A series of coincidences has seen a First World War medal returned to the family of the Kerry soldier who owned it — 70 years after it was stolen in England.

IT was the invitation Franc could not refuse — pay up or do the time.

DESPITE danger warnings, a 57-year-old construction worker died in a trench collapse near Kenmare, Co Kerry, on October 26, 2005, an inquest was told in Killarney yesterday.

TWO contractors were yesterday fined a total of €55,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of the safety regulations arising from the death of one man and injuries to another in a building site accident in Kenmare, Co Kerry.