EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.
1. #RIP: Ireland is mourning the loss – and celebrating the life – of one of its most-loved writers this morning. Journalist and story-teller Maeve Binchy, who sold more than 40 million books worldwide, passed away last night after a short illness. She was 72. Fellow authors and fans are among those who have been paying warm tributes to the Dublin best-seller.
2. #MURDER: A 29-year-old Crumlin man was extradited from Holland last night so he could be charged in relation to the murder of father-of-one Shay O’Byrne in Tallaght three years ago. The 27-year-old was shot dead in front of his partner and young son in March 2009.
3. #ROBBERY: A masked man made off with a sum of cash from Ramsgrange Post Office in Wexford yesterday afternoon after threatening staff. Gardaí investigations continue.
4. #TOM TWEETS: A teenager has been arrested in England in connection with abusive tweets directed to Olympian Tom Daley. The message concerned the 18-year-old diving star’s father who died last year after a battle against brain cancer. TheScore.ie has all your other London 2012 news in its Olympic Breakfast roundup.
5. #SEX OFFENCE: Rape crisis groups have expressed their dismay at the mostly-suspended six-year sentence handed down to businessman Anthony Lyons yesterday after he was found guilty of sexually attacking a woman in Dublin in October 2010. The Rape Crisis Network told the Irish Examiner that it was likely the 51-year-old would have got a jail-term longer than six-months if he was less wealthy. The High Court judge ordered Lyons to pay €75,000 in compensation to the victim.
6. #STREET-FACTOR: Dublin’s street artists will have to up their games from today as the city council introduces a new performance code to ensure quality entertainment for passers-by. Under the rules, buskers will not be allowed monopolise sites, use amps in certain places or sing after 11pm, reports the Irish Independent.
7. #SAY NO: Aer Lingus has issued a 32-page document to its shareholders, urging them to reject Ryanair’s latest takeover attempt. The group’s board believes that the cash offer “fundamentally undervalues” the airline. In its six-month results published this morning, Aer Lingus reported an 83.6 per cent reduction in its operating loss, down from €26.8 million in 2011 to €4.4 million this year.
8. #BEST HOMES: Fancy sleeping in George Best’s bed? Now you can. The late footballer’s childhood home in Belfast has been sold to a property development company which plans to let it out as self-catering holiday accommodation. According to U.TV, his family are happy with the proposal as any money made will be pumped back into the local community.
9. #WANTED: It’s probably every young boy’s dream to be the next George Best, or to have Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool fight for his signature but those aspirations have become a reality for one Irish teen. Liverpool’s latest €1 million signing is 13-year-old Dubliner Conor Masterson, reports the Star. The young Lucan United talent will move to the club he has supported for years when he turns 16.
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