambling and left the young people without their end of year celebration nights, and today he was jailed for five years.

A COMMUNITY has been shattered and devastated at the death of a Limerick school teacher in a freak accident, mourners heard yesterday.

THE school teacher who died after a freak accident in which a tree branch fell on her as she walked on a Limerick street, had only recently got married, it emerged yesterday.

NATIONAL Park authorities in Killarney have been given the all-clear to allow treated effluent from an old world café flow into a lakeland area.

HORGAN’S Delicatessen Supplies, based in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, has just achieved the BRC (British Retail Consortium) global quality standard accreditation.

AMORPHOUS was a new one on Mary Sweeney. She had seen planners use many descriptions before but this one necessitated consulting a dictionary.

OVER 200 tonnes of polystyrene will be diverted from landfill in the greater Dublin region over the next 12 months as a result of a new recycling service launched yesterday.

Microsoft Ireland today launched a new environmentally friendly programme designed to increase the number of low-cost computers available to charities and schools whilst keeping serviceable computers out of landfills.

HUMAN rights campaigner and rock star Bob Geldof, was yesterday conferred with an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in recognition of his contribution to charity and efforts in tackling world poverty.

WATERFORD Regional Hospital’s prowess as one of the best teaching hospitals in the country has received a major boost with funding just announced for a new €4.6 million education unit.

WATERFORD Regional Hospital’s prowess as one of the best teaching hospitals in the country has received a major boost with funding just announced for a new €4.6 million education unit.

HORGAN Delicatessen Supplies is set to return to profit this year as it enlarges its van sales network to increase its service to independent food outlets.

THIRTEEN-MAN Drom-Broadford and St Senan’s booked their places in the Limerick SFC semi-finals with victories over Mungret and Fr Casey’s at the weekend.

A top medical team from a Dublin hospital travel to Vietnam this month to treat sick children under the care of the Christine Noble Foundation, it emerged today.

THE Examiner Amm Amm inter club golf tournament, inaugurated by George Crosbie and his brother, the late Donal, proved a hit from the start and the competition quickly became a regular fixture in the golfing calendar.