I t was radio and the Tribunal re-enactments that gave wings to Liam Lawlor, introduced us to the twists and turns of his mind, that absolutely dazzling narcissism that maybe, in the end, blinded some to the fact that here was a real human being. Ironically enough, it was radio this week that put him back into human form, brought his family, agonised and angry, into the picture and it was there too, on Today With Pat Kenny (RTÉ Radio 1, Monday) that Senator Mary O'Rourke, in sympathising with his wife, said "She'll be on the lonely road now, the road of widowhood.

Lana Pringle's Barm Brack

Aircraft used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the transfer of "terrorist" suspects did not seek authorisation from the Irish government for landings at Shannon airport.

While it was the 'Molloy factor' that got Noel Grealish into national politics, he's hoping that the 'Grealish factor' will keep him there. As a Government backbencher, much of his time is spent working on local issues. By Mary Regan

A lonely Daire O'Brien talks sport; Mary T O'Connor gets a hard time for her exposé
of bad behaviour in the Garda; Frame Two looks at the brutal reign of Ceausescu
and An Bathadh Mór reminds us of a hurricane in the west of Ireland in 1927

Martin McDonagh's play is rich in comedy and Tarantino-like violence, as funny as it is repulsive – but it's still thin drama, writes Colin Murphy of The Lonesome West

Michael Raedecker references classic genres and uses traditional craft to create work with a distinctly contemporary feel

Slam Dunks and No-Brainers didn't teach PJ O'Rourke anything new about American slang; indignant and intolerant of language, Leslie Saran's book is a humourless failure

› 21 December1997: Marie Farrell saw a suspicious looking person in Schull around 3pm. Sophie du Plantier called on Marie Farrell's clothes shop that afternoon in Schull. The women did not know each other.

As the Taoiseach's brother, Noel Ahern believes he has the freedom to speak out where other TDs would hold back. Sometimes he can even be a thorn in Bertie's side. By Mary Regan