Ballyfermot assault
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has condemned a serious assault on two gardaí in Dublin in the early hours of Monday morning, describing the incident as "reprehensible".
Two officers were assaulted "by a number of people" while responding to a public order incident at a pub on Ballyfermot Road at approximately 12.45am.
Two males, one aged in his 50s and the other in his 30s, were later arrested under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and are being held at Ballyfermot Garda station.
The two officers — one male and one female — were taken to St James's Hospital, where one remains "pending further assessment in relation to injuries sustained".
Mortgage switching
Mortgage holders seeking fixed rate security have been advised to look before they leap after the latest mortgage switching index shows a three percentage point gap between the highest and lowest five-year rates on the market.
Jumping on the first fixed rate that is offered could cost average homeowners an extra €30,780 over that five-year period, the doddl.ie Mortgage Switching Index found.
The index is based on the average mortgage drawn down for new lending in both the first-time buyer and second-hand mover markets as at the third quarter of 2022.
The highest overall rate on the Irish market now is a five-year fixed rate of 5.5 per cent, while the lowest available is a four-year fixed rate of 2.15 per cent.
Regency trial
Gardaí have recovered records from a tracking device deployed on former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall's jeep which were believed to have been destroyed, the Regency murder trial has heard.
Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, told the Special Criminal Court on Monday that the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau had conducted a "fairly extensive" operation since last week, in which a securely stored desktop computer that had been listed for destruction had been examined.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch (59), last of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin 3, is on trial at the non-jury court, charged with the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5th, 2016. Mr Hutch denies the charges.
England off to winning start in Qatar
England got off to a dream start in Qatar as Bukayo Saka’s brace helped Gareth Southgate’s men to a 6-2 victory against Iran in their World Cup opener.
Saka scored twice in his first major tournament appearance since missing his spot-kick in last year’s European Championship final defeat to Italy.
Earlier, England and Wales were confirmed to be among a group of European nations who opted against wearing the OneLove armband in support of the LGBTQ community at late notice, citing fears that players could be sanctioned for the display.
