Will the Ballsbridge Five ever be freed? Will it take hell to freeze over before they can emerge into the light, arms raised aloft in victory? Right now, the omens are not good for the Ballsbridge Five. The stakes are high, their resolve assured, but, really, the world appears to be spinning away, increasingly oblivious to whatever cause the captives are espousing.

The 31 houses in Botanika, built in 2017, are each in the €1m+ price league. The first detached for resale is the immaculate, interior-designed family home No 3, on the market this weekend for €1.5m, up 80% on the €840,000 its owners paid. Restrained design is by Hogan Architecture, who also did upmarket Cork schemes, like Court Cairn, Lindville, and The Paddocks. VERDICT: No 3 is going to set a price record for Botanika, at, or over, its €1.5m AMV. Might something even more upmarket be in the wings for the Blackrock Rd’s Feltrim, sold near to Botanika, on three acres for €6m?

Colin Kennedy of DPD Ireland. DPD announces €5m investment in new serviceAthlone-headquartered DPD Ireland has announced a €5 million investment in its new dedicated Out of Home delivery service ‘PickUp’, becoming the first parcel delivery company in Ireland to offer this service. Colin Kennedy, Chief Innovation Officer at DPD Ireland and Managing Director of ‘PickUp’, commented: “This is a landmark moment for DPD Ireland as we celebrate forty years in business. We are proud to celebrate this innovation, which reinforces our long-term commitment to sustainability and progress.”DPD Ireland’s new Out of Home ‘PickUp’ service will roll out in stages throughout 2026, with an expected 800 locations in situ by 2028. DPD Ireland reported revenue of €24 million in 2025, and delivered 42 million parcels throughout their 37 depots nationwide.

Major Australian retailer Kmart has been roasted online following a huge clanger involving the Matildas ahead of the Asian Cup - and Simon Hill, the former 'voice of Australia Football', believes it could have been a deliberate act. Others bemused Matildas fans were quick to poke fun at Kmart, who have over 300 retail stores across Australia. The Matildas have only won the Asian Cup once - in 2010 - but many locals feel they are certainties to hoist the silverware in the March 21 final. As anticipation builds towards the start of the Asian Cup, three Matildas superfans met their heroes this week. All the Matildas' Asian Cup matches will be broadcast live on Network 10, while every tournament game can be streamed on Paramount+.

Ian Huntley has just '5% chance of survival' after head 'split' in HMP Frankland attackThe child killer was attacked in prison on ThursdayView 3 Images Ian Huntley was serving a life sentence for the murder of two school girls in Soham (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)Soham killer Ian Huntley was given a 5% chance of survival after a fellow inmate beat him with a metal pole in a prison workshop attack. ‌The child killer was in an induced coma today as he continues to fight for his life following the attack at HMP Frankland on Thursday morning. ‌Huntley was given just a five per cent chance of survival after being struck in the head with a metal pole while in prison. ‌Huntley is reported to have had his head split open after being hit across the head with a three-foot spiked metal pole in the workshop of HMP Frankland at 9am on Thursday. ‌“And medics said there was only a five per cent chance of survival after an attack like that.

The Wanted singer Max George says heart condition has been ‘a blessing in ways’By Carla Feric, Press Association Entertainment ReporterSinger Max George has said his heart condition has been “a blessing in ways”, as he discussed the importance of charity work and raising awareness as part of his recovery. He is now backing a new campaign by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to raise awareness of people living with heart conditions. Max George revealed he had a heart condition in 2024. Photo by Joe GiddensIn an interview with the Press Association, George reflected on how he finds it “really rewarding” to speak to people about his condition. Photo by Yui MokAs part of the BHF campaign, George will speak with people who have heart conditions and they will swap stories about their experiences.

Guests ended up running away in fear after he brandished his blade and said he was going to hurt people. Rachel Butt, prosecuting, said: "She said her head had been stamped on and her arm cut with a knife. ‌Shortly after attacking her, Regan went to the woman's home, where her daughter was having an 18th birthday party. The court heard footage shows frightened guests running away, with Regan following them, still in possession of the knife. Miss Mellor added that Regan had run a half marathon while in custody in the gym to raise money for a charity.

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No “just five minutes.”Molly and Emily were big fans of Grove Cottages (Image: Jade Wright)We brought Molly and Emily, our ever-enthusiastic dogs, along for the adventure. Accessible only on foot, Grove Barn Café feels like a reward rather than a convenience. Grove Barn Cafe (Image: Jade Wright)Evenings without blue lightBack at the cottage, muddy boots lined up beside well-used dog leads. null (Image: Jade Wright)One night, we stepped outside as the sky turned violet above the valley. The view from our room at the cottage (Image: Jade Wright)The luxury of lessThere is real luxury here: beautifully finished interiors, thoughtful touches, panoramic views from every angle.

A truck driver’s cab “disintegrated” on impact with a wall when the driver was forced to swerve to avoid impact with a car in its path, a Co Limerick court has heard. Reddy said part of the accused’s car was sheered off in the impact, which the accused’s barrister, senior counsel, Nicholas, described as being like “cutting through cheese”. The accused’s driver’s cockpit remained intact, and the car’s electrical systems were completely destroyed. Gda Sgt Kevin Bourke, a garda forensic collision investigator, who also examined the scene, described the damage to Birznieks cab as “catastrophic”. Bourke said the truck driver’s cab was “peeled off” in the crash, leaving the steering wheel and engine “exposed”.

Cork have some injury issues this week, with several players unavailable for Sunday's trip to Kilkenny. That’s not necessarily bad news for Ben O’Connor, as he can see how some new faces manage in a challenging environment, but other questions may be more pressing. Already a subscriber? Sign in Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner. Annual €130€80 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month

Murdered James Bulger's mother is heartbroken after his grave was desecrated by vandals. Sharing a photograph showing the damage on social media, devastated Denise wrote: 'Today I felt my heart break once again. We rushed down there to find the cherubs each side of his headstone had been smashed to pieces. James had been with his mother at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside when he was led away by Thompson and Venables, the moment captured in chilling CCTV footage. Thompson and Venables were found guilty of abduction and murder in November 1993, making them the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history.

Each of them says more or less the same thing: Trump’s approval ratings on a wide range of issues are on a steady downward trajectory. In February 2018, for example, Trump’s approval rating likewise lurched between 36% and 40%. Donald Trump took a substantial hit to his term recently as the Supreme Court rebuked his planned tariffs. More than anything else, the stacking of the court with right-wing ideologues animates and delights Trump’s base. Trump’s hardcore Maga base may stay home in the mid-terms — which have a traditionally low turnout — but they’re unlikely to vote Democrat under any circumstance.

Both my daughter Laura and son-in-law Ryan hugged me after we sat and watched it together in the Lighthouse Cinema. Even at Christmas time, when Santa visited our local cinema, we were forbidden from going there. She was a beautiful actress who was a fixture on the local theatre circuit. It was much later in life that I had the opportunity to pursue screen work through the film Somebody which was directed by Dave Byrne. This is a woman whose life is turned on its head after her husband drops dead, leaving a trail of debt behind him.

Martin Compston has revealed his wife, Tianna, has put him on 'no sugar' diet so he can fit into his trademark waistcoats for the seventh series of Line of Duty. In a bid to lose weight for the new series Martin is only eating organic foods and has cut sugar from his diet, according to The Times. The seventh series of Line Of Duty will pick up where it left off, with the AC-12 trio trying to track down the elusive 'H', according to reports. In a statement announcing the seventh series, writer Jed said: 'Everyone involved in Line of Duty feels enormous gratitude to the show's fans. Trigger Point star Vicky added: 'It goes without saying I'm so excited Line of Duty is back!