OVERCROWDING in Irish prisons is spiralling out of control, in what experts are calling a national ‘crisis’. With facilities operating at nearly 120% capacity, over 400 inmates are currently sleeping on floors. This mirrors a broader trend across Europe, where the prison population grew by almost 4% in 2023 alone. Tougher sentencing laws and years of underinvestment in prison … [Read more...] about Ireland’s prisons are reaching breaking point
Second man arrested following PSNI raids linked to West Belfast UDA
TWO men have been arrested following a series of raids by PSNI officers investigating suspected criminality linked to the West Belfast UDA. A number of properties in north and south Belfast were searched by officers last week. Items recovered from searches in the Joanmount Gardens area of the city included a sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, a significant quantity of suspected … [Read more...] about Second man arrested following PSNI raids linked to West Belfast UDA
British Library will reinstate Oscar Wilde’s revoked reading pass
THE British Library has confirmed it will reinstate an historic reader pass once belonging to Oscar Wilde which was revoked when he was found guilty of ‘gross indecency’ in 1895. “After 130 years, the British Library plans to symbolically reinstate the Reader Pass that belonged to the renowned poet and writer Oscar Wilde,” the organisation confirmed this month. “As revealed in … [Read more...] about British Library will reinstate Oscar Wilde’s revoked reading pass
Tánaiste ‘concerned’ over US vetting social media accounts of students applying for visas
TÁNAISTE Simon Harris has shared his “concern” over a new policy requiring Irish students to allow their social media accounts to be vetted before being granted permission to travel to the US. The US Department of State announced the new "comprehensive and thorough" social media vetting system this week, which takes effect immediately. It requires anyone applying for a US visa … [Read more...] about Tánaiste ‘concerned’ over US vetting social media accounts of students applying for visas
Police officer left ‘unable to work’ after being dragged by car
A POLICE officer who was dragged along the road by a car driven by a suspected offender has been left “unable to work” for several weeks. The officer stopped a car in the Beltany Road area of Omagh at around 11pm on June 22. When he attempted to breathalyse the driver he sped off, dragging the officer with him. “The officer stopped a vehicle on the Beltany Road shortly after … [Read more...] about Police officer left ‘unable to work’ after being dragged by car