A 15-year-old boy repeatedly punched a man twice his age at the entrance to a city- centre newsagents at three o’clock on a sunny afternoon — breaking the victim’s nose and jaw and putting him out of work for eight weeks.

A mother-of-two who was desperate to get some Christmas presents for her family resorted to shoplifting.

A Limerick woman travelled to Cork with a pliers and de-tagger and went on to steal hundreds of euro worth of clothes from retail outlet River Island, as well as two vibrators from a lingerie store.

Former US president Bill Clinton has hailed the political significance of next week’s meeting between the Queen of England and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness.

Former conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf will be back home in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork in a matter of weeks.

MIRACLE twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf have left intensive care and have been cuddled by their parents for the first time since their separation operation.

THE parents of Ireland’s little fighters have paid an emotional tribute to their twins’ “courage and strength” after the operation to separate them was declared a success.

THE Bishop of Cork and Ross will lead the nation in prayer today for Ireland’s conjoined twins as they begin their longest day.