Your Thursday lunchtime news catch-up

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has claimed Ireland bounced back from its devastating financial collapse quicker because of his spending spree; More than 400 jobseekers were interviewed for just 60 positions at the country’s newest McDonald’s restaurant; Ireland is poised to become an €8 billion ‘green energy’ hub. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com

Thu, 09 Jul, 2015 - 01:00

TOP STORY

£5m 'sale fee' to former Nama advisor revealed

Some £5 million was to be paid to a former adviser of Ireland’s bad-bank as part of a massive portfolio sale in the North, it has been claimed.

£5m 'sale fee' to former Nama advisor revealed | http://t.co/CiSeJlS2Id (BG) pic.twitter.com/0twoDGVG41
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) July 9, 2015

Nama 'had no knowledge of alleged payment', chairman tells PAC

Nama's chairman has said any money diverted to the Isle of Man after the sale of Nama's loans in Northern Ireland, did not come from the agency.

Banking Inquiry: Cowen showed lack of curiosity in crisis but made biggest mistakes as minister

Brian Cowen’s appearance at the banking inquiry yesterday was more assured than last week but his testimony showed a serious lack of curiosity at times during the crisis, writes Michael Clifford.

Banking Inquiry: Brian Cowen: Spending spree helped Ireland back on its feet

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has claimed Ireland bounced back from its devastating financial collapse quicker because of his spending spree while in office.

IRELAND

Garda Joe our hero for saving Analise’s life, says family

A quick-thinking garda has been hailed a hero by the family of a toddler left on life support after being struck by a relative’s car.

Dublin student to cash in as patch idea goes global

What started as the idea behind a college project has become a worldwide-selling nutritional product that is set to make a young Dubliner a millionaire.

MOST READ: VIDEO: 400 hopefuls compete for 60 McDonald’s jobs

More than 400 jobseekers were interviewed for just 60 positions at the country’s newest McDonald’s restaurant which opened in Cork yesterday.

SPORT

Paudie Butler: Why left is sometimes right

Ask Paudie Butler to discuss the ciotógs on the current Tipperary team and he can’t but mention the recently departed Jimmy Doyle.

MOST READ: Third-quarter blitz secures title for Cork

The Cork intermediate team last night ensured at least one Munster hurling crown would reside on Leeside this summer

WORLD

Kim Jong Un 'has staged 70 executions'

North Korea has staged 70 executions since current leader Kim Jong Un took power in late 2011, according to South Korea’s foreign minister.

Former Chelsea star Terry Bradbury hits the Lotto jackpot

A retired former Chelsea footballer has won £5.5 million (€7.6m) on the Lotto.

ANALYSIS

To emerge from the ruins Greece must shift focus to rebuilding and reform

Centuries of rule by outsiders have left a disconnect between citizens and the state — and in the struggle between modernism and myth, the latter triumphed, writes Adam LeBor.

EXAMVIRAL

DJs tease crowd by pretending to drop the bass

This is how you prank an entire club of people at once.

MOST READ: Posters telling the Irish to go home have been spotted in Canada

A campaign to get Irish people to leave Canada is generating quite a bit of controversy across the water and it’s not hard to see why.

TECHNOW

The LG G4 Beat is a smaller cheaper G4 to suit your wallet and pocket | http://t.co/qiwaGClfzU (BG) pic.twitter.com/V2WNYjrj0X
— Irish Examiner Lifestyle (@IELifestyle_) July 9, 2015

The LG G4 Beat is a smaller cheaper G4 to suit your wallet and pocket

LG has been having a lot of success with its G4 line, including the flagship main event handset and a budget model. And now they're expanding the range even more with the G4 Beat.

MOST READ: The Witcher 3 expansions could be as big as The Witcher 2

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt is a massive and ambitious game, with at least 100 hours of gameplay as you sweep through the epic main quest and engaging side stories.

BUSINESS

EMC looks to UK amid connectivity concerns

EMC, one of the largest private employers in Cork, is to pull a specialised team from its Ovens Centre of Excellence amid concerns over connectivity to and from the city.

Ireland set to become €8bn renewable energy hub

Ireland is poised to become an €8 billion ‘green energy’ hub on the back of a significant offshore windfarm project being planned for the north Irish Sea.

LIFESTYLE

One hit literary wonders

Harper Lee isn’t the only author who wrote a worldwide bestseller yet decided not to try to repeat that success.

SHOWBIZ

AC/DC's Phil Rudd is sentenced for threat to kill | http://t.co/GHhm9wFARG (BG) pic.twitter.com/OhxlPJ8nf2
— Irish Examiner Arts & Culture (@IEArtsCulture) July 9, 2015

AC/DC's Phil Rudd is sentenced for threat to kill

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been sentenced for threatening to kill an ex-employee.