Padraig Conlon

Sinn Féin TD John Brady has renewed calls for greater scrutiny of public spending following reports that €660,000 of public money was spent by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on the restoration of a wall in Marlay Park. The Wicklow TD, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said the latest controversy highlighted the need to strengthen the powers of both the committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) to improve oversight of how taxpayers’ money is spent.

By Isabel Hayes and Sonya McLean A woman who was badly beaten by her partner has described him as “a monster” and said she feels “lucky to be alive”. Lee Byrne (28) of Termon Court, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11,  pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to the woman at his home on October 25, 2025. He has 82 previous convictions including offences of robbery, burglary, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and criminal damage.