What the papers say: Thursday's front pages

Ellen O'Donoghue

A variety of stories feature on Irish front pages on Thursday morning, including the release of CCTV footage of the fire attack on a home in Edenderry that killed a four-year-old boy and his grand-aunt.

The Irish Times lead with a "dark vessel" having been seen near rogue drone activity in Dublin Bay, the Minister for Justice criticising the European Court of Human Rights' deportation rules, and a surge in flu numbers putting pressure on the health system.

The Irish Examiner lead with Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers allegedly having been informed of the Jim Gavin tenant issue before he was selected as the party's presidential candidate, a court hearing that a councillor asked a garda to "sort" a fine, and food stocks potentially being negatively impacted if there were a serious attack or disruption at Dublin Port.

The Echo lead with 93 Cork families in Cork city spending Christmas in emergency accommodation, and a man charged with stealing cattle.

The Herald lead with Spanish officials believing they have enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Gerry Hutch.

The Irish Independent lead with fears over the US plan to demand five years of social media data from those wishing to enter the country.

The Irish Daily Mail lead with an average of €1.3 million worth of wind energy being wasted every day since the start of 2025.

The Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star lead with gardaí releasing footage of a petrol bomb being thrown at a house in Edenderry, Co Offaly, causing a house fire that killed a four-year-old boy and his grand-aunt.

The Belfast Telegraph lead with staff at Belfast's Grand Central Station reporting breathing difficulties due to diesel fumes from trains.