Mother sues Author of "Ugly: The True Story of a Loveless Childhood"

The mother of the author of "Ugly: the True Story of a Loveless Childhood" - an autobiography of a traumatic childhood which has sold nearly 600,000 copies - has sued her daughter, Constance Briscoe, and publisher, Hodder & Stoughton for libel. She accuses her daughter of writing a "piece of fiction". Click here to see report in the Guardian on 18 November 2008.

Dublin Children's Court makes Parental Supervision Order

Dublin Children's Court has placed a parental supervision order on the mother and father of a 17 year old offender who had been arrested for handling a stolen laptop. The youth's parents were ordered to make sure their son does not commit further offences at the risk of being held in contempt of court and facing penalties. It was the third time that Dublin Children's Court had made this type of order against parents. Click here to see the Irish Times report in its "In Short" column on 8th October 2008. (You may need to scroll down the Irish Times page a little to see the report).

The Liverpool Biennial

The Observer provides an overview of Britains's largest festival of contemporary art running until November 30th. See here.

New Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities

On 16th September the Health Information and Quality Authority published new Draft National Quality Standards: Residential Services: People with Disabilities. They set out what a quality and safe service for people with disabilities in a residential setting in Ireland should be. When the standards become final they will be mandatory in nature and residential services will be inspected in accordance with, and be obliged to comply with them. Click here to see the Draft Standards. Click here to see the Irish Times Report.