SOLICITORS and barristers earned €54.3 million between them last year through providing state-funded criminal legal aid, according to figures from the Department of Justice.

THE parents of an 11-year-old boy killed by his neighbour were among the mourners at the removal of a garda superintendent whose tragic death from cancer came in the wake of his doctor’s negligence.

A LIBEL action taken against television station TV3 by Wayne O’Donoghue, who was convicted of the manslaughter of 11-year-old Robert Holohan, was settled yesterday.

Cork man Wayne O’Donoghue was prepared to give evidence in a libel case settled in the High Court, it was claimed tonight.

THERE was growing anger among victims’ rights groups last night after it emerged convicted wife killer Eamonn Lillis could walk free from prison as early as 2015.

THE sentence handed down for the killing of Celine Cawley was influenced by two notorious cases: Wayne O’Donoghue and Linda Mulhall.

A SENIOR garda has won his appeal against a district court judge’s decision to hold him in contempt of court.

NEW measures that will allow courts to re-open murder and serious sexual assault cases if fresh evidence comes to light have been announced by Justice Minister, Dermot Ahern.

THE Press Ombudsman has upheld part of a complaint by Wayne O’Donoghue’s father Ray against a tabloid newspaper which accused him of “using” Robert’s Holohan’s death to help get planning for a new home.

FAMILIES of murder and manslaughter victims will be given explanations in future if the Director of Public Prosecutions decides not to press charges against suspects in the case.

A DECISION is expected shortly from the DPP on a request by gardaí for a judicial review of a judge’s decision to hold a garda inspector in contempt.

THE lawyer for Wayne O’Donoghue said he “never saw the likes” of the media interest surrounding the release of his client.

THE mother of 11-year-old schoolboy Robert Holohan who died in tragic circumstances more than three years ago is expecting her fourth child later this year.

VICTIM support groups and Fine Gael have led calls for the mandatory use of victim impact statements in murder trials.

WAYNE O’DONOGHUE has just finished his sentence and paid his debt to society — the media frenzy at the Midland Prison indicated he is just starting his sentence with Irish journalism.

WAYNE O’DONOGHUE has paid his debt to society and should be allowed the privacy to get on with the rest of his life without publicly having to relive his tragic mistakes.

GRIEVING father Mark Holohan has dismissed Wayne O’Donoghue’s prison-gate apology as a publicity stunt.

THE parents of slain schoolboy Robert Holohan maintained a dignified silence yesterday.

OPINIONS on Wayne O’Donoghue and his release from prison were offered reluctantly yesterday in the town still aching from his crime.

WAYNE O’Donoghue’s former principal last night praised his “brave” statement and apology and urged him to rebuild his life in Cork.

NO more about the Holohans or Wayne O’Donoghue. Please.

Robert Holohan's killer Wayne O’Donoghue should be given credit for admitting his guilt, as the family bereaved by his crime struggle to come to terms with his release, a friend said tonight.

THE High Court yesterday adjourned for three weeks an application for discovery of documents in an action for libel brought by Wayne O’Donoghue, the 23-year-old engineering student who was convicted of the manslaughter of Midleton schoolboy Robert Holohan.

The hometown of the young student, Wayne O’Donoghue, convicted of killing schoolboy Robert Holohan is fully prepared for his imminent release, it was claimed tonight.

PRISON Service bosses last night said Wayne O’Donoghue’s release from prison tomorrow would be handled in the same way as that of any other inmate, unless there was a threat to his safety or public order.

THESE last few days, and even weeks, will have been terribly difficult for anyone close to the tragedy surrounding the death of schoolboy Robert Holohan.

THE solicitor representing Cork student Wayne O’Donoghue — set to be released from jail this week having served three years for the manslaughter of his 11-year-old neighbour Robert Holohan — said yesterday his client would find it “extremely difficult” to remain in Ireland in the near future.

AN APPLICATION should have been made for the immediate release of Wayne O’Donoghue after the mother of Robert Holohan made her victim impact statement, a senior counsel has said.

An application should have been made for the release of Wayne O’Donoghue immediately after Majella Holohan’s victim impact statement, according to the barrister who represented O’Donoghue during his trial for the murder of 11-year-old Robert Holohan.

Former Justice Minister Nora Owen has said that High Court Judge Paul Carney was more sympathetic to the situation of convicted killer Wayne O’Donoghue than towards to the family of his victim 11-year-old Robert Holohan.

WHY shouldn’t Majella Holohan know exactly what happened to her child, the child she gave birth to and nourished and cared for over 12 years?

VICTIMS of serious crime must continue to be allowed to reveal in court how they have been affected by their ordeal, campaigners said yesterday.

A MAN whose 19-year-old daughter was murdered last year has criticised the Victim Impact Statement process as “disgraceful” and said there was too much consideration for the perpetrators of violent crime.

EVEN though I wasn’t identified by name, Mr Justice Paul Carney clearly referred to me and my victim impact statement in Ennis in January 2006 at the sentence of Wayne O’Donoghue for the unlawful killing of my son, Robert.

Mr Justice PAUL CARNEY’S remarks in relation to victim impact procedures focused on extremely sensitive matters.

It is not fair to criticise me for saying how the killing of my son impacted on me, Majella Holohan, mother of murdered school boy Robert said today.

Wayne O’Donoghue is very concerned about his future in this country after his release from prison next January.

While the case of Madeleine McCann remains in the spotlight, many others around Europe have been forgotten by the public — along with 82 who disappeared in Ireland, writes Dan Buckley.

PEOPLE who commit “low levels of deliberate violence” which unforeseeably result in someone’s death should not be prosecuted for manslaughter, according to a new report by the country’s leading legal reform body.

The father of schoolboy Robert Holohan today spoke of how much he dreads his son’s anniversary.

THE Irish Examiner has taken one of the top honours in the annual Law Society awards for journalism.

A GROUP representing families of homicide victims yesterday called on the Government to give them the legal right to make victim impact statements.

MAJELLA HOLOHAN bit her lip when she heard the judgment.

FAR-REACHING repercussions for people who make victim impact statements will follow a ruling by the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday, stemming from its refusal of an application against the leniency of the prison sentence given to Wayne O’Donoghue for the manslaughter of 11-year-old Robert Holohan.