Your morning news briefing

A round-up of this morning’s top news.

Fri, 20 Mar, 2015 - 00:00

Denise O’Donoghue

TOP STORY

€50m Capitol development a ‘game changer’ for Cork

Planning permission is today being sought for a €50m development that aims to be "a catalyst project for Cork city centre, a game changer".

IRELAND

Dwyer ‘a predator with an eye for the weak’

The Graham Dwyer murder trial has been told that his relationship with Elaine O’Hara was "an entirely predatory one" where he always saw her as a victim and would lead everyone to think her death was by suicide.

Ryanair scraps plan for transatlantic flights

Ryanair has been forced to do a U-turn on plans to launch a transatlantic service.

SPORT

Joe Schmidt lashes back at George Hook over Jared Payne criticism

Joe Schmidt yesterday hit out at "so-called pundit" George Hook after the RTÉ rugby panellist’s criticism of Ireland centre Jared Payne after last Saturday’s defeat by Wales.

Schmidt will watch Wales closely

Joe Schmidt has admitted Ireland could go for broke against Scotland if Wales thrash Italy in Rome on Saturday.

WORLD

Oz PM regrets Goebbels remark

Australia’s gaffe-prone prime minister took back his second Nazi-related comment in a month after he compared the opposition party leader to German World War II-era propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.

Sydney café reopens after siege

A Sydney café that was the site of a deadly siege reopened, with an employee who was held captive for 16 hours returning to work.

BUSINESS

Couple lose appeal over €4m property loan debts

A couple have lost their Supreme Court appeal against a decision Bank of Scotland plc was entitled to recover €4m from them arising from unpaid loans made for property development purposes and to appoint a receiver over certain properties.

EU leaders urge Greece reform plan

EU leaders emerged from a meeting with the Greek prime minister saying the country needs to come up with a reform plan if it wants more of their money.

EXAMVIRAL

VIDEO: This nostalgic look at Ireland will make emigrants feel VERY homesick

This video had us tearing up for the old days, so it’s bound to break the hearts of the Irish abroad.

SHOWBIZ

Clarkson: Yes, the BBC has sacked me

Jeremy Clarkson has appeared to confirm the BBC has sacked him following a row with an Irish producer of Top Gear in which Clarkson allegedly threw a punch.