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Fri, 15 Jan, 2016 - 00:00

TOP STORY - PORN SITE FRAUD

Fantasies involving rape, paedophilia, and misogynistic violence — the website hosting photographs stolen from the Facebook profiles of young Irish women is not just a porn site, but a forum where anonymous users share pictures and swap fictitious descriptions of the vile acts they would carry out on the women depicted.

Facebook is to investigate how pictures posted to the social media network by Irish teenagers ended up on a pornographic website without their consent.

Parents need to have “full and frank” discussions with their children about what they are posting online and need to make sure privacy settings are activated to control who views their information, an expert in online security has warned.

IRELAND

Former trade union leader David Begg has defended his appointment as chairman of a State board, saying his €20,500-a year pay for the role is “not a crock of gold”.

There are a number of Irish nominations at the Oscars Competing against Room for Best Picture is Brooklyn, the film version of Colm Tóibín’s novel, directed by Corkman John Crowley. Brooklyn also brings a Best Actress nomination for Saoirse Ronan, while Nick Hornby is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Parents should not be forced to have their children baptised to get a place in a State-funded school, Children’s Minister James Reilly has said, adding that it might be possible to change the situation through legislation rather than a referendum.

WORLD

An overnight tour bus on its way to a ski resort in central Japan has careered off a mountain road, killing 14 people and injuring 27 others.

Actress Emma Thompson has led tributes to her Love Actually co-star Alan Rickman, who has died aged 69 after suffering from cancer.

SPORT

Arsenal’s new signing Mohamed Elneny hopes his arrival can contribute towards an ambitious treble this season.

Conor Murray was delighted to be reunited with Andy Farrell at Munster this week but despite Farrell’s arrival as coaching consultant, the Ireland star insists there has been nothing lacking from the existing team management.

BUSINESS

Motorists and private tenants paying rents saw the largest increases for years, as costs of insurance and rents rose steeply again in December.

Primark — the Dublin-founded discount clothing retailer which trades here as Penneys — saw a 7% jump in sales, in constant currency terms in the first quarter of its financial year, which runs to early January.

ANALYSIS

The US media would laugh at what is being described as ‘negative campaigning’ here, writes Alison O’Connor

LIFESTYLE

Whether saving for a house or repaying debt, Ciara McDonnell finds that there is an app to help you on your way

VIDEO

Munster and head coach Anthony Foley have endured a difficult run. Should Foley stay or will the arrival of Farrell help steady the ship? Balltalk's Peter McNamara (@PeterMcNamara_ ), Steve Neville (@SteveNeville_) and Neville O'Donoghue (@bewarmers) discuss.

VIRAL

Limerick may no longer be Ireland’s city of culture but there is one culture shock doing the rounds that deserves a reward. Bacon and cabbage chips have been invented by an adventurous chef from the Limerick regions.

People often think, wouldn't it be great if life was like a movie. But would it? This video, by Menilmonde, explores what Paris would look like if the entire city was a movie set.

TECHNOW

GAMING: PlayStation Plus members who have been with the service since it launched in 2010 will be getting their ‘limited edition gift’ any day now.

MOVIES: The X-Files is back in a little over a week. there's a sentence we never expected to write. If you're a fan who has been waiting patiently for this day since the not-so-good movie back in 2008 you're in luck as the first minute of the new show has been revealed online.

TECH: David Bowie's video for his last single, Lazarus, has broken a Vevo record.

SHOWBIZ

Saoirse Ronan has spoken out after her Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The Carlow actress has said the role was one of the hardest in her life, and that Brooklyn was the most personal film she’s ever done.