Sister of missing schoolgirl claims gardaí have protected her killer for almost 40 years

The twin sister of the youngest ever missing person in Ireland claims political interference has prevented her sister's killer from being brought to justice.

Ann Doherty, the twin sister of missing schoolgirl Mary Boyle, is meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Dublin today.

6-year-old Mary vanished on her grandparent's farm in Cashelard near Ballyshannon in Co Donegal on March 18th, 1977.

In a statement, Ms Doherty says she believes Mary was murdered by somebody known to her because she was going to reveal a terrible secret.

"The qualification of the Irish is a godsend" - A German magazine reacts to Ireland's Euro 2016 progression

A German magazine has said the qualification of Ireland for Euro 2016 is "a stroke of fortune" in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks last week.

Alex Raack has written an article for German football magazine 11Freunde about how the Irish fans will light up France next year. The article has been translated by Póg Mo Gol and can be read in full here.

Raack feels that the Irish fans will bring a sense of joy to France and its people that has been missing in the past week. "The Boys in Green can celebrate like no other nation, always peaceful, always sympathetic and emphatic, with an infectious, childlike joy."

Man convicted of Veronica Guerin's murder seeks to have it declared miscarriage of justice

Lawyers for the State insist Brian Meehan's lawyers were given access to all the evidence gathered ahead of his trial for the murder of Veronica Guerin.

The 48-year-old, who is from Crumlin in Dublin, is trying to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice.

During Meehan's trial, Marian Finnegan was able to place Russell Warren on the steps of Naas Courthouse on June 26th 1996 - the day Veronica Guerin was shot dead.

Her evidence corroborated Mr Warren's testimony that he was sent there to monitor the journalist's movements.

Robbie Keane nominated for the Goal of the Year in MLS

Robbie Keane is among the 16 contenders looking to be crowned the winner in the Major League Soccer Goal of the Year competition.

Keane scored 20 goals last season for the Californian side, but it was a stunning strike against Portland Timbers back in October that has seen the Irish captain reach the shortlist.

"Ireland is prepared" - Irish Defence Forces says it's ready for any potential terror attack

Ireland is ready for any terror strike which may come our way.

That is according to the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO), which represents the interests of commissioned officers in the Defence Forces.

Commandant Earnán Naughton is the general-secretary of RACO.

"If your question that you're putting to me is 'are we in a ready state', of course we are" he told Newstalk.com.