The Briefing - Your Thursday morning news catch up

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

Thu, 22 May, 2014 - 01:00

Denise O’Donoghue

BRIEFING TOP STORY

COUNCIL PAID €1.5M FOR RAIL UNDERPASS NOW FILLED WITH EARTH

Cork County Council has refused to reveal what went wrong when it paid €1.5m to build a vehicle underpass below a railway line that is now filled in with earth between two fallow fields.

IRISH NEWS

US COURT HEARS FORMER ANGLO CHIEF DAVID DRUMM ENGAGED IN 'CLASSIC FRAUDULENT TRANSFERS'

David Drumm was accused of engaging in "classic fraudulent transfers" during the first day of his bank-ruptcy trial in Boston yesterday.

LONGER LINES AND FEWER BOXES AWAIT KERRY VOTERS

Bigger ballot papers with voters taking longer than ever to select their preferences, and fewer ballot boxes, will result in longer queues and pressures at polling stations in Kerry.

ELECTION 2014

FRIDAY IS INDEPENDENTS DAY FOR THE PEOPLE'S CANDIDATES

It will be interesting to see if the reaction that independents are receiving on the doorsteps will translate into votes for independents this Friday.

WORLD NEWS

PRINCE CHARLES CRITICISED FOR COMPARING PUTIN TO HITLER

British politicians and royal-watchers expressed criticism, and some sympathy, at comments by Prince Charles comparing Russian president Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine to the territory-seizing of Adolf Hitler.

NAZI SALUTE NOT ALWAYS A CRIME, RULES SWISS COURT

A Nazi salute is not illegal racial discrimination provided it’s intended as a personal statement, Switzerland’s top court has ruled.

SPORT

FOCUSING ON GAME WILL BE TOUGH, SAYS MCILROY

Look, I think I’m no different than anyone else.

AUSTRALIA REMAINS ON COURSE FOR EPSOM

Hot favourite Australia remains on course for the Epsom Derby and is one of six colts engaged for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

BUSINESS

EUROZONE NEEDS 'FISCAL AND POLITICAL UNION'

The eurozone cannot survive as a viable economic region in the longer term unless there are moves towards fiscal and political union, according to chief economic commentator with the Financial Times Martin Wolf.

VIEWPOINTS

THE PRIVACY OF PUBLIC MONEY - HOW COUNCILS KEEP COSTLY ERRORS SECRET

The response of a local authority to FoI requests on a €1.5m underpass illustrates the difficulties in examining how public monies are spent, writes Investigative Correspondent Conor Ryan.

SHOWBIZ

'SHERLOCK' STAR CUMBERBATCH REPLACES PEARCE FOR WHITEY BULGER BIOPIC

Benedict Cumberbatch has replaced Guy Pearce in the upcoming Whitey Bulger biopic.

TOP FEATURES

’LONELIEST BOY IN THE WORLD’ IS SOLE SURVIVOR OF BLASKETS EVACUATION

In 1948, newspapers dubbed Gearóid Cheaist Ó Catháin the ‘loneliest boy in the world’: he was the sole child on the Blaskets, and now is the only surviving evacuee of 1953-54, says Áilín Quinlan.