Westmeath car fire
A mother has been charged with the murder of her children, Mikey and Thelma Dennany, in a car blaze in Co Westmeath.
Thelma (5) and her brother Mikey (2) were fatally injured when their vehicle went on fire at about 4pm on September 9th.
Their mother, Lynn Egar (48), appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at a late special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Thursday evening.
She did not address the proceedings and, following a five-minute hearing, was remanded in custody to appear again at Athlone District Court via video link on September 28th.
Taoiseach addresses UN
The heightened nuclear risks from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine are unprecedented, the Taoiseach has warned the United Nations.
Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Micheál Martin said the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty must remain an essential element of international peace and security, adding the urgency of its full implementation “cannot be overstated”.
He described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as carrying “dark echoes of our continent’s past”.
Flogas hikes prices
Flogas is the latest supplier to increase its gas and electricity prices.
The supplier is increasing the unit price of its electricity by 17 per cent and the unit price of its gas by 23 per cent from October 26th.
Flogas has already increased its electricity standing charge by between €200 to over €300 a year and its gas standing charge by over €100 in recent months.
The latest increase will add around €340 a year to the average customer's electricity bill and €395 a year to their gas bill.
State sells last Bank of Ireland shares
Bank of Ireland has become the first Irish lender to return to full private ownership since the aftermath of the 2008-09 global financial crisis after the Government said it had sold the last of its shares.
The country's largest bank by assets, Bank of Ireland was the only lender to avoid majority State ownership during the bailout and the only one on which the Government has made a profit on its investment so far.
The Government said on Friday it had recovered almost €6.7 billion in cash from its €4.7 billion investment in and support for the bank between 2009 and 2011.
Hilary Mantel dies aged 70
Author Hilary Mantel has died “suddenly yet peacefully” surrounded by close family and friends, HarperCollins has announced.
The British writer won the Booker Prize twice, first for her 2009 novel Wolf Hall and again in 2012 for Bring Up The Bodies.
