Prison officers say inmates are getting involved in the Kinahan-Hutch feud to make a name for themselves, to climb the ladder in the gangs, or because they are being forced to do so.

Pre-tax profits at the Skeffington Arms Hotel in Galway last year fell 40% to €801,698.

Relatives of the three Irish people killed in last week’s terrorist attack in Tunisia face an agonising wait to bring their bodies home as the task of formal identification continues.

Three murdered Irish tourists were ordinary people on a summer holiday, who were just hours away from flying home, when Seifeddine Rezgui took to Marhaba beach armed with an assault rifle and grenades and massacre of the innocent on his mind, reports Cormac O’Keeffe.

An influential group representing Ireland’s Catholic priests has warned that ordained clerics are facing the grim prospect of having to celebrate collective funeral Masses in the near future.

The Government has apologised to two Roma families who both had a child put into care over unfounded fears the youngsters had been abducted.

A report into the wrongful removal of two Roma children from their homes by gardaí amid false fears they had been abducted recommends changes to the way Garda powers are used.

The solicitor for a Roma family whose child was wrongfully taken from them last year says he believes racial profiling played a role in the decision.

Postal workers yesterday moved to quell fears over the delivery of Christmas mail after it emerged that postal staff were at loggerheads with a contractor at the four national mail centres over staff changes.

The country’s newest bishop has prayed for two little girls who were allegedly raped by a homeless man last week.

A man has died in a drowning incident in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

A luxurious robe belonging to one of the Titanic’s most controversial survivors has been added to a popular exhibition about the doomed liner.

Political protest took an ugly twist yesterday as Environment Minister Phil Hogan’s car windscreen was smashed by a demonstrator and a fellow Government TD brought in the gardaí after being threatened.

A man has been arrested in Athlone, Co Westmeath after the windscreen of the Environment Minister's car was smashed during a protest this afternoon.

Prison officers have threatened the Government with potential strike action if it imposes unilateral pay cuts.

The O’Sullivan family that owns the four-star 153-bed Galway Bay Hotel shared a dividend of €4.5m last year, new figures show.

As he stood on the banks of Lough Ree in the heart of Ireland’s Lake District, President Michael D Higgins gazed skywards to watch a bright rainbow of balloons swirl and soar to the heavens, each one a visible reminder of loss and heartache — but also a symbol of hope.

Irish censors didn’t just impose their rulings in this country. One early pioneer also served in Britain, writes Robert Hume

A 23-year-old man from Athlone, Co Westmeath, has died in an accident in Spain.

A new air ambulance service is being launched in Athlone, Co Westmeath today.

Bioenergy could generate 3,600 full-time jobs and €430m annually for the Irish economy given the right incentives, say industry experts.

A leading criminologist said the Government can significantly reduce crime by introducing mandatory minimum jail terms for murder and unlawful killings.

There are not enough gardaí left to police the State “efficiently and effectively” because the force has suffered unprecedented retirements and is getting no recruits due to an embargo.

Merger mania could be catastrophic for the troubled credit union sector, the Central Banks fears.

Merger mania could be catastrophic for the troubled credit union sector, the Central Banks fears.

An interim examiner has been appointed to the group operating the Brooks, Heat Merchants and Tubs and Tiles businesses.

The Hodson Bay Hotel Group wants to expand its hotel business into Dublin, managing director Padraig Sugrue confirmed yesterday.

THE Lord Mayor of Cork has defended the spending of public money on a nine-day mission to China to attract high-spending Chinese tourists.

MARTIN McGUINNESS has been branded a liar by the son of an Irish army soldier killed by the IRA.

A 63-year-old man is to appear in court in this evening charged with the murder of Marie Greene in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Gardaí investigating the suspected murder of Marie Greene in Athlone, Co Westmeath have carried out searches on bogland and various other locations in the area, but so far say Marie's body has not been found.

TONIGHT’S national lottery jackpot is heading for a recession-busting €16 million, making it the 16th draw in the row without a major winner since September 1.

Two teenagers were arrested today over the murder of a GAA fan who died almost a week after a street attack.

A cyclist and two motorists could hold vital clues to the murder of a GAA fan who died almost a week after a vicious street attack, gardaí said today.

A series of eight business finance seminars to assist SMEs to gain greater understanding of financial, employment, tax and business supports information is to be held across the country in the coming weeks.

Bank workers' union IBOA is preparing legal action against Ulster Bank/First Active for alleged breach of contract on behalf of almost 5,000 members in the Republic of Ireland and the North, it was revealed today.

Fathers who believe they rule their roost can now discover if they are descended from a notorious Irish warlord, it emerged today.

FORMER European commissioner Padraig Flynn is due to return to the Mahon Tribunal tomorrow, arising out of a IR£50,000 payment he received from developer Tom Gilmartin nearly 20 years ago.

BERTIE Ahern was “taken care of” and “looked after” by a businessman seeking special tax designation for one of his projects, the Mahon Tribunal was told yesterday.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern received more than £100,000 in connection with planning projects from Cork-based developer Owen O’Callaghan in the early 1990s, rival businessman Tom Gilmartin alleged at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday.