Even jaded customs officers must have smirked at the excuse. When they searched bags belonging to Rafhe John they found €106,700 in cash.

A Meath man has had more than €49,000 seized from him after a court rejected his claim that the cash was the winnings of a horse racing syndicate.

THE altar gifts, at the funeral Mass, symbolised the life and talents of tragic 16-year-old Ciara Gibbs.