A typical Christmas isn’t available to some, and isn’t suitable for others. Joyce Fegan chats to people who won’t be celebrating the usual way — but are united in making the best of this most wonderful time of the year.

I estimate that this is the fourth Christmas column I’ve written for the Irish Examiner, and while I haven’t looked back at the others, I have a sneaking suspicion there are certain similarities between them all.

Amid the usual hustle-and-bustle of the airport, these few days each year have a magical feeling about them.

The DPP had argued the Court of Appeal should not have viewed a particular rape in isolation but rather as a "pattern of violent and abusive behaviour".

The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI) is facing "crunch-time" as demand for its expertise continues to grow but State funding support remains stagnant.

The Christian Brothers, the worst offenders in the clerical child abuse scandal, tonight bowed to intense pressure and agreed to look for a possible new deal to make amends to its victims.

Dublin's Rape Crisis Centre says there has been an increase in the amount of people contacting its services since the Commission's Child Abuse report came out earlier this week.

More than one person was raped on average every day in Ireland this year, official crime figures have shown.

More than half of all rape victims are preyed on by a stranger or someone they just met on a night out, it was revealed today.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre says its services are more in demand now than at any time in the past.

Support groups for victims of child sex abuse are calling on the Government to delay the publication of the official report into clerical abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is urging people to be vigilant this bank holiday weekend.

Women were tonight urged to be vigilant of sexual predators who plan to target victims over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Two young men violently attacked and raped a middle-aged woman on a night-time walk, it emerged today.

The first group of specialist nurses qualified to forensically examine victims of rape graduated today.

Convicted rapist Larry Murphy has been released from Arbour Hill prison in Dublin.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern today revealed he has no power to interfere in the imminent release of one of Ireland’s most notorious rapists.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has called on the Government to overhaul the prison remission system.

Convicted rapist Larry Murphy is tonight spending his first night as a free man after his controversial release from prison.

The number of first-time callers to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's national helpline almost doubled last year.