RTÉ is facing a deepening crisis of public confidence after being accused of using a “slush fund” to spend €275,000 on corporate hospitality in Japan and Spain and on Irish Rugby Football Union tickets.

The annual rate of house price inflation continued to ease during the first half of the year, the latest residential market review from property advisors DNG shows, while first time buyers continue to dominate the market.

Gardaí are encountering more motorists watching video or live TV broadcasts on their phones or conducting FaceTime conversations while driving and cannot prosecute them because they are not in breach of any road traffic laws, a Policing Authority meeting has heard.

This month has been Ireland’s hottest June on record, Met Éireann has confirmed. Average temperatures were above 16C for the entire month, breaking the previous record for June which held for 83 years.

Former 2FM presenter Gareth O'Callagh has written a piece in the Examiner on his treatment from RTE almost 15 yearsa ago. In the piece he describes himself as another 'scapegoat' similar the Dee Forbes.

Former US president Donald Trump’s claims that absolute presidential immunity and free speech rights shield him from the defamation claims of a New York columnist have been rejected by a federal judge. The writer, E. Jean Carroll, can continue to press claims that Mr Trump owes her at least $10m (€9.2m) in damages for comments he made before and after she won a $5m (€4.6m) sexual abuse and defamation verdict against him last month, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said in a written opinion. 

ZEN

On this day in 2008 "Mamma Mia!, The Movie!" starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, premiered at Leicester Square, London. Happy Friday!