Five men have been convicted for offences spread over three incidents on one weekend, and all in the context of what a court was told was a “long-standing feud” between two related families.

One of the most celebrated chefs in the country has been given a four-month suspended jail sentence for smashing in the door of his ex-partner’s home.

GARDAÍ are investigating whether a criminal gang is behind a recent spate of mailbag thefts from postal staff on their rounds and the incidents are part of an organised effort to acquire personal details for the purposes of committing identity fraud.