A homeless charity in Cork City has recorded a sharp increase in family homelessness over the past year, leading to pressure on beds and higher numbers being turned away.

A new garden will serve as an outdoor training centre for vulnerable young women at risk of homelessness in Cork.

States services and supports for those with mental health problems and the growing suicide crisis are “inadequate and scandalous”, a priest has stated.

The double tragedy in Cork at the weekend highlights the lonely and troubled existence of those living on the margins, the head of Cork Simon has said.

A priest’s well-meaning proposal that the Church sell off gold to help save an under-threat teaching post has gone down like a tonne of lead in his dioceses.

The insurance industry in Ireland has the potential to create 3,000 jobs over the next five years and invest up to €1bn in infrastructure projects, according to a major review.

A funeral took the place of birthday celebrations for murdered Robert Sheehan, who would have turned 22 yesterday.

PRISONER rights advocates are opposing the planned doubling of detention places for women after research has shown large numbers of females are serving time for non-serious offences, including road traffic incidents and non-payment of debts or fines.

FAMILIES using the planned bus service to the new “super prison” in north Dublin for visits will be pressurised to carry drugs and targeted by other families to “settle scores” inside prison, it was claimed yesterday.

THE blueprint for the proposed super-prison at Thornton Hall in north county Dublin is critically flawed and does nothing to address the growing problem of violence behind bars, the director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice said yesterday.

BUILDING private and public hospitals side-by-side will lead to further health service inequality and undermine fundamental values, social justice groups warned today.

TÁNAISTE Michael McDowell’s controversial proposals on immigration this weekend disguise the fact that he already presides over an established detention policy, a leading refugee welfare organisation has said.

HIBERNIAN Life & Pensions has appointed Stuart Purdy, currently managing director of parent company Aviva’s India-based operations, to a new role as deputy chief executive in Ireland.

SALES at Hibernian Life rose by 17% to €146.7 million last year, as its market share increased by 6%.

Hibernian Life and Pensions has reported a 9% increase in sales to €125.6m for 2004. Sales were €115.4m the previous year.

Hibernian chief executive Bryan Jenkins announced today that current group finance director Tony O’Riordan has been appointed to the position of managing director of Hibernian Life & Pensions.