METRO HERALD Wednesday, February 19, 2014
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Drumm’s ‘thumbs up’ to Maple Ten deal
Dawson St Luas work detailed DAWSON STREET will be reduced to one lane from next Tuesday to accommodate works for the Luas Cross City. The works will start at the east side of Dawson Street, between St Stephen’s Green and Molesworth Street. They will then switch to the west side at the end of June. The street will remain open to traffic throughout, Luas Cross City insisted while taxi ranks will be moved to Molesworth Street.
Man ‘forced to steal by gang’ A POLISH man who claimed a gang threatened to beat and rape his girlfriend unless he participated in stealing €6,000 from a neighbour’s bank account will be sentenced later. Radoslaw Skurzynski, 29, of The Island, Chapelizod, told gardaí he had been threatened, but pleaded guilty after gardaí found his fingerprints on a withdrawal slip. Judge Desmond Hogan said he was unsure if Skurzynski’s claim was ‘a cock and bull story’.
Candy Crush firm plans IPO THE makers of blockbuster mobile game Candy Crush Saga hope to raise up to $500m (€363m) in an initial public offering. King Digital Entertainment, which is incorporated in Ireland but has no operations here, did not disclose how many shares are expected in the IPO or the projected price range. The firm plans to use proceeds from the sale for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Shares: Sean Quinn
THE former chief financial officer of Anglo Irish Bank has begun giving evidence under immunity at the trial of three former bank executives. Matt Moran told the jury he was granted immunity from prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He said that in 2008 he was told by one of the accused, William McAteer, that Anglo was lending money to ten investors to buy shares in the bank.
Mr McAteer is accused, along with fellow ex-directors Sean FitzPatrick and Pat Whelan, of providing funding for the purchase of its own shares in contravention of the Companies Act. Mr Moran told the court that in 2007 he discovered businessman Sean Quinn controlled a large portion of the bank’s shares through Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and that there could be catastrophic consequences if
the CFDs were not reduced. He detailed how the bank decided to loan money to ten high-net worth bank customers, dubbed the Maple Ten, so they could buy the shares. Mr Moran said Anglo CEO David Drumm came to his office and said he had spoken to the Financial Regulator about the deal before giving a ‘thumbs up’ gesture. The trial continues.
Racists target politician over Giro call to remove murals by MicHAEL McHuGH THE only Chinese-born parliamentarian on the island of Ireland has been targeted for online racist abuse by Northern Ireland loyalists for comments linked to the Giro D’Italia. Anna Lo, who represents the cross-community Alliance Party in South Belfast at Stormont, was insulted after calling for flags and murals glorifying gunmen to be removed from the route of this year’s cycling race, which will begin in the region for the first time this spring. The abuse was posted on social media sites, a party spokesman said. Ms Lo said: ‘I am very disappointed people would react in such a personal way and use abusive and very personal comments against me. ‘I speak for a lot of people who are sick and tired of flags being hung on lamp posts and left there for months and months to become tattered. ‘Many people in those areas would not want to see a mural glorifying violence and intimidation.’ Ms Lo’s colleague Stewart Dickson said he was disgusted by vile remarks from social media users. ‘The people who made these comments are bringing shame to Northern Ireland and do not represent the vast majority of the population who have welcomed people from all backgrounds,’ he said. Hong Kong-born Ms Lo appealed for a flag- and mural-free race after Stormont Environment Minister Mark Durkan said no election posters should be erected along the Giro route, which also travels to Dublin, from May 9-11. European and local council elections are being held later that month.
Super duper Mr Hooper Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss and his wife Svetlana arrive for the Jameson Cult Film Club screening of Jaws as part of the Dublin International Film Festival at the Mansion house Picture: Brian Mcevoy
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