7 is the magic number. Catch up on all of today’s top news every night at 7pm on TheLiberal.ie
#1 Airstrikes: US-led coalition bomb Islamic State targets in Syria for a third night in a row. Both manned and remotely-piloted aircraft were used during the attack to target oil production facilities near the townlets of Al Mayadin, Al Hasakah and Abu Kamal. A statement released by US Central Command stated that the strikes had been successful. US President Barack Obama promised to “dismantle this network of death.”
#2 Dublin shooting: A 36-year-old male, named locally as Benny Whitehouse, was shot dead this morning in Clonard St., Balbriggan, north Dublin. His partner also received a gunshot wound to the upper thigh during the incident.
A lone gunman approached the victim’s car just after Whitehouse had dropped his child to school. The shooter moved to the driver’s side and fired a volley of bullets into the car. According to witnesses, Whitehouse tried to escape but collapsed face down on the pavement, his legs still inside the car. He had taken at least 4 bullets into his body.
The lone gunman then made good his escape onboard a Ford Focus.
Whitehouse died at the scene.
#3 Tiger kidnapping: Two men sought in connection with a so-called “Tiger Kidnapping” in Dublin today.
Three women were abducted in Malahide, Dublin, in the early hours of this morning by masked raiders and held at gunpoint. The raiders then drove the women to the Post Office at Bayside in Sutton, and an undisclosed amount of cash was taken.
The raiders got away in what Gardaí said was a dark-coloured car. The vehicle was later intercepted by the Emergency Response Unit and shots were fired. Two of the occupants managed to escape but police arrested a 20-year-old man at the scene.
The women, one of whom is said to be the postmistress at Bayside, were released unharmed but deeply traumatised, according to Gardaí.
#4 Ryanair: The airline revises upwards its profit forecast for this year to between €620m-€650m. The announcement was made during the airline’s AGM, held today. Its shares also traded up 2%.
#5 Islamic State: Video released of the beheading of French citizen, 55-year-old Herve Gourdel. He had been kidnapped while hiking in a park in Algeria last Sunday. The extremist organization posted the video to several pro-jihadist websites.
#6 Limerick: Almost two-thirds of residential properties in the city worth less than €150k The information was provided at the first full meeting of Limerick City and County Council at County Hall, Dooradoyle last Monday.
#7 Take That: Band member Jason orange has left Take That. He said that there have been no “falling outs” and that he simply wishes not to be part of the long-running band any longer.
Take That will reportedly continue on as a trio made up of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald.