What the papers say: Friday's front pages

Tomas Doherty

A wide variety of stories feature across Friday's newspaper front pages.

The Irish Times reports that Nama chief executive Brendan McDonagh has withdrawn his name from consideration to become the Government's housing “tsar” following criticism.

Gardaí had to push people back and increase the cordon around first responders as dozens of onlookers gathered to watch and film as a man drowned in Cork city centre, according to the Irish Examiner.

The Irish Independent says gardaí will trawl through phone records in the hunt for the killer of missing Kerry farmer Michael Gaine.

RTÉ boss Kevin Bakhurst only found out about a €3.6 million IT project write-down when the Minister for Culture wrote asking for details, the Irish Daily Mail reveals.

The Irish Daily Mirror has the latest from the trial of Richard Satchwell for the murder of his wife, Tina.

The Irish Daily Star carries a photo of Hutch gang member James 'Mago' Gately on its front page.

The Herald says electronic tagging could replace remanding some people in custody in order to take pressure off overcrowded jails.

A Co Down church treasurer swindled nearly £400,000 (€470,000) to bolster his accountancy business, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

The Echo reports that people enjoying a sunny afternoon in Cork city centre were shocked when a man was stabbed 20 times.