A judge has awarded €40,000 to a man finding he was defamed and falsely imprisoned by Dunnes Stores after being falsely accused of stealing a packet of firelighters.

British pub operator JD Wetherspoon is expected to open its second Irish outlet — in Cork — before the end of this year.

A PLANNING application for a major outlet centre which is set to create up to 200 jobs will be lodged with the authorities in Waterford in the next eight weeks.

Unions and management from the 4Home DIY store in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, are due to attend the Labour Relations Commission today for more talks on the closure of the outlet.