Metro Herald, November 29, 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

Carrie on filming

Bike to basics

50 bikes and first of 58 new dublinbikes stations rolled out »p4

Chloë-Grace Moretz will kick your »p?? ass telekinetically »p21

Disbelief as horse is burnt alive

GUITAR MAN: Daryl Ward, 16, a guitar student with the Musical Youth Foundation, celebrates the fourth birthday of the charity which has delivered 300 hours of free musical tuition to more than 100 students since it was established in 2009 PICTURE: fEnnElls

THOSE behind the burning to death of a horse in Tallaght on Wednesday night acted with ‘deliberate and depraved cruelty’, the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has said.

It is believed the abandoned horse was doused with petrol and set alight in an area close to the Luas line between the Tallaght and Citywest stops.

The DSPCA said the animal was alive when set alight and died from ‘extensive injuries’. It added the ‘horrendous’ death the horse endured is ‘unimaginable’ and said this was ‘one of the most horrific incidents’ its inspectors have ever seen.

by joanne ahern

A spokeswoman for the animal welfare group said that while they occasionally come across burnt animals, they were dead when set on fire.

Expressing ‘outright condemnation’ of the act, DSPCA chief Brian Gillen said it is ‘extremely concerned’ by the ‘deeply sinister development’.

He added: ‘Whilst we encounter many horrific cruelty and neglect cases with regard to abandoned horses, we have never seen such levels of deliberate and depraved cruelty.

‘This awful incident only reinforces the plight of abandoned horses that

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Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it

are roaming across the Dublin landscape. We are asking all the local authorities to take immediate steps to put a stop to this barbaric behaviour with the removal of abandoned horses to safekeeping.’

The DSPCA said legislation regarding abandoned horses is difficult to enforce.

It called on people to report stray horses to the local authority and to report injured ones to the DSPCA. Five other horses in the area were moved to safety yesterday by South Dublin County Council, with the help of gardaí. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to call Tallaght Garda Station.

Retail Location: Dublin—Grafton Street

METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

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Today is...

Square Dance Day A day for the

stetson and Garth Brooks. Stay classy!

From the archives (2012):

Choppers guard Christmas trees

Christmas tree growers have been forced to step up security on their farms against growing numbers of criminal gangs attempting to hack down their firs. At least 500 trees – which retail for around €50 – were stolen in Wicklow in the last month.

SOUND

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Today’s birthdays

Jacques Chirac, former French president, 81; Eamonn Campbell, musician (Dubliners), 67; Don Cheadle, actor, 49; Ryan Giggs, footballer, 40; Anna Faris, actress, (right) 37.

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Catalogue In Today’s Paper

Weather Weather Today

Max: 10°c

Starting cloudy with light rain and drizzle continuing to move southwards and becoming very light and patchy. Brighter weather with sunny spells and scattered showers will follow from the northwest to all areas later on.

Temperatures between 8°C to 10°C in fresh northwest winds.

Derry

8�C

Donegal

8�C

8�C

Cavan

Galway

9�C

Athlone

Dublin

10�C

Tipperary

10�C

Waterford

Tralee

Cork

Tonight

Belfast

9�C

10�C Sunrise: 8.14am Sunset: 4.12pm

Min: 1°c

A cold night but apart from isolated wintry showers the night will be dry with clear spells. Temperatures between 1°C to 5°C in easing westerly winds.

EUROPE today

Tomorrow

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Cool and breezy and mostly cloudy. Some patchy drizzle in the north and east but mostly dry.

Some sunny spells likely in the west and south.

Temperatures between 8°C to 10°C in moderate to fresh west to northwest winds.

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Geneva Madrid Paris Rome

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

The height of stu-poo-ditty Terrifying toilet isn’t just crazy, it’s loo-nacy

by HAyDEn sMiTH YOU’RE never short of time and space to think in the lavatory at the end of the world.

Just don’t use it at night. The privy stands on the dizzying edge of a cliff 2,600m above sea level in the Altai Mountains.

So one false step (or puff of wind) could mean curtains. Needless to say, there is no need for plumbing and no room for squeamish users.

For the five weather station workers at KaraTyurek in Siberia, the most important thing to remember is the bog roll. It arrives once a month by helicopter – if the postman who collects the weather data remembers to bring it.

The Interfax news agency in Belarus recently declared it the ‘most extreme’ toilet in the world and noted that it takes years for its users to sit comfortably.

‘The toilet is perhaps the most unromantic place possible,’ Interfax said.

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METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

Missing children found safe and well A CHILD rescue alert issued in the early hours of yesterday morning was cancelled after the three missing children were found.

The children and their mother, who had been missing from their Roscommon home since Wednesday, were found in the Enniskillen area by the PSNI. The boy, eight, and his sisters, six and two, were with their 41-yearold mother. Gardaí believed there to be an ‘immediate and serious risk’ to their welfare.

Their mother was arrested under the Mental Health Act and the three children put in the care of social services.

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Dublinbikes gear up with first of 58 new stations Picture: Jason clarke

RSA chief quits but says he was ‘fall guy’ THE head of the Irish division of insurance giant RSA has resigned.

Philip Smith has quit the firm claiming he has been made the fall guy after a routine internal audit uncovered issues which led to an €84 million hit on profits.

The RSA head office in London confirmed it received Mr Smith’s resignation letter, which was effective immediately.

The RSA Group also said no severance payment was made.

Mr Smith said inquiries into his handling of the firm’s affairs were flawed and pre-determined.

THE dublinbikes scheme has been extended, with 50 more bicycles now available for city cyclists.

Two new stations opened on the northside of the capital yesterday, with eight more to be opened citywide in the coming weeks.

Dublin Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn said they were the first part of a €35m expansion that would see the dublinbikes network increase to 102 stations and 1,500 bikes by July 2014.

‘These are the first of 58 new dublinbikes stations, which will open between now and July,’ he added.

The successful bike rental scheme was rolled out in 2009, bringing Dublin in line with other cycle-friendly cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Berlin.

Since then, thousands of people have taken more than six million dublinbikes journeys.

There are now 600 bikes at 46 stations in the city, with another 900 to be added by the summer.

The two new stations opened yesterday are at North Wall Quay, near the Convention Centre, which has 40 bike stands, and Deverell Place, off

by SARAH STAck Gardiner Street, which has 30 stands.

The size of the popular Talbot Street station has also doubled to 40 stands.

Eight more stations will open at Clonmel Street, York Street West, York Street East, Great Strand Street, North Wall Quay, Fenian Street, Grattan Street and Mount Street Lower by mid-December.

Joanne Grant, managing director of JCDecaux Ireland, which operates dublinbikes for Dublin City Council, said the expansion plan would integrate the scheme even further into the fabric of Dublin city. ‘We would like to thank our subscribers for their support of dublinbikes and the people of Dublin for recognising the positive impact that dublinbikes has had on city life here in the capital,’ she added.

The rental scheme has 36,636 longterm and 10,266 short-term users, who have made more than 1.5m trips so far this year. The busiest day this year was Tuesday October 8, when 6,973 journeys were made.

6m Number of trips since 2009

Spokesman: Lord Mayor Quinn at North Wall Quay’s new bike station

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

Pharma giant axes Almost one-fifth of 570 as A-Wear fails mortgages in arrears SOME 570 jobs at a pharmaceutical giant are being axed, and scores of others are under threat at a major fashion retailer.

MSD, a leading player in the global healthcare business, is shutting its operation in Swords, Co Dublin, by the end of 2017 with 130 workers being laid off in the second half of next year.

And on the high street, 358 staff at A-Wear fear for their jobs after a receiver warned that some of the chain’s 40 shops in Ireland and the UK will close.

Just days after the unemployment rate fell below 13 per cent, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and enterprise and investment agency IDA Ireland were forced on the defensive claiming MSD’s Swords facility would be attractive for investors.

To infinity and beyond before tea...

Josh Holder, eight, at Eason’s bookshop on O’Connell Street yesterday for the opening of Easonology, an interactive space for children, teens and adults that features one of Ireland’s first digital graffiti walls Picture:jason clarke

WikiLeaker’s family plead for Irish help

by LynDsEy TELfORD

THE family of a former US intelligence analyst jailed for leaking top-secret government files has pleaded for Ireland’s support to have her freed.

One-time army private Chelsea Manning, who wants to change sex and was previously known as Bradley, is serving 35 years in a Kansas military prison for offences including espionage.

Her mother, Susan Manning, whose father was from Dublin, appealed to politicians yesterday to keep the case on the political agenda and to fight for the human rights of the ‘national hero’.

Joe Murray, from Irish-based global justice campaign group Afri, which organised the family’s visit, said people seem to have forgotten about Chelsea’s plight: ‘They believe Chelsea is a hero, not a criminal. And they have asked that the Irish Government use its close friendship with the US and its position as a member of the European Union to highlight the case in whatever form they can, to become an advocate for Chelsea,’ Mr Murray said.

Ms Manning, her two sisters and brother met a string of left-wing politicians in the Dáil, where they spoke of their close ties with Ireland.

Their father, Chelsea’s grandfaPlea: Manning ther, was born in Rathmines, while Chelsea’s other grandfather was from the Cork area.

The family is to attend a meeting in honour of Chelsea in Trinity on Friday night, where Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four is to give a talk.

They, along with thousands of supporters around the world, believe Chelsea’s actions were in the public interest and she should be freed.

They claim it is disproportionate that while Chelsea’s leaks to whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, which included a classified video of a US helicopter attack in Baghdad, led to a 35-year sentence, others guilty of more heinous crimes are given much shorter terms.

ALMOST 100,000 struggling homeowners are more than 90 days behind with their mortgage payments, official figures have revealed.

As the country’s chronic mortgage arrears crisis continues to spiral out of control, the Central Bank found that just under a fifth of all residential accounts were in some form of arrears.

The number of homeowners saddled with more than three months of mortgage debt at the end of September rose to 99,189, up 1,315 from the second quarter of the year. There was a slight decline in the total number of residential mortgage accounts in arrears, from 142,892 in June to 141, 520 in September. That accounts for 18.4% of all residential mortgages in Ireland.

METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

Monet accused had heart bypass A MAN who claims he collapsed into a €10m painting in the National Gallery had a quadruple heart bypass a year later, his trial has heard.

Consultant surgeon Nicholas Walcottold Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he supervised coronary surgery last July on Andrew Shannon, 48, who denies causing criminal damage to the Monet in June 2012. Mr Walcot said the accused has a ‘pre-structural problem’, which involves feeling faint. Asked for his opinion on the event in the gallery, Mr Walcot said Shannon’s getting up and walking away was ‘a little bit inconsistent’.

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‘cancer sufferer was punched in the head’ A MAN punched and stamped on the head of a terminally-ill cancer sufferer in a city centre alleyway, a court has heard.

Gerard Lowe, 33, was caught on CCTV walking down a lane way and sharing chips with Kevin Malone. He was later seen banging Mr Malone’s head off the ground after the victim fell.

Mr Malone, who has since passed away, had told gardaí the most upsetting part of the assault was he couldn’t defend himself because of his illness.

Lowe, formerly of Cunningham Road and North Great Charles Street, admitted to assault causing harm at North Lotts Lane on August 5, 2011. He also admitted robbery of an iPhone on Moore Street four days later, where he tried to bite the victim’s hand and screamed: ‘Give me the phone or I’ll kill you.’

Judge Mary Ellen Ring described Lowe’s attack on Mr Malone as ‘gratuitous and deliberate’ and remanded him in custody for sentencing in January.

BOUGHS OF HOLLY: Holly Carpenter wears ‘recycled’ clothes ahead of Ikea Dublin’s sustainability fair from 10-4pm tomorrow.

Designer Carrie-Ann Moran will be sharing tips on recycling old pieces for the party season

DISCOVER THE EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY OF HOW MARY POPPINS TOOK FLIGHT EMMA THOMPSON IS P.L. TRAVERS

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Man has good deed returned with face stab

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A GOOD Samaritan had his face slashed with a broken bottle by a man he had rescued minutes earlier from a beating by two other men.

John Graham, who was left with a permanent noticeable scar, had come to 32-year-old Gerard Allen’s assistance after he spotted the father of one being beaten on the ground.

Allen got to his feet and in the confusion punched Mr Graham in the face before running away.

The court heard Mr Graham pursued Allen for a short time before he returned to the pub he had been drinking in with friends. Five minutes later Allen returned to the scene, carrying a broken bottle and swung it at Mr Graham, hitting him on the side of his face.

Judge Patricia Ryan was shown photos of the victim’s face taken immediately following the assault which were described as ‘quite graphic’.

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Allen, of Melrose Avenue, Clondalkin, admitted to assault causing harm in Clondalkin on June 26, 2010. He has 19 previous convictions for road traffic, public order and drug offences.

Mr Graham, a qualified electrician, stated in a victim impact report that he was severly traumatised after the assault because he thought he had lost half of his cheek.

A medical report from the time of the assault stated that he needed 19 stiches to close the wound and would be left with permanent scarring. He was out of work for four weeks.

He has since had plastic surgery but a medical report last month confirmed the scar to his cheek is permanent.

Judge Ryan remanded Allen on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to next January to await a probation report.

Furrier must pay €9k over punch

D I S N EY P RE S E N T S

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WHERE HER BOOK ENDED, THE REAL STORY BEGAN . savingmrbanks.ie

IN CINEMAS TODAY

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A FURRIER who punched a protester outside her shop has been told by a judge to pay her victim €9,000 in damages.

Laura Broxson, 24, told the court that on December 19, 2009, she and a number of anti-fur protesters had been demonstrating outside Marie Murphy’s shop, A Store Is Born, on Clarendon Street, when the assault

took place. She said Murphy came out of the shop and shoved and punched her in the face. A psychologist told the court he saw the incident as he walked past the shop.

Judge Matthew Deery decided to proceed in the absence of Murphy, who did not turn up for yesterday’s civil hearing. He also awarded costs against her.

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

Nigella treated us worse than slaves, sisters said

by NicOLE LE MARiE

that at first Elisabetta, and Francesca Grillo, 35, were apologetic about their alleged splurge. But after he outlined how they would repay their debt, they became ‘agitated’. ‘I remember a reference to “We’re being treated worse than Filipino slaves”,’ said Mr Gajjar, who found out about the alleged fraud after noticing that Francesca’s

Picture: maxwells

NIGELLA LAWSON’s assistants claimed they were ‘treated worse than Filipino slaves’ when confronted about their £685,000 (€819,000) spending spree, a court has heard.

The finance director for art dealer Charles Saatchi, yesterday said Elisabetta Grillo, 41, made the claim after he wrote to her and her sister about their alleged use of the couple’s credit cards. Rahul Gajjar, told jurors

Bringing out the big guns

Ciara Garvey from the Crafts Council of Ireland gets busy with a cordless drill as she stands under a piece by Shane Holland, one of the many on show at the Irish Craft Portfolio Exhibition at the RHA Gallery, Dublin 2

ESB unions plan to Clinic board ‘must strike as talks fail quit over top-ups’ THE ESB group of unions plans to serve the electricity company with strike notice this afternoon, after talks to avert action ended without result last night.

Union general secretary Brendan Ogle said the position of both parties was still ‘very far apart’. He described the talks as ‘robust’ and ‘very, very difficult’.

Meanwhile, the ESB said there was an ‘open and frank exchange of views’, adding, ‘significant differences remain between the parties’.

The dispute centres on the company’s pension fund. If the issue is not resolved, unions will strike from December 16, seeing homes and businesses without electricty in the run-up to Christmas.

THERE have been calls for a full inquiry into salaries at the Central Remedial Clinic, after it admitted yesterday to using charitable funds to top up pay of some senior staff.

In a statement, it said the funds were raised by the Friends and Supporters of the Remedial Clinic.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called for the inquiry, while Independent TD for South Dublin Shane Ross called for the resignation of the board.

Meanwhile, Labour TD for Dublin Mid West, Robert Dowds called on the CRC to appear before the public accounts committee.

average monthly spend on her card was £48,000 while Elisabetta’s was £28,000.

In comparison, the other personal assistants had a maximum average spend of £8,000.

The average amount Ms Lawson herself spent per month was £7,000. The sums leaving the couple’s Coutts-linked accounts were not initially brought to their attention because they were said to be ‘trivial matters’. The case continues at Isleworth crown court.

Slave claim: Nigella

‘Gut’ marriage guide RESEARCHERS have found that lurking doubts at the start of a marriage are a good indicator of a less than blissful future.

US psychologists conducted tests on 135 couples who had been married for less than six months, then checked their progress over a four-year period. They found that the feelings participants expressed verbally about their marriages had little bearing on their later happiness, but that instead it was their inner ‘gut feelings’, which were only revealed by the tests, that counted.

METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

Gangsters ‘fed rival to pigs’ in mob clan feud A MOBSTER was fed alive to pigs by rival gangsters as part of a feud between members of an Italian crime family, police have said. Francesco Raccosta was beaten with iron bars and thrown into a pig sty where the animals devoured him. His killer is heard discussing the crime in tapes used in evidence against Calabrian syndicate ’Ndrangheta. Raccosta went missing in March 2012.

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Israeli court fines mother for refusal to circumcise son

AN ISRAELI rabbinic court has fined a woman hundreds of euros for refusing to circumcise her son, in a landmark case that has sparked uproar over the role of religion in the state.

The case shines a spotlight on the debate over religious coercion in Israel, where leaders have struggled to find a balance between the country’s Jewish and democratic character.

by METRO HERALD STAFF

The matter ended up in the rabbinic court as part of a divorce battle. The woman refused to circumcise the boy, saying she did not wish to harm him.

The Israeli rabbinate’s high court ruled last week that the circumcision was for the child’s welfare and that the woman must pay the equivalent of

€110 for each day she refuses the circumcision to be performed.

‘The decision is not based only on religious law. It is for the welfare of a Jewish child in Israel not to be different from his peers in this matter,’ said Shimon Yaakovi, adviser to the court.

He said it was the first time a religious court in Israel has punished a parent for refusing to circumcise a child.

World

There is no law requiring circumcision in Israel, but most Jewish boys undergo the procedure at the age of eight days in line with Jewish law.

Rabbinic courts have authority over certain family matters such as marriage, divorce and child custody and welfare issues. The mother, has argued that the rabbinical court does not have authority over the matter.

digest

Pope’s anger at our Beastie Boys crack ‘throwaway culture’ down on spoof ad

ARGENTINA: Pope Francis yesterday lambasted the rise of a ‘throwaway culture’ in Europe which ‘discards’ both the young and old. The pontiff hit out at ‘King Money’ causing high youth unemployment and rejection of the aged. ‘A people that cares neither for its youth nor for its older people has no future,’ he said in his first interview aired exclusively in his homeland.

AMERICA: The Beastie Boys have forced a toy company to pull an advert spoofing one of their songs.

The 80s hip hop stars threatened to sue GoldieBlox after its promo featuring the hit, Girls, went viral – attracting 8million YouTube views. Band members Adam ‘Ad-Rock’ Horovitz and Michael ‘Mike D’ Diamond have retained a blanket ban on their work being used in advertising.

AMERICA: Tens of thousands of New Yorkers watched a Spider-Man balloon float down Central Park West during the 87th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade yesterday. Spidey was one of 16 giant inflatables to thrill onlookers PICTURE: REUTERS

The Great Firewall of Troops ‘sent to dig China gets stronger minister’s garden’ CHINA: Web companies and regional censorship watchdogs are to be trained to tighten state control of the internet. In a rare appearance, state regulator Ren Xianliang said ‘the frequency of slander has declined’ but more will be done.

China already has the world’s most sophisticated online censorship system, known as the Great Firewall. Critics say it is all about crushing anti-government views.

RuSSIA: A former defence minister is facing court over claims he used soldiers and government cash to build a road to his holiday home and landscape the grounds.

Anatoly Serdyukov, 51 – who stood down a year ago over corruption – has been charged following public pressure. ‘Instead of serving, some soldiers were busy planting poplar trees,’ said investigative committee spokesman Vladimir Markin.

and finally...

SPAIN: A fake surgeon has been arrested for working for 15 years without a qualification. The 46-year-old was investigated following a patient’s complaint. ‘It is amazing nobody noticed sooner,’ police in Malaga said.

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

Final Greenpeace activist bailed THE last of the 30 Greenpeace activists arrested during an Arctic protest was granted bail yesterday.

Colin Russell had his sum set at €45,000 in St Petersburg, where he

was being held. The campaigners were arrested in September after some tried to scale an oil platform.

All have now been released on bail and face trial for hooliganism.

Former top footballer held in ‘fix’ inquiry

by DOMINIC YEATMAN A FORMER Premier League footballer is among seven suspects to have been arrested over alleged match fixing.

Ex-Bolton striker Delroy Facey, 33, was taken into custody along with three current professionals following a sting by reporters from The Daily Telegraph that revealed World Cup and club games – including games in Ireland – may have been affected.

Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, who has dual British and Singaporean citizenship, and Singaporean national Chann Sankaran, 33, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud after a ‘fixer’ was filmed telling journalists that games in Britain could be bought for as little as £50,000 (€60,000).

A seventh suspect was arrested yesterday as it emerged that the man in the film claimed to have control over inter-

national fixtures as well, saying: ‘I do Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Europe, World Cup, World Cup qualifiers.’

The alleged match fixer correctly predicted the outcome Arrest: Facey of three games involving the same club, saying: ‘This is my team, I know what they’re going to do. I know because they all tell me every time. I just send them some money.’

He also said that referees could be bought across Europe for a fee of £20,000.

The Football Association of Ireland said there was no evidence of any Irish involvement in the investigation.

Facey and four others were bailed yesterday pending further inquiries.

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Ginger bullying ‘a hate crime’

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A FATHER who says his daughter killed herself after being bullied about her ginger hair wants such behaviour to be called a hate crime.

Enda Farrell believes discrimination against redheads should become a criminal offence in the same way that racial, religious and sexual hatred is illegal.

He says daughter Helena, 15, (pictured) whose body was found in woodland near her home in Cumbria, England in January, took her life to escape abuse about her hair colour.

An inquest into the cause of her death has been opened and adjourned.

‘People need to realise when they say the things they do, it can have deeply traumatising effects and lead to selfharm and suicide,’ said Mr Farrell. He spoke out after last week’s unofficial ‘Kick a Ginger Day’ led to attacks on

pupils across Britain.

Mr Farrell wants British police forces to follow the Greater Manchester force, which in April became the first to record attacks on subcultures such as goths, emos and punks as hate crimes.

At present, a hate crime in England and Wales is recorded only if it concerns race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

Cumbria police said there were no plans to change its policy but it added: ‘Just because something is not categorised as a hate crime, we would still expect the same quality of investigation.’

Whether you’re an iOS, Android or Windows fan, there’s a tablet for you.

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Fashionista with club foot has leg amputated – to wear high heels

by TARiq TAHiR

Stylish: Maria with her prosthetic ‘heels’ fully-crafted prosthetic could look good. I made up my mind. At that moment I chose to chop off my leg.’

She is now able to attach all types of footwear to her prosthetic limb, including high heels and sandals.

Ms Serrano now works as a social media manager for the fashion industry in New York and owns ten pairs of heels. ‘Choosing to have my leg cut off was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I still wake up sometimes and wonder where it is,’ she added.

13

Sony boss: This time, we’ve put gamers first

Standing tall, at last THERE are many dedicated followers of fashion – but few would be willing to remove a body part.

However, Mariah Serrano chose to have her leg amputated to fulfil her dream of wearing high heels for the first time.

The 21-year-old was born with a twisted club foot and was told this would prevent her from donning her favourite shoes.

After years of excruciating pain and five operations, she decided to have the lower half of leg surgically removed after seeing a specialist in 2009.

‘For the first time I began to think I could actually go through with it, but I was still terrified,’ she said.

‘It wasn’t until I read an article about my favourite designer Alexander McQueen, who’d made a pair of prosthetic legs for the athlete Aimee Mullins, that I knew what I had to do. I realised that a beauti-

Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

Dedicated follower of fashion: Mariah Serrano – without heels – before her surgery Pictures: Mediavia

THE BOSS of Sony yesterday insisted it had learned from past mistakes as the eagerlyanticipated PlayStation 4 went live at midnight.

Andrew House said the company was putting keeping gamers happy at the top of its priorities with the €399 console.

‘We’ve learnt our lessons from the PlayStation 3 and we’re committed to ensuring the PlayStation 4 offers both the best value and the greatest potential from day one,’ the Sony president and CEO said.

‘In the launch period, we need to make sure the principal consumer – the gaming audience – is excited.’

The Liffey was lit up yesterday morning with the iconic PlayStation symbols erected on a pontoon between O’Connell Bridge and the Ha’ Penny Bridge. Last night 100 finalists from PlayStation Ireland’s Facebook competition battled it out to become the first five owners of the PS4 in Ireland.

14 METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

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★

★★ ★ ★

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Who am I? If your last few songs didn’t sell so well, it may well be worth exploring alternatives. Perhaps Will Young is preparing for the worst after trying out his coffee-making skills in London. ‘Check out our new barista! @will_young31 recently jumped behind the bar at our King Edward Street Store!,’ Starbucks UK tweeted.

Zayn: I’m working out how to impress Perrie He may have already put a ring on her finger but Zayn Malik admits he still works hard to impress fiancée Perrie Edwards.

The One Direction singer confessed he was more conscious of his appearance and has started to work out to keep the Little Mix singer interested.

‘I do try to impress her still, I do try to do a bit of exercise,’ the 20-year-old heart-throb said.

‘I don’t want to completely let myself go.’

He also claimed to have learned

how to deal with being part of one the biggest bands in the world – having struggled to come to terms with the fame at first.

‘I don’t think it’s necessarily I have a “harder” time with it,’ he said.

‘It’s just something that took a bit of time for me to get my head around, which obviously is normal for anybody, I guess. It’s not something that is a normal thing to be doing.’

He told E! News: ‘It took a bit of time for me to get used to it but I am used to it now and it’s fun.’

Donald’s in fancy dress (as a nude)

Take That’s Howard Donald gave fans more than they bargained for by tweeting a picture of himself in the buff. The 45-year-old wore only a wristband and golf visor but thankfully tucked his manhood between his legs. ‘FYI last night, i wasn’t drunk. was just having a ball routing through my mates fancy dress. If u don’t get my sense of humour u never will,’ he wrote afterwards. ‘U should of seen what my mate was wearing!!’ Fans seemed happy though, with one asking him to wear the birthday suit on the next Take That tour.

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

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Union J star JJ Hamblett tweeted his joy after his dancer lover Caterina Lopez gave birth to a baby boy, Princeton J Alexander. ‘Its official at 9.30am today I became a Daddy. The healthy little boy has arrived at a weight of 6lb!!!!! soooo happy right now :)))) xx.’

Hotel says yes to Bieber graffiti

McBusted: Please don’t join us in the shower, girls M

cBusted are braced for the ‘horror’ of fans creeping in on them in the shower once more when the supergroup hits the road.

Busted boys James Bourne and Matt Willis said they also fear a few fan tattoos will look a bit ropy and out of date.

‘I had this girl tweet me recently who still had this massive Busted stamp on her lower back. Just above her arse. It looked dodge,’ 30-yearold Matt Willis revealed in an exclusive chat. the father of two revealed he is

by SEAMUS DUFF mentally preparing for fans popping up in unwanted hiding places.

He recalled: ‘there was one girl who was in my room when we were on tour.

‘I got back from a gig and she was in my hotel room. I was like, “How did you get in here? You have to leave!”. she was really embarrassed.

I thought, “What did you expect to happen?”’

His Busted brother Bourne, 30, said: ‘Once I had a knock and there was just a fan shaking on the door-

step. she gave me a gift then asked to come inside. I said I was getting in the shower – and I didn’t ask her to join me!’

Fellow stars McFly, whose single Love Is On the Radio is flying high at No.2, insist testosterone levels will be kept in check on the joint tour.

‘We’re not very laddy,’ drummer Harry Judd, 27, admitted. ‘the most laddy thing we do on tour is play Fifa.

‘Although we’ll watch movies and eat popcorn as well. Gluten free, though.’

Preacher Kanye’s Nike rant rolls on Kanye West continued to vent at former partner nike, taking to the mic during a concert again this week to complain about his treatment by the sports apparel company.

West spent more than six minutes talking and singing about the company during his ‘The yeezus Tour’ on Wednesday night at the Bridgestone arena in nashville, Tennessee.

Taking on the role of a preacher, West talked to the crowd of following a dream, creativity and culture, alluding to the

media and corporations who he feels have tried to keep him expressing himself fully.

The 36-year-old rapper then started to leave the stage, but launched into a long discussion, alternately esoteric, comic and emotional.

‘Do you know who the head of nike is?’ West asked the crowd as he prowled back and forth on the stage in a white mask. ‘no, well let me tell you who he is: His name is Mark Parker, and he just lost culture.’

West has said he’s now partnering with adidas.

AN AUSTRALIAN hotel is declaring itself a graffiti Belieber – despite criticism from a city council.

QT Hotel in the Gold Coast gave Justin Bieber permission to spray graffiti on its wall. The Canadian singer and others posted images online showing cartoon faces in fluorescent paint on an outdoor wall at the Queensland hotel.

After hearing criticism, the hotel changed its Facebook page cover art to show Bieber, his graffiti and the declaration: ‘He asked, and we said YES.’ But the Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says the singer risked undermining the city’s efforts to fight graffiti. ‘The last thing we want is to have graffiti glorified and more young people thinking it’s a cool thing to do,’ he said.

But QT Hotel defended Bieber as an excellent hotel guest and said it wanted to promote graffiti as an art form. It invited artists to share examples of their work to be judged, with winners being offered a hotel wall they could paint themselves.

Perfect guest: Bieber

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Thursday 5th December, 3pm - 8pm The Camden Court Hotel Camden Street, Dublin 2 Pre-Registration required for admission To register your interest please contact Jane Boland jboland@ttmhealthcare.com or on 065 6896213. www.ttmhealthcare.com/resilience

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16 METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

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Corn Flakes & Commerce at nCi

Frontline focus is leaving other services lacking

A Leap forward for public transport also register their card so that if it gets lost, their The National Transport Authority has just credit is protected. launched a new marketing campaign to tell Investment has continued in public transport public transport users about the different vehicles and Wi-Fi to help make the fleet more initiatives it has recently rolled out to make modern and comfortable. commuting and travel planning that bit easier.

Gerry Murphy, CeO of the NTA said: ‘We’re Over the last few years new smartphone apps helping people with more modern and reliable for journey planning and for getting real-time sources of transport information from our information have been introduced to let you Journey Planner and Real know when your bus or Time Apps. We’re also train is due. developing the Leap Card to Two years on, the Leap offer further value for Card is proving very money through a range of popular with commuters new features. With newer in Dublin, with more than vehicles, more Wi-Fi, and 300,000 cards issued so far. improved bus lanes we’re Users are attracted to the determined to make things savings when using Leap as easy as possible for Card versus cash, and the people to make the transconvenience of not having to carry coins. Users can Tram fans: Commuters Chelsea and Callum port switch’.

17

idealistic about seeking a ‘fit’ between their products or services and your personality and skillset.

Performance flows from motivation.

It’s also a good time to consider doing some upskilling to show that Jane Downes you mean business. Allocate time to BANK of Ireland’s Momentum Survey researching relevant short and medium-term courses covering such November 2013, conducted by skills as business innovation, iReach, has revealed that 42 per cent e-business or international business. of Irish businesses have plans in No matter what your area of place to recruit in 2014. This is great news. So too is the revelation that 66 expertise, this will give you up-todate skills for industries on the up. per cent of business leaders in Start building on your cloud CV on Ireland are expressing optimism LinkedIn. Get networking. Attract about the year ahead. new recommendations. This Perhaps most significant of needs regular work and all, however, is the fact that weekly check-ins, but it’s 31 per cent of those Take bold steps absolutely worth it. surveyed single out new technologies and a to get the heck Time to avoid Career Stagnation Syndrome. strong online presence as out of your Comfort zones have key growth drivers. comfort zone become the most lethal What can you do with place of all. If you’re in one this information? Start right now, acknowledge the polishing up your CV and fact and take bold steps to get the interview skills for the 2014 heck out. Adaptation and flexibility marketplace. As I often say to my are the new name of the game. clients, choose wisely and back companies that seem to have Career coach Jane Downes is the author of The progressive plans for growth. Above Career Book (thecareerbook.ie) and principal all, consider industries or companies coach of Clearview Coaching Group, clearviewcoachgroup.com. that interest you. There’s nothing

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dr Mahony said that a universal data system for healthcare services in Ireland was needed Ireland’s hospitals are at risk to provide patients with the of a decline in the quality of their best possible care. care due to a lack of support for ‘One of the biggest obstacles non-frontline services. in our hospitals are our comThis was the assessment of the munications. different hospimaster of the national Maternity tals have different computer Hospital, dr rhona Mahony, systems that can’t even talk to who this week said junior doceach other,’ she said. tors were in danger of not getting ‘I have had all my children in the levels of training needed to Holles street and because of maintain current levels of care. this, they have a certain amount ‘There are no training grants of my medicine history. If I anymore because the only monthen go into the Mater, none of ey that there is, is going towards that comes with me. I go there supporting the frontline,’ she and I am given a new history said. ‘and while this is underand I start all over again. It is standable because we only have madness. finite resources to spend, if we ‘We don’t even have a ceredon’t teach and train then the next generation will suffer badly, ‘Medicine is insatiable’: Dr Rhona Mahony bral palsy registry in Ireland. because we will lose the quality of immediate when things are so bad. We used to have four before it was ‘We need to look at all the differ- tried to amalgamate them. healthcare we have today.’ ‘now there’s none,’ dr Mahony speaking at national College of ent streams because medicine is Ireland’s latest Corn Flakes & Com- getting smaller and it is getting per- added. merce breakfast briefing yesterday, sonal. The next big advances are The next Corn Flakes & Commerce dr Mahony said the focus on front- going to be the adaptation of tech- organised by National College of line services could result in future nologies that already exist. You can Ireland in association with Metro now do an eCG on your mobile Herald and Kellogg’s Ireland, will gaps in Ireland’s healthcare.

‘Medicine is insatiable. In terms and send it on to your cardiologist, hear from amateur boxing guru Billy Walsh next Thursday (Dec 5). The of money, you will always find or take a picture of your rash and series celebrates NCI’s wide range of send it to your dermatologist. something to do with it. professional courses. New offerings ‘Ireland, though, is far behind include a Certificate in Digital Mar‘and while we have to be there on the front-line to ensure that a pa- when you look at these develop- keting and The Coach’s Programme. tient gets the care they need, we ments. We will struggle to keep All events are free and take place at mustn’t take our eye off the ball pace in this new era of personalised NCI’s campus in the IFSC, with breakand not think about the future just medicine unless we reorganise fast provided. Register at ncirl.ie, early booking recommended. because it is easier to focus on the public hospitals’ IT systems.’

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What’s in a name?

Quite a lot, Áine Adams case shows

Á

ine Adams is the name of the girl who was abused by her so-called father, Liam. She was the victim, he was the perpetrator.

When Áine Adams went to report her abuse to the RUC, she was left disillusioned and disgusted because the RUC only sought information on Gerry Adams and were otherwise disinterested.

This was in the days when, as Father Alec Reid (RiP) said, Catholics were treated by the northern irish statelet like Jews were treated in 1933 Germany.

That was the environment in which Catholics were wary about reporting any crime to the RUC, when collusion with Loyalist terrorists was rife and Catholics could not trust who they were talking to. Áine did not want then, and does not want now, her name to be used merely to sully the name of her uncle Gerry Adams.

The usage of her case, and unsupported allegations made by Micheál Martin under Dáil privilege, minimise the crime of child

Quick pic

TOP TREE: Reader Rory Geraghty sent us this picture of a winter’s day in Sutton Send your photos to pictures@ metroherald.ie with ‘Quick pic’ as the subject and we will print the best each day in the paper

abuse. i would go so far as to call for his resignation if he cannot prove, outside the Dáil, that allegations he has made about other supposed cases are not false.

The irish media also has a responsibility to report facts in such a way as not to mislead, which they have failed in.

The use of ‘Adams’ without clear differentiation is agenda driven.

Marc ■ Regarding napoleon the cat, i am dismayed you would encourage people to buy into mutations that breeders find ‘desirable’ under the guise of them being ‘must-have accessories’. With Christmas coming, some people may think about getting a puppy or kitten as a surprise gift. Please, before you even consider this, ensure that you are capable of looking after a pet, and are willing to put the time in to their care, on a long term basis.

Adopt, don’t buy, Dublin ■ Cougars no More, single guys in their 30s go out where the 26/28-year-old girls drink.

Ordinary Human Being

gOOD On yA

yEH big RiDE

● Thanks to the young guy on the No.15 bus yesterday morning who got out of the inside seat to let me sit down. Nice manners are invaluable.

Imelda

● To the dark blonde bombshell with the blue sportsbag on the 10am Skerries train on Thursday, you are the definition of Yeh Big Ride.

Penelope

● A big thank you to the lady who handed my lost mobile into the hairdressers yesterday. There is good out there!

JQ

● To the guy in the white Celtic jumper on my bus from Dunshaughlan. You have dark mysterious eyes. Wink. I’ll wink back! Emma

RAnDOM AcTs Of kinDnEss

yOuR RusH-HOuR cRusH

TREnDing

@metrohnews #metromailbox

#Thanksgiving

● Happy thanksgiving America. People in Ireland, get back to work. @Mickthomas ● I would say happy Thanksgiving like many of you, but then I realised I’m in Ireland and would have no reason to do

such a thing.

@RyanCullen90

● Happy Thanksgiving! Except for my friends in England, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Brazil and so on… Happy Thursday!

@erynalicia

S TO WIN TICKET

THE IRISH PREMIERE OF

WITH

ERS CAST AND FILMMAK Metro Herald and Paramount Pictures have teamed up to offer our readers the chance to attend the Irish premiere screening of the highly-anticipated sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues at the Savoy cinema on Monday December 9th. Doors open 6.00pm, movie to start at 7.00pm.

IN ATTENDANCE!

TO WIN, JUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION:

WHICH ACTOR REPRISES THE TITLE ROLE OF RON BURGUNDY IN ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES? A

Jim Carrey

B

Will Ferrell

C

Steve Carell

With the 70s behind him, San Diego's top Text ANCHOR, followed by your answer A, B or C, rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take your name, email, postal address to 53133 (TEXTS COST 60C + STANDARD NETWORK CHARGE) New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.

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ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES IS IN CINEMAS ON DECEMBER 18TH 2013 /ParamountPicturesIreland

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS: THE COMPETITION CLOSES AT MIDDAY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29TH 2013. THE WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM FROM THE ENTRIES RECEIVED AND NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE OR EMAIL. USUAL METRO HERALD RULES APPLY. THE EDITOR'S DECISION IS FINAL.

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SP. OXYGEN8 COMMUNICATIONS, 4TH FLOOR, MALT HOUSE NORTH, GRAND CANAL QUAY, D2. CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER 0818 286 606.

#Anchorman

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

19

ARMAnDO IAnnUCCI, 49, has worked on comedy shows including I’m Alan Partridge and The Thick Of It. His latest, Veep, is back on Sky Atlantic.

Remind us what Veep is about?

It’s a comedy about the Vice President of the United States, Selina Meyer, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and how she’s coming to terms with her position and trying to angle for more power.

TIM P. WHITBY

But viewers here still don’t need to know what the House Of Representatives is, will they?

Alan Partridge seems to have transcended all generations, which is heartening. He’s been around 22 years

Men on top for passing the test SICK of all those women drivers jokes? Well chauvinists will take comfort after it was found that men are more likely to pass their driving test first time.

Some 48 per cent of male motorists get their licence at their first attempt, compared with 44 per cent of females, British insurance website Confused.com discovered. While the average age of successful test takers was 23.5, both men and women were most likely to pass first time aged 17.

No, we spent a lot of time getting it right so the language is correct but you don’t need a degree international politics to understand the show. It’s really about office politics and people trying to cover up for making cock-ups. It’s just the consequences of their cock-ups are immense. There’s an episode in this series where Selina is involved in a security rescue mission and as a result limbs are lost.

Is that a lot darker than something you’d get in The Thick Of It?

In The Thick Of It the minister is fairly low down the food chain, her department doesn’t have much influence, this it opposite.

She’s one of the most famous people in the world whose actions really do have consequences internationally.

Can you swear as much as US TV?

You can on HBO. If it was on one of the main networks you couldn’t. We did swearing research to get the swearing correct. Diplomats won’t swear.

There’s less swearing than The Thick Of It. Julia has done lots of mainstream television so relished the opportunity to play a slightly unlikable character and to use that sort of language.

What are the differences between working on US and UK TV shows?

It’s a bigger budget. Four times the amount of people are involved.

The food is a lot nicer. In the UK we’re always economising. In the US you get food of all nations passed around every 30 minutes.

I put on so much weight.

It’s impossible to try to resist it.

Were you happy with the reception the Alan Partridge film received?

How could I not be?

It was number one at the box office. I always thought there’d be an audience for it but I didn’t know how big. He seems to have transcended all generations which is very heartening. I took my kids to see it. That was their first full-blown encounter with him and found him very funny.

The last TV series was seven years ago – there’s a whole

generation who doesn’t know he had a chat show. He’s been around for 22 years.

Were you surprised when Peter Capaldi got the Doctor Who job?

No, he’s such a Dr Who fan.

He said when he saw the Tardis when he did that episode a couple of years ago that there were tears in his eyes. He’ll make a great Doctor because he’s got the charisma and the forcefulness but also the geniality. He’ll be great to watch.

Were you happy to have received an OBE?

I was surprised and thought it was quite funny. You can get awards but mustn’t think ‘I’ll stop now’ - you have to keep trying harder.

Some people said you should have turned it down – why’s that?

I understand people have different opinions but it was just a nice and amusing thing that happened. We had great fun on the day. That’s it.

Which politicians do you find particularly irritating?

It’s always the ones who are most themselves that I like and the ones who hide their own personalities in favour of something they think people will like I find irritating.

That’s why I had a soft spot for John Prescott – he never tried to

be anything else. I was annoyed he’d get stick for the way he talked. He’s someone who worked hard to get into politics and took on a large amount of responsibility. Surely we can do better than slag someone off for their grammar or weight. That stuff puts people off politics.

There’s a whole younger generation who don’t connect at all with party politics. It’s up to politicians to show them why politics still works.

Isn’t that quite handy for politicians? That they have a smaller constituency to pander to?

But then the average age of people who votes gets older and older.

Party membership is decreasing so their finances are screwed, and they don’t appeal to the next generation of voters. In the long term it’s going to fall apart.

Politics is getting more fragmented – it’s becoming harder to get a sense of where the consensus is. That’s because high profile politicians are becoming blander and blander and aren’t willing to show their actual core beliefs as opposed to their focus-grouped beliefs.

Do you have any unfulfilled career ambitions?

I’d like to do a big action movie.

Something with lots of explosions and chases - and maybe space ships.

Bitcoin millionaire on the hunt for his landfill fortune

AN IT worker is hunting for a €5.5million digital fortune he inadvertently threw in the bin.

James Howells, 28, would be a Bitcoin multimillionaire if he could lay his hands on the computer hard drive containing his fortune.

But the digital cash is lost in a landfill site in Newport, south Wales, where bin men took it after it was thrown out by mistake.

Mr Howells started generating the previously almost-valueless electronic bitcoins on a website in

by AnTOny sTOnE

January 2009. When he stopped later that year, because his Dell laptop started to overheat, he had a digital wallet containing 7,500 of the currency.

When he later spilled drink on the computer he broke it up and sold off the parts, but made sure he put the vital hard drive aside in a drawer, where it remained until this summer’s clear-out.

Since then bitcoins have radically increased in

value due to the original website’s popularity and the fact companies around the world increasingly accept them as payment. The value of a single bitcoin recently breached the 1,000 US dollars (€736) mark for the first time – almost five times what it was worth earlier in the month.

It means that Mr Howells’s personal digital fortune would stand at around €5.5m, if he could find it. It also means anyone with the currency has been taking a second look at its value.

20 METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

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television Weekend WaTCh divisioN RTÉ1, Sunday, 6.30pm

Veteran newsreader Anne Doyle (right) has reinvented herself as a quiz show host. This format has 32 strangers divided in two teams and entering separate cargo holds.

Once inside they have just three nailbiting minutes to choose which member will face the first round of questions on a general knowledge subject – the decision is crucial – one wrong answer and the whole team is out.

the late late toy show RTÉ1, 9.35pm

For most of us the silly season doesn’t really begin until Ryan Tubridy’s Christmas jumper is revealed on the annual toy show. This year, Ryan and his festive shirt, bah humbug, face a rival – over on TV3 at 8pm, Alan Hughes will be presenting a toys special from Tattersalls Lapland Experience in Ratoath. Back in the RTÉ studios, Ryan will be road-testing this year’s top toys, aided by a band of little helpers, and he’ll be checking out the latest gadgets for grown-ups.

Expect jazz hands galore as a stage school troupe provides the musical entertainment. We can’t wait...

film of the day ThE GhoST, Film4, 9Pm This is not a 1980s romance starring Patrick Swayze, but a stylish realisation of Robert Harris’s political thriller by Roman Polanski. As our protagonist Ewan McGregor (right) lends his charm to an outwardly non-charming character, a cynical journalist reduced to ghostwriting celebrity biographies. One day he lands a big secret gig, penning the memoirs of ex-prime minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), currently holed up in a bleak seaside mansion with his formidable PA (Kim Cattrall) and his even more formidable wife (Olivia Williams – brilliant) as he awaits a potential war-crimes prosecution. A resemblance to the Blairs is entirely intentional.

the secret life of mary PoPPiNs BBC2, SaTuRday, 8.30pm

hold on tight to your umbrellas – it turns out Pl Travers, creator of the original mary Poppins stories,

wild Burma: Nature’s lost KiNgdom BBC2, 9pm For half a century, Burma has been cut off from the rest of the world. So what has become of the country’s wildlife and environment under military rule? Film-makers Gordon Buchanan and Justine Evans are among the first to find out, taking advantage of Burma’s gradual relaxation of entry through its borders to go in search of Asian elephants in the west of the country. They find some breathtaking sights – but some harrowing ones, too.

Piers morgaN meets michael flatley tley Tv3, 9pm The former lord of the Dance chats to Piers about using his feet – once insured for millions – to create works of art and his love for beautiful women.

the graham NortoN show BBC1, 10.35pm

Cha show guest lists can sometimes read Chat like a demented dinner party and that’s certainly the case tonight as Hollywood hell-raiser Colin Farrell, Top Gear loudmouth Jeremy Clarkson, X Factor diva Sharon Osbourne and comedian Jo Brand squash onto Mr Norton’s orange sofa.

was something of a troubled soul and a bit of a cultural snob to boot – she was no fan of the movie version featuring her much-loved nanny. Victoria Coren mitchell connects the author to the life story.

charlie BrooKer’s how video games chaNged the world C4, SaTuRday, 9pm

From basic Ponging about to sophisticated multilevel all-consuming extravaganzas, gaming has evolved into a massive industry.

But what of the social impact of spending hours on end locked inside a fantasy world? Keen gamer Charlie Brooker presses play and takes a look at the creative upside of gaming.

KaNgaroo duNdee BBC2, 8.30pm This heart-warming documentary shows how Chris ‘Brolga’ Barnes is helping young orphaned kangaroos in the Australian outback, after their mothers fall victim to hunters or are killed on the roads. Prepare for lots of cuddly moments as we watch the little’ uns hopping around behind their surrogate dad and dozing lazily in the pillowcase pouches he’s created for his young ‘mob’.

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD

NiNo MuNoz

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weekend

Bad girls, bullies and addiction I to Abba

She may be about to unleash telekinetic hell in Carrie, but Chloë Grace Moretz is actually rather nice, discovers Lauren Williams n real life, Chloë Grace Moretz is one sweet, all-American, applepie kind of girl. Cast her in a movie, however, and she will often appear as a freaky outsider, whether as a vampire in Let Me In, a gothic teen loner in Dark Shadows or a foulmouthed killer in the KickAss films. now she is at it

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again with a fresh adaptation of Carrie, Stephen King’s debut novel, which director Brian De Palma filmed with Sissy Spacek back in 1976. Like Spacek, Moretz takes the title role, playing a troubled outsider, bullied at school, who eventually snaps and unleashes terrifying telekinetic powers.

‘I don’t think I actively look for the losers,’ muses the 16-year-old. ‘I just choose characters that are the very opposite of who I am because I think that is what acting is. If I play a happy girl with a happy family and a happy life and who is very good, just like me, it is not acting.

‘I like playing characters who deal with problems that are much darker than what I deal with. It is like my therapy.’

Her current stint at on-screen therapy comes courtesy of director Kimberly Peirce, a close friend of De Palma, who made her name as the writer/director of 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry, which won Hilary Swank an Oscar. Peirce’s adaptation, which casts Julianne Moore in the role of Carrie’s mother, drags the school bullying suffered by the unfortunate teenager into the cyberworld of the 21st century.

The famous shower-room scene, has evolved, with her classmates now filming a stricken Carrie on their smartphones

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Tapping into my dark side is like therapy

and posting the results on the internet. Moretz escaped the horror of school bullying – she has been home-schooled since she was nine – but says that, as an actress, she has suffered troll abuse online.

‘I didn’t have a difficult experience at all in high school because I finished regular school in fourth grade,’ says Moretz, who first came to international attention playing Hit-Girl in the first Kick-Ass film before working with the likes of Scorsese (Hugo), Tim Burton (Dark Shadows) and Marc Webb ((500) Days Of Summer).

‘But none of my best friends is an actor. They are all normal kids so I’ve seen it, and I have dealt with a lot of stuff as an actor, which is a lot is scarier than high school.

‘I’ve dealt with a lot of things through social media, which is 400,000 high-schoolers hating you! You make one comment and you get death threats, you make another and they are in love with you.’

Has she really suffered online death threats? ‘Yeah, I have had a lot of stuff come my way but I don’t like singling it out, because when they see you single it Drama queen: Moretz in Carrie and Kick-Ass out, they do it

more. I am slowly figuring out that maybe I should stop getting on these social-media platforms and start being a little bit more guarded.’

The online community certainly asked questions of her casting in Carrie. ‘A lot of people said: “You are not skinny enough for Carrie, you’ll never be Sissy,”’ says Moretz.

‘But, to be honest, I am not trying to be anyone else or trying to live up to the expectations of what we have already seen. I am not Sissy, she’s an amazing actress, and she did this role when she was an adult.

‘And just because my big break was Kick-Ass, a lot of people would look at me and say: “You are way too strong for this character. You are way too independent; you have never dealt with anything in your life.”

‘Yet they have no idea who I am – even my best friends have no idea what goes through my mind – so for a moment I felt like I justified myself; I needed to show people I can be this character.

But then I realised I don’t need to prove that as long as I am happy.’

She has recently finished playing a prostitute in the big-screen reimagining of the Edward Woodward TV series The Equalizer, which re-teams Training Day duo Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington. Like Dakota Fanning’s character in Man On Fire, her story inspires Washington’s character to commit visceral violence.

‘To be honest, I just like really

Eomac: as one half of Lakker, ian ‘eomac’

CLuBS Dave Clarke and Sunil Sharpe: Cutting, splicing and

NiNo MuNoz

22 METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

scratching Chicago ghetto, hard techno and US-style electro together with a hip-hop attitude, the advent of new technology hasn’t changed Dave Clarke’s unique style.

Support comes from the fast-rising Sunil Sharpe.

Tomorrow, Subject, Pogo, The Twisted Pepper, Middle Abbey Street D1, 11pm, €18/€20.

McDonnell is is responsible for rewiring techno’s circuits and is gaining a reputation as a solo artist. he’s sure to give his releases for Trilogy Tapes and Kille Kill an airing tonight.

Tonight, Sidetracked, The Dark Horse Inn, George’s Quay D2, 8pm, free/€5 after midnight.

Luke Vibert: Big Dish Go celebrates its birthday with a diverse line-up. Johnny Dillon will represent local talent while Luke Vibert is the visiting guest.

Tomorrow, The Underground, Westland Row D2, 10.30pm, €12/€15.

Richard Brophy

Bright outlook: Chloë Grace Moretz says her happy family life helps her brush off critics on social media dark characters,’ concludes Moretz.

‘Those roles can get you down a little bit but I can always cheer myself up afterwards.’ And how does she do that? ‘Working out helps,’ she says, ‘but mostly I cheer myself up by playing Abba.

‘When I was doing Carrie, my mum caught me on video dancing on the kitchen table, still in my robe, covered in blood, and jumping around to Dancing Queen. That’s a great release.’

Carrie is out in cinemas today.

landmark Horror The STory oF Carrie Stephen King was just 26 when he published his first novel, Carrie, the same age as Sissy Spacek (pictured) when she played his titular, bloodsoaked 17-year-old in Brian De Palma’s 1976 movie. Carrie was the first of more than 100 screen adaptations of his works – and King has always declared himself pleased with the result. He’s not the only one. The original Carrie is still only one of a handful of horrors to get serious Academy recognition. Spacek’s intense otherworldliness and heartbreaking vulnerability as the frail, bullied teen with telekinetic powers earned her a best actress Oscar nomination, with Piper Laurie getting a best supporting

nod as her unstable and abusive, fundamentalist Christian mother. A landmark of the horror genre and a key moment in ‘new American cinema’ that is much studied in academic circles, the only thing that’s dated about Carrie is the whole adults-playing-teenagers thing. Almost four decades on, it’s still as unforgettably terrifying as ever. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

santa claus is comin’ to great outdoors on december 7th See Santa abseil down our Chatham St building and visit his grotto afterwards from 1pm onwards. Outdoor games, face painting and much, much more promise to make this day one to remember.

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD 23

Pop in for a magical hoot THE Big RELEAsE

No power in lesser remake

Saving Mr BankS (PG) HHHH✩ ‘A spoonful of sugar and a headful of fluff,’ is how Mary Poppins’s creator PL Travers sniffily dismissed Disney’s ‘silly cartoons’.

No wonder it took 20 years for Uncle Walt to persuade this tweedy, child-intolerant woman into even considering selling him the rights.

It’s that feisty negotiation that makes this Oscar-bait such an irresistible hoot, as Mrs Travers (Emma Thompson, pricklier than Mrs Tiggywinkle) finally accepts an invitation to Disneyland from Walt (Tom Hanks – great, but needing more snake oil), despite declaring herself ‘positively sickened at the idea of visiting your dollar-making machine’, and is unimpressed with his movie pitch. ‘Mary Poppins is the very enemy of whimsy,’ she snaps, with the kind of haughty English disapproval patented by Dame Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey. ‘I will not have her twinkling and cavorting.’

Of course, we all know Walt gets his way – his 1964 musical has Travers’s iconic nanny cavorting with cartoon penguins. The dark surprise here lies in Travers’s

Carrie (15) HH✩✩✩

The acting is supercalifragilistic in this funny and moving Mary Poppins for grown-ups.

A class Disney act.

vERDicT Cavorting: Tom Hanks shines as Walt Disney in Saving Mr Banks secret real-life backstory (well, ish – there’s no mention of her rumoured bisexuality and tragic adoptive son). She grew up not in Bloomsbury Square but in Australia, where her beloved father (Colin Farrell – excellent) was sacked from the bank due to his alcohol-

ism, leaving the family living in a tin shack.

There’s one – OK, three – too many flashbacks to this, from a script that raps you on the nose.

However, the strong emotional melodrama balances out the Disney sugar, though the sentiment is

still likely to have Travers stamping in her grave.

The opening chords of Feed The Birds are enough to make you well up; by the end you’ll be happily sobbing into your popcorn.

Larushka ivan-Zadeh

Carrie is a timid teenage girl (a miscast Chloë Grace Moretz, doing big scaredy eyes behind her succulent pout) brought up by her fundamentalist Christian mother (Julianne Moore). At school she is mercilessly bullied by the mean girls who little know the ‘freak’ in the home-made dresses has secret telekinetic powers. When she reaches breaking point, the results are murderous but a bit ‘meh’. The fact that Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry) was directing suggested a potentially radical feminist remake of Brian de Palma’s 1976 adaptation of author Stephen King’s blood-splattered tale. However, although this is more obviously targeted at a teen girl audience, the girl-power thrust is ill-conceived, leaving you with a pointless scene-by-scene, often line-by-line remake of the superior original. Li-Z

A perplexing, alluring study in innocence Titled Young And Beautiful and featuring a semi-naked nymphette sprawled prettily across its poster, this arty-looking French film promised to get right up my nose.

However, there’s more to this 21st-century take on Belle De Jour than pleases a dirty old man’s eye. We first see Isabelle (star-isborn Marine Vacth) through the binoculars of her little brother as he spies on her sunbathing topless.

Jeune et Jolie (18) HHHH✩ An impossibly gorgeous bourgeois 16-year-old, with limbs that would make a gazelle check into WeightWatchers, Isabelle pops her cherry on the beach that summer with a hunky German student.

A few months later, we find her leading a double life as a square literature student at the Sorbonne/fledgling high-class Parisian

call girl. But why? ‘Too beautiful’ is Charlotte Rampling’s character’s verdict but director François Ozon (Swimming Pool, Potiche) keeps his typically elegant drama light on pat answers.

A perplexing and subtle study in innocence, trust, disappointment, secrets and identity, it makes an intriguing female companion piece to Ozon’s Dans La Maison. Li-Z

ALsO OuT the BeSt Man holiday (15) HH✩✩✩

Yes, it’s the old Peter’s Friends/This Life + 10 routine: gather a bunch of friends, stick them in a country mansion and watch as they hug, sort out marriages and have the kind of blazing rows that would end any real-life house party. Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall et al are reunited for a sequel to 1999 comedy-drama The Best Man, but its main achievement is to prove that Hollywood’s African-American characters can be just as shallow and over-privileged as the Caucasian variety. Nicholas Barber

the gibson hotel german christmas food market CE4 Clearomizer Tanks €5.35 each E4 Blister Kits with 2 free bottles of E Liquid €23.85

Free BirdS (U) HH✩✩✩

This off-puttingly US-centric cartoon sees turkeys Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson travel back to 1621 to re-set the traditional Thanksgiving dinner from roast bird to pizza and thus save turkey-kind.

It’s a charmless 3D animation, with half-cooked characters and a plot that flaps about like a headless fowl. Still, the baby chicks are super cute.

Just bland enough for parents to endure. Li-Z

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METROSCOPE

by Patrick Arundell

NEMI by Lise

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20

An astrological T-square can be challenging but the one that prevails today could have an amenable dimension which, although putting you out on a limb, could have interesting consequences. This can see you deciding to make a bold move to get to know someone.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 70

Taurus Apr 21 – May 21

You may be so used to reading between the lines regarding a relationship that you find it hard to accept things just as they are. This may be down to the subtle influence that another may seem to have on you. Have more faith in your instincts.

METROKU Easy, Moderate and Challenging. For solutions, visit Metro.co.uk/metroku

For your forecast, call 15609 114 71

Gemini May 22 – Jun 21

If some retail therapy appeals, you might snap up some bargains that could get the gift-buying season off to a solid start. The Moon in Libra can encourage you to treat yourself to one or two luxury items For your forecast, call 15609 114 72

Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23

A lovely blend of energies between several planets has a fun potential and may even see your pulse quicken.

Why? If single, you could meet someone you instantly warm to. If you’re already involved, this can enhance your relationship.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 73

Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23

PEARLs BEFORE swINE

sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21

You may feel a restlessness that makes you want to skip those daily tasks and get on with something a bit more interesting.You may decide to make this evening, and the start of the weekend, as lively as possible.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 78

Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20

Work opportunities might coincide with a chance to get to know someone who offers advice that enables you to make a step in the right direction. A general aura of goodwill can make good things happen.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 79

Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19

For your forecast, call 15609 114 80

There is a powerful array of planetary energy today, and with the Moon briefly dissecting both Venus and Jupiter, your resistance can be low – in the nicest way possible. This may see you enjoy a scrumptious meal with a special person.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 81

For a live one-to-one consultation with one of my gifted psychics, call 15809 113 68 or 1800 719 688 to book using credit card

QuIz

Astrology calls cost 1.27 euros per min from a BT landline. Live Services cost 2.40 euros per minute. Calls from mobiles/other networks may cost more. Callers must be 18 or over to use this service and have the bill payers permission. For entertainment purposes only. All calls are recorded. PhonePayPlus regulated(ComReg in ROI) UK SP: StreamLive Ltd, NR7 0HR, 08700 234 567. ROI SP:Moveda, 1 Courtyard Business Park, Orchard Lane, Blackrock, Co Dublin, 0818 241 398

ENIGMA US slang for yob or lout, who really shouldn’t be let out.

Type of music, sort of fusion: lack of talent meets confusion.

WHO AM I? A writer, I was born in London in 1949. I won the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal for my picture book Peace At Last.

I am best known for the Worst Witch series of children’s books, going since 1974.

WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? WHO… wrote the allegory Pilgrim’s Progress?

WHAT... bird is called the chickadee in the US? WHERE... in the US is Gary, the city named after a chairman of the United States Steel Corporation?

WHEN... was the by-election in which Brian Cowen won his first Dáil seat?

QUIZ ANSWERS: ENIGMA: Punk. WHO AM I? Jill Murphy. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? John Bunyan; Tit; Indiana; 1984.

QUICK CROsswORd

For your forecast, call 15609 114 77

Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20

Libra Sep 24 – Oct 23

Yesterday’s Solutions Across: 1 Sell; 3 Maturity; 9 Affront; 10 Fatal; 11 Disapproving; 13 Recent; 15 Sudden; 17 Cream-cracker; 20 Ennui; 21 Aileron; 22 Intended; 23 Once.

Down: 1 Slanders; 2 Lifts; 4 Attire; 5 Unfavourable; 6 Intoned; 7 Yell; 8 Compensation; 12 Entrance; 14 Coronet; 16 Scrape; 18 Koran; 19 Yeti.

Try to be selective rather than buy things you don’t need, as a Sun/ Uranus aspect can be an influence that encourages you to splash out.

However, this influence can also help you think imaginatively about marshalling resources.

Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23

For your forecast, call 15609 114 75

DOWN 2 Dolt (3) 3 Very poor (5) 4 Not liable (6) 5 In fashion (7) 6 Innocent (9) 7 Agreement (11) 8 Disbelief (11) 12 Wayfarer (9) 15 Confide (7) 17 Bad writing (6) 19 Lustre (5) 21 Idiot (3)

scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22

You could get involved with a plan which shows promise. If you are unsure, why not get some feedback from someone who’s been there before and succeeded? Once you are clear, you can push on purposefully.

Excitement may be building on the home front, particularly with the festive season now cranking into life.

Upbeat astral vibrations can appeal to the child within and nudge you into thinking of the presents you’d like to buy for loved ones.

ACROSS 1 Face (11) 9 Away (3) 10 Height (9) 11 Spiteful (5) 13 Steady worker (7) 14 Harvester (6) 16 In arrears (6) 18 Sterilised (7) 19 Charm (5) 20 Reckon (9) 21 Behind (3) 22 Frangibility (11)

For your forecast, call 15609 114 76

A flash of insight may be what it takes to solve a problem that has reverberated for some while. Later, today’s pleasant links encourage you to do some all-out pampering. This could be a deep hot soak or, if you’re flush, a spa treatment.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 74

Crossword No. 869 See next edition for solutions

Over the past year, Saturn has had an intense impact on the part of your life regarding your values and finances. Now you can breathe a sigh of relief as Mercury is free of this restriction. Stay disciplined but you can feel more secure.

SCRIBBLE BOX

24 METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD 25

YOUR DUBLiN wEEkEND with daragh reddin gig cHOicE... THE cHAMELEONS

fEEL fESTivE fOR…

Unsung heroes of the Manchester postpunk scene, The Chameleons combined the trench coat intensity of Joy Division with the ache and sweep of a young U2 (minus, thank goodness, the chirruping Bono-isms). For their troubles the fivepiece, from the dingy suburb of Middleton, were smacked relentlessly about the chops, both by the music industry and the rock press. Seeking to press-gang them into giving Bono and chums a run for their earnestness, CBS Records lost patience with The Chameleons’ brusque refusal to write their own Pride (In The Name Of Love) and left their records to rot on the shelves. Meanwhile, publications such as The NME and Melody Maker exulted in mocking their pretensions and tendency to wax po-faced. Against the odds, the group, led by the limelight-averse Mark Burgess, released two singular sweeping albums, then broke up (after the death of their manager in 1987). In the years since they have been shocked to discover that their music has lived on, especially on the Continent and across America. Thirty five years or so on from their first gig, on Saturday they make belated amends by playing Dublin for the first time. For anyone who likes their rock music epic and serious about its obligations to strike a meaningful emotional resonance, this is truly a reason to be cheerful Eamon de Paor Tomorrow, Whelan’s, 5 Wexford St D2, 8pm €20. Tel: (01) 478 0766. www.thechameleons.com

gET DOwN TO…

Beardyman

The British beatbox wizard – aka beardless Darren Foreman – has proved that there are few, if any, sound effects he can’t master. Beardyman has been applauded for his pacy, ambitious live shows where one surreal impression, vocal illusion or satirical jibe segues breezily into the next. His recent One Album Per Hour project was just that: Foreman created an entire LP, aided by ‘song’ suggestions from the audience, within the course of a single gig. Expect a bang-for-your-buck showcase at The Sugar Club tomorrow night when Beardyman is joined by Deady Live, Handsome Paddy and Lil Dave for a six-hour beatboxing spectacle Tomorrow, The Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson Street D2, 9pm, €20. Tickets from www. tickets.ie

Stile Antico: The Phoenix Rising

Fancy getting in the Christmas spirit without resorting to a cheesy Slade tribute concert?

Check out the 13-strong Stile Antico – one of the world’s most acclaimed choral ensembles – as they play a rousing selection of Tudor church music, with particular emphasis on William Byrd’s Mass For Five Voices, in the suitably atmospheric confines of Christ Church Cathedral Tonight, Christ Church Cathedral, Christ Church Place, D8, 8pm, €28/€30. Tickets from www. entertainment.ie

christmas On The Square

Several Georgian houses on Merrion Square – including the Irish Architectural Archive and the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland – will open their doors to the public tomorrow as part of the festive ‘cultural and shopping trail’ Christmas On The Square. Expect live music, lovely artisan produce and warming winter cocktails courtesy of Hennessy Tomorrow, Merrion Square D2. www. merrionsquare.ie

fEAST YOUR EYES ON...

Atsushi kaga

Don’t be put off by the intimidating PR bumph – Danto’s Analytical Philosophy Of History anyone? – that accompanies Dublin-based Japanese artist Atsushi Kaga’s latest exhibition Happily Skipping Backwards.

Instead marvel at his immersive cartoon-like world featuring the loveable, beleaguered bunny Usacchi and the ‘dope-smoking, one-lunged, one-legged bear’ Kumacchi, whose bittersweet life experiences and alltoo-human concerns feel every bit as real as our own Until Feb 1, Mother’s Tankstation, 41-43 Watling Street, Ushers Island D8. Tel (01) 671 7654. www. motherstankstation.com

cURiOUS ABOUT...

The circus Of Perseverance

A vaudevillian-style show that captures ‘Dublin by lamplight’, the seven colourful sketches that make up Philip Doherty’s Circus Of Perseverance are presented by Cavan’s celebrated company, Gonzo Theatre Until tomorrow, Smock Alley Theatre, 8 Lower Exchange Street, Temple Bar D8, 8pm, €12/€15. Tel: (01) 677 0014. www.smockalley.com

in case i get tired of your amazing cooking please buy me this for christmas...

BE cHARiTABLE fOR...

Rock’n’Roll Heart

Craig Walker (pictured), Dave McGuinness and Nick Seymour are just some of the artists volunteering their time and talents for this benefit in aid of the Philippines Relief Fund. Covers courtesy of the late lamented Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground Tonight, Whelan’s, 25 Wexford Street D2, 8pm, €10. Tel: 1890 200 078. www.whelanslive.com

pocket Rocket stove

01 443 0800

€30.00

108-109 Middle Abbey St, Dublin 1

basecamp.ie

26 METRO HERALD Friday, November 29, 2013

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No.13 in waiting: Luke Fitzgerald in training this week ahead of Leinster’s clash with Scarlets picture: inpho

O’COnnOR piCks up piECEs As LEinsTER gETs MATCH fiT

WHERE Joe Schmidt will be ruing the loss of momentum now the Ireland players have returned to their provinces, Leinster coach Matt O’Connor must try and pick up where his team left off at the end of October.

The crunch Heineken Cup double header with Northampton is just around the corner, which means the Australian must work quickly to flush out any hangovers his players have from the crushing defeat to New Zealand.

The players generally find this process easier than the coaches, moving from one environment to the next provides a natural freshness that comes with a change in scenery.

Picking up the calling systems and patterns at your province is much easier for the players than it is in Ireland camp.

At Leinster the players will be used to the play calls since the summer, so on a mental level preparing for Scarlets and then Northampton will be relatively straight forward.

The question is what shape some of them will be in physically. Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien showed little care for their bodies against the All Blacks, while Brian O’Driscoll’s smash on Brodie Retallick left him suffering from concussionlike symptoms, and his calf

could probably use a weekend’s rest too.

Depending on how much game time O’Driscoll and his coaches have budgeted for him this side of Christmas, Luke Fitzgerald should get another chance at 13, where he is beginning to assume the mantle of successor to the former Ireland captain.

With nearly 20 players filtering back into the Leinster squad this week, O’Connor will not want to upset the cohesion too much, so look for a team that is a mix and match of frontliners and those who won in Treviso last weekend.

Because of Wales’ Test with Australia outside of the IRB November window, Scarlets will be missing seven players, including out-half Rhys Priestland, on Saturday evening and it is hard to imagine Leinster not doing enough to win this game.

The key will be achieving an intensity that can naturally progress for the following weekend’s trip to Franklin’s Gardens.

In terms of homework, it is likely that those not involved against Scarlets will begin studying Northampton. Devin Toner’s name springs to mind after he started all three games for Ireland, and that should allow Leo Cullen to make his first appearance of the season.

Challenge: Leinster coach Matt O’Connor is back training with the squad in the team’s grounds in UCD by gARETH MAkiM Leinster coach Matt O’Connor can’t wait to get his squad to full strength, but admits being without up to 18 ireland internationals over the past month has been an ‘invaluable’ boost to his efforts to build a panel worthy of challenging on all fronts this season. the scarlets visit the rDs tomorrow evening, and while O’Connor insists he will pick as strong a team as he can for the province’s final Pro12 fixture before the Heineken Cup doubleheader against northampton, many of those upon whom the greatest demands fell during the autumn series can expect the weekend off. ‘the bulk of the extended group will come back and play and we are going to try and give as much of them time to give us a chance against scarlets, who are a

PICTURE: INPHO

Leinster bid to get squad back to best

good side,’ O’Connor said.

‘We need to put out a quality side.’

But O’Connor conceded that he has been impressed with the performances of several younger players who stepped up in big away victories over newport and treviso earlier this month, praising the culture fostered at the club in recent years.

‘You come to a team with

a lot of world class blokes, a lot of international on the roster, you’re going to miss them. the guys in the squad over the last month have been outstanding.

‘For the team to be in the position to win things you’ve got to have a good squad. every four points [in the Pro12], every Heineken Cup game, is massively important and guys only get that realisa-

tion when they get the opportunity to play. if they make a mistake they learn from it and they’re better the next time. ‘it’s important in the culture, it’s important that the senior guys and the coaches are there driving those blokes with the level of expectation that is required to be really good. that’s where this last month has been invaluable.’

spORT DigEsT slayer Scott’s swing woe despite 62 300 Kids Hamilton hails ‘leader’ Brawn Dragon O’Connell to fORMuLA OnE Lewis

Hamilton has hailed Ross Brawn as ‘a great leader’ who has laid the foundations for a successful tilt at next year’s world title. After months of speculation regarding his position as team principal at Mercedes, the team have confirmed Brawn is to step down at the end of next month. Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe will take over as executive director (business), and executive director (technical) respectively. Hamilton tweeted: ‘Massive thanks to Ross Brawn. He’s been a great leader

make a return

Leaving: Brawn and teacher for me. Ross has built the foundations for us to succeed in 2014! Toto and Paddy are fantastic guys and strong leaders for the team.’ Brawn said: ‘I am confident the future will hold just as much success for the team.’

Rugby Munster’s Paul O’Connell will start just his second RaboDirect PRO12 game of the season against Newport Gwent Dragons tonight. South African winger Gerhard van den Heever will make his debut. Head Coach Rob Penney has continued his rotation policy with 12 changes to the team that beat Cardiff Blues 31-10.

gOLf Masters champion Adam

Scott rated his course-record tenunder 62 at the Australian Open as one of his best rounds, but maintained his swing was not quite where he wanted it to be. Scott (pictured) said: ‘I can’t sit here and complain about anything but, a bit like last week in the first round, the swing wanders on a couple of shots and it did it again today. It’s not quite in the slot, although I hit a lot of great shots’ Rory McIlroy finished on three under and said: ‘It is hard to give Adam Scott a seven-shot lead with three rounds to go.’

Golfer Rory McIlroy gave lessons to at the Emirates Junior Golf Clinic which took place ahead of the Emirates Australian Open in Sydney

football europa league

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Friday, November 29, 2013 METRO HERALD 27

Spurs win in the snow but heat still on Andre gROup k TroMSo .................................0 ToTTeNHAM...........................2

SwANSeA .............. 0 VAleNCIA ................1 SWANSEA were aggrieved an Alvaro Vasquez goal was harshly ruled out as they lost to an early strike from Daniel Parejo. The Swans need a draw from their final match at FC Gallen to reach the last 16.

Latics suffer a setback

by DANNy gRiFFiTHS TOTTENHAM clinched top spot in their group and eased into the knockout stages but their triumph in icy Norway was hardly a classic.

Andre Villas-Boas, facing questions about his future, fielded a strong side despite leaving the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe in London.

However, an own goal from Adnan Causevic and Mousa Dembele’s first goal since February were enough to see off the hosts.

Victory ensured Spurs maintained their 100 per cent record in Group K after the earlier draw between Anzhi Makhachkala and Sheriff Tiraspol confirmed they will finish in pole position.

But this was hardly the avalanche in the Arctic Circle needed to steady the ship after last Sunday’s 6-0 battering against

wIgAN .....................1 ZUlTe wAregeM ..2 WIGAN must beat Maribor and hope Zulte lose their final game against Rubin Kazan if they are to make progress.

Leon Barnett put them ahead but Thorgan Hazard and Junior Malanda hit back.

FixTuRES

SATURDAY (3pm unless stated) Barclays Premier League Aston Villa v Sunderland..............................

Cardiff v Arsenal ............................................ everton v Stoke..............................................

Norwich v Crystal Palace .............................. west Ham v Fulham .....................................

Newcastle v west Brom ........ (5.30pm) TV SUNDAY (3pm unless stated) Barclays Premier League Tottenham v Man Utd .............(12noon) TV Hull v liverpool ...................... (2.05pm) TV Chelsea v Southampton ......... (4.10pm) TV Man City v Swansea..................... (4.10pm)

14 shots on target for Spurs

but none were from a clearly frustrated Roberto Soldado

Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

It took the Londoners 63 minutes to take the lead when Tromso centre-half Causevic tracked a near-post run made

by Tottenham centre-half Vlad Chiriches but turned a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick into his own net.

Spurs had enjoyed greater possession and had been the better side before going in front but there was always the danger the home side would catch them on the break in the sub-zero temperatures descending on their plastic pitch.

Yet Tottenham relaxed after taking the lead and Villas-Boas resisted the temptation to pitch the youngsters on his bench into the fray.

Instead he decided to use Lewis Holtby as a replacement for Nacer Chadli and the Germany international promptly set up Dembele for the second goal in the 75th minute before the Belgium midfielder hit the post when clean through. Reasons to be Chir-full: Spurs’ Vlad Chiriches shakes off Tromso’s Ruben Kristiansen PIC: aCtIon Images

TRANSFER TALk

Pards: No Yohan Good-bayes £8million Fee Chelsea Vadillo a good Bet to AlAN PArDew has played down reports Yohan Cabaye is looking to leave Newcastle in search of Champions league football. The midfielder, 27, said this week he misses playing in europe’s top club competition, sparking rumours he wants to leave St. James’ Park. But Pardew insists the

swans are grounded

Frenchman can achieve his goals with the club. ‘If you were to ask me if I wanted to play in the Champions league, then I would tell you “absolutely, yes”,’ Pardew said. ‘And that’s what Yohan wants to do. But we want him to do that here and it’s only players like Yohan that are going to get us there.’

may be willing to let Ryan Bertrand leave for. Liverpool are thought to be eyeing a January move for the left-back as cover for the injured Jose Enrique. The Spaniard has been ruled out until February after knee surgery and Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring in defensive cover.

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D

In-form Fitzgerald is raring to impress with No.13 opportunity

«see page 26

Birthday boy Giggs is ready to top 40

iT’s cOLD cOMfORT fOR AvB As spuRs suRvivE ARcTic sTORM

TOTTENHAM eased the pressure on Andre Villas-Boas with a 2-0 win away to Tromso in the Europa League.

Villas-Boas (pictured) fielded a strong team for the game, played in the Arctic Circle as he looked for his side to put Sunday’s 6-0 mauling at Manchester City behind them.

The Spurs boss said the match was the result was perfect preparation for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday.

‘I am very happy for the players to have bounced back from the defeat against Man City,’ he said.

‘Obviously the opponent we have on Sunday is the biggest we can have. But to prepare for that, it was important to get back to winning ways.

‘I am extremely happy with the performance and result.’

by jAMEs BOyLAn

RYAN GIGGS hits the big four-zero today but the evergreen Manchester United star is not even thinking of hanging up his boots yet.

Far from showing signs of decline, Giggs continues to defy his age, regularly outshining his younger teammates and rivals. And he admitted: ‘When I was 17 and 18 I thought 31 was ancient. Here I am at 40.

‘It can be hard sometimes but I am still enjoying it. As long as that is the case I will carry on.’

With 953 United appearances now under his belt and a contract extension conceivable in the summer, one-club Giggs could even reach the 1,000-game mark for United.

It would be another mind-boggling milestone for the man who has won as many league titles as Arsenal.

However, it all could have been so different had the Welshman ever opted to leave the club where he started his career as a trainee.

Giggs added: ‘If I’d moved from club to club I’d be finished by now.

‘I’m lucky that I have been at one club, where I am surrounded by good

Many happy as Giggs’ form returns players. I also have a good manager.

‘I look after myself and try to train every day in order to make myself available for selection. I enjoy it as much as I can and, of course, try to contribute to the team.’

«report – page 27

English rugby edges back in from cold over Heineken Cup dispute ENGLAND’S clubs have edged back from the brink of exclusion from European competition next season, following a dramatic day in a dispute destined to continue for another year.

Premiership Rugby has indicated it may be willing to participate in a tournament run by European Rugby Cup for the 2014-15 season, if an acceptable alternative is in Monthly Certified Distribution Sep 30 - Oct 27, 2013: 59,764

place for 2015-16.

The climbdown comes after the Making a presidents of the French clubs, point: represented by Ligue Nationale de French Rugby, agreed at a meeting at Orly clubs Airport near Paris yesterday vote to afternoon, to commit to the ERCremain run format announced by the with Heineken unions last week.

Beyond 2014-15, however, LNR is Cup next seeking the introduction of an season

alternative competition overseen by a new body that will maximise the commercial interests of its clubs.

Abandoning the breakaway Rugby Champions Cup and accepting the unions’ offer for next season will be viewed as a betrayal

by Premiership Rugby, and LNR’s insistence that English clubs are involved will offer little comfort.

PRL has stated repeatedly that it

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will not work under the authority of ERC, but on lastnight chief executive Mark McCafferty indicated it was willing to listen to the French proposal.

‘If somebody can outline what that transition would entail, how the issues would be overcome and exactly what the new structure in 2015-16 would be, then we could look at it,’ McCafferty said.