Friday, May 6

A jury is today expected to begin its deliberations in a case in which two brothers are accused of a serious assault on their uncle at his home almost four years ago.

The Circuit Criminal Court, in Tralee, has been told that Gerald Fitzgerald sustained brain, liver, and rib injuries and had a sharp object put into his back passage causing injury to his rectum and bladder during the fight. He was left lying in an unconscious and bloodied state.

Fine Gael has been accused of “running away” from pre-election public debates, after declining to take part in a series of TV3 constituency discussions.

Tourists from far-flung parts of the globe such as Russia, China, and the Middle East are being targeted in a bid to boost visitor numbers from emerging markets.

The daughter of a Conservative politician murdered in the Brighton bombing 30 years ago has said she regards her father’s killer as an unlikely friend.

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is expected to attend a reception hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle today.

Northern Ireland deputy first minister and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness has rebuked Norman Tebbit for saying he hopes he is shot in the back for attending a State banquet at the invitation of the Queen.

Despite the glowing warmth of Anglo-Irish relations and the atmosphere of genuine friendship enfolding the remarkably successful State visit of President Michael D Higgins to the UK, it would to folly to pretend all is changed utterly.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has angrily accused the UK's the former Conservative chairman Norman Tebbit of publicly encouraging the assassination of Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness has rebuked Norman Tebbit for saying he hopes he is shot in the back for attending a State banquet at the invitation of the Queen.

Your starter for 10— can you name the assistant manager of Brazil? Or Spain? Or Argentina?

Rita Ora is smitten with Calvin Harris.

ONE of the most memorable assessments of Margaret Thatcher was delivered by French president François Mitterrand when he declared: “She has the eyes of Stalin and the voice of Marilyn Monroe.”

A group attempting to stop the building of a road through a section of Tralee Town Park claims to have collected around 10,000 signatures to a petition it has organised.

And so the tricolour bids farewell to the tri-city and, notwithstanding the painful pleasure of watching the scintillating Spaniards dismantle Ireland on Thursday night, a fond farewell it is to Gdynia, Sopot and Gdansk as we prepare to hit the road south today for a last visit to Poznan.

By now, you’ve probably all seen the video of the Irish fans greeting the English team’s coach in Krakow. It was hard to miss. And even harder not to laugh at, even if there’s something a little sad about how the English – by contrast – are so supportive of Ireland.

In 1975, grocer’s daughter Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to lead a major UK political party.

WINE fans will be sniffing and sipping their way through fine vintages at events in Cork and Co Dublin tonight.

The banking crisis and the economy will top the agenda at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting in England over the next two days.

Chinese security agents launched a wide-ranging clampdown on dissidents today, hours before the award Nobel Peace Prize award to imprisoned democracy activist Liu Xiaobo.

AN upcoming conference of the British Conservative Party is being targeted by dissident republicans for a bomb attack, a Tory MP has warned.

Victims of the Brighton bomb are as entitled to a public inquiry as those from Bloody Sunday, Tory peer Norman Tebbit said tonight.

The Brighton bomber has visited the UK's House of Commons for the first time to speak about “reconciliation”.

A YOUNG Irishman who is being treated in England for a devastating spinal injury used modern technology last night to sample the traditional wren celebrations in his home town.

Envoys from Taiwan and China began meeting today to discuss a historic trade agreement that many hope will further ease the threat of a conflict in one of Asia’s most dangerous potential flash points.

THE most senior Chinese official to visit Taiwan since the end of a civil war 60 years ago said yesterday that historic talks to take place this week are the only way to build trust between the arch rivals.

Taiwan’s president appealed to protesters to keep rallies peaceful as the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit since 1949 arrived on the island for economic talks today amid a warming of ties between the long-time rivals.

YOU are not in Kerry long before being reminded of football, as Enda Kenny, who is himself steeped in the GAA, quickly learnt yesterday.

THE recent kidnappings of the three Israeli soldiers and the horrific repercussions have a haunting parallel with events in Tralee in 1920.

The surviving members of legendary rock band Led Zeppelin received the prestigious Polar Music Prize from Sweden’s king today in the city where they recorded their final studio album 27 years ago.

A Sinn Féin MP today sparked fury at the Conservative Party conference by telling delegates he did not regret the Brighton bombing.

A Sinn Féin MP will become the first member of his party to take part in a debate during the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool today.

FIVE members of an Oireachtas committee have travelled to China for a 10-day trip that includes visits to many of the country's tourist attraction.

CORK harbour has been linked with the 1722-founded Royal Cork Yacht Club since, well, 1722, though the club’s name and even its location has changed a bit down the centuries.

GERRY ADAMS yesterday urged loyalist paramilitaries to follow the IRA and ditch their guns.

Countdown’s iconic presenter Richard Whiteley has died just days after undergoing heart surgery.

RICHARD WHITELEY, the much-loved presenter of Channel 4’s Countdown, has died, Carol Vorderman’s agent said last night.

BRIGHTON bomber Patrick Magee is no better than those who recently murdered Ken Bigley in Iraq and would kill again, former Tory minister Norman Tebbit said yesterday.

IT was the most audacious attack yet mounted by the IRA, although the toll in lives and injuries was far less than in many other of its atrocities.

The terrorist who planted the Brighton Bomb which devastated the British Conservative party conference nearly 20 years ago said today he would do the same again.

Frenzied talks on bringing peace to war-divided Cyprus reached their most critical phase today as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan revealed his latest - and likely final – reunification plan.

THE WAITING is nearly over, the preparations are almost complete and, it seems, an entire nation is holding its breath for the start of the 2003 Cheltenham Festival tomorrow.