“It was clear that all the pressure was getting to be too much. The banks were also constantly phoning him and his accountant. The demands from Revenue were also becoming more threatening. Gerry needed money fast,” Melanie Verwoerd relates in her memoir When We Dance, which was due to be published last week.

“I had nothing left, having paid for most of his living expenses, as well as loaning him money so that he could meet his obligations, for months.”

…By now, Gerry Ryan began contacting friends and acquaintances seeking loans. “One came through with a smallish amount but the rest said no,” says Melanie

 

Book Reveals A Gerry That The Public Didn’t Know (Liam Collins, Sunday Independent)

(James Horan/Photocall Ireland)

Shane Lowry, winner of yesterday’s Portugal Masters.

A few firsts:

Shanes’s first victory as a professional, following the 2009 Irish Open he claimed as an amateur, in his very first European Tour appearance.

The first victory by a player from the Irish Republic on The European Tour since Lowry in 2009 at the Irish Open.

Gained his largest European Tour prize of €375,000.

The six footer managed to do it carrying 16 stone.

Sixteen.

Shane Lowry claims first professional European Tour victory in the Portugal Masters (RTE)

Shane Lowry (EuropeanTour.com)

(Getty)

Many people from the Border counties of Cavan and Fermanagh gathered for the rally, which got underway after 4pm.

Well-known GAA figures Mickey Harte, Donegal selector Rory Gallagher and Peter Quinn spoke out in support of the family at the rally, organised by the Concerned Irish Citizens group.

Seán Quinn’s wife Patricia and his daughters were among those at the rally. Mr Quinn’s daughter Ciara Quinn told the crowd that the family will succeed and create jobs again and that she and her siblings would not become Anglo scapegoats.

Mr Quinn and his wife Patricia eventually broke down as prayers and a poem were read for their jailed son, Sean Quinn junior.

.

Thousands attend Quinn rally (Áine McMahon, Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

(Pix 5/6: Rodney Edwards)

(Hat tip: Lars Biscuits)

The experts say the criminal sanctions imposed on the 42,000 people sentenced each year for possession of all drugs – and the 160,000 given cannabis warnings – should be replaced with simple civil penalties such as a fine, attendance at a drug awareness session or a referral to a drug treatment programme.

They also say that imposing minimal or no sanctions on those growing cannabis for personal use could go some way to undermining the burgeoning illicit cannabis factories controlled by organised crime.

 

All this and Felix too.

Decriminalise Drug Use, Say Experts After Six-Year Study (Guardian)

@suttonnick

(Hat tip: Lars Biscuits)


Following the postponement of his 23 km freefall drop from the stratosphere (and bid to be the first skydiver to break the sound barrier on the way down) aviation pioneer Felix Baumgartner is about to try again.

Watch it live here

 

This could be the one, people.

Or it could be delayed again.

Or something.

UPDATE: Felic Baumgartner Jumps From Space – VIDEO (Telegraph)

Congratulations would seem to be in order…

maybe not…

@mkayes

(Hat tip: Lars Biscuits, Oisin)

 

And thus Divested of our Cloakes, sallyed we forth to the Tracke, the better to observe the Dogges.

Broadsheet.ie