Energy bills rise for 1m homes & more today
Energy bills are increasing for over one million households starting today, adding to costs in a country that already has the highest electricity prices in the EU. In the legal system, access to free representation in Cork is under threat as solicitors resign from the state panel, while a guilty verdict has been reached in the Parnell Square attack case.
You will likely see higher utility charges this month as price hikes take effect for more than a million homes. Recent Eurostat figures indicate that Irish electricity prices are already 40% higher than the European average, the highest in the European Union.
While costs rise, access to free legal services is also being impacted. If you rely on the state’s free legal aid—which provides legal help to those who cannot afford a solicitor—you may face delays or service gaps in Cork. Several hundred solicitors there have resigned from the legal aid panel to protest a move toward flat-fee payments for their work.
The legal system also saw a major conclusion today in a high-profile safety case. Riad Bouchaker has been found guilty of the attempted murder of three children during the Parnell Square attack in Dublin last November. The incident occurred outside a school and led to widespread concern over public safety and significant public unrest.
In other safety developments, check your groceries for five specific packaged ham products that are being recalled due to the possible presence of *Listeria monocytogenes*. This bacteria can cause listeriosis, a serious illness that is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
For more on these stories, including the tragic deaths of an Irish couple in Spain and the Ireland v Australia rugby match, visit the app’s News section.