The mother of two small boys strangled by a 100lb python in their sleep in Canada had posted photos on Facebook last year of them playing in and cleaning her neighbour’s snake enclosure.

A 100lb (45kg) python blamed for the strangling deaths of two Canadian boys apparently escaped from its pet store enclosure, slithered through a ventilation system, and fell through a ceiling into the room where the brothers were sleeping, the shop’s owner has said.

A 100lb python blamed for the strangling deaths of two Canadian boys apparently escaped from its pet store enclosure, slithered through a ventilation system and fell through a ceiling into the room where the young brothers were sleeping, the shop’s owner has said.

A day to forget for Davy Russell ended in drama as the star jockey was taken to Tralee General Hospital after suffering a bad fall at Listowel on Thursday.

Jockey Davy Russell has been taken to Tralee General Hospital after suffering a bad fall at Listowel today.