Saturday/Sunday
THE Society of St Vincent de Paul said it was taking advice on steps to recover £185,000 it had invested through the missing broker Mr Tony Taylor. At least £1.5 million, and possibly as much as £5 million, of investors' money is unaccounted for.
A fleet of up to 30 Japanese tuna ships were on the 200 mile Irish territorial limit, as one vessel, with five dead crew on board, headed for Cork. The crewmen died when freon gas, used for refrigeration, leaked.
A 30 year old prisoner was found hanged in his cell in Portlaoise Prison.
The Irish diplomat, Mr Erskine Childers (68), son of the late president, died after a heart attack at a conference in Luxembourg.
Irish comedian Dylan Moran (24), from Navan, Co Meath, won the Perrier prize at the Edinburgh fringe festival, the major stand up comedy award in the business. The "Baby Perrier Award", for the best first timer, went to Tommy Tiernan (27), also from Navan.
A Belgian police inspector was arrested as part of the investigation into the kidnapping and sexual abuse of children allegedly by the rapist Marc Dutroux.
Monday
The Irish Brokers' Association, which regulates investment intermediaries such as the Taylor group, said it had no voluntary compensation scheme for people who lose money when their funds are mishandled.
It emerged that the validity of the civil marriages of at least three couples, who were married since August 1st, is in doubt as they failed to provide the necessary notice. Under the Family Law Act 1995, couples marrying after August 1st of this year are required to give three months' notice of their intention.
Allied Irish Banks increased its interest rates by up to 0.5 per cent.
The MEP, Ms Mary Banotti, called for convicted paedophiles to be electronically tagged.
The Government's public sector pay policy suffered a setback when 19,000 low paid civil servants rejected a 3.4 per cent pay increase and 24 per cent over the next three years.
Tuesday
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, offered to meet loyalist parties "face to face" after a warning by the Progressive Unionist Party that the loyalist ceasefire is at breaking point.
It emerged that a file has been sent to the Director of Prosecutions concerning the alleged role of a Dublin solicitor in a car "accident" fraud network.
The state tourism training agency, CERT, said future growth in the industry could be jeopardised by a chronic recruitment crisis.
Ireland's Paralympics team, which won 10 medals in Atlanta, was welcomed home by the President, Mrs Robinson, and Michelle Smith.
Senator John Dardis (PD) received the best dressed politician award.
Wednesday
Mandatory life sentences for murder and treason, and minimum sentences for indictable offences, should be eliminated, according to the Law Reform Commission.
A spokesman for Fidelity, one of the biggest fund managers in the world, said it had no legal obligation to investors who may have lost out in the Taylor affair.
A Dublin solicitor, Conor Killeen, who admitted being an accessory after the fact of certain acts of forgery by solicitor Elio Malocco, who defrauded the Irish Press group of over £60,000, won a reprieve after serving just six weeks of a 12 month sentence.
Mr Billy Wright, a high profile loyalist in mid Ulster, who played a prominent role in the Drumcree standoff last month, said he would defy a threat by the Combined Loyalist Military Command that he will be killed if he does not leave the North within 72 hours.
Agreement was reached between residents and the Royal Black Institution on a parade at Ballaghy, Co Derry. A group of Catholic priests and religious figures extended the "unreserved forgiveness" requested by the Presbyterian church following Drumcree.
It was learned that a Dublin garda is to appeal a £100 fine imposed on him following an inquiry into how a man's body was left for six days in the Phoenix Park, despite being reported by a passing jogger.
Ms Colleen Mooney (25), representing Toronto, was selected as the 1996 Rose of Tralee.
Thursday
It was indicated that the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, will reject Law Reform Commission proposals to abolish mandatory life sentences for murder.
The main unionist parties said the death threat against the leading loyalist, Billy Wright, by the Combined Loyalist Military Command had serious implications for fringe loyalist party participation in the Northern talks process.
Gardai expressed concern for the safety of two missing women. Ms Fiona Pender (25), of Tullamore, Co Offaly, has not been seen for a week, while Ms Kathleen Keaney (30), of Ballyconneely, Co Galway, has been missing since Tuesday.
It was disclosed that gardai in Dundalk were investigating the possible involvement of at least six local teenagers in prostitution.
An investor with the Taylor group, who said he made out a cheque for £200,000 directly to Anglo Irish Bank, was told the bank had no record of his account.
The Fianna Fail MEP and TD for Limerick West, Mr Gerry Collins, confirmed he will not seek reelection to the Dail.
In a letter to The Irish Times, Sonia O'Sullivan wrote about her devastation over the illness which hit her at the Olympic Games.