Fife News Online - Weekly Summary 02.02.14

Fife News Online POLICE APPEAL FOR INFO

Thefts of lead from public buildings.

Police seek information to catch thieves.

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Find out how to get your free copy of the independence white paper and answer all your questions.

“BRUTAL” GLENROTHES KILLER JAILED FOR LIFE FOR RIVERSIDE PARK MURDER A Glenrothes man who boasted on Facebook about his intention to kill a young local man has been jailed for life. Ewan Dow, 25 admitted the murder of 21 year old Daniel Turner at Riverside Park in October of last year.

He chillingly posted on Facebook that he was “about to kill a dafty” .

Mr Dow had earlier doused a pillow in oil and put it inside a lit oven before leaving his home in Alexander Road, Glenrothes. It is thought that from there he went to an address in Greenlaw Crescent where he threatened three people, including Mr Turner with a knife. Two of the witnesses were allowed to leave but Daniel

NEW MSP FOR COWDENBEATH

Labour’s Alex Rowley has been sworn in as new MSP for the Cowdenbeath constituency.

Innocent victim: Daniel Turner

DALGETY BAY RADIATION

Local MSP Savages Ministry of Defence Over Dalgety Bay Radiation Clean Up Efforts

Brutal killer: Ewan Dow

apparently decided to stay.

victim for that purpose. He was The Fife News Online Facebook presumably selected because of page has been inundated with comThe witnesses contacted the his placid manner.” ments paying tribute to Daniel, police who sent an armed team with commenters describing him to the property but it was already He continued: “I can only as a “such a nice lad”, “a nice guy”. empty. This was the last time Dan- imagine the infliction of so many iel was seen alive. injuries must mean that you kept There have also been a lot of on stabbing him till you reached comments from people outraged The murderer walked into a police the stage where you had exhaust- at the thought his killer might station shortly before 7am and is ed yourself,” It was recommended be released in 18.5 years. This is reported to have said, when asked he serve a minimum of 18.5 years. the minimum he has been recomwhy he was there: “A murder, last mended to serve by the trial judge, night, it was me, Glenrothes.”

Nicky Patrick, Procurator Fiscal before being eligible to apply for said: “Daniel Turner was a quiet parole and he may well serve He had stabbed Daniel 171 times man who was spoken of fondly considerably longer than that. in what the Judge described as by every witness interviewed by “determined brutality”. investigators.”

The thoughts of the Fife News Online team are with Daniel’s Lord Turnbull said: “You had “His murder, during which he friends and family at this time. simply decided that you would was stabbed 171 times, was an vent your frustration and anger unprovoked, cold-blooded act of and that he was to serve as the brutality.”

GROWING CONCERN FOR MISSING NEWPORT WOMAN SUSAN REID Fife Police are continuing the search for Newport woman Susan Reid, who has been missing since January 21.

other specialist search officers.

There has also been a significant social media campaign with hundreds of thousands of people seeing circulated images of Mrs There have been significant ef- Reid on Facebook and Twitter. forts to find Mrs Reid, 56 who There has also been a leaflet drop is a librarian at the University of in Dundee, where she works.

Dundee but she has not yet been located.

Concern is growing for the safety of Mrs Reid as it does not look The police have drafted in extra of- like her bank account has been ficers from other parts of Scotland accessed since her disappearance. to assist with the search, which has so far involved helicopters, If any of our readers have any river teams in boats on the Tay and information about her possible www.fifenewsonline.co.uk

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whereabouts or any other potential leads, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, we would urge them to bring them to the attention of Fife Police by calling them on the non-emergency number 101.

We are very proud of our readers who have shared the appeals for Mrs Reid upwards of 5,000 times and we appreciate everyone doing their bit in attempting to ensure her safe return. Our posts on her diappearance have been read by over 150,000 people.

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INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM 2014 FEATURE

02 February 2014

WHY A YES VOTE IS VITAL IN 2014

Blair Jenkins is the Chief Executive of Yes Scotland and is the public face of the all-party and none campaign for Scottish independence. To read more about the Yes side of the debate go to: www.YesScotland.net In September 2014 we will have the chance to shape the future of Scotland for generations to come. We are working hard to press home why a Yes vote in the referendum is a vote for a better, fairer and more prosperous Scotland.

At the heart of our positive argument, is the fundamental belief that decisions made on Scotland’s future should be taken here in Scotland. It’s clear that Westminster isn’t working - 91% of our MPs opposed the bedroom tax, yet Westminster imposed it. With independence, Scotland will always get the government it votes for.

Being independent means the revenue from our vast offshore renewable energy will come to Scotland, allowing us to benefit communities the length and breadth of the country.

Across the world natural resources are becoming more and more important.

And not just energy, but also things like water which we have in abundance.

Independence will give us an opportunity to use our ample supplies of water to attract a range of businesses that rely on a steady and reliable source of water, creating a new source of tax revenues and jobs.

Scotland’s towns and cities once made us an industrial powerhouse.

Proud families throughout Fife contributed to a vital manufacturing and export industry and renewables give us the opportunity to create the kinds of jobs that will not only provide vast employment opportunities once more, but place us at the forefront of clean energy creation.

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In creating a fairer Scotland, independence allows us to rid ourselves of costly and immoral weapons of mass destruction and prevent our armed forces from participating in illegal wars. Scotland will have an important role to play on the global stage and we can look forward to being welcomed to the family of nations.

In contrast to what is undoubtedly a bright future, the relentless tide of negativity and attempts to project fear instead of hope by the No campaign debases what should be an informative, measured and respectful debate. The people of Scotland deserve nothing less.

However, the more our opponents tell us only that ‘Scotland can’t’, the more determined we are to show why we have got what it takes to be a successful independent country and that we most certainly can be a better, fairer nation.

As the referendum debate develops over the next year and more, and as we continue to put our positive vision for Scotland across, it has become noticeable how few people now claim that Scotland is too poor or too stupid to prosper as an independent nation.

Even Scottish Labour now openly admits that an independent Scotland could ‘flourish’ whereas previously it conceded only that it could ‘survive’.

Government Expenditure and Revenue figures for 2011-12 show that Scotland generates 9.9% of UK taxes, yet we receive only 9.3% of UK public spending to run vital services like schools and hospitals.

We do not underestimate the task. We at Yes Scotland know we have to work hard over the next year to persuade large numbers of Scots who are currently unsure how to vote. But we also know that a story of hope and optimism will always trump a narrative of fear.

We have already established the biggest community-based campaign in Scotland’s history with more than 200

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Yes groups the length and breadth of the country. We have held around 1,000 Yes events so far at which key figures in Yes Scotland as well as our growing band of ambassadors have spoken - but also listened and learned - about the priorities and aspirations of people in our communities and interest groups.

We will continue to build on that network because it is by taking the independence debate into local communities – into pubs, village halls, churches, local business groups and on doorsteps in places such as Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, St Andrews, Dunfermline and all of Fife– that this campaign will be won.

We have had hundreds of people dropping into our public information hub at the Yes Scotland HQ in Glasgow’s Hope Street.

And, of course, we look forward to welcoming many more. Yes Fife are now a well-established group and I urge anyone looking for more information and converts to our cause to make contact with them.

What is at stake is far too important to be left to politicians alone. We’ve always said that this is the people’s campaign and the people’s referendum.

Well over one million people in Scotland want our nation to be independent.

A similar number want the Scottish Parliament to have more powers.

Many people are still to make up their mind and it’s therefore vital that we stay focussed on why we want to complete the home rule journey by becoming a normal, independent nation.

Blair Jenkins Chief Executive, Yes Scotland www.YesScotland.net Footnote: Since this article was received, an ICM poll has put the Yes side of the debate within touching distance of the No vote. Yes 37% No 43% and Undecided 19%. It is all to play for as we go into the final stages of the campaign.

FIFA

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Fife News Online

INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM 2014 FEATURE

02 February 2014

ARE WE REALLY BETTER TOGETHER? Alistair Darling MP is the Chairman of Better Together, the “No” campaign in the Scottish Independence referendum. He was formerly the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the time of the global banking crisis.

To read more from Better Together, you can visit their website at www.bettertogether.net I believe that Scotland is stronger and better as part of the United Kingdom.

By working together with people all across our isles we can achieve so much more than we could apart.

Working together is the core message of our campaign. Tackling injustice, poverty and inequality doesn’t stop at Carlisle. I care about preventing unemployment in Glasgow but I also care about working people in Grimsby and Glamorgan.

Looking out for each other, regardless of where people are born, is the Scottish way.

With over 800,000 Scots living down south we all care about what happens in the rest of the United Kingdom. Whether it’s a sister in Newcastle, a brother in Blackpool or a friend in London, the idea of breaking away from our loved ones and building borders between us makes no sense to the majority of people in Scotland.

Recently the steel workers trade union Community became the latest union to back Scotland staying in the UK. They argued that only by working together across the whole of the United Kingdom can we make progress on fighting injustice and reducing poverty.

They are right. Scotland has always been an outward looking and welcoming country. But now the SNP want us to turn our backs on friends and family in the rest of the United Kingdom.

There is nothing positive about creating division and building barriers rather than working together for the greater good.

The United Kingdom, with Scotland at its heart, has achieved so much.

Together we created the NHS, the BBC and the welfare state.

People from across the United Kingdom came together as part of our Armed Forces to defeat the Nazis and prevent genocide in Kosovo.

Workers in East Kilbride, through the Department for International Development, administer billions of pounds of aid and support to the Third World on behalf of the whole of the United Kingdom.

Campaigners and trade unionists throughout the United Kingdom worked side by side to argue successfully for a National Minimum Wage.

Why would we want to put these achievements at risk by separating Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom?

There are strong economic reasons for Scotland staying in the United Kingdom. Pooling the resources of more than 60 million people, rather than just over 5 million people in Scotland, allows us to and now lives in England, spread the burden and share he was representing all of rewards. us in the United Kingdom.

The Saltires and Union flags flying together on “We are stronger and Murray Mount symbolised this sense of togetherness. better together.”

I am proud to be Scottish and proud to be British.

The SNP have completely Like the majority of people failed to answer the in Scotland I don’t want to legitimate questions that choose between the two. people are concerned about – on the Pound, pensions, The ties that bind Scotland welfare, jobs, savings and to the rest of the United so much more.

Kingdom are deep and long lasting. I love my country But there are equally strong and want to see us fulfil emotional arguments for our potential. That is why staying together.

I am so passionate about Scotland remaining in the Andy Murray’s spectacular United Kingdom. We are Wimbledon victory brought stronger and better together. the whole nation together.

Just as during the Olympics Alistair Darling MP last year people across Chair of Better Together Scotland, England, Wales www.bettertogether.net and Northern Ireland sat on the edge of their sofas, and sometimes hid behind them, cheering on one of the UK’s own to sporting greatness.

Although he was born in Scotland, trained in Spain

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“Project Fear” The No campaign in the Scottish independence referendum have been accused by opponents of being relentlessly negative and preferring to pose endless, ridiculous questions to the Yes side of the debate than to extoll the benefits of staying in the UK. This view was apparently confirmed recently when The Herald revealed that some No insiders privately referred to the organisation as “Project Fear”.

Better (Apart) Together?

Due to Labour Party disaffection at working hand-in-hand with the Conservatives during the referendum campaign, Gordon Brown, the ex-PM has helped to found “United with Labour”, a Labour Party only campaigning organisation for a No vote, leading Yes campaigners to joke that even the proUK parties aren’t “better together”.

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POLITICS

02 February 2014

FIFE’S NEWEST MSP, LABOUR’S ALEX ROWLEY SWORN IN AT HOLYROOD Labour’s Alex Rowley has been sworn in as the newest Member of the Scottish Parliament, following his victory last month in the Cowdenbeath by-election.

Labour’s Alex Rowley (Front, Centre) surrounded by the Labour MSPs

Council budget has been dealt with. He also intends to stand down as a Councillor and has indicated that the by-election to choose his successor will be on he same day as the European elections.

Mr Rowley came first in the by-election, ahead of the SNP’s Natalie McGarry, with the Con- Cllr Rowley commented: “It servative candidate, Cllr Dave would be my intention to stand Dempsey in third place. down as a councillor for the Lochs ward to allow a by-elecHe has handed in his resignation to take place on the same tion for the post of Council day as the European elections Leader though this will not which will mean less disruption take effect until after the Fife and cost to the taxpayer.

MSP SAVAGES MOD OVER DALGETY BAY RADIATION The Ministry of Defence has been attacked after producing long-awaited proposals for dealing with the radioactive contamination at Dalgety Bay. The four proposals are:

on the beach. This could also involve a large concrete apron being constructed on the slipway. The radioactive materials would remain in situ.

Option 3 – Excavation of the area to remove the radioactive Option 1 – Exclude potential materials. The report worries users of the beach by erecting a that this would take a long time big fence. This has the advanand may not be 100% effective. tage of being easy to construct This option would incur very and manage. high costs both for the removal Option 2 – Coastal defences in and treatment of the material key areas would be reconstruct- Option 4 – Optimised approach ed to form a barrier. The aim – This could be a combination would be to stop the sea releas- of the above options such as ing more radioactive materials excavating part of the site and

covering some of it.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Annabelle Ewing commented: “Local residents of Dalgety Bay and Fifers from across the Kingdom have been waiting decades for this mess to be cleaned up. Any suggestion from the MoD that this matter can be resolved via fences and warning signs is an insult to both local people and all who care about Scotland’s environment. There can be no more excuses from the MoD.”

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SPORT

02 February 2014

RELEGATION-THREATENED BLUE BRAZIL NOTCH CRUCIAL 1-0 HOME WIN AGAINST RAITH ROVERS IN LOCAL DERBY Cowdenbeath secured a vital 1-0 win against Raith Rovers to remain within touching distance of Livingston who are a place above them.

Raith Rovers dominated for large priods of the match but for all their effort, they couldn’t find a way past the impressive Thomas Flynn in the Cowdenbeath goal.

It wasn’t until the 70th minute that the deadlock was broken at Central Park with Hemmings

nodding in his 19th goal of the season from close range.

This seemed to spur Cowdenbeath on in search of more goals but their efforts were to be thwarted and the match ended at 1-0 to Cowdenbeath.

It has been a poor start to 2014 for Raith Rovers with 5 games without a goal and 6 games without a win. They really need to do better if they are going to avoid being dragged into the relegation dogfight.

PARS LEFT SMILING, DESPITE THE BLEAK WEATHER AS NEW BOYS MAKE THEIR MARK AGAINST EAST FIFE A blustery and bitterly cold day awaited the travelling Pars fans at New Bayview but they left warm and smiling after a good win to keep them in second place in the league.

New on loan Pars signings Danny Grainger, from St Mirren and Ross Forbes, from Partick Thistle made their mark with two well taken goals whilst resident scorer Ryan Wallace, who has signed for another two years with the West Fife outfit, provided the third.

Only Paul Willis got a late consolation goal for East Fife.

It was all black and white (or peacock blue if you prefer) for 90mins with more corners than you could count as the Pars made their presence known to the East Fife faithful. After two previous losses the Pars were determined to keep their spot before their cup game versus the league leaders this coming Friday evening.

It was only down to former

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Pars keeper Greg Paterson that the scoreline remained at 1-3 with some excellent saves including a one handed touch after Ross Forbes’ penalty.

East Fife have a good solid team but lacked in final touches. They made their mark in midfield pressuring DAFC out wide but they seemed to run out of steam.

Liam Buchanan, Kevin Rutkiewicz and Paul Willis also Post match, Jim Jeffries played well against their former couldn’t hide his joy at the team mates. result and was visibly happy at the way the new signings have The high wind caused problems settled in following the closure throughout the game with an of the transfer window. abundance of balls shooting out over the terracing and main By Lorna Morton stand.

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