Storm Rachel recovery continues

Eircom crews will resume working to restore service to customers following high winds and rain caused by Storm Rachel.

An estimated 10,000 fixed line and broadband customers were without service yesterday.

Rural and exposed parts of the North West, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Kerry were among the worst affected areas.

Dublin Airport says a normal flight schedule will operate today after 38 flights were cancelled yesterday due to high winds.

Belgium anti-terror raids

Belgian police killed two men in an anti-terror raid this evening. The raid was part of a series of actions across the country that authorities say stopped a major and imminent terrorist attack.

Coming so soon after the attacks in Paris this is sure to reignite the debate about Islamist fundamentalists and what steps need to bet taken to ensure Europe’s safety.

Sentencing in major social welfare fraud case

A father of four who used false IDs to fradulently claim almost half a million euro in social welfare payments over a 12 year period, is to be sentenced today.

David Church of Parnell Street in Dublin city centre and formerly Monadreen, Thurles, Co Tipperary, faced 199 charges of unlawfully claiming Jobseekers' Allowance and Rent Allowance at various post offices around Dublin between September 2002 and July 2013.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts representing all the offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Mr Church stole over 478 thousand, or an average of 40 thousand euro a year over the period of offending.

The fraud came to light after the Department of Social Protection used facial recognition software to establish that the same photo was being used on a number of social welfare identities.