Considering the scandal over the Ansbacher deposits, the picture of Lester Pigott on the front page of the Kildare Nationalist, riding a bicycle no less, was salutary. The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, had invoked the former jockey's name during the week when describing how the Revenue Commissioners may treat tax-evaders in the future.
"Explosive allegations against giant Killorglin-based finance company, Fexco, were heard during the course of an intense and high-profile Employment Appeals Tribunal in Tralee on Wednesday," said Kerry's Eye.
"A succession of serious charges alleging fraudulent activities were levelled against the company during an unfair-dismissals case brought by the company's former head of inter national payments division, Conor O'Mahony.
"During a sensational opening session at Tralee Courthouse, counsel for Conor O'Mahony, Mr John O'Mahony SC, alleged Fexco issued bogus invoices, falsified records, made false returns to the Central Bank and falsified documents to obtain grants," wrote reporter John O'Mahony. "The charges were strongly rejected by counsel for Fexco, who dismissed the allegations as `wild and unfounded' ".
In what is thought to have been the first case of its kind, a 17-year-old girl was prosecuted for being under age at a disco.
"Young people under 18 years of age who attended discos in premises that had obtained a bar extension were breaking the law. That was the message from Judge Tom Fitzpatrick at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court when a 17-year-old appeared before him on a charge resulting from being found by gardai with a pint in front of her at a disco in a nightclub in Raphoe," said the Donegal Democrat.
Judge Fitzpatrick remarked that it was the first time he had seen this charge brought before a court and wondered why it has not been used before.
The Western People reported that a father was fined £360 when he allowed his 11-year-old son to drive his car home from a local GAA football field.
Judge Murrough Connellan described it as it one of the more "ludicrous" cases that had come before him.
Police in Ballymena are searching for a man who selected two skirts out of a shop and then rushed out wearing black highheel shoes. The man, in his early 20s, entered the shop on a Friday morning, wearing a navy top, tracksuit bottoms and high heels. He told shop assistants he intended to have a sex-change operation. After going into a dressing room with the skirts, valued at £60 sterling each, he made a quick exit, said the Ballymena Guardian.
A 100-year-old mother was successful in her court action for the recovery of over £2,500 which she entrusted to her son for her funeral expenses, said the Connaught Telegraph. Annie Butler, of Salthill, Co Galway, took legal action against her son, Valentine, who she feared would squander her money on alcohol.
In Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, the public is being "crucified" by offensive odours. "There are even suggestions that the Dawn Meats facility may be picketed by concerned business people in the near future unless decisive action is taken to improve the situation," said the Connaught Telegraph.
"People are staying away from the town because of the odours. Other towns in the region are benefiting from the `Celtic Tiger' boom, but Ballyhaunis is suffering because potential customers are choosing to avoid the place," claimed Mr John O'Dwyer, a local solicitor.
Laois County Council is continuing its policy of selling prime property to private developers at a time when the Government is planning to compel builders to set aside 20 per cent of development land for affordable housing, said the Leinster Express.
The sales come "also at a time when, in Laois, about 1,200 persons have applied to the local authority for accommodation," it commented. "Some politicians are promising houses to people on the waiting list. Yet these same local politicians are voting to sell off housing land. That is contradictory," charged Portlaoise town commissioner Brian Stanley of Sinn Fein.