Burma goods pledge by Dunnes after boycott call

Saturday/Sunday

Dunnes Stores faced a call for a boycott of its outlets following allegations that it is selling clothes produced in a state-run factory in Burma, which has one of the world's most repressive regimes. The call was made by Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna. The company said it would end links with Burma if the allegations prove to be true.

Bord na Mona said it had commissioned Forbairt to carry out a risk assessment of asbestos dumped by the ESB in bogland near Portarlington, Co Laois. The ESB admitted dumping 10 tonnes of insulation containing asbestos for 20 years up to 1970, when the practice was stopped after evidence linking asbestos with cancer. As it was buried with peat ash, it was now considered safe.

The Pittsburgh Steelers easily accounted for the Chicago Bears by 30 points to 17 in a pre-season American football game before 30,000 somewhat bemused spectators in Croke Park.

Monday

Any new inquiry into the finances of former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, lost one of its most important potential witnesses with the death of Cayman Islands banker, Mr John Furze. Mr Furze (55) was probably the second most important source of information on Mr Haughey's money after the late Mr Des Traynor. Mr Furze died in Miami, four days after heart surgery. At least 80,000 U2 fans were forced to await a Supreme Court appeal decision before knowing if the band's PopMart concerts will be coming to Lansdowne Road. Mr Justice Costello in the High Court found against the IRFU in an action by people living near the stadium who claimed they could not go ahead because planning permission was required.

Water supplies in Navan, Co Meath, were cut off after water used to put out a fire in a synthetic fibre plant drained into the Moynalty River and killed 1,000 fish.

Tuesday

The first study of male prostitution in Ireland showed that it is most often associated with homelessness and drug addiction. Teenage boys as young as 13 are involved, while most are in the 18- to 25-year bracket. The report by the Eastern Health Board's Gay Men's Health Project came as the voluntary agency, Focus Ireland, warned of the rising numbers of homeless young people working in prostitution.

A man subjected to two suspected IRA "punishment" attacks committed suicide in west Belfast by hanging himself on railings. Two hours before Mr Gerard Marley (21) died, his father claimed his son was being driven to suicide by repeated tauntings from local republicans who said he was a joyrider. Both his legs were broken earlier this year.

The body of triple murderer, Brendan O'Donnell, was cremated in Dublin after Mass concelebrated by the Bishop of Clonfert, Dr John Kirby, with six priests.

Wednesday

The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, gave the go-ahead for third-level colleges to charge £250 a year for registration, exams and student services. The £100 increase was condemned by the Union of Students in Ireland and by Labour education spokesman, Mr Michael D. Higgins, who said it was "an attempt to reintroduce third-level fees by the back door". The Blood Transfusion Service confirmed it was contacting up to 500 women who received potentially contaminated doses of antiD in the 1970s, asking them to come forward for testing. The BTSB expect that 50 of the women will have hepatitis C. One man was drowned and another was missing after two Irishmen and two German women on a fishing expedition were swept off rocks by a huge wave at Valentia Island. A 12-year-old boy who survived the incident ran three-quarters of a mile to alert emergency services. Valentia Lifeboat rescued the women.

Thursday

The Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, received £300,000 in his marathon libel action against the Sunday Independent, an Irish record for damages against a newspaper.

Facing a total bill of about £1.5 million, Independent Newspapers said the jury's verdict in a case over an article by columnist Eamon Dunphy had "profound implications for journalism in Ireland". No decision has been taken on an appeal.

As Mr De Rossa expressed "absolute delight" at the outcome, four years, seven months and 18 days and three court cases since the article first appeared, Mr Dunphy was ordered to appear before Mr Justice Carney on an issue of alleged contempt of court arising out of comments he made on his Radio Ireland show this week. The Rainbow government knew the BTSB was negligent in the manufacture of anti-D in the 1970s before Mrs Brigid McCole began her court compensation action. But it was not until 17 months after the government received this advice from the Attorney General that liability was admitted by the BTSB. She died two weeks later from hepatitis C.