A TOTAL of 242 Irish people died in tragic circumstances while away for holidays or work so far in 2009 – the highest number of deaths abroad ever recorded by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

One of the three young Irish doctors killed in last month's Air France disaster is due to be laid to rest in Dublin this afternoon.

THE remains of one of the three young Irish doctors lost in the air crash off Brazil five weeks ago are on their way home after a positive identification was made from a body recovered from the sea.

A memorial service has been held in Co Down for a young doctor killed in the Air France crash two weeks ago.

SIXTY of the 99 workers in a west Limerick manufacturing plant are to lose their jobs and a further 60 jobs are under threat at the Limerick Brothers of Charity Services.

THREE priests from the north yesterday prepared for global superstardom by signing a £1 million (€1.2m) contract with music giant Sony BMG.

A MOTHER sobbed quietly in a courtroom yesterday as her husband recalled the horror moment when an A&E doctor told him their only son had died from injuries received in a soccer camp accident.

A woman is dead following a road accident in Co Down.

Three men have died following separate road accidents in Wexford, Kerry and Louth.

Three teenagers were killed in a road accident in the Castlereagh area of east Belfast, police said today.

A new national standard for Irish bottled water has been launched.

A schoolgirl and a surfer were tonight chosen to represent Ireland in a worldwide competition to find the next supermodel.

A father-of-two was shot dead by a gunman in his Co Down home in a paramilitary-style attack just weeks after a fall out with people in the area, an inquest heard today.

Police investigating the murder of a man in Co Down a year ago have issued a fresh appeal for witnesses to come forward.

A sex abuse victim who stabbed his uncle to death in a fit of rage was jailed for life at Belfast Crown Court today.

LOYALISTS were last night suspected of murdering a man after getting his young son to send him to the front door if his Co Down home.

Police have named the man shot dead in Belfast last night.

A man was shot dead on the doorstep of his home in Ballygowan, Co Down, tonight.

A 30-year-old man is due in court in the North tomorrow charged with the murder of a man in Co Down.