In advance of the publication of a series of Government papers relating to the banking crisis the Irish Independent reports that the documents will reveal that the then financial regulator, Patrick Neary, assured Taoiseach Brian Cowen that Anglo Irish Bank was in good shape three days before the Government had to intervene and guarantee the bank's deposits.

On September 25, 2008 Mr Neary told Mr Cowen that although the bank had a liquidity problem it remained solvent. The Government was forced to step in on September 28 to guarantee the deposits held by all six Irish Banks.

Bank of Ireland to shed 750 staff

Bank of Ireland plans to make 750 of its 14,500-strong workforce redundant over the next two years. The jobs will be lost here and in Britain and it is hoped that the target will be achieved through voluntary redundancies.

The announcement came after the Bank received EU approval for its restructuring programme.

Ardoyne residents stand up to rioters

There was no trouble in the Ardoyne area of Belfast last night after residents staged a protest against the outsiders who came into the area to confront police on the previous four nights. Several hundred residents, accompanied by local politicians, assembled at the flashpoint area and remained there chatting to police officers throughout the evening.

Derry chosen to be City of Culture

Derry was last night chosen to be the UK's City of Culture in 2013. Along with Sheffield, Norwich and Birmingham, Derry had been shortlisted to be the inaugural holder of the title and was the judges' choice at an event in Liverpool last night.

It is expected that the events held throughout the year will bring a huge financial boost to the city and that there will be some spin-off for nearby Co. Donegal.

Humpback whale sighted off Howth Head

A number of people yesterday saw a humpback whale off Howth Head, the first such sighting in the east Irish Sea in 20 years. The mammal brushed against a number of small craft that were in the area.

Today's Papers

Once again the newspapers diverge in their choice of main story. The Irish Times looks to the Vatican's review of church law with "Vatican to allow lay involvement in canon law trials"; the Irish Examiner has "‘No one is indestructible'", quoting a priest at one of yesterday's funerals in Donegal; and the Irish Independent leads with the revelation about the Financial Regulator under the headline "Neary gave Anglo green light on eve of bailout".

The Irish News leads with yesterday's announcement in Liverpool, with "Derry will be City of Culture".

The Weather in Moville

It was a damp morning with a fine drizzle but dried up and became very windy. Temperature 16C.

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