A judge has refused Independent TD Michael Lowry a declaration that he was defamed by journalist and broadcaster Sam Smyth on TV3’s 'Tonight with Vincent Browne' programme and in a newspaper article.

Michael Lowry denied in court today that he was a corrupt politician, dishonest, untrustworthy and unfit to be a Minister or a TD.

ONE of her little brothers came forward with a Cork football jersey; another with a Harry Potter book — representing just some of the passions of Alicia Brough, a young woman who loved life.

THE first funeral of one of the victims of last week’s quadruple stabbing murder in Limerick will take place today.

A BRITON who cost the insurance industry some £1.6 million (€1.76m) by staging almost 100 car crashes as part of a scam to win fraudulent payouts was jailed for four-and-a-half years yesterday.

LAWYERS for the Moriarty tribunal have claimed that attempts were made to “wholly mislead” the inquiry about the role of former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry in a number of property deals in Britain which have links to millionaire businessman, Denis O’Brien.

The Moriarty Tribunal has been hearing testimony about the nature of property deals in England linked to former government minister Michael Lowry and businessman Denis O'Brien.

SALE Sharks second row Kristian Ormsby is a doubt for his Sunday’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster at Edgeley Park.

The collapse in UK housebuilding activity contributed to a profits warning by the world’s biggest brickmaker today.

Hibernian Group owner Aviva warned of up to 1,800 redundancies today as part of a restructuring of its general insurance arm over the next two years.

MICHAEL LOWRY’S accountant told the Moriarty Tribunal yesterday the former Fine Gael cabinet minister had no involvement in the purchase of English Football League club Doncaster Rovers, acquired by family interests of telecoms magnate Denis O’Brien.

AN American telephone company allegedly offered stg£2 million for the files connected with a British property purchase by telecoms tycoon Denis O’Brien’s family, the Moriarty Tribunal heard.

Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey was today allowed out of intensive care two days after a heart by-pass operation.