The Briefing - Your Friday morning news catch up

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

Fri, 23 May, 2014 - 01:00

Denise O’Donoghue

BRIEFING TOP STORY

CENTRAL BANK SAYS IT WAS SATISFIED WITH DISCLOSURE LEVELS AT ANGLO

The Central Bank has signalled its satisfaction with disclosure levels at Anglo Irish Bank when it pitched a €30bn bond offer while simultaneously trying to secretly "dribble" Seán Quinn’s stake on to the market.

IRISH NEWS

WARNING OVER LETHAL BATCH OF ECSTASY

The HSE has warned of a highly dangerous batch of ecstasy tablets which has been linked to the deaths of two people in the last four days, one of them a teenager.

SHATTER'S €70K DONATION A SHOT AT EX-COLLEAGUES

Former justice minister Alan Shatter fired a parting shot at ex-cabinet colleagues by donating his ministerial severance payment to a charity that has led the campaign against the Government’s medical card cuts.

ELECTION 2014

WE HEAR THE TRAIN WRECK A-COMIN'

A singing Taoiseach, samba drums, and a slightly antisocial socialist confronted bleary-eyed commuters at St Stephen’s Green Luas stop.

WORLD NEWS

WOMAN ABDUCTED DECADE AGO BACK WITH HER FAMILY

A woman who says she was abducted a decade ago by a man who forced her to marry him and fathered her child has said she is now happy and feels blessed to be back with her family.

KEN LOACH: MY DIRECTORIAL CAREER NOT OVER BY A LONG SHOT

Ken Loach isn’t done yet.

SPORT

KEANE LINK TO CELTS WON'T FAZE O'NEILL AS IRELAND ONLY PRIORITY

The bookies might have slashed the odds on Henrik Larsson as successor to Neil Lennon at Celtic but, inevitably, the name of Roy Keane is still in there as a longer shot.

MCILROY KEEPS FOCUS AND DRIVES OFF WITH OPENING 68 IN BMW

Crisis. What crisis? Rory McIlroy put his personal troubles aside and did exactly what he hoped to do, for the most part, in the wake of his split with fiancee Caroline Wozniacki, play good golf.

BUSINESS

KENNY'S MEDIA FIRM INCREASES CASH PILE TO €540K BEFORE NEWSTALK DEPARTURE

The cash pile at Pat Kenny’s media firm last year jumped by almost €150,000 to €539,771 before the broadcaster’s departure from RTÉ to rival Newstalk.

VIEWPOINTS

ASKING THE €30BN QUESTION: A FRESH CONTEXT ON ANGLO ACTIONS

The recent trial of three former Anglo executives has put a fresh context on the bank’s actions, says Investigative Correspondent Conor Ryan.

SHOWBIZ

250,000 ONE DIRECTION FANS ON WAY TO DUBLIN

More than a quarter of a million One Direction fans will decend on Dublin this weekend for their three nights in Croke Park.

TOP FEATURES

BUY MY DRESS EVENT TO RAISE VITAL FUNDS FOR DOWN SYNDROME

The Buy My Dress fundraiser will raise vital funds for the Down Syndrome Centre this Sunday. Arlene Harris talks to Triona Cussen who says the campaign will help others like her son.