Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you really need to know with your morning coffee.
1. #RESHUFFLE: The speculation in all the newspapers this morning centres on how the Taoiseach – who survived last night’s crucial confidence motion – will fill Micheal Martin’s position, following his resignation. It’s suggested Cowen might hold a wider reshuffle ahead of the election. Much attention is given to the relationship between Brian Lenihan and the Taoiseach, following Brian Lenihan’s insistence that he never sought a heave against Cowen; claims other Fianna Fáil deputies – including Sean Power, John McGuinness and Michael Kennedy – have said are simply not true. Details are also emerging about what really happened at yesterday’s crucial meeting. Senan Moloney in the Mail reports that Micheal Martin spoke “a little too robotically”, and that Mary Hanafin spoke only for a few seconds, and managed to avoid saying how she would vote, while Eamonn O’Cuiv was reported to be fiery and passionate.
2. #MICHAELA: A fourth man has been arrested on charges on conspiracy in connection with the murder of Michaela McAreavey. Police investigators are pursuing the theory that he may have been working as part of a crime ring operating out of the hotel, where she was killed while on honeymoon. The other three who have been charged in connection with the murder of the 27-year-old are also due back in court today. One of them is likely to seek bail, but it will be opposed by police, an investigating officer has told TheJournal.ie.
3. #GE11: The date of the general election is to be discussed today at a meeting between Brian Cowen and John Gormely, RTE reports.
4. #AER LINGUS: Up to ten flights will be cancelled today, as the dispute over the implementation of new rosters at Aer Lingus escalates. Affected routes include Frankfurt, Malaga, Madrid and Heathrow. “The sole responsibility for these cancellations, and the corresponding disruption to customers’ travel plans, lies with Impact trade union members who continue to take industrial action despite 15 months of negotiation, agreement, clarification, conciliation and binding arbitration,” a statement issued by Aer Lingus claims.
5. #TWINS: The three month old baby boy who was in a critical condition yesterday after being hospitalised with a brain bleed and suspected rib fractures has begun to breathe on his own, although he’s still described as critical, it’s reported this morning. The Irish Times adds that the HSE has obtained interim care orders for the twins, as the garda investigation into how they sustained their injuries continues.
6. #SWINE FLU: The HSE is asking all pregnant women who got the swine flu jab to return for the full flu vaccine, after evidence emerged that influenza B is a significant cause of death in pregnant women, the Irish Times reports. Influenza B is reponsible for one in five flu cases in Ireland. Meawhile, two seriously ill swine flu patients have been flown to Denmark by the HSE for treatment, the Independent reports. But there is some good news for those concerned about swine flu: a study in China suggests that deaths can be prevented by giving seriously ill patients blood plasma from patients who have recovered.
7. #SAOIRSE: The family of five-year-old Saoirse Heffernan, who suffered from the rare Batten’s disease have said their daughter, who died in their arms yesterday at 1am, “has grown her angel wings and is now free from pain”. The family’s hopes had been raised after they appeared on the Late Late Show to raise funds which allowed them to bring her to America to take part in medical trials. However, the little girl narrowly missed the acceptance criteria, the Irish Daily Mail reports.
8. #GIFFORDS: The husband of Gabrielle Giffords, astronaut Mark Kelly, has spoken of how he believed for about 20 minutes that she was dead, having heard a mistaken TV news report that she had been fatally injured. Giffords is making good progress in hospital.
9.#WARDROBE MALFUNCTION: Venus Williams won her second round match against Sandra Zahlavova in the Australian Open – but that’s not why she’s making headlines today. It’s her unusual, Jean Byrne-inspired slasher dress that’s generating attention…
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