Catch-up with what you've missed today with our evening briefing

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Tue, 29 Dec, 2015 - 00:00

IRELAND

Large parts of Ireland are braced for another winter battering amid fears Storm Frank will trigger fresh flooding and inflict further storm damage. Just weeks after Storm Desmond caused serious flooding in many areas of the island, home, business and land owners are again on high alert of rising water levels.

The Court of Appeal is scheduled to sit at 5pm today to deal with the appeal of a 52-year-old father of four who is alleged to have been a recruiting agent for Islamic extremists.

Gardaí in Co Offaly are appealing for witnesses after a 19-year-old was killed in a crash at Geashill this afternoon. The two car collision happened at around 1.30pm on the Tullamore to Portarlington Road.

A woman who nearly lost her arm after being mauled by a ‘restricted breed’ dog has said people must not take any chances with them. Olivia Donnelly faces another eight operations on her left arm which was ripped wide open and needed veins from her leg to help reattach blood flow to her limb.

Kerry GAA player Patrick Curtin has died following a car crash in Guatemala. The Gaelic Players Association and a host of Kerry footballers have paid tribute extending condolences to the family, friends and teammates of the player.

WORLD

Authorities in Turkey have arrested a Briton and two Pakistanis suspected of being members of the Islamic State group, according to media reports.

A triumphant Iraqi prime minister has toured the western city of Ramadi, just a day after government troops routed Islamic State militants from the area and recaptured a key government complex.

SPORT

An Irish footballer and manager is to be honoured by football giants FC Barcelona. Dubliner Patrick O’Connell managed the Spanish side in the 1930s and is credited with saving the club from bankruptcy.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek has died following a cardiac arrest. The 47-year-old had been in an induced coma in the Czech Republic since collapsing while out jogging on December 20.

BUSINESS

Ryanair, today released its 2015 Irish traffic numbers which show it has delivered 70% of all traffic growth at Cork, Dublin, Knock and Shannon airports in 2015, a year of record growth for Irish tourism.

Happening almost unnoticed, as well it might at this time of the year, is three separate pieces of new tax law are in preparation.

ANALYSIS

Fergus Finlay shares his predictions for 2016. And he thinks there’s a hell of a rollercoaster year in store.

LIFESTYLE

Christmas is over so now ’tis the season to make exchanges. If Santa got it slightly wrong or a present turned out to have a fault, gift recipients will be looking to the retailers to see what can be done.

VIDEO

A Labour minister has said the issue of a referendum on retaining Irish Water in public ownership should be assessed during the lifetime of the next government.

VIRAL

Tyler Beach’s son Easton received the greatest gift ever on Christmas morning - his first taste of bacon.

It’s that strange time of year between Christmas and New Year’s Eve where no one knows what to do with themselves. Some people are working, some are still at home in pyjamas idly wondering what day it is (lucky sods) but everyone seems to be captivated by this ridiculous question doing the rounds online today.

TECHNOW

GAMING: A new batch of Rock Band 4 DLC is being released today with some notable names in the track listing.

MOVIES: Star Wars: The Force Awakens raised some eyebrows and resulted in some humourous jokes and memes when it was initially named. But it wasn't always known by that name.

TECH: Competitive skiers work and train incredibly hard knowing that just one mistake could spell the end of their race. Now they have to account for drones falling from the sky too!

SHOWBIZ

Sile Seoige has revealed that she is “very happy” to no longer be married to her ex-husband Glen Mulcahy, describing their separation as “the right thing to do”.