What the papers say: Friday's front pages

Eva Osborne

Here are the stories making headlines this Friday.

The Irish Times leads with Luas operator Transdev losing out on the €1.75 billion contract after 22 years of running the service, branding it “very disappointing news” to staff.

The Defence Forces was warned it could be prosecuted over health and safety breaches in the air corps in 2023, more than seven years after issues were first raised, according to the Irish Examiner.

A third of the beds in Munster's only residential mental health service for children and teenagers are vacant due to a consultant psychologist shortage, The Echo reports.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has bowed to pressure to introduce tougher security measures such as sniffer dogs and CCTV at League of Ireland games after the Sports Minister threatened to pull funding for new astro-pitches, according to the Irish Independent.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with Soham killer Ian Huntley fighting for his life after being battered around the head with a metal bar by a fellow inmate.

Former royal Sarah Ferguson is ducking the global media glare around her ex-husband Andrew by taking time out in Ireland, the Irish Daily Star reports.

The former pal of Jeffrey Epstein is believed to be at a luxury hotel in Donegal, days after Andrew was arrested in the UK.

English-language schools will be forced to report students who do not attend classes to immigration officials as part of a crackdown on 'back-door' entries into the workforce, according to the Irish Daily Mail.

The Herald leads with the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) recouping over €1 million for the Exchequer in just 48 hours this week, by selling off properties linked to criminals in Dublin, Limerick, and Waterford.