Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Mila buíochas
Stretch your limits
Lysteria: The things Ukraine does well… and not so well »p17
Body Matters »p18-19
Dublin rises in pricey city list
Legalising cannabis a danger, says UN
by joanne ahern DUBLIN is storming up the Cost of Living chart and is now the 21st most expensive city in the world to live. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit index, Dublin has leapt from 34th place in 2013, to just outside the top 20 this year. The capital’s top chart position ever was 16th, in 2006. Meanwhile, Singapore has overtaken Hong Kong as the most expensive city in the world. The Economist Unit puts this down to a strong Singapore dollar and high transport costs. Paris has been ranked as the secondmost expensive city in the world, with Oslo, Zurich and Sydney making up the top five. Caracas, Geneva, Melbourne, Tokyo and Copenhagen round off the top ten. The Unit cites ‘an artificially high official exchange rate’ as the reason behind Caracas’ top 10 inclusion. Report editor Jon Copestake said: ‘Improving sentiment in structurally expensive European cities combined with the continued rise of Asian hubs means these two regions continue to supply most of the world’s most expensive cities.’ London is the 15th most expensive city on the list. European cities account for more than half of the 24 that saw a relative increase in the cost of living. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, Mumbai has been named as the cheapest place to live, with Karachi, New Dehli, Damascus and Kathmandu making up the bottom five.
Cannabis: Warning from UN body
GETTING A GRIP ON THINGS: Taoiseach Enda Kenny meets former US president Bill Clinton outside Government Buildings in the city centre yesterday where he paid him a courtesy visit. They chatted about our economy, immigration reform and USIreland relations ahead of Mr Clinton’s trip to Derry today. He will honour former SDLP leader John Hume’s contribution to the peace process in the North in a speech at the city’s Guildhall Square Picture: PA
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it
LEGALISING cannabis poses a ‘grave danger to public health and well-being’, the UN has warned. Moves to legalise marijuana in Uruguay and the US states of Colorado and Washington were branded ‘misguided initiatives’ by the head of the International Narcotics Control Board, the UN body for enforcing drug treaties. Car accidents involving drug drivers testing positive for cannabis and cannabis-related treatment for teenagers have increased in Colorado since a medical cannabis programme was ‘poorly implemented’, the INCB said. In a report, INCB president Raymond Yans said: ‘INCB is concerned about some initiatives aimed at the legalisation of the… use of cannabis. Such initiatives would pose a grave danger to public health and well-being.’ The warning follows a vote by Uruguay’s parliament in December to approve a bill to legalise and regulate the sale and production of marijuana. Meanwhile, suppliers have been able to sell cannabis in Colorado since January, while this is due to be repeated in Washington state this summer.
METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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€160,000 The
amount in unclaimed Dublin Bus change tickets so far this year. The total last year was €1.3m, down from €1.6m in 2012 Ireland’s rate of newsprint recycling is now up to 79%. Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you.
Today is... Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent in the Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Jesus Christ’s 40-day period of prayer and fasting in the desert. For non-religious types, it is also Absinthe Day
From the archives (2009): Fangs for the wallet contents
A Wal-Mart customer in the US shopping for a wallet found it stuffed with ten teeth, one of which had a filling. Police say they belong to an adult, but since there was no blood or gum tissue, they would be unable to perform DNA tests.
Today’s birthdays
Dean Stockwell, actor, 78; Eddy Grant, singer, 66; Elaine Paige, singer, 66; Mark E Smith, singer (The Fall), 57; Eva Mendes (pictured), actress, 40.
CLOCkWORD
The solutions from 1 to 12 are all six-letter words ending with the letter Y in the centre. Moving clockwise from 1, the letters in the outer circle will spell out the name of a 19th-century Austrian botanist. 1. Responsible 9. Detail 2. Airstrip 10. Disappoint3. Put to work ment 4. Ill tempered 11. Vim, vigour 5. Expense 12. Gift by will 6. Cure Yesterday’s solution: 7. Sequence Deacon Brodie 8. Being
Y
Weather Today
Max: 11°c
Mainly dry across most of the country with some outbreaks of light rain. Western areas to remain overcast for the majority of the day with some occasional showers. Temperatures between 8° to 11°C.
Derry
8�C
Donegal
9�C
11�C
Athlone
Dublin
11�C Tipperary
10�C
Waterford
Tralee
Cork
Min: -1°c
Sunrise: 7.04am Sunset: 6.10pm
EUROPE today
Tomorrow 10�C 11�C
10�C 14�C
11�C
10�C
10�C
Mostly dry for the duration of the night with some rain and drizzle spreading eastwards later on. Temperatures between -1° to 4°C.
Mild and cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain with heavier rainfall in the west. Temperatures between 10° and 14°C.
Belfast
Cavan
Galway
Tonight
8�C
10�C
13�C 10�C Max: 14°c
Athens
15 °c
Barcelona
17 °c 11 °c
Berlin
London
12 °c 14 °c
Geneva
10 °c
Madrid
15 °c
Paris
13 °c 15 °c
Brussels
Rome
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 METRO HERALD
Chanel’s new look is supermarket sweet
It’s a catwalk where you might find catfood... by SHAROn MARRiS
IT’S the weekly shop as you’ve never seen it before. High-end fashion has a limited shelf life these days, so Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld played to the industry’s consumerist heart by parading his autumn/winter collection down supermarket aisles. Well heeled shoppers, including singer Rihanna and models Cara Delevingne and Stella Tennant, filled their baskets with groceries – all Chanel-branded, of course – as they pranced along in Lagerfeld’s latest creations. Shelves stacked with everything from washing powder to chainsaws adorned the makeshift Paris fashion week catwalk at the Grand Palais, as the 80year-old designer showed off his urban dweller range, which included knitted sneakers, baggy trousers and leggings filled with holes. Among star-studded guests watching the show were actresses Keira Knightley and Melanie Griffith. After it was over, a message played over the PA system announced: ‘Dear valued customer, the Chanel store is closing. Please pick up complimentary fruit and vegetables as you leave.’ It prompted a supermarket sweep as audience members pillaged the shelves for groceries. A trip to the shops for spuds and ham well never look the same again.
Check it out: A model in the drinks aisle, as Keira Knightley cuddles hubby James Righton, right pictures: epA/rex
METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Man stole €110k for online bets
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Don’t take LGBT bullying sitting down
A COMPANY administrator stole more than €110,000 from his employer to feed an online gambling addiction he had developed as a result of depression, a court has heard. Over the course of a year Mark Kemzura, 34, made 71 payments from the Woodland Global freight company into his own bank account. Kemzura, now of Brentwood, Essex, pleaded guilty to 11 sample counts of theft from the Blanchardstown firm.
Love/Hate actor avoids conviction AN ACTOR who featured in Love/ Hate has been given a chance to avoid a criminal conviction for drug dealing. Leroy Harris, 19, of Mariner’s Port, Dublin, who plays Glen in the crime drama, was yesterday ordered to take part in a restorative justice programme run by the Probation Service. He had pleaded guilty earlier to possession of cannabis worth €100, and having the drug for the purpose of sale or supply.
BOARD OF BULLYING: RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan stands with LGBT youth group BeLonG To members (l-r) Thomas, 18, Rachel, 20, Hannah, 23, Daniel, 18, and Sarah, 14, to stamp out discrimination at the launch of Stand Up! Awareness Week on Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying, kicking off next Monday
THE IRISH TIMES
exAmTIMES In Association with The Institute of Education
STUDY GUIDES FOR JUNIOR CERT STUDENTS
Connolly hits out at leak of McCabe tape by ED CARTy
Pick up the Exam Times guides for the Junior Cert. Tomorrow in
THE IRISH TIMES
THE sacked Garda Confidential Recipient has said he feels betrayed over the leaking of a conversation in which he allegedly warned a whistleblower to avoid confrontation with the Justice Minister. Lawyer Oliver Connolly, sacked from his post last month after extracts of the recording were released, said he has been the victim of a concentrated attack by some politicians. Mr Connolly refused to disclose whether he told Sergeant Maurice McCabe that Minister Alan Shatter would go after him and that he was finished if the minister thought he was being ‘screwed’. In a four-page statement, he claimed his honour, good name, professional competence and integrity and his and his family’s privacy have been impugned. And he accused some members of the opposition of a naked political attempt to embarrass Mr Shat-
€13. No stops. That’s the number of stops on GOBÉ’s Dublin to Cork Express Service. 3 hours.
Oliver Connolly: ‘Personal sense of betrayal’ ter and of selectively reading lines from an unverified transcript of a confidential conversation. On the leaking of the tape recording with Sgt McCabe, Mr Connolly said the ends do not always justify the means. ‘There is also a personal sense of betrayal in that the principal whistleblower felt it necessary to vindicate his rights by infringing my rights and, by extension, the privacy of my family,’ he said. ‘One must not become so focused on a goal that it is pursued at all costs.
VISIT GOBE.IE
‘Gremlin’ in Ireland’s first Bitcoin ATM DUBLIN’s first bitcoin ATM is experiencing trouble before any withdrawals have been made. The facility is being installed in Hippety’s Cafe and Gallery on Fownes Street, Temple Bar. But last night the firm BitVendo tweeted a picture of the device in bits on the floor, saying ‘A gremlin appears to have gotten in! Will update as we go along’. Bitvendo previously said it has already selected beta testers to use it the ATM before the public do. The firm plans to locate its next ATM in Waterford. The bitcoin ATM will allow users to change cash for the digital currency. The update came after some 400 people yesterday signalled they would join a class action against Mt. Gox, the world’s biggest marketplace for the currency. Mt. Gox has blamed €349million in losses on a hacking attack.
Arsonist threw dog out window of ex’s flat A DRUNKEN man threw a dog out a window and started fires in two apartments on the same night in a fit of jealousy. Vladimirs Li, 30, broke down the door of his friend’s ex-girlfriend’s flat, believing a man he was jealous of was there. He later returned and started a fire there, before starting a fire at his own ex-girlfriend’s apartment and throwing her dog out of a window. The Latvian caused damage estimated at €10,000 in the first attack and €58,000 in the second. His ex-girlfriend sustained minor injuries. Li, with an address at Leinster Road, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of arson, at Williams Park, Rathmines and South Circular Road, and one count of criminal damage. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned sentencing to May to allow the production of a psychiatric report.
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 METRO HERALD
Putin: We will use troops as last resort
VLADIMIR Putin yesterday insisted by AiDAn RADnEDgE he wanted a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis – but reserved the right Peace Prize, along with Pope Francis, Malala Yousafzai and Edward Snowden. to use military force as a last resort. But, in a provocative act, Russia testThe Russian president said: ‘As for bringing in forces, for now there is no fired a missile capable of carrying a nusuch need but such a possibility exists. clear warhead last night. US secretary of state John Kerry yesIt would naturally be the last resort, abterday warned America and its allies solutely the last. ‘We aren’t going to fight the Ukraini- are ready to step up measures to ‘isolate Russia politically, diplomatically an people.’ But he warned any evidence of ‘un- and economically’ unless it pulls out of controlled crime’ against pro-Russians Crimea. Meanwhile, a news presenter on a in Ukraine could provoke a military response, saying: ‘We retain the right to Russian TV channel who spoke out use all available means to protect those could be sent to Crimea by the station’s bosses. Abby Martin, an anchor on the people.’ Kremlin-funded broadcaster Asked if he would encourRussia Today, said live on air age Russian-speaking Ukrainthat Mr Putin was ‘wrong’ to ians to force a split, he said: send troops to Crimea. ‘We are not going to meddle. She said she would not ‘sit But we think all Ukraine’s here and apologise or defend citizens, no matter where they military aggression’, before live, should have the same saying her ‘heart went out’ to rights to determine the future people in Ukraine who she deof their country.’ scribed as ‘the real losers Mr Putin’s name appeared on the long-list for the Nobel Outburst: Martin here’.
Political football: Ukrainian servicemen take a break near Russian military vehicles at the Belbek Sevastopol International Airport in the Crimea, where the first shots were fired yesterday Picture: reuterS
Airbase sees first shots fired RUSSIAN soldiers yesterday fired the first shots of the Crimea crisis when they were challenged by unarmed Ukrainian troops. A group that seized control of the Belbek airbase, near Sevastopol, sent three volleys of warning shots into the air above 300 Ukrainian troops who were wanting to retake the military facility. During a filmed exchange, Russian soldiers were heard to warn them to hold back, adding: ‘We’ll be shooting your legs.’ Angry Ukrainians warned them the incident was ‘being filmed live’ and ‘America stands with us’. Col Yuli Mamchur, of Ukraine’s 240th tactical aviation brigade, told the Russians it was ‘wrong’ that ‘because of one certain politician we are now at loggerheads’. Despite the tension, at one point a few of the Ukrainian troops broke away to play football. Col Mamchur withdrew his forces from the area and the standoff ended quietly. He was told about ten of his men could jointly guard the base.
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METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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60 seconds Apocalypse Now
unlikely as ancient virus is woken up
Sherlock and Doctor Who writer MARk GATiss, 47, is bracing himself for more fan mayhem with a new role as Tycho Nestoris in Game Of Thrones
You are about to star as Tycho Nestoris in the new series of Game Of Thrones. Are you ready for the fan frenzy? I felt a
bit overwhelmed by the response. When it was announced, people bombarded me with questions. I felt a bit of a fraud. Apparently, my character in the books actually comes in a lot later so it was a bit unusual that they brought it forward.
Does this mean you could return later? Apparently so! I’m ex-
pecting an almost inevitably violent death. I’m in one episode. I went over to Belfast and did the scene there.
Go on – let us in on the storyline. It was announced the
day I got to Comic-Con, which was like dropping a grenade into a pond. I was genuinely sworn to secrecy so I kept schtum. I have a lovely pair of clogs I can tell you about.
After Doctor Who and Sherlock, now this – you seem drawn to TV shows with cult fan bases. It’s an
elaborate Venn diagram for my retirement.
to be. It was like I was stepping into a silent movie. That never left me. Every time I go back, I remember the smell of the trees and the sunset. It was Hollywood as I always imagined it. Then you go over for things like the Emmys and they are so grandiose and extraordinary, you can’t help but be swept along by them.
You’re in a civil partnership with Ian Hallard [British actor]. Is gay marriage an important issue for you? I remem-
ber demonstrating outside the Commons for an equal age of consent. It’s amazing how much has changed in 20 years but it’s about one thing: equality before the law. No matter how people try to shave it, it’s one rule for one and another for another. Everyone should have an equal right to marry and divorce.
The Winter Olympics highlighted the issue of homophobia in Russia; is it a breeze coming out in Britain My role was these days? It’s
“
announced the day I got to Comic-Con, which was like dropping a grenade into a pond
Game Of Thrones has some very racy and often gay love scenes. If you return to the show, is sex and nudity something you’d be willing to do? It’s filled with the
fittest men on television, so I wouldn’t be averse to it. It’s very unlikely with my character, though. He’s a bit like John Major.
Have you ever been tempted to move to Hollywood? I really
love LA – probably because I’ve never worked there. I’ve only gone there for fun. It’s a very lonely place if you are struggling to get into a pilot. I have a lot of friends who have pretty miserable times there. If someone asked me to go over and do something, I’d be delighted if it was the right thing, but I think it is a young man’s game.
Do you enjoy all the big dos like the Emmys? I first went 20
years ago. I was researching James Whale, a gay Englishman who directed the original Frankenstein. So my first experience of Hollywood was old Hollywood. I totally fell in love with it and it was exactly what I wanted it
always difficult, because it’s an individual thing. Some people come out and have a marvellous experience and their family is supportive. Others have a terrible experience and their family kicks them out. You can’t just broadly say that everything has changed.
You describe yourself as ‘Strangler’ in your Twitter bio. Explain? When I was setting it up, I was looking at the amount of people who write ‘director’ or ‘author’, that sort of thing. I thought I’d surprise people.
Do you get trolled at all and what do you make of social networking? It’s great fun and
I’ve met a lot of nice people on it. I had a tweet from the guy who created Hannibal and it’s exciting like that. It’s a tool for democracy. In a world where you have no response, really, to something defamatory that is said about you, you are able to say: ‘This is not true – here is the truth.’ The downside of it is the amount of nasty people who use it. I do get a bit. You just block those people but it’s no less upsetting. Sometimes it’s like someone has spat in your face.
Andrei Harmsworth
IT’S the sort of terrifying discovery that you’d expect to see form the plot of a really bad sci-fi or horror movie. A Stone Age virus that has lain dormant under layers of ice for 30,000 years has ‘come back to life’, say scientists. But don’t worry, the ancient germ is no threat to mankind – it’s completely harmless to humans, experts say. However, they have warned global warming may unleash other viruses that could affect humans. The virus, pithovirus sibericum, was found in a 30m deep sample of frozen soil in the Siberian permafrost. Scientists thawed it and watched it replicate
by sHARON MARRis in a petri dish, where it infected a single-cell organism called an amoeba. And the French researchers who found the pathogen near the East Siberian Sea, have warned against drilling through ice for minerals and oil, saying it could be a ‘recipe for disaster’. However, Prof Jonathan Ball of the University of Nottingham doubts that other viruses lying dormant under ice are as robust as this germ. Even if they survived the freezing and melting process, they would need to infect a host ‘pretty fast’ to thrive, he said.
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 METRO HERALD
METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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Taylor takes Swift action on stalker who says they’re wed ★
Taylor Swift has been granted a restraining order against a stalker who claims to be married to her and says he will ‘kill any man who gets in the way’. The 24-year-old took action against Timothy Sweet after he declared his love in a series of emails, letters and social media posts. According to gossip site TMZ, one reads: ‘If anyone in Swift’s family gets killed, it’s not my fault.’ In another he calls Swift his wife and pledges to ‘carry a gun to protect her the rest of my life’. Sweet has been ordered to stay at least 30m from the singer and three of her relatives. In 2012, Jacob Kulke, 24, scaled the fence at Swift’s Nashville home but was not charged.
Madge keeps mum as Sean snogs Charlize Inviting your ex to your party and then watching him snog someone younger sucks – so spare a thought for Madonna. The 55-year-old queen of pop kept her poker face intact when former hubby Sean Penn, 53, started ‘making out like crazy’ with Charlize Theron at her Oscars after-show bash. ‘They were the talk of the party,’ said shocked guests as Penn snogged the 38-year-old. Happily, Madge had her children to distract her. ‘She was dancing up a storm at the party with Lourdes and Rocco,’ the source told Us magazine.
She was once the most feared name in fashion but it seems Anna Wintour’s power is dwindling after the Vogue editor was downgraded to the second row during Valentino’s show in Paris Fashion Week. Twitter was shocked, with one user asking: ‘What has the world come to?’ Valentino’s people said seats for US mags were cut this season. Wintour is believed to have given up her position to a writer reviewing the show for Vogue.
★ All white, mate: Katy Perry wows in white on a visit to Australia
Cameron Diaz’s obsession with her lady parts continues. She has declared her vagina ‘hungry’. The 41-year-old, appearing on America’s Chelsea Lately to promote her self-health book, said: ‘For me, the vagina is such an integral part of the body. We think the vagina is on the outside. I say grab a mirror and play along. Get in there.’ She added: ‘[You should be] watering it. Fertilising it. It needs nourishment. It’s hungry.’
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Jared Leto admits he hasn’t seen his Oscar-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club. However, the 42-year-old best supporting actor urged fans to watch it. ‘If you have not seen it, you must,’ he said on Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show. ‘I think one day I will watch it because I’ll be curious at some point. It was such an intense role. It’s better for me to just leave it alone now.’
Subdued: This new arrest photo of Bieber shows a less cocky persona than one that was released in January
WINTICKETS TO EXCLUSIVELY with
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 METRO HERALD
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Robin Thicke took to the stage to issue a mushy appeal to his soon-to-be ex-wife Paula Patton, insisting he still loves her. The Blurred Lines singer told fans at his show in Atlantic City, ‘Never stop believing and you never stop loving,’ before singing a cover of Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together. When a heckler yelled, ‘I love Paula’, the 36-year-old star replied: ‘I do too.’
Tat’s Just a bit too much A
w released byy police polic Pictures: AP They ink it’s all over: Photos of Bieber’s tattoos – spread overr his body – were
JUDGE last night ordered that more footage of Justin Bieber being held in custody can be released – but his private parts must be covered co up. Miami-Dade county judge William Altfield approved the release of five remaining video clips of the singer follo following his arrest for alleged drivof ing offences. But he said two of the videos show Bieber’ genitals and should be cenBieber’s sored before being made public. It is thought the images were taken just after the star urinated in his holding cell. Still images released last night show his array of ‘distinguishing marks’ including tattoos on his le chest and behind his ears. arms, legs, The include a crown, a treble clef, They passages from the Bible and portraits of Jesus. The star’s lawyers claimed that airing the footage would be an inva invasion of privacy beyond the public’ right to know. lic’s Much of the post-arrest footage was released last week, including scenes of Bieber appearing to walk unsteadily during a sobriety test. Media
by AiDAn RADnEDgE
organisations applied for permission to use more clips, under Florida’s open records laws. Mr Altfield ruled last night: ‘Mr Bieber’s right to privacy is paramount. He has not lost his right to privacy and that is what is important here.’ Bieber was arrested in January and charged with driving under the influence, resisting arrest and driving with an expired licence. Bieber and r’n’b singer Khalil Amir Sharieff were arrested early on January 23 during what police called an illegal street drag-race between a Lamborghini and Ferrari. Meanwhile, Bieber is also facing claims that he sneaked his go-to drug, sizzurp, into a nightclub. The pop brat sipped from his own plastic cup at the Tongue and Groove nightspot in Atlanta on Monday, and sources say it contained strong cough syrup mixed with soda. TMZ claims Biebs, 20, ordered his entourage to make sure no-one saw him drinking.
Lads’ mag’s gags: moone Boy actor Chris O’dowd gives his best confused culchie face as he poses with models for gQ. The Roscommon-born star is interviewed in the april issue of the men’s magazine, which is a comedy special Licensed and Bonded No: TO 101
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10 METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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Facebook’s drones World to get Africa on net
digest
Everest litter mounts
FACEBOOK has bold plans to beam internet connections into isolated parts of Africa – by building 11,000 drones. The social networking giant is tipped to have spent up to $60m (€44m) buying Texas-based Titan Aerospace, which makes drones that can fly solo for five years without needing to land.
by METRO HERALD sTAFF According to reports on technology website TechCrunch, Facebook intends to buy the maker of advanced solar-powered drones in the hope that they can be modified to provide internet connectivity. Facebook intends to build 11,000 of the drones to provide affordable
internet access to some five billion people who don’t have it. Facebook is one of the backers of the internet.org project, which aims to connect large parts of the world which remain offline – in competition with Google’s Project Loon. Only 2.7 billion people – just over one-third of the world’s population – have access to the internet.
nEpAL: Climbers on the world’s highest mountain will have to bring back all of their rubbish with them – or lose a €3,000 deposit. The rule has been introduced to stop routes on Mount Everest becoming littered with oxygen tanks, tents, ropes and food wrappers. ‘Earlier efforts were not effective,’ a tourism official said.
Renzi loses senator
iTALY: Fledgling prime minister Matteo Renzi yesterday lost the first member of his government since forming a complex coalition. He accepted the resignation of centre-right politician Antonio Gentile amid claims he pressured a newspaper not to publish a damaging story about his son.
and finally... ROMAniA: Dolphins will be granted the same rights as people if the country’s parliament backs a bill tabled by MP Remus Cernea.
ONE DAY AT THE VERY SAME TIME THE WHOLE WORLD
WILL BE RUNNING FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T 4TH MAY 2014 RING OF KERRY
gAzA sTRip: A man kisses the body of Mousab Al-Zaani during his funeral in Beit Hanoun. An Israeli air strike on Monday killed two Palestinians, one of them Al-Zaanin, who Israel’s military said had been preparing to launch a rocket across the border. picture: reuters
Boobies on the beat
gERMAnY: A budding police officer rejected for having fake boobs won her case against Berlin police force yesterday. The woman was told she had been snubbed because her implants would prevent her wearing a protective vest, a decision ruled unlawful.
More power to your boa...
A dancer from the Imperatriz Leopoldiense samba school performs at the sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the traditional carnival celebrations this week. picture: epa
Baby found after footie appeal A MISSING British baby has been returned from Spain after an appeal to football fans. Farah Afzal was found two weeks after a plea was broadcast at Manchester City’s Champions League tie against Barcelona. Barca supporters were told to ‘keep their eyes open’ for the four-monthold baby after the February 18 game. The message was delivered on
behalf of Harrow council in northeast London after a High Court judge gave permission for the name of the child to be released in time for the match. Yesterday, the local authority revealed Farah had been found safe and well in Barcelona where her parents, Mohammed Afzal, 38, and Zainab Rasul, 30, had fled to avoid care proceedings.
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 METRO HERALD
Pistorius weeps as he hears about Reeva’s brain injuries Emotional: Oscar Pistorius holds his head during his trial over the death of Reeva Steenkamp
by DOMINIC YEATMAN
AN EMOTIONAL Oscar Pistorius yesterday broke down during his murder trial as he heard details of the brain damage his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp suffered after he shot her. The Paralympic star, 27, clutched his head and wept as his lawyer Barry Roux challenged claims by neighbour Michelle Burger, who said she heard screams as four shots were fired. Mr Roux told her: That person, who had sustained that amount of brain damage, would have no response, no cognitive function. ‘With the head shot she would have dropped down immediately, yet you claim to have heard her screaming?’ Pistorius denies shooting the 29year-old model after a row at the couple’s home in Pretoria, South Africa. He maintains he mistook her for an intruder on Valentine’s Day last year. Proceedings were delayed yesterday after it emerged South African TV station eNCA had found a photo of witness Michelle Burger on-
Pictures: reuters/AP
line and broadcast it over audio of her testimony. Judge Thokozile Masipa said the ban included the use of still images, warning the media: ‘If you do not behave, you are not going to be treated with soft gloves.’ Ms Burger’s husband Charl Peter Johnson also told the court the
screams of a ‘clearly distressed’ woman could be heard from his home 180m away. Meanwhile, Ms Steenkamp’s mother June said she was attending the trial because she had to see Pistorius. ‘He didn’t look at me. He just walked straight and looked ahead,’ she added.
THE king of the Maori people has pulled out of a meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge over the length of time he will spend with the couple during their New Zealand tour. King Tuheitia has cancelled the 90-minute engagement, and his officials suggested the event was not long enough to do justice to the royal visitors’ status. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said: ‘It’s a decision made solely by King Tuheitia’s people.’ The king’s office issued a statement quoting an official who said the monarch was ‘not some carnival act’.
Move in the right direction
POPE Francis has scored plenty of front covers – but now he has a magazine all to himself. The Mondadori publishing house – part of exPremier Silvio Berlusconi’s media empire, which lists the popular celebrity gossip rag Chi among its titles – is launching a magazine entirely devoted to the doings, sayings, gestures and activities of the 265th Successor of Peter. My Pope, at 50c a pop, will include a free pull-out poster with one of Francis’s quotes from the previous seven days. Editor Aldo Vitali said Pope Francis’s election has generated new interest in the papacy.
We are hiring | Come and talk to D&B Know the difference between a PIG and a BEE (Hive)? Want to be part of a transformational project at D&B to build the next generation of products and services? Come & talk to us at our open evening! Wednesday 12th March 6 - 8pm D&B Offices, 5th Floor, The Chase, Carmanhall Road, Sandyford.
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Berlusconi’s bid to visit Dublin halted AN ITALIAN court rejected a request by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose passport was confiscated after his conviction for tax fraud, to leave Italy to attend a conference in Ireland. Berlusconi wanted to attend the European Popular Party conference in Dublin on March 6-7, but he cannot travel abroad unless he is granted a permit by judges. Last year he was sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud, which was commuted to a year under house arrest.
Maori king snubs Wills and Kate
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Reporting the facts, plus the last word on the cycling row
I
would just like to ask why newspapers feel the need to publish exactly what happens to child rape victims? I mean, these little girls had their innocence stolen from them in the most disgusting manner – they do not need all and sundry knowing what happened to them. Yes, you didn’t publish their names or family names, but in a small town everyone will know someone who knows someone. I think it’s just so inappropriate to publish intimate details of what happened to them on that awful day. Have a bit of decency and think about their future and the mess they have to deal with growing up with that stigma attached to them. Hannah
■ In response to Angry driver, and with a view to possibly shedding some light on your encounter, it sounds like you came across a training cycle run by Maynooth Students for Charity (www.galwaycycle. ie). This is an annual charity cycle from Maynooth to Galway and back, usually run at the end of March. Because of the numbers involved in recent years, the organisers have taken to running large training cycles from Maynooth as far as Kinnegad and even a bit beyond on the old N4. unfortunately this is arguably the
only safe route for them to take such large numbers on, but regrettably they seem oblivious to their imposition on other road users to do this every Saturday and Sunday for almost three months. Sympathetic cyclist ■ In my experience, the most vocal anti-cyclists are the worst drivers, those who don’t indicate, use mobiles while driving and focus on anything else other than the road in front of them. About time the Garda enforced the rules of the road against drivers, they are the real danger. Judge Duly ■ The dutch equivalent of the RSA organises traffic exams for primary school leavers. A practical exam is done on a bike. There are fines in place for not having working lights, cycling on footpaths, etc – these contribute to the coveted cycling culture. The exam benefited me six years later for my driver theory test, as the rules don’t change. And only while in a car did I realise how a cyclist’s omission of rules appeared to a driver. Maybe it’s an idea to bring the rules of the road to the classroom and add an hour of cycling experience to the driving test for a bit of mutual understanding? Cycling Dad
Quick pic
BUTT OF THE JOKE: Reader Jason Quinn sent us this picture he took in Paris, which he thought was funny and apt as he says he was out looking for a pharmacy to buy haemorrhoid cream at the time! Send your photos to pictures@ metroherald.ie with ‘Quick pic’ as the subject and we will print the best each day in the paper
gOOD On yA ● Thank you to the man in the blue jumper on the commuter on Tuesday morning who helped me when I was feeling faint and lost my vision, I am truly grateful for your kindness. Jen
yEH bIg RIDE
● To the Cher lookalike (when she was young and mostly human, not plastic) who gets the 16 from Whitehall every morning – I don’t know who you are but you’re a real dead ringer for love. Let me be your Meat Loaf. M Aday
● Just want to compliment the Metro Herald girl on the corner of Bachelors Walk and O’Connell Street who has brightened up my trip to work each morning this winter with her wonderful big smile no matter how adverse the weather conditions have been. It’s nice to be nice and it does make a difference. Mik
● Blondie babe who gets on the Dart at Booterstown every morning, that red dress gives me the whitwhoos. Chris
RAnDOM AcTs Of kInDnEss
yOuR RusH-HOuR cRusH
TREnDIng #irishukrainiansnotrussians
@metrohnews #metromailbox
● Wondering why #irishukrainiansnot russians is trending No.1? It all has to do with last night’s Prime Time. Sen @DeirdreCluneFG
● I very strongly believe that irish Ukrainians are not Russians. An opinion I have developed over the last while. #rtept
● Nothing but repeats on #rte – there’s that Irish Ukrainians not Russians again!
● Ah, who broke the RTÉ last night?
@willhanafin
Independent TD @lukeming Flanagan DJ @IanDempsey
Cant tihnk of what two wright aboute?
L.IE.CC.01.2014.0204
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So, what’s so great about Ukraine, asks Ross McDonagh, in this week’s Lysteria p17
A Great Big World on their new album – and singing with Christina Aguilera by ARwA HAiDER
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Nice guys do rule the world
rIME-time emotions run high when it comes to the music of New York singer-songwriter duo A Great Big World, aka Chad Vaccarino and Ian Axel. The pair specialise in epic pop with a sensitive streak, which has scored bombastic success Stateside, thanks to their doublePlatinum piano ballad Say Something, featuring Christina Aguilera. Over a few months, AGBW have stacked up sales figures and prime-time US TV placements (So You Think You Can Dance; The Voice). Across this side of the Atlantic, a buzz is welling up and the band are now set to release their album, Is There Anybody Out There? When we meet, they’re both ravenous from their hectic schedule – and are painstakingly ordering the healthiest dishes on the hotel menu (‘Does this contain dairy?’ frets Axel, as a waitress proffers Thai veggie curry). Axel and Vaccarino share a similar demeanour – sweetly preppy, enthusiastic, disarmingly polite – which might explain why they first clicked as NYU music students several years ago. ‘When I met Chad, I felt like I’d known him my whole life,’ says
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@themarkerhotel #marchatthemarker
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they’d even tried to perform an exorcism on her. It’s crazy that stuff actually happens; we need to perform this more than ever.’ AGBW face such heavyweight shocks with a sweet and light approach. But surely they must feel outraged sometimes; do they have a secret album of furious demos? ‘Our angriest song is Land Of Opportunity… and it’s not that angry,’ grins Axel, sheepishly.
Axel. Vaccarino nods: ‘When Ian played me his music, I thought, “Oh my God, we should really be friends and we should write together”. I felt like I was writing a song with myself; even now, we’ll have the same perspective.’ The slickly earnest melodies on Is There Anybody Out There? have an overarching theme: creating a sense that no-one is alone in the world. When the pair mention their formative influences – The Beatles, Ben Folds, Disney musicals – it’s the latter that feels most relevant to their tunes and ‘wish upon a star’ attitude, and that sets them apart from other emotive hitmakers such as Snow Patrol or The Fray. ‘We feel like it’s our responsibility to write positive things,’ reasons Axel. ‘If everybody was their honest selves, this world would be perfect. We don’t write songs about drinking at the bar or driving fancy cars. We don’t even have cars. We started
“We wanna hit nerves, either in a good or a bad way” dreaming and doing what we loved, and it’s still happening.’ It all sounds extremely wholesome – although when Vaccarino mentions they last visited Europe on a spring break vacation, I picture the pair as hedonistic holiday-makers, rampaging through the continent. He smiles cryptically: ‘Well, we were more foolish back then…’ Surely the cynical, big-bucks edge to the music industry makes AGBW’s idealism more challenging? ‘We tend to polarise people, but
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Worldwide: The duo say their music won’t change, despite their huge growth in popularity that makes us wanna do this more,’ says Axel. ‘There are haters, but also people with an incredible love for what we do.’ ‘We wanna hit nerves, whether it’s in a good or bad way,’ adds Vaccarino. One of the most directly catchy tunes on their album is Everyone Is Gay, which wraps up an all-inclusive message in a jaunty singalong. It has also prompted some of their strongest feedback. ‘We played a show in Salt Lake City, Utah, that was full of
swirling socialites THEATRE REviEW: THE vORTEx HHHHI
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ESPITE being the play that catapulted Noël Coward to stardom in Britain in 1924, The Vortex is only being produced in Ireland for the first time some 90 years later. In many respects this is altogether fitting – as a study of narcissism and abandon it speaks more to a modern Irish audience than it would have to the buttoned-up Free State. A renowned beauty in her youth, selfobsessed socialite Florence Lancaster (Susannah Harker) has taken a lover some two decades her junior, much to the chagrin of brutally honest pal Helen (Fiona Bell) and blow-snorting son Nicky (Rory Fleck Byrne). A get-together to celebrate Nicky’s engagement to Downton-esque fiancée Bunty descends into chaos as Florence is betrayed by her beau and her coked-up son commandeers a parent-child showdown.
In Annabelle Comyn’s stately production for The Gate, there’s no shying away from the transgressions of flawed characters who ‘swirl about in a vortex of beastliness’. Fiona Bell, as the moral centre of the play, makes an excellent foil for the hedonism of her odious coterie, with Fleck Byrne particularly impressive in the role of a snarling, selfdestructive ingrate (that Nicky is conflicted about his sexuality is deftly alluded to throughout). As a bold portrayal of the feckless chattering classes, The Vortex doesn’t elicit much in the way of empathy for its characters but in its head-on handling of themes such as addiction, sexual repression and family dysfunction it’s scarcely aged a whit. Daragh Reddin Until Mar 22, Gate Theatre, 1 Cavendish Row D1, 7.30pm, (mat Sat 2.30pm), various prices. Tel: (01) 874 4045. www.gate-theatre.ie
Mormons,’ recalls Axel. ‘We were actually told not to play the song, in case it upset people. In our rock star moment, we were like: “No, we’re playing it!”. Because it’s a song about love, and why should that upset anybody?’ Happily, the audience reacted with hearty approval. ‘At another show in Alabama, a girl fell sobbing into my arms and thanked us,’ says Vaccarino. ‘Her parents were right next to her, and they didn’t approve of her lifestyle;
E’RE more likely to cry than to scream or blow up,’ nods Vaccarino. ‘We’re all in this together, so compassion is really important.’ Even powerhouse superstar Christina Aguilera displayed a delicate touch when she guested on Say Something (the track also appears on their album in its original solo version). ‘She emailed us saying she didn’t want to take over the song,’ explains Axel. ‘When she got to the studio, we were so surprised by the vulnerable way she was singing.’ The duo insist their music won’t lose its intimate pep talk feel, even as their audiences become increasingly vast. They’re also writing a stage musical, having been approached by Broadway producers. ‘It sounds like our music on steroids,’ says Vaccarino, happily. ‘There’s just something about writing for the stage and giving characters life.’ AGBW’s own story is developing fast, too, as he recalls a recent show: ‘When we supported Maroon 5 in Vegas on New Year’s Eve, it didn’t feel like we were performing to 8,000 people; it felt like one mass. When we played Say Something, there was a huge uproar and everyone sang out loud. We didn’t even realise that we were connecting with that many people; we’d just seen charts and numbers.’ For an instant, his eyes shine like a cartoon hero: ‘It just feels bigger than us.’ Is There Anybody Out There? (RCA) is out now
gig ninA pERssOn With The Cardigans on indefinite hiatus, it’s been left to frontwoman Nina Persson to continue the Swedes’ adventures into classic pop. Her work as A Camp across two albums – including 2009’s much-admired Colonia LP – saw her typically cool vocals complement a pleasing country rock twang. Indeed, anyone who gets their kicks from Rilo Kiley or Jenny Lewis will find much to love about Persson’s post-Cardigans incarnations, with a similar commitment to intelligently dark lyricism as a counterpoint to the upbeat music. Last month she released Animal Heart, the first album released under her solo name, and it’s assuredly catchy, right from the electronic pop and pedal steel of the title track. Expect a particularly cheering evening as the Scandi-star brings her convivial brand of alt-pop to the capital tomorrow evening. siobhan Murphy Tomorrow, Button Factory, Curved Street D2, 8pm, €22. Tel: (01) 670 9202. www.buttonfactory.ie
bOOk nOW CoisCéim AGNES A much-loved figure on Dublin’s bohemian scene, German cabaret artist Agnes Bernelle passed away in her adopted city in 1999 after living in Ireland for more than 30 years. Bernelle’s father, a peer of Kurt Weill, wrote songs performed at Berlin’s legendary Kit Kat Club and clearly shaped the direction of his daughter’s life. CoisCéim Dance Theatre’s eponymous new show incorporates movement and music – with emphasis on Bernelle’s seminal Father’s Lying Dead On The Ironing Board LP – to celebrate the life of the late lamented artist who’s influenced everyone from Elvis Costello to Camille O’Sullivan Mar 15 to Mar 22, Project Arts Centre, 39 Essex Street East D2, 8pm, from €15. Tel: (01) 881 9613/4. www. projectartscentre.ie
Life home cinema Bolstered by a starmaking performance from Chris Hemsworth, the first Thor served as an entertaining introduction to the character. It’s disappointing, then, that this sequel feels overblown and underwhelming by comparison, with striking visuals and design work let down by a weak script and an ill-conceived story. The Dark World pits Hemsworth’s Thor against Malekith The Accursed (Christopher Eccleston), a dark elf bent on plunging the Nine Realms into darkness with an allpowerful energy force. While the laws of physics are disrupted on Earth, an attack on Asgard leaves Thor with little choice but to join forces with his half-brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). There’s plenty of action and comedy, but the stakes never feel high and the film is far too jokey for its own good. Though Hemsworth and Hiddleston remain impressive in their respective roles, the former shares no chemistry with Natalie Portman’s love interest, while Eccleston is underused as the villain. Stephen Carty
MisTer John DVD, Blu-ray, VoD
HHHH✩
‘Don’t be surprised if you are not fully yourself,’ the nurse warns Gerry (Aidan Gillen) after a snakebite leaves venom in his bloodstream. Gerry, however, was not himself even before he arrived in Singapore for the funeral of his brother, John. Once there, this middle-aged Irishman with a cloudy family life encounters a disorientating melange of
emotional and cultural disturbances, from sex tourism and water ghosts to a confused attraction to his brother’s wife. And soon he’s not merely slipping into his dead brother’s shirts, slacks and sandals, but his life too. The territory is familiar: mysterious death, avenging brother, identity crisis in a foreign land. However, Irish husband and wife directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor (Helen) filter their story through a unique tonal timbre. ‘Lynchian’ is the word the marketing uses, but this has an eeriness all of its own. Meanwhile, Gillen gives a career-best performance. Siobhan Murphy
The killers DVD, Blu-ray HHHH✩
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bOxSET bLiTz
Passion Thors out Thor: The Dark WorlD DVD, Blu-ray, VoD HH✩✩✩
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Don Siegel’s 1964 postnoir doesn’t have much left in it of the Ernest Hemingway story that inspired it. But something of Hem’s taciturn style lingers as the tale of two hitmen plays out under the California sun. Lee Marvin scored his breakthrough role here as anti-hero Charlie, the gun for hire who develops an insatiable curiosity about one of his victims, ex-racing driver Johnny (John Cassavetes); specifically about why the man submitted to his death without a fight. With his sociopathic sidekick (Clu Gulager), he starts unravelling a story of double-crosses and heartbreak, which finally leads him to Angie Dickinson’s femme fatale, Sheila, and crim turned businessman Jack – the last screen performance from Ronald Reagan, playing against type but doing so surprisingly well. Commissioned as the first ever US TV movie, the film’s violence – and JFK’s assassination – meant it was switched to cinemas. This handsome new package lets you watch the film’s terrific, hard-bitten kicks in either aspect. Siobhan Murphy
GaMe of Thrones season 3
HHHHH DVD, Blu-ray Game Of Thrones is pretty much the best thing on TV, and season three is its best yet. It starts slowly – you might find yourself wincing and touching your nipple in episode one – but grabs you by the neck at episode four. Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg, pictured) battles Tywin Lannister (he wins). Margaery Tyrell ingratiates herself at court (Cersei to Margaery: ‘If you ever call me sister again, I’ll have you strangled in your sleep’). Daenerys goes badass and Theon is tortured a lot. And there are a couple of weddings. Episode nine made all the headlines when it was broadcast (you’ve done very well if you avoided spoilers). One or two people found this one a bit much. Traumatic. Martin Stevens
Five films to see at the cinema
1 2 3 4 5
12 Years A Slave The Academy voted it best picture - but were they right? As powerful as it is beautiful, this real-life tale of US slavery is packed with hard-hitting performances. Gravity Back in cinemas – again! And that’s the place to experience this breathtaking, multi-awardwinning space thriller, co-starring Sandra Bullock (right) and George Clooney. The Lego Movie Want a break from all these heavy awards winners? Take a trip to a happy land of tiny multicoloured plastic heroes with this zany, boxoffice-busting animation. Stalker When a deranged homeless man oliver discovers the Lord, he decides to befriend and protect a teenage drug dealer. Dublin director mark o’Connor’s third feature in as many years is his strongest to date. Her Feeling ‘wedded to technology’ is taken to a whole new level in this brilliant, oscar-winning ‘boy falls for computer operating system’ sci-fi romance.
celebrate the world premiere of Cleaners, showing from March 11th – 15th, we’ve teamed up with axis: Ballymun to give away tickets, and one lucky reader will win the top prize – the chance to wipe away those winter cobwebs with a house spring clean, courtesy of www.housecleaning.ie
lookinG aheaD The zero Theorem Christoph Waltz (pictured) plays a reclusive computer geek seeking the meaning of life in the final part of Terry Gilliam’s dystopian trilogy, which also includes Brazil and 12 monkeys. out mar 14.
Peppered with blackmail, backstabbing, a little cleaning and plenty of Dublin wit, Cleaners is the darkly comic story of two colleagues, Jewel (Anne Kent) and Ellie (Stephanie Kelly), a master and novice thrown together by fate in a high class Dublin Hotel. Amongst mini bars, manipulation, Buddhas and a lotto syndicate, a battle of wits ensues.
To win just answer this question:
A . Stephenie Meyer
B . Stephanie Pratt
C . Stephanie Kelly
Text CLEANERS, followed by your answer A, B or C, your name and email to 53133 Metro Herald Terms and Conditions: The competition closes at Midday Thursday 6th March 2014. The winners will be chosen at random from the entries received and notified by telephone or email. Usual Metro Herald rules apply. The Editor's decision is final. By entering this competition you agree to sign up to the Metro Herald promotions list - To optout text NOMETRO to 51155. Text entries cost 60c + standard network charge. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, 4th Floor, Malt House North, Grand Canal Quay, D2. Customer Service number 0818 286 606.
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Life television
Monday
Tuesday
inside no 9 BBC2, 23.20pM The League Of Gentlemen members Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton (pictured) continue to come up with the goods after the delightfully macabre Psychoville followed hot on the heels of their titular series. In The Understudy, the fifth episode of this similarly ghoulish and Hitchcockian black comedy/ drama, we meet successful West End actor Tony Warner, whose tour-deforce performance as Macbeth is the toast of the theatre, but his overbearing personality makes life hell for his fellow thespians. It would be very bad luck indeed if he was suddenly indisposed in some way – although not for Jim, his everhopeful understudy.
Wednesday
Thursday
fleminG SKY ATLANTIC, 9pM
Friday
Saturday
It’s the last episode of this slick, tongue-incheek imagination of author Ian Fleming’s experiences working for British Intelligence and the influence his job had on the creation of his greatest character, James Bond. Tonight, the top brass believe the end of the war is in sight, but Ian (Dominic Cooper, pictured) is convinced the Nazis are still planning to attack and finally manages to get himself posted to the heart of the action. Meanwhile, Ann is desperate to be married, but a proposal from Esmond is not the offer she was hoping for, while Evelyn tries to dissuade her from waiting for Ian to return.
liVe inteRnational footBall: iReland V seRBia SKY SpORTS 3, 7.30pM
Sunday
Having failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, the Irish football team must turn its attention to rebuilding under the new management team of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane. They play hosts tonight to Serbia, another side not jetting off to Brazil this summer. The two sides have only met once since Serbia gained independence, the previous meeting proving to be a 0-0 borefest in Belgrade last year, so let’s hope this game proves a bit more exciting.
film of the day FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, RTÉ1, 21.35pM The story may be as obvious and formulaic as babyfood, but this romantic comedy still sparkles, thanks mainly to its very camera-friendly stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, whose chemistry is palpable and enjoyable to watch. The dialogue, too, is better than what you would expect from a romantic comedy, zipping along at a pace well suited to the That 70s Show-era Kunis. She plays a magazine agent looking to recruit an art director (Timberlake), and after a few fun getting-to-know-you nights, finds herself dicussing with him the merits of no-strings-attached casual sex. That they must never have seen When Harry Met Sally may spring to mind, but their blossoming romance, stringently denied for the most part, is the stuff the best rom-coms are made of.
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Like that kid down the back of the class, perennial baddies the Russians are at it again, starting a fight with someone sitting beside them. This time it’s its own former limb UKRAINE. Hopefully it doesn’t come to war. Meanwhile, Ross McDonagh takes a look at what Ukraine is good at, and not so good at
interview
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features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010
gOOD AT… FOOTBALL
Sure Andriy Shevchenko’s career was ruined by a move to Chelsea (his wasn’t the first or last; ask Torres, Crespo, Kezman, and, erm, Mutu) but don’t forget Ukraine was home to the greatest footballer in the world at one stage. It’s also home to Uefa cup winners Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk. Ukraine is one of only five Uefa countries never to have played Ireland!
not so gooD at… sex
Ukraine has up to recently had one of the fastest falling population rates in the world, with a high mortality rate, low birth rate, falling life expectancy and very low fertility rate. The government even started offering money to people to have kids, by constantly raising child support payments. China isn’t that far away – some of those guys should really consider heading on over there.
gOOD AT… AcTing
With names like Milla Jovovich and Olga Kurylenko, you probably guessed the Ukraine was responsible for such gems as Resident Evil and the Quantum Of Solace. But did you know Mila Kunis (below) is Ukrainian too? No Oscars yet for the trio, but they can take solace in the fact that they are ridiculously, ridiculously good-looking. Plus The Fifth Element, Oblivion and Ted were all good films. Believe it or not, Ukraine has probably done more for acting than any other country by producing Lee Strasberg, the ‘father of method acting’ and teacher to Dustin Hoffman, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, among others.
On to a new cycle: PJ Gallagher (second from left) is pictured with athlete Marian Heffernan, broadcaster Matt Cooper, former Kerry footballer Paul Galvin and singer Bressie for the 2014 An Post Cycle Series PiCTURe: SPoRTSfiLe
not so gooD at… national antheMs
‘I plug away all day’
gOOD AT… BOxing
Comedian PJ Gallagher is taking part in the An Post Cycle Series – here he tells Sam Williamson how he got his wheels
The ‘yet’ in Ukraine Has Not Yet Died isn’t a very good omen, and probably doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of enemies. And the song was the national anthem of former countries Ukrainian Republic, West Ukraine, and Carpatho-Ukraine, which all, um, died, I guess. Man, imagine what the family arguments were like in the Klitschko household. Between them, brothers Vitali and Wladimir have held every major championship belt there is. It’s a shame there’s no such thing as a tag-team boxing belt, because they very likely would have held that too. Vitali, the only world champion to hold a PhD, was never knocked down in his entire career and his only two losses came via technical decisions because of injury, and is now a political party leader. His ‘little’ brother Wladimir is currently the secondlongest reigning heavyweight champion ever.
not so gooD at… nuclear safety
It’s scary to think that an accident that initially caused just 31 deaths will have a final death toll ranking in the tens of thousands. We will never know for sure how many cancer deaths were caused by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, but the fact that the area will not be safely habitable until the year 22,000 gives us some idea of the damage. @rossvsross
You’re one of the ambassadors for this year’s An Post Cycle Series. What’s it about? It’s just one of those things to try to get people on two wheels, with events all over the country. Each event has an ambassador and mine is in Meath. The events cater for everyone no matter what your interest in cycling is. If you want to turn up with a basket on your bike and do 10k you can, and if you want to do 160k with hard hills you can, and everything in between as well. People like myself, who just like being on two wheels, can go out and get fed, get a jersey and have a day out. Which routes will you be plumping for during the series? I’m going to try to do the hardest one of them all, the 160k. I did Glengarriff in Cork and then Meath last year so I need to do at least one extra one this year. I might not be the fastest but I can plug away all day. I’m like slowly, slowly, catchy monkey. . . You’re also a big motorbike enthusiast, aren’t you? Yeah, that was kind of my main thing, but then I started cycling to keep fit for motorbike racing and it kind of got under my skin. We did the An Post cycle two years ago in Meath, and we started our own club then, the Clontarf Cycling Club. There are 140 members now so we kind of owe it to the An Post Cycle which gave us the incentive to go on and do our own thing. You’re currently appearing on RTE’s new panel show Next Week’s News. Are you enjoying being in front of the camera again after a hiatus? It’s been
good fun, so fingers crossed they’ll have us back for another one. It’s kind of funny in a way because I never thought I’d be on a current affairs show – at least not on the good side of it. It’s been a bit of craic, and it’s been fun working with Neil [Delamere] because the two of us are so different. I’ve really enjoyed it, so they’ll just have to show old Naked Camera repeats or something from now on. There’s been a few interesting antics on the show. How was the Condom Snorting Race and going full monty? I thought I was dead sexy but after doing a photo shoot with Bressie and Paul Galvin I was knocked back down to earth in a heartbeat. All of a sudden I was the ugly duckling again. Stripping is not the kind of thing I imagined I was going to do when we started the show but it was good fun. I wouldn’t recommend the condom snorting to anyone though. . . How do you balance TV work with stand-up? You really need to do the two. I mean the TV work is what sells the tickets for your stand up performances. A lot of the time doing stand-up you feel like a van driver. You drive for six hours, do the gig, deliver some jokes instead of parcels, get back in the van and then go home. With the TV it’s much more labour intensive but you’re working with other people and having a lot more fun. I’ll miss that once it’s finished. You’re heading abroad to do some gigs later this month. Are you looking forward to it? I’m off to China next week, then Canada. But because I’ll be playing to an Irish audience it’s the same as gigging in Carlow or Kilkenny. The only thing that changes is the drinks menu. See www.anpost.ie for more information on the An Post Cycle Series
18 METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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body matters
He’s exercised his demons he took up a job on a building site – inspired by the lead character in The Fountainhead (a novel by right-wing author Ayn Rand), who works in a quarry. ‘I thought my dream of acting was over but, in the meantime, I was going to become the greatest shoveller, cement mixer and jackhammer operator of all time,’ he says. The wilderness years drew to an end when Manganiello landed the role in saucy supernatural soap True Blood. he’s been getting work ever since – although so far the roles seem to highlight his hard-earned muscly torso rather than his acting ability – playing stripper Big Dick Richie in Magic Mike and womanising fitness fanatic Davis in What To expect When You’re expecting. It’s a situation Manganiello hopes will change when True Blood finishes its run next year. ‘I’ve been acting for 20 years and people have only really started paying attention after True Blood happened – that’s four years,’ he says. ‘People have only seen 20 per cent of what I can do. It’s interesting when you’ve done Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen, Shaw and all the classics, and you get famous for taking your shirt off and growling in the woods.’
True Blood hunk Joe Manganiello swapped substance abuse for six-pack perfection, he tells Andrew Williams
‘W
hen people finish reading the book I want them to put it down and run through a wall head first,’ says Joe Manganiello of his new fitness manual. ‘That’s the sensation I want to inspire in people.’ Phew! Sounds a bit intense but then Manganiello – topless werewolf Alcide herveaux in True Blood – is an intense kinda fella. You think you’re doing a decent workout? he thinks you’re probably doing it wrong. ‘I’m guessing you walk out of the gym feeling kind of invigorated, yet your results are middle of the road,’ he writes. ‘I’m suggesting the results you really want lie somewhere in the ballpark of crawling or staggering out to your car with your arms shaking so badly you’re barely able to pull your car keys out of your pocket and hold the steering wheel steady on the drive home.’ Road safety hazards aside, his book, evolution: The Cutting-edge Guide To Breaking Down Mental Walls And Building The Body You’ve Always Wanted, contains information about how to do various exercises, tips on diet and workout programmes readers can try. It’s also illustrated with dozens of pictures of the author shirtless and looking intense (of course). But it’s not just his nipples he’s baring – it’s also his soul. Manganiello writes about the role weightlifting has played in his life and the importance exercise had in helping him turn his back on drink and drug addiction. Manganiello, 37, got his big break as Peter Parker’s love rival Flash Thompson in the 2002 Spider-Man film. he didn’t land another acting job for four years. ‘I was drinking a bottle of whiskey and smoking two packs of cigarettes a day,’ he says. he won’t elaborate on what other substances he was abusing. ‘I don’t
New addiction: Joe Manganiello (below with Anna Paquin in True Blood) says you should be barely able to walk after a decent gym session
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want to go into all that but you don’t end up needing to get sober at the age of 25 if drugs aren’t involved. ‘It got very bad. My entire life was practically ruined,’ he says. ‘With
any addict there’s a metaphorical and sometimes a literal trail of bodies – luckily in my case there wasn’t a literal one but there was certainly a metaphorical one. I hurt myself and those around me repeatedly. I knew I had a problem and didn’t know how to deal with it. It destroyed every relationship I had, my career was in ruins, I was a mess.
every aspect of my life was completely bankrupt.’ he credits getting sober to luck – ‘you have to get to that place where your eyes open up and it just sticks’ – and also to starting boxing training with a hockey player acquaintance. ‘Cleaning up my act led to a better diet, which led to pushing myself further and further physically,’ he says.
NICE pICTuREs… BUT iS iT anY good? EvoluTioN BY Joe Manganiello
Simon and Schuster
This six-week transformation programme might be a bit excessive if the book is aimed at beginners. Training six times a week is not advisable for someone starting a strength programme. Also, if the goal is increased muscle volume, the exercise rep ranges seem a bit high. in the nutrition section, there’s a big emphasis on
protein – but while a moderate increase may be beneficial, there’s no evidence to support the necessity of very high protein intakes. The book is good in that it mentions the importance of nutrition and motivation, and emphasises that change doesn’t happen overnight. But it could be set out more clearly and the workout programmes could have been structured better. As with most – if not all – celebrity exercise books, it’s not really saying anything new. Joe Goodall, fitness coach
AnGAnIello is certainly committed to his craft. he auditioned twice to get into the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, taking a year of acting classes at the University of Pittsburgh and accepting every fringe acting job he could find to prepare for his second successful attempt to join the school. For his early stage performances, he shaved himself bald for one role and pulled a tooth out with pliers for another. And it’s not only acting work he’s keeping himself busy with. he’s formed a production company with his brother and directed a documentary, la Bare, about a male strip club in Texas, which is currently showing at film festivals. ‘last year I was doing one scene per episode in True Blood,’ he says, ‘so I had time to write this book and make the movie. It worked out to my benefit.’ he’s also made a cameo appearance in Terrence Malick’s forthcoming film Knight of Cups and stars in action film Sabotage. Manganiello’s outlook on life is inspiring – but at the same time being Joe Manganiello sounds pretty exhausting. ‘I used to look at life as: “What can I get away with?” After I stopped drinking it became: “What can I accomplish?” now it’s become about how good my life can get and how much can I achieve because things were awful for a while,’ he says. ‘Addiction nearly killed me and successfully ruined my life. I came back from the brink.’
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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 METRO HERALD
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features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010
I’m a flexible friend
Growing up in California it was the norm to be healthconscious and yoga was around my entire life. But it wasn’t until I was at college at UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles] that I walked into class with the teacher who would become my mentor, and yoga became a huge part of my life. During that first class, I started experiencing the aspects of yoga that go beyond the physical, that ask you to look within. It seemed like there was so much to learn and I just wanted more. I was definitely not sporty at school – not in the slightest. Sometimes it feels like a fluke that I’m now a ‘Nike athlete’ but I stepped into my body’s potential when I stepped on to the yoga mat. I’d gone to UCLA to study economics but I wasn’t passionate about it. Growing up, there was an inherent expectation that I would get a ‘proper’ job in some sort of business capacity. But once I got into my cubicle at my first job out of college, I felt out of place and uninspired. I found I was so much more contented at the yoga studio than anywhere else and wished I could spend all day long there. Then one day I had
Leah Kim, 34, was an unsporty child destined for a ‘proper’ job. She’s become Nike’s global yoga master trainer the realisation – well, maybe I can…
To qualify as a yoga teacher you need to take a 200-hour teacher training programme. There are endless types of yoga and you can choose to train and teach a specific style or not. My signature style of yoga is vinyasa flow, which is characterised by creative fluid movements, but I can also teach other styles, such as hot, yin, restorative and hatha. I’ve ended up as a Londoner because I married an Englishman, although we actually met in Santa Monica – while I was living in Hong Kong, which is also where I got a totally out-of-the-blue email from Nike global headquarters. I’m still awestruck by how it happened. Nike had been seeking a yoga teacher to be the face of their yoga programmes and had come across me in their research. Within a matter of days I was flying out to Oregon,
having numerous interviews and meetings and I officially signed on to be a Nike athlete and yoga ambassador. Over the past several years, I’ve been in their advertising campaigns, consulted on and launched new products around the world, taught yoga at various events, created yoga training programmes, and workouts for the Nike Training Club app and events.
Having my yoga workouts on the app has been incredible, as it’s used by millions of people around the world. To be able to bring yoga into their lives is an honour that means everything to me. I love being able to reach out to as wide an audience as possible so I hope to have more opportunities to continue offering my teachings digitally. One of my biggest projects these days is leading yoga teacher training programmes because I feel like the more people we have out in the world teaching and practising yoga, the better. I love being able to positively affect people’s lives, and my work just feels like such a good way to spend my time and energy. Every day, I feel totally blessed that this is what I get to do, and I still wonder how I got so lucky. Amy Dawson Leg-up: Leah Kim abandoned her office job to teach yoga
BODY AND MIND DIARY
NATIONAL BABY DAY A third of Irish parents struggle to spend half an hour each day bonding with their child according to new research published ahead of today’s inaugural National Baby Day. The study suggests that rat-race commitments are making it difficult for parents to engage in one-on-one time with their tot – National Baby Day is about righting that wrong. To celebrate, Neurofen For Children, who conducted the study, are giving away 400 free ‘precious moments’ in the form of PlayLabs and Kids Club seats at selected Odeon Cinemas around the country. Pharmacies nationwide, including Boots, will also be offering advice to parents and giving away free child thermometers throughout the day. For more see www.facebook. com/neurofenireland HEROES Former president Mary McAleese, pro-surfer and activist Easkey Britton and Young Person Of The Year
2012 Joanne O’Riordan make up a triumvirate of women fronting Oxfam’s new Heroes campaign. As part of the initiative, the povertybanishing charity has introduced a range of cards and gifts (including jewellery from a special Tipperary Crystal collection) designed for the inspirational Irish lady or ladies in your life. 100 per cent of the profits from every item purchased in the Heroes collection will be used to assist women in impoverished circumstances around the globe. Prices range from €5 for a card to €89 for a Tipperary Crystal sterling silver
crystal bracelet. For more information see www.oxfamheroes.org NURTURE COFFEE MORNING Nurture, the Irish charity that offers supports and counselling to expectant and new parents, is calling on volunteers to organise charitable coffee mornings in their homes throughout March. Funds raised will be used to assist the organisation in providing much-needed counselling services to pregnant women, their partners and family in difficult situations. www.nurturepnd.org
20 METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
puzzles
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METROSCOPE by Patrick Arundell
NEMI by Lise
Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20
Venus moves into the most joyous zone for sociability today, joining with Mercury in Aquarius. The emphasis since last November has been on responsibility and obligations in relationships. Now, you can feel more of a skip in your step. For your forecast, call 15609 114 70
Taurus Apr 21 – May 21
METROKU Easy, Moderate and Challenging. For solutions, visit Metro.co.uk/metroku
For your forecast, call 15609 114 76
Gemini May 22 – Jun 21
For your forecast, call 15609 114 77
For your forecast, call 15609 114 71
The next ten days is not the ideal time for you to take on extra responsibilities. The more curious side of your nature is going to emerge now, which can see you wanting to be less hindered by the needs of others. You can find yourself sharing a real connection with somebody today. This may be someone who’s already in your life. After all, sometimes inadvertently, we probably do take the people we care most about for granted. For your forecast, call 15609 114 73
Venus moves into your opposite sign today. However, this is not going to create opposition in your world, quite the opposite. Instead, it can bring wonderful new, harmonious vibes your way. Some of this can happen without too much effort. For your forecast, call 15609 114 74
For your forecast, call 15609 114 75
Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20
A windfall can be heading your way. If not today, keep the faith, because your cash flow will revive. However, your appreciation for anything tempting is going to ratchet up several notches. The trick is going to be in balancing all this up.
Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19
Do you see yourself as being irresistible or just a regular Joe or Josephine? If it’s the latter, prepare to shock and awe, because the planet of allure, Venus, has joined you. This can soon propel someone highly attractive your way.
Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20
With the Moon combining in such a meaningful way with Pluto, even if only briefly, someone’s words can get you thinking about areas of life. One of these can concern romance. For your forecast, call 15609 114 81
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
QuIz
QUICK CROsswORd
You can be one of the most direct members of the zodiac. Of course, to you, you’re just being frank although others may feel like they are being hit with a sledgehammer. Yet, you have a great opportunity over the next four weeks to use diplomacy to get ahead.
ENIGMA A British Leyland motor car, Whose name comes (in the singular), From hills in northern Italy, Which can be seen from Tuscany. WHO AM I? A singer, I was born in Canada in 1984 with the middle name Ramona. My debut album was called Let Go. My hits include Complicated and Sk8er Boi.
WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? WHO… in the world of opera was born Helen Porter Mitchell? WHAT... is a monkey puzzle? WHERE... is the prime minister called the Statsminister? WHEN... did Irish women first get the right to vote?
QUIZ ANSWERS: ENIGMA: Dolomite. WHO AM I? Avril Lavigne. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? Nellie Melba; A tree; Scandinavia; 1922.
Yesterday’s Solutions Across: 7 Earth; 8 Subject; 9 Observe; 10 Taper; 12 Stentorian; 15 Incendiary; 18 Naive; 19 Strikes; 21 Reviles; 22 False. Down: 1 Decoration; 2 Erase; 3 Char; 4 Astern; 5 Abattoir; 6 Despoil; 11 Ring-master; 13 Tenderly; 14 Achieve; 16 Insist; 17 Skill; 20 Rife.
sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21
For your forecast, call 15609 114 80
Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23
Your natural penchant for detail is boosted enormously and this can heighten your gift of discrimination. Whatever you’re told, you’ll be out to combine your nose for the truth and an unerring understanding of human nature, to work out what’s what.
DOWN 2. Dictatorial (10) 3. Cease (4) 4. Strip (6) 5. Hinder (6) 6. Punish (8) 7. Pace (4) 11. Great merit (10) 13. Blend (8) 16. Perpetrate (6) 17. Ligament (6) 18. Sieve (4) 20. Too (4)
If you’re someone who puts particular emphasis on feeling comfortable in your surroundings, today’s change with Venus sashaying your way can see you checking out paint charts or upping your creative output.
For your forecast, call 15609 114 79
Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23
ACROSS 1. Girl (4) 8. Victorious (10) 9. Finished (8) 10. Percolate (4) 12 Painter (6) 14. Show clearly (6) 15. Resting (6) 17. Threefold (6) 18. Wound-mark (4) 19. Cannibal (8) 21. Happy (10) 22. Above (4)
scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22
For your forecast, call 15609 114 78
Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23
Crossword No. 927 See next edition for solutions
Venus moves into her favourite location. This is going to be a positive change for you, especially in week three of March, as she angles up superbly with Uranus. Enjoy the extra self-confidence you will gain.
The Moon’s link with Pluto can give you some fantastic insights into people’s motivation. With your ruler Venus also gliding into a new home, a period of exploration in your love life makes way for a desire for more solid and enduring links with others.
For your forecast, call 15609 114 72
PEARLs BEFORE swINE
Libra Sep 24 – Oct 23
L.IE.CC.01.2014.0204
Puzzled? www.berocca.ie Your daily high performance vitamin
rugby six nations D
spORT DIGEsT
Questions: Froome
Froome hopeful for end to sport’s doping reputation
Wednesday, March 5, 2014 METRO HERALD
sexton puts himself back in Italian frame by DAnnY HOGAn Jonathan Sexton will face the ‘true test’ of fitness on his thumb ligament problem in Ireland’s training session tomorrow, according to John Plumtree. Fly-half Sexton is now expected to be fit for Ireland’s Six nations clash with Italy in Dublin on Saturday. assistant coach Plumtree revealed the latest scans on Sexton’s thumb problem show no lasting damage. the Racing Metro playmaker must prove his full recovery in ‘tackling and grappling’ tomorrow, said Plumtree, having damaged his thumb in Ireland’s 13-10 defeat by england at twickenham on February 22. Racing Metro last week predicted the former Leinster star could miss between ten days and six weeks, with Ireland bosses quickly downplaying that estimation. Sexton took part in yesterday’s training session, and could now be fully fit in line
CYCLInG Tour de France champion Chris Froome wants an investigation into cycling’s doping history to finally close an era dominated by Lance Armstrong. Almost 18 months after Armstrong’s seven Tour wins were wiped from the record, an independent panel created by the new International Cycling Union leadership has begun work to discover the extent of the sport’s past problems. ‘I hope that anyone who does have anything to contribute would get involved,’ Froome said. ‘I am hoping that at the end of the day people will be able to say of it, “Right, that was that era, we can now put that to bed and stop asking questions about it”. There’s a lot of really, really talented young riders coming through the system now that I believe in personally,’ Froome added. ‘These are going to be the guys carrying the torch going forward.’
1 Six Nations defeat for Ireland against Italy, coming last year at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome
Gleeson fears for sight after assault RUGBY LEAGUE
Ireland international Sean Gleeson may lose an eye following a fight outside a Wigan nightclub. Two men have been arrested over an assault on Hull KR centre Gleeson in the early hours of Sunday. The 26-year-old (pictured) suffered serious injuries to his eye and eye socket and was taken to hospital where he remains. Following the release of CCTV images, Greater Manchester police said two men aged 21 and 24 were arrested on suspicion of assault and both were bailed until April 28 pending further inquiries.
No fairytale finish for skipper Smith CRICKET Graeme Smith’s final Test innings ended in failure as South Africa headed for a series defeat against Australia in Cape Town. Smith made just three runs before falling to Mitchell Johnson. His side were chasing 511, after David Warner followed his first-innings 135 with 145 in the second as Australia piled up 303 for five in just 58 overs before declaring. The Proteas ended the day 70 for four. Smith got off the mark with three from his second ball but saw opening partner Alviro Petersen fall lbw to Ryan Harris for nine. Worse was to follow as Smith – handed a guard of honour by the Australian team at the start of the day’s play – edged Johnson to Alex Doolan at short leg.
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Over the top: Clongowes’ Stephen McVeigh takes the direct route when facing Michael Kirk of St Andrews in yesterday’s Beauchamps Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final in Donnybrook. Favourites Clongowes won 27-12 to set up a final againstv Blackrock Collge on March 16 PICTURE: InPHo
with the IRFU timescale, not Racing’s wide-ranging suggestions. ‘Jonny trained today and he did really well,’ said Plumtree. ‘he was sort of in and out with Paddy [Jackson] and Mads [Ian Madigan], so we’ll make that final call on thursday but he didn’t look in too much discomfort at all. ‘I think he’ll be pretty good for the weekend, just as long as Joe [Schmidt] makes that call on thursday, and I think that’s positive news. It looks like the scan is clear, so again it’s just how that thumb feels. ‘I guess there are certain aspects of the game, like tackling and grappling, that will give it a true test. So we’ll give all that a bit of test on thursday.’ Sexton’s fitness will prove a moot point if head coach Joe Schmidt chooses to rest him in any case, with one eye on a potential title-decider in France next Saturday. Schmidt has already admitted he could opt to give several regulars a breather against the azzurri, with flanker Peter o’Mahony falling into the same category. o’Mahony also trained as he continues his recovery from hamstring trouble suffered against england and will also be reassessed tomorrow.
Hooker Hartley lists England’s ‘targets’ Dylan Hartley has revealed that england are targeting toby Faletau, richard Hibbard and Jamie roberts as the Wales players who must be stopped at twickenham. the Six nations title rivals meet on Sunday in a clash that will see the winners contest the crown on the final day of the tournament on March 15. Hartley believes the key to
ending Welsh hopes is stopping their ball-carrying big guns – back row Faletau, hooker Hibbard and inside centre roberts. ‘We obviously look at talismen in other teams, I prefer to call them targets. that’s not a joke,’ he said. ‘you respect them because they provide a lot of momentum, but if you make them a target, it changes that. In every team it’s the no.8 who is the big
go-forward man – David Denton, louis Picamoles, Jamie Heaslip and now toby Faletau. ‘Hibbard is very powerful for them and they like to put roberts up the middle, then Hibbard round the corner on a big strong carry. It’s nothing complicated but they do it very well. they’re very powerful blokes. ‘It’s not mindless targeting but if you get an opportunity you take it.’
Hitlist: Hartley
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premier league
Goal rush: suarez’s strikes have put liverpool in pole position to return to europe’s elite
Champions League not a deal-breaker for Suarez Luis suarez would be happy to sacrifice personal glory if it meant Liverpool were guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League – but insists his anfield future is not dependent on a return to europe’s elite. The uruguay striker has earned numerous plaudits for his performances this year and his 24 Premier League goals puts him in line for the Golden Boot with his nearest challenge being team-mate Daniel sturridge (18). With Liverpool currently second in the table, six points ahead of fifth-place Tottenham, there is every chance suarez could achieve both ambitions this season but he would settle for getting the club back into europe’s elite club competition. ‘i’d actually prefer not to win this Golden Boot and for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League this season,’ said suarez in an interview in the april edition of FourFour-
Reds spin loss into positive LIVERPOOL have put an upbeat assessment on losses of almost €60million in the financial year to May 2013. But with turnover increasing by nine per cent to €250m and external debt down 29 per cent to €54.6m – thanks to an interest-free loan from owners Fenway Sports Group – managing director Ian Ayre is positive about their future. ‘The financial health of the club continues to make good progress as we continue our journey to transform on and off the pitch,’ he said. Two magazine. ‘any player would miss the Champions League. We’ve not been good enough since i’ve been here to qualify but this could definitely
be our year. it would be a frustration not to get fourth because we’ve done everything possible and given our maximum to qualify. ‘everyone says Champions League nights at anfield are amazing – memories you guard forever. it would be an unforgettable experience and it’s been too long since that happened. i think to finish in the top three, which is still possible, would be incredible with the players we have in the squad.’ suarez, having tried to manufacture a move away last summer, signed a new vastlyimproved contract in December and he insists a failure to qualify for the Champions League this season would not necessarily see him walk away this summer. ‘i signed my new contract because i’m very happy here and i want to stay where i’m enjoying football and life. Playing in the Champions League isn’t dependent on that,’ he added.
fOOTbALL DigEsT Pardew set to accept FA charge NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew is not expected to contest an FA charge over his head-butt on Hull midfielder David Meyler. The 52-year-old (pictured) is set to accept the charge of improper conduct after clashing with Meyler on the touchline last weekend. Pardew has until 6pm tomorrow to respond, and has the right to request a personal hearing, with an opportunity to explain his actions. Pardew apologised straight after the game, but was fined £100,000 and handed a formal warning by the Magpies. He is likely to receive a significant further penalty from the FA, which could include a stadium ban.
19 Year career at Barcelona for Carles Puyol, who
announced he would be leaving the Catalan giant this summer. The defender won 21 trophies at the club
u ArsenAl have been given a double boost after announcing both defender Per Mertesacker and midfielder Tomas rosicky have signed new contracts. Aaron ramsey is also thought to have agreed a new five-year deal worth £100,000-perweek.
O’shea’s focus on righting german wrong
John o’Shea is determined to set the record straight as the Republic of Ireland prepare to meet the force of Germany once again. Ireland found themselves thrust back into the path of one of world football’s superpowers when they were drawn into the same euro 2016 qualifying group for the campaign which gets under way in September. Ireland will launch their preparations in earnest in Dublin this evening when they tackle Serbia in a friendly following a victory over Latvia and a draw in Poland in november as new management duo Martin o’neill and Roy Keane launched their reign. But memories of a 6-1 humiliation by the Germans at the aviva Stadium in october 2012 and a 3-0 defeat in Cologne in the reverse fixture 12 months later remain painfully fresh for those men who were on the receiving end. Sitting alongside o’neill, central defender o’Shea said: ‘Well look, you know how good they are. You want to test yourself against the best players, but also you can’t be greedy all the time and say you want the easiest group or you want this and you want that.
by DAviD kEnnEDy
‘You get who you get and you have to get on with it. Germany will be a massive test for us, but look, I know the man alongside of me and we are not going to be having a team-talk beforehand thinking, “We are going out and we are not going to win this game”. ‘That’s something that’s going to be very positive to look forward to.” The Dublin demolition job very nearly cost then manager Giovanni Trapattoni his job, and his tenure was effectively on a downward slope from that moment on. But professional pride dictates that the Irishmen who were so ruthlessly ripped apart that night are determined to atone for that capitulation this time around. o’Shea, 32, said: ‘Definitely. Particularly at home especially, that will definitely be the case. But there are lots of other teams in the group as well who will be confident of taking their chances too to qualify because of the extra team that can qualify also. ‘But we are fully aware. We will see how Germany do in the World Cup beforehand as well, so we will know the quality we are going to be facing.’
‘You want to test yourself against the best’
Pride: O’shea is already looking ahead to Ireland’s euro2016 qualifier against Germany
football international
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under-21
Rep of Ireland v Serbia 7.45pm, sky sports 3 It’s win Auditions open for roles or bust poSSIblEtEAm in Euro 2016 adventure for King’s Ireland: Forde (Millwall); Coleman (Everton), R Keogh (Derby), Wilson (Stoke), Ward (Brighton); Walters (Stoke), Whelan (Stoke), McCarthy (Everton), McClean (Wigan), Hoolahan (norwich); Long (Hull).
Out to impress: Hoolahan will be expected to dictate the tempo against the Serbs PICTURE: InPHO
Martin O’Neill looks set to explore fresh options with September’s qualifier looing large, writes Ryan Bailey
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n a World Cup year, international friendlies ordinarily take on an added significance, with managers afforded the opportunity to finalise preparations for the serious business that lies ahead. However, for Ireland and Serbia, who will both watch proceedings in Brazil from afar this summer, tonight’s friendly at the Aviva Stadium sees both sides begin the groundwork for the next qualification campaign under new management regimes as they look to eradicate erstwhile shortcomings. Having enjoyed a serene start to international management with friendlies against Latvia and Poland last november, Martin O’neill and Roy Keane have brushed the brouhaha aside this week as they begin the real work ahead of September’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign opener. Between now and then, the duo have made it clear that they will evaluate the strength of the squad and experiment in an attempt to formulate the best approach to secure a place in France. The glorified auditions begin tonight. Ultimately, this evening’s result won’t be of great significance but the overall cohesion and performance of those in green will be a clear indicator of whether this side can progress from Group D. Indications are that O’neill will name a new-look side, with Sunderland’s John O’Shea, still nursing the wounds from Sunday’s Wembley heartache, unlikely to feature from the outset as the 62year-old looks to explore other options in defence. If the experienced O’Shea is consigned to a berth on the bench, Opportunity: Keogh Derby’s Richard Keogh is in line to win his third cap alongside Marc Wilson. At the other end, O’neill is leaning towards a 4-5-1 formation that would see Shane Long leading the line and Wes Hoolahan occupying the role just behind the Hull City front man. In complete contrast to the previous regime, O’neill has a vision for an attacking brand of football but knows it’s easier said than done. ‘We want to try to score more goals, and to create more chances to score more goals, so that’s something we would be looking to try to do if it’s at all possible,’ the Ulsterman said. ‘We have only had a couple of sessions, these are easy words for me to use at this moment. It’s nice, it’s comfortable and then Serbia keep the ball for ten minutes in the game and then you’re asking, ‘Where is this freedom of expression?” – so just be steady.’
charges
noEL kIng has challenged his republic of Ireland under-21s team to keep their dreams of European Championship qualification alive to the death. Ireland entertain Montenegro at Tallaght Stadium this afternoon knowing anything but victory would deal a major blow to their hopes of making it to the finals in the Czech republic. king said: ‘We want to keep the journey going to the end of the campaign. We always want to win every time we play, but we need to ensure we pick up the three points to keep things going in the competition. ‘Everybody knows Montenegro are a good footballing nation who have caused trouble to everybody they have played. However we drew 0-0 out there and we created enough chances to perhaps have won the game. ‘I’m expecting a tough game, but we are looking for a good all-round performance and a good spirit. If we get that, we will have enough about us to win this game.’ Ireland currently lie in third place in group 6, level on eight points but behind the Montenegrins on goal difference having played a game more, with leaders germany six points clear. The ten group winners and four best runners-up will progress to the play-offs, from which the seven winners will join the hosts in the finals next year.
Serbs hopeful Ireland contest will offer them their own green shoots of recovery LjubInko DruLovIC takess charge of Serbia for the first time this evening hoping to resurrect their fortunes following their failure to qualify for the World Cup. The Serbs endured an unstable 18 months under former boss Sinisa Mihajlovic, but with excess baggage offloaded former under-19 coach Drulovic, himself capped 38 times at senior level, is hoping to kickstart a rebuilding
period. The 45-year-old is under no illusions, however, that his side will enjoy a leisurely evening, with the tactician pinpointing Hull
29 Serbia’s world
ranking, 38 places ahead of the Republic of Ireland
City’s Shane Long as a particular threat to his defence. ‘Long, I recognise that second name,’ he said. ‘He’s
Looking forward: Bendtner speaking yesterday ahead of tonight’s international at Wembley
very good at heading. He’s a really strong guy and summarises the Irish team. ‘We will probably get some problems from corner kicks and free kicks because the players are so big and strong. We expect some danger.’ The former Porto and benfica star has already stamped his mark on the squad, recalling roma starlet Adem Ljajic to the panel, while he also has the luxury of calling upon Chelsea’s branislav Ivanovic and
nemanja Matic as well as Aleksandar kolarov, who is coming off the back of a Capital one Cup triumph with Manchester City, for his first game in the dugout. ‘We have a lot of respect for Ireland,’ Ivanovic told reporters. ‘They have a really strong team. All of their players are playing in good clubs, especially in England. ‘It will be a very difficult game but, from our side, this is what we need. A great opponent in a great stadium.’
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24 METRO HERALD Wednesday, March 5, 2014
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Suarez says Champions League not the key to Reds future
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picture: inpho
HAnDs up wHO wAnTs A gAME? Ireland stars Conor Murray, Rob Kearney and Cian Healy (facing, from left) take part in training in Maynooth yesterday. Out-half Jonathan Sexton was also on the training field, raising hopes he may be fit to face Italy this weekend, but Peter O’Mahony remains a doubt as head coach Joe Schmidt prepares to name his side tomorrow
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Fitzgerald makes Clare drug claim Banner boss tells of players on ‘worse than drink’ All-IrelAnd winning Clare hurling manager davy Fitzgerald has made the shocking indication that players took drugs before he was appointed. The Banner County legend took over his county in late 2011 following a successful stint with Waterford. In a searingly honest speech to students at limerick IT, Fitzgerald said he felt Clare was ‘a social team’ from the mid-2000s. ‘I know some of them were even taking harder stuff than drink,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t understand this. To me, I play to win and if you are doing stuff like that, you’re wasting your time.’
by pAuL kEAnE Such a claim has never been made by a top manager before and risks alienating current players. Fitzgerald didn’t reveal whom he was discussing, whether they had retired, were axed or were still part of the panel. ‘I questioned them, I said, “do we really need alcohol, do we need to take substances that will make you feel better?”’ continued the former goalkeeper. ‘We teased it out, we spent three hours in Bunratty Castle and teased it out. We decided we were going to stand up and draw a line under it and say, “no”. ‘We decided we were going to come to train-
ing and enjoy ourselves and were going to communicate with each other.’ Speaking on a wide range of personal issues, Fitzgerald said he broke down in tears after his Waterford side’s heavy defeat by Kilkenny in the 2008 All-Ireland final. Stand: Fitzgerald And he revealed the extent of the bullying he suffered as a child in Clare. ‘I went home with a black eye and bruised ribs,’ he said. ‘I never told my mam or dad anything. To this day, I don’t understand bullying.’
o’neill ready to get down to business The hard work begins in earnest tonight for the Republic of Ireland’s new management team, as Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane start the process of honing their squad for the start of euro 2016 qualifying this autumn. Tonight’s Aviva Stadium visitors Serbia will represent a significantly stiffer test than previous opponents Latvia and Poland, and that is exactly what the manager wants with last week’s draw having served to focus minds on the task ahead. O’Neill said: ‘It’s very close now. That’s focused attention, [last] Sunday in Nice. From my viewpoint – maybe not from the players’ at this point, they have still got big club matches to go – but from my viewpoint, it’s something I will be concentrating on now. ‘I know there’s a World Cup still to be played, but for me, yes, September, it will honestly fly around now.’
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o’shea looks aheaD – p22