1. Maurice McCabe to sue Tusla over sex abuse file
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is facing legal action after it emerged it sent a file containing false allegations of child sex abuse against a Garda whistleblower to An Garda Síochána.
Sgt Maurice McCabe, whose treatment by Garda management is being investigated by a commission of inquiry, is to take legal action against Tusla and has sought a full apology.
A Tusla spokeswoman declined to comment on individual cases but it is understood to be willing to offer Sgt McCabe an apology.
2. Sarah Keane elected as Olympic Council of Ireland president
Sarah Keane is the new president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), succeeding Pat Hickey who had owned the position largely unchallenged since 1989.
The result sounded like a last farewell to the status quo and a five-finger salute to the old guard, Keane winning by a large majority, winning 29 of the 43 votes available on the night. A resounding mandate if there ever was one.
An existing member of the OCI for the last two years and currently chief executive of Swim Ireland, Keane comfortably won the three-way vote at a packed EGM at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin, clearly out-voted the two other candidates for the position, acting OCI president Willie O'Brien and Basketball Ireland chief executive Bernard O'Byrne.
[ 3. US court upholds suspension of Trump’s Muslim travel banOpens in new window ]
US president Donald Trump’s ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries into the US received a major setback on Thursday, after a federal appeals court unanimously upheld the temporary suspension of the order.
In a unanimous ruling, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a case taken by the states of Washington and Minnesota questioning the legality of Mr Trump's controversial order.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling to the US supreme court.
4. Cannabis should be used to treat some conditions, report says
Cannabis should be made available to treat a limited number of medical conditions, despite the lack of evidence for its effectiveness and safety, a Government-commissioned review has recommended.
Minister for Health Simon Harris will on Friday publish the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) report on cannabis for medical use.
He will also announce plans for “a compassionate access programme for cannabis-based treatments”.
5. Ballaghaderreen builds 'welcome wall' for Syrian refugees
The people of Ballaghaderreen are building a “welcome wall” in advance of the arrival of over 80 Syrian refugees to the Co Roscommon town early next month.
They hope the wall will serve as a salve to the anti-immigrant sentiment associated with US president Donald Trump's promise to build a wall between along his country's border with Mexico.
The five-panel art installation will be on display in a local supermarket in the town on Saturday, when hundreds of locals are expected to drop in and write welcome messages for the Syrian families.