The man has been named locally as Christopher ‘Crunchie’ Holt – the brother of Mary Holt (60), who died along with her grandnephew Tadgh Farrell (4), after an arson attack on the same property last December. The body of Mr Holt, aged in his sixties, was found after a blaze at the house in the early hours of Tuesday. Family members and friends of Mr Holt paid tribute to him. It is understood gardaí believe Mr Holt died in a tragic incident and that the fire may have been accidental. Alongside a series of images of Mr Holt, she wrote: “Fly high with the angels.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has rejected appeals by the Indian embassy and others to a development of five homes on a site behind their Merrion Road property. Photograph: Google MapsThe Indian embassy has failed to halt contentious plans for a housing scheme on Dublin’s Merrion Road over privacy and security concerns. India’s embassy in Ireland is at 69 Merrion Road. Singh argued that it would be impossible for the embassy to organise such events “after being surrounded by the new proposed units”. “The new overbearing units will completely box in the rear area of the embassy, block out the view, obstruct ventilation and significantly reduce the amount of natural light that the embassy gets,” he said.

While the logic of securitisation has been shaping policy in the European Union for some time, border control has attained more central prominence in the last decade. The proposed 2028-2034 budgetary framework includes €15.4 billion for border management and €11.9 billion for the European border control agency Frontex which has significantly expanded in competencies, staffing and resourcing since 2019. In the most tangible sense the “hardening” of European border policies is evident in the fortification of European borders. This report examined arms industry lobbying for enhanced border security measures and its success in capturing research funding. Research indicates that border fortification causes significant economic, social and ecological harm without substantially enhancing security.

The mother of a 21-month-old girl with Down Syndrome said the family’s lives were “turned upside down” by her sudden death after her inquest recorded a narrative verdict. Nancy Coote Guilfoyle died on October 1, 2023. Her mother Paula said the family, including Nancy’s two sisters, were left with “broken hearts”. On July 8, she had an echocardiogram there, a specialist heart scan. 21-month-old Nancy Coote Guilfoyle of Crosshaven Co Cork and Ennis Co Clare has left a 'Nancy-sized void in my soul', her father Ewan said.

Cork Division 1 FL: Nemo Rangers 0-9 (0-1-7) St Finbarr’s 0-10 (0-1-8)St Finbarr’s once again eked out a victory over near neighbours Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League at Trabeg on Wednesday evening. Nemo Rangers remain on two points after suffering a second loss on the trot. St Finbarr’s though rallied in what was another comeback victory following on from their last match against Éire Óg. Scorers for Nemo Rangers: R Corkery 0-3, R Dalton (1 2pt), D O’Sullivan 0-2 each, S Cronin, J O’Brien 0-1 each. Subs: D O’Sullivan for S Burke (h-t), A O’Donovan for O Whyte (41), B O’Neill for J O’Brien (43, inj).

Inter Miami have sounded out Manchester United midfielder Casemiro over a potential move to the MLS. LA Galaxy were considered favourites to sign Casemiro and are still expected to be in contention for the 34-year-old former Real Madrid star. Despite entering the final few months of his United career, Casemiro is enjoying arguably his best season at United with seven goals from 30 appearances. United are assessing replacements for Casemiro while Manuel Ugarte could also follow him out the exit this summer. Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali, Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace are all on United's shortlist of targets.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has 'a significant task ahead of it to restore and maintain public confidence', committee to be toldControversies and governance issues that have arisen in a State fisheries agency are “very serious and unacceptable”, the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment is expected to tell the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. IFI chairman Tom Collins is expected to tell the committee the agency has been in “stormy waters” for a number of years. Collins is anticipated to say there was a background of “serious historical governance issues in the organisation”, which were examined at previous meetings of the Public Accounts Committee in 2023, 2024 and last December. IFI is a non-commercial State agency with responsibility for protecting and managing the State’s inland fishery resources. However, IFI has been at the centre of a number of controversies over recent years.

Arne Slot's immediate future at Liverpool clearer as major clue emergesArne Slot's position at Liverpool has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with the club falling short in the Premier League title race and now left battling to secure Champions League qualificationView 2 Images Arne Slot's future at Liverpool has been called into question in recent weeksLiverpool are reportedly working closely with Arne Slot to identify summer transfer targets, despite growing uncertainty surrounding the Dutch head coach’s long‑term future at the club. Slot enjoyed a dream debut season at Anfield, guiding the Reds to the Premier League title at the first attempt. ‌This campaign, however, has been far more challenging, with Liverpool now fighting just to secure Champions League qualification after falling out of the title race. ‌That said, circumstances can shift quickly, and it is noted that his position would come under serious threat if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League. The only thing I do know is that it happened before and recently and it didn’t affect the future of that manager.

Photo: Michael O'Sullivan/OSMStrong wind energy output in March kept a lid on electricty bills despite surging gas and oil prices, helping mitiage the hit to consumers and businesses, according ESB Group’s chief financial officer Paul Stapleton. The wholesale price of European gas increased around 60pc in March as a result of the Iran war but wholesale electricty prices are up 25pc, he said. Traditionally the link between European gas prices and wholesale electricty has been much more direct, he said. In the wake of Russia’s Ukraine invasion, the wholesale gas prices got as high as £8 per therm – a standard unit of measurement. In the last month prices have been lifted from around 75 pence per therm to a high of around £1.70.

McSweeney quit last month as pressure mounted over the appointment of Mandelson to Washington, which he had championed despite knowing of Mandelson’s Epstein links. Now, however, there is uncertainty over whether all of McSweeney’s crucial message exchanges with the former ambassador can be retrieved. It also put Starmer and McSweeney under pressure for appointing Mandelson in the first place. A young man on a bicycle mounted the pavement, he told police, and snatched his mobile phone from his hand. The second tranche of Mandelson files – with or without McSweeney’s texts – will be dumped on top of this.

The Government should focus on building resilience in the economy and moving closer to energy independence to protect against future energy shocks that have the potential to drive up inflation and drag down growth, the Central Bank of Ireland has said. However, they are expected to remain persistently elevated out to 2028 with oil and gas prices still almost 50% and 80% above baseline. Director of economics and statistics at the Central Bank Robert Kelly said their message was about “building resilience”, both in fiscal terms and across the wider economy, that will help protect against shocks such as the one the country is currently experiencing. “Also, when we think about what would ultimately build resilience to, the likes of the shocks we're seeing here, it would be energy independence. In the short-term, Mr Kelly said Government supports to deal with the fallout from these shocks should be “targeted, temporary, and tailored”.

Photograph: Niall Carson/PA WireIreland’s position of politically supporting Ukraine while remaining militarily neutral is a “difficult path” to follow, a senior Irish official has said after being challenged to explain Irish neutrality at a defence conference in France. “It is a difficult path or line to us to follow, but that’s the line,” Department of Defence secretary general Jacqui McCrum told an audience at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum on Wednesday. “I’m very cognisant of the remarks made by your current president and your former president,” Walter said. “I think the debate on defence is possibly changing,” McCrum told the audience. Sometimes people think defence is war and attacking people.

Ahmed al Ahmed has been awarded a 'Key to the City' and lifetime Waverley Beach Pass, which gives him free waterfront parking to some of Sydney's best beaches, in recognition of his bravery during the Bondi massacre. Waverley Council, which oversees Bondi, handed Mr Al Ahmed his award on Wednesday night. He and two other men, Gefen Bitton and Leibel Lazaroff, have been applauded as heroes for risking their lives to help others during the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14 that claimed 15 innocent lives. Mr Al Ahmed has been widely recognised for wrestling a gun from Sajid during the six-minute attack. The only other lifetime Waverley Beach Pass to be presented before Mr Al Ahmed's was that given to Mr Lazaroff in February.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson and Séamus Coleman during a press conference at the Fortuna Arena in Prague in advance of Thursday's World Cup playoff semi-final against the Czech Republic. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/InphoHow Troy Parrott factor will influence Ireland v Czech Republic Listen | 37:57It was put to Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson on Wednesday morning, before a training session at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, that he is a preternaturally calm person. Sitting beside Séamus Coleman, the former Ireland captain he overlooked for that near-disastrous loss in Yerevan last September, Hallgrímsson was confidant enough to mention the lowest point of a World Cup qualification campaign in advance of its climax. The obvious concern is that Coleman has only played 10 minutes of football since Ireland beat Hungary 3-2 on November 16th. After the last two games [Portugal and Hungary], seeing what it did to our country, it was incredible.

Her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky was asleep in the trailer at the time. The singer then grabbed A$AP Rocky 'out of bed, told him they were being shot at, and pushed both of them to the ground,' the report states. The couple then scrambled to safety, running into the garage to secure their children and staff. In a police report obtained by the Daily Mail, Rihanna told cops she was in her Airstream trailer on the grounds of her home, while partner A$AP Rocky slept, when she heard gunfire rang out. Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott argued that the high bail amount should remain, telling the court that Ortiz fired some 20 rounds in the shooting.