Afternoon headlines: Best (and worst) ministers according to voters; and a man was caught in the act trying to blackmail a couple by claiming to have his relative hostage

Here’s the top news on Independent.ie this lunchtime

Which government ministers do the best – and worst – jobs? The public has spoken out

According to the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll, Paschal Donohoe is the minister who has been the most competent in his duties over the past two years. Read the full list of ministers here.

Family sues company Danny Healy-Rae over death of mother of six in truck accident

Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae’s civil engineering company is facing a series of compensation claims from the family of a mother of six who died after being struck by one of the company’s trucks.

Interview with Micheál Martin: “The time has come to take the gun out of Irish politics. Sinn Féin doesn’t do that, it tries to have a bet in every direction.

Micheál Martin is urging politics through as the clock ticks down on his time in the top job, Niamh Horan writes while speaking with the Taoiseach.

‘Caught in the act’ – Man tried to extort €15,000 from couple after claiming he was holding his relative hostage

A man tried to extort €15,000 from a couple after claiming he was holding one of his relatives hostage. Kevin Harkin appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal after being caught in an elaborate Garda stab.

“I found peace on a visit to Ireland,” says the brother of a Kurdish doctoral student who died in an M6 crash with his wife and baby

The brother of a Kurd killed by a drug driver on the M6 ​​says he found peace while visiting Ireland.

Fine Gael threatens Dublin Mayor’s emergency petition over canceled nativity scene

Fine Gael is seeking to overturn a decision by Dublin’s Lord Mayor to cancel this year’s crib at a City Council meeting tomorrow night unless a solution is found before then.

Rihanna’s ex-bodyguard sued over Garda assault

A former bodyguard for pop star Rihanna has taken legal action against An Garda Síochána, accusing him of an assault at his home in which he alleges that Gardaí punched, kicked and hit him with the butt of a gun.

Trinity degrees have been changed to avoid student humiliation

Trinity College Dublin made changes to its graduation ceremony because it was “particularly humiliating” for students who hadn’t done so well on their exams.

Mass Protest – City staying true to referendum spirit as it rejects Father Sheehy

Listowel voted 3-1 for gay marriage, but the priest who caused the storm stands by his words of condemnation, writes Wayne O’Connor.

Controversial priest Sean Sheehy led a prayer service in Tralee Market Square days after the outbreak of Leo Varadkar, who “went to hell”.

Father Sean Sheehy led a prayer service in Tralee Town Square yesterday afternoon and vowed to continue to celebrate Mass at his home for people who wish to hear his sermons.

VIDEO: Mary Lou McDonald attacks Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ‘hokey pokey’ governance during ard fheis speech

The Scientology-affiliated drug treatment center in Meath has yet to open its doors

A €9million drug rehabilitation center linked to the controversial Church of Scientology in Co Meath has yet to open its doors.