33pc involved cars having their windows broken after thieves spotted property or cash sitting on the seats or floor of the vehicle

Almost €21,000 in property and cash is stolen from parked cars in Ireland every single day

The revelation comes as gardai said that the festive season represents the greatest period of activity for robbers who specialise in breaking into parked cars.

The latest garda statistics indicate that €6.6m in property was taken over the past 12 months from unlocked cars or vehicles which had windows or door locks broken.

A further €1m in cash was also taken during the same thefts.

On average, €21,000 is stolen from Irish cars every day - and each robbery involves roughly €220 worth of cash and property being taken.

Incredibly, despite the advances in vehicle security systems and repeated garda safety warnings, 25pc of cars left parked outside Irish homes are unlocked.

A detailed analysis of robberies revealed that 33pc involved cars having their windows broken after thieves spotted property or cash sitting on the seats or floor of the vehicle.

A geographic analysis of the crimes revealed that cars are most vulnerable in Dublin, where it appears that several gangs specialise in breaking into parked vehicles.

Roughly 50pc of thefts occur over Friday and Saturday nights.

Gardai are now urging motorists to take extra precautions when parking their vehicles.

They are also hoping that motorist several simple rules.

Sergeant Kevin Courtney of the National Garda Crime Prevention Unit said drivers can dramatically reduce the risk of such thefts.

"The advice is to never, ever leave valuables inside a parked car," he said.

"Always take any valuable items with you and check that all doors and windows are secured when you leave the vehicle."

Gardai advised motorists to try and avoid parking in unlit, isolated areas; to never leave any property, no matter how incidental its cost, in clear view on a car seat or floor and, if possible, to park cars on well-used roadways near CCTV security cameras.

Among the most items most frequently targeted in car robberies are mobile phones, where people park for a short time and neglect to take their phone with them.

Via Herald.ie

The incident happened at a halting site on the Belgard Road

Two men were stabbed, one in the head, during a fight involving more than six men on Christmas Day at a halting site in Tallaght.

According to Herald.ie, the incident happend at 4pm on Christmas Day and it involved men from a number of different families.

One man was stabbed in the head while another suffered an arm injury.

Both men were treated at Tallaght Hospital for non life threatening injuries and have since been discharged.

Gardai believe the argument was alcohol related.

No arrests have yet been made but the incident is being investigated as violent disoreder and charges may yet be sought.

Storm Frank hitting Tramore (Pic: George Connor)

Aeriel view of the flooding in Enniscorthy (Image via @SouthEastRadio)

The real impact of Storm Frank is shown in the pictures and video taken all over the country today.

Here are some of the most shocking.

Enniscorthy railway station at present #stormfrank pic.twitter.com/a7ixyHU7iK

— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) December 30, 2015

Storm Frank from edforde on Vimeo.

Storm Frank #Roadtrip #kinsale #corkfloods #Cork #Bulman #WildAtlanticWay pic.twitter.com/asdEvWAzVw

— The Bulman Kinsale (@TheBulmanBar) December 30, 2015

Aldi carpark #Carrigtwohill flooded #StormFrank #corkfloods #cork pic.twitter.com/UJIgowIFD0

— Alan Barry (@Alanpbarry) December 30, 2015

Enniscorthy devastated by flooding today. pic.twitter.com/aJ1WIzlrYz

— South East Radio (@SouthEastRadio) December 30, 2015

Aerial shots of flooding in Enniscorthy pic.twitter.com/0rSjXXFkcr

— South East Radio (@SouthEastRadio) December 30, 2015

@CorksRedFM Bandon river #bandonflood pic.twitter.com/UQiff81QXr

— Rob Wilmot (@wilmot_rob) December 30, 2015

#StormFrank leaving a trail of flood devastation in Graignamanagh, Co. Kilkenny @IrelandAMTV3 🚧💦 pic.twitter.com/f80Ymr6752

— Deric Ó h'Artagáin (@deric_hartigan) December 30, 2015

Our neighbours in #York Huddersfield & West Yorkshire, UK experiencing some horrendous flooding #StormFrank #floods pic.twitter.com/ucBvNtjlpG

— Deric Ó h'Artagáin (@deric_hartigan) December 30, 2015

The flooding in Graignamanagh (Image via @deric_hartigan)

Rural Affairs Minister Ann Phelan spent the morning in Kilkenny town of Graignamanagh where she described the level of the floods as similar to a tsunami hitting.

“It’s really devastating, what we’ve seen this morning. We have had flooding in the past but I have never seen anything like this,” the Labour minister said.

“At 2am it was clear as day but by 5am it was the very same as if a tsunami had hit.”

Speaking on RTE Radio’s Today programme Ms Phelan described the scene as “like a warzone” and warned that water levels in the River Barrow are still rising.

Sean Keane, a resident of Graignamanagh also described the scenes in the town after the River Barrow burst its banks in dramatic circumstances last night.

"It's like a war zone, the water has destroyed a lot of businesses. Murray's pub is full of water, Doran 's Supervalu is gone... the town is impassable. It's utter devastation here," he told Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One.

"Graignamanagh is at a standstill. I remember 22 years ago it was really bad but this is the highest ever and it's going to get worse. The River Barrow is going to get higher.

"They're going around here in wet-suits."

THE MOST SHOCKING IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF STORM FRANK FLOODS

Jay O'Connor

It has been reported that gangster Jason 'Jay' O'Connor was arrested by armed gardai in Blanchardstown yesterday.

The Irish Sun reports that gardai were called after neighbours became concerned about noise coming from a women's flat.

Gardai entered the flat and arrested the former Westies gangster on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

According to reports, nobody was injured in the incident and no weapons were found.

O'Connor was later released without charge.

The 37-year-old was the subject of an attempted assassination earlier this year in an attack that claimed the life of a friend.

O’Connor, originally from Clonsilla, has been feuding with former Westies member David Goulding in recent years. 

Speaking after the shooting, O’Connor said: “There’s going to be f***ing war in this town. Them two aren’t going to see the end of this f***ing week.”

As well as feuding with Goulding, O’Connor was previously at loggerheads with the Real IRA gang led by Alan Ryan. The gang chopped off O’Connor’s trigger finger in an incident in Fairview. 

The next weather system about to hit us (Image via @deric_hartigan)

There seems to be no escape from the bad weather as no sooner has Storm Frank cleared than another is about to take its place.

The forecasters are already predicting another storm, this time possibly called Gertrude, even though the full effect of Storm Frank has yet to be felt.

More stormy weather coming on Friday and over the weekend. Systems on a conveyer belt from the Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/Js8Bs8dPnI

— Barra Best (@barrabest) December 30, 2015

Met Eireann are already saying that tomorrow will remain very windy in coastal counties while a band of very heavy rain will travel from south to north for much of the day.

However, Friday, New Year's Day, will be even worse.

It hasn't yet been officially declared a storm but some forecasters are already saying that it will get the next name on the winter storm list, Gertrude.

More bad news as looking at potential #StormGertrude hitting #NewYearsDay causing extensive flooding @IrelandAMTV3🚧 pic.twitter.com/uscFT74JfC

— Deric Ó h'Artagáin (@deric_hartigan) December 30, 2015

Met Eireann say that yet more high winds and heavy rain will bring even more flooding to the country to kick off 2016, while the outlook for the weekend is for even more rain, in the form of heavby showers, while winds will still remain high.

Ger Dundon survived an attempted hit

It is being reported that Limerick gangster Ger Dundon escaped with a severe beating when an attempted hit on his life was botched.

Today's Irish Sun says that the criminal was grabbed by a Limerick crime gang and driven to a remote location to be killed but the pistol the would-be assassins used jammed, sparing the 29-year-old's life.

Instead, Dundon was given a severe beating by the hoodlums, an assault that left him 'crying like a baby' according to the paper.

The attack happened three months ago and has come to light now after a source spoke to the press.

Dundon, who is the brother of Limerick thugs Dessie (30), John (31) and Wayne Dundon (36), was released from Wheatfield Prison in Dublin in January 2014 after serving five years for a public disorder offence.

He was granted early release with remission after being imprisoned for violent disorder.

Dundon now spends most of his time in England but he has also been spotted in Clonmel where his current girlfriend lives.

FILE PHOTO

Four on-duty US Secret Service agents have been involved in a head-on collision that killed the driver of another car.

The accident happened at about 7pm local time on Tuesday in the town of Wakefield, New Hampshire.

It is not yet known in what capacity the agents were working, but Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was campaigning in a town hall meeting on Tuesday night in Berlin, north of Wakefield.

Police said the agents were passengers in a Ford Taurus heading south on a road when a northbound Mercury Sable carrying three people collided with it head-on.

The Sable driver, 45-year-old Bruce Danforth, died at the scene.

The agents and passengers in the other car were taken to hospital but their conditions are not known.

Police are investigating.

A Secret Service spokeswoman later said the agents suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

A number of nursing home staff have been suspended as police investigate the "unexplained" death of a 95-year-old female resident in the lead-up to Christmas.

Officers were informed the woman had passed away at the Beaconsfield Nursing Home, on the Isle of Man, on December 18.

In a statement, police said a joint investigation with the Department of Social Care Safeguarding Adults Team and nursing home managers had been launched.

Several staff members have been suspended "as a precautionary measure".

The statement read: "The Coroner of Inquests has been notified and is aware of the ongoing investigation and a post mortem has been undertaken."

It added: "Enquiries are ongoing and at this time Detective Inspector Mark Newey, leading the investigation, has underlined that they are treating the death as unexplained."

The roof of a top floor apartment has been blown off by Storm Frank.

Tallaght fire brigade are attending the scene at the Aras Na Cluaine apartments in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

Crews from Tallaght are attending a roof blown off Aras na cluaine apts by #StormFrank, no injuries, cordon in place pic.twitter.com/BKWplvmzwO

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) December 30, 2015

There are no injuries and a cordon is in place. 

Some more pictures from the scene in Clondalkin. #StormFrank pic.twitter.com/bSCRoOw45v

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) December 30, 2015

More to follow.

The Army Bomb Squad was deployed to Tallaght after a member of the public discovered a suspicious device.

A  suspect device was spotted by a member of the public in a river in the Dodder Valley area.

A cordon was established and traffic restrictions were put in place

The EOD team arrived on scene at 3.05 pm and made the device safe at the scene.

It was heavily corroded and has been assessed as a 'legacy find,' a heavily weathered device that was exposed to the elements for some time.

The scene was declared safe at 4.20 pm.

Material was handed over to the Gardaí to assist them with their investigation.

There has been 142 call outs for the Army Bomb Disposal Team in 2015.

A 36-year-old man is in garda custody following a planned raid on a house in Neenagh, Co Tipperary.

Officers from Revenue and the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau seized 2 kilos of cannabis with an estimated street value of more than €40,000.

The arrested man is being detained at Nenagh Garda Station, under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. 

Blackhorse Inn

The man who was shot in the head outside a Dublin pub this evening has passed away.

His body remains at scene and will be removed to the city morgue later tonight and a post mortem is due to take place in the morning.

The man, who was known to gardai had been recently released after serving a sentence for drug possession. 

Reports indicate that the man, aged in his 30s, was going to a Chinese restaurant above Cumiskey’s pub on Blackhorse Avenue when he was shot. 

A short time later a car was found burnt out on Blackhorse Avenue, not far from the scene.

The burnt out car was located in a laneway off Regal Park on Blackhorse Avenue, and gardai wish to appeal for witnesses who may have seen anything unusual in the area at the time of the shooting, to contact them at Cabra Garda Station on 01 6667400, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. 

The scene is currently preserved pending a Garda Technical Investigation.

Gardai in Cabra are appealing for any witnesses who may have been in the vicinity of the pub between 5.30p.m. and 6 p.m. or anyone who can assist them in relation to the burnt out car on Blackhorse Avenue to contact them on 01 6667400, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 pr any Garda station. 

The man the Irish authorities believe to be the “main recruiter” in Ireland for Islamic extremists was “indisposed” to the extent he was unable to attend his Court of Appeal challenge to his deportation.

Plans to deport a man allegedly involved with Islamic extremists have been put on hold following a dramatic intervention by the European Court of Human Rights which made an order temporarily preventing Ireland from deporting him.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has asked the Court of Appeal to overturn a High Court order lifting an injunction which had restrained his deportation to a Middle Eastern country. 

The appeal court adjourned further consideration until January 13.

The court heard the man suffers from health problems and fears being tortured if he is deported due to his political activities. He denies acting on behalf of Isil or represents a threat to national security. He was unable to attend his appeal today due to ill health.

The state, which alleges the man is “the foremost organiser and facilitator of travel by extremists prepared to undertake violent action” on behalf of Isil and the “main recruiter” in Ireland for Isil, had opposed the appeal.

As the appeal hearing before Mr Justice Michael Peart, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice Alan Mahan was drawing to a close today Remy Farrell SC, who appeared with barrister Anna Courtney for the State, asked the court to rise briefly so the parties could consider a significant development in the proceedings.

Following the adjournment Mr Farrell said the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights had made a temporary order preventing deportation of the man from Ireland where he has resided for the last 15 years. That order will stay in place until deportation proceedings have concluded.

The European Court’s injunction, Mr Farrell said, "changed the landscape" of the matter before the court. 

He asked the court to continue to hear the case and give judgment later.

Michael Lynn SC, who appeared with barrister David Leonard and Conor O’Briain solicitors for the man, said the application to the European Court had been made by the deportee because there was no automatic stay on a deportation order in Irish law whenever an issue under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, prohibiting torture, is raised in a case. 

He said the man's legal team had made the application to Europe for an interim order but had not believed a decision would have been made so soon. After hearing the conclusion of submissions from both parties the court adjourned the case for mention on January 13th next.

The Irish appeal court said the European Court’s intervention meant it would not be required to give its decision in the coming days

The man, who was not present in Court, had been told he must leave the Irish State before December 30 and, failing to do that, must report to the Garda National Immigration Bureau by January 5 for deportation.

In his appeal the man, who is married and aged in his early 50's, sought to overturn a recent decision of the High Court clearing the way for his imminent deportation by the Irish authorities to the Middle East.

He has been living in Ireland for some time and secured residency here on the basis of the birth of his Irish citizen 15-year-old son.  In March last he was told the Irish authorities intended to deport him.

His residency permit was not renewed because the boy has been living overseas with his mother for the last number of years. 

The man launched several legal actions arising out of the decisions to deport him, which are pending before the court. He also secured a temporary injunction preventing his deportation pending the outcome of his case.  The State had succeeded in having that injunction set aside.

A senior Department of Justice official had told the High Court earlier that, based on intelligence amassed by gardai and their counterparts in other jurisdictions, the State believed the man was consulted by and gave directions to senior violent extremist leaders outside Ireland.

Irish Independent

Mohammed Rehman and Sana Ahmed Khan

A couple who plotted a deadly terror attack on London to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the July 7 bombings have each been jailed for life.

Mohammed Rehman, 25, and his now ex-wife Sana Ahmed Khan, 24, were inspired by Islamic State and became radicalised after marrying in October 2013. They kept their marriage secret from friends and relatives and had not shown any strong interest in Islam before then, the Old Bailey heard.

Rehman, calling himself the Silent Bomber, went online to ask Twitter users for suggestions on which target to choose - Westfield shopping centre or the Tube.

With money from Khan, he stockpiled the chemicals needed to make a huge bomb at his family home in Reading. He even filmed himself setting off a small explosion in his back garden.

She had underlined passages of the Koran which authorised the use of violence, ignoring the words which say it is only appropriate for self-defence. The couple repeatedly went online to research the July 7 bombers who carried out suicide attacks on the London transport network in 2005 in which 52 people died and more than 770 were injured.

Khan helped fuel Rehman's violent ambition by paying for chemicals bought on eBay.

A jury unanimously found the couple guilty of preparing for an act of terrorism in May this year.

The couple, who were separated by two prison guards in the dock, sat quietly as Rehman was sentenced to life with a minimum of 27 years. He was also sentenced to 12 years to run concurrently for possessing an article for terrorist purposes.

Khan will serve a minimum of 25 years.

In sentencing, Mr Justice Baker said that neither Rehman nor Khan, who divorced in recent weeks, would be released if they could not show they no long pose a risk to the public or had renounced Islamic extremism.

The judge said the reason for Rehman's conversion "may never be fully known" but added: "Once you had gained that mindset, I am satisfied that you determined to fulfil the Islamic State's call for jihad; not like some, by travelling to Syria or elsewhere to take part in the conflict in those areas, but by carrying out an act of terrorism within the United Kingdom.

"The type of act which you envisaged not only encompassed the use of explosive substances which would be used to maximum effect so as to cause multiple injuries and fatalities, but specifically included a suicide bombing; an act which envisaged martyrdom, a notion specifically resurrected by Islamic State in order to encourage this type of venture."

Rehman's conversion may have been a combination of his "disaffection" from his family and the wider community along with the limited interest he had once shown in learning about Islam, the judge said.

His family gave evidence for the prosecution and now disown him.

The judge said that the "apparent hopelessness" of Rehman's relationship with Khan, and the belief they would be "reunited in paradise", may also have played a part in his actions.

Khan had sent the judge a handwritten letter as a plea for mercy. She said she had divorced Rehman and that she should have "distanced myself from him a long time ago" but that she did not have the strength to do it.

She wrote: "I have suffered greatly and so have my family and I hope you will take them into your considerations.

"My mother, a judge herself, has lost her position, her child and the respect of family and friends."

The judge noted that Khan, who has an English degree from Greenwich University, had tried to limit her role in the advanced plot. It was only thwarted by the intervention of counter-terrorism officers.

In rejecting the letter, the judge told Khan: "Although I do not consider that it is likely that you were initially attracted by the excitement which appeared to be offered by engagement with the actions of Islamic State, I am satisfied that it was you who became interested in the theological justification of its aims, and thereafter encouraged Mohammed Rehman to pursue its ideology.

"Once you had gained that mindset, I am satisfied that you too determined to fulfil the Islamic State's call for jihad, by the carrying out of an act of terrorism within the United Kingdom."

Counter-terrorism officers foiled the plot after an undercover investigator spotted Rehman's tweet about potential targets.

On May 12, Rehman used a profile picture of "Jihadi John" to post: ''Westfield shopping centre or London Underground? Any advice would be appreciated greatly.''

It was accompanied by a link to the al Qaida uncensored media release about the 7/7 bombings.

The same day, he trawled YouTube for London bombings and Shehzad Tanweer - one of the 7/7 bombers who he referred to as his ''beloved predecessor''.

He also told a Twitter user: ''Why don't you head to the London Underground on the 7th July if you got the balls.''

Police arrested Rehman and Khan on May 28.

Rehman fled his home but officers found a Jihadi John-style hunting knife and chemicals for a massive bomb which was days from completion.

In a police interview, Rehman admitted making and testing explosives but denied intending to harm anyone, saying he had used Twitter to draw attention to himself in the hope he would be arrested and put in custody.

Khan refused to answer questions from police but admitted having conversations with Rehman about IS and jihad but denied knowing about his Twitter activities.

Rehman, of Radstock Road, Reading, and Khan, of Hutton Close, Reading, denied wrongdoing but refused to give evidence in the trial. The couple lived with their respective families.

Bill Cosby outside court

Bill Cosby has been released on one million dollars bail after appearing in court in Philadelphia on a sex assault charge.

The charge follows an alleged 2004 encounter in his home outside the city.

Police say he was fingerprinted and photographed before being released. His next court hearing is on January 14.

Cosby is charged with drugging and sexually assaulting the woman. It is the first criminal case brought against the comedian out of the torrent of allegations that destroyed his good-guy image as America's dad.

Cosby shook his head as reporters shouted questions at him before the hearing. His lawyers didn't comment.

The 78-year-old comedian said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.

In court, he agreed to have no contact with the accuser.

He did not have to enter a plea.

The case sets the stage for one of the biggest Hollywood celebrity trials in recent times, and could send Cosby to prison in the twilight of his life.

Prosecutors accuse him of plying Andrea Constand with pills and wine, then assaulting her without her consent while she was drifting in and out of consciousness and unable to resist.

In court papers, prosecutors said the drugs were the cold medicine Benadryl or some other, unidentified substance.

The TV star acknowledged under oath a decade ago that he had sexual contact with Ms Constand but said it was consensual.

The decision to charge him came just days before Pennsylvania's 12-year statute of limitations for bringing charges was set to run out.

The case represents an about-face by the district attorney's office, which under a previous district attorney declined to charge Cosby in 2005 when Ms Constand first told police that the comic violated her at his home in the Philadelphia suburb of Cheltenham.

Prosecutors reopened the case over the summer as damaging testimony was unsealed in Ms Constand's related civil lawsuit against Cosby and as dozens of other women came forward with similar accusations.

"Reopening this case was not a question. Rather, reopening this case was our duty as law enforcement officers," said Mr Steele, a top deputy in the DA's office who will take over as top prosecutor in January.

In court papers, prosecutors said there are probably other women who were similarly drugged and violated by Cosby. Mr Steele urged them to come forward as well.

Ms Constand, now 42, lives in Toronto and works as a massage therapist. Her lawyer Dolores Troiani welcomed the charges.

"She feels that they believe her, and to any victim that is foremost in your mind - are people going to believe me," Ms Troiani said.

The case adds to the towering list of legal problems facing the TV star, including defamation and sexual abuse lawsuits filed in Boston, Los Angeles and Pennsylvania.

In 1965, Cosby became the first black actor to land a leading role in a network drama I Spy, and he went on to earn three Emmys.

Over the next three decades, the Philadelphia-born comic created TV's animated Fat Albert and the top-rated Cosby Show, the 1980s' sitcom celebrated as ground-breaking television for its depiction of a warm and loving family headed by two black professionals - one a lawyer, the other a doctor.

Ms Constand, who worked for the women's basketball team at Temple, where Cosby was a trustee and proud alumnus, said she was assaulted after going to his home in January 2004 for some career advice.

Then-district attorney Bruce Castor declined to charge Cosby, saying at the time that the comedian and his accuser could be portrayed in "a less than flattering light". Ms Constand eventually settled a lawsuit against Cosby in 2006 on confidential terms.

A man has been charged with murder after another man was found stabbed to death.

Timchang Nandap, 22, of Pett Street, Woolwich, south east London, has been charged with the murder of a man in his 30s, following an incident in Hilldrop Crescent, Islington, north London on Tuesday.

He will appear in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Scotland Yard said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 1.50pm on Tuesday.

A post mortem examination is due to take place at Whittington Hospital Mortuary, Archway, on Thursday. Next of kin have been informed but formal identification has not yet taken place.

Amy and Nicole Rice

As well as the funny, jovial and though provoking, 2015 brought many traumatic and tragic stories from Ireland and across the world.

Since 2013 sundayworld.com has been providing to the minute coverage of the stories that matter to our readers. 

The nation was gripped by the horrific abduction and subsequent murder of Irish student Karen Buckley. 

Karen Buckley

Horrific details emerged after her ruthless killer Alexander Pacteau appeared in court, charged with her murder. 

Details have emerged following the accused's brief appearance in court in Glasgow yesterday, where the 21-year-old was formally charged with the murder of Karen Buckley, full story here

Shocking pictures of sisters Amy and Nicole Rice, who had been brutally beaten by men they met Facebook shocked sundayworld.com's readers in 2015.

TWO sisters were savagely beaten up and held hostage by two men who they met on social media website Facebook.

Gardai are attempting to track down the thugs who left Amy (21) and Nicole Rice (19), from Tallaght, battered and bruised, full story here

A guest on the Jeremy Kyle show caused quite a stir amongst our readers.

A woman with an unusual set of chompers has become an internet sensation after she appeared on UK chat show Jeremy Kyle, read the full story here

The Sunday World exposed a former RUC officer who was part of a group of Chelsea FC supporters who pushed a black man off the Paris underground. 

The Chelsea football thug being hunted for pushing a black man off the Paris underground is a former Irish cop, the Sunday World can reveal, full story here

On the 17th of April Alex Pacteau was charged with murdering Karen Buckley and attempting to defeat the ends of justice

21-year-old courier firm director Alexander Pacteau has been charged with murder after remains of student Karen Buckley were discovered on farmland, full story here

Numerous pictures of young couples engaged in amorous relations appeared online, sparking a Slut Shaming backlash 

A SERIES of so-called ‘slut-shaming’ photos have gone viral on social media websites this weekend after Friday’s huge concert at Marlay Park, full story here

It was claimed that forcing teens to get up early 'may cause mental and public health issues'

The headmaster of the first British school to delay lessons until the afternoon has said forcing teenagers to wake up early could cause mental and public health issues, full story here

Facebook comments were flying when our readers heard that Vodafone and Eircom had been busted for ripping off their customers. 

EIRCOM and Vodafone have been convicted and fined for ripping off customers who continuously received over-charged bills, full story here

An Irish sex offender dwarf was caught gigging as a leprechaun

Fermanagh pervert Andrew Collins has been given the heave-ho by a nightclub where he worked as a leprechaun, full story here

A Roscommon man who was acquitted of murder by reason of insanity appealed his own acquittal

A Roscommon man acquitted of murdering his mother on mental health grounds last year has brought an appeal against his acquittal.

Paul Henry (29), who lived with his mother Ann Henry at the time, had pleaded not guilty to her murder at The Spinney, Abbeystown, Roscommon in September 2011, full story here

Armed gardai were at the scene of a standoff in Co Meath

A standoff involving gardai ended peacefully last night, authorities said.

Gardai have confirmed that an incident was an ongoing one in the village of Stamullen yesterday evening, full story here.

The Sunday World obtained exclusive footage of Big Brother star Mark O'Neill snorting a 'substance' from a bag in a nightclub toilet 

BIG Brother star Marc O’Neill leans forward and snorts a substance from a bag as he excitedly chats in the toilet of a Dublin city-centre nightclub earlier this year, full story here.

A bare knuckle boxer who brutally beat his wife to death over the course one hour and twenty minutes was asked to plead guilty by his daughter. 

The devastated daughter of Jacqueline McDonagh, who was savagely beaten to death by her husband Michael McDonagh, begged her father to plead guilty on the eve of his trial to spare them further anguish, full story here.

A 14-year-old girl arrived to a Dublin hospital to give birth to her second child

A 14-year-old Roma girl is under 24-hour guard after she presented herself to a Dublin hospital in the late stages of pregnancy, full story here

The nation gasped in unison as Conor McGregor despatched with Jose Also in just 13-seconds

The faces of those in the corners for Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo last night are absolutely priceless, full story here.

A mum's baby died while she was having a marathon sex session with a man from the bus stop 

A mother who left her sick, three-month-old baby alone to die while she had a whiskey fuelled sex marathon with a man she met at a bus stop has avoided jail, full story here

Our April Fool's Day prank following Ireland's Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland had plenty of people talking 

It appears that the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland may have to be played again – after it emerged that the visitors had fielded an extra man during the first half at the Aviva Stadium during Sunday’s hotly-contested game, read the full story here

A baby tragically died after being fed methadone to stop him crying while she smoked crack

A drug addict mother who killed her son by feeding him methadone to “knock him out”, so she could smoke crack in peace has been jailed for six years, full story here

Some shocking scenes were captured on camera as weapons were pulled during a standoff in Tallaght 

A campaign of intimidation came to a head in Tallaght yesterday when a group of males pursued a man home, armed with bats and crowbars, full story and video here

We at sundayworld.com would like to thank you all for your continuing support and wish you all a happy new year. 

Darren Kearns

A man has died after being gunned down in cold blood in the car park of a Dublin pub. Darren Kearns, who was in his thirties, received fatal head injuries after being shot a number of times in the car park of Cumiskey's, on Blackhorse Avenue.

Kearns was only recently released from prison after serving a six-year sentence for drug offences.

Yesterday evening's brutal shooting occurred outside the pub shortly after 5.30pm.

Customers at the Chinese restaurant above the premises were arriving for dinner when they heard the gunshots.

"We heard seven or eight shots as we arrived but we didn't see anything and thought it was just fireworks going off," said an eye-witness.

"The shots were very close together. There were a lot of shots. But because we thought it was fireworks we went and began our meal at the restaurant. It was only when we went outside that we saw all the guards in the car park.

"No one inside the restaurant seemed to realise what had happened and they continued eating," they added.

The pub and restaurant were later closed as gardai began an investigation.

Locals spoke of seeing people trying to help the victim as he lay on the ground. Paramedics from Dublin Fire Brigade treated Kearns at the scene before he was rushed to hospital.

"The customers in the restaurant did not know about the shooting but then some began to get messages about what had happened," said a waiter at the restaurant.

A staff member at the pub expressed her shock.

"I was not working when it happened but I came down to the pub as soon as I heard. Nothing like this has ever happened at the pub," she said.

"It's a quiet family pub and several children would often be brought by their parents for a meal. It's really shocking," she added.

A post-mortem examination on Kearns's remains is due to take place this morning.

Gardai said a burnt-out car was located in a laneway off Regal Park on Blackhorse Avenue and appealed for witnesses to contact them at Cabra Garda Station on 01 6667400.

Kearns, from Ashington in Cabra, was jailed in March, 2012, after pleading guilty to the possession of cannabis herb with a street value of €1.76m in August 2010.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Darren Kearns was spending €1,000-a-day on cocaine at the time of the offence and had built up a debt of €180,000.

He told gardai that he had been forced to transport the drugs to Newry to reduce his drugs debt by €2,000.

Via Independent.ie

Rescue workers wade through the flood waters caused by Storm Frank in Scotland

Twelve people including two children have been rescued from a bus after it was stranded in flood water as Storm Frank swept across Scotland.

Ten passengers were airlifted by a Royal Navy helicopter from the vehicle when it became stuck in Dailly, South Ayrshire, at about 1.35pm on Wednesday.

A further two people were taken off the bus by officers from Police Scotland's marine unit.

The four men, six women, a seven-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl were all taken to a local community centre to be assessed by medical staff, police confirmed.

The bus is expected to be removed from the scene on Thursday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued a "severe flooding - danger to life" warning for Whitesands in Dumfries and Galloway and for the River Tweed in Peebles in the Borders.

Across Scotland there are more than 70 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in place.

The Scottish Government's resilience committee has met to assess the response to what environment minister Aileen McLeod described as a ''very serious situation''.

About 6,000 homes in the north were without power on Wednesday afternoon as the persistent rain and gales hampered efforts to restore the supply.

SSE said faults were caused by wind damage and trees or other debris on the lines, but that engineers are working to restore customers' supply.

Travel on motorways and rural routes alike has been severely disrupted by surface water, and the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful was closed after a landslip.

Police, coastguard and ambulance crews were, meanwhile, responding to reports of a missing kayaker on the River Findhorn in Moray.

Forecasters at MeteoGroup said Braemar in Aberdeenshire has been the wettest place in the Scotland since midnight after receiving 64mm of rain up to 2pm on Wednesday.

Tyndrum in the Stirling Council area received 58mm and 39mm fell in Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway.

Glasgow was the wettest city with 43mm rainfall compared with 9mm in Edinburgh.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said flood levels in Newton Stewart had exceeded those experienced by the town in November 2012.

Homes have been evacuated and a rest centre set up at Douglas Ewart High School.

The local authority said Moffat had effectively been cut off by floods, with the A701 closed both north and south of the town.

In Ballater, Aberdeenshire, residents from Anderson Road, Deebank Road and Albert Road have been evacuated and a rest centre set up at the Victoria Barracks and nearby Aboyne Academy.

The Aviemore caravan park in the Highlands was evacuated after rising water levels and Hogmanay visitors were advised by police to consider other options.

Ms McLeod said: ''We are dealing with a very serious situation as a result of Storm Frank.

''Weather warnings from the Met Office have unfolded as forecast and much of Scotland has been experiencing strong winds, torrential rain and rising rivers.

''The Scottish Government's resilience team is closely monitoring the situation which is still developing as persistent rain continues to fall on to saturated ground - and is expected to deteriorate further as river levels continue to rise, even after the rain has stopped.

''It is imperative that people look for and take heed of the latest warnings, information and advice from Sepa, Police Scotland and Traffic Scotland.

''In particular, consider whether you need to travel and take all possible precautions to stay safe, particularly in the worst-affected areas.''

Phyllis Young was on board the Stagecoach bus when it got into difficulty.

Speaking after the rescue, she told BBC Scotland: "The water came in the bus, it came up and up and got to the windows and was just like big waves. You could see the current - it was very, very scary.

"We moved up to the back of the bus because the seats were higher. I actually sat on the ledge at the back. Some people were standing on the seat grab bars. My feet and legs were in the water the whole time.

"The whole of the front lower section of the bus was completely covered with water."

A Stagecoach spokeswoman said the road was open to traffic at the time the bus was making the journey from Girvan to Ayr.