Garth Brooks’s five-night stand at Croke Park could be brought to a halt by a High Court injunction within the next 48 hours.

Government TDs have urged Defence Minister Alan Shatter to revisit the decision to disband the army’s Western Brigade.

The Mahon Tribunal was unable to identify a mystery man who “made the Mafia look like monks” by demanding a €5m bribe from developer Tom Gilmartin in the ministerial corridors of Leinster House.

Developer Tom Gilmartin was a chief tribunal witness who was granted immunity from prosecution and revealed demands of corrupt payments from senior Fianna Fáil figures to facilitate the building of his retail park in Dublin.

The Fine Gael/Labour government is being warned it faces a similar fate to the Fianna Fáil/Green coalition unless it U-turns on the issue of special needs assistants (SNAs).

The Supreme Court has today granted businessman Jim Kennedy's a stay pending the determination by the Supreme Court of his appeal against the High Court's refusal to stop his trial for allegedly making corrupt payments in relation to the rezoning of lands in Co Dublin.

The High Court has today dismissed applications by ex-FG TD Liam Cosgrove and businessman Jim Kennedy aimed at stopping their trials in connection with alleged corrupt payments in relation to rezoning of lands in Dublin.

The High Court has today made an order allowing limited discovery of documents sought by businessman Jim Kennedy for his forthcoming judicial review proceedings aimed at preventing his criminal trial for alleged corrupt payments.

The High Court has today granted permission to former Fine Gael politician Liam Cosgrave and businessman Jim Kennedy to bring a legal challenge aimed at stopping their trials in connection with alleged corrupt payments in relation to rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990s.

The leader of the second largest union affiliated to Labour has today called on the party to abandon negotiations to enter Government.

* FRIDAY, JANUARY 7: A new opinion poll, conducted by Red C for Paddy Power bookmakers, shows Fianna Fáil on just 14%, level with Sinn Féin and a whopping 21 points behind Fine Gael.

AT 8pm on November 21, 2000, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment Bobby Molloy signed into law orders making taxi licences available to anyone who could drive, had €5,000 and a roadworthy vehicle, stating: “I do hope that what we have done will now once and for all solve the chronic taxi service problems in Dublin.

Businessman Jim Kennedy, who is accused of numerous counts of corrupt payments to politicians, was served with a book of evidence today and sent forward for trial before a judge and jury.

A former Fine Gael politician appeared at the Dublin District Court this afternoon to face charges of taking corrupt payments in relation to rezoning of lands in Carrickmines in Dublin in the 1990's.

GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell is optimistic that the government grants scheme for GAA inter-county players can be maintained, although the players are prepared for a cut in funds to secure its future.

The Labour Party will launch a poster campaign today urging people to back the Lisbon Treaty - while Sinn Féin will officially kick-start its drive to persuade the public to reject it.

THERE’S probably just one good thing that RTÉ can take from the controversy over the low editorial standards exposed in its now infamous High Society TV ‘documentary’ that purported to expose illegal narcotic consumption among the so-called elite of Irish society, a minister included.

The new Garda chief should follow up any leads on contentious claims a Government minister admitted taking cocaine, the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said today.

THERE are times when stories crop up in print that seem just too good to be true.

The author of a book in which a Government minister allegedly admits to using cocaine today refused to name the politician.

FIANNA FÁIL TDs last night voted down a proposal to grant tax breaks to amateur sports stars after lending their moral support to the move earlier in the day.

Students hope speaking to TDs one to one about the re-introduction of third level fees will win them over to their side of the arguement.

BERTIE Ahern, the Teflon Taoiseach, is finally coming unstuck.

Fine Gael, Labour and The Green Party are calling for a tribunal of inquiry to investigate the actions of members of the Gardai during the investigation into the death of Richie Barron.