WHAT’S THE STORY?

1. President Michael D Higgins has begun his State Visit to the UK, honoured with a spectacular ceremony hosted by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. So spectacular, there were 275 horses and an Irish wolfhound named Domhnall involved.

He also had a quick chat with their, the Prince of Wales.

2. There has been a major victory at a European court today for Irish online rights groups as the EU declares rules which direct operators to keep details about people’s mobile habits are an invasion of privacy.

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3. Oscar Pistorius has given evidence about the moment he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year. An emotional testimony, he said he wanted to protect Reeva from what he perceived to be a burglar or burglars in his house.

But, first, he gave details about the beginning of their relationship.

4. A post-mortem is to be carried out on the body of Peaches Geldof in the coming days. Today, President Michael D Higgins issued a statement of sympathy to Bob Geldof and family. The pair were due to meet this week as part of the State Visit.

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5. A major anti-racism awareness campaign launched this morning. Today, we read about an Irish citizen who hears the terms “You f**king n*igger” and “You black bastard” too often. TheJournal.ie also reported how another Irish citizen was beaten up in his own driveway last weekend, in a racist attack following three weeks of racial abuse.

6. Football fans will have to wait more than a year to see the planned match between Ireland and England’s senior men’s sides. The FAI announced today the fixture will be held in June 2015, twenty years since the infamous Lansdowne Road Riot.

Catch up on the rest of today’s stories>