The families of the Stardust tragedy victims are to learn tomorrow if the Government will open up a fresh inquiry into what happened.

An investigation into mother and baby homes could be widened to take in far more institutions as the Government has ordered a scoping exercise into the scandal.

Families of the Stardust fire victims have decided they will not engage with the latest review of evidence from the disaster, claiming they were misled as to what the review would entail.

THE imprisonment of three former officials of Anglo Irish Bank for conspiring to hide from the Revenue Commissioners accounts connected to the bank’s then chief executive, Seán FitzPatrick, represents a milestone verdict in Ireland’s long-running banking crisis.

FATE DEALT Bernadette Forde savage blows, but the State also ensured that her final days and hours were lacking peace of mind, writes Michael Clifford. 

There are some hints that the trial of Gail O’Rorke differs from the usual criminal proceedings to be found in the court system.

LUCIA O’FARRELL is distraught. Her son, Shane, has been killed and the man who took the life of the 23-year-old last week was given the choice of eight months in jail or leaving the country within 21 days.

Two recent court verdicts have highlighted, often through conflicting interpretations, our national fascination with the law, and our passion for justice.

Notorious armed robber Frank Ward, who received two life sentences for the shooting of publican Charlie Chawke during a robbery, has succeeded in having his sentence reduced to one of 20 years on appeal.

THE Labour Party needs to overcome a near impossible numbers game to fulfil its ambition to be the largest party in the next Dáil.

A drug addict has been sentenced to 12 years for trying to rob a 94-year-old man and robbing a Iranian tourist with a scissors.

AN alleged brothel keeper threatened to starve one of his prostitutes unless she brought in more business, it has been alleged at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

An alleged brothel keeper threatened to starve one of the prostitutes working for him unless she brought in more business, it has been alleged at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

A Dublin drug addict who robbed the same shop three times over three weeks has been sentenced to eight years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

A successful businessman has escaped with a fine after been caught with around 80,000 steroids he claimed were for personal use.

People in Belfast are still suffering the trauma of the Troubles 14 years after the main paramilitary groups called their first ceasefires, it was revealed today.

JUDGE Pat McCartan of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court fined Bus Éireann €2 million for breaches of the Health and Safety Act in relation to the accident in which five schoolgirls were killed in a bus accident in Navan in May 2005.

A man who is serving a life sentence for attempted murder, has been jailed for four years after he was caught driving a stolen car and head-butting a garda a week after shooting the 49-year-old man.

A situation where a 15-year-old male was left to babysit his six- and seven-year-old female cousins, while he was going through sexual development, may have been tolerated 30 years ago, but it would not be tolerated today said Judge Pat McCartan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

JOE SHERLOCK took five years off his age to have a better chance of winning a Dáil seat in the 2002 general election.

TWO bishops have been accused of obstruction in a case of alleged sexual assault by a deceased priest in their diocese.

EAMONN DOHERTY has been named as the full back replacement for injured team skipper Mark Crossan on the Donegal team for Sunday's Bank of Ireland, All-Ireland SFC qualifier with Meath at Croke Park.

A man who was at the centre of a sex charge affair that rocked the Republic’s anti-abortion laws 10 years ago was jailed in Dublin today after being convicted of a second sex crime.

The jury in the trial of a Tipperary sports coach charged with the sexual assault of four young girls has been discharged after tabloid newspapers published his photograph and identity.