Here's everything you need to know from the world of news and sport this weekend.
Armed stand off in Tallaght ends without injury
An armed standoff between a man and gardaí in the Kiltipper area of Tallaght in Dublin ended Sunday afternoon, without any injuries.
Following ongoing contact by garda negotiators the man left the house unarmed and was taken into custody.
During the incident, a number of shots were fired at gardaí.
It is understood the man, aged in his 40s and believed to be armed, barricaded himself into a house in the Deerpark Manor housing estate at around 2.30am this morning.
Leinster and Munster lose in the rugby
Another weekend of Champions Cup action finally confirmed the inevitable for Munster and Leinster, while Ulster's European adventure lives to fight for another day.
Those matches finished:
Leinster 16-20 Toulon
Leicester Tigers 17-6 Munster
Toulouse 23-25 Ulster
Leinster managed to salvage some pride and a nugatory losing bonus point from their match against Toulon, while Munster will join their Eastern neighbours in the alien territory of watching the latter stages of European rugby's premier competition from home after they failed in their efforts to overturn Leicester at Welford Rd.
Liverpool outclassed by Watford
Liverpool were well and truly beaten Sunday when they were outclassed by a brilliant Watford.
Even Harry the Hornet celebrated the third goal à la Odion Ighalo as Jurgen Klopp helplessly watched his team play themselves into trouble over and over again.
His side's defending was more comical than it was competent, as a howler from Adam Bogdan gifted the opener to Nathan Ake with the game less than three minutes old.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Image: Matt Dunham / AP/Press Association Images
Dismay as Halawa trial postponed again
The trial of Ibrahim Halawa in Egypt was postponed for the eleventh time over the weekend.
The Dubliner's case has been repeatedly delayed since his arrest two-and-a-half years ago.
The case will be heard again on January 9th.
Ibrahim - who turned 20 last weekend - was just 17 when he was detained for allegedly shooting at police during an anti-government protest in Cairo in the summer of 2013.
Egyptian law means he is part of a mass trial which can not proceed until all 494 defendants are present in court - something which has not happened yet.
A European Parliament resolution calling for Ibrahim's release has been rejected by Egypt's Foreign Ministry.
Andy Lee's title fight loss to Billy Joe Saunders
Irish boxer Andy Lee lost out to Billy Joe Saunders on a disappointing night.
Lee recovered well from his third round knock down to make a fight of it and "he deserved credit for it".
But journalist Sean McGoldrick told Off the Ball that Lee Saunders was the deserved winner and that Lee never really troubled him.
