Back in the day when I believed that politics could improve the lot of the common man, I used to be enthralled by the British general election, writes Paddy Heaney.

England footballer Adam Johnson has been bailed until the middle of the month after police arrested him on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16.

A woman is being investigated by police after she rode into a supermarket on horseback to take part in a craze that is sweeping the internet.

Two Irish property tycoons have been accused of cynically trying to abuse Britain’s bankruptcy regime by hiding property and transferring funds to their families and associates.

An Irish motorist was jailed for 12 years today for the manslaughter of a British man in a road rage attack.

A motorist will be sentenced today for the manslaughter of a British man in a road rage attack.

A motorist looked like he was “possessed” when he killed a British drink-driver in a road-rage attack, a court has heard.

A man will be sentenced today for the road rage killing of a British motorist.

A man has admitted the road rage killing of an English motorist in Dublin.

An advertising firm apologised today for placing a billboard for a TV show called 'The Walking Dead' on the side of a funeral parlour.

A MAN accused of assaulting an English motorist who later died in hospital may face more serious charges, a court has heard.

The family of a British crewman held hostage by pirates on a hijacked oil tanker spoke today of their joy at his release.

Officials at Sedgefield have called a precautionary inspection for 8.30am ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

It has not even been a week but already temperatures are rising in the Big Brother house after a series of clashes.

Voting has opened to decide who will win the eighth series of Big Brother.

The mother of a three-year-old British girl who was snatched in Nigeria said the kidnappers phoned and threatened to kill her daughter.

UP TO 200 teenagers from across Britain trashed a family house while the parents were away after their daughter advertised the bash on the MySpace internet site, police said yesterday.

BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes hailed the manner in which his side hit back from their midweek UEFA Cup heartbreak to boost their chance of securing a quick return to European competition.

MANCHESTER CITY manager Stuart Pearce has tipped Joey Barton to earn his first England call-up later this week after the Blues midfielder helped inspire his team to a 3-1 FA Cup win over Southampton.

MARTIN JOL admits Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov are not guaranteed a place in his next starting line-up, despite inspiring Tottenham to victory over Wigan.

A 17-year-old is facing extradition from Ireland to England over the rape of three girls at a horse fair last year.

TOTTENHAM’S goalscoring problems continue to vex coach Martin Jol after yet another goalless display in the Barclays Premiership.

A convicted sex offender was allowed to work as a teacher in several schools in England, it emerged today.

Bolton 2 Liverpool 2

Everton 1 Chelsea 1

Man City 2 West Ham 1

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho offered a consoling word to Wigan boss Paul Jewell before slating his own side for a performance he deemed not worthy of Premiership champions.

Two of Europe’s biggest stars have told Jose Maria Olazabal they may not be available for next month’s Seve Trophy at The Wynward in Co Durham.

Scholl footwear manufacturer SSL International today announced plans to close a UK factory and transfer the work to a facility in India.

Two years ago Grey Abbey finished a gallant fourth in the Scottish Grand National and another tilt at the Ayr marathon is on the cards after his resounding success in the Tote Scoop6 Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster yesterday.

US President George Bush touched down at Teesside Airport today for his final day in Britain.

Good wishes have flooded in for British Prime Minister Tony Blair after he was treated in hospital for a heart problem.

DR HAROLD SHIPMAN was an enigma and police struggled to understand him.

The floating “atomic bomb” freighter, under arrest in a Greek port with more than 600 tons of explosives on board was today reported to be Irish owned and was detained in a British harbour earlier this year.

TWO schoolboys yesterday won a legal battle to have their names taken off the sex offenders register after the High Court ruled their human rights had been breached.

A British schoolboy who was placed on the sex offender register after admitting to “smacking girls’ bottoms and pinching bra straps” was today learning whether he has won a High Court challenge over the blacklisting of unconvicted juvenile offenders.

Ant McPartlin has been banned from driving for three months after being caught doing 127mph.

A TWO-YEAR-OLD girl suffered horrific facial injuries after she was attacked by the family's new pet dog, her mother said yesterday.

Self-confessed "geezer bird" Kate Lawler was voted the winner of Big Brother 3 - the first woman to triumph in the British version of the fly-on-the-wall show.

Big Brother housemates Sophie and Jonny were going head-to-head in the eviction battle tonight - with Sophie looking certain to get the boot.

British anti-terrorism detectives questioning six men arrested in North East England have been granted more time to hold the suspects.

Disappointed teenage singer Zoe Birkett today denied rumours that she was having a romance with fellow Pop Idol contestant Gareth Gates following her exit from the smash hit ITV1 show.

The wife of serial killer Harold Shipman is to be called to give evidence to the inquiry into her husband’s crimes, it was revealed today.