08/08 The Front Pages

The Sunday Times runs with ‘Callely: I’m a victim of a witch-hunt,’ in which the infamous Ivor claims that a powerful figure is trying to get him out of the way. “There is a witch-hunt on, it is being well-orchestrated,” he said, “There are politicians who wish I would bow out, but I’m not going to take the option to turn down the flame.”

Ivor also makes the front of the Sunday Tribune and the Sunday Independent who run with ‘Callely faces arrest in Garda expenses investigation,’ and ‘Ivor breaks silence and gives phone cash back.’ The latter reports how he’s given the €2,879.45 in mobile phone expenses back (how is it possible to run up that kind of figure) and the former notes how he could end up in prison for up to ten years.

The Sunday Independent also has ‘RTE’s €8m in sponsorship fees raises concerns on impartiality.’ The level of money being taken in sponsorship has been criticised with RTE looking for €500,000 to sponsor Ryan Tubridy’s new show. Drivetime is currently being sponsored by the HSBC, Sport at Seven is sponsored by AIB, while The Late Late Show is sponsored by under-administration Quinn Insurance.

The Sunday Times also has news that there is a ‘New U2 album on the horizon,’ as the band have been very productive in the song-writing department while Bono has been recuperating from spinal surgery. The new album could be out before the end of the year. While the Sunday Tribune also has ‘Dempsey given €5,000 cash advances for overseas trips,’ a headline that does exactly what it says on the tin.

The €5,000 the minister was advanced was for personal use. One of his trips, to the US for Paddy’s Day, cost the taxpayer over €70,000.