Metro Herald, January 9, 2014 by Metro Herald

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Racing to be stylish

Sportswear competes to get sexy »p15

Bus taken off road over fake syringes

A DUBLIN BUS was taken out of by joanne ahern service after what were thought to be drug needles and blood was found in sengers transferred on to another bus. ‘The vehicle was then brought to its the upstairs cabin by a passenger. At least three plastic syringes and garage and thoroughly cleaned as per red liquid on the floor and side of the the strict guidelines that are in place.’ A spokeswoman added that Dublin bus can be seen in a photograph which Bus has downloaded the CCTV footemerged on social media. The bus company confirmed a age from the bus and is investigating. Tony Geoghegan of the Merchant’s number of ‘liquid medicine dispensers’ were found on a 39A bus, which Quay drug treatment service said the serves the UCD Belfield to Ongar scene was ‘a bit unusual’ for a drug route, after the photograph emerged user as there appeared to be liquid, and on the ‘Spotted: On Dublin Bus’ Fa- by extension ‘drugs’, still in the syringes and that there were no needles. cebook page on Tuesday. ‘It wouldn’t be indicative of people By yesterday evening the picture had attracted nearly 300 comments, injecting, there wouldn’t be as much 1,000 likes and had been shared near- blood unless it was wantonly sprayed around,’ he said. ly 150 times. He added that his organisation However, many posters suggested the dispensers were just novelty alco- has not seen an increase in the hol syringe shots which can be bought number of drug users in the at off-licences and that the ‘blood’ city centre, but added that they are was not real. probably Dublin Bus did not more visible comment on the red because of the liquid last night, but number of confirmed there were people sleepno needles with the ing rough. dispensers. Last month It said the driver imIrish Rail mediately followed launched an investhe protocol for such tigation after a young incidents when made boy travelling on the aware of it. Dart with his parents The firm added: was pricked with ‘The driver informed what was thought to Operations Control, be a used syringe left the vehicle was imbetween the seat and mediately taken out the carriage wall. of service and pas- Stop the bus: Plastic syringes

Swimming for his supper Perhaps it’s their equivalent of iced buns, but Nanuq the polar bear wasn’t being choosy when an ice cake made of frozen fish, meat and fruit came his way in Hanover Zoo picture: epa

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The proportion of drivers who admit to momentarily dozing at the wheel, with seven per cent falling asleep when driving, according to a Brake/ Direct Line survey Ireland’s rate of newsprint recycling is now up to 79%. Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you.

Today is...

Feast of the Black Nazarene Manila in the Philippines will come to a standstill today as millions join the procession which has witnessed injuries and even deaths

From the archives (2013):

Fizzy drinks ‘linked to depression’

Downing four cans of sparkling drinks a day raises the risk of mental illness by 30 per cent, while the same amount of squash increases it by 38 per cent, new research linking fizzy drinks and fruit squashes with depression has found.

Today’s birthdays

Brian Friel, playwright, 85; Joan Baez, singer, 73; Jimmy Page, musician, 70; Ray Houghton, footballer, 52; Sergio Garcia, golfer, 34; Paolo Nutini, singer, 27 (right).

CloCkword

The solutions from 1 to 12 are all sixletter words ending with the letter M in the centre. Moving clockwise from 1, the letters in the outer circle will spell out the name of a Croatia-born US actor.

9. Noncommissioned officer (Inf.) 10. Discarded cargo 11. ‘Previously cited’ 12. Habit

1. White crystalline substance 2. Serpent worship 3. At hazard 4. Entrance hall 5. Naturism 6. Void 7. Soft metallic element 8. Rarely

Yesterday’s solution: Robert Downey

Weather Weather Today

Max: 9°c

Scattered showers in the west and north during the day, but elsewhere mainly dry with sunny intervals. Temperatures between 6°C to 9°C in moderate westerly winds.

Derry

6�C

Donegal

7�C

6�C

Cavan

Galway

6�C

Athlone

Dublin

7�C

9�C

Tipperary Waterford

Tralee

Cork

Tonight

Belfast

8�C

8�C Sunrise: 8.37am Sunset: 4.27pm

Min: -1°c

Starting mainly dry and temperatures will fall to below freezing over eastern areas. However, cloud will thicken in the west and rain will develop there, spreading eastwards. Temperatures between -1°C to 3°C in southerly winds.

EUROPE today

Tomorrow It'll start out dull and damp in many places, but the rain will clear eastwards in the early afternoon with some brightness developing for a time. Temperatures between 5°C to 9°C in light southwesterly winds.

6�C 6�C 7�C 7�C

8�C

5�C 8�C 9�C Max: 9°c

Athens

18 °c

Barcelona

15 °c

Berlin

12 °c 12 °c

Brussels London Geneva Madrid Paris Rome

11 °c 11 °c 16 °c 12 °c 14 °c

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

New beer that promises to make you a bit Viking angers animal rights groups

Sea sick? Anyone who tries the new ‘whale ale’ will be a ‘true Viking’, say its maker PICTURE: faCEbook

A pint of real whale, landlord

Real ale connoisseurs who think they’ve tried every drink in the land can now sample a taste of the ocean. They will soon be able to raise a toast to a new drink on the market which contains actual whale meat. Before you turn your nose up, Icelandic maker Stedji promises it will make anyone who downs the 5.2 per cent concoction a ‘true Viking’. The brew doesn’t go on sale until later this month so we haven’t been

by DANIEL BINNS

able to try it for ourselves but Stedji boss Dagbjartur ariliusson insisted – perhaps unsurprisingly – that it was delicious. He claimed the dark-coloured tipple was healthy because it was rich in protein and contained almost no sugar. ‘It has a smoked caramel taste, with a barbecued whale meat undertone and aftertaste,’ he told Metro Herald.

The drink has been criticised by animal rights campaigners, with Peta calling it ‘vomit-inducing’. Whale and Dolphin Conservation campaigner Vanessa Williams-Grey added: ‘Reducing a beautiful, sentient whale to an ingredient on the side of a beer bottle is about as immoral and

outrageous as it is possible to get.’ But a defiant Mr ariliusson said: ‘It is an old tradition here in Iceland where people gather and celebrate, as we’ve done for many centuries, and eat cured, salted food – including whale fat. ‘Now we have the beer to drink with this food.’

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METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

Record €10bn of food and drink exports are revealed

SCHOOL’S OUT: Students from Beara Community School, Cork, who conducted an investigation into homophobic attitudes in Irish teenagers for the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, met President Michael Higgins and his wife Sabine at the RDS yesterday Picture: PA

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Troubles unit plan is deemed ‘too costly’ THE Northern Irish government has been urged to commit funding to policing in Northern Ireland rather than pursue a ‘fanciful’ investigation unit to examine Troubles-related killings. US diplomat Dr Richard Haass (pictured) proposed two new bodies, which included an Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) in place of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Historical Enquiries Team (HET) and an Independent Commission on Information Recovery. But the Democratic Unionist Party’s Ian Paisley told Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers there was already a shortfall of more than €100million on security.

IRELAND’S food and drink exports by SARAH STACk reached a record €10billion last year. Exports of food and drink to other Bord Bia recorded a nine per cent increase in the amount of goods going EU markets increased by 11 per cent overseas in 2013, including €3bn – reaching €3.2bn – with the key worth of dairy products and ingredi- markets of Germany, France and the ents, €3.3bn in livestock and €1.65bn Netherlands all recording double digit growth. of prepared foods. Elsewhere, exports to China grew Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the growth has brought ex- by over 40 per cent, with values treport values in the Irish food and drink bling over the last three years to reach €390m. It is now Ireland’s sixth largsector to record levels. ‘This leading performance in what est market overall, driven in particular by strong dairy was a challenging and pork exports. year for the industry Growth in Irish Bord Bia boss highlights the key Aidan Cotter said role of agri-food, exports since 2009 annual highlights Ireland’s largest indigenous sector, in underpinning ex- include the double digit growth in ports and economic activity,’ he said. dairy and beef export values, the Describing the export values of al- strong recovery in sales to eurozone most €10bn as ‘really impressive’, destinations, and the exceptional perMr Coveney said they ‘demonstrate formance of the industry in China. IFA president John Bryan said the the clear benefit of investing in a sector with proven resilience, a signifi- record food and drink figures are furcant domestic economic footprint and ther proof of the ability of the agriculture sector to play a central role in strong ability to grow.’ The UK remains the largest export Ireland’s economic recovery. ‘We are well on track to deliver the destination for Irish food and drink, accounting for 42 per cent and an Food Harvest 2020 target of €12bn in food exports’, Mr Bryan added. estimated €4.1bn.

40%

Unemployment rate at Cork councillor latest lowest since mid-2009

to leave Labour Party CORK councillor Jerry Mullally has joined colleague Dermot Looney in resigning from the Labour Party. Both men cited dissatisfaction with the junior coalition party as a reason behind their decision. Mr Looney, a 31-year-old teacher who is the current mayor of South Dublin, will retain his seat on the council as well as his mayorship. He said he will run in the May local elections as an independent. Meanwhile, Mallow-based Mr Mullally has also said he intends to run as an independent in the upcoming election. Labour has lost 28 councillors since it joined Fine Gael in Government in 2011.

THE unemployment rate has continued to fall slightly. Official figures show the number of people signing on the Live Register for benefits fell by 28,322 over the course of last year, with the total number of people on the dole at 395,411, or 12.4 per cent – the lowest since June 2009. The Central Statistics Office also showed the number of people signing on for a year or more was down four per cent over the year to 179,621. The number of men on the register in December was 245,721 compared

to 149,690 women. It also showed under-25s on the dole now make up almost 15 per cent of the total signing on and the figure has fallen by less than one per cent over the course of the year. Isme, representing small and medium-sized firms, says long-term claimants account for a ‘stubborn’ 45 per cent of all those on the dole. ‘Anomalies in the welfare system must be addressed to create an environment where it is always economically advantageous for people to work,’ a spokesperson said.

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

Parents ask court to remand troubled teenager THE worried parents of a 13-year-old boy facing a motor theft charge yesterday asked a court to detain him so he can get help for behavioural problems. The Dublin Children’s Court heard the boy, who was given bail, has oppositional defiant disorder, obsessive compulsive behaviour, language impairment and other behavioural difficulties. His parents were told by Judge John O’Connor

that if they had been bad parents the HSE would be more concerned about their son, whom they cannot control. In light of his age, special directions need to be obtained from the DPP to confirm if his prosecution is to proceed. The court heard that the parents of the boy were concerned he was involved in criminality and had consented to his being remanded to Oberstown young offenders centre. However, the court heard

there was no place available in Oberstown. Judge O’Connor ordered the boy, who has not yet entered a plea, to reside with his parents, obey a curfew and to stay away from parts of Dublin and from another youth, or bail would be revoked. ‘Judge, does this mean he is being released into our custody again?’ asked the boy’s father. ‘Yes replied the judge,’ who said he noted the parents’ concerns. The case will resume next week.

Lauren called air hostess ‘a f****** ugly blonde bitch’ by sARAH sTAck

Plying their trad… Eclectic Latvian cello trio Melo-M were on Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge yesterday for the launch of TempleBar Tradfest. Running from January 22-26, it will feature Irish and international acts over five days at 40 venues, with more than 200 free events. www.templebartrad.com Picture: Photocall

THE niece of fashion designer Ralph Lauren pushed an air hostess and verbally abused crew during an air rage incident over the Atlantic Ocean, a court heard yesterday. Jennifer Lauren was fined €2,000 after pleading guilty to breaching the peace and being drunk on board a Delta Air Lines flight which had to be diverted to Shannon Airport on Monday afternoon. More than 200 passengers and crew were on board the Barcelona to JFK flight when the jewellery designer became abusive and threatening. Ennis District Court in Co Clare was told the 41year-old told an air hostess to ‘get the f*** out of my face’, calling her a ‘f****** ugly, blonde bitch’ before pushing her and turning on a senior colleague and calling a pilot ‘an a**hole’. Solicitor Sharon Curley said Lauren (pictured) was upset and embarrassed by her ‘out of character’ actions caused by a reaction from mixing alcohol with her medication for depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. The incident cost Delta $43,158 (€31,770). Judge Patrick Durcan described the ‘very personal insults’ directed at the two air hostesses and pilot ‘as nothing short of reprehensible’. Earlier the court heard when Lauren was arrested by gardaí, she replied: ‘Can you say that in English please?’. She later claimed she thought she had landed in Spain. When Lauren, who has little memory of the incident despite consuming only three alcoholic drinks, ‘returned to herself’ she was unable to believe what happened, the judge was told.

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Luas commutes at record high THE Luas network carried a record number of commuters last year. The number of passengers carried on Dublin’s trams in 2013 was 30.5million, up from 29.3m in 2012 – an increase of four per cent – according to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) and the National Transport Authority. RPA chief Rory O’Connor said the figures are ‘hugely encouraging’ and praised the staff at Luas operator Transdev.

2 arrested over Dublin killing TWO people have been arrested as part of a murder investigation into the death of a man at a senior citizens’ housing complex in Dublin. A post-mortem examination of Thomas Horan, 63, revealed he died from internal injuries. His body was discovered at his flat in Cambridge Court, Irishtown on Monday. A 27year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were being questioned at Donnybrook and Irishtown Garda stations last night.

Offaly murder victim was shot GARDAí have confirmed that Offaly murder victim Christy Daly suffered a number of gunshot wounds. The 47-year-old Traveller’s body was discovered in a drain on bogland at Bog Road, Killbride, Clara, on Tuesday, near his burnt-out caravan. Gardaí in Tullamore are appealing to anyone who heard gunshots in the vicinity between December 29 and January 7 to contact them.

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METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

Fury as police are cleared of Duggan death by AiDAN RADNEDGE tHe family of the man whose death sparked a summer of rioting across Britain last night claimed police had got away with ‘executing’ him after an inquest ruled Mark Duggan was lawfully killed, even though jurors accepted he threw away his gun before officers fired the lethal shot. they shouted abuse and smashed furniture inside London’s High Court when the verdict was read out and tried to kick down the coroner’s office door. their supporters chanted ‘no justice, no peace’ and ‘F*** the police’, swarming around the Metropolitan Police’s assistant commissioner Mark rowley as he tried to speak outside the court. Mr Duggan’s aunt, Carol, declared: ‘the majority of people in this country know Mark was executed. He was executed and we still believe that.’ the 29-year-old was shot dead in tottenham, London, in August 2011, sparking riots which spread across the country. Jurors accepted that officers were in

fear for their lives when they opened fire. But the family said it would push for a judicial review. Lawyer Marcia Willis stewart said: ‘no gun in his hand and yet he was shot – murdered.’ Duggan: Shot Mr Duggan’s mother, Pamela, said: ‘Whoever has a child, whatever colour, whatever age, take care of them because this is not going to stop. Lock up your children.’ Last night, extra police were on stand-by in case of signs of unrest. Yesterday, the Duggan family denied police claims he played a leading role in the notorious star gang. Photographs shared online show the father of six making ‘gangsta’ gun gestures. However, his mother said Mr Duggan was a family man who’d rather play with his children than go out on the street. ‘His kids idolise him, they keep saying: “Where’s my daddy? What happened to my daddy?”’.

Ex-Premier League footballer comes out

Hitz-man: Thomas Hitzlsperger in action for Aston Villa

PiCture: swns

FORMER Aston Villa and Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger yesterday announced he was gay. But the ex-international, who won 52 caps for Germany, said homosexuality remained taboo in football. The 31-year-old is the most prominent footballer to come out after former US international Robbie Rogers, Swedish defender Anton Hysén and the late England international Justin Fashanu. Speaking to Die Zeit, he said: ‘I’ve never been ashamed of the way I am. I’m coming out because I want to move the discussion about homosexuality among sportspeople forwards.’ Hitzlsperger, who retired in September following an injuryplagued season, split with fiancée Inga Totzauer a month before they were due to marry in 2007, after eight years together. But he said yesterday he only realised ‘in the past few years’ he would ‘prefer to live together with another man’. QPR midfielder Joey Barton tweeted: ‘Thomas Hitzlsperger has shown a lot of courage today. Sad times when people have to wait till they retire before they feel other people will judge them solely on who the human being is. Shame on all of us as a society.’

wholly thursday

Crystal ball gazer KEN ROGAN looks ahead to the innovations which he predicts will bring us new hope in 2014

reetings fellow earthlings and welcome to 2014, the future has arrived – just like it does every January, when we limply resolve to do better and be more, or be more and do better, or detox like a bedwetter, while going cold turkey (from cold turkey). Yet far from being the festival of depression and forbearance that everyone moans about, January is the one time where we look at the year ahead via that most unfashionable of sentiments: optimism. so what can we expect of 2014? the world will be newer. it’s a certainty. things that have not happened will definitely occur – and there’s nothing you can do to stop it, unless you invest in some wearable technology that ensures you are a part of what happens so that you can be there, while not really being there, as you record the experience to experience it later, in the comfort of your own home. Your DVr for life has arrived. Bring the gadgets! the wrist monitors that tell you how many steps you took, how many breaths you breathed, and how many heartbeats you have left. My own

but actual free material goods? plan is to invent a monitor for Well no, not immediately. it dirty thoughts – a phallic thing currently takes a mere 27 hours for strapped to your forehead that a 3D printer to produce a luminous will, every time you think about green plasticine salt shaker, and sex, spring upwards. You know. Like a drawbridge. Only discreet. free market capitalism isn’t dead to be serious for a moment, yet – we will still have to buy some and i really do mean for only a sort of ‘stuff’ that the printers can transform into objects. sentence or two, the most Doubtless this ‘stuff’ will be fascinating bit of tech coming derived from <insert raw down the track isn’t some material here> which privacy-melting can only be found in thought-cannon; <insert central it’s the 3D Blue Monday is printer. this is African country not new – but past. And so is Orange here> thereby ensuring that the it is rare, and Wednesday, now that Congo (until that’s what they change its might we have a ‘war on name again, like change. terror’ colour-coded a mental health And the condition they’re implications are weather alert immense. instead keeping you slightly system in the dark about) will of buying objects, remain in a state of we will buy designs and perpetual civil war until industry print the objects in 3D, which has hollowed out the entire means no more postage. Or Amazon. though it does beg the continent. But that’s centuries away. Here in question: can’t we just share 2014, we have more pressing these designs with each other concerns – like climate change, in and bring the curtain down case you hadn’t noticed (which, on ‘buying’ once and for all? owing to a magnificent summer, Are we on the cusp of a has been reclassified in ireland as ‘Piratebay.org’ for real things? not just free music and movies, ‘good weather’). For now though,

“

storms buffet our coast like our emigrants buffet Canadian airports. But on a positive note, Blue Monday is past us already. And so is Orange Wednesday, now that we have a ‘war on terror’ colour-coded weather alert system. Of course, the real solution to climate change is to put pressure on the gadget creators to make that quantum leap in transport. We need to find a new world fast and cross the span of space quickly, before the effects of zero gravity can dissolve our bones and turn us into high functioning amoebae. Admit it. it’s more likely than a ban on fossil fuels. And space is hot right now, thanks to the relentlessly chipper Canadian astronaut, Han solo Chris Hadfield, who sang Bowie to us from space. And his book is great. Hadfield is as meticulous and methodical as your 3D printer, and twice as patient, and the whole field of space exploration is profoundly inspiring, demonstrating as it does humanity’s capacity to work together and employ every sphere of knowledge to look beyond ourselves. this is just the sort of thing we need in the new Year – a renewed sense of purpose. A new hope. @kenrogan

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

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METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

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Gravity puts pressure on 12 Years A Slave for Bafta

TWO Oscar-tipped films are set to go neck and neck in the race for glory this year after picking up 21 nominations between them at the Baftas. Space drama Gravity and the historical epic 12 Years A Slave were yesterday installed as joint favourites to sweep the board in Britain’s equivalent of the Hollywood awards ceremony. British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery in America’s deep south, is ‘virtually nailed on’ to win the leading actor gong, according to bookmakers William Hill. Film critic Mark Kermode said: ‘His

by AiDAn RADnEDgE performance in 12 Years A Slave is absolutely outstanding, although he’s up against Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips – that’s going to be a pretty tough title fight.’ The pair face competition from Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio and Bruce Dern. Ejiofor said he was ‘immensely proud’ of the recognition the film has received from around the world. ‘There is, of course, something particularly special about receiving a Bafta nomination from home,’ he added. Irish actor Michael Fassbender has

been nominated for a Supporting Actor Bafta for his role in 12 Years A Slave. Gravity is expected to provide it with the main competition for prizes, according to Kermode. The outer space thriller picked up 11 nominations – one more than 12 Years A Slave – with Sandra Bullock hopeful of picking up best actress gong against Judi Dench, Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett and Emma Thompson. Also up for best film are Philomena, the story of an Irish woman who gives her baby up for adoption in the 1905s, and American Hustle. Winners will be announced at the Royal Opera House in Tipped: Sandra Bullock in Gravity London on February 16.

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Brokeback Mountain star Jake Gyllenhaal is back on the market after ditching model girlfriend Alyssa Miller. The actor, 33, called a halt to his sixmonth romance with the Victoria’s Secret stunner, 24, late last year, according to an insider. ‘They fizzled out,’ the source told Us Weekly yesterday. When Jake left LA to film his new movie Nightcrawler in New York the ‘distance got to them’, the source added.

Party girl Ke$ha to get help with booze Troubled pop babe Ke$ha’s love of drinking has apparently caught up with her – with sources claiming she is being treated for alcohol problems as well as her eating disorder. The singer – who boasted of waking up and brushing her teeth with Jack Daniel’s in hit tune Tik Tok – is said to be cleaning up her act after her camp grew concerned. ‘Those closest to her had become increasingly worried about her drinking,’ an insider said. ‘It’s been the stuff of legend in the past and she’s never hidden the fact that she loves to drink.

Courting controversy: Fresh from a basketball ‘date’ with Rihanna, Cara Delevingne was snapped putting on an amorous display with bisexual US actress Michelle Rodriguez. The 21year-old seemed to love the attention as the Fast & Furious Star snuggled into her arm and flirted outrageously.

Now, though, part of her bid to get healthy is to get completely healthy – and that will involve looking at her abuse of alcohol. Some of her advisers had raised this in the past.’ Ke$ha, 26, went to a rehab clinic in Chicago last week to get help with her eating disorder, telling fans she needed to ‘learn to love myself again – exactly as I am’. She is said to be undergoing a 30-day treatment programme to tackle all her issues. A spokesman for the star was unavailable to comment on the latest developments.

Leo ‘terrified’ by close encounter with shark

LiLo’s ‘naked Selfie panic’ as laptop missing

Lindsay Lohan is terrified naked pictures of her will end up on the web after her laptop was stolen at an airport. She is also worried messages sent to her by Lady Gaga and Woody Allen will be leaked, gossip site TMZ reported. The 27-year-old was

waiting to fly home after the Sohu Fashion Achievement Awards in Shanghai when the computer vanished. She has offered a reward for its return. The nude pictures are rumoured to include selfies by LiLo and unpublished images from photo shoots.

It’s official – Leonardo DiCaprio is a mouthwatering specimen... to a great white shark, at least. The Wolf Of Wall Street star, 39, has revealed a shark ‘chomped’ at him during a ‘terrifying’ experience when he went cage-diving with the man-eating beasts. DiCaprio told the Ellen DeGeneres show of his ordeal, which happened while he was filming the movie Blood Diamond in South Africa in 2006. ‘I actually got stuck in a cage with a shark,’ he said.

‘It was a gigantic great white. They actually said, “In 30 years this has never happened”.’ He added: ‘A tuna kind of got stuck on the top of the cage and the great white leapt out and tried to bite it and went into the cage with me. Half of its body was in and out, and I’m flattened down at the bottom. It chomped a few times but I survived it.’ The three-time Oscar nominee now has a fear of sharks. ‘It was absolutely terrifying,’ he admitted.

January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

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Top model Nadia Forde had a dramatic day on Tuesday, missing the evening performancee of the Tivoli panto Jack And The Beanstalk. Nadia w’s 7.30pm curtain. But due to bad weather was travelling from Belfast and had left more than enough time to get to Dublin for the show’s ole as the Ditzy Fairy at the eleventh hour. and an accident on the route she was unable to make it in time. A stand-in was found for her role

Lott: It’s nice to be back with Nasty P

ixie Lott says she is ready to smash her way back into the charts as she prepares to debut her new single Nasty on live tV tonight. the singer – who turns 23 on Sunday – also revealed her boyfriend oliver Cheshire, 25, has made it easy for her to write and record music about love on her upcoming third album. ‘it’s my first time writing from the actual experience of being in a relationship. it has really helped,’ she told me, adding she has found writing

by sEAMus Duff from the heart easy to do. ‘i can relate to every aspect of what i’m singing – the good times and the bad times. ‘i love writing about things that i experience. it makes songs greater,’ she said. And while Lott has beauty and music talent in spades, it would seem her model boyfriend has only his looks. ‘oliver can’t sing! He tries. He thinks he is a bit of a DJ and he loves music, but he’s not really a singer.

Iggy Azalea has shunned the usual new year resolutions of getting more exercise or eating healthily. The 23-year-old has vowed to ‘find a cute stray puppy that poops in human toilets and speaks to me with telekinesis’. On a more sensible note, she also tweeted that she wanted to ‘get a tennis coach, learn to speak Spanish, get my drivers license, practice sketching, be a better cook’.

We’ve never even done karaoke. Will he be stealing my thunder? No!’ she laughed. Lott will be performing Nasty during the Brits Are Coming nomion UtV tonight as the nomi nees for the 2014 Brit Awards are unveiled. ‘it’s a funky, soulful track that is very up tempo and fresh,’’ she said of the single, which she had to fight for after it was originally recorded –but ultimately rejected – by Christina Aguilera. w other singers had recorded it ‘A few eryand Christina was one of them so everyone wanted this song,’’ she added. ‘When i heard other singers had done it i thought, “i need to get this!” be‘it was a difficult song to get be cause there are so manyy old-school samples on it, like James Brown, that yright on. But i are hard to clear copyright got it and now w it is my new single. single.’

Younger men remain in vogue for Madonna Madonna has pr prompted rumours that she’s she’ traded in one toyboy love lover for another – by inviting one of her backing dancers on a family holiday to Switzerland. The queen of pop took Dutch-bor Dutch-born Timor Steffens skiing with her childr children and was spotted with the 26year year-old at Rudolph Valentino’ Valentino’s new year party in Gstaad, it has emer emerged. Madge, 55, split only last month

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from another of her dancers – 25year-old Brahim Zaibat – but was said to be getting cosy at the bash with her latest muscular young companion. ‘The chemistry between them was pretty intense,’ a source told website Radar. ‘Madonna was hinting that she likes Timor because he’s a natural with her children. She had a little smile on her face whenever she watched him goofing around with the kids.’

10 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

in focus D

news@metroherald.ie

Seeking the truth about the sins of the fathers P

ope FRANCIS last month delivered his first Christmas Day speech to thousands of followers in St peter’s Square. He highlighted the lives ‘shattered’ in Syria, Iraq and the Israel-palestine conflict, and called for an end to ‘further suffering’. But simply wishing for ‘world peace’ is for Miss World contestants – the leader of one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential bodies has the power to instigate real change. A Vatican delegation is due to appear before the UN’s committee on the rights of the child at a hearing in Geneva on January 16. It is examining allegations of child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy around the world and an alleged system of cover-ups by the Holy See. Campaigners say pope Francis and the Church have a clear opportunity to help victims whose lives have been shattered by child abuse and prevent further suffering. When appointed in March 2013

Pope Francis I

Veronica Yates, director of Child Rights International Network, said: ‘This is the first time the Holy See has been pressed on child sexual abuse by the world’s children’s rights body, and that is of international significance. ‘We know child abuse happens in other closed institutions. ‘But what’s unique about the Catholic Church is the Holy See is a UN state that’s voluntarily signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a legally binding document that includes, among others, a child’s right to protection from violence and sexual abuse.’ Ms Yates was critical of how the Church has dealt with the problem in the past, such as the ‘geographical cure’ designed ‘to relocate, forget and sweep under the rug, cases of child abuse to protect the institution’. There are numerous examples of accused priests being transferred to dioceses in other parts of the world, Ms Yates added. But does she think anything can be The proportion of Catholics in Europe has declined from

told the world that dealing with

sex abuse

was vital for the Church’s credibility

38.5% in 1970

There are

23.7%

in 2012

1.2bn Roman Catholics around the world

While Africa has seen an increase from

More than

40%

of the world’s Catholics live in Latin America

45m

in 1970

176m in 2012

Brazil has the highest population of Catholics in the world –

123m

Africa has seen the biggest growth in Catholic congregations in recent years In 1970 it was home to

6.8% of the world’s Catholics

Now it is home to

been given to ensure cases are reported to police. The Church has suggested, if pushed too hard, it could terminate or withdraw from the UN treaty. Criticism from the UN would be ‘It’s not the reputation of the damaging as it tries to present a new achieved by the UN investigation? ‘We believe the UN committee Church which matters most – it’s image. But the UN committee has will give strong recommendations the damage done to victims and no legal powers to punish guilty to the Holy See to change its laws survivors which is the Church’s parties or impose reform. and policies, so child abusers can principal concern. peter Saunders, chief executive of ‘It’s significant the group of eight the Britain’s National Association be punished and can no longer hide behind a cloak of secrecy,’ cardinals commissioned by pope for people Abused in Childhood, Francis to help with reforms in the said: ‘Most victims of abuse will added Ms Yates. ‘We hope the review will also Church have made their first take some convincing that the give victims the courage and proposal the setting up of a Church is serious about this issue opportunities to come forward and safeguarding commission in the and will need to see mighty things seek justice for the crimes they’ve Vatican, which reflects how seriously happen to consider they’ve received pope Francis takes the issue of child any form of “justice”. suffered.’ abuse,’ he added. ‘Without the Catholic Church ‘It will be important the agreeing to hand over their He Catholic Church has been too slow to tackle the commission is open, transparent information about abusing clergy, problem and successive and robust.’ the whole thing would be pointless But the Holy See has refused to and I believe the Vatican’s already popes have apologised to victims, said Danny provide details to the UN on its refused to do this.’ Sullivan, chairman of the UK’s investigations into abuse by priests, Although the Catholic Church is National Catholic Safeguarding how it was making sure known being singled out, allegations of abusers were kept away from abuse have also been made against Commission. children and what guidelines have Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Quakers – along with secular Bishops in archdioceses across organisations, the US received sexual abuse said Mr complaints from more than Saunders, who highlighted the recent priests between revelations about 1950 and 2011 the BBC. He has firsthand experience on this issue – A German Catholic priest, he was abused known as Andreas L, at a Catholic admitted in 2012 to boys’ school in London. His older counts of sexual abuse brother was involving three boys abused by the over a decade same priest, which he said led to heroin The UN Committee on and alcohol The Catholic Church in Italy the Rights of the Child addiction. admitted in 2010 that about sent a comprehensive He hopes the questionnaire to the UN committee Holy See in July 2012 asking remembers the cases of paedophile priests for detailed information victims. ‘I had been reported in 10 years about all sexual abuse survived, but cases brought to the Mike died from Vatican since 1995. the addictions The Vatican refused, that set in from saying the cases were A report in Ireland in the abuse he the responsibility of the 2009 found sexual and judicial systems of suffered for psychological abuse was countries where abuse years,’ he said. took place, leading ‘endemic’ ‘This is the real to accusations of hiding in Catholic-run schools cost of abuse.’

Representatives of the Vatican will next week appear at a United Nations committee investigating decades of child abuse. But will the Catholic Church comply or resort to covering up its past failures? GRAEME GREEN reports.

6,000

280

100

Italy has the most Catholics in Europe –

57m

15.2% Sources: World Christian Database, BishopAccountability.org, Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse

behind legal technicalities

and orphanages for much of the 20th century

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

12 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

World

digest

Obama ‘wanted out of war’ Body lay in house for years

AMERicA: Barack Obama sent extra troops to Afghanistan in 2009 despite wanting to pull out of the war, according to his former defence secretary. The president (pictured) listened to bad advice from deputy Joe Biden, claims Robert Gates in a new book.

and finally...

SPAiN: A builder inspecting a house that was scheduled for demolition discovered the owner dead in bed. Neighbours in Bilbao wrongly assumed the woman had moved to an old people’s home. She died in 2011 aged 76, said doctors who examined the corpse. Her bills had been paid through direct debit.

2nd military chopper crash Evidence against Nazi lost AMERicA: A US military helicopter crashed in last night off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia. The crash happened less than 24 hours after a Pave Hawk crashed in Norfolk, England, killing four crew members. Four of those involved in the Virginia crash were rescued but one later died. Rescuers were searching for a fifth person.

GERMANY: Former SS soldier Siert Bruins saw his war crimes trial scrapped. The 92-year-old (pictured) was accused of killing a Dutch civilian he believed was a resistance fighter in 1944. Too much evidence had been lost, a judge sitting in Hagen ruled.

HONG KONG: Staff dismantle a giant sushi mosaic built to mark their restaurant’s tenth birthday at a mall Picture: AP

cHiNA: Rail staff being abused by passengers over seat shortages during the country’s spring break have received a giant punchbag to relieve stress. Call centre workers in Beijing handle up to 30,000 complaints a day from travellers, but risk being fired if they are not polite.

Prosecutors rule out action after Schumacher’s fall on ski slope by NicOLE LE MARiE PROSECUTORS appear to have ruled out any criminal charges over Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident because he chose to go off-piste. French police have examined footage from the former F1 champion’s head camera taken before the fall that has left him in a coma. They said he was about 9metres away from the marked route when he fell and hit his head. It was claimed managers in the Alpine resort of Meribel could face up to three years in prison because dangerous rocks on the slope were not properly marked. Commander Stephane Bozon, leading the inquiry, said: ‘Schumacher found himself in an area not marked with the dangers of the mountain.’ But there was no legal requirement for the ‘virgin territory’ to be marked, because it was clearly off-piste, he added. The footage from the helmet camera shows Schumacher, 45, travelling at the

speed of ‘a very good skier’ when he hit a rock and fell between a clearly marked red and blue ski run, investigators said. Albertville prosecutor Patrick Quincy said: ‘Mr F1: Schumacher Schumacher is evidently an extremely good skier, but one of his skis hit a rock that was sticking out. It caused him to fall and he hit his head on the rock.’ Asked if Schumacher made a mistake before the collision, Mr Quincy replied: ‘At the current stage of the inquiry, I can’t answer that question.’ Schumacher remains in a coma at Grenoble hospital following the accident on December 29. Medics have noted a ‘slight improvement’ in the health of the seven-time F1 champion, but he remains ‘critical’ following two brain operations.

Polar vortex death toll hits 21 as the US feels big chill Follow us on Twitter: @metrohnews @metrohsport Join us on Facebook for news and updates throughout the day: facebook.com/metroherald

THE death toll from America’s deep freeze has climbed to 21. At least five people died after collapsing while shovelling snow, while several victims were identified yesterday as homeless people who did not shelter from the ‘polar vortex’. A one-year-old boy was killed in Missouri on Monday when the car

he was travelling in struck a snow plough, and a 20-year-old woman died when her car slid into the path of a tractor-trailer. All 50 US states saw freezing temperatures, including Hawaii where it was -8C (17.6F) on top of the dormant volcano Mauna Kea. Embarrass, in Minnesota, saw the lowest temperature of -37C (-34.6F).

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

NYPD officers ‘faked illness for benefits’

‘A historic event’: Dennis Rodman bows to Kim Jong-un before a basketball game against the North Korea side AP

Rodman’s birthday song to ‘best friend’ Kim BASKETBALL player Dennis Rodman has cemented his special relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by singing Happy Birthday to him. The 52year-old former Chicago Bulls star was in Pyongyang

with a squad of former NBA players for a friendly game on his ‘basketball diplomacy’ tour. Rodman also described Kim as his best friend. Human rights groups and US politicians have claimed his visit is ill-advised.

ScoreS of retired New York city police officers, firefighters and prison guards have been charged with faking psychiatric problems in order to receive disability benefits. Four ringleaders coached the officers on how falsely to describe symptoms of depression and other mental health problems, it was claimed. The officers received payouts as high as €500,000 from claims, while the ringleaders made tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks. Prosecutors say the scheme went back to 1988 and included some who said they suffered ailments after the September 11 attacks. one defendant who said he could not work taught martial arts, while another ex-officer who claimed he could not leave the house worked at a pastry stand at a street festival. More than 100 former city workers were being charged with faking psychiatric problems so severe that they could not work at all. But ‘people

by METRO HERALD sTAff who said they could barely leave their homes had robust lives out of their homes,’ an official said. Among those arrested was a retired police officer who has since worked helping members of the detectives’ union with disability claims. over the last two years, 32 people were arrested in a inquiry into Long Island rail road employees who allegedly claimed on-the-job injuries, only to be spotted later playing golf and tennis, working out, and even riding in a 400mile bicycle race. Lawyer Joseph Gentile, who represents a former police officer and a defendant in the railway case, suggested such charges are reflective of systematic problems, rather than criminality. While some people may exploit benefits, ‘by and large, people have a bona fide injury’. Mr Gentile said the question is then whether the illness or injury is enough to sustain the claim.

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14 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

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*Please include a name and location. Texts cost €0.30 per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, 4th Floor, Malt House North, Grand Canal Quay, D2. Customer service number 0818286606

Could the gamers be poking fun at study’s researchers?

have multiple complaints about yesterday’s headline article – the first is how are these ‘researchers’ getting their data? Do they have any actual methods or are they just lurking on forums for anything backing up what they are looking for? Secondly, 483 is far too small a sample size to make such damning blanket statements such as all gamers hallucinate and lose grip on reality. and forums are far from a good place to get serious data. This may shock you but those gamers were making things up to poke fun at the ‘researchers’. I am a gamer myself and have interacted with hundreds more gamers than these ‘researchers’ and none of us have ever experienced any sort of hallucination. These ‘researchers’ are clearly just

old, out-of-touch fools who are afraid of anything they don’t immediately understand and will do anything to make it seem ‘bad’. This sort of ‘research’ happens all the time and is completely discredited within months once some real scientists investigate it. Stop making gamers out to be evil. We just have different interests than you. I guarantee you that your parents once hated whatever you enjoyed just because they didn’t understand it! Grow up and stop spreading these lies. Some nutjobs are going to read that headline and then there’s going to be chaos as they go on an insane crusade against ‘the evils of games’ or something like that. I thought this newspaper had some standards. Obviously I was wrong. Daniel Kinane, Greystones

gOOD On yA ● To the wonderful man and his father who helped me and my mother when we ran out of petrol on the Finglas dual carriageway on Christmas Eve. I hope you have a very happy and healthy new year. Most grateful ● Thanks Lou, for all the kind words to keep me going. You may smell funny, but you are very kind. JR

RAnDOM ACTs Of kinDnEss

in yOuR fACE It’s their World Cup so their rules. Jon L McEvoy If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the.... oh wait.. Susan Phelan Yes, shouldn’t even be held there in first place. Do they have a separate viewing area for women or can they attend at all? Crazy! Katharine Gibney

Quick pic

FESTIVE FREEZE: Cormac Connolly sent in this picture of his friend John Redmond doing the Dollymount Drop on Christmas Day for charity. Brrr... Send your photos to pictures@ metroherald.ie with ‘Quick pic’ as the subject and we will print the best each day in the paper

■ Dear Metro herald, I found the article on hallucinating gamers to be utter bullsh*t. It is more likely the small sample were high on LSD than games. Anon ■ Does anyone dread getting the bus as much as I do these days? Some commuters’ manners are non-existent. There is a Ms Mobile phone loudmouth on my route, I know all the details of the last wedding her friend went to and how bad the food was, and I’m really tired of her holding up the queue waiting

yEH big RiDE

● Mr Ed, you should’ve been making hay while the sun was shining on you and your filly in your weekend watering-hole. She probably took a fancy to some other stud after you failed to get out of the traps. You may be in luck, however, I’m a horsey gal with tons of spirit and a very braidable mane. How about we head out for a canter sometime and later we could strap on the old feedbag? Neigh-sa (Nessa)

yOuR RusH-HOuR CRusH We asked our Facebook followers: Fifa’s secretary general Jerome Valcke has announced that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not take place in June or July because of the heat. Is Fifa right to move the Cup away from the hot summer months? Game change: Qatar World Cup 2022 to be moved from hot summer months

to get on the bus as she chats up the driver. Then there’s Mr Get Out of My Way, with a particular liking for elbowing young female commuters. and not forgetting Mr Smelly, Ms Don’t Clean My Teeth and the Chorus Group (two friends who spend the journey bitching about people they know). and enduring all this, to get to a job where I have double the work for much less money than a few years ago. ah Ireland, what a great country to live in... not. Fed up commuter

TREnDing #rtept ● Lucinda on #rtept making FG membership sound like gym membership, stuck in contract and can’t get out. Couldn’t she cancel direct debit?

Journalist @davidcochrane

● There’s that nice man from the Imaginary Party on Prime Time again. I suppose if he had any TDs, they’d nearly give him his own show. @Donal_OKeeffe

How’s this for an icebreaker? ■ I wonder what that icebreaker will say when it frees the two ships trapped in Antarctica. Will it be ‘Do you come here often?’ or ‘Has anyone ever told you that you’re beautiful?’ Brendan ■ Over the Christmas I noticed a friend of mine posting pictures online of himself and his son enjoying Christmas. One of these was of his seven-year-old son drinking a bottle of non-alcoholic cider. I am not quite sure what to make of this. Even nonalcoholic drinks contain trace amounts of alcohol. Should I say something? Leonard ■ Metro Herald readers, you do realise the paper you are reading can be folded, so it is not open in someone else’s face. Also, those of you who stand by the door, if you’re not getting off when the doors open, get out of the way. Semi-sensible commuter

Who’s that guy? Former Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan ● When was the last time anyone has seen Eamon Ryan? I feel like I’ve taken a trip back to 2009. @AineDempsey ● The Greens moved a motorway to protect the Kerry slug but don’t give a fiddler’s about pylons springing up in people’s gardens. #rtept

Columnist @philipnolan1

● So the positive jobbridger on #rtept last night just happens to be running for Fine Gael in May.

Oireachtas Retort @Oireachtas_RX

@metrohnews #metromailbox

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

Swap that baggy old T-shirt for sportswear that looks good and works well, writes Naomi Mdudu

he real secret to keeping your new year’s resolution to exercise more isn’t joining an expensive gym – it’s being excited about getting dressed. That’s right: invest in workout gear that makes a statement while you sweat and you’re guaranteed to have a fitter year. ‘Stylish workout gear?’ I hear you ask. It’s true that in the past women’s sports clothing left a lot to be desired. Many styles felt completely out of sync with anything remotely fashionable. But sportswear has come a long way and today a jogging suit is just as likely to be seen on a catwalk as on a treadmill. Blame it on the trendy gyms sweeping the country or our obsession with fashion, but a baggy T-shirt and an old pair of sweats just doesn’t cut it any more. Sales of workout gear are growing faster than those of everyday clothing. In the US last year, spending on workout clothes jumped seven per cent to almost €25billion compared with a one per cent rise in spending on other clothing. And the cash isn’t being blown on any old kit; the trend is for workout clothes that look good in and out of the gym. Take Princesse Tam Tam’s debut sports collection currently available online. The French label best known for slinky lingerie has turned its attention to sportswear just in time for the new year health kick. The collection features a mix of technical heatregulating separates and neoncoloured classic styles.

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16 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

style

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Then there’s the queen of stylish gymwear, Stella McCartney. Nearly a decade into her partnership with adidas, the designer has created a line as sought after for its technical quotient as its fashion appeal. She drove this home in her SS14 catwalk show, with models undergoing intense cardio training and taking part in aerial yoga while synchronised swimmers showed off cut-out swimsuits. McCartney’s point was loud and clear: each one of her designs is truly fit for purpose. The collection, which dropped into stores last week, gives a nod to the softer feel that will be doing the rounds this spring. Look for lightweight waterproof running jackets, cushioned trainers, running tights and cycling shorts in fresh sorbet tones of lilac, mint and citrus yellow.

ike has upped the ante with its fashion offering too. its new campaign, Your Workout, Your Style, is an offshoot of its customisation service, designed to keep you motivated by allowing you to give a personal touch to your workout gear. The tool lets you customise styles, such as the Nike Free 4 iD trainers, with colours, graphic effects and heel-to-toe colour fades. You can even have your name or an aspirational message embroidered into the tongues of the footwear. Nike’s SS14 women’s collection is designed to make sure you stand out in low light and features reflective wear with neon detailing that you’ll want to wear outside of gym hours. Hyperwarm slim-fit tops feature graphic digital prints not dissimilar to the styles that have been dominating the runways. My pick are the feminine turtleneck tops, perfect for running in cold weather. High-street fashion brands are worth checking out for affordable workout gear. Bershka and

Sweaty style statement: Stand out in Nike’s running kit (right). The adidas by Stella McCartney range is sought after as much for the way the designer has embraced sports technology as for her fashion standing (below right) Gap have sports lines and H&M revamped its sports collection this month. To make sure the fashion-led pieces pack a technical punch, H&M consulted the Swedish Olympic team. ‘What we wear definitely makes a difference when we compete,’ says swimmer and Olympic medallist Therese Alshammar. ‘Our focus has been on checking the pieces for fit and function, for performance and also for comfort.’ H&M Sport features everything from windproof and water-repellent running jackets in camouflage prints to classic fleece jackets, brightly coloured tanks and printed sports tights.

EDiTOR’s picks sportswear for your workout Stylish fitness: H&M has revamped its sportswear, while Princesse Tam Tam has launched a workout range (previous page)

Flash-printed wind runner €79, Nike, www.nike. com

Seamless tank €63, adidas by Stella McCartney, www. adidas.co.uk

Bodylogic Women’s Sculpt Pant €45, Elverys Sport

Sports tights €19.95, H&M Sport, www.hm.com

Metallic shorts €63, adidas by Stella McCartney, www.adidas. co.uk Nike Free TR 4 €97, Nike, www. nike.com

ON OuR RADAR LAZY LADY

ashmere Have a Lazy Day with this cashmere hoodie from Tommyy Hilfiger (pictured, ee vibe €249). Inspired by the carefree of a relaxed Sunday morning, the limited-edition 12-piece womenswear collection combines premium quality materials with versatile, easy-going styles, according to TH. It also includes a boyfriend-style cardigan, lounge pants, t-shirts, scarves, shorts, leggings and hoodies. Available in store and on tommy.com.

BROGUE-MANCE

These shoes are made for walking – check out these silver brogues from Penneys (pictured, €13).

GIVE IT A LASH

Embrace the 1980s post-punk vibe with rockin’ lashes from Rimmel. It says the new ScandalEyes Rockin’ Curves mascara (pictured, €8.99) has a new brokenheart brush which hugs the last line, the thin tip grabs hard to reach inner lashes while the amplified base creates volume and curve in one clean stroke – with no clumps. Pharmacies and grocery outlets.

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

SHOWcASE 2014: IRELAND’S cREATIvE ExpO A host of leading Irish fashion designers will take to the RDS later this month for the Showcase 2014 international trade fair. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come. www.showcaseireland.com

From left: Multicoloured tweed coat, Magee; hot pink silk top, Lennon Courtney; navy trouser, Lennon Courtney; Shevlin hat; orange hair coat, Avoca; printed silk scarf, Lisa Ryder; printed leather bag, Lisa Ryder, Shevlin hat; Fairisle knit cargigan, Jack Murphy; burgundy checked shirt, Jack Murphy; red leather bag, Róisín Gartland.

Above: Navy tweed blazer, Magee; grey cable knit throw, Ireland’s Eye Right: Knit gown, Cafts of Ireland; pink head piece, Fiona Mangan

cLObbER bLOggER Metro Life is taking style advice from the people who know their stuff. This week, Amy Dillon looks at her favourite beauty products

gROOMINg SOS Declan Leavy tackles men’s grooming woes

fter 12 months of trying and testing what feels like every beauty product on the market it’s time pick the best of the bunch. After considerable pondering here are my five top buys:

From old wives’ tales like hanging upside down or rubbing curry into your scalp, to old favourites such as Rogain, when it comes to preventing hair loss the options are seemingly endless. Here are my favourites:

1. Image Total Resurfacing Mask – Hands down my product year. this does exactly what of the year off layers it says on the tin. It eats of of dead skin bbut it’s no ordinary mask. As a cosmeceutical product it contains a higher level of glycolic acid than products aavailable on the shelves and yet it works on a whole shelv range of skin types. this one has earned holy grail status! (Renaissanceskincare.com for stockists)

2. Clarins Instant Concealer – a light and creamy liquid concealer that is a doddle to apply. It doesn’t seep into pores or fine lines and brightens the under eye area without making you look caked in makeup. tip – buy a shade lighter than your foundation to brighten under your eyes, just remember to use a concealer in the same shade as your foundation. (€24) 3. Kérastase Couture Styling range – yes, all of it! from the

hair texturising ‘Spray à Porter’ to the voluptuous blow-dry gel ‘forme fatale’ You can never go wrong with Kérastase. (From €20) 4. Karora Express Bronzing Mousse – this mousse wins a tan of the year award for me. It’s phenomenal. Wash it off after three hours for a golden tan or one to two hours for a lighter glow. It doesn’t smell near as bad as all of the other stinky tans and the colour is so beautiful it will make you look like you have caught some sun rather than moussing yourself in the leithreas. (€29.99 from pharmacies) 5. Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm – this is a saviour of mine on a rough day. It’s a creamy balm which leaves your skin looking amazingly dewy and fresh. No one will believe that you get by on four hours of sleep! (€40 from LookFantastic.com) And so begins another year of beauty product trials. It’s a tough job ladies, but I’ll take one for the team! makeupandbeauty.ie

Viviscal Man tablets contain AminoMar C marine complex, which claims to provide the proteins needed to nourish thinning hair and support natural growth. €49.95, at selected pharmacies and online at www.lifes2good.ie. Nioxin is designed to improve the health of the scalp. The Cleanser removes product buildup, the Scalp Revitaliser conditions and protects, and the Scalp Treatment claims to promote healthy hair growth. €33.95, at Reds Hair Salon in Dublin. The Aveda Invati system is proven to reduce hair loss due to breakage. Each product

contains densiplex, an invigorating blend of ayurvedic herbs that provide fuller looking hair. From €27 at Aveda counters. If the inevitable happens and your hair starts to thin, you can create a little magic with Super Million Hair, €38 from Knights Barbers in Dundrum and Stephen’s Green. Simply shake the fibres on to dense spots and then set them in place with the Hard Mist spray, €18, to create the illusion of a thicker hairline. @declanleavy

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18 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

Life television

WHAT i’m WATCHiNG

Fiona Looney: pLay nexT door RTÉ1, 10.15pm & 11pm

richard Lintern The Morning Line

In this first of a three-part documentary, Fiona Looney packs her bags for a monthlong stay in a disused pub in Thurles, Co Tipperary. The cameras follow the Irish Dail yMail columnist as she takes up the challenge where some well-known writers – the others are novelists Deirdre Purcell and Patrick McCabe – go to live in an Irish community and then write a play based on their experiences. Fiona’s completed work Pheasant Island follows the programme at 11pm.

I love the racing so I always watch The Morning Line on St Stephen’s Day for tips on The George VI Chase. This is the big race from Kempton: it’s the one Desert Orchid used to win. When I was first married, I got a pass to Kempton as a wedding present and I go racing a fair amount. I love the King George VI, it’s like a big celebration – a big steeplechase, like the Grand National but slightly shorter.

FanTasia

This was on on Christmas Eve. Fantasia (above) was one of the first films I ever saw as a kid – my mum took me down to see it in the cinema. It’s one of those films you remember for ever and ever. The animation in it is fairly tame compared to what you see in things like Toy Story but the memories are just fantastic – the dance of the hippopotamus and the dance of the broomsticks and all that stuff.

FiLM oF The day aDam, RTÉ1, 11.50pm

‘What do you do?’ Beth (Rose Byrne) asks her cute neighbour, Adam (Hugh Dancy). ‘I help make toys,’ he replies. ‘Oh, you’re an elf!’ she jokes. Frankly, he might as well be. Writer/director Max Mayer’s endearingly dippy romcom charts the relationship between Beth and Adam, who has Asperger’s syndrome. Given she’s a poor little rich girl with daddy issues and he’s a Christopher Robin-ish savant, incapable of empathy and obsessed with raccoons and outer space, this offers a curiously left-field look at relationship trust issues. Whether it’s an utterly charming love story between two vulnerable loners, or a vomit-inducing concoction of nursery-rhyme tweeness, is entirely in the eye of the beholder.

WhaT KeLLy did nexT: reaLiTy BiTes RTÉ2, 9.30pm Nine-months’ pregnant Kelly mongan didn’t win the record deal prize when she took to the stage in the final of The Voice of ireland last year, but she did win the hearts of the public. From baby Bernie’s christening, behind the scenes as Kelly sings for the first time on The Late Late Show and performing at a summer festival and award ceremonies, this entertaining and insightful documentary looks at how Kelly (right) balances family life and a blossoming career and it also shines a light on the modern travelling community in ireland.

The TracTaTe MiddoTh

This was on on Christmas Day. Mark Gatiss adapted and directed this ghost story (above) by MR James and he’s fantastic: anything he is involved in I will always watch. There’s something about Christmas… ghost stories suit it, somehow. A Christmas Carol is basically a ghost story, isn’t it?

My FavouriTe Tv characTer

ireLand’s neW year sTorMs TV3, 7.30pm

siLenT WiTness BBC1, 9pm

Looking at the impact of the storms on our towns, cities and coastlines since mid December, this programme uses material gathered by TV3 news teams and citizens through social media. Weather experts will assess whether our climate is going through fundamental changes and whether we are prepared to cope with extreme conditions.

The glacial Dr Nikki alexander (Emilia Fox) melts a little when smoothtalking solicitor Greg Walker (Tobias menzies) calls on her professional services to help prove the innocence of his client. But will she allow her inner flirt to cloud her interpretation of the evidence in the case of David Bennetto (Being Human’s michael Socha)? Concludes tomorrow.

Probably Ron Swanson (below) from Parks And Recreation – he’s the head of the department in the show and he’s an absolute genius character, basically. He has a huge great moustache, it’s hysterical. I caught this by chance one day and got completely hooked. Sharon Lougher Richard Lintern stars in the new series of Silent Witness, which continues tonight on BBC1, see left.

books

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

Armed Irishmen of yesteryear The tradition of Irishmen in continental European armies dates back to 1587 when Irish regiments were formed in the Spanish army. Many were forced to seek their fame and fortune abroad after failed rebellions and religious discrimination at home, particularly after The Jacobite War (1689-91), which was fought in Ireland between supporters of the deposed Catholic king, James II, and the Protestant King, William of Orange. ‘The Flight of the Wild Geese’ was the romantic term given when the 14,000strong Irish army withdrew to France following the Jacobite War. The Irish army were formed into units called the Irish brigades in France and Spain, along with Irish units formed in Austria, Bavaria and in Catherine the Great’s Imperial Russia. The Irish Brigades were Catholic Ireland’s army-in-exile who sought French and Spanish patronage to bring about a free and independent Ireland. However, they have been too easily dismissed by historians as mercenaries lacking a political ideology. They wore red uniforms – the colours of the deposed Catholic king, James II, as they hoped that his restoration would finally return Catholic lands and rights back home. The Irish quickly established a reputation as the storm troopers of the Continental armies, which also took its toll in battlefield casualties. The French Irish Brigade’s most famous

In his new book, Irish Brigades Abroad, historian Stephen McGarry examines the role our renowned ancestors in conflicts overseas victory was the part they played in the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. In the battle, six Irish infantry regiments in the French army succeeded in pushing back a British infantry advance and secured victory for France. Enemy flags were often a prime-target on the battlefield as their capture often represented a major disgrace to a regiment. While researching the book, I finally discovered the famous British flag captured by the Irish Brigade at the Battle of Fontenoy. The Irish Brigade of France was disbanded during the French Revolution. But several years later in 1803 Napoleon formed a unit called the Irish Legion to spearhead an invasion of Ireland. It comprised many United Irishmen who had fled to France following the 1798 Irish Rebellion but were finally deactivated in 1815 following Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.

‘For in far foreign fields from Dunkirk to Belgrade’, Thomas Davis wrote famously, ‘lie the soldiers and chiefs of the Irish Brigade.’ After several years of army service many ventured into business. Some established the ‘wine geese’ vineyards, many of which are still operating today, such as the Bartons and the Lynch’s. Richard Hennessy served in Clare’s Regiment and later founded his famous distillery in Cognac. Others used their success for political purposes and funded Bonnie Prince Charlie’s campaign to reclaim the Stuart crown in the 1745 Scottish Rising. Irishwomen became ladies-in-waiting to the French monarch, Queen Antoinette, and had fashionable boutiques on the Champs Elysées. Their legacy was felt well into the 20th century.

clan in Co Down before they were unseated during the English Conquest. DeGaulle’s ancestor was Captain Anthony MacCartan who went to France with the ‘Flight of the Wild Geese’. Ireland experienced a ‘brain drain’ in the ‘long’ 18th century with so many eminent Irish Catholic gentry families being driven away. Ireland’s loss certainly turned out to be Europe’s gain.

Well over 50,000 Irishmen served in the Irish Brigades and thousands rose to high rank across Europe. Henry Clarke was

Probably the most famous Frenchman of all time, President Charles DeGaulle, was descended from the powerful MacCartan

Irish Brigades Abroad by Stephen McGarry is published by The History Press and is on sale now.

THE BIG READ

& Sons by David Gilbert Fourth Estate, €21 HHHHI

Napoleon’s Minister of War and was central to the creation of the ‘Grand Army’ and was on horseback beside Napoleon at Waterloo. General Charles Kilmaine, born and bred in Temple Bar in the centre of Dublin, commanded the French army in Italy. General Thomas Conway from Co Kerry served with the American rebels in the Revolutionary War as the high-ranking inspector-general but became involved in a plot to oust General George Washington as commander of the American Continental Army.

HE restlessly playful David Gilbert teases us right from the very title. That ‘&’ denotes what lies between a father and his sons, and what joins them together. It also echoes a fictitious novel that looms large in Gilbert’s story: the father is Andrew Dyer, known to the world as AN Dyer, an elderly, reclusive New York writer whose career was launched at the age of 27 by what has become an American classic of troubled if privileged adolescence, ‘Ampersand’. (Think JD Salinger and Catcher In The Rye.) His three boys’ very different characters clamour to take up their places in a modern-day parable. In his mid-40s, Richard is the prodigal son who has swapped half a lifetime of addiction for sobriety and meetings and lives with a wife and children in LA, cut off from his original family. A few years younger, Jamie is the former golden boy whose promise has faded as he hops about the globe, unable to grow up. Dyer, divorced from the two boys’

mother, Isobel, has a third son, born of the affair that broke up the marriage: Andy, a teenager whose virginal innocence is at odds with a sharp facility for words that suggests he’s a chip off the old block. Nearly 80 and fearing he’s near the end, Dyer wants to undo his failures with the older boys. The determined dazzle, the clever observations of Manhattan society, the magpie haul of secondary plots and the overarching device of an unreliable narrator threaten to obscure the emotive central story, of three generations caught in the hopes and anguish of a family’s web. Still, it’s easy to forgive Gilbert his excesses: he keeps the many plates spinning and provides the reader with frequent nuggets as rewards. Then in the final section, as lives intertwine, coalesce and implode, he lets father, brothers and sons breathe and soar, and you wonder at what smaller, braver, more tender book was cloaked within the haphazard sprawl.

Imogen Russell Williams

OTHER AMBITIOUS NEW YORK NOVELS TO TRY BLEEDING EDGE by Thomas Pynchon Never mind AN Dyer, here’s the latest novel from the reclusive New York writer who’s managed to evade the public eye for decades: a noirish descent into conspiracy theories and misdemeanours on Wall Street.

CHRONIC CITY by Jonathan Lethem For another view of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, turn to the surreal and inspired urban adventures of a bizarre group of friends, from an acclaimed New York writer whose work blurs genres and is ever unpredictable.

FRANNY AND ZOOEY by JD Salinger Salinger may be synonymous with The Catcher In The Rye, but devotees of the author look with particular affection to this later short novel featuring his returning characters from the Glass family.

Barracuda By Christos Tsiolkas HHHHI Atlantic Schoolboy Daniel Kelly is in his natural element when in the swimming pool. It’s when evoking how Daniel feels while swimming that Christos Tsiolkas, author of best-selling novels including The Slap, is in his natural element, too, with sentences gliding elegantly until the reader is utterly submerged in this absorbing story. Daniel’s talent is his passport to escaping his humble upbringing via a sports scholarship to a private school. But there he struggles to fit in and yearns to flee his peers: ‘Only in the water did he feel like himself. Only in the water did he feel that he could escape them.’ Things fail to go swimmingly for Daniel, and the gripping plot turns dramatically when, during his first big championship, he breaks down, coming fifth. Failure is not something he can cope with and destructive emotions boil beneath the surface. This memorable hero must learn that true sportsmanship is finding the strength to start again when you’ve lost whatever it is you most love. Siobhán Murphy Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo Harvill HHHHI Secker This belated translation of Jo Nesbo’s second Harry Hole outing from 1998 completes the series to date for Irish readers. Following his flailing exploits as a fish out of water Down Under in The Bat, here, heavily alcoholic Hole is dispatched to Thailand when the Norwegian ambassador turns up with a knife in his back in a seedy motel, discovered by the prostitute he ordered. Avoiding a scandal is supposed to be Hole’s first priority but, of course, our favourite dyspeptic detective discovers more than anyone bargained for. It’s fun to see Nesbo finding his feet with Hole (even when his protagonist is flat on his back drunk) and he weaves a large cast and a complex plot into a satisfying plunge into a filthy south-east Asian underbelly, ripe to bursting with corruption, exploitation and cruelty – somewhere we already know a devastated Hole will later flee back to. SM

puzzles

METROSCOPE by Patrick Arundell

NEMI by Lise

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20

Libra Sep 24

For your forecast, call 15609 114 70

You could feel you’ve been put on the spot, yet this is something you may need to get used to. If you’re busy coordinating a plan and the buck stops with you, you’re bound to feel uncomfortable now and again.

Are you peeved at people in authority telling you what to do? It’s possible you are, especially as a testing link between Uranus and all the planets in Capricorn could be causing you some grief. Yet today, you can apply a cautious approach to one of your bright ideas.

Taurus Apr 21 – May 21

METROKU Easy, Moderate and Challenging. For solutions, visit Metro.co.uk/metroku

scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22

Gemini May 22 – Jun 21

sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21

For your forecast, call 15609 114 71

For your forecast, call 15609 114 72

Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23

Perhaps you’re finding it easier to relax in situations that might have caused a few nerves in the past. This might be down to the presence of Jupiter. Yet, perhaps you’ll need some of this extra chutzpah today to deal with someone persistent. For your forecast, call 15609 114 73

Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23

Yesterday’s Solutions Across: 1 Reminiscence; 7 Drear; 8 Incur; 9 Eve; 10 Sacrilege; 11 Assent; 12 Tariff; 15 Elucidate; 17 Ash; 18 Rouse; 19 Abuse; 21 Clothes-horse. Down: 1 Rio-de-Janeiro; 2 Nee; 3 Strict; 4 Eliminate; 5 Cache; 6 Free of charge; 7 Dregs; 10 Sentiment; 13 Inane; 14 Vacate; 16 Usual; 20 Ugh.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 78

Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20

The solar set-up suggests you could feel a bit deflated because you’re giving more than you’re getting back. Any conversation you have might be a delicate balance between your needs and those of others. Look to your own needs more now.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 79

Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19

Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23

Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20

For your forecast, call 15609 114 75

For your forecast, call 15609 114 81

For your forecast, call 15609 114 80

Friends might be prompting you into showcasing your talents, as they encourage you to explore your full potential. Having Neptune in your sign can be positive in a creative sense but might resign you to going with the flow a little too much.

For a live one-to-one consultation with one of my gifted psychics, call 15809 113 68 or 1800 719 688 to book using credit card Astrology calls cost 1.27 euros per min from a BT landline. Live Services cost 2.40 euros per minute. Calls from mobiles/other networks may cost more. Callers must be 18 or over to use this service and have the bill payers permission. For entertainment purposes only. All calls are recorded. PhonePayPlus regulated(ComReg in ROI) UK SP: StreamLive Ltd, NR7 0HR, 08700 234 567. ROI SP:Moveda, 1 Courtyard Business Park, Orchard Lane, Blackrock, Co Dublin, 0818 241 398

ENIGMA Come with me now to Tuscany. In Siena town, what do we see? Twice yearly crowds amass to stare At horses racing round the square.

QuIz

QUICK CROsswORd

Being cautious around finances could actually open up more possibilities for you. Even if it goes a little against the grain, careful handling of your funds could enhance your prospects for the future.

WHO AM I? A business tycoon, I was born in Athens in 1967. I came to England to study at the London School of Economics and I founded budget airline

easyJet in 1995. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? WHO… popularised the songs Ain’t That A Shame and Blueberry Hill? WHAT… is a member of the Society of Jesus called? WHERE… do budgerigars come from? WHEN… was Dublin Corporation renamed as Dublin City Council??

QUIZ ANSWERS: ENIGMA: Palio. WHO AM I? Stelios Haji-Iaonnou. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? Fats Domino; Jesuit; Australia; 2002.

DOWN 1 Affluence (6) 2 Clear-sighted (13) 3 Interior (5) 5 Normal (7) 6 Lodgings (13) 7 Water down (6) 8 Kudos (5) 13 Scent (7) 15 Scatter (6) 16 Pamphlet (5) 17 Offensive odour (6) 20 Slow speech (5)

For your forecast, call 15609 114 77

The current T-Square has a get-upand-go quality, which might get you to loosen up regarding a cherished cause. If you’ve been fighting your corner, this blend of energies entices you to consider the opposite point of view.

Feeling comfortable about your finances may be a priority if you’re hoping to fund creative projects or opportunities to enjoy yourself. A weekend break may be on your mind but if you’re worried about cash flow, you may feel stymied.

ACROSS 1 Mend (6) 4 Mission (6) 9 In order of time (13) 10 Ruler (7) 11 Extremity (5) 12 Range (5) 14 Brush (5) 18 Suffer (5) 19 Glowing (7) 21 Articulation (13) 22 Hark! (6) 23 Drive home (6)

Perhaps you’re relying on getting the facts when planning ahead. Yet, you could be missing out on a channel of useful information – your intuition. The current tense T-Square spotlights the need for balancing logic with your own internal knowing.

Hopefully, you’re feeling energised as the Sun might boosts your reserves. Today’s link between the Taurus Moon and Pluto in Capricorn also highlights the potential for a positive outcome to a work-related issue. For your forecast, call 15609 114 74

Crossword No. 889 See next edition for solutions

For your forecast, call 15609 114 76

You could be bewitched by someone’s seductive patter, or find yourself caught up in a conversation that seems to tug at your soul. Today’s Moon Neptune link highlights yearnings, dreams and fantasies, and perhaps a desire to explore one or two of them. On the practical side, you might be busy with your finances and sorting important matters. If you’ve been inclined to forget about bills or vital payments, setting up a more organised approach could give you peace of mind.

PEARLs BEFORE swINE

– Oct 23

SCRIBBLE BOX

20 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

gaa

Watson debut makes Dubs win elementary O’byRnE cup

louTh ............................................ 0-08 Dublin ...........................................2-06 by pAuL kEAnE DANIEL Watson rode to All-Ireland champions Dublin’s rescue at Parnell Park with a whopping 2-1 to keep their O’Byrne Cup title hopes alive. The barrel-chested St Anne’s attacker came off the bench with just 16 minutes to go and wasted little time in turning the game on its head. Louth were in a strong position with 20 minutes left as they led by three points in a low scoring game. But a 1-4 scoring burst from Dublin put them in pole position and Watson added his second goal a minute from the end of normal time. It was an incredible return from the flamehaired forward on his debut. His first goal was a neat curled effort into the side of the net and his second was a clever toe poke past Shane McCoy. It was a night of firsts as Dublin also picked up their first ever black card, defender Darragh Nelson walking to the line for an off the ball drag down in the second-half. The other big talking point was the surprise placement of experienced corner-back Philly McMahon at centre-forward. It was difficult to make an impact in terrible conditions but the Ballymun man did set up two scores including the ball in for Watson’s first goal. Boss Jim Gavin stuck to his plan to give young and fringe players their chance in the competition. In all, six players came into the team including 2011 All-Ireland winning captain Bryan Cullen. Kevin McManamon missed a good goal chance as Dublin trailed 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of a dismal first-half. And they were 0-5 to 0-2 down with 50 minutes on the clock. But three points in a row from Paul Hudson hauled Dublin back before Watson gave his own man wonder show. He seized on a long ball in by McMahon for his first goal. Moments later he booted over a point to give Dublin a commanding 1-6 to 0-5 lead. Louth fought back with a couple of points but Watson’s second goal set the seal on a battling win. This time he used his soccer skills to sneak the ball to the net from close range. Push and shove: Louth’s Dessie Finnegan and Kevin Nolan of Dublin tussle Picture: inPho

Thursday, January 9, 2014 METRO HERALD

spORT DigEsT

Recordbreaker: Jimenez

Miguel intending to roll back years at the Ryder Cup gOLf Miguel Angel Jimenez

expects to be named as one of Paul McGinley’s vice-captains for the Ryder Cup, if he does not fulfil his dream of playing at Gleneagles. Jimenez, who turned 50 on Sunday, plays in this week’s Volvo Golf Champions in Durban, having defended his hong Kong open title last month. Already the oldest winner in Tour history, he now wants to become Europe’s oldest Ryder Cup player. ‘it would mean a lot to me, it’s still breaking records,’ said the Spaniard. McGinley, a vice-captain with Jimenez for the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012, plans to name his assistants in May or June, but Jimenez said: ‘if i’m not on the team, probably i will be helping him.’

1 Leg dropped by top seed

Stephen Bunting as he coasted into the quarter-finals of the BDO World Darts Championship, the 28-year-old beating Dave Prins 4-0, with a threedart average of 100.64

War crimes expert joins cycling probe cycLing A united nations war

crimes investigator, Peter nicholson, has been appointed by international cycling union, the uCi, on to a threeman independent commission into allegations of past wrongdoing. The panel, chaired by Switzerland’s former state prosecutor Dick Marty, will focus on how the uCi dealt with doping findings and allegations in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including its handling of claims against lance Armstrong, who later admitted to doping. The American has pledged to cooperate with any commission.

Fifa feeling the heat as Valcke tips winter cup The 2022 World Cup in Qatar looks set to take place in the winter after Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke ruled out playing the tournament in June or July. The schedule for the event has been a talking point ever since the Arab state secured the rights to host the competition. Fears over extreme temperatures led to calls for the event to be moved to the winter and Valcke, given the task of looking at alternative dates, told a France radio station: ‘It will not be in June or July. Frankly I think it’ll be played between November 15 and January 15 at the latest.

football world cup ‘It will be like a warm spring in europe with an average temperature of 25 degrees, perfect for football.’ Fifa later said in a statement Valcke was expressing his own view and no decision would be taken before this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. The statement said: ‘Secretary General Jerome Valcke explained in the radio France interview that in his view the 2022 Fifa World Cup must take place in winter

and the best possible timeframe would be 15 November to 15 January. ‘however, the precise event date is still subject to an ongoing consultation process which involves all main event stakeholders.’ Britain’s Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce said he was ‘totally surprised’ by Valcke’s disclosure. ‘As I understand it all the stakeholders will have discussions and report back to the executive committee of Fifa and no final decision will be made until december 2014 or March 2015,’ he said.

Long-term vision: An artist’s impression of the Al-Khor stadium in Qatar

22 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

ODDbALLs

Moyes will think this is a ref-ing disgrace HOWARD WEBB might have fallen foul of David Moyes and Brendan Rodgers recently, but he has still been named the best referee in the world for last year. Webb, whose decision-making was branded ‘scandalous’ by United boss Moyes last week, scooped the award from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. The IFFHS picked the expoliceman ahead of Italian Nicola Rizzoli and Hungary’s Viktor Kassai. However, having denied Liverpool a clear-cut penalty at Chelsea, as well as ruffling United’s feathers with his decisions against Tottenham, news of Webb’s honour is unlikely to go down well with Messrs Rodgers and Moyes.

Craven rescue mission: Kacaniklic, above, remains confident Fulham can beat the drop

ExCLusivE by MATTHEw nAsH World’s best: Webb

£6,300 Price a fan paid on eBay for a lock of Hull star Tom Huddlestone’s recently shorn hair

Long bawl at boleyn again WHAT is it about West Ham that makes small children burst into tears? Well, apart from the results. Oh, and the rudimentary playing style. Just days after footage emerged of one kid sobbing his eyes out as his beloved Hammers were destroyed at Nottingham Forest, another little lad has been captured crying as his dad gives him his first West Ham shirt – it should be a happy time! There was some good news for young Irons yesterday, though, with our hero from Forest, Callum Mann, accepting West Ham’s offer of a VIP trip to a home game to ease his pain. Plucky lad.

ALEX KACANIKLIC has urged Dimitar Berbatov to stay at Fulham and help the Cottagers fight for Premier League survival. Berbatov has been widely tipped to leave Craven Cottage in this month’s transfer window and a possible exit appeared to move a step closer when Fulham left him out of their squad at Norwich on Saturday, seemingly in a bid to prevent him from being FA Cup-tied for a new club. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has

‘We need Berbatov if we want to stay up’ played down making a move for the former Tottenham man but it seems there would be no shortage of clubs interested in the 32-year-old. Yet Berbatov’s continued presence in west London is key for new manager Rene Meulensteen as he attempts to guide the Cottagers away from danger in the top flight, and Kacaniklic has admitted the rest of the Fulham squad do not want him to go. ‘Of course, we need him, he’s a good player who scores goals and creates goals, he’s important for us, especially as we need to stay up,’ said

picture: action images

Alex: sub berba life wouldn’t be right at Cottage

the 22-year-old Sweden winger. ‘It is up to him what he wants to do but we need the best players to make sure we stay in the Premier League and Berba is one of them.’ Berbatov (pictured) has a similar presence to Kacaniklic’s compatriot Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the young Swede readily admits he relishes linking up with such talismanic players. ‘It’s great, of course,’ he adds. ‘They can certainly find you with a pass. They are very different people but similar in some respects on the pitch. There are lots of

great players with experience like Berba – Damien Duff, John Arne Riise and now Clint Dempsey – who I can learn from here.’ Dempsey is the club’s only January arrival so far but, with West Ham’s Ravel Morrison reportedly on Meulensteen’s radar, Kacaniklic is hopeful they can gain enough points to stay up – starting at home to Sunderland on Saturday. ‘We’re out of the bottom three,’ he added. ‘But we probably haven’t performed as we should have this season and we need to keep winning.’

football capital one cup Forget United and Wembley: Fulham is the one for John

Thursday, January 9, 2014 mETro hEraLd 23

We’re unlucky devils

JOHN O’SHEA has told Sunderland to forget their Wembley dreams and concentrate on their Premier League survival bid. The Black Cats captain led his side to a 2-1 first-leg victory over Manchester United in their Capital One Cup semifinal on Tuesday. Fabio Borini’s late penalty ensured the top flight’s bottom club will take a lead to Old Trafford in the second leg on January 22. But O’Shea is keen for Sunderland to focus purely on league matters, with Saturday’s programme taking them to fellow strugglers Fulham. With Gus Poyet’s men four points from safety, he said: ‘Look, we have to know the games we have, if we do create and play like we can do, not that we will be okay, but we will be creating chances and we will be hurting teams. ‘If we keep that belief, that’s when we will get the wins. ‘We went away to West Ham and drew 0-0 but we should have won the game, we went away to Villa and we should have won the game, so you are thinking, “Okay, if we are keeping the clean sheets, eventually the goals will have to come because we are getting ourselves into such good positions”.’ O’Shea added: ‘We just put this game to the side now for a few weeks because, believe me, it’s far from over. We have got a huge game against Fulham now.’

but ryan says United can bounce back by richard hookham Ryan GiGGs reckons Manchester United are due a change of fortune and has warned sunderland his side can still turn around their Capital One semi-final. The veteran midfielder was certainly out of luck on Tuesday as the Red Devils crashed to a shock 2-1 first-leg defeat at the stadium of Light. Giggs hit the bar with a deflected shot, denied adnan Januzaj a goal with a block from an offside position and then bundled Wes Brown’s cross into his own net. But the 40-year-old is confident the tie is far from over and is relishing a second crack at the Black Cats back at Old Trafford on January 22. Giggs said: ‘We did not have that little

‘We’ll keep plugging away – we’re still in it’ bit of luck. i hit the crossbar and adnan hit a shot against me when i was offside. ‘On another day that would have gone in or been given, but it didn’t go for us. We’ll keep plugging away and look forward to the second leg. We are still in it.’ it was a third successive defeat for United but Giggs echoed boss David Moyes’ moan that United were harshly treated by the referee as sunderland were awarded a free-kick which led to their opener and then a penalty which Fabio Borini converted for the winner. Giggs said: ‘Both decisions were harsh. We created enough chances, but unfortunately the decisions went against us. ‘We felt we did enough to at least get a draw, it was just one of those nights.’

Elbow gloom: Giggs had a night to forget at Sunderland

fooTbaLL digEsT

Rodgers accepts ref rant rap 3 Years in lIVerPOOl manager Brendan rodgers has accepted a disrepute charge following comments about referee lee Mason, the Football association has confirmed. rodgers claimed the performance of the officials in the reds’ loss at Manchester City on December 26 was ‘horrendous’ and also questioned why a Greater Manchester referee, in Bolton’s Mason, was appointed to the fixture. rodgers (pictured) is now likely to be fined following a hearing, which he has chosen not to attend.

succession Mesut Ozil has been named Germany’s national player of the year. The Arsenal man polled more than 30 per cent of the fans’ votes.

TraNsfEr TaLk

Vorm refuses to rush back Solskjaer helps Cardiff SWanSea goalkeeper Michel Vorm says he is on the road to recovery after keyhole knee surgery. The 30-year-old Dutchman said: ‘It went to plan. My knee feels better and my movement has improved.’ Gerhard Tremmel has replaced him in goal for the past five games and Vorm insisted: ‘I won’t be rushing myself back.’

Reds pipped by Real deal lIVerPOOl’S hopes of re-signing Xabi alonso have been dashed after he agreed a two-year contract extension with real Madrid. The 32year-old Spain midfielder left anfield for the la liga giants in 2009.

Wolff down bargain

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made his first signing as Cardiff manager, snapping up norway midfielder Magnus Wolff eikrem. eikrem has joined the Bluebirds for an undisclosed fee from Dutch club Heerenveen. The 23-year-old (pictured) is a former Manchester united youth team captain which is where he first came to ex-red Devil Solskjaer’s attention. The new Cardiff boss said he feels ‘lucky’ to sign eikrem for a reasonable price. ‘I see this as money well spent,’ he added.

24 METRO HERALD Thursday, January 9, 2014

Kacaniklic says Berba is key to Cottagers Premiership survival

«see page 22

picture: inpHo

DUBS AND STUDENTS TO FIGHT IT OUT FOR CUP KNOCKOUT SPOT Wee bit disappointed: A dejected Patrick Sheelan of Louth after the game leads the team off Parnell Park pitch

Dublin will battle it out with DCu on Sunday for a place in the O’byrne Cup semi-finals after a dramatic victory over louth, writes Paul Keane. Super sub Daniel Watson rescued the game with 2-1 in the closing minutes after being sprung from the bench. The St Anne’s man was making his debut but played like an experienced performer as Dublin moved to the head of Group D. but they’re joined by DCu who beat Westmeath by 2-15 to 2-9 in the other group game last night. Patrick Fox and Conor McGraynor both netted for the students as they won with ease. it leaves them joint-top of the group with Dublin and means that whoever wins their head-tohead on Sunday qualifies for the knockout stages. Dublin will need to improve because they only got going when they made changes late on as louth led for most of the game. There was also drama as Darragh nelson picked up a first ever black card for Dublin in the second-half.

«maTch repOrT – page 21

Six and the City

Hammering for sam as city pile on the misery

It never rains but it pours: A beleaguered Sam Allardyce watches on last night picture: reuters

WEST Ham suffered a second five-goal cup mauling in four days as Manchester City tore them apart at the Etihad Stadium. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is now under even greater pressure after his decision to rest a batch of senior players at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday backfired in explosive fashion. As visiting fans called for the manager’s head, his side crumbled and all but made the return leg of the semi-final at Upton Park redundant. Alvaro Negredo was tormentor-in-chief as he netted a hat-trick and ran West Ham’s

manchesTer ciTy ............... 6 wesT ham .............................0 by MATTHEW NASH newly-signed centre-back Roger Johnson ragged. Allardyce made eight changes to the team thrashed 5-0 at Championship side Forest on Sunday. The floodgates took just 12 minutes to open as Yaya Toure’s floated pass found Negredo, who sent a low volley past Adrian. West Ham’s goalkeeper then had to deny David Silva and Samir Nasri

before Negredo doubled City’s lead in the 26th minute, finishing high into the net after Edin Dzeko’s fine pass. Before the break Johnson backed off and allowed Toure to run through and fire an easy third past Adrian. It got even worse for Allardyce’s men four minutes after the break when Negredo pounced for his hat-trick with another fine finish after a corner was only half-cleared. On the hour, Dzeko finally got his goal as he slid in Nasri’s centre and then made it six with a header.

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