A member of An Garda Síochána had to jump to safety to avoid being knocked down by a drink driver who was ignoring a 40-year driving ban and drove straight at him.

An emergency hostel for homeless children in Cork City which was the subject of a recent damning report by the health watchdog has closed indefinitely.

A HSE residential unit for troubled teenagers in Cork City should be closed down immediately before a resident or member of staff is seriously injured, the senior District Court judge in the city said yesterday.

Two peace activists were jailed today for their part in the savage bashing of a Portugese man in Co Waterford last year.

One of three New Age Travellers accused of the murder of a Portuguese national told gardaí he intended to force the deceased off a campsite but did not realise the extent of his injuries when he dragged him to a field where he later died.