Pakistani troops clear way for an ambulance transporting a lifeless body of a victim from Bacha Khan University

Gunmen have stormed a university in Pakistan, killing at least 19 people and triggering a heavy gun battle with police and army troops in a town near Peshawar, officials said.

The attack began shortly after Bacha Khan University opened for classes in the town of Charsadda, 20 miles outside Peshawar, said deputy commissioner Tahir Zafar.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the brazen assault which harked back to a December 2014 attack on a school in Peshawar that killed more than 150 people, mostly children.

The attackers traded gunfire with troops and several explosions were heard from the area.

The army said the attackers were contained in two university blocks and four had been killed.

A Taliban leader, Khalifa Umar Mansoor, said in a phone call that a four-man team conducted the assault in revenge for scores of militants killed by Pakistani security forces in recent months.

Mansoor was the mastermind of the Peshawar school attack.

The main spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, Mohammad Khurasani, reiterated the claim of responsibility.

Mr Zafar said a chemistry professor and a student were among those killed. Television footage showed heavy military presence at the university, troops rushing in and people fleeing. Ambulances were at the scene and the wounded were being taken to hospital.

Prime minister Nawaz Sharif was quoted on the website of the Daily Pakistan as saying: "We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland."

Bacha Khan University is named after the founder of a liberal, anti-Taliban political party. The Pakistani Taliban has in the past targeted the party for its anti-militant policies.

Pakistan's north west and its lawless tribal area bordering Afghanistan is a highly volatile region. Pakistani forces have been carrying out a major operation against the Taliban and other militants there since 2014.

Last month, as the country marked the first anniversary of the Peshawar school attack, the military claimed "phenomenal successes" in the war and said it had killed around 3,500 insurgents since launching the operation.

The school attack, which was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, horrified the country and led the government to lift a 2008 moratorium on the death penalty. Pakistan hanged four militants last month who were sentenced to death over the attack.

The Central Bank is set to release a commemorative €2 coin to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Paul Molumby, director of currency and facilities management at the bank, said: "It's a significant achievement for us to mint and issue our own circulating commemorative coin.

"The design reflects back to the GPO and its association with the Easter Rising and the reading of the Proclamation."

The coin features a depiction of the statue of Hibernia, the historic personification of Ireland, on the roof of the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin.

The designer of the coin, Emmet Mullins, said the statue of Hibernia "witnessed the events of 1916 and watched the growth of a nation since the Rising".

This will be the first time that Ireland has issued its own commemorative €2 coin.

Previous commemorative €2 coins issued by Ireland were part of a European Union initiative.

This €2 coin will be available to purchase in a proof set, and an annual mint set, in January.

The Central Bank announced news of the new €2 coin on its official Twitter account. It said €4.5m worth of the coins will be released into circulation in January.

It added that it will also release silver and gold proof commemorative coins to mark the 100th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

Anthony Stokes

The trial of Glasgow Celtic and Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes for an alleged nightclub assault has been adjourned to later in the year as an essential witness is not available.

Mr Stokes (27) of Claremont Terrace, Glasgow, was sent forward from the District Court accused of assault causing harm to Anthony Bradley (42) at Buck Whaleys on Leeson Street in June 8, 2013.

The footballer’s trial is expected to last two days.

This morning Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting told Judge Patricia Ryan that the witness had some back problems and was “immobilised” as a result.

This is the second time the trial has been adjourned. The case didn't get on last year as there were no judges available at the time.

Judge Melanie Greally set a new trial date of November 22, next and remanded Stokes on continuing bail.

Sadie Hartley

A woman charged with the murder of a 60-year-old businesswoman has made her first appearance in court.

Sarah Williams, 34, of Blacon, Chester, is accused of killing Sadie Hartley, who was found stabbed to death at her home in Sunny Bank Road, Helmshore, Lancashire, on Friday evening.

Williams, of Treborth Road, was flanked in the dock at Blackburn Magistrates' Court by two female prison officers and stood with her head bowed throughout the three-minute hearing.

Wearing a grey shirt, grey trousers and black pumps, she spoke only to confirm her full address and date of birth before she was remanded in custody ahead of a preliminary hearing at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

Earlier, she covered her face with a cream cardigan as she was led in handcuffs from the prison van into the building.

No pleas were entered to the allegation she murdered Ms Hartley on Thursday January 14.

Mother-of-two Ms Hartley was the director of her own medical communications business, Hartley Taylor, based in Knutsford, Cheshire.

Her long-term partner, retired firefighter Ian Johnston, 54, has been questioned by police but not as a suspect. During the summer he works as a technical adviser for International Camp Suisse, a summer school in the Swiss Alps.

Lancashire Police are continuing to question a 55-year-old woman from Chester in connection with the murder.

It is understood the suspect - arrested on Monday - is a friend of ski travel firm employee Williams.

Detectives have appealed for help in tracing several people seen near Ms Hartley's home on Thursday evening, including the driver of a passing car.

A police spokesman said officers wanted to identify a person seen passing a man as he walked out of Sunny Bank Road on Thursday evening and an unknown person who walked into the cul-de-sac before leaving a few minutes later.

They also want to trace the driver of an "old-style" Renault Clio which was seen arriving in Sunny Bank Road just before 8pm on the same night and driving off moments later.

The investigating team is also keen to hear from anyone with information about people asking for the location of Sunny Bank Road in the days or weeks leading up to the murder.

They said a man and a jogger seen on the road had been identified as local residents.

Anne Fennell

A 57-year-old Dublin woman who sent obscene phone messages threatening to bomb President Michael D Higgins and several government ministers has pleaded guilty to harassing a priest.

Anne Fennell, of Monastery Gate Green, Clondalkin, today/yesterday (WEDS) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of harassing Fr Desmond Byrne by any means including telephone at Woodford Drive, Clondalkin on October 8, 2006 and between October 5, 2005 and January 10, 2006.

Last week, Fennell had her sentence for sending obscene phone messages adjourned so she could continue with her psychological therapy.

The court heard that on one occasion Anne Fennell had referred to President Higgins as a “ladyboy” and on another told the receptionist that “the President and Sabrina Higgins would go home in plastic bags if they set foot on English soil”.

She made repeated threats to bomb the president over a number of phone calls in April 2014 and again in October the same year.

The court also heard that the entire area around Dáil Éireann had to be searched on November 18, 2014 when Fennell called to say there would be a bomb at the main gate.

The parliamentary usher who took the call later told gardaí that Fennell, a former An Post worker, had hung up “screaming”.

She pleaded guilty to making persistent annoying phone calls and sending obscene or menacing phone messages to Aras an Uachtarain, the Department of Finance, the European Commission Representation, An Post Dublin Mail Centre and the constituency offices of TDs Alan Kelly, Aodhan O Riordain and Noel Coonan between February 2 and December 1, 2014.

Today/Yesterday (WEDS) Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the harassment sentence hearing until July and remanded Fennell on continuing bail.

The judge also directed that a victim impact statement be prepared.

STOCK IMAGE

Five children aged between three and seven years-old have been discovered dead inside a freezer.

It is believed that they became trapped while playing and suffocated to death.

The kids, who were cousins, were found by their grandmother.

The horrific incident took place in Kakamas in South Africa.

Local police spokesman Major Dimakatso Mooi appealed to parents to take responsibility and to ensure their kids’ safety at all times.

"Children should not be left unattended, and yards must be cleared of old equipment and scraps that can cause harm to children," Mooi said in an African News Agency report.

Jason Doogue

A 43-year-old man charged with the murder of Jason Doogue in Kildare in August has been served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.

Mr Doogue, 22, had been sitting on a wall with friends on August 21 last in the Greenhills area of Athy, when he was shot several times. He was rushed to Naas General Hospital where he later died.

James Lammon from Cardington Way in Athy, Co Kildare had been charged with the murder of Jason Doogue.

He appeared again at Cloverhill District Court where he was served with a book of evidence. Judge Victor Blake made and order sending him forward for trial at the present sittings of the Central Criminal Court. He was further remanded in custody.

Mr Lammon remained silent after he was first charged in August.

Operation Domino has been launched to target the next generation of dealers

GARDAI are targeting two young drug dealers in Ballymun who have become the main players in the north Dublin suburb.

The pals are major targets of Operation Domino, which has been targeting the next generation of dealers. 

Sources say the 26-year-old and 29-year-old have a network of youngsters flooding Ballymun with drugs. 

One of the men is a 26-year-old from the Poppintree area of Ballymun. He has avoided any major convictions and has risen through the ranks in Ballymun. 

He has a network of contacts in the criminal world, helped by his interest in sulky racing, including a close associate of Ballyfermot criminal Derek ‘Dee Dee’ O’Driscoll. 

The 26-year-old runs the Ballymun operation with his 29-year-old pal, who has links to one of Ireland’s most notorious prisoners. The prisoner, from Inchicore, can’t be named as he is before the courts. 

The 29-year-old was involved in a violent attack on a man in Ballymun three years ago.  

Other associates of the Ballymun dealers include convicted drug dealer Dano Doyle, whose house was shot at in Ballymun in November. 

That incident is not believed to be connected to Doyle’s links with the Ballymun gang. 

The gang have links to criminal figures in Coolock, Finglas and the north inner city. 

The 29-year-old also has connections to Stephen ‘Ned’ Kelly who is serving life for the murder of Ian McConnell on December 11, 2005.

The killing sparked a feud in Ballymun between associates of Kelly and Ian’s brother Thomas ‘Nicky’ McConnell, a convicted drug dealer who was released from prison last year. 

McConnell was also photographed with businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr in recent months. Mansfield was arrested in December in connection with an alleged assault in Dublin last year. He was released without charge.  

Mansfield has been warned by Gardaí over a threat to his life. The threat is understood to be coming from associates of traveller criminal ‘Fat’ Andy Connors, who was shot dead in Dublin in 2014.

Stephen Rock

A convicted murderer has been sentenced to ten years in prison for burning down a house occupied by a family just days after he was released from a life sentence.

Stephen Rock (51) of Priorswood House in Coolock, Dublin was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of damaging a house at Colepark Drive in Ballyfermot, Dublin on July 12 2014 and intending to endanger the life of another. The 51-year-old had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Detective Inspector Colm O'Malley told Monika Leech BL, prosecuting, that Rock was seen "in the vicinity" of the home on the night in question. The court heard "an item" which looked like a "shoe box" was seen by a witness burning in the window of the house on the night of the fire.

Counsel told the court that Leanne Nolan managed to rescue her mother Maureen Nolan and her younger brother from the house . One of the family pets did not survive the blaze.

"The jury heard evidence that as a result of the blaze the house was destroyed and the family had to move to temporary accommodation," said Ms Leech.

The court heard Maureen Nolan had been "assaulted" by Rock when he came to the house earlier that day and herself and her daughter Leanne asked him to leave.

"When Mr Rock was asked to leave he said they would be sorry when he came back,” counsel said.

Rock denied starting the fire when interviewed.

The court heard the economic loss to the family was €40,000 which did not include the "property loss to the house" which included beds, curtains and family pictures and much more. "It was not possible to put a value on the personal items lost," said Ms Leech.

Ms Leech said that Leanne Nolan experienced "flashbacks" after the fire, her confidence suffered when applying for new jobs and she was afraid "something would happen to her mother when she was not there."

The court heard how the Nolan family were upset after losing their dog in the fire and it was only now that they were "getting back to some kind of normality."

"It was the first time I felt we could move forward as a family. He took everything, there were times when I felt I wanted to run away from here," Maureen Nolan stated.

Rock was previously convicted for murder and jailed for life in 1989. The court heard he was serving his time in Shelton Abbey Prison in Arklow when he escaped in 1999.

"He had served ten years in prison before he absconded and he subsequently returned to this jurisdiction following an arrest warrant," said Det Insp O'Malley.

The court heard Rock continued to serve his sentence from 2005 to 2014 before he was admitted to full temporary release on July 08 2014.

Paul Greene SC, defending, told the court his client's "only visitor over the years" had been his mother who died four years ago.

Mr Greene asked the court to take into account his isolated situation and his regret and concern for the Nolan family.

Judge Patrick McCartan said that what Rock did “was very serious and very dangerous particularly for a man with his record and who had been on temporary release and given full release from his sentence only four days before" said the judge.

The judge "commended" Leanne Nolan for attempting to put out the fire and rescuing her brother and mother.

"Mr Rock is someone who cannot have any sympathy from this court and he won't get it," said Judge McCartan before sentencing Rock to ten years in prison.

Tanaiste Joan Burton

TWO teenage boys have pleaded guilty to taking part in violence during the Jobstown water protest in 2014 and had sentencing adjourned for enquiries to find out if the Tanaiste wants to give a victim impact statement.

The Labour leader and her entourage were allegedly trapped in a ministerial car following a graduation ceremony just after midday on November 15th at An Cosan education facility in Jobstown in Tallaght.

An anti-Irish Water demonstration was held which delayed her for about two hours. Gardai allege violence broke out after protesters encroached on and surrounded the car.

Twenty four people, including six juvenile males as well as Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and 17 other adults, are facing a variety of serious charges arising out of incident.

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, pleaded guilty today at the Dublin Children's Court to violent disorder charges. The 16-year-old also admitted breaking a windscreen on a garda car during confrontations between gardai and protesters.

Judge O'Connor adjourned sentencing until a date next month. He noted the pair did not face false imprisonment charges but said the incident would been a very frightening experience for the Tanaiste.

He ordered gardai to find out if she or her assistant wanted to make victim impact statements. He also said the incident was an aggressive form of bullying and an attack on the state.

However, he also noted they were not politically motivated and said the teens had to be given credit for their guilty pleas. Pre-sentence probation reports on the teens were also sought by the judge.

The boys were aged and 14 and 15 at the time and one of them had psychological and educational issues, Judge John O'Connor also heard. Both of the boys were accompanied to court by their mothers and their cases were heard separately.

Det Garda Paul Smith of Tallaght station told Judge O'Connor a large crowd gathered and tried to block the Tanaiste's car. During the course of the day there were a number of altercations with youths and adults in the area. It was alleged the 16-year-old was “pushing and shoving gardai”. He was cautioned a number of times to leave the area but refused to go and was aggressive, and among an aggressive group who were obstructing gardai from carrying out their duty.

He also broke the windscreen of a garda car, the court was told. The 16-year-old has five criminal convictions, one for theft and five counts of breach of the peace, for which he was placed on supervised probation for 12 months in July last year. 

Det Gda Smith agreed with the defence counsel Stephen McCrea that there were a number youths involved and he said the teenager “got caught up in the day's events”.

The court has heard the out-of-school teenager had education difficulties and had attended a youth club and a drug course but had no mental health issues.

Det Gda Smith told the court the 15-year-old defendant had been aggressive and was also pushing and shoving gardai and throwing eggs. However he accepted that it was uncharacteristic of the boy who had no prior criminal convictions.

The court has heard that teenager had “significant difficulties” and these included Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and also depression and has anger-management difficulties. The manager of an early school leavers programme told the court the youth was intelligent, could do well if he gets back into eduction and knows what he wants to do in his future.

Another teenage boy who has pleaded guilty earlier to criminal damage and violent disorder charges is also due to be sentenced in March in the Children's Court.

On Monday, a 17-year-old boy entered a not guilty plea at the juvenile court to a violent disorder charge; he will face trial in April.

Another 15-year-old is due back in court this month to enter a plea to a violent disorder charge. A 17-year-old boy accused of false imprisonment of Tanaiste Joan Burton and her advisor during the protest is also due back in court later this month for ruling on his trial venue.

Last month, Paul Murphy TD was sent forward for trial accused of false imprisonment of the Labour leader and her advisor. The DPP consented to him and 17 other people from Dublin being returned for trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where they will face their next hearing on January 22nd.

They face a variety of charges which include false imprisonment, violent disorder and criminal damage to garda cars.

Nayden Nikolov Ivanov

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 36 year old Nayden Nikoloz Ivanov missing since December 17 2015

Nayden is described as being 5’7” in height, of heavy build, short black hair and brown eyes.

When last seen he was wearing a grey jacket, dark blue denim jeans and dark blue runners.

He was last seen getting off a bus at approximately 4.45pm on December 17 2015 at Lower Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork City.

Gardaí are concerned for Nayden’s welfare and anyone with information is asked to contact them at Anglesea St, Garda Station on 021 4522000, The Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any Garda Station.

Crystal Meth

A former Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) has been jailed for two years for possessing child pornography which he obtained by swapping drugs for the images, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

James Wicks, 35, who served for Thames Valley Police, pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court to the distribution of indecent images, six counts of possessing indecent images and a further charge of supplying a class A drug.

He was suspended following his arrest in June last year and resigned from his post in the Reading area of Berkshire in October.

As well as distributing the videos through Skype, Wicks, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, discussed travelling to Thailand to rape children, according to the CPS.

Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell, of Thames Valley Police, said: "The actions of former PCSO James Wicks are absolutely reprehensible. He has shown complete disregard for the standards expected of him by committing such criminal offences.

"The harm the possession and distribution of these images will have caused their victims will be lasting and cannot be measured. Drugs also cause communities and users untold devastation and Wicks' actions are completely contrary to what those in our force work to prevent."

Following the sentencing, John Montague, senior district crown prosecutor, said: "This case is simply shocking and disturbing.

"The movies found in possession of James Wicks can be described as some of the worst type classified as category A seen by experienced officers in the child abuse team.

"The idea that some individuals find these scenes 'enjoyable' and download such images for their own sexual gratification is simply sickening and very disturbing. Their actions contribute to the continuous sexual abuse of children.

"The fact that James Wicks, a PCSO for Thames Valley Police, had in his possession these movies and images, is even more alarming. His duty was to care for the community, not to pose a serious risk.

"Wicks had admitted attending a friend's address and taking with him Crystal Meth which he shared for the purposes of sexual pleasure and in exchange for indecent movies of children.

"These were put on a memory stick which he took away with him. Taking the drug lowered his inhibitions which led to conversations on social media and on some occasions distributing the movies he had in his possession.

"He distributed through Skype three of those movies, which depicted the sexual abuse of children for the 'entertainment' of other ill-minded individuals.

"Internet-based chats were retrieved from Mr Wicks's computer which included conversations between himself and like-minded people discussing him travelling to Thailand to rape children with friends."

Three people have been released without charge after two searches at separate addresses in Cork today

A man has been arrested in Cork in connection with the 2CB incident yesterday.

Three people have been released without charge after two searches at separate addresses in Cork today.

The man is currently being held at Bridewell Garda Station after gardai discovered MDMA at an address in Finbarr’s Place in Cork.

The three men who were released without charge are aged, 21, 23 and 25 years old.

Earlier today  a man who says he was the first person to come on the scene of the house party in Cork where a number of people took designer drug 2CB has described it as one of “one of the scariest" nights of his life.

An 18-year-old man is in a critical condition and three others remain in hospital after taking the drug 2CB, an ecstasy substitute, at the party.

Gerard Banks, a passerby, has told how he became concerned when he heard shouting.

When he went to the front window to investigate, he saw blood on the walls, floor, and curtains, and he asked one of the partygoers to let him inside.

“Last night was one of the scariest and most surreal nights of my life,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

“I was walking [past] late last night and heard crazy shouting in a house. So me and a friend looked in the window to see is everyone ok.”

“The bedroom was covered in blood, walls, floor, bed and even curtains. We shouted in to see is everyone OK. A man arrived at the window clearly on drugs and in a state of shock. We asked is everyone ok. He replied: ‘yes, everything is fine’.”

“So we said there is blood everywhere, someone must be hurt, can we check to make sure no one is hurt? He said ‘yes’ and opened the door. When we went in it was like a scene from CSI. Blood all over the walls, floors, couches and a man and a woman naked covered in blood shouting and screaming badly hurt and clearly in a state of dementia.”

“The man was smashing the house up, blood was everywhere. The house was destroyed. There was a man on the floor in cardiac arrest with major breathing problems and the man who let us in [was] sitting on the chair in shock.”

Mr Banks directed paramedics to the scene when they arrived.

“In shock, me and my friend took control of the room. My friend started helping the man in cardiac arrest on the floor. I had to control the room to let my friend help the man on the floor in safety.”

“It was surreal… a naked man and woman dancing naked on the chairs as a man was having cardiac arrest on the floor. I was the man who left the guards and paramedics into the house. It was surreal.”

Students in Cork are being warned to remain vigilant after six young people were hospitalised after consuming the drug at the party.

“Whatever drugs those people were on last night was scary,” Mr Banks said.

“They didn’t even know they were covered in blood and badly hurt, they didn’t even know there was a man dying on the floor. I haven’t slept a wink all night. I’m still in shock to be honest.”

“These people did not seem like bad people just like students out partying which is the most worrying thing about this new drug and its side effects. It’s really scary stuff and we need to make everyone aware of its dangers.”

“Everyone in the house was rushed to hospital…  We were all delighted to see the man in cardiac arrest leave in an ambulance in a stable state. One night of taking this new drug has probably ruined the lives of these people for a long time to come.”

A spokesperson for the HSE has described 2CB as a new psychoactive substance similar to those products previously sold in 'head-shops'.

HSE addiction services manager for Cork and Kerry David Lane said it was not safe to consume head-shop type substances.

Mr Banks added: “I’m putting out a big appeal for everyone in Cork to be aware of the dangers of a new drug on our streets called 2CP."

Via Independent.ie

Police in New Orleans have arrested the woman

Police in New Orleans have arrested a security guard over the death of her three-year-old grandson, who apparently was shot when the gun under her pillow went off while they slept.

The bullet hit the boy in the chest, police said. He died at a nearby hospital.

Police said 42-year-old Deonca Kennedy was arrested on charges of negligent homicide, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and child desertion.

Under state law, both desertion and second-degree cruelty charges can be based on criminal negligence. Negligent homicide carries up to five years in prison, and second-degree cruelty up to 40 years.

Police said the investigation is continuing.

Tranquilisers are the contraband drug of choice in Irish prisons

PILL-popping prisoners are using home-made tablets being supplied by gangsters on the outside.

Tranquiliser tablets have become the choice contraband drug among inmates behind bars, according to Sunday World sources.

They are difficult for the sniffer dogs to find and are easier to hide internally.

However, unmarked tablets from dubious sources have already made several inmates sick after downing the pills.

“They’re like birds pecking at seeds if a stash is found. They don’t even care what they take,” said a source.

“They get drugs on the inside and then their families on the outside are paid a visit and told they owe money, they don’t get a choice,” added the source.

Vulnerable prisoners have also been forced to hide drug stashes behind bars or smuggle tablets into jail after temporary release.

The Sunday World previously reported how one prisoner on release from Castlerea Prison claims he was forced at gunpoint to stuff a cache of several hundred tablets in his back passage before going back to jail.

Despite the concerns over drugs, the level of seizures has dropped within the prison system.

Increased security measures since 2009, including sniffer dogs, body scanners, screen visits and a confidential phone line, has seen seizures fall. A number of significant drug seizures have been attributed to the hot-line.

It estimated that drugs are sold inside prison at more than three times the going rate on the outside, making it a very lucrative business.

Paige Holland, also known as Abbie Goodier or Paige Goodier

Aaron Tighe, also known as Aaron Chadwick or Ian Smith, who the woman and baby are believed to be travelling with

Gardaí at Castlerea Garda Station are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 23 year old Paige Holland, also known as Abbie Goodier or Paige Goodier, and her 1week old daughter Nevaeh Goodier/Tighe.

The woman and her baby left their home at Westview, Cloonfad, Co. Roscommon on Friday January 15.

Paige is described as being 5’6” in height, of medium build with blonde shoulder length hair.

She has a strong English accent.

Nevaeh, her daughter, was born on the January 13.

It is not known what clothing Paige was wearing when last seen.

Paige and her daughter are believed to be travelling with her boyfriend Aaron Tighe also known as Aaron Chadwick or Ian Smith 22 years, described as 5’6” tall, medium build, with short brown/fair hair.

He also has a strong English accent.

Gardai are liaising with TUSLA in relation to this incident.

Gardaí are not aware of what form of transport is being used and they may be travelling by Public Transport.

Gardaí are requesting Paige to make contact with Castlerea Garda Station as soon as possible.

Gardaí are concerned for the welfare of Paige and her daughter and anyone with information is asked to contact Castlerea Garda Station on 094 9621630, The Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any Garda Station.

In the money: Nadia Forde

Tonight's Lotto draw featured one of the largest jackpots ever, so here are the lucky numbers.

Lotto: 3, 6, 17, 23, 27, 29 BONUS 5

Lotto Plus 1: 1, 11, 17, 18, 29, 41 BONUS 14

Lotto Plus 2: 2, 16, 26, 28, 33, 45 BONUS 32

VIA Lottery.ie

Lottery.ie are saying that there was no winner of the jackpot, which totalled €12,545,065.

Lotto customers looking to purchase a ticket experienced problems earlier today as machines went down as a result "technical difficulties".

The National Lottery confirmed that machines nationwide - which were out of service for a number of hours - are currently back in operation.

It now appears that the stoppage was due to a DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service).

"Indications are that this morning's technical issues were as a result of a DDOS attack affecting our communications networks," a statement from the Lottery said.

"The issues were resolved by the National Lottery's DDOS protection systems, limiting disruption and restoring all operations within two hours.

"This incident is still under investigation. However, we can confirm that at no point was the National Lottery gaming system or player data affected."

Police described the man as a "dangerous predator"

An Uber driver described by police as a "dangerous predator" has been jailed for sexually assaulting a female passenger.

Aliriza Kurt was sentenced to 18 months in prison for leaning across to the 24-year-old woman and touching her after picking her up in Brixton late at night last May.

The 42-year-old, of Blackstock Road in north London, asked the woman: "Are you comfortable with this?", at which point she fled and called the police.

He was arrested in the early hours of May 9, just over four hours after the assault the previous night.

Siwan Hayward, TfL's deputy director of enforcement and on-street operations, praised the victim for coming forward to report Kurt.

She said: "This victim's bravery in reporting this offence to the police has helped put this sex offender behind bars, preventing him from preying on any other vulnerable women."

Kurt has also been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period under which he cannot have any females other than family members in a car driven by him, and cannot apply to become or work as a private hire driver in England and Wales.

He has been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Inspector Tracy Allison, from the Met's cab enforcement unit, said: "This was an excellent result, which has seen a dangerous predator receive a jail sentence, entry on the sex offenders' register and an extensive sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from working as a private hire driver in England or Wales and applying to be a private hire driver in England or Wales.

"The cab enforcement unit's number one priority is the safety of those travelling in taxis and private hire vehicles. If you commit an offence on London's transport network we will pursue and arrest you - we will get those responsible."

Kurt was sentenced at Inner London Crown court on Wednesday, having been convicted earlier this month.

A spokesman for Uber said: "As soon as we learned about this shocking incident, we immediately stopped this licensed private hire driver from using the Uber app and offered our full assistance to both the police and the passenger. We welcome this conviction."

No more fetch....

Leading vets are warning dog owners against the dangers of throwing sticks for their pets, estimating that more than 60,000 are treated every year in the UK for what are often "terrible" injuries.

Sean Wensley, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said on average one dog a month is treated for an injury from a piece of wood at each of the more than 5,000 veterinary practices in the UK.

Mr Wensley said animals are being impaled by sticks and picking up infections from fragments of wood they ingest, but added that many injuries are preventable.

The warning comes after a collie in Scotland named Maya suffered a punctured tongue and damaged larynx after getting a 10cm stick stuck in her throat.

Sarah Stevenson, of Bishopbriggs Veterinary Centre in Glasgow, who treated Maya, said she had seen an increase in dogs suffering stick injuries.

She told The Times: "Stick injuries may not be initially obvious and may cause long-term problems. For these reasons we are warning pet owners against throwing or encouraging their dog to play with or chase sticks."

Mr Wensley, a veterinary surgeon and senior vet for the PDSA, urged owners to use safe alternatives such as balls, Frisbees or rubber toys, saying: "Our message is that these injuries are severe and are preventable simply by using dog-safe toys as alternatives to sticks."

Dogs suffer two main types of injuries when sticks are thrown, Mr Wensley said.

"One is when a stick is thrown and lands in the ground like a javelin and a dog running at pace after it is not able to stop in time and runs on to the stick and impales itself.

"We see terrible penetrative wounds to the mouth, neck and sometimes the chest, which can damage major blood vessels or in some cases the spinal cord, which can cause paralysis. These can be really serious, life-threatening injuries."

The other type involves fragments of wood from chewed sticks penetrating the mouth and throat, causing infections which can be chronic and potentially fatal.

Mr Wensley said the advice was not about stopping dog owners having fun with their pets, but improving safety.

He said: "What we absolutely don't want is to stop dogs enjoying exercise and play, as the benefits from those are really important for physical health and mental well-being, for both dogs and owners.

"We don't want to stop any of that, just to highlight the problems we see when sticks are used to chase after, and to urge that alternative dog-safe toys are used instead."

Grace Webster, president of the BVA in Scotland, echoed the concerns, telling The Times: "Throwing sticks for your dog can be dangerous and lead to horrific injuries that can be very distressing for both you and your dog, such as causing cuts to their mouths and tongues or, as in this (Maya's) case, getting the stick lodged in their throat."

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: "To be safe, the RSPCA recommends dog owners throw and play with toys specifically designed for dogs as these can better safeguard dogs and lower the risk of injury that a sharp stick may cause."

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Gardaí in Monaghan are investigating a fatal road traffic collision which occurred on the N2 at Killmarley, Co Monaghan this evening.

The collision involving a male pedestrian, believed to be aged 70 and a car occurred at approximately 5.50pm at Killmarley,about two miles south of Monaghan town.

The male was seriously injured and pronounced dead at the scene.

His body has been taken to the morgue at Monaghan Hospital.

The male driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was uninjured in the collision. 

The road is closed to facilitate a Forensic collision examination and diversions are in place.

It is expected that the road will remain closed until 12 noon tomorrow the 21st January.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact Monaghan Garda Station on 047 77200, The Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any Garda Station.