The mother of missing British toddler Ben Needham has said she now believes her son will not be found alive after disappearing on the Greek island of Kos 25 years ago.

A Kildare farmer’s son caught transporting tablets and cannabis bound for the black market valued at over €1m has been given an eight- year sentence.

Kate and Gerry McCann’s decision to close their Find Madeleine Campaign Twitter account because of online abuse has been criticised by the mother of snatched toddler Ben Needham.

Missing Ben Needham’s mother said she is “delighted” at the news that a blonde girl with blue eyes has been recovered from in a gypsy camp in Greece, the country where her own son was last seen.

The sister of a child who went missing in Greece more than 20 years ago says she wants her own DNA to be tested against that of a little girl found in a gypsy camp in the country in the off chance the girl is related to her missing brother.

The decisive moments in the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel will take place on Powerstown Park this afternoon but with two days completed, it already feels like a success for the Irish Coursing Club.

Catterick’s National Hunt meeting on Wednesday is already in serious doubt after an inspection was called for 9am on Monday.

Cork’s pace and clever use of possession were crucial factors as they cruised to victory in this All Ireland U14 championship final in St Brendan’s Park in Birr.

This afternoon’s meeting at Catterick has been abandoned due to a frozen track.

TONY MCCOY was one of nine jockeys at Wetherby hit with a 10-day suspension for failing to stop after a race had been voided yesterday.

Today’s meeting at Catterick has been abandoned due to high winds.

One rule today, I say to myself again. No judgments. My first coursing meeting will be all about the occasion. Rights and wrongs for another day.

This afternoon’s meeting at Catterick will go ahead as planned after a mild night in north Yorkshire.

IN their green-and-gold jerseys the Cork champions looked like Newtownshandrum, moved like Newtownshandrum and played like Newtownshandrum.

Catterick have called an 8am precautionary inspection ahead of tomorrow’s meeting due to the threat of frost.

Catterick’s New Year’s Day fixture is subject to an 8am inspection tomorrow.

A 21-year-old Dublin man died from blood loss caused by a stab wound to the heart, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

A STUDENT, who was bullied at school because of her size and was once told to join a “fat club” by a classmate, was crowned young slimmer of the year yesterday.

THURLES have brought forward their planned inspection and will now assess the track at 9am today ahead of their Thursday fixture.

Thursday’s meeting at Catterick is in doubt after the North Yorkshire venue was hit by a severe frost overnight.

Sunday’s meeting at Catterick is subject to an 8am inspection due to the threat of overnight frost.

This afternoon’s meeting at Huntingdon goes ahead after officials were able to scrap plans for an 8am inspection.

With tomorrow’s action from Warwick and Wetherby in doubt due to the threat of waterlogging, punters should at least have some jumps action to look forward to at Kempton.

This afternoon's meeting at Huntingdon has been abandoned after the track failed a noon inspection.

The stormy weather prevalent all over Britain currently is playing havoc with the National Hunt fixture list.

Permit holder John Needham hopes to have the last laugh when he takes on the big boys with Another Joker at Cheltenham on Saturday.

This afternoon’s meeting at Warwick has passed an early-morning precautionary inspection and will go ahead as scheduled.

Tomorrow’s meeting at Warwick hinges on a 7.30am precautionary inspection.

Officials at Huntingdon are confident tomorrow’s card will take place as planned despite calling a 7.30am precautionary inspection.

All three of tomorrow’s National Hunt meetings in the UK are subject to early-morning inspections, although today’s meeting at Bangor has managed to beat the frost.

This afternoon’s meeting at Huntingdon is subject to a second inspection at 9am.

Warwick’s evening meeting on Wednesday has been abandoned due to waterlogging.

Divers in Co Monaghan have recovered the body of a man from Lough Muckno.

A POLICEMAN tried to kill his wife, the mother of his four children, after she had an affair with a lover from her schooldays who was traced through the Friends Reunited website, a court was told yesterday.