Society

KRAKOW, Poland, MARCH 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Accusations about espionage surrounding Pope John Paul II are not only false but also an attempt to hinder his canonization, said Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz.

Two detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been at the centre of the Morris Tribunal investigations recently. They were involved in obtaining a “confession” from Frank McBrearty jnr for a murder that never happened. These same detectives were also involved in previous controversial cases. By Frank Connolly

Well known Cork Republican Frank Kerrigan was laid to rest after a funeral mass in the North Cathedral today.

The UN Rappateour for Trafficking has criticised the Irish government's approach to trafficking and their legislation tackling it.

World champion and two-time European champion lightweight boxer, Katie Taylor, must train in the kitchen of her parents' home due to lack of facilities in her native Bray. Her father and trainer, Pete Taylor, said that while Katie is fortunate to be able to train at home, 58 other boxers in St Fergal's Boxing Club have no facilities.

“I will not put Fianna Fáil back in government. Now is there any part of that you don't understand?” - Pat Rabbitte, 8 January 2007 on Questions and Answers 

 PLUS Bertie's speech at the opening of Leas Cross 23 April, 1998

A primary school in Clondalkin that has been housed in second-hand prefabs for the last 14 years has finally been assigned land on which to build a new school.

The blatherers: Henry and Ryan

Henry Kelly was a fine journalist. We worked together in Belfast in the early-1970s. Henry was a superb news reporter and a colourful writer. Douglas Gageby (the celebrated editor of the Irish Times) thought highly of him and Henry might have been in contention for the editorship when Gageby first retired in 1974.

Ireland's largest bank is involved in yet another controversy – this time on its failure to meet its own commitment to pay €20.6m to charity, money that it wrongly took from its customers. And still nobody has ever lost their job at AIB or been prosecuted even though the bank has been mired in scandal for over a decade. By Frank Connolly

Michael McDowell's proposed site may be abandoned in favour of one in north Cork. By Frank Connolly