Authors often admit to frustration when readers attempt to gain some insight into them via the works they produce — with the over-analysing often resulting in off-the-wall conclusions.

The High Court has heard negotiations are now underway in a bid to settle a privacy action initiated by Van Morrison's wife.

THE second hostage drama involving an Irish citizen took a turn for the worse yesterday when the kidnap gang responsible issued a three-day deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

The family of Brian Murphy, who died in a brawl outside a Dublin nightclub, have asked for time to absorb sentences handed down to three people in connection with his death today.