Annus horribilis - Let’s hope 2007 will be better

AS the New Year dawns, it is timely to reflect on 2006 which, by any yardstick, was an annus horribilis.

In Ireland, an upsurge of drug-related gang warfare saw criminals killing criminals, inflicting a dreadful toll on local communities.

Thanks to the belated garda clampdown on drink driving, fatal accidents were the second lowest in 40 years but 369 deaths are still far too many.