PRESSING on with a gruelling four-day pilgrimage, Pope John Paul II brought his message of spiritual renewal to central Slovakia yesterday after a faltering start to his trip.

Holland coach Dick Advocaat watched his side fight back from a goal down to beat Moldova in Tiraspol but was less than pleased.

Three Irish republicans today pleaded guilty to a bomb plot and trying to procure an arsenal of high-powered weaponry.

A Slovakian court is to decide by the end of the week if three alleged members of an IRA splinter group will be extradited.