THE Catholic Bishops have called into question the Government’s decision to cut the minimum wage when senior executives at semi-state companies are still earning six-figure salaries.

THERE was a frightening photograph on the front page of the Irish Examiner on Thursday of a seemingly endless line of people queuing for food at 8.30 in the morning at the Capuchin Day Centre in Bow Street, Dublin.

A homeless, alcoholic drug addict has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a pensioner with a fire extinguisher, leaving him with a fragmented skull before trying to set him on fire.

A 70-year-old man, who was attacked in his Dublin home, died of blunt force trauma to the head, the State Pathologist has told the Central Criminal Court.

A number of witnesses have testified at a murder trial that the accused told them he had beaten the victim hours before he was found unconscious in his home.

Gardaí in Dublin are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 68-year-old man at the Mater Hospital last night.

Three alleged would-be suicide bombers will appear in court today charged with plotting to murder passengers on the London transport system.

A LONDON police station where the playwright Brendan Behan was once held has been sold to an Irish property developer.

A suspect accused of involvement in the Madrid bombings was detained by Scotland Yard anti-terrorist detectives today.

Gardaí have begun a murder hunt following the death a 24-year-old man in a gangland-style shooting in inner city Dublin.

An Irishman renewed his vow to swim the gruelling 56-mile channel between Dublin and Holyhead in Wales today after foul weather defeated his first attempt.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Chief Justice John Murray have officially opened the Commercial Court in Dublin.

NO schedule has yet been set out for public hearings of the Abbeylara Tribunal of Inquiry which opens in Longford today because the planned venue is still not ready.

A man is due in court later, charged in connection with suspected Real IRA bomb blasts in London and Birmingham.

Four men arrested under the Terrorism Act over the past seven days were today still being questioned by anti-terrorist officers.

Algerian pilot Lotfi Raissi was an instructor for four of the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks on the US, Bow Street magistrates court heard today.

A former butler to Princess Diana is due in court accused of stealing hundreds of personal possessions from her, Prince Charles and Prince William.