The Briefing - Your Friday morning news catch up

Welcome to today's morning briefing. Let us ensure you're up to speed on what's happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Fri, 28 Mar, 2014 - 00:00

Kelly O'Brien

BRIEFING TOP STORY

MURDER, RAPE, AND TERRORISM CASES IN DOUBT OVER GARDA SCANDAL

Trials and convictions of suspected murderers, rapists, terrorists, and other serious criminals are in jeopardy as the fallout from the Garda bugging scandal becomes clearer.

IRISH NEWS

SHOPPERS SNAP UP "ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS" BARGAIN COMMUNION DRESSES

Shoppers made a beeline for retailers Aldi yesterday as Holy Communion dresses went on sale for just €24.99.

VODAFONE IRELAND TO HIRE 113 NEW PEOPLE

Vodafone Ireland is expanding its workforce with the creation of 113 new jobs.

WORLD NEWS

MUDSLIDE RESCUERS BATTLE ELEMENTS AND EXHAUSTION

Weary rescuers have battled rain and exhaustion in the search for more bodies - and perhaps a miracle – among the pile of filth and debris that laid waste to a Washington town and killed at least 25 people.

WOMAN OVERCOME AS IMPLANTS ALLOW HER TO HEAR FOR FIRST TIME

Deaf since birth and having never heard a sound, the moment a woman hears for the first time and has her life transformed has been captured on film.

SPORT

HURLEY SET TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE

Munster could be poised to mix up their midfield for tomorrow’s RaboDirect Pro12 top-of-the-table clash with Leinster by including Denis Hurley at inside centre.

UNITED FANS 'THREATEN TO FLY OVER OLD TRAFFORD WITH MOYES OUT BANNER'

A group of Manchester United fans is threatening to hire a light aircraft to tow a banner over Old Trafford with the message calling for manager David Moyes to go, it has been claimed.

BUSINESS

BLACKOUT RISK 'UNLESS GRID UPDATED'

If the vital upgrade to the national grid is not carried out the whole country will face blackouts, according to Gridlink project manager John Lowry.

VIEWPOINTS

KENNY'S BLIND LOYALTY TO MINISTERS BETRAYS LACK OF MANAGEMENT SKILLS

MAKING predictions in politics is a mugs game, we only have to look back on the last few days to confirm that as a fact.

SHOWBIZ

SAMUEL L. JACKSON GIVES INTERVIEW IN 'I'M NOT LAURENCE FISHBURNE' T-SHIRT

Samuel L Jackson has given a series of interviews wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with 'I'm Not Laurence Fishburne."

TOP FEATURES

HOW THIS YEAR BECAME THE YEAR OF THE MUM IN HOLLYWOOD

Hollywood’s male stars haven’t been afraid to let Mother share the limelight. But is it a PR stunt or are they really Mammies’ boys, asks Claire Droney.