Events from the year 1996 in Ireland. Incumbents President: Mary Robinson Taoiseach: John Bruton (FG) Tánaiste: Dick Spring (Lab) Minister for Finance: Ruairi Quinn (Lab) Chief Justice: Liam Hamilton Dáil: 27th Seanad: 20th Events 24 January – The international body proposed six principles of democracy and non-violence ('the Mitchell principles') as conditions for entry to all-party talks in Northern Ireland. 5 February – The Football Association of Ireland appointed Mick McCarthy as manager of the Irish football team. 9 February – A large Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) bomb exploded in the London Docklands area, near Canary Wharf, injuring around forty, and marking the end of a 17-month IRA ceasefire. 11 March – The Hepatitis Tribunal opened in Dublin. 26 April – The fifth People In Need Telethon was held. 7 June – Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was shot dead by the PIRA in Adare, County Limerick. 17 June – The Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland was signed into law, repealing the absolute constitutional prohibition of divorce. 26 June – Crime reporter Veronica Guerin was shot dead in her car in Dublin. 4 August – The Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 was signed into law providing for the seizure of the suspected proceeds of organised criminal activity. 11 September – A new £100 note depicting Charles Stewart Parnell was issued, with a red-and-brown front and a green-and-yellow back, to replace the 68-year-old £100 note. 25 September – The last Magdalene asylum closed, in Waterford. 11 October – The Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996 was signed into law providing for the creation of the Criminal Assets Bureau. 31 October – The new Irish language television station TnaG was launched. 29 November – It was revealed that Dunnes Stores paid £208,000 for an extension to Minister Michael Lowry's house. 13 December – On the opening day of a Dublin summit, EU leaders achieved a breakthrough in the argument over preparations for a single European currency. 23 December – French film-maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered outside her holiday home in Schull, County Cork. Undated Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud was the first in Dublin to be awarded two Michelin stars. Arts and literature 1 February – Martin McDonagh's black comedy The Beauty Queen of Leenane was premiered by the Druid Theatre Company in Galway. 11 February – The television drama series Ballykissangel first aired. It was made by BBC Northern Ireland