General election, Trump's win, McGregor court case: The top stories of 2024
James Cox
With elections in Ireland, the UK and the US, high profile court cases and big sporting events, 2024 was a big year for news.
Here, we take a look back at the year in news through the top 10 stories on BreakingNews.ie.
1. Nikita Hand wins civil rape case against Conor McGregor
In November, Nikita Hand, who accused Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel, won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case.
The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was €248,603.60.
A crying and shaking Ms Hand bowed her head and listened to the verdict surrounded by family, ers and her boyfriend.
Mr McGregor bowed his head and remained seated upon hearing the verdict.
Mr McGregor had faced an accusation that he “brutally raped and battered” Nikita Hand at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.
2. Local and European election results
The local and European elections took place in May. It might seem like an age ago, as the general election and US election both took place afterwards.
However, our live coverage of the local and European elections was the second most read story of 2024.
3. March 8th referendums: Everything you need to know about care and family amendments
On March 8th, Irish citizens were asked to vote in two referendums to change our Constitution.
The first referendum concerned the concept of Family in the Constitution.
The second referendum proposed to delete an existing part of the Constitution and insert new text providing recognition for care provided by family to each other.
Despite backing from the Government and the main opposition party, Sinn Féin, for a yes vote, both referendums were resoundingly rejected by the public.
This had big ramifications for the Government – then-taoiseach Leo Varadkar stepped down two weeks later.
Critics of the proposed changes to the Constitution claimed the public did not understand what they were voting on, and Government figures subsequently acknowledged the point.
With this in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that our explainer on the care and family amendments was the third-most read story of 2024.
4. Election count day 1: Helen McEntee elected in Meath East, Pearse Doherty elected in Donegal
Coverage of the first day of voting in the general election comes in fourth place.
5. Linda Nolan reveals another family member has been diagnosed with cancer
In sad news in August, Linda Nolan revealed that another family member had been diagnosed with cancer as she continues to battle the disease.
The Nolans star (65) is to start taking a new cancer drug after scans showed the tumours in her brain have grown, following her revealing the growth had shrunk in December.
Several of her sisters, and of the Anglo-Irish girl group, have also experienced the condition.
6. Irish election poll tracker: Fianna Fáil takes narrow lead as campaign concludes
Our poll tracker ahead of the general election was very popular with readers. Ahead of the election, Fianna Fáil held a narrow lead over Fine Gael, with Sinn Féin in third place.
In the end, Fianna Fáil emerged as the biggest party in the Dáil with 48 seats, followed by Sinn Féin with 39 seats and Fine Gael with 38 seats.
7. As it happened: How the US election played out
The US election, which saw Donald Trump return to the White House with a resounding victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, was one of the biggest news events of the year.
Our live coverage of the US election comes in at number seven in the most-read stories of the year.
8. Brian Stanley complaint ed to gardaí, says Mary Lou McDonald
Brian Stanley's controversial exit from Sinn Féin was another one of the political stories of the year.
This story was about party leader Mary Lou McDonald confirming a disciplinary investigation into Mr Stanley had been ed to An Garda Síochána.
Mr Stanley was subequently elected as an Independent TD in the Laois constituency.
9. Man jailed after woman left in critical hypothermic state following rape in random attack in Cork
In October, a man was jailed following a horrific rape in Co Cork.
A young college student was discovered in an abandoned house in a critical hypothermic state, partially-clothed and covered in cuts and bruises, hours after she had been raped in a random attack.
Her rapist, Mihail Ciorici (41) was jailed for 11 years on Wednesday by Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court.
10. 'A monster in our home': Wife of ex-garda tells of abuse 'horror' over 12-year period
In March, an ex-garda and soldier was convicted of his wife and stepsons.
Mark Doyle (38), with a previous address at Corbally Paddocks, Newbridge, Co Kildare, itted five counts of assault causing harm to Meav Doyle and two counts of assaulting two of her sons causing them harm, on dates between September 2007 and August 2019.
