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

• A total of four people have been killed on Irish roads this weekend, after a 69-year-old man was involved in a fatal road crash in Ballycullane in Wexford. Earlier today, Gardaí advised that a 39-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of a collision in Granard, Co Longford, while a 83-year-old man died in Fermoy in County Cork yesterday afternoon, and a  76-year-old man was killed in a crash at Rosslare Harbour on Saturday morning.
• The Minister for Health James Reilly has given the green light to the proposed Health Service Executive service plan for 2012, and says that it will be unveiled tomorrow. The plan lays out what the HSE’s €13 billion budget will be spent on over the next 12 months.
• A 44-year-old man who chased a number of children down a street while wielding a hatchet is to appear before a Derry court tomorrow. Police in Northern Ireland have charged the 44-year-old with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
• The Italian coastguard has confirmed that the bodies of two more people have been found aboard the Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off the Tuscan coast on Friday night, bring the death toll from the tragedy to five.
• A woman in Norfolk, England, was granted the right to blow up the former factory where her father was killed in a work accident. Sarah Griffiths lost her father in 1995 after he died from a severe scalding accident at the former Campbell’s Soup Tower in Norfolk. She told reporters she was pleased to be “given the chance of closure” as the building had served as a constant reminder of her father’s passing.
• Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Romania to protest against austerity measures. Nine people have been injured in the demonstrations so, which have entered their third consecutive day.
• “The double-jobbing teacher”, “the leaflet pusher” – student guidance counsellor Pamela O’Leary has heard all the stereotypes about her profession but writes in TheJournal.ie today why cuts to the service will hurt vulnerable children most.
• The British Foreign Secretary says he believes the EU will agree on tough new sanctions against Tehran’s oil sector later this month.
• Pinterest is the next big social network apparently – but what exactly is it? We take a look at what all the fuss is about…

A skier makes his way in Kuehtai, Austrian province of Tyrol , Sunday, 15 January, 2012. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

• UCC members of Young Fine Gael are to debate a motion next week which, if passed, would make Margaret Thatcher an honorary life member of the branch. The debate, taking place next Wednesday, has proven controversial both on and off campus.
• It’s nicknamed the Big Day for a reason… but is that reason the bill? For Irish couples getting hitched, it apparently is: check out the price of an average Irish wedding.
• Dublin-based runner Ava Hutchinson is London-bound, having booked her place in the Irish Olympic team with a confident performance at the Houston Marathon.
• Did they really say that? Yes. Yes they did. From ethics to e-voting, check out The Week in Quotes…
• Watch: As critics hail contemporary silent film The Artist, TheJournal.ie takes a look back at Ireland’s silent films…
• Get yourself a comfortable chair to peruse our selection of the best writing from around the globe this week, with Sitdown Sunday: 7 deadly reads…

Ever wondered what happens in a bookshop at night?

Uploaded by crazedadman

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