Garda Headquarters said while Garda members “can generally retire after 30 years’ service to the State the majority continue providing that valuable service until compulsory retirement age”. The mandatory retirement age for those of garda, sergeant and inspector rank was previously 57 years, though that was increased to 60 years in 2004. It was extended again 18 months ago to 62 years, for all Garda members, under the An Garda Síochána Retirement Regulations 2024. New data from the Department of Justice reveals 112 Garda members have opted to remain in the force beyond the age of 60 years, since the mandatory retirement age was increased to 62 years in September 2024. “Long serving gardaí have a lot of experience and if they want to continue, we should keep them in the force.

Six Nations: Italy 23 England 18England suffered a historic first defeat to Italy with a 23-18 collapse at the Stadio Olimpico raising the grim prospect of falling to their worst Guinness Six Nations finish. The Azzurri found the killer touch when it mattered most, condemning England to a third consecutive mauling that intensifies the scrutiny on Steve Borthwick’s regime. Error-prone England continued to shoot themselves in the foot but with uncertainty also creeping into Italy’s game, they remained in the fight with Ben Earl and Roebuck influential. The conversion and two penalties nudged England 18-10 ahead and with Giacomo Nicotera sent to the sin-bin, the outlook was looking up for the visitors. With Itoje still off the field, Italy crafted a wonderful try down the left with Leonardo Marin crossing after Menoncello had marauded through the England defence and it was all over for Borthwick’s team.

BBC racing commentator John Hunt has opened up about his grief following the murder of his wife and two daughters. John Hunt is pictured with his wife Carol, who was killed alongside two of their two daughters'Ultimately, you have no control over how you’re feeling from one minute to the next. Clifford, 27, refused to attend court for his sentencing — a final act of cowardice after months of inflicting horror on the Hunt family. Together they have launched The Hunt Family Fund, created in honour of Carol, Hannah and Louise to support causes that help and inspire young women. The Hunt family say they will never stop fighting for the memories of the three women.

Leeds pub hailed as 'the best' shuts leaving regulars heartbroken'A huge thank you to everyone who has supported the venue'View Image The Station Hop, in Morley, has closed (Image: Facebook)Many punters have been left devastated following the closure of a popular community pub in Leeds. ‌The Station Hop, in Station Road, Morley has announced its closure. On Facebook, a statement reads: “Our time at The Station Hop has sadly come to an end. All the best to everyone who worked there.”Maria Popova said: “You were the best pub in Morley - we are all so gutted.”Article continues belowTo find out the latest food and drink news in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. Yorkshire Live has launched Explore Yorkshire, which will look at Yorkshire's unique identity and destinations and celebrate God's Own County for what it is - the best place in the world.

From Demi Moore to Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried, several actresses have shocked fans with the true pronunciation of their names. All the celebrity names you've been mispronouncing from Lindsay Lohan to Margot Robbie and Amanda Seyfried - how many did YOU get wrong? Amanda Seyfried (Amanda Sigh-Fred)Graham Norton shocked fans when he recently introduced The Housemaid star as 'Amanda Si-Fred' on his show last month. However even Amanda and her sister cannot agree on the same way to say it. The actress lamented people getting the pronunciation wrong and claimed that especially people in the UK fall short of getting it right.

Man Utd add shock £40m Premier League attacker to summer transfer shortlistManchester United will look to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window and AFC Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier is among the players who have caught their eyeView 2 Images Marcus Tavernier has emerged as a potential summer transfer target for Manchester United (Image: Stu Forster)Marcus Tavernier is among the potential players Manchester United may target this summer in their search for a new left winger, it has been claimed. ‌The Red Devils are light on out-and-out wide players with Ruben Amorim preferring to play with wing-backs. But with United improving significantly in a different shape after ditching Amorim's preferred back three system under Michael Carrick, the club are expected to recruit for a wide attacker in the summer. His form has also attracted interest from elsewhere in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest also admirers. I love doing what I'm doing.

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But it was the rampant Scots who produced one of their greatest-ever performances to blow Fabien Galthie’s team away. Wings Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn both scored doubles, while Pierre Schoeman, Ben White and substitute Tom Jordan also crossed. Scotland made the perfect start when Graham was fed by Finn Russell and darted through a gap to score on the right in the fifth minute. It was the first time France had found themselves behind on the scoreboard in this year’s championship. As it stood at that point Scotland were heading top of the table, but just as they looked to be coasting towards the ideal result, it all got a bit ragged for Townsend’s men.

The oil we consume may not have originated in the Gulf, but as a “fungible” commodity, oil and related refined products are interchangeable and so their prices are linked to global prices. Heating oil and petrol prices are not set by taking crude oil and adding a markup – they are traded in their own right and like any product, subject to supply and demand. Instead of this inane hand-wringing, people could advocate for increased energy storage facilities. Ireland is particularly deficient in natural gas storage and lacks an liquefied natural gas terminal. The usual shortsightedness and Nimby power has prevented Ireland reacting in the same way Germany did after the invasion of Ukraine when it boosted its energy supply options.

Millwall were far more assured thereafter and left East Yorkshire with three points courtesy of goals from Ivanovic and Coburn. The win put Derby within three points of the play-offs, with sixth-placed Wrexham in FA Cup action this weekend. The win put Derby within three points of the play-offs, with sixth-placed Wrexham in FA Cup action this weekend. Will Lankshear’s improvised 54th-minute finish gave Matt Bloomfield’s men a deserved lead and Ciaron Brown’s header seven minutes later sealed the points. In midtable, Zan Vipotnik’s 17th league goal of the season and a brilliant long-range effort from Liam Cullen proved enough as Swansea beat 10-man Stoke 2-0.

But the modern monastic cell, in which I recently found myself isolated, is part of a high-end therapeutic experience billed as 'The Ultimate Darkness Retreat'. But Dr Kapoor had raved about the benefits of the darkness retreat. Turning to yoga, meditation and cold-endurance sessions with Dutch wellness guru Wim Hof, the so-called 'Iceman', AJ also did a darkness retreat in Oregon, US. There, when we felt ready, we lifted the eye masks and the orange light, although subdued, felt almost aggressive. Since completing the retreat, I have come to understand that the real test is not surviving three days without light.

Germany’s southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg beats Sweden on population and the UK on gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Özdemir’s election slogan was “economy, economy, economy”, portraying his state’s fate as a precursor to the wider German picture. CDU frontman Hagel meanwhile has promised drastic reforms to stop the region around Stuttgart becoming “the Detroit of Europe”. Local companies contribute 16 per cent of German total exports, but yet years of flat growth have seen the state economy shrink faster than elsewhere. Özdemir, Germany’s last federal agriculture minister, is far more popular: 47 per cent – would choose him as minister president if it were a direct election.

Iran and Hizbullah fire drones and missiles at Israel, as Israeli bombing drives hundreds of thousands of Lebanese from their homes. Beirut’s southern suburbs “will soon look like [the flattened Gaza town] Khan Younis,” warns minister for finance Bezalel Smotrich. Christian Zionists, including Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, believe the Battle of Armageddon between Iran and Israel will precipitate the return of Christ. “The US stands with all the children throughout the world,” she said, around the time the Iranian schoolgirls were being buried. Trump has turned the world into a lawless jungle where he can attack or assassinate at will.

Here in Ireland, they’re best grown under cover in a glasshouse, polytunnel or sunny porch, where they’re guaranteed protection from wind, rain and cool temperatures. Instead, adopt the no-dig approach by blanketing beds with a 5cm-8cm mulch of garden compost or well-rotted manure. Plant seed potatoesAn Irish spring wouldn’t be the same without the ritual of planting seed potatoes into rich, dark, friable, weed-free soil, enriched with generous amounts of well-rotted manure. Raw Gardening: Working with Nature in Your Garden, by Vicky Ind of the Individual Plants Nursery, on behalf of the Irish Garden Plant Society, at 11.30am, followed by RHSI Live with Oliver Schurmann of Mount Venus Nursery at 2.30pm. With stalls from many of Ireland’s best independent plant nurseries and plant growers, see rhsi.ie.

Rory McIlroy has withdrawn ahead of the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Orlando. After a late rally in his second round, with four birdies on his back nine for a 68, McIlroy had trailed halfway leader Daniel Berger by nine shots.