A middle-aged man feared for the safety of his family when a man banged at his door in the early hours of the morning and threatened to petrol-bomb his home .

The Real IRA has claimed responsibility for the “punishment shooting” of a 33-year-old old man in Cork City after claiming he was involved in “unrepublican conduct”.

Gardaí are investigating an incident during which a shot was fired through a window at a house in Cork city this morning.

A CORONER and the assistant State pathologist both issued very strong warnings yesterday about the lethal dangers of heroin after an inquest into the death of a promising young apprentice.