Liam Neeson and Vanessa Redgrave have pulled out of UNICEF events following Melanie Vorwoerd’s dismissal from the charity. UNICEF has apologised to Ireland for the “public nature of the controversy”.
Nine things you need to know by 9am: Bad news for growth and jobs in Ireland; The royal wedding hangover; a television appearance by Colonel Gaddafi; the one year anniversary of Gerry Ryan’s death; and a race row hits French football.
The taxi driver who was the last person to see the RTÉ broadcaster alive has told a newspaper that Ryan “definitely” didn’t act like he was on drugs on the night he died.
Nine things you need to know at 9am: Men in court over republicanism and Dublin assaults, Brian Lenihan says we were forced into the bailout, and Lindsay Lohan’s about to lay low…
Nine things you need to know by 9am: As hospitals are hit by the worst bed crisis in years, VHI announces price increases; Gerry Ryan’s autopsy report, and the big snow is coming back.
Nine things you need to know by 9am: Met Eireann says we should prepare for a white Christmas, while AA warns of 5 hour commutes; the Sun finds heroin in RTE and a cure for the common cough.
RTE has admitted its coverage was “less than it could have been”, and said it held back out of respect for Gerry Ryan’s family. But was it right to do so?
Gardaí have denied that they concealed the activities of high-profile drug abusers and say an investigation will be launched into the allegations raised yesterday by the Sunday Independent.
Nine things you really, really need to know by 9am: travellers face chaos as they try to get home for Christmas; gardaí launch an investigation into Sunday Independent claims on cocaine use in RTE; and the rape case against Julian Assange “may be less flawed” than thought.
Nine things you really need to know by 9am: cold weather disrupting air travel in Europe; investigation into fatal Cork sledding incident; DNA tests attempt to link bone fragments to Amelia Earhart.
Nine things you really need to know by 9am: While the AIB promises not to pay out €40m in bonuses to senior staff, the trader who took them to court over his 2008 deferred bonus will still get his, the DPP’s office is struggling to cope with the huge increase in crime, and search that attic: a chair by Irish designer Eileen Gray is due to fetch millions at an auction tonight.
Nine things you really need to know by 9am: Wikileaks docs claims Adams and McGuinness knew about Northern bank heist, Pat Rabbitte calls for resignation of AIB board over bonuses, and Julian Assange seeks “non-timid” life partner for fun and a bit of light criminal conspiracy.
Nine things you really, really need to know by 9am: Gerry Ryan’s open secret, Fine Gael’s bailout fallout, and some cranky phone calls for the Cabinet.
Nine things you really, really need to know by 9am: Bank bonuses to be taxed at 90 per cent, the family of a brain injured man who was savagely beaten by a man who was out on bail speak out, and Dublin zoo needs you.
RYAN TUBRIDY surprised 2fm listeners this morning by kicking off his new 9am show today – three days before he was scheduled to take the slot.
The Late Late Show host was due to take over the slot, vacated by the late Gerry Ryan, on Monday morning – but tweeted yesterday, after meeting with 2fm controller John McMahon, that he’d be bringing the launch forward:
Just had conversation with Mr.2FM.I will now be busy tomorrow morning at 9am.Work to do.Goodnight and good luck. See you on the other side.
Tubridy then began his new show, simply called ‘Tubridy’, with an early tribute to his predecessor, saying he “wished it weren’t so” that he had taken over the prime morning broadcast slot in such conditions – though not before reviewing the day’s newspapers, just as Ryan would have done.
Within an hour, he had secured a live telephone interview with U2 frontman Bono, who said Gerry had come to him in a dream the night before, and had uttered an unfortunate line…
Et tu, JimJim?
…referring to the decision of the former breakfast show host, JimJim Nugent, to quit the broadcaster via YouTube video earlier this week.
Before the show Tubridy explained that he was “nervous as hell” and implied that he had wanted to kick off the show early, without the sense of occasion that would have come with a much-hyped launch show anticipated for Monday.
GEALGÓIR Hector Ó hEochagáin will take over 2FM’s breakfast show in October.
Ó hEochagáin, along with Ryan Tubridy spearhead 2FM’s new autumn schedule.
Kicking off next week, Tubridy takes over from the late Gerry Ryan with a show from 9 – 11am. Tubridy will be followed by Colm Hayes, formerly of the Breakfast Show. Hayes former Breakfast Show partner Jim Jim Nugent left the station yesterday deciding to announce his exit via You Tube.
Golden oldie Larry Gogan stays in place from 1 – 2pm. Rick O’Shea will host his show from 2-4.30 while Will Leahy continues on with the drivetime slot till 6pm.
RTE’s Lucy Kennedy and Baz Ashmawy have been given their own weekend breakfast show.
A DEEP DIVIDE has been revealed among the leaders at the G8 summit over how to deal with the ongoing conflict in Syria.
The US has indicated it wants to arm Syria’s rebels, while Russia remains in staunch opposition to the plan. Others, including Britain and France, are reluctant to make a decision just yet. However, President Francois Hollande asked:
How can you allow Russia to continue to send weapons to the regime of Bashar al-Assad while the opposition gets so few weapons?
At least 93,000 people have been killed in the two-year civil war as rebels struggle to overtake Bashar Assad’s forces who are strengthened by support from Hezbollah, Iran and Russia.
On Sunday, Putin argued his position: “One hardly should back those who kill their enemies and, you know, eat their organs,” referencing a video purportedly showing a rebel commander committing an act of cannibalism. “Do we want to support these people? Do we want to supply arms to these people?”
Today we ask: Should international powers arm Syria’s rebels?
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Cloudy; a shower in the a.m., then rain
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