Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you really need to know as you start your day.
1. #RONAN KERR: A war of words has broken out between Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister Martin McGuinness and the PSNI over investigations into the death of Ronan Kerr. The Belfast Telegraph reports how one of the five men arrested was apparently totally unconnected to Kerr’s death – forcing the PSNI to defend its pursuit of Kerr’s killers. The Irish News says the particular man, who was freed yesterday, is considering legal action.
2. #CLOYNE: A Co Louth priest says he regrets using the headline ‘Heil Herr Kenny’ in his parish newsletter last weekend. Fr Thonas Daly of Togher had used the headline above a piece comparing Enda Kenny to Adolf Hitler – saying Kenny’s attack on the Vatican was the biggest attack on the Church by a European leader since the era of the Fuhrer.
3. #ABDUCTION: Gardaí have arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the attempted abduction of a teenage girl in Ferbane last week. The man was arrested near Tramore and is being held in Tullamore.
4. #EIRGRID: The proposed break-up of the ESB is being pared back, according to reports in the Irish Times and Irish Independent this morning. Communications minister Pat Rabbitte has advised that the benefits of transferring ownership of the electricity grid are lower than the cost of moving the grid from ESB to EirGrid in the first place.
5. #FAMINE: Goal chief executive John O’Shea has accused the United Nations of sitting on its hands and refusing to counter militant groups which are blocking the distribution of humanitarian aid. This morning he demands more affirmative action to counter the devastating famine.
6. #NORWAY: Details are emerging of the moment Anders Behring Breivik was apprehended by police on Utoya Island. It is reported that Breivik did not resist arrest, holding his hands up – and it’s also emerged that police were delayed en route to the island because their boat broke down.
7. #UNICEF: The management of UNICEF Ireland have disputed suggestions that a planned TV3 fundraising telethon has been scrapped following the dismissal of Melanie Verwoerd as CEO. In a statement the charity said the idea was dropped because of time pressures. UNICEF has also apologised for the “public nature of the controversy” surrounding Verwoerd’s departure.
8. #TEE-SHOCK: The Irish Open has begun in Killarney this morning with US Open champ Rory McIlroy the bookies’ favourite. Yesterday McIlroy paired off with Enda Kenny for the traditional pro-am round. The Irish Times reports that Kenny managed to put one slice into the water – but the Irish Daily Star (print only) reports how one of McIlroy’s drives managed to hit a young boy in the head. The lad was unharmed, though, and left with a golf ball and glove signed by the Holywood star.
9. #EMPIRE STRUCK DOWN: Star Wars creator George Lucas has lost a legal bid to stop the original designer of the Star Wars Droid helmets from selling replica merchandise. The Guardian reports that although Lucas has won a similar case in California, the UK supreme court has allowed Andrew Ainsworth to continue selling the Droid likenesses – because the design copyright expires after 15 years. In short, this was not the result Lucas was looking for. (Sorry.)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Would the last person leaving FÁS please turn off the Solus and Dun an Doras
Thanks for that. Glad to hear!
“Kenny’s attack on the Vatican was the biggest attack on the Church by a European leader since the era of the Fuhrer”
The Catholic church is in a rather unique position to make statements like this now a days. Just scoop up the phone and dial the vatican hotline – “Hey Boss, Ireland here… yeah, I know.. AGAIN. Tell me this, when you were a Nazi did the church… blah blah blah…..”
He was never in the Nazi Party, and they killed his 14-year old cousin who had Downs syndrome. He was drafted into the army but deserted towards the end of the war.
Re story #3, if this man was arrested in Tramore why is he being questioned inTullamore? Would it not be the Gardai in Waterford that would question him as he was arrested in their area?
Vanessa – it was Gardaí in Tullamore who were investigating the Ferbane incident so they would have been best placed to question any suspects.
I know that this is off topic, but would someone be able to confirm or hopefully disprove the speculation surrounding the death of Ger Loughnane?
Aidan – the rumour is, unequivocally, not true. End of. :)
Enda & Adolf seem to have shared the same hairdresser though…(cue a not-so-funny Gift Grub sketch)
@ Daffers: Thanks for clarifying that point for me. I feel totally different about the man now and will make no further jokes about him or the Catholic church… *heavy sigh*
While I’m at it: what is the relevance of the death of his cousin?
Also; he deserted at the end of the war after his unit had ceased to exist, just as American troops established their headquarters in the Ratzinger household. Probably a good time to lay down ones weapon don’t you think?
Talk about ‘the pot calling the kettle black’ (comparing Enda Kenny to hitler). As far as I know, Enda Kenny has never been involved in the abuse of children or its coverup, whereas the catholic church on the other hand…
PS- I am not a fine gaeler, far from it, I just think some people have some cheek!
there are dark forces at work in norway . there’s globalist involvment here which involves the police . too many facts about this do not fit into place. an attempt at creating a european terrorist threat. by whom ????
have your say