Ayoola Atitebi

President Michael D Higgins has led Irish tributes to Pope Francis, praising the pontiff's "warmth" and "unique humility" following the Vatican's announcement of his death this morning. President Higgins stated that Pope Francis "sought to show in the most striking and moving of ways, the extraordinary importance of the spiritual" as a source of global ethics. He highlighted the Pope's "consistent invocation of a shared humanity" and advocacy on "vital issues" including global hunger, poverty, climate change and justice—topics they discussed across five meetings during Francis' papacy. "During his visit to Ireland, Pope Francis spoke of the scandal of child abuse, including in the Church, and its consequences for victims and families. On such matters, and on others such as attitudes towards women and those of the LGBTQ+ community within the Church, Pope Francis sought to play a positive role," […]

Newly qualified teachers may soon become eligible for permanent contracts after just one year in a post, according to a new measure announced by the Minister for Education. Helen McEntee unveiled the policy change as hundreds of teachers prepare to attend their annual trade union conferences, with the INTO Congress beginning in Galway. "I am determined to address job security and make teaching a more attractive, sustainable career," McEntee stated. "Allowing newly qualified teachers who are starting in September to gain a permanent contract a year earlier will help teachers to place their careers on a more stable footing much sooner than before. This will provide teachers with the certainty that they need, particularly when applying for mortgages." Job insecurity remains a significant concern for younger teachers, especially at post-primary level. Many report difficulties finding secure full-time positions despite widespread […]

A male inmate at Midlands Prison in County Laois has died from what authorities believe to be a drug overdose. The prisoner, reported to be in his thirties, was found deceased earlier today according to official sources. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) confirmed the death in a statement, noting that standard procedures for investigating deaths in custody will be followed. "As with all death in custody, the Irish Prison Service, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána investigate where circumstances warrant," the IPS statement indicated. The prison service further clarified that the official cause of death will ultimately be determined by the Coroner's Office following their examination. Midlands Prison, where the incident occurred, is a closed, medium-security facility designed to house adult male offenders. The institution has the capacity to accommodate up to 870 inmates. No […]

At least two people, including a 12-year-old boy, have died in Oklahoma after their vehicle was trapped in floodwaters, as severe weather impacted the South and Midwest during Easter weekend. Flood warnings were active across Oklahoma, with the National Weather Service forecasting severe thunderstorms from east Texas into southeast Iowa and Illinois on Sunday. The agency also warned of potential strong tornadoes and damaging winds from central Arkansas into central Missouri. Police in Moore, Oklahoma, located about 18km (11 miles) south of Oklahoma City, described the situation as "a historical weather event that impacted roads and caused dozens of high-water incidents." In a statement Sunday, Moore police explained that one vehicle "left the roadway and was swept under the bridge. At the time of the incident, all but two occupants were rescued. It is with great sadness that we report […]

A 58-year-old Catholic priest from Donegal faced court proceedings after being charged with attempted sexual communication with a child. Fr Edward Gallagher, residing at Orchard Park in Lifford, appeared before Derry Magistrates' Court via video link following his arrest on Thursday. The arrest occurred outside a hotel in Derry. During the special sitting, which took place in Dungannon, Fr Gallagher confirmed he understood the charge against him. The charge alleges attempted sexual communication with a child between April 2 and April 17. A Police Service of Northern Ireland officer testified that they could connect Fr Gallagher to the charge presented to the court. The priest's legal representative applied for legal aid during the proceedings, explaining that while his client had previously received "a modest stipend," those financial arrangements would likely "cease" due to "the circumstances of this case." No application […]

US aid funding cuts have severely impacted Irish aid agencies working in developing countries, according to documents obtained by RTÉ News through Freedom of Information requests. The documents reveal significant uncertainty among Irish non-governmental organizations following President Donald Trump's executive order freezing and terminating foreign aid funding. As the Trump administration's review of US foreign aid concludes this weekend, Irish agencies are already dealing with job losses, suspended overseas programs, and operational uncertainty. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), previously one of the world's largest foreign aid donors, was effectively dismantled by the Trump administration in January. Emails and briefing notes show the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) maintained contact with Ireland's aid agencies as tens of millions in funding essentially disappeared. Hundreds of redundancies have occurred across Irish aid organizations, with development projects in countries including Sierra […]

The US Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to halt deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members who are being detained in North Texas under an 18th-century wartime statute. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against the government, arguing that the detainees haven't been given opportunities to challenge their cases in court. President Trump has deported accused Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador's notorious mega-jail by invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. This law grants the president authority to detain and deport citizens of "enemy" nations without typical legal processes. Historically, the act had only been utilized three times during wartime periods, with its last application during World War II when Japanese descendants were imprisoned without trial, and many sent to internment camps. Trump's aggressive immigration policies have faced several legal challenges since he took office in […]

A US senator has met with Kilmar Ábrego García, a man who Trump administration officials acknowledge was erroneously deported from Maryland to El Salvador's maximum-security prison. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen shared photos of the meeting, which appeared to take place in a hotel, as the administration continues fighting against Ábrego García's return despite Thursday's court ruling against the government. Following the encounter, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele stated the detainee would remain in the country's custody. The White House has accused Ábrego García of MS-13 gang membership, a designated foreign terrorist organization—allegations his lawyer denies. Trump responded on Truth Social, saying Van Hollen "looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone." The visit occurs amid an intensifying conflict between the president and the courts. On Thursday, the 4th […]