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EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories you need to know as you kick off your day.
1. #JILL MEAGHER: The man accused of killing Irish woman Jill Meagher in Australia has pleaded not guilty to her murder. Adrian Bayley pleaded guilty to one charge of rape at a committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today but said he was not guilty of two other charges of rape. Jill’s husband Tom walked out of the courtroom after Bayley entered his pleas.
2. #NICOLA FURLONG: The mother and sister of Irish student Nicola Furlong have given statements at the trial of the man accused of her murder and spoken of their pain over the death of the 21-year-old. RTE reports that two jurors and one of the judges cried as the women gave their statements.
3. #IL PAPA: 115 cardinals from around the world will enter into conclave in the Sistine Chapel later today and begin the process of electing a new Pope. Here’s how the new leader of the Roman Catholic church will be chosen.
4. #PENALTY POINTS: Independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan is to address the Dáil today over claims that he had penalty points wiped from his record two years ago, despite having previously denied having points removed. Flanagan said on Twitter that he will reveal how he was contacted by Gardaí who asked if he wanted the points wiped.
5. #FALKLANDS: In the end, it was almost unanimous: 99.8 per cent of voters in the Falkland Islands have voted to remain a British overseas territory. Just three people voted no in the referendum.
6. #INTERNET: A secondary school in Limerick has suspended 28 students after they ‘liked’ a Facebook post which made reference to the personal lives of teachers in the school, the Irish Examiner reports. Noel Malone, the principal of Coláiste Chíaráin, said the incident was a “gross invasion of the personal lives of members of our school community”.
7. #WEATHER: Last night was one of the coldest nights of the year, with temperatures dropping as low as -7 degrees Celsius in the west of the country. There’s going to be a brief respite from the freezing cold for a brief spell this afternoon, but Met Éireann has warned that tonight is going to be another cold one with temperatures dropping as low as -3 degrees.
8. #KNOCK AIRPORT: Concerns have been raised about the future of Ireland West Airport at Knock in Mayo as a local group has called on the government to invest some €75 million in the airport over the next five years in a bid to secure the jobs of the 150 people who work there.
9. #TCD JAILBREAK: Two Trinity College Dublin students who made it as far as Argentina without spending a cent have received help from an unexpected source to get them home. Singer Chris de Burgh has apparently come to the aid of the two students who ended up stranded in South America with no way home after they won the TCD Jailbreak fundraising competition to get as far away from Trinity as possible.
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Still no word of Tom Darcy and his very significant court battle against AIB. Check him out people! He has instigated criminal investigations with the Gardai but it’s not getting through to the media… Wonder why?
Tom Darcy directed by an Irish high court Judge, has initiated criminal charges against an Irish bank, AIB. This marked a major turning point in our history, as it was the first time in European history that a citizen initiated legal proceedings against a bank.
The statement was recorded and accepted on the 14th of February, 2013, which was almost a month ago, but as of yet nobody from the Irish media, or Irish political class, has reported this event, or made contact with the person involved.
The charge is that the legal standing of all Irish Banks, licensed by the central bank from 2006-2009, was at variance with legislative requirements, so the potential ramifications from the wider population are enormous, to say the least. The media reluctance to report this matter, regardless of the efforts made by the man involved, Tom Darcy, raises many questions about broadcasting standards in the state, and challenges claims that the media is representative and impartial.
Please take the time to speak with Tom, listen to his story and record this historic event, as it is clearly in the national interest and deserves fair coverage.
Nice to see someone else tracking real news very relevant to this country!
And here we go again, the old disappearing penalty points trick! Does the laws not apply to the lawmakers, apparently not! This is an interesting slant on a two tier society!
Strange – site went down as soon as I posted this comment?
Tom Darcy directed by an Irish high court Judge, has initiated criminal charges against an Irish bank, AIB. This marked a major turning point in our history, as it was the first time in European history that a citizen initiated legal proceedings against a bank.
The statement was recorded and accepted on the 14th of February, 2013, which was almost a month ago, but as of yet nobody from the Irish media, or Irish political class, has reported this event, or made contact with the person involved.
The charge is that the legal standing of all Irish Banks, licensed by the central bank from 2006-2009, was at variance with legislative requirements, so the potential ramifications from the wider population are enormous, to say the least. The media reluctance to report this matter, regardless of the efforts made by the man involved, Tom Darcy, raises many questions about broadcasting standards in the state, and challenges claims that the media is representative and impartial.
Please take the time to speak with Tom, listen to his story and record this historic event, as it is clearly in the national interest and deserves fair coverage.
#changeisuptoyou #tomdarcy #irishbanks
So sad to read one and two :(
That guy that killed Nicola Furlong should be hung………..slowly! As her mother said he has made no effort to take responsibilities for his actions!
what is the story re above.have seen this mentioned a few times over the last days.
Ming made big speeches about the quashing of penalty points, then denied he ever availed of this service, then admitted he did, then claimed the Gardai contacted him asking did he mwant the points quashed, then he shut up! He’s making some declaration at 6pm in the Dail! The rest of us just pay the €60 and take the points on the chin! Not great value for money, is it?
@John Scott
AIB does not have a valid Banking License? They are currently under criminal investigation by An Garda Siochana instigated by Tom Darcy for trading without a up to date banking license?
Hopefully this item will be reported fairly by the Irish media whom have so far been deafening in their silence?
have your say