Lunchtime briefing: Theresa May wants to maintain common travel area with Ireland. Catch up on the headlines

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Tue, 17 Jan, 2017 - 00:00

Irish Examiner digital staff

IRELAND

One of the two women who lost their lives in a tragic road accident on the Dublin to Ardee Road in Co Louth last night has been named locally as Josie Duff, 79.

A Cork father-of-nine who brutally raped his teenage daughter on a weekly basis when she was aged between 16 and 17 has been jailed for nine years.

The Special Criminal Court has ruled that evidence from 11 members of the Garda National Surveillance Unit in the retrial of two men accused of the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly almost four years ago should be given anonymously and with the public excluded from court.

Up to 3,500 people have been taken off Dublin City Council's housing waiting list, and may not even know they have been removed.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of patients waiting on trolleys at hospitals across the country.

WORLD

Britain will leave the European single market when it quits the European Union, Theresa May has said. Mrs May has also said retaining the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the United Kingdom is an “absolute priority” for her in the wake of Brexit

A man in the room at the time when Rolf Harris allegedly assaulted a blind, disabled woman said he heard or saw nothing that gave him "cause for concern", a court has heard.

Germany’s supreme court has rejected a bid by politicians to outlaw a far-right party accused of promoting a racist and anti-Semitic agenda.

A suspect arrested last night has confessed to carrying out the attack an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Eve which killed 39 people, according to Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin.

SPORT

Limerick's returning star James Ryan has backed manager John Kiely’s scathing assessment of Sunday’s 21-point hammering at the hands of Cork in the Munster senior hurling League.

The likelihood of Chelsea striker Diego Costa transferring to China this winter appears to have reduced following the Chinese Super League's tightened regulations on foreign players.

Simon Zebo is expected to train with Munster this week despite picking up a dead leg in last Saturday's Champions cup clash with Glasgow.

Rafael Nadal had to apologise for his Mallorcan time-keeping but there was nothing sloppy about the Spaniard's tennis as he swept aside Florian Mayer to reach the Australian Open second round.

OPINION

The former Exxon Mobil oil giant boss has more influence than most presidents and knows how to cut a deal. He would be an able secretary of state, says Amir Handjani.

Dermot Gallagher's name might not be on the Good Friday Agreement, but all who were there know his mark, writes Fergus Finlay

BUSINESS

The Central Bank has sold its Dame Street premises in Dublin for around €67m.

More than half (51%) of Irish grocery shoppers buy 'whatever brand is on promotion' when grocery shopping, according to a new survey.

LIFESTYLE

There’s a debate as to whether Malachi Martin really did inspire The Exorcist, but as a new Netflix film reveals, the Kerry priest led a fascinating life, writes Ellie O’Byrne

SHOWBIZ

RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars make-up artist has hit back at Hughie Maughan after he blamed her for that look on Sunday night’s live show.

EXAMVIRAL

Six-second video looping app Vine will cease to exist later today, as the Twitter-owned app will become Vine Camera.

Put your general knowledge to the test in 20 questions with the Irish Examiner quiz.

VIDEO - OUR CHOICE

Tickets for U2’s Joshua Tree 30th anniversary concert in Croke Park next July are appearing on resale websites at prices of more than €1,000 each, prompting fresh calls for anti-touting legislation.

TECHNOW

GAMES: A major spoiler from the ending of the soon to be released Resident Evil 7 has hit the web, as noted in an article from Eurogamer.

FILM & TV: The upcoming Wonder Woman movie, one of the DC Extended Universes’ flagship films, could be a complete disaster if Schmoes Know host Sasha Perl-Raver to be believed.

TECH: Microsoft’s Surface smartphone could feature foldable technology, according to an article from Gadgets 360.