06/06 The Sunday Papers

The Front Pages

What do you do when you get the sack? You may whinge about it at first but then you realise you have a few quid stashed away and that will get you by until you find something new, right? Apart from the whinging, this is not the way Senator Ivor Callely reacts to a chopping.

Callely is no John O’Donoghue but the former Dublin North TD has made lame excuses for pinching €80,000 of taxpayers’ money in expenses while unemployed. He resigned from the Fianna Fail party yesterday but intends to clear his name over the expenses claim which was made from his west Cork address after he lost his seat in the 2007 general election.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Callely moaned; “I had spent 27 years of my life in politics, and here I was now, just 50, out of a job and out of an income”. Oh we feel your pain Ivor. But what about the thousands of people in their 20s and 30s who have been out of work longer than the time they spent getting their degrees?

The Sunday Times delivers the poor-me comments from cunning Callely also. But the main story is designated to the MV Rachel Corrie. According to the report, Israeli forces took peaceful command of the Irish-Malaysian vessel close to coast of Gaza yesterday.

Good news for the five Irish passengers who have been aiming to take aid to Gaza with six Malaysians. All eleven passengers were taken to a detention centre and will be deported before things get out of hand again. We do not need to see a repeat of last Monday’s violence.

The Sunday Tribune has dipped its wick in another political figure that got his fingers caught in the expenses jar. The opening paragraph reads: “Dublin-based Fine Gael health spokesman James Reilly claimed more than €32,000 for travel and subsistence despite having a home in Rush”. Subsistence? Are we talking about a load of pints and steaks here? What a guy.

Tales from the Tabs

You don’t expect to come across a sliothar or hurley in a porn movie. Far from your mind, I’m sure, when you’re having a blue night in. But the Sunday World runs the front page story which reveals an inter-county hurler’s participation in an x-rated flick.

Wexford hurler Greg Jacob “was one of a group of randy blokes who were filmed having sex with porn star Tanya Tate in the back of a caravan”. The shooting* reportedly happened in a car park in Limerick – very classy.

*Shooting – referring to the movie. Not gun shots.

There is no such thing as bad publicity. It must be true. The ex-mistress of wife killer Eamonn Lillis is testament to the term as business booms for Jean Treacy, according to the News of the World.

The 32-year-old masseuse has started work in the Kalla Beauty Salon in Inchicore and men have flocked for a rub down. Ms Treacy answered the tabloid reporter’s questions in a spritely way but when asked about her affair with Lillis she closed up and went about seeing to her enthusiastic clients.

Elsewhere Ryan Tubridy is set to take over the late Gerry Ryan’s radio show on 2fm. According to the front page of the Mail on Sunday the Late Late show host is in line for a €1 million deal. The exclusive says that RTE have already made the offer but that Tubridy is eager to choose the conten and the production team for the morning show.

The Sports Pages

“Stoute Fellow” reads the front page of the sports section in the Sunday Times. Referring , of course, to horse-racing trainer Sir Michael Stoute’s Classic triumph with Workforce in the Epsom Derby yesterday.

Champion flat jockey Ryan Moore rode the 6/1 shot home by seven lengths in the most open-looking Derby for years. If you are an Aidan O’Brien follower, be sure to check your dockets today after his 100/1 pacemaker At First Sight stayed on for second spot.

The Sunday Independent claims Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery still has a chance of making the tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Flannery injured his calf muscle in the latter stages of Friday night’s defeat to the Barbarians in Thomond Park. Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has “refused to rule out the chance of him (Flannery) joining the tour later this week”.

Shane Horgan, who is undergoing tests on a stomach complaint, may also join up with the squad later this week if deemed fit.

Finally, a mention to Gaelic Games. It was a double shock yesterday in the football championship following Mayo’s exit from the Connacht championship at the hands of Sligo. And what about mighty Louth? They staged an awesome display to pulverize a diabolical Kildare team.

The Sunday Tribune calls it “Poetry in Motion” in reference to the Yeats County men who have added “another chapter to proud history”.