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.

BRIEFING TOP STORY

UNION HALL REVISITED BY TRAGEDY ONCE AGAIN

Tragedy revisited Union Hall in West Cork yesterday when two divers died while exploring the wreck of a World War II German U-boat.

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IRISH NEWS

PAPALYMPIAN UNABLE TO BOARD FLIGHT, ACCUSES AER LINGUS OF DISCRIMINATION

One of Ireland’s most legendary paralympians has claimed he was a victim of discrimination after he was unable to board an Aer Lingus flight in Heathrow last night because no one was available to carry out a wheelchair transfer.

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o'SULLIVAN FAVOURITE TO GET EDUICATION POST AFTER QUINNES SHOCK DEPARTURE

Jan O’Sullivan is favourite to take over as education minister following Ruairi Quinn’s surprise resignation announcement.

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WORLD NEWS

BIKINI PHOTO AIMS TO CHANGE PERCEPTIONS OF CROHNS DISEASE

A woman has become an internet sensation after posting pictures of herself online in a bikini.

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COWELL WAS RIGHT TO SACK ME FROM US X-FACTOR

Singer Cheryl Cole has said Simon Cowell was right to sack her from the US X Factor — and that she "wasn’t well in the head".

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SPORT

SACRIFICING IRELAND JOB WAS NEVER AN OPTION SAYS KEANE

As Roy Keane was rolled out at Aston Villa’s plush training facility following his appointment as assistant manager to Paul Lambert the Cork man was insistent his job with Ireland is paramount.

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CUTHBERT BRINGS BACK THE DUAL STARS

Cork’s dual playing triumvirate have been promoted to the team for Sunday’s Munster final against Kerry.

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BUSINESS

IRELAND ON TRACK TO EXCEED BUDGET TARGET

Ireland is on track to exceed its 2014 budget target which provides the Government with leeway to ease up on the planned €2bn budget consolidation in October.

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VIEWPOINTS

BURTON'S CHEAP CRITICISMS OF BANK GUARANTEE HAVE ADDED UP FOR HER

I’VE SPENT a day reading back over Joan Burton’s speeches and I feel like Ryan Tubridy, when he begged impressionist Mario Rosenstock to stop imitating Burton: "I don’t think I can take too much more of her."

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SHOWBIZ

ROBBIE GETS FREEDOM OF HOME TOWN

Robbie Williams was granted the Freedom of Stoke-on-Trent yesterday.

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TOP FEATURES

HOW WERE THE IRISH CROWN JEWELS STOLEN FROM DUBLIN CASTLE?

A century ago the theft in Dublin Castle exposed a bunch of ‘unsavoury characters’ at the top of society. It was a scandal, says Caomhan Keane.

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MOST READ RIGHT NOW ...

WOMAN FLEW SPAIN TO CORK IN €6K FRAUD

A woman flew from Malaga to Cork a number of times to sign on for social welfare over a six-month period, fraudulently claiming a total of over €6,000.

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