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Wed, 23 Dec, 2015 - 00:00

IRELAND

The young woman who was killed in a car crash along with her mother had just returned home from studying abroad to celebrate Christmas with her family. Louise Clancy, 22, and her mother Geraldine, 58, died close to their home in Kilworth, Co Cork, following a two car-collision on the R667 Fermoy to Ballyduff Road shortly before 11.40am yesterday.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said he does not believe people who were in the IRA are criminals. His comments were defended by party TDs, including former IRA member Martin Ferris, who said he did not deem any of his actions as criminal while he was a member of the organisation.

Tánaiste Joan Burton has defended the Government's progress in building new houses, saying that the Coalition has "made great strides". Minister Burton said that the number of families who have been housed this year is something that should be recognised.

Fine Gael TD John Perry thanked God after his party agreed to add him to the general election ticket in Sligo-Leitrim, thus ending his High Court action.

More than 1,000 children under the age of eight are homeless this Christmas, the majority of them in Dublin, according to a study carried out by Focus Ireland.

If you have children you may already know this, but a study has outlined just how adept toddlers are at using touchscreen technology such as iPads.

WORLD

A nine-year-old boy with a brain tumour has become the first in the UK to have testicular tissue frozen with the hope he can have children later in life.

A bank robber kept in the festive spirit by including the phrase “Merry Christmas” on his demand note handed to a bank cashier, say police.

SPORT

Jose Mourinho’s agent has denied a deal has been struck for his client to replace Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager.

GAA presidential candidate and former Leinster Council chairman Martin Skelly has claimed neither Croke Park nor the provincial body should commit a cent to any proposed new stadium alongside the M50 motorway.

BUSINESS

After European Central Bank President Mario Draghi extended monetary stimulus, strategists have come to the conclusion he’s done enough to revive the economy with policies that helped push the euro down about 10% against the dollar this year.

The state’s Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has rolled out a new service to help homeowners struggling with mortgage debt. The new dedicated mortgage arrears service will include the provision of court mentors at repossession sittings right across the country.

ANALYSIS

Emotion without reason is dangerous. Reason unhinged from imagination is sterile, writes Gerard Howlin. Islamophobia is a virus that helps the smallest people feel bigger.

LIFESTYLE

Love them or hate them, they are the vegetable of the season and so for a brussels sprout farmer, Christmas is even more crazy than for the rest of us says Deirdre Reynolds

VIDEO

The Irish Coast Guard do great work helping people who in danger and those in peril on the sea, cliffs and coasts of Ireland. But today, the Howth Unit got an unusual Mayday distress call from a man who was after falling from his sleigh over Dollymount Beach. It was, of course, none other than Santa Claus.

VIRAL

Less than a week after a truck tried to beat a level crossing in Dublin, and failed, Irish Rail have released footage of another lorry doing exactly the same thing.

Are you banging out the Christmas 'choons' in aniticipation of Santa’s arrival? These are some of the strangest, funniest and, at times, most disturbing Christmas tracks you'll ever hear. You're welcome in advance.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Xbox owners will be getting their hands on Killer Instinct, Zheros, DiRT Showdown, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution as part of Games with Gold in January.

MOVIES: The viral marketing for Assassin's Creed appears to have gotten underway and may indicate that its trailer will be attached to Batman v Superman.

TECH: Your Facebook News Feed may soon look a whole lot more animated. Facebook announced that's it's rolling out support for Apple's Live Photos.