Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
GOOD MORNING
The 9 at 9
Good morning! Here are nine things you should know as you start your day…
EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you need to know as you begin your day.
1. #CHILD BENEFIT There will be cuts to child benefit – but they will be gradual, latest reports suggest this morning. The Irish Times says that the government will “press ahead” with the cuts, despite protests. Cabinet is to consider the cuts sooner than anticipated, the paper says. The Daily Mail says that the cuts will be phased in gradually.
2. #COURT A 17-year-old is due in court today charged with the murder of Melanie McCarthy-MacNamara (16), who died after being shot in February. The male will appear at Tallaght District Court this morning and is the second person charged with the teenager’s murder.
3. #SUICIDE The lack of a permanent director at the National Office for Suicide Prevention has been criticised by Noel Smyth of the 3Ts (Turn the Tide of Suicide), who said that the Government needs to take the issue of suicide “a lot more seriously”, the Irish Examiner reports.
4. #JILL MEAGHER Police are continuing to look for clues into the death of Drogheda woman Jill Meagher. Emergency service vehicles have been seen tracking roadsides on the outskirts of Melbourne. Ms Meagher’s body was found in a shallow grave 50km north-west of Melbourne on 28 September and Adrian Edward Bayley (41) has been charged with her murder.
5. #BULLYING The father of teenager Ciara Pugsley, who died by suicide last month, has warned other parents of the dangers of social media. Jonathan Pugsley spoke to the Irish Independent about his daughter’s death, and said that he was “taken aback” by some of the comments he had read about Ciara online. He said that he will try to help to educate people about being safe online.
6. #PHIL HOGAN Environment Minister Phil Hogan was jeered by a crowd of thousands in his home city last night at a homecoming event for Kilkenny’s All-Ireland champion hurlers. The Fine Gael minister did not give any visible response after he received the only boos of the night as he was introduced to the stage at Nowlan Park ahead of the team’s arrival.
7. #EL PRESIDENTE President Higgins will begin his official visit to South America today. During the two-week trip, he will meet with the presidents of Brazil, Chile and Argentina. In preparation for the visit, the President and his wife Sabina completed a course in Spanish language and culture in Santander in Spain.
8. #HONG KONG At least 36 people are believed to have died after a pleasure boat collided with a ferry in Hong Kong. More than 120 passengers were on the pleasure boat to watch holiday fireworks. Poor visibility and obstacles on board made the rescue difficult, the local fire service department said.
9. #CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope Benedict XVI’s former butler is on trial in one of the most damaging scandals of his pontificate. Paolo Gabriele is to be questioned on the stand today, accused of stealing documents and giving them to a journalist.
- New! The Dredge: Christina Aguilera never made ‘fat girl’ comments – The day’s best celebrity dirt over on The Daily Edge>
