April 20: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Homes for Ukrainian refugees

Only seven sites have been found by the state for modular homes to accommodate families fleeing the war in Ukraine. In total, the sites have a capacity for 312 rapid-build homes, plans for which are spread across the country as part of the government’s humanitarian efforts to the Ukrainian crisis. The government’s target was 700 modular homes, so this falls very short.

thejournal.ie

Yemen stampede

At least 85 people were killed and more than 322 others injured in a deadly stampede in Yemen’s capital during a charity distribution. The incident took place inside a school where aid was being distributed. Security forces deployed heavily around the area as people flocked to the scene hoping to locate relatives but they were barred from accessing the site.

RTÉ

Childcare services

According to a trade union organiser, childcare services are under pressure because of recruitment and retention problems. In a survey of over 2,000 child care providers last month, Siptu found that most have vacancies for staff, and almost all of them say that recruitment is negatively affecting the care they offer.

Breaking News

Stephen Silver sentencing

Stephen Silver, 46, has been jailed for life with a minimum time to be served of 40 years for the murder of Detective Colm Horkan in Castlerea, County Roscommon in June 2020. The sister of Garda Colm Horkan, who was shot eleven times with his own service gun, has told her brother’s murderer that there is “no forgiveness” for what he did and she wants him to remember that every evening “as the cell door locks behind you”.

Irish Examiner

Woman arrested as part of probe into “organised prostitution”

A woman in her 20s has been arrested by Gardaí following a probe into organised prostitution, brothel-keeping, and money laundering as part of an investigation into an Eastern European gang operating in Ireland. A Garda spokesperson said: “The investigation focuses on persons attached to an Eastern European Organised Crime Group who are suspected of being involved in organised prostitution, brothel-keeping, and money laundering.

Irish Mirror