POLITICAL decisions and policy in Ireland is believed to be heavily influenced by personal relationships, favours and donations, a damning corruption report has found.

ITALIAN soccer referee Pierluigi Collina was yesterday awarded an honorary degree to mark his contribution to the sport.

MICHAEL JACKSON may face new charges if his claims that he was manhandled by police proved to be false, officers said.

MOTORISTS who speed, drink-drive or are abusive towards others on the road now face the added threat of court, endorsement and fines on foot of complaints from their fellow road users.

A blind musician, who overcame a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve a first class honours degree, has drawn on his own experiences to help other visually-impaired musicians get the most from their college course.

Two weeks ago, I highlighted the inconsistencies of referees’ judgements on shoulder challenges.

Former Dublin county manager Garda Paul Caffrey told a former player of his it would be a “good idea” to apologise after an alleged assault that took place during a league match, a court has heard.

Irish referee Alain Rolland’s final international before retirement will be a repeat of the infamous 2011 World Cup semi-final between Wales and France when he controversially sent off Sam Warburton.

Border Reivers 16 Ospreys 24

Hundreds of thousands of people, waving red flags and blowing whistles, marched through Rome today to protest government plans to reform Italy’s generous pension system, which economists say can no longer sustain itself.

Druid’s acclaimed collaboration with Tom Murphy gave his work a new lease of life. Now it is reaching new audiences with a national tour, writes Pádraic Killeen

Fit-again Rory McIlroy will not add tournaments to his 2015 schedule in order to make up lost time for his injury-enforced absence this summer.

For the second game in a row the Wales international was jeered by some of the Bernabeu crowd.

Football stars apologising to fans is not something you see every day.

RTÉ release lovely clip of Billo's final day. Not a dry eye in the house…