The Week that was

Monday

CREDIT unions are turning away cash and asking members to reduce their savings balances to as low as €25,000.

High numbers of members are saving with credit unions rather than banks, but not enough are taking out loans. An additional €800m was saved in the State’s 286 credit unions last year, taking the total for the three million members to €13.3bn.

Tuesday

CONTROVERSIAL Bishop Eamonn Casey (pictured below) passed away at a Co Clare nursing home at the age of 89 following a battle with illness.

The Catholic Church was rocked in 1992 when it emerged the then bishop of Galway had fathered a child years before with American Annie Murphy.

Wednesday

NAVAL Service divers will use side-scan sonar as they attempt to locate wreckage to help solve the mystery of the downed Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116.

A full-scale search will continue this morning. One crew member, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick (45), was recovered but was later pronounced dead.

The missing men are Ciarán Smith, Mark Duffy and Paul Ormsby.

Thursday

THE probe into the loss of Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter is currently centring on whether an “electrical failure” on the helicopter caused the crash.

Investigators have also looked into the possibility the helicopter could have hit the lighthouse at Blackrock, six miles off the coast of Mayo.

Friday

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny created a political timebomb for his successor by inviting US President Donald Trump to visit Ireland.

Mr Trump (above) confirmed he intends to visit during the course of his presidency, saying: “I love Ireland. I really love Ireland. I’ll be back.” He described Mr Kenny as his “new friend” and a “great guy” as the two attended the Speaker’s Lunch in Washington to mark St Patrick’s Day.