EVERY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you a roundup of the day’s main news – plus any bits and pieces you may have missed.

In the race for the Áras…

• As the presidential race enters its final week, TheJournal.ie has been speaking to each of the presidential candidates for our Quickfire Quiz series of video interviews, released today. Their answers were revealing – and you can watch all the clips here.
• A tape has emerged of the controversial David Norris interview in which he expressed his views about paedophilia. It was played on RTÉ’s Liveline this afternoon – we’ve got a transcript here – and has been branded a “smear” by the Norris campaign.
• Martin McGuinness has condemned comments made 26 years ago in which he appeared to justify the killing of armed gardaí “in certain circumstances”. He said he did not recall the comments, but was “totally and utterly opposed” to any such action.
• Today, the presidential candidates have been answering the question: “What has been Ireland’s greatest contribution to the world?” Here’s what they said…
• And finally, the race is already over for bookies Boylesports – who’ve decided to pay out early on Michael D Higgins as they are convinced he “has it in the bag”.

In the day’s other news…

• The body of Muammar Gaddafi is currently being kept in a commercial freezer at a shopping centre, with crowds outside jostling to see it.
• As the world continues to react to Gaddafi’s killing yesterday, we’ve been looking at new video of the moments after his capture; examining his on-off relationship with Western leaders; and asking: Were the media right to splash his corpse on the front pages?
• A 67-year-old woman has been hospitalised after she was mugged in Dublin city centre on Wednesday. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.

Sophie the giraffe is fed by keeper Ailsa West after having a hoof pedicure at a safari park in Stirling, Scotland (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

• The second plane in two days has been diverted after a “strange smell” was noticed on board in mid-flight. Three staff on the flight from Frankfurt to Madrid were hospitalised as a precaution.
• Missing Cork teenager Isabel Tache has been found safe and well after going missing almost two weeks ago.
• Are your taps working tonight? There are significant disruptions in north Dublin – again – after a major water main burst in Swords. The council has said supplies should be back by 11pm tomorrow.
• No talks with Basque terror group ETA will be entered into after its historic announcement that it would lay down arms yesterday, the Spanish government has said.
• Rupert Murdoch’s News International media company has agreed to make a £2million payout to the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, after it emerged that News of the World reporters had hacked the 13-year-old’s phone.
• Is the recession turning us into a nation of worriers? That’s the question we asked therapist Eoin Stephens – who says money worries are affecting everything from our health to our marriages.
• If you notice anything strange in the sky this evening, don’t worry – it’s not the latest presidential publicity stunt. A meteor shower is due to pass over Ireland between tonight and tomorrow morning.
• And finally… It’s Friday night, and some of you may be thinking of picking up a bottle of wine or two for the weekend. Well, if you are, please don’t do this:

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More