An Irishman has died after being stabbed in Sydney, Australia.

Keith Collins, who lived in Terrigal, New South Wales, was attacked while dining with a woman in Hornsby Mall last night.

The woman, Jobi Pilapil, was also stabbed during the incident.

The 38-year-old was taken to hospital to receive treatment for her injuries.

It is believed Mr Collins, 53, was from Dublin, but had been living in Australia for some time. Read More

The California District Attorney investigating last summer’s Berkeley tragedy will not be bringing any criminal charges in connection with the collapse of a balcony that killed six young people and injured seven others.

Nancy O'Malley said that following a nine-month investigation her office had concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” to bring criminal manslaughter charges against any one individual or company.

On 16 June last year, an apartment balcony at the Library Gardens complex in Berkeley collapsed as young people celebrated a 21st birthday. Read More

Five rural Independent TDs are to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny and other members of the Fine Gael negotiating team this morning to intensify discussions on a possible Programme for Government.  

The five - Michael Collins, Noel Grealish, Michael Harty, Mattie McGrath and Denis Naughten - are to hold the meeting at 10am. 

In a statement, the group said its intention was to ensure any agreement was as inclusive as possible with a view to producing a "Political Partnership Agreement".

Last night the group said that following discussions over the past 12 days with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, they believed that Fine Gael was seriously determined to form a government.

The group said that as Fine Gael is in the driving seat, with eight extra Dáil votes, the group is now prepared to actively engage on a Programme for Government. Read More

At least two people have been killed and dozens injured following two explosions in Brussels airport.
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The explosions took place in the departure hall of Brussels airport just before 8am local time.
Shots were fired and words in Arabic shouted before the explosisions in the departure hall, Belgan news agency reported.

As many as 10 people have died at Brussels airport, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF said, citing sources at the nearest hospital, where casualties were taken. It also said it believes the airport attack was by a suicide bomber.

There have also been reports of an explosion at a city Metro Station, close to EU institutions. Local media reported an explosion in the Maelbeek area of Brussels. All metro stations in Brussels have now been closed. Read More

An investigation is expected to get under way in Co Donegal today to determine how a vehicle with six people on board fell into the water from Buncrana pier last night.

Five people, two adults and three children, died in the accident and a young baby was rescued. 

The tragedy happened shortly after 7pm last night. A Northern Ireland registered large vehicle, with six people inside, slipped from Buncrana jetty into Lough Swilly. 

The alarm was quickly raised and emergency services as well as local boatmen rushed to the scene.

A local man who jumped into the water managed to rescue a very young baby. However five people, a man and woman and three children, died. Read More

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled the article 6 right to a fair trial of a German man was not violated after he complained that evidence found coincidentally during an unlawful house search had been admitted in criminal proceedings against him.

The applicant, Hans-Otto Prade, is a German national who was born in 1955 and lives in Hamburg.

In September 2004, on request of the prosecutor’s office, the Munich District Court issued a search warrant in respect of Mr Prade’s home and the homes of three co-suspects on suspicion that they had committed “copyright piracy” by selling counterfeit goods such as watches and computer programmes. In December 2004 his flat was searched. The police did not find any of the items for which they were looking. Instead, by coincidence, they discovered a large amount of hashish, which was found to be enough for more than 2000 consumption units. Subsequently the criminal proceedings on suspicion of “copyright piracy” were discontinued, and new proceedings on suspicion of possession and trafficking of a substantial amount of drugs were opened against him. Read More