The Year in Review: June

JUNE 4

The heiress had been sentenced to 45 days in prison for traffic violations. The 26-year-old surrenders to sheriff’s deputies after making a surprise visit to the MTV movie awards in the afternoon.

She is subsequently sent home from Los Angeles County Jail for an unspecified medical condition, only three days into her original 45-day sentence.

However, within hours of the her being allowed home from prison, the judge who originally put her in jail, orders her back to court and determines she should serve the remainder of her sentence back behind bars.

JUNE 12

A historic and unique alliance between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party is signed after the two parties decide to go into government together.

Trevor Sargent subsequently resigns as party leader after Green Party members vote to accept the FF/Green programme for government.

Mr Sargent had said before the election that he would not lead the party into coalition with FF, however he says the move is a good one for his party.

Mr Sargent is subsequently made Junior Minister for Food while his party colleague John Gormley is appointed Minister for Environment and elected party leader.

It is the first time the Green Party has been in government in the history of the state.

JUNE 16

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern controversially indicates that Beverly Cooper Flynn, the daughter of former Fianna Fáil minister and EU commissioner Pádraig Flynn, could rejoin FF and hold a junior ministerial office once her issues with RTÉ are resolved.

Ms Cooper Flynn holds negotiations with Mr Ahern in the aftermath of the general election and is one of five independent members of government.

Two weeks later Ms Cooper settles her legal bill with RTÉ for €1.3m, less than half the €2.8m bill incurred by Ms Flynn on foot of her defeat in her libel action against RTÉ in 2004.

JUNE 25

The trial of Joe O’Reilly begins for the murder of his wife Rachel at their home at Lambay View, Beldarragh, the Naul, Co Dublin, on October 4, 2004.

The explosive trial begins with the revelation that Mr O’Reilly placed a letter to his dead wife in her coffin, four days after she died, pleading with her to “forgive” him.

Prosecution barrister Denis Vaughan Buckley tells the jury the accused had the motive and opportunity to kill Rachel.

Nine men and three women are empanelled on the jury, but one woman is discharged after Mr Justice Barry White hears she had expressed the view the accused was guilty.

JUNE 27

Gordon Brown finally takes command of Downing Street after a 10-year power struggle with Tony Blair.

In a day of transition charged with emotional drama, Mr Brown promises Britain an “agenda of change” as Mr Blair is given an unprecedented standing ovation in the House of Commons as he relinquishes the premiership to become the controversial choice for the West’s Middle East peace envoy.

Gordon Brown speaks by telephone with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern within an hour of being requested to form a government by the Queen.

Mr Ahern is asked to call the new premier — along with other priority allies such as US President George W Bush and French President Nicholas Sarkozy — in order to underline Mr Brown’s determination to build on the close working relationship established by Mr Blair with the Taoiseach during the Northern peace process.

JUNE 30

Police in London’s bustling nightclub and theatre district defuse a car bomb that could have killed hundreds after an ambulance crew spot smoke coming from a Mercedes filled with a mix of petrol, propane and nails.

Hours later, police confirm a second explosives-rigged car was foundnearby.

The first car bomb, found near Piccadilly Circus, was powerful enough to have caused “significant injury or loss of life” at a time when hundreds were in the area, British anti-terror police chief Peter Clarke said.

The discoveries come ahead of the second anniversary of the July 7, 2005, suicide bombings that killed 52 people on the Underground and a bus.

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “We are currently facing the most serious and sustained threat to our security from international terrorism.”

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was a reminder Britain faces a serious and continuous threat of terror attacks.

There had been no intelligence of planned attacks from al-Qaida, a British government official said.