NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a roundup of today’s news.

IRELAND

Pictured on South Great George's Street in Dublin is a mural of Sináad O'Connor by artist Emmalene Blake. Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

• The State was successful in pursuing the oldest murder prosecution in Irish history with a jury finding a 74-year-old sex offender guilty of murdering vulnerable Cork woman Nora Sheehan 42 years ago.
• It’s set to be a wet and windy start to the Bank Holiday weekend, with a named storm forecast to hit Ireland tonight.
• The number of dogs being euthanised in pounds has doubled in a year, according to Dogs Trust.
• The government would be interested in purchasing Conor Pass in Co Kerry but not for €10 million, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
• Elsewhere, Varadkar said the government retains full confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and that will not change if rank-and-file gardaí pass a vote of no confidence in him.
• A man in his 30s died after he was struck by a car in Lisbunny, near Nenagh, Co Tipperary this morning.
• Only seven women have been inducted into the Defence Forces since the beginning of 2023.
• Ryanair said there could be “mass cancellations” at Dublin Airport due to orders from Fingal County Council to reduce the number of late-night flights.
• Meanwhile, two planes bound for Dublin Airport were diverted to Belfast today as flight operations were briefly halted following a drone sighting.

INTERNATIONAL

A member of the Slovenian army peers out of a helicopter during rescue efforts. Slovenian Army Twitter Slovenian Army Twitter

#NAVALNY A Russian court convicted imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny of extremism changes and sentenced him to 19 years in prison.

#SLOVENIA Three people have died after floods and landslides caused by heavy rains cut off access to villages and disrupted traffic in northeastern and central Slovenia today.

#NIGER West African military chiefs agreed a plan for a possible intervention in Niger, as a deadline nears for the country’s junta to restore civilian rule.

#RUSSIA Ukrainian sea drones attacked a major Russian port on the Black Sea, damaging a naval ship, according to a Ukrainian official.

#CLIMATE CHANGE The world’s oceans set a new temperature record this week, raising concerns about knock-on effects on the planet’s climate, marine life and coastal communities.

#TATES A Romanian court lifted a house arrest order on controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, who will now be placed under judicial control as they await trial on human trafficking charges.

PARTING SHOT

James McClean in a Wrexham kit after signing for the club. Wrexham AFC Wrexham AFC

James McClean will be hoping It’s Always Sunny in Wrexham after making the switch to the Welsh side that gained promotion to League Two last term. 

Wrexham have enjoyed new-found fame after being bought by Hollywood and TV stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. 

34-year-old McClean was named Wigan Athletic’s player of the year in the Championship last season and won his 100th cap for Ireland during the last international window in June.

“The club has ambitions to go even further, and I’m a very ambitious person. I’m someone who is driven and I want to be a part of that journey,” said McClean after sealing the deal.