A Sinn Féin MEP was yesterday convicted and fined for speeding.

A motorist’s prosecution for holding a mobile phone while driving is set to go to the High Court after his attempt to pay his fine prior to receiving a court summons was rejected because he did not sign his middle name when replying to the notice.

Victoria White’s column (Opinion, July 24) on the Israel/Palestine conflict is flawed in so many ways. Here are two. First, Israel is not a colonial state and was not created as the result of “the mania for ethnic cleansing that started in Russia,” whatever that means.

An icecream van driver was cleared yesterday of careless driving in a case where it was alleged that he had knocked down a boy aged around six.

As 2013 is drawing to a close, track and field athletes are busy preparing for the 2014 season.

A 31-year-old Lithuanian man was last night charged at a special court in Bandon, Co Cork, with cultivation of cannabis.

A town councillor has been fined €500 after being convicted of falsely claiming expenses for a conference he did not attend.

A former Fianna Fáil councillor has been charged with deception in relation to the claiming of conference expenses.

If Derval O’Rourke runs like she is capable of running she will make tonight’s final of the women’s 100m hurdles at the Olympic Stadium, according to her coach Sean Cahill.

Derval O’Rourke begins her London 2012 campaign at the Olympic Stadium this morning when she competes in the first round of the 100m hurdles.

Derval O’Rourke, renowned for her fighting spirit come championship time, has done the work, made the sacrifices and is ready to make a big impact in the Olympic Stadium next week.

The injury concerns over Derval O’Rourke eased yesterday when the Athletics Ireland physiotherapist team insisted they can get her back to full fitness following the back spasm that led to her shock late withdrawal from the Woodies DIY track and field championships on Sunday.

Derval O’Rourke’s participation in next month’s London Olympics is in doubt after she pulled out of yesterday’s defence of her 100m hurdles title at the Woodies DIY national championships in Morton Stadium.

Leevale’s Ciarán Ó Lionaird and Derval O’Rourke spearhead Ireland’s hopes of medals at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey today knowing they will have to be in top form to compete with the best.

New technology that examines in forensic detail the movements of Derval O’Rourke as she scales hurdles has allowed the Cork woman to highlight an injury that affected her performance at the recent Irish indoor championships, while also giving her the best possible preparation for the upcoming world indoor championships in Istanbul (March 9-11).

The Woodies DIY Irish indoor championships will be a vital element of Derval O’Rourke’s build-up to next month’s world indoors according to her coach, Seán Cahill.

AS THE counties square off again on Sunday, Joe Sheridan believes the tensions between Meath and Louth stemming from the acrimonious 2010 Leinster final have dissipated.

A priest wrongly accused of sexual abuse has returned to full ministry.

DERVAL O’ROURKE won’t be bidding to cash in her silver medal for gold at next year’s European championships in Helsinki which come just a matter of weeks ahead of the Olympic Games in London.

DERVAL O’ROURKE will continue her build up to the world championships in Daegu and, ultimately, next year’s Olympic Games when she lines up for the 100m hurdles in Budapest tomorrow.

DERVAL O’ROURKE’S performance in Chaux du Fonds, Switzerland, on Sunday is all the more impressive considering she is right in the middle of a hard block of training, according to her coach, Sean Cahill.

DERVAL O’ROURKE will recover from her fourth place at the European Indoor Championships, according to her coach Sean Cahill.

IN anticipation of a long day at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, where the European athletics championships get under way this morning, a room has been booked for Derval O’Rourke at a nearby hotel.

DERVAL O’ROURKE and Leevale clubmate Ailis McSweeney were two very determined ladies walking out of Santry Stadium on Tuesday night, according to coach Sean Cahill.

DERVAL O’ROURKE will be fighting fit for the first round heats of the 60m hurdles at the European indoor championships in Paris on Friday.

DERVAL O’ROURKE has withdrawn from next weekend’s Woodies DIY All-Ireland indoor championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast but her coach, Sean Cahill, insists there is no need for concern.

DERVAL O’ROURKE bids to claim national titles in the AAA championships in Birmingham on Saturday and the Woodies DIY Irish indoor championships in Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on Sunday.

DERVAL O’ROURKE moved a step closer to her target — the European championships in Paris in a month’s time — when she finished third in the 60m hurdles in 8.03 secs at last night’s international indoor meeting in Lievin.

WITH qualifying standards due to be announced in April/May, the build-up to London 2012 has already begun for Irish athletes with the cream of the current crop already in training camps around the world.

DESPITE a disappointing run in Zagreb on Wednesday, Derval O’Rourke can end the season in style this weekend, says coach Sean Cahill.

SEÁN CAHILL travels to Brussels this weekend to prepare Derval O’Rourke for her third race since finishing second in the 100m hurdles final at the European championships in Barcelona.

EXPECT to see Derval O’Rourke running a lot more 100m races between now and London 2012 as her coach, Sean Cahill, attempts to improve her overall performance over the 100m hurdles.

BACK in 1992 Derval O’Rourke watched Gail Devers suffer a crashing fall after clearing the final hurdle when looking certain to claim the Olympic gold medal.

EUROPEAN silver medalist Derval O’Rourke last night launched a blistering attack on the treatment of elite athletics in this country.

IRISH team manager Patsy McGonagle believes David Gillick is ready to win his first European outdoor medal in this evening’s 400m final at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.

AILIS McSWEENEY was chuffed when Derval O’Rourke arrived around with a bouquet of flowers on Thursday night.

STILL feeling the effects of a fall in Germany last week, Derval O’Rourke was left wondering if she’s ever going to win a race at Cork City Sports as she finished third after battling through the gale force winds that howled around the CIT Athletics Stadium on Saturday.

DERVAL O’ROURKE diverted to Dublin en route from Thessalonika on Thursday night for an early morning check-up with Mark McCabe in advance of her appearance today at the Cork City Sports.

HOMETOWN favourite Derval O’Rourke is set to line out at the Cork City sports tomorrow, after overcoming injury concerns in Thessalonika on Wednesday night, according to her coach, Sean Cahill.

DERVAL O’ROURKE is set to share star billing with world silver medallist, Olive Loughnane, at Cork City Sports at the CIT Track in Bishopstown on July 3.

THE surprise inclusion of a men’s 4 x 400m relay team alongside medal hopefuls, David Gillick and Derval O’Rourke, on the Irish team for the world indoor championships in Doha (March 12, 13, 14) is aimed at the future and, in particular, this year’s European outdoor championships in Barcelona, according to team manager Patsy McGonagle.