The Front Pages
This morning’s Irish Independent front page includes the headline ‘Healy-Rae brothers got €110,000’, as the paper reveals that two sons of Jackie Healy-Rae were paid nearly €110,000 between them for a year’s service on their local council.
The Independent’s own research found that the sons of the South Kerry TD were amongst top earnings across the 83 country and city councillors in the country. The news piece also goes on to record Michael Healy-Rae’s expenses during his time as Kerry mayor, which include nearly €20,000 in conference expenses for one year alone.
The Irish Times Ivor Callely’s conduct, with their front page story reading ‘Fianna Fáil to suspend Callely pending inquiry’, reporting that the Senator has been ‘suspended without prejudice’ for ‘conduct unbecoming’ of a member of their organisation. A statement came from the FF press office last night to announce Callely’s suspensions, which is pending ‘the completion of an internal investigation.’
The Times attempted to interview Senator Callely at his holiday house in West Cork following the announcement but he was unavailable. The Senator had recently been found to have intentionally misrepresented his place of residence to maximise his own travel expenses.
Tales from the Tabs
‘Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi ‘had 4-in-a-bed romp with prostitutes’
Oh, that Silvio! The Daily Mail today reports that Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, 73, is at the centre of a storm of allegations that he took place in four-in-a-bed romps at his official Palazzo Grazioli residence in Rome.
Escort Maria Teresa De Nicolo, 38, testified yesterday during a corruption probe in Berlusconi’s hometown of Bari, with her statements leaked and published by Italian daily La Repubblica. De Nicolo has alleged that she had been invited to a party by Italian businessman Gianpaolo Tarantini, where ‘fifteen girls’ were present to entertain both men.
According to De Nicolo: ‘I spent some hours alone and some hours with the girls, these two from Rome and Berlusconi’. She later added that she had received jewellery as a gift from Berlusconi the following morning and €1000 from Tarantini.
Last year escort Patrizia D’Addario published a book recounting her time with the Italian PM, stating that his sexual stamina ‘deserved a place in the Guinness Book of Records’.
The Sports Pages
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has admitted Aiden McGeady is ‘apprehensive about moving to Spartak Moscow, where the 24-year-old Irish winger is currently holding contract talks about a possible €11.4m move (The Sun). The hoops boss is currently looking to sign a new keeper, centre-back, left-back and striker before the Scottish transfer window shuts, and admits that all his current transfer targets hinge on McGeady’s departure.
“I’d like to think we’d get all of it if he did go†said Lennon, adding ‘what comes in goes back out on the football side. That’s been made clear.’Â
Manchester City are to snap up much-vaunted Israeli teenager Gai Assulin for nothing after the 19-year-old cancelled his contract with Barcelona (Daily Mirror). It is thought that the youngster could be loaned out for the remainder of the season should he join boss Roberto Mancini at Eastlands.
Birmingham are thought to be considering an ambitious punt for Juventus left-back Fabio Grosso. The World Cup-winning has fallen out of favour with new Juve coach Luigi Del Neri and could be offered to the Blues on a season-long loan deal (Daily Mail).
