Taoiseach satisfied over £30,000 donation to Burke

Saturday/Sunday

The Sinn Fein President, Mr Gerry Adams, reacted angrily to newspaper reports that the IRA ceasefire would be reviewed after four months. In spite of hopes raised by the new ceasefire, unionist reservations over decommissioning were increased, threatening all-party negotiations on the future of Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he was satisfied with the circumstances surrounding the donation of £30,000 by a building firm to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, during the 1989 general election campaign. He said he "went to extraordinary lengths" to find out about the payment before appointing Mr Burke to Cabinet.

One of the most serious fish kills of recent years left 100,000 salmon and trout dead after pig slurry leaked into tributaries of the River Lee in Co Cork.

Singer Sinead O'Connor backed by The Screaming Orphans proved to be the musical highlight during the second weekend of Galway Arts Festival.

Monday

The priest and paedophile Brendan Smyth showed no remorse for the 20 victims whose lives he shattered over 36 years, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told. Twelve of his victims gave evidence at a sentencing hearing after he pleaded guilty to 74 charges of indecent and sexual assault. During closing submissions at the Dunnes payments tribunal, Mr Denis McCullough SC, for the tribunal, said former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, had lied three times. He disputed Mr Haughey's contention that he did not have a lavish lifestyle.

Six people died after a car with five occupants ploughed into a truck near Drogheda, Co Louth. The accident left 10 children fatherless. The car was earlier reported to be speeding.

Tuesday

The Third World relief agency, Goal, accused the Department of Foreign Affairs of pursuing a vendetta against it. The Department suspended funding of new projects following a dispute concerning the accounts submitted by the agency. The move coincided with an investigation last month by the EU's fraud unit into Goal's use of funds.

Arranmore and Tory Islands off Donegal coast were allocated their first Garda officer. Garda authorities denied it was a response to the perception that the areas were officialdom-free zones with liberal attitudes to pub drinking hours.

Alleged fraudulent use of customer accounts in a Bank of Ireland branch in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, over a three-year period generated up to £1 million for a bank official, according to claims made in the High Court. The bank assured customers that they would not lose out.

Wednesday

The GAA said it would appeal food hygiene fines totalling £13,000 for filthy catering facilities at Croke Park during a Leinster final in 1996. A District Court Judge said the association had shown "complete disregard" for its patrons, thousands of whom could have been poisoned by contaminated food.

Three Christian Brothers and a former member of the order were remanded on bail at Galway District Court when they appeared on 51 indecent and common assault charges. The alleged offences related to St Joseph's Industrial School, Salthill, over a 32-year period up to 1991.

As the pound hit new lows against sterling, the Department of Finance warned that decline of the Irish currency may push up inflation in the months ahead. The pound fell to its lowest level (87.5p) against the British currency in more than seven years. In its annual review, however, the Department said that strong growth in the Irish economy is to continue.

Thursday

The triple murderer Brendan O'Donnell died suddenly. The 23year-old killer of artist Imelda Riney, her three-year-old son Liam and Father Joe Walsh in 1994 was found dead in his room at Dublin's Central Mental Hospital. The Department of Justice said his death was apparently due to natural causes as there was no obvious signs of suicide. He had been admitted to St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, earlier in the week after cutting his arms.

The Revenue Commissioners said they will act on tax information that has emerged from the Dunnes tribunal. The commitment was made by the Revenue's chairman, Mr Catal Mac Domnaill, after the publication of the Revenue's annual report. It showed record tax receipts of £12,093 million, £1.2 billion higher than in 1995 - the PAYE sector accounted for 25 per cent of returns. The report lists 230 tax settlements amounting to around £10 million including penalties and interest.