The Front Pages
Today’s Irish Times front page leads with the headline ‘Opposition denounces scaled-down plans for new prison’, in response to the scaled-down plan for a new prison at the Thornton Hall site in North Dublin. The project, which has cost the State €42.4 million, is now to be undergoing a phased approach, whereby the prison will be built in three stages, according to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern.
Opposition parties have decried such a plan as inadequate and “money wastingâ€, with Fine Gael justice spokesman Alan Shatter claiming that it was “difficult to believe any time-line or financial estimate this Government puts forwardâ€. The project initially began in 2005 but it is believed it will not be until 2014 that the first prison buildings have been completed.
The Irish Independent however, runs with the curious headline ‘Anglo to take control of struggling Arnotts’, as it reports that the State-owned bank is to take control of the struggling department store to pay huge debts of €260m. From this morning, Anglo will take effective control of the store, assuring that all of the company’s 950 jobs are safe.
Anglo Irish yesterday declined to verify the authenticity of the Independent’s claims, citing ‘client confidentiality’. The Dublin department store originally opened in 1843.
Tales from the Tabs
‘Mobile Phones have 18 times more bacteria than toilet handles’
The Daily Mail is at it again this morning, having now decided to ruin the prospect of using your mobile without washing your hands. According to the British tabloid, the average handset carries 18 times more potentially harmful germs than the flush handle on a men’s toilet.
The findings come from a sample of 30 phones by Which? Magazine, which suggested that nearly a quarter of handsets had over ten times an acceptable level of TVC bacteria and that 14.7 million of the 63 million UK mobile phones, could be ‘potential health hazards.’
Hygiene expert Jim Francis stated that ‘The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilising.’
Which? Researcher Ceri Stanaway added: ‘The bugs can end up on your hands, which is a breeding ground and be passed back to your phone. They can be transferred back and forth and eventually you could catch something nasty.’
The Sports Pages
After defender Sol Campbell’s ‘will he or won’t he?’ saga came to a close yesterday, and the former Gunner signed for Newcastle, Arsene Wenger is now looking towards German international Per Mertesacker to fill the void in his side’s central defence. It is thought a £10m bid for the Werder Bremen 25-year-old could be enough to clinch the deal (Daily Mirror).
Arsenal are also apparently looking to sign Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, who replaced crocked Gianluigi Buffon in the World Cup and remains the country’s first-choice shot-stopper. Marchetti’s club Cagliari have stated that Marchetti does not want to stay at the club, and that ‘the only real club that is pushing for his signature is Arsenal.’ (The Sun).
In other news, Benfica have told Chelsea they will have to cough up £33m to convince the Portuguese side to part with Brazilian international David Luiz. Luiz is thought to be catching the eye of Manchester City and Real Madrid. If Luiz departs, it is thought that his Brazilian international and Benfica team-mate Ramirez could also be on his way to Stamford Bridge, in a £20m deal (Daily Mail).
Finally, Liverpool target Scott Parker has been offered a new contract worth £20m over five years, worth £75,000 per week. West Ham chairman David Sullivan announced last season that his entire squad bar Parker would be up for sale after a dismal domestic season (Daily Mail).
