More to follow.
Covers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie
Thanks Enda Cunningham, Deirdre O’Shaughnessy, Brendan Malone, Dermot Ahern, Meliosa Fitzgibbon, Mick Crowley, Paul Murphy
A fisherman grabbed a Tesco manager by the testicles and refused to let go after being stopped over an £800 shoplifting spree, a court has heard.
Bail was refused to the man accused of the attack outside the store on Belfast’s Newtownbreda Road last week. Samuel Boyd, 37, of Portallo Street in the city, faces charges of going equipped for theft, assault and theft.
The prosecution lawyer said: “He grabbed the manager by the testicles and squeezed hard, refusing to let go. “This caused the store manager, as he recounted to police, to be in extreme pain.”
Mr Boyd was said to have been drunk and wearing four jumpers when arrested.
Belfast Tesco manager ‘grabbed by testicles’ (BBC News NI)
Pic: Geolocation.org
David O’Sullivan writes:
Any chance of a gig plug for the readers ‘down the country’? Paradisum Choir & Orchestra next Sunday night, December 15th, Newbridge, CO Kildare. Stunning sound and guaranteed to get the Christmas cheer juices flowing.We are also singing with the Army #1 Band at the Defence Forces Carol Service TONIGHT in Arbour Hill Church, Dublin…
[The Delhi Queer Parade in 2012]
Sex between consenting gay partners in India is once again illegal
The decision means same-sex relations in India are once again subject to a 153-year-old law, passed under British rule, which defines them as “unnatural” and punishable by a potential 10-year jail sentence. The law was in effect repealed in 2009 by a landmark ruling by the high court of Delhi, the capital.
Activists had expected the supreme court simply to rubber-stamp the earlier ruling. The institution is known for its broadly progressive judgments, which often order politicians or officials to respect the rights of the poor, disadvantaged or marginalised communities.
“It’s a tremendous blow. It’s unprecedented for a court with a long history of expanding rights to reduce dignity not protect it,” said Gautham Bhan, a prominent activist.
Former digital artist Peter Szewczyk’s soulful horror short about an aging drunk and the demons that inhabit his mind.
Starring Naomi Scott, Lech Dyblik, and Nick Moran.
[Paul Kiely, former chief executive of the Central Remedial Clinic whose €200,000 pension pay off was revealed at the Public Accounts Committee meeting today followed by CRC chairman Jim Jim Nugent]
Chairman of the CRC Jim Nugent told the committee that the organisation was contractually bound to pay salaries that were in excess of HSE levels. He said the CRC had presented these arrangements at a meeting in July 2009. David Martin, a director who was at that meeting with another former CEO, Des Peelo, said the HSE agreed that the CRC was to pay the shortfall to those with “legacy contracts”, who had been receiving pay in excess of HSE levels.
.@MaryERegan points out: Paul Kiely’s €200k pension lump sum is about 10% of *all* donations to the CRC’s charity fundraising arm last year
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 11, 2013
‘The Santa Bear Appeal has so far raised e1million for #CRC‘ Unfortunately they spent 3 times that on top-ups and pensions for board members
— Aidan Ellis (@ellisaidan) December 11, 2013
Another can of worms opened in health services: Shane Ross reveals CRC is paying Mater 669,000 a year to administer phantom pension scheme
— Mary Regan (@MaryERegan) December 11, 2013
Former CRC Chief Executive received €200,000 pension payout (RTE)
Earlier: The Good Charities Guide
Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

{The East Link Bridge, Dublin, with bike pincher (arrowed) and Ben, above {in hat] following his successful pursuit}
They made hot Ben angry.
No one makes hot Ben angry.
Aleesha Tully writes:
Less than an hour ago, some charming lad in a white beanie decided it would be a smart move to lift someone’s bike from outside the @huskiesagency office in Portview House, Ringsend [Dublin]. Big mistake.
By the time he’d made it over the East Link bridge and stolen yet another bike, our very own hero Ben [in the office] was in pursuit.
We witnessed Ben chase this guy up the quays where they disappeared from view… there was a bit of a showdown, and less than one minute after Ben emerged victorious and plus one bike! He even managed to keep his Christmas Hat intact throughout the whole episode (we were just finishing up our Christmas lunch).
Unfortunately the guy made off with the second bike. These guys were organised and waiting with a van to dump the bikes into. Watch out for them around the area.
Fair play though, in fairness.
Update:
Michael O’Riordan adds:
The bike was owned by Diarmaid in our office,This is also Diarmaid’s last week with us – we sadly part company on Friday, so this would have been a real tragedy for him, and the return of his bike was greatly appreciated. The crazy thing, Diarmaid and Ben are almost lookalikes! We are desperately looking for a chance to get a photo of the two together – maybe your original poster will grab one…