What the papers say: Friday's front pages
Ottoline Spearman
Crimes committed by people on bail and millions of euro worth of dead people's money held by the HSE are two of the stories leading the news on Friday morning.
The Irish Times leads with how the Office for Public Works has warned it might need to reduce flood protection spending if it is forced to foot the €70 million bill for the National Children's Science Centre - which it must deliver by the end of 2029. Ahead of the Munich Security Conference on Friday, EU leaders are wary of meeting senior Trump officials. And another ICE deportation flight has passed through Shannon Airport for refuelling.
Details of nearly 24,000 children are being checked against school enrolment data, as well as records on children who are being home-schooled, as a probe into Tusla is launched, reports the Irish Examiner. There is also no space in the Central Mental Hospital for a 58-year-old man charged with 24 counts of criminal damage to cars and properties in Cork. Patrick Sibanyoni must remain in prison, despite the judge ordering that he be transferred to the hospital.
More than 10,000 crimes have been committed by people in Cork who were on bail since the start of 2022, reports The Echo.
More than €33 million of dead patients' cash is being held in accounts by the HSE, the Irish Independent reports, including nearly €6 million in interest. The HSE said it returned almost €6 million last year and it was actively working to return the remaining sum.
The Irish Daily Mirror reports that the Tánaiste has said that information in the Epstein files alleging women were sex trafficked to Ireland should be given to gardaí.
Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, has "sort-of" apologised after saying the UK has been colonised by migrants, according to the Irish Daily Star.
Ireland's draw against Israel on Thursday night in the UEFA Nations League has been described as an "absolute nightmare", from a security and a political perspective. That's the Irish Daily Mail's splash.
The Herald covers the case of the wealthy New Yorker who strangled his father to death at a Laois resort, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
And finally, the Belfast Telegraph reports that over 500 pubs in the North have shut their doors in the last 30 years, while the number of off licences has doubled.
