Monthly Archives: April 2012

The terms of the restructuring combined with the trading position in effect give the banks the power to prevent Mr O’Brien increasing his stake to the level – 50 per cent plus – required for board control.At present the banks appear to favour the status quo which sees the O’Reilly camp in the ascendent and Gavin O’Reilly the chief executive. As long as that remains the case there seems little more that Mr O’Brien can do other than continue to snipe from the sidelines.

Banks Hold Whip Hand In Saga Over INM Ownership (John McManus, Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

Roscommon-born artist Joe Caslin’s massive 40 ft mural of a hooded youth (top) is part of a project called Our Nation’s Sons which began at the weekend in Edinburgh with more popping in the coming days.

Sez Joe, a student at Edinburgh College of Art:

“These drawings of young men will be used as a tool to re-establish young men as legitimate participants within today’s society by giving them a voice and a tangible presence within our city. Community cohesion and participation is fundamental to the project.”

 

He must take this to Ireland.

Huge Joe Caslin Artwork Of Teenage Hoody Appears in Edinburgh Street (BBC)

Joe Caslin

Thanks Rayne Booth

Strippers in nun costumes danced in front of Silvio Berlusconi at his villa, a witness Monday told a Milan court where the former Italian prime minister is on trial for allegedly having sex with an underage prostitute.

Model Imane Fadil (second pic) said the first time she went to a party she was given 2,000 euros ($2,600) in cash by Berlusconi, who told her: “Don’t be offended.”

That night she said she saw two young women in nun costumes with “black tunics, white veils and crosses” stripping in front of the then prime minister.

Berlusconi is charged with having sex with an underage prostitute, Karima El-Mahroug (top pic), and then allegedly abusing his powers by getting police to release her when she was arrested for theft so that his crime would not be revealed.

Stripper Nuns Danced For Berlusconi: Trial Witness (AFP)

Trinity College Dublin’s new Scholars and Fellows announced on the steps of the Public Theatre in Front Square, literally a little earlier.

Damn joyful, life-affirming swots.

(Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)

Meanwhile, recognise the dude, below, on the left? (we didn’t):

 

Top, from Left: Joe Higgins, Paul Murphy MEP,  Joan Collins TD and Clare Daly TD outside Labour Party HQ in Ely Place Dublin, earlier.

Fresh threats of a mass revolt similar to the ongoing household charge boycott have been made over Government plans to charge people for water meters. Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said the public will not stand for the charge – believed to be around €300 – on top of future water charges.”People understand that these combined taxes will quickly go to €1,000 and beyond,” said Mr Higgins.”They simply cannot afford it. It’s a further destruction of the potential in the economy, intensifying austerity and creating more economic problems.”People are absolutely right to oppose it and the campaign will intensify.”

 

Mass Revolt Threat Over Water Charges After Household Tax (Lyndsey Telford, Irish independent)

Earlier: Charged By The Meter

(Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)

Meanwhile: