Tuesday’s Top Stories: Man killed in Dublin crash was due to face trial for sexual offences; ‘bus gates’ on way for Dublin quays

Man killed in south Dublin crash due to go on trial for almost 100 sexual offences

A man killed in a single-vehicle crash in south Dublin at the weekend was due to stand trial on Monday morning at the Central Criminal Court after being charged with almost 100 historical sexual offences.

The man, who was aged in his 60s, died when the van he was driving hit a tree at about 6.15am on Sunday on Lower Churchtown Road, Churchtown.

News

‘Bus gates’ on Dublin quays to be implemented in August: The first measures of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, which will restrict motorists driving “through” instead of “to” the city centre, will be introduced in August, Dublin City Council says.
Varadkar resigns as Taoiseach with ‘no regrets’: Saying he had “no regrets” about leaving office, Leo Varadkar resigned as Taoiseach on Monday night, clearing the way for new Fine Gael leader Simon Harris to succeed him today as Ireland’s 16th and, at 37, youngest ever taoiseach.
Dublin-Belfast train to take less than two hours: Journey times on the main Belfast to Dublin train are to be cut to under two hours following a multimillion-euro investment that aims to transform the cross-Border service.
Chinese trafficking victim not paid €28,000 award from WRC: It was because of a link with Xianqi, a village in China that has since been subsumed into Fuzhou International Airport, that Jinxiu Zheng ended up working in the Rose Palace Chinese restaurant and takeaway in Portlaoise, Co Laois.
Irish citizens should not be involved in work like training Libyan forces - Berry: Irish citizens should not be involved in the type of work that saw former Defence Forces soldiers training Libyan military forces, Independent TD Cathal Berry has said.
Check out today's Most Read stories
Join The Irish Times WhatsApp channel for breaking news straight to your phone.

World

Great American eclipse was, like, wooaahhh: It was just as promised. An exhibition from the heavens passed over a small patch of earth on the edge of Lake Erie and left everyone standing gazing up in hokey glasses, happily dumbfounded.

The Big Read

Extending licensing hours is a contentious issue. Will the move be a boost to dance culture and the night-time economy? Or will it help to further fuel all the problems associated with alcohol? Photograph: iStock

Should licensing laws be relaxed? Dr Sheila Gilheany and DJ Robbie Kitt debate: Under new legislation, nightclubs would stay open until 6am and pubs until 12.30am. While not everyone is in favour of extending hours, supporters say the move would be a boost to the night-time economy

Opinion

Fintan O’Toole: If Israel succeeds in Gaza, it will drag the West down with it
Ciaran Brennan: Ignore the scaremongering. The EU’s Nature Restoration Law can be a tool to empower farmers

Business

Harris’s 250,000-home pledge would need 375 new GPs and 1,250 hospital beds, ESRI says: One to two general practitioners (GPs) and five fully staffed hospital beds are required for every 1,000 new homes built in the Republic, according to research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

Sport

Michael Murphy: Low-energy Monaghan were waiting to be beaten in Clones: Since I’ve stopped playing, I like to get to Clones early, two hours before a match. Normally you park well out from the town and I’d enjoy the walk in but on Sunday I got the car way closer than I’d expect – on the Newtownbutler Road at the back of the Creighton.