Martin O'Neill saluted James McClean after the West Brom winger's double handed the Republic of Ireland World Cup qualifier victory in Moldova.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Moldova 1 Republic of Ireland 3: In the usual manner, Ireland made this harder for themselves than was strictly necessary, not for the first time surrendering an early lead in a game, before a second half James McClean brace reasserted the visitors’ general superiority and deservedly sent them joint top on points of Group D with Serbia.

The Republic of Ireland will attempt to complete a maximum points haul from their October World Cup qualifiers when they face Moldova in Chisinau tomorrow evening.

Ireland’s Men’s and Women’s Senior Basketball teams secured semi-final berths at the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries yesterday with impressive victories on day two.

Poland’s government insisted yesterday that rail travel is safe in the country despite a train collision on Saturday that killed 16 people.

Protesters stormed parliament in the eastern state of Moldova today smashing windows and setting fire to furniture in a violent demonstration against what they said were fraudulent elections.

A new group to promote the interests of Moldovans living in Ireland was launched today.

SWITZERLAND, with the influential Yakin brothers on board, will be favourites to run up their Group 4 scoring average against Israel at the national stadium in Ramat Gan today.

FORMER Coventry and Southampton manager Gordon Strachan has assured Berti Vogts he does not want to replace him at the Scotland helm.

UP to 50 Nigerians, mainly families of Irish-born children, are expected to be deported from Ireland on a charter plane next month.

Three Irish-born children were among 61 failed asylum-seekers deported to eastern Europe on a specially chartered plane yesterday, according to reports this morning.

DOZENS of gardaí, including experienced special branch and drugs unit detectives, have been assigned to the National Immigration Bureau as the force gears up to carry out a wave of deportations this year.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell was forced to run a gauntlet of angry anti-deportation protestors at University College Dublin last night.

THE Department of Justice has expanded its crackdown on failed asylum seekers with deportations topping 20 a week.

Around 65 illegal immigrants are due to be deported this morning after being arrested in raids across the country yesterday.

The 19 Moldovans who had been held at Mountjoy Jail since the weekend have been released by the High Court.