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THE EDITOR OF the Irish Daily Star has been suspended as an investigation is carried out into the circumstances which led to the paper publishing pictures of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge topless.
Michael O’Kane has been suspended with immediate effect pending an investigation into the publication which has caused a furore in recent days and led to threats from the paper’s British co-owner to shut it down.
The news was announced by the Irish publisher of the paper, Independent Star Ltd, this evening.
On Saturday, the newspaper published pages from the French edition of the magazine ‘Closer’ which showed Kate topless while on holiday with her husband Prince William in southern France.
The controversial move saw the paper’s British co-owner Northern and Shell threaten to shut it down through its chairman Richard Desmond. He said at the weekend that he was “taking immediate steps to close down the joint venture”.
Co-owner Independent News and Media also condemned the publication of the pictures but said it had no prior knowledge that the images would be published and described the move to shut down the paper as “disproportionate”.
It is not clear whether Desmond can shut the paper down or withdraw financial support under the co-ownership agreement between his company and INM.
Speaking at the weekend, O’Kane defended the move the publish the pictures telling the BBC: “She’s not the future queen of Ireland so really the only place this is causing fury seems to be in the UK, and they are very very tasteful pictures.”
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Leo is concerned someone might leak confidential information….
@Leonard O’mahony: no sure he can do that all himself.
@Leonard O’mahony: Nah, he just doesn’t want any more photos of him being caught kissing someone other than his partner ;)
@Leonard O’mahony: You mean Leo is concerned someone will get to leak confidential information before he does it.
Eamon Ryan, are you listening? It’s only the phone you put on “sleep”.
Security reasons? Russian intelligence, Chinese Intelligence, U.S. intelligence? .The plot thickens. Of course the fact Varadkar leaked confidential government documents or the fact a junior FG minister set up a sting to catch a senior FG minister who leaked information may also be a consideration in this move. Keep the circus going lads .
@Donal Desmond: certainly not British intelligence as it doesn’t exist
@Tony Doyle: Good point..
This is a very basic cyber security precaution that should have been implemented 15 years ago. Most cyber security aware military installations around the world have been doing this for ages in high level offices/meeting rooms. The cabinet of the Government of Ireland should be no different. Might cut down on a few leaks.
@Niall Mchugh: Apparently Enda Kenny brought in a few years ago but it wasn’t followed through
Sell your shares in Candy Crush
Oh the irony!!
Is leaky afraid someone might leak something before he gets a chance to leak.????
We’ve known about hacking software such as the Israeli developed Pegasus for a quite a while now. This decision is well justified and not before time.
From today?
Surely this ban shoukd always have been there?
I have never been in a meeting, where the use of a mobile phone was accetable.
have your say