The week in photos

Some of the week’s biggest stories in pictures.

THIS WEEK THE Government finally unveiled the austere Budget 2011, with many commentators criticising the hits taken by vulnerable members of society; we discovered that AIB senior bankers would be getting an early present of €40m in bonuses relating to 2008; and WikiLeaks continued to dominate the internet world – while in the real world, its founder Julian Assange was arrested.

The week in photos

Previous 1 / 10Next

Budget 2011
The Government unveiled Budget 2011 on Tuesday, finding €6bn in cuts and taxation on the public. Its critics said that it punished the more vulnerable in society - blind people, widows, low-earners, carers, social welfare recipients.Source: Hikingartist.com via Flickr
Assange arrested
A terracotta statuette of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is placed in a craft shop window display in Italy. This week saw the WikiLeaks cable controversy continue - and Assange himself arrested as Sweden seeks his extradition over claims of sexual assault.
The Santa Clause
A number of senior AIB bankers will be getting a total of €40m in a bonus before Christmas. AIB say they were "legally obliged" to pay the bonuses because they relate to the year 2008, before the ban on bankers' bonuses was applied.Source: State Library of Florida via Flickr
The students are revolting
Students protest in Parliament Square London against planned tuition fees increases
Sorry. Really.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen got in touch with his emotions in an interview with ace interviewer Sean O'Rourke on RTE's News at One, saying he was "extremely sorry we're in this situation.
Coronation Treat
Corrie fans will know that this lady is Hilda Ogden, a favourite character from the soap opera that was 50 years on air this week. Some Manchester viewers of the tram crash that was the setpiece of the week's storyline believed the incident had really happened and rang Metrolink to ask if there was disruption to tram services.
Europe's worst Finance Minister?
The Financial Times named Brian Lenihan as the worst finance minister in Europe for the second year in a row.
See-Thaw
A thaw began to set into Ireland's chilly weather - but as the snow began to melt, black ice played havoc with the roads and made footpaths treacherous.
Concorde conclusion
US airline Continental was found criminally responsible for the fatal crash in 2000 of an Air France Concorde which killed 113 people. A strip of titanium fell from a Continental plane onto the runway and punctured a tyre in the Concorde.
Gerry Ryan RIP
Source: An inquest into the death of RTE broadcaster Gerry Ryan found that he had traces of cocaine in his system when he died and it most likely was a contributing factor to his demise.