Homelessness figures
Nearly 11,397 people were recorded as homeless in Ireland last month, according to the Government’s official tally.
It marks the fourth consecutive month when the Department of Housing’s figures have increased to a record high.
There was an increase of 422 people in one month to October, from 10,975 people recorded as homeless in September.
AIB rate hike
AIB has announced a new fixed mortgage rate increase of 0.5 per cent, it comes after it became the first Irish bank to increase mortgage costs after the European Central Bank (ECB) started to increase rates in July.
The moves comes as the bank looks to raise its probability targets.
These changes will not affect any of the bank’s variable or tracker mortgage rates, while existing fixed mortgage rates remain unchanged. More than half of their mortgage customers are already on a fixed rate mortgage.
Guilty plea
A 40-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a homeless man who died from injuries sustained in an assault at a tented village in Cork City three years ago.
Christopher O’Sullivan was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Timothy Hourihane (53) on October 13th, 2019 at Mardyke Walk, Cork City.
O’Sullivan had originally been charged with murder and was due to stand trial in Cork on January 30th next year.
The 40-year-old, of no fixed abode, replied “guilty” when the charge of unlawful killing was put to him by the registrar at the brief hearing.
Stardust inquest
The High Court has ruled all parties should bear their own legal costs in the failed challenge by former Stardust manager Eamonn Butterly to a fresh inquest over the 1981 nightclub fire which claimed 48 lives.
Mr Justice Charles Meenan said the court’s decision that it is open to a coroner to return a verdict of unlawful killing was a ruling on a matter of important public interest. There should therefore be no order as to costs, meaning all parties pay their own.
Earlier this month, the judge rejected Mr Butterly's claim that the new inquest could not make a finding of unlawful killing.
Amazon strikes
Thousands of Amazon employees have walked off the job as a part of a mass protest to impact sales on Black Friday.
Some workers in Germany, France down tools as part of a move across the world to target the online retailer on one of the busiest shopping days of the year with calls for better pay.
Meanwhile, in Dublin a small demonstration was organised by climate activists outside Amazon's office this afternoon. The "Make Amazon Pay" campaign aims to pressurise the company to reduce its carbon footprint.
