A pensioner dubbed the Beast of Wombwell has been found guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman weeks before he raped and killed a 14-year-old girl more than 45 years ago.

Barry Conlon is a little distracted. His attention drawn to the TV screen, he drifts away for a few seconds, before being coaxed back into conversation.

Sunderland’s five-year sleep walk towards relegation may be complete but some supporters are looking forward to life outside the Premier League.

Conor Hourihane says he aims to “hit the ground running” after completing a £3m move to Aston Villa yesterday.

When I read a review of Anthony Clavane’s new book last weekend, the sketchy outline convinced me immediately it had to be read.

The search is on for information or descendants of Irishmen killed 150 years ago in the worst mining disaster in English history.

A Queen Anne bureau bookcase and a Victorian four-poster bed are among the lots at Woodward’s in Cork, writes Des O’Sullivan.

A nationwide search in the UK is under way for a vicar who went on the run as he waited to be convicted of pocketing thousands of pounds of cash belonging to a church.

A 17-year-old girl whose leg was amputated after a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers initially needed a machine to keep her alive in intensive care, her brother said.

The family of a 17-year-old girl injured in a rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers have thanked medics for saving her life after she had one of her legs amputated.

Irish amateur snooker player John Sutton has been banned for six years after the sport’s world governing body found him guilty of match-fixing and misusing inside information.

ENGLAND: ITV could be disciplined after communications watchdog Ofcom launched an investigation into This Morning’s Fifty Shades Of Grey-inspired report on “bondage for beginners”.

Online retailer ASOS has posted a 14% fall in profits after a torrid year in which it was hit by a major warehouse fire and tough overseas trading.

Embattled South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Shaun Wright has cancelled a planned surgery today, saying no members of the public had booked an appointment.

Six people have died on our roads so far this bank holiday weekend.

A mother of five and a woman in her 20s were among six victims killed in separate road traffic crashes on both sides of the border over the public holiday weekend.

A fire that caused “substantial damage” to the warehouse of online retailer ASOS is being treated as arson, police have said.

A woman from Barnsley who killed her kitten by cooking it in a microwave after it attacked her goldfish has been jailed for 14 weeks by a district judge who said it was an "act of utterly horrendous cruelty".

Signing for Shamrock Rovers is a homecoming in more ways than one for Stephen McPhail, representing not just a return to the country of his birth after 19 years in English football but also to the team he supported in his youth.

Mick McCarthy has once again defended his sacking of Roy Keane in 2002 — insisting to this day ‘it was the right thing’ as Ireland manager.

A British man who was left brain-damaged and paralysed after a vicious attack has been able to communicate for the first time in 20 years.

Meet Theo Supernaise, from Barnsley in Yorkshire.

West Brom manager Steve Clarke has insisted striker Shane Long is not for sale.

AN interview with Michael Parkinson is as difficult to get as dress circle seats at Covent Garden.

The new boss of department store chain Debenhams has announced plans to modernise a further 25 stores and open nine new outlets over the next four years - including in Carlow and Sligo.

Online fashion retailer ASOS today reported another bumper quarter after its international businesses boosted revenues by 160%.

IPSWICH TOWN’S Irish defender Damien Delaney has cited “unreasonable” former boss Roy Keane as the reason why he was caught speeding on the way to training in October last year.

Online fashion retailer ASOS maintained its rapid rate of growth today after revealing a 41% jump in annual profits to £28.6m (€32.4m).

Sheffield United have announced the appointment of Danny Wilson as their new manager.

SCUNTHORPE face into tomorrow’s clash with Reading with new belief they can stave off relegation following Saturday’s stunning 4-1 thrashing of npower Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers.

Former Oasis star Noel Gallagher is reported to have been approached to star as a judge on the US version of 'The X Factor'.

Gabriel Tamas fired home four minutes from time to snatch a hard-earned point at the Madejski Stadium and nudge West Bromwich Albion closer to a quick return to the Barclays Premier League.

Football fans were arrested after violence broke out and catering stands were ransacked during Manchester United’s Carling Cup tie at Barnsley on Tuesday night.

Mark Hughes is preparing to ditch at least a dozen members of last season’s Manchester City squad.

The British National Party has won its its first two seats in the European Parliament.

Coventry 0 Chelsea 2

Preston 0 Liverpool 2

Wolves striker Andy Keogh believes the Coca-Cola Championship leaders should take it one game at a time as they bid to tighten their grip on automatic promotion.

The Football Association will take no action against Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan following a clash which left Barnsley striker Iain Hume with a fractured skull.

NOEL GALLAGHER has hit out at The X Factor for having “absolutely nothing to do with music”.

Noel Gallagher has hit out at 'The X Factor' for having “absolutely nothing to do with music”.

Manchester City will face Celtic in a friendly at Parkhead on August 5.

WATERFORD has beaten a host of big cities, including Dublin, to be named among the top 20 in Europe.