Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you really need to know by 9am.
1.#IMF: The IMF is to begin formal talks with the government today – and the extent of the price we will have to pay for their help is beginning to emerge. French, Austrian and German officials are reportedly keen that Ireland gives up its low rate of corporation tax, though the government continues to insist it is non-negotiable. The Financial Times has reported a French official describing it as “almost predatory”. Meanwhile, the Independent warns that thousands of public sector workers are at risk of job losses and pay cuts. Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has insisted there’s “no shame” in seeking help from the IMF, the Star adds.
2. #MONSTER: A convicted stalker who starved, imprisoned, assaulted and humiliated his sick elderly parents for almost six months was described as a “sadistic monster” and jailed for 15 years yesterday. John Trimble admitted imprisoning, assaulting and endangering his parents by compelling them to take “cold showers and drip dry”, refusing food, clothing and medical attention on dates between March 1 and July 17, 2009. The court heard how they survived solely on lemonade and biscuits.
3. #TERMINAL DECLINE: Today’s opening of Terminal 2 at Dublin airport is drawing ire from international commentators, as the Telegraph describes it as “the Irish economy in microcosm”.
4. #BALLYCOTTON: As the funerals of Zoe and Ella Butler take place today, their mother and her family have issued a statement saying that all three bodies have been brought home, and appealing for privacy. The two little girls will be buried today in Cloyne and John Butler’s funeral will take place in his native Cobh tomorrow.
5. #NAMA: Calls have been made for a garda investigation, after the Public Accounts committee heard yesterday how the banks have been lying to NAMA. Based on information it received from the banks, NAMA initially envisaged it would implement a 30 per cent haircut on the loans; however the discounts ultimately applied averaged 58 per cent. The banks involved are AIB, the Bank of Ireland, Anglo Irish Bank, Irish Nationwide and EBS. The committee also heard that one developer asked for a salary of €1.5 million, a suggestion which was rapidly knocked back by the chairman of the agency, Frank Daly. “The jets, the yachts, the Bentleys will not be supported by Nama,” he said.
6. #RETURN TO SENDER: An Post is to discontinue the practice whereby post can be redirected to the intended recipient for free.
7. #COURTS: A dentist and lay preacher has been sentenced to two life sentences for the murders of his wife and his ex-lover’s husband. They died in a fume-filled car in Co Derry nearly 20 years ago and at the time were thought to have died in a double suicide.
8. #NEW ZEALAND: Thirty six people are missing after an explosion ripped through a coal mine on the South Island of New Zealand.
9. #BODYGUARD: A Sinn Fein councillor and former republican prisoner provided personal protection for glamour model Jordan during her visit to the North yesterday, the Irish News reports
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say