Metro Herald, Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

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Gunman and two hostages killed in explosive climax to 16-hour siege

Run for

your life AFTER nearly a decade as Dublin’s best-loved source of bite-sized news, sport, celeb gossip and cute animal pictures, it is with enormous regret that we bring you possibly our worst ever news story – this Friday, December 19, will be Metro Herald’s last ever edition.

Paul Crosbie, managing director of publisher Fortunegreen Ltd, said: ‘It’s extremely unfortunate that we have come to this decision which sadly means the loss of jobs.

‘Metro Herald, and the people who have worked here, have been extremely resourceful and hardworking, breaking new ground in creative print advertising. I’m very proud of what we have achieved here over the last six

Don’t shoot: Hostages break free Picture: getty

by AidAn RAdnedge HOSTAGES flee from an Islamic militant who responded by opening fire – killing two victims at a Lindt Chocolate café.

The captives ran for safety after Man Haron Monis conducted a siege for 16 hours at the shop in Sydney.

As the fanatic began spraying bullets, special forces burst in and shot him dead. At least three more people inside the café were injured.

Police commissioner Andrew Scipione praised police, saying: ‘While everybody might now second guess as to what’s occurred in the last hours,

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Alert: Hostage is helped Picture: aP

Metro Herald to stop publishing this Friday years and feel privileged to have worked with such talented and creative people.’

Mr Crosbie added: ‘We have been fighting a rear-guard action fuelled by a prolonged recession and an evolving media landscape.

‘I would like to thank our board and shareholders for their support over the years, in what was a historic joint venture

agreement between all three organisations – The Irish Times Ltd, DMG Media Ltd and Independent News & Media PLC.’ Daily Mail publisher DMG Media and The Irish Times launched Metro in Dublin in 2005.

This was immediately followed by a counter launch of Herald AM from Independent News & Media.

Both media groups made significant losses over the five-year period until the decision to merge the titles into one paper, Metro Herald, in 2010. However, the business model has become unsustainable in a difficult advertising environment.

Fortunegreen Ltd employs 13 full-time staff, plus our team of merchandisers who distribute the

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

paper every weekday in the Greater Dublin Area.

All these positions will become redundant, subject to a collective consultation process, which will conclude in January.

Mr Crosbie concluded: ‘I would also like to thank our excellent merchandisers on the streets of Dublin every weekday morning, who will be missed, our advertisers who stayed loyal to us and finally, and not least, all our valued commuting readers.’

Our farewell edition this Friday will feature the best bits from the paper, so if you have any favourite memories you think we should feature, tell us via @metrohnews, editor@metroherald.ie or Facebook.com/metroherald.

METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

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Tuesday 16/12/14

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Today’s birthdays

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Tony Hicks, guitarist, 69; Benny Andersson, musician (Abba), 68; Billy Gibbons, hirsute ZZ Top guitarist, 65; Dennis Wise, former footballer and cheating git, 48; Krysten Ritter, (pictured) US actress (Breaking Bad), 33.

Would this work on the streets of Dublin? Decide for yourself as this lovely young fellow has jolly time with his mistletoe contraption.

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Weather Today

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A cold morning with frost in places and many areas dry. Cloud and rain will spread eastwards during the day with some heavy outbreaks developing. Feeling cold but temperatures will gradually rise during the afternoon and evening to 10° to 1 °C in strengthening southwesterly winds.

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35kph

5˚C

Donegal

10˚C

11˚C

Derry

20kph

Sunrise: 8.35am Sunset: 4.06pm

Min: 8°c

Mild with heavy and persistent rain clearing eastwards to scattered showers.

Fresh to strong southerly winds will veer westerly but continue strong and gusty. Overnight temperatures between 8° and 11°C.

EUROPE today

Tomorrow Cloudy, wet and windy. However, it will be mild with top temperatures between 10° and 13°C. Wednesday night will continue mild, 30kph wet and windy.

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Belafonte: Untrue and disgusting to say I hit Mel B

Where is it? Mel B flashes ring (left) but it was missing on Sunday Pictures: rex/Pixel 8000 MEL B’s husband, Stephen Belafonte, yesterday took to Twitter to vehemently deny claims he had hit his wife.

The ex-Spice Girl was forced to miss Saturday’s X Factor final after being taken ill due to a mystery illness.

She was back on Sunday but not wearing her wedding ring.

Concerned fans pointed out she also had a bruise on her cheek and scratches on her upper arms.

But after being accused of ‘beating up his wife’ online, film producer Belafonte (pictured, right, with his wife) hit back.

‘I don’t usually respond to Twitter messages but will respond to comments of hitting my wife, which are quite disgusting... untrue,’ the 39-

by AnDREI HARMswORTH year-old wrote. ‘Mel was very ill. If fans can’t just relax before being negative they are not real fans of Mel B.’ Friends close to the TV judge, 39, also insisted the claims were untrue.

Show insiders say Mel B missed Saturday’s show after being struck down with a stomach ulcer.

The domestic violence claims appear to have been sparked after the star’s sister, Danielle Brown, accused Belafonte of lying about her illness.

The X Factor boss Simon Cowell said: ‘Things happen when you make live TV, you’ve just got to deal with it.’

Praising Mel B, he added: ‘She is a trooper.’

The singer’s camp made no comment on the claims.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

Barton hits out at BBC gong for Hamilton

LEWIS HAMILTON is ‘a terrible role model’ who should not have been named Sports Personality Of The Year, feels footballer Joey Barton.

The F1 champion’s claim to the BBC title should have hit the skids because he lives abroad as a ‘tax exile’, the QPR midfielder, 32, tweeted.

Barton, who was jailed for assault in 2008, posted: ‘Can’t believe they gave SPOTY to Hamilton. 1. Formula 1 is the most boring sport ever. 2. He brought a dog with him. 3. He’s a tax exile.’ Barton added: ‘Tax exile’s should be exempt from winning trophies paid and voted for by the tax/licence payer.’

‘He should never have won. He is a terrible role model... What precedent does that set. Bad day in our history.’

Hamilton, 29, refused to bite back but has insisted: ‘I pay tax here, but I don’t earn all my money here.’

The Mercedes driver also told the Sunday Times’s Style magazine that his sporting prowess keeps ‘a team of more than 1,000 people employed’.

Clash: Hamilton (left) and Barton Pictures: Pa/ rex

Speculation: Fans claim Mel B had a bruised cheek and scratches on arms

METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

TV image: Monis Picture: aaP

‘Holy man’ faced dozens of sexual assault charges SELF-STYLED cleric Man Haron Monis was facing more than 50 sexual and indecent assault charges and was on bail for being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.

He appeared in court last year charged with helping to kill Noleen Hayson Pal, 30. She was stabbed and her home in west Sydney was set alight.

He was also convicted of sending offensive letters to the Australian families of Pvt Luke Worsley and LCpl Jason Marks, who were killed in Afghanistan.

Monis was sentenced to 300 hours of community service and put on a two-year good behaviour bond for the letters.

Twitter hashtag fights the bigots AS THE siege unfolded, a Twitter campaign sprang up in Sydney offering support to Muslims fearing a backlash.

More than 100,000 people tweeted ‘illridewithyou’ to stick up for those fearing anti-Islamic abuse on public transport.

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Killer’s demand: Bring me a proper IS banner

« FROM PAgE ONE

they are the ones who had to make the decision. It was tough, exacting work.

‘I want to point out that they have saved many lives, and to those men and women, all that were involved, we thank you.’

A 34-year-old man and a woman aged 38 were confirmed dead after Monis, 50, started shooting inside the café in Martin Place, in the heart of Sydney’s business district.

Of the three injured survivors, a woman in her 40s was said to be in a ‘serious but stable’ condition in hospital after being shot in the leg.

A 39-year-old police officer was being treated for a gunshot graze to the cheek, and a 30-year-old woman was also having treatment in hospital.

Ten of the 17 hostages managed to flee the siege. Five made a break for it after a few hours of lockdown, while the other five burst clear when Monis ordered them from one side of the café to another, moments before police moved in.

Going in: Police take aim outside the café. Above left, hostages are forced to hold up an Islamic flag

Terrorist: Man Haron Monis Monis – an Iranian refugee notorious for sending abusive letters to Australian and British families mourning fallen soldiers – entered the café at about 10am. He dispelled suggestions that the raid was a robbery by telling hostages to wave an Islamist flag.

Later – after observers on Twitter made comments about the banner – he demanded that authorities bring him an ‘official’ flag of the militant movement Islamic State.

David Cameron said the raid, in a country ‘close to our hearts’, was a reminder of ‘the threat from Islamic extremist terror’.

Stretcher: A victim is carried away from the café Pictures: getty/ePa

gunman kills six in dawn rampage Thank you for being a star for Simon this year

A mAn killed six people as he weaved across the Philadelphia suburbs in a predawn rampage yesterday and then holed up in a house.

Bradley William Stone, 35, started at his ex-wife’s Harleysville apartment, breaking in through a glass door at around 4am firing multiple rounds and fleeing with their two children, the woman’s neighbours said.

He then went to two nearby communities, where he killed five other people and severely wounded another person before holing up in a Pennsburg home, authorities said.

‘She would tell anybody who would listen that he was going to kill her, and that she was really afraid for her life,’ said Evan Weron, a neighbour of Stone’s ex-wife, nicole Stone.

Horror: Bradley Stone began killing spree at ex-wife’s home Stone had a ‘familial relationship’ to all the victims, montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

The two children Stone took from his ex-wife’s house were safe, Ferman said.

The shootings occurred before dawn at homes in Harleysville, Lansdale and Souderton, which are within a few miles of each other.

Police with armoured vehicles and rifles flocked to Pennsburg

after spending several hours at the home in Souderton where several victims were found. In Pennsburg, police tried to compel his surrender with a bullhorn and loud explosions.

In march 2009, Stone and his then-wife, nicole, filed for divorce.

They recently sparred over custody of their two children, with Stone filing an emergency petition on December 5 and nicole responding with a counterclaim December 9, according to court records. The outcome of their dispute was not clear. nicole Stone’s neighbours say they were awoken by the sounds of breaking glass and gunshots.

Weron described Brad Stone as a former member of the military.

He said nicole Stone would talk frequently about the custody dispute.

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Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

#Self-ish... Sydney siege selfies spark a social media backlash

PEOPLE posing for ‘shameless’ selfies at the scene of the Sydney gun siege sparked outrage yesterday. A number of onlookers posted pictures of themselves near the police cordon on Twitter and Instagram. But their actions were widely condemned on social media. One person wrote: ‘Awful, do they not have any feelings?’, while another said: ‘You deserve a high five... in the face... with a chair.’

Terror: Police take woman from siege cafe Picture: getty

‘He wants a flag’... hostage forced to speak on video carried to safety A HOSTAGE forced to parrot the gunman’s demands was carried out by police after armed officers stormed the Lindt cafe.

She grimaced in pain and blood was seen pouring down her legs as she clung to her rescuers. Earlier, the blonde woman had had to recite the demands of the gunman on video.

In the recording, she said he wanted an Islamic State flag and to speak to prime minister Tony Abbott.

‘He doesn’t understand why his demands have not been met yet,’ she added. ‘They are not unreasonable, he’s only asking for a flag and a Video: She parrots demand Picture: youtube phone call, that’s it’.

Channel Seven TV

NSW parliament

Martin Place railway station

reet

Elizabeth Street

es Rd Jam t S

Exclusion zone

Picture: 2014 DigitalGlobe

Hospital

LINDT CAFÉ � SCENE OF SIEGE

Sydney

Library

Hospital R oad

Tuesday 2.20am: Commandos storm café

Hunter S treet

Macquarie St

Monday 9.45am (local time): First emergency call

100ft

METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Panda isn’t wasting any festive spirit PANDA Recycling will pick up any extra recycling material for free from its 150,000 domestic customers over the Christmas period. It is encouraging its customers to put their extra recycling in clear plastic bags and leave them out for collection alongside their bins from December 22 to January 6.

The waste management company said over this twoweek period most Irish households will see a 30 per cent increase in the volume of recyclables they produce.

Panda CEO Brian McCabe added: ‘This is our way of saying thank you to our many loyal customers this Christmas season.’

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Low-paid workers to help decide minimum wage The Government has launched a search for people with experience in low pay to help set the national minimum wage.

It is also looking for applicants with a management background and academics to form the new Low Pay Commission.

Business Minister Ged Nash said the nine-member panel will take the politics out of the minimum

wage and will also have the power to examine other low-pay issues.

‘I want to see the minimum wage progressively increased where the economic circumstances, the demands of job creation and social conditions and requirements converge,’ he said.

‘It represents a floor beneath which no working person should be allowed to fall.

‘It will be up to the Low Pay Commission to examine these issues on an evidence basis and revert to Government with a recommendation.’

The Government is seeking applications through the State Boards process. It is looking for an independent chairperson, three people with a ‘deep understanding’ of low-paid

Slight drop in number of drug-related deaths by bRIAn HuTTOn

More than 12 people a week die from overdoses or drug-related causes in Ireland, a new report shows.

Latest figures reveal a slight drop in the number of drug deaths, down to 633 in 2012 compared with 645 the previous year. analysis by the health research Board (hrB) shows one in three of those who died had a history of mental illness. alcohol and benzodiazepines – including tranquilisers like diazepam – play a big part in the number of deaths through drug poisoning, each being involved in a third of all overdose deaths, the study shows. Graham Love, chief executive at the hrB, said mixing drugs was increasingly proving to be lethal.

‘What is clear is that alcohol remains the substance implicated in most poisonings, polydrug use features in more than half of poisonings and we continue to see an increase in the number of people dying by hanging,’ he said, but added that interventions can reduce deaths.

Christmas snow is ‘not on the cards’ Those dreaming of a white Christmas can keep dreaming, according to Met Éireann, who ruled out festive snowfall.

The weather forecaster said the prospect of snow ‘appeared to be receding around Ireland’ as the cold snap comes to an end.

Last week there were many reports warning of a big freeze preparing to sweep across Ireland, plunging the country into its coldest winter in almost 50 years.

‘I am not sure what these reports were based on, but there is no scientific forecasting beyond a week or ten days,’ said a Met Éireann spokesperson.

A musical night to aid homeless A DuBlIN musical society is teaming up with St Vincent de Paul to help collect all manner of woolly and warm paraphernalia for homeless men, women and children.

Tomorrow, the Clé Club will present renowned ‘vulgar versifier’ Vincent Caprani in support of the charity’s ‘Presents For All’ homeless appeal. Proceedings begin with a mulled wine reception from 7.30pm.

Those looking to attend are asked to bring along clean socks, scarves or gloves to donate for the homeless this Christmas. Admission is €5 and no booking is required.

workers, three from an employer background and two members experienced in economics or employment law. The minimum wage is currently €8.65 an hour.

Up until the setting up of the commission, it could be changed following a recommendation in a national agreement, a recommendation by the Labour Court or directly by the business minister.

‘Alcohol is implicated in most poisonings’

Desperate search for survivors A policeman, with a rescue dog, stands in an excavator as they search for landslide victims at sampang village in Banjarnegara, Indonesia. The death toll has risen to 39 Picture: reuters

‘since 2004, there is a sustained decrease in the number of deaths among drug users linked to road traffic collisions, which have fallen by 62 per cent since 2006,’ he said. ‘this correlates with tough drink-driving campaigns from the road safety authority and the introduction of random breath testing in 2006.’ some 350 people died as a result of poisoning or overdose, while 283 were drug-related including suicide, drowning or by medical causes such as liver failure. half of all poisoning were under the age of 40, with three out of four men.

Methadone was involved in a quarter, in most cases mixed with another drug. More than half of the victims died after taking a mixture of drugs, a massive jump of 60 per cent in polydrug deaths since 2004. the study also shows heroin deaths down to 61 from 115 in 2009.

Irish Water to foot bill for its own leak IrIsh Water just burst the irony meter as its work crews finally managed to plug a leak right outside its city centre headquarters. according to the utility, a hydrant leak was the root cause behind thousands of litres of water gushing out on to James Joyce street.

It is not known whether the pipe had been spewing the costly water all weekend but Dublin City Council

workers, there on behalf of Irish Water, spent most of yesterday morning trying to bring the flow under control. asked by the Metro herald who

‘eight workers spent day seeking source’ would have to foot the bill for the leak when charges come in next year, the

utility was forced to admit it ‘most likely would have’.

‘Based on its location, it is pretty clear Irish Water would be liable,’ said a spokesperson. eight DCC workers spent most of yesterday morning trying to fix the ‘minor’ problem and were forced to drain the area before they could bring in heavy equipment to tear up the street to get at the source of the leak.

Water lark: Council staff at work

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Major blow to World Cup bid after GAA ground ruling

Doubt has been cast over the future of a multimillion-euro revamp of a stadium capable of hosting 2023 Rugby World Cup matches in the North.

A High Court judge has ruled that the decision to grant planning permission for a 38,000-seat sports facility in the heart of west belfast was unlawful.

Mr Justice Horner told a packed sitting of belfast High Court the decision-making process had been ‘inadequate and unlawful’ but stopped short of quashing the approval of expansion plans for the GAA’s Casement Park. the judge said: ‘the department (of environment) was wrong legally and factually to make the decision.’

Permission for the €97million stadium, which has a pivotal role in Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup bid,

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

Irish search list revealed

‘WORLD Cup 2014’ was the most searched trend among the Irish, Google has revealed.

Among those topping the search engine’s list in 2014 was the Garth Brooks’ Croke Park saga, featuring across four of the review’s listing; Top Trending searches, Top Trending News, Top Trending Music Artists and Top trending people lists of 2014.

The reign of snow queen Elsa continued as Frozen was the year’s top trending movie.

by LEsLEy-AnnE MCkEOWn

was given by the North’s Environment Minister Mark Durkan in December last year. the GAA wants to build a 38,000 all-seater stadium including conference, bar/restaurant and community facilities plus car parking on the site at Andersonstown Road.

However, residents from about 60 nearby homes objected to the size of the planned development and launched a legal challenge to halt construction which is being partfunded by the taxpayer. tom Daly, chairman of the Casement Park Project board, said he was ‘deeply disappointed’ by the outcome. the court is expected to reconvene tomorrow when a final ruling will be delivered.

Cycle ban for theft accused

Rule of Dumb (L-r) Conor Buggle and Dave McMahon at the Irish premiere of Dumb And Dumber To at the Savoy Cinema, Dublin Picture: Brian Mcevoy

A 16-YEAR-OLD Dublin boy accused of stealing an official Garda bike has been given a cycling ban.

The boy is charged with theft of the Garda bicycle worth €500 at Benburb Street in the city-centre on November 26 last. He is also accused of possessing another stolen bike on the same date, the Dublin Children’s Court heard.

Judge John O’Connor ordered him not to use a bike or bail will be revoked.

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METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

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IRISH celebs and Irish Heart Foundation fu fundraisers ha joined have together to put the cork back in the bottle in January for the inaugural ‘On The Dry’ campaign launched yesterday. In a campaign to raise funds to help fight heart disease and stroke, a host of Irish celebs including Dublin GAA star Bernard Brogan are getting on the wagon and abstaining from alcohol for January.

ON THE

DRY…

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KIm KARDASHIAN seemed unwilling to share the spotlight with her year-old daughter North West after cropping out most of her face from an Instagram selfie, taken at Disney On Ice on Sunday. Fans branded Kardashian, 34, ‘narcissistic’, with one tweeting: ‘You crop out your own child so everyone can focus more on you? Ick...

Selfie-centred: Kim’s Instagram shot Pathetic.’

DAvID DOES DO DOUBLE DEN I M

Haenow: I’m left stunned by the Sex Factor Winner Ben is bemused by legions of female fans

B

EN HAENOW is poised to be Britain’s newest sex symbol after his X Factor victory.

The number of female fans he has attracted left the 29year-old London lad stunned.

‘It’s been, um… great, I suppose is the word. I’ve had a lot of nice

feedback,’ he exclusively told Guilty Pleasures. But he doesn’t feel comfortable as a sex symbol, adding: ‘I would never want to say that.

‘But if people like to look at me, then that’s great.’

Haenow would pose topless for a calendar – but needs to go to the gym first. ‘I’ve not had much time to work out,’ he said. ‘I saw headlines saying me and Andrea [Faustini] were The X Fatter!’

He says his girlfriend Jessica Jones, 27, has nothing to worry about as his sex appeal soars

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– he plans to propose in the New Year. ‘My girlfriend will deal with it just fine. I don’t want to speculate, but she has been great so far,’ he added.

Now Haenow, whose single Something I Need may be the Christmas No.1, wants to unleash his own sound. ‘Success-wise I would love to be like Olly Murs, but sound-wise I am looking for a different vibe,’ he said. ‘I’d love to take a Paolo Nutini sound.’

Double indenim-ity: Becks and family out for dinner Pictures: xPosurePhotos

Triumph: Ben at the final Picture: sPlash

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us to THE fashion police order top on nim de ar never we and bottom. But David en Beckham has always be lesty f sel him to a law un wise – and he again bucks the trend by successfully pulling off double denim.

The 39-year-old daddy cool was joined by his family at Benihana Japanese restaurant in Chelsea on Sunday. Becks was effortlessly trendy, adding a flat cap and burgundy jumper to his DD ensemble.

Taking the driver’s seat, he was joined in the , front by his son Brooklyn , 40 ia, tor Vic fe wi 15, while sat in the back with d Romeo, 12, Cruz, nine, an r. rpe Ha old arthree-ye

X FACTOR champ Ben Haenow wants to buy his mother a new home after the ‘sacrifices’ she made for him. mum Rosanna, 51, is a single parent who works at a supermarket and lives in a council house. ‘I’d like to get my mum out of where we are living and into a nicer place. And for her not to have to work every single day,’ he said. Proud mum: Ben and Rosanna

COMING UP NEXT...

IT ’S BIG BROTHER WHILE Ben Haenow was romping to victory at The X Factor final, a top les big brother Alex went vir s photo of his al – bagging him a legion of fans of his own.

‘Oh my god, Ben’s brothe r said breathlessly on Twitte Alex!’ one fan r as the image circulated online.

Meanwhile, Ben says he ho his brother on his upcom pes to include ing album as the two used to write togeth er in ‘I’ve talked to one of the a band. gu works on the music team ys who and he has said, “It would be good to ge brother involved with the t your writing”, so it is a dream come true,’ he added.

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Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

LACK EX TAKES SOME FE ET FOR STRICTLYewTex-W boyfriend Jack

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SIMON COWELL has revealed Tulisa Contostavlos was the only name on his mind when an emergency judge was needed on The X Factor after Mel B dropped out due to illness. ‘She was the only name who came up. She loves doing the show. She was quite quick on the phone to say she was available!’ Cowell said.

Sam goes head to head with Ed at the Brits show Stage is set for superstars to perform at top awards

E

D SHEERAN and Sam Smith will be squaring off to be crowned man of the moment when the Brit Awards swing round again.

They will take centre stage during Britain’s biggest night of music after being revealed last night as the headline acts for the show at The O2, London in February.

Sheeran, 23, is the biggestselling UK album artist of the year after X romped to No.1 in both the UK and America.

Smith also cracked America when his debut album, In The Lonely Hour, reached No.2. However, the 22-year-old is set for

bragging rights after he bagged six Grammy nominations.

However, Taylor Swift could steal their thunder when she returns to the Brits.

The last time the 25-year-old performed at the ceremony, in 2013, she took a pop at ex Harry Styles by using a British accent during her performance of I Knew You Were Trouble. The Brit Awards with MasterCard will be at The O2 in London on Sing-off: Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran Wednesday, February 25, will perform at the Brits PictureS: Getty/PA and broadcast live on UTV.

‘

This has been the dream and th e ambition for long time. If a long, I stop working don’t , going to be ait is amazing thin n g

Hitting out: Strictly’s Caroline

CAROLINE FLACK thr port back in his Street’s recent show of sup ir break-up ps rha the face – suggesting that pe claimed. y the was not as amicable as Come Dancing semiy ictl Str s ay’ During Saturd ges Sam Smith and final, Street, 26, who mana ers to vote for Flack on low fol Disclosure, urged his eeted: ‘Vote for the BBC One show. He tw y not to.’ sill @carolineflack1. You’d be t Flack, 35, posted: But the next day contestan ilt??? Fill yourself r gu ‘@jackb_street easing you k.’ jac e with gle d to have a change of However, she later appeare , adding: ‘It’s not ssage heart and deleted the me .’ sad be bad to month romance last The couple ended their 18- it ‘came to a natural ing week, with a source claim . l’ tua mu s wa d end an

Jen: My pain over ‘no kids’ remarks

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JENNIFER ANISTON says it’s ‘painful’ when she’s accused of putting her career before having kids.

The 45-year-old said she’d been called ‘selfish’ for not embracing motherhood.

Thor blimey! Chris was naughty in Oz

THOR star Chris Hemsworth ‘got away with a lot more’ as a soap actor than he does now. ‘The fame, the parties, the women…,’ the 31-year-old said.

Christmas

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Speechless: Ben is grilled by Dermot O’Leary

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10 METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

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Lost phone cost €24,000 World

Uber budget service 4,700 dead, 10,000 faces a national ban wounded in conflict

by LIAM CORCORAN

A HOLIDAYMAKER who lost his iPhone in Ibiza has been charged £19,000 (€24,000) by Vodafone for failing to tell the firm it was missing for five days.

Corey Pye, 21, says he faces a lifetime of debt after his phone was stolen. He assumed his iPhone 4S could not be used as it was password protected. But when he returned from holiday he was hit with a £6,500 (€8,170) bill.

Realising he made a mistake, he took out a three-year loan to pay off the debt – but his next bill landed for £12,500 (€15,700).

‘It’s ruined my Christmas. I don’t know what to do,’ he said. ‘I shouldn’t be punished for the naivety of failing to report my mobile missing.’

du

digest

FRANCE: Uber’s low-cost cab service will be banned in the country from next year, ministers announced yesterday. The US company came under fire as hundreds of taxi drivers blocked roads around Paris in protest. They claim UberPop has an unfair advantage as its drivers do not have to pay insurance and taxes.

UkRAINE: Fighting in the east has killed at least 4,700 people since the conflict began earlier this year, UN investigators said yesterday. More than 10,000 have been wounded and 5million are living in areas where they face rising hardships. At least 1,300 have died since the much-ignored ceasefire began in early September.

Debt: Corey Pye picture: SWNS

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lb i n 1

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un HONg kONg: A campaigner cries as he is arrested by police at the last pro-democracy protest site in the Causeway Bay district yesterday.

Earlier, demonstrators chanted: ‘We will be back.’ picture: getty

hole family w e h t r e h t Ga elebrate a n d co m e c as

istm r h C t a n i l Dub with

Shark kills teen in front of his friends

AUSTRALIA: A teenager was mauled to death by a shark in front of two friends yesterday. Daniel Smith, 18, was attacked while spearfishing with a group on the Great Barrier Reef. Daniel, who was bitten on his right leg, arm and groin, was pronounced dead shortly after he was pulled ashore at Port Douglas in Queensland.

Macadamia nut sales are really taking off

SOUTH kOREA: Demand for macadamia nuts has rocketed after the Korean Air furore. Sales surged nearly 1,200 per cent in the five days to Sunday after Cho Hyun-ah, the daughter of the airline’s chairman, resigned from her executive roles having forced an attendant off a flight for serving the nuts in a bag, not on a plate.

(next to Jervis Shopping Centre, Dublin 1)

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AMERICA: The first family made sure they had back-up vocals when they sang carols at the National Building Museum, Washington. Rita Ora (right) was hugged by Michelle Obama after the sing-song ap

50,000 passengers stranded by strike

bELgIUM: Air and rail traffic was paralysed and many businesses were forced to close yesterday by a national strike. About 50,000 plane passengers were hit by cancellations of up to 600 flights at Brussels airport. The strikes cap a month of demonstrations against austerity policies by the government.

At least 100 feared dead in landslides

INDONESIA: The death toll from a landslide that flattened a village in Java has risen to 51, it emerged yesterday. A further 11 bodies were found in Jemblung as rain halted the search for another 55 people declared missing. More than 100 homes were engulfed in mud on Friday when heavy rains caused landslips in Banjarnegara region.

and finally...

ROMANIA: Violinist Vasilica Ceterasu, 23, hopes to earn a Guinness World Record after playing while jumping out of a plane at more than 900m. He was strapped to a pilot who controlled the parachute.

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Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO O HERALD HMETRO Tuesday, December 16, 2014

11

H iT w T O n ?

T O p s D in L B R sEE-THROugH jAguA

DANGER can come straight out of left field when you drive a car.

Now blind spots may be a thing of the past thanks to motoring engineers.

Jaguar Land Rover has fitted cameras to the outside frame of a concept car which provide a live feed on to screens on the other side.

The feed starts the moment the driver indicates, moves his head over his shoulder or approaches a junction. It is hoped the technology could reduce accidents.

Clear view: Drivers can see through the pillar picture: swns

Financier who dodged rail fares banned from industry A €25,000-a-week executive who was caught dodging rail fares for five years has been banned from the City of London.

Jonathan Burrows, who earned €1.25million a year, was unmasked in the summer as the fare dodger who repaid €53,000 to Southeastern Rail soon after being caught.

Burrows, 44, quit his job as a managing director of BlackRock Asset

‘Burrows earned €1.25million a year’ Management Investor Services and yesterday he was banned by the Financial Conduct Authority from performing any function in the industry.

The FCA says the fund manager’s conduct in not paying the €25-a-day fare is not ‘fit and proper’.

Burrows boarded the London-bound train from Stonegate, a rural station with no barriers in East

Fare dodger: Burrows

by jOHn-pAuL FORD ROjAs Sussex, without buying a ticket, before ‘tapping out’ using an Oyster card at Cannon Street.

It meant he only paid a €10 maximum Oyster fare for the 82-minute journey. Tracey McDermott FCA director of enforcement and financial crime, said: ‘Burrows held a senior position within the financial services industry. His actions fell short of the standards we expect.’

He was caught in November last year by a ticket inspector standing next to the barriers and was able to pay the €53,000 in dodged fares and his legal costs within three days.

A BlackRock statement said: ‘What he admitted to the FCA is totally contrary to our values and our principles.’

Beowulf is set to roar back on TV ThE epic poem Beowulf is being adapted into an ITV drama, the broadcaster has confirmed.

The Old English poem, which documents the eponymous hero’s battles with a monster and a dragon, will be made into a 13-part drama.

Described as a ‘Western set in the Dark Ages of Britain’s mythic past’, the series will be filmed ‘in the breathtaking beauty of England’s north-East’.

It comes after ITV announced a string of period dramas, such as The Frankenstein Chronicles starring Sean Bean, and Jekyll & hyde, set in 1930s London.

‘Beowulf is a series about courage, greed, betrayal, revenge, loyalty, power, man versus wilderness and, of course, love,’ an ITV statement said. ‘It is a series that explores the notion of good and evil.’

Writer and executive producer James Dormer said: ‘hundreds of years ago people listened to the story of Beowulf because it was a great adventure story – it scared them, thrilled them, made them laugh and cry. So it’s incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to make it relevant again.’

The cast has not yet been announced.

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12 metro herald Tuesday, December 16, 2014

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60 seconds Mailbox

travelling around the world. He can be in three countries in one week doing commercials, Tv shows, performances, and it’s interesting to see an entertainer take on all those roles and continue to build a brand.

His brand has been relevant for 40 years and I want to share that story.

Quick pic

THAT FESTIVE FELINE: We considered reporting Mandy Iremonger emonger ffor animal fashion cruelty violations but her cat Dita doesn’t actually look entirely miffed about the whole thing

Will you be going to see your dad in Peter Pan? I go to see

What is his brand? He’s a

“

What have been the most difficult bits of doing it? I’ve

learned different ways to shoot things. The most difficult bit is I want to film everything. I have no idea how much I’ve filmed. I was in London with my dad recently and I was shooting for eight hours a day for eight days. I could have finished this documentary a while ago but I keep finding things to put in there.

Are there any misconceptions about your dad? He’s such

an awesome person and really is my best friend. He’s so grateful to every single fan who asks for an autograph – every person who asks he’ll take pictures with and talk to. It took us so long to get through Piccadilly Circus because he’s so friendly to everyone who comes up to him.

He teaches me a lot about self-respect and respecting others – he really is just a kid in a big guy’s body.

What was your childhood like? Was Pamela Anderson always around for tea? No way. It was

with the audience. Hopefully I might get to play Wendy in Peter Pan one day.

Ever had a supernatural experience? We were doing our

reality show in a haunted castle somewhere in england. They turned off all the lights and had a lady who was going into a trance, her eyes were going back, she was doing the whole thing. She said there was the spirit of a girl in the kitchen we were sitting in who liked to play with people’s hair. Then halfway through dinner, I felt someone touching my hair and told my sister to stop doing it – and she said she wasn’t.

Then I felt something like little fingers touching my back. I was so weirded out. I don’t know if there was something out there that was happening or if it was just in my head – but it felt pretty real.

Any new year’s resolutions? every year, I

resolve to clear out my closet more often and never do. I keep everything. I need to stop hoarding things I don’t really need. andrew Williams

Taylor-Ann’s documentary will be released next year.

Facebook.com/ metroherald

@metrohnews #metromailbox

completely normal. We went to school, did our homework, went to soccer practice. The exception was we went to the beach a lot.

Sometimes Dad would be shooting Baywatch until 8pm and we’d go to the beach and hang out.

him every year. We don’t have pantos in LA and it’s so cool to see world-class entertainer – he does how the audiences are different – Broadway, pantos, he’s a singer, the matinees are full of little kids he’s doing his own Hoff The who are terrified of my dad.

Record show right now, he They’re like: ‘Mummy, I’m performs in different scared of Captain Hook.’ countries.

It’s so cute. Then in the evening, the older Who is your kids have had a few My dad is audience? beers and they’re such an awesome People know just loving it and him from person and really is my joining in – it’s Knightrider, best friend… he is just such a party.

Baywatch and now kids know Has this a kid in a big him from inspired you to guy’s body Spongebob, do panto yourself?

America’s Got Talent Absolutely – I love the and Britain’s Got Talent. vibe of singing and interacting

Text: ‘Mail’ to 53131*

*Please include a name and location. Emails with attachments cannot be received. Texts cost €0.30 per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, 4th Floor, Malt House North, Grand Canal Quay, D2. Customer service number 0818286606

taylor-ann hasselhoff, 24, is the daughter of multitalented Baywatch legend David Hasselhoff and is currently filming a documentary about him Why are you making a documentary? My dad is always

Email: mail@metroherald.ie

Send your photos to pictures@ metroherald.ie with ‘Quick pic’ as the subject and we will print the best each day in the paper

I snow what I think of this government

I

’ve had enough of this. We have been promised all sorts of things by this Government only for them not to come through with the goods when it matters most. The latest example of this is the so-called polar storm.

We were told it would hit just in time for Christmas, but it seems now that too was a false promise.

Someone must answer for ruining Christmas in this way for the people of Dublin.

Olaf ■ Pubs turning away 12 pubs of Christmas revellers? About bloody time. I’ve had many a quiet festive pint ruined in my local by hordes of scumbags in Christmas jumpers and Rudolph noses dropping pints, shouting foul language, falling all over the place and fighting.

The 12 Pubs phenomenon was

funny for a couple of years but is now just another trite excuse for this country’s drinking culture to masquerade as light-hearted celebrations.

John Joe ■ The fact that our MePs are the worst at attendance at plenary sessions should really come as no surprise...

It just goes to show that you can take the gombeen, weed-smoker politician out of the dysfunctional democratic state but you can’t suddenly make them operate at an eU level.

Al ■ More injury crises in Leinster is just another symptom of the dangers rugby players are being put under due to a lack of forethought by the International Rugby Board.

good on ya

● A massive thank you to the guy who picked me up and drove me to the hospital when I slipped and hit my head on Saturday. Sorry it ate into your Christmas shopping time. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas. CJ ● Thanks a mill to Evelyn Cusack, the hardworking, intelligent meteorologist who put an end to all that hysteria about snow at Christmas. This would have been a disaster for everyone! You’ve saved Christmas...

FTS

random acts of kIndness

If laws are not brought in to limit the amount of weight modern professional players can carry then these injuries will not only continue, they will get worse.

This will one day lead to a household name of the game getting an injury so extreme their career and permanent wellbeing will be finished.

Brian ■ To the large meteorite wearing a Santa hat that flew over my house last night, that is waaaay cooler than putting a red nose and plastic reindeer antlers onto a vehicle with four wheels.

Rex Broadbent, Dublin ■ To those who put red noses and antlers onto their vehicles – have some self-respect.

Scrooge

yeh bIg rIde

● To the beautiful lady walking up Waterloo Rd from Baggot St near the bus stop – Damn! I hope it wasn’t the car you were admiring. Had my brother not been driving and on the phone, I would’ve said hello. You’d definitely be on my Christmas wish list...

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your rush-hour crush

in the know, on the go

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Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

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Party Season

Deep-fried tequila shots, P15

Tech and Games The return of Lara Croft, P17

Life Travel

The wonders of Japan, P18

How will you dress yours?

Three inspiring Christmas table ideas Page 14

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Rev up your Christmas lunch with showstopping festive table decorations – and then eat, drink and be very merry! By Lara Sargent

Gold rush

Dazzling disco brights

Scandi chic

Warm metallics are flying high on the interiors radar for 2015, so whether you plump for a 24-carat blast of bling or a subtle sprinkling of bronze, your Christmas table will be on trend with a treasure trove of glittering decorations. Before euro signs start chu-chinging in your ears, such a glam dusting of pieces doesn’t mean spending a small fortune.

Shun tradition and go for a high-voltage jolt of bold shades instead. A clash of neon pink, zesty orange and eye-dazzling turquoise won’t fail to get you in the festive mood and will add flamboyance to any Christmas table. Anything goes, so mix up shiny bauble table place holders with rainbow-hued glasses.

This is a kitsch, fun-filled look that doesn’t take itself seriously.

Channel a crisp Scandinavian look for your festive table with lashings of crimson and white and a friendly, folksy charm. It’s a simple, homespun look to pull off too, as Nordic-inspired decorations are everywhere this season. Fill old jam jars with tealights for a warm, festive glow and scatter silver sleigh bells and paper snowflakes across a white or dove-grey linen cloth.

Above: 12-piece dinner set, €50, charger, €2.50, candle holder, €10, crackers €9 for six, all from tesco.com

Above: Glasses, €7.50, Christmas House PVC tablecloth, €33, napkins, €19 for four, candles, €15 for six, all cathkidston.com

Above: Scandi heart dish, from €5, teapot, €15.70, storage tins, €21.50 for set of three, houseoffraser.co.uk

Vinterfint tablecloth, €15, Ikea.ie

Mixology crystal coupes, €250 for four, waterford.co.uk Twig Berry Leaf Wreath, €34.95 carraigdonn.com

Circle candleholder, €29, articledublin.com

Russian Christmas napkins, €5, talkingtables.co.uk

Neon crackers, €39, hedgehogshop.co.uk

Glitter tea lights, €13, marksand spencer.ie Pink twine stag, €15, paperchase.co.uk

Vinterfint tablerunner, €7, Ikea.ie

Batttery-operated lantern, e6, ikea. ie

Kitchen Craft felt placemats, €16.50 for set of four, amazon.co.uk

Pink candles, €1 each, tiger-stores. com Reindeer dinner plates (4), €10 woodies.ie

Traditional Scandinavian Tomte, €31.50, cloudberryliving.co.uk

Vinterfint mug, €2 each, ikea.ie

party fare

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

Cakewith a kick

15

GIVE IT Y BEST SH OUR OTS ‘T

he mo ones werre alcoholic e dangeroduubbed moreish’sly

Deep fried tequila shots will give your Christmas party a hefty shot in the arm, says Victoria Gray

P

lanning to serve mince pies at your Christmas party? Snore!

One look at Pinterest shows that originality is the only way to keep your guests entertained. and, in my case, friends are always intrigued by what i’ll serve as drinks during a soirée. Cue one frantic scour of the internet and up pops the perfect solution – deep fried tequila shots.

‘What in the name of Bacchus is a deep fried tequila shot?’ i hear you cry. Much to my relief, it’s not an impossible to make melt-in-themiddle croquette, but a cake, soaked in tequila and cooked in oil. it’s sourced from US blog ‘Oh bite it!’ by amy Erikson, a keen amateur chef who swears by the motto ‘life’s too short to never stop and smell the sugar!’ – you know her creations won’t be good for you. But the recipe sounded simple and i was keen to try something new.

The ingredients are minimal – a cake (you don’t even need to make your own – amy recommends shopbought), tequila and oil. a lot of oil. a 500ml bottle of tequila will cover two Madeira cakes, making about 60 shots, with tequila to spare. But this recipe demands 750ml of sunflower oil too. i started by chopping the cake

into ‘bite-sized’ cubes to see how much cake my friends and i could fit in our mouths. a lot, as it turns out. The recipe recommends dipping them ‘quickly’ in tequila, but this meant that the taste didn’t really come through. it’s a lot easier to simply pour tequila over a pile of cake cubes.

But beware – some of the bottom pieces may dissolve into a soggy mess. next was the dreaded oil – two inches of it. That’s right, inches, which resulted in nearly melting a ruler while trying to measure how high our hot oil had got in the pot. nearly a whole bottle of sunflower oil measured just an inch, so we had to pop out for more. Using an old-fashioned thermometer – inherited from grandma – it took about ten minutes until the oil reached 180C. Dropping the pieces into the oil, we recoiled as they started fizzing

Hic-cup cakes: Tequila-drenched Madeira cubes were deep-fried and sprinkled with sugar – much to the delight of Victoria’s pals

viciously, spurting up oily bubbles as if we were frying meat. One even landed on my friend’s top, so we had to pause proceedings and

CRUNCH TIME Irish twins Alan and Gary Keary are cereal offenders in their new London café, munches Gareth May

C

aP’n CrUnCh, Froot ‘But my fave of all time,’ he adds, loops, reese’s Puffs, pointing at a wall of vintage cereal Canadian nutri-grain, South boxes, ‘is Banana Bubbles, discontinafrican Strawberry Pops and ued in the 90s...’

South Korean Oreo O’s. if ‘…and my favourite,’ his identical twin gary shouts across the breakfast ever there was a church dedicated to counter, ‘is the one i’m eating right cereal, this is it: Cereal Killer Café now.’ he jabs his spoon at a bowl of on london’s Brick lane.

Faced with a wall of yellowing milk, dotted with tiny rice Krispies brekkie brands, my Treats. ‘it’s inner child is drooling. so good.’

Co-owner alan For two men for Keery steps whom cereal is clearly forward with a some kind of box of cereal religion, it’s apt and a spoon, as that the idea if he’s about to for the café anoint me with came as an milk. epiphany. hung-over ‘These are my favourite,’ he says, in A taste of honey: Alan and Gary Keery Shoreditch pouring me a bowl with cuddly hero the Honey Monster of reese’s Puffs. and

desperate for a ‘lovely big bowl’ of their favourite brand, they wondered why people only ever ate cereal at home. a year-and-a-half on, they’re looking to change all that. a bowl of each brother’s favourite and i’m a convert. But with more than 130 on offer, 30 types of milk and 20 toppings, this is just the start of my cereal eating odyssey. all along the sugar spectrum, there’s something for everyone; from ultra-healthy alpha Bites with no refined sugar or salt, to ‘once-in-a-while treat’ Strawberry Pops, a cereal so red it doesn’t look natural.

‘Because it’s not natural,’ gary says, warning me it’s pumped full of gMOs (genetically modified organisms), something he has to warn customers who venture to the outer limits of sugar exploration. One mouthful and i feel like i’ve injected my eyeballs with the sweet stuff. a few more bowls of absolute awesomeness and i’ve found my fave: Poppin’ Pebbles. it’s like Flintstone’s spin-off Fruity Pebbles,

get our anti-grease kit out.

The cakes had a tendency to float, so they need to be submerged to go the golden colour required before being pulled out and patted down with kitchen paper to remove the rather worrying levels of grease. i styled them in shot glasses, just as the blog showed, and presented

them to my excited friends, who thankfully were approving – and not just being polite.

They tasted like fairground doughnuts, minus the jam. The more alcoholic ones were a hit – and dubbed ‘dangerously moreish’. The verdict? They’re definitely an interesting mixer for a party – shots without the spillage.

Just keep your party dress away from the stove.

the honey Monster coming to the only with popping candy. One launch party. The actual honey spoonful and toast is dead to me.

Monster. not just a man in a suit.’

Yet there’s more to this place than i’m so jacked up on sugar and just fun – if not bizarre – eating. nostalgia i actually believe him. limited-edition boxes line the walls (Batman, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant ninja Turtles); cereal toys such as Kellogg’s bike reflectors and spoon toppers sit behind display cases, while a portrait of TV serial killer Dexter made entirely from Cheerios looms over the bar. These are the spoils of months online searching for breakfast memorabilia.

‘We want you to leave having had a complete cereal experience, overwhelmed by the amount of craziness in here,’ says alan before gary interrupts with the FANTASTIC OVERNIGHT RATES, ALSO AVAILABLE excitement of a little visit www.celticlodge.ie boy on Christmas B&B from as little as €45.00 per room morning. ‘We’ve got

IAN DEWSBURY

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16 METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

S ’ T H G I N TO D

V T 0 1 P O T

2 Solomon Akhtar is seen off-duty The Apprentice: The Final Five

1. Memory Slam

Watch, 8pm If you have trouble remembering where you left your car keys this morning then prepare to be mindboggled by this documentary on the powers of recall at the disposal of the contenders in the UK Schools Memory Championships. PS if – you’re going out, don’t forget to record it.

2. The Apprentice: The Final Five

BBC1, 11.05pm So now we know that Mark, Bianca, Róisín, Solomon and Daniel are the five still standing as The Apprentice switches from being good at tasks to having the best business plan. Here we meet the five off-duty, get a glimpse of their families and see the proud moment when young Daniel called Alan Sugar ‘Daddy’.

3 Oona Chaplin stars in dark drama Black Mirror: White Christmas

1 Countdown’s Rachel Riley tests teams’ mettle in Memory Slam

4 Diverting material is on offer in Adam Buxton’s Shed Of Christmas

3. Black Mirror: White Christmas

C4, 9pm What would life be like if you could ‘block’ people in real life the way you can on social media? That’s one of the ideas bubbling away in Charlie Brooker’s latest dark vision of the near future. The stellar trio of Jon Hamm, Rafe Spall and Oona Chaplin give human life to Brooker’s chilling take on the way we’re heading.

5

4. Adam Buxton’s Shed Of Christmas

Sky Arts 1, 9.30pm The wryly amusing Adam Buxton probably spends too much time alone with the internet – but we should be thankful because he comes up with some very diverting material. Fellow funnyman Tim Key drops in for a cheery mix of songs and animation.

James Nesbitt and Frances O’Connor reach the end of the line in The Missing

YOUR GUIDE TO THIS EVENING’S ESSENTIAL VIEWING

5. The Missing

BBC1, 9pm There’s an aching slowness to The Missing which adds to its power and that feeling remains in tonight’s agonising closing chapter. Tony and Emily finally discover what happened to son Olly after that fateful day in 2006 when his hand slipped from his father’s grasp .

6. Brian Pern: A Life In Rock

BBC2, 11.20pm Roger Moore, Annie Nightingale,

Paul Young and Dan Snow are among the backing band in this lovably daft prog rock spoof that finds frontman Brian Pern (Simon Day) attempting to stage vanity rock musical project Brian Pern’s Musical Version Of Day Of The Triffids.

critically acclaimed for her work as a designer and decorator, before moving into the world of architecture. While in the field, she worked quietly and to her own specifications, which led to a large body of her work only recently being re-discovered and revered...

7. Gray Matters

8. The Supervet: Christmas In The Clinic

RTÉ1, 10.15pm

Documentary exploring the life and career of Eileen Gray, who was

C4, 8pm This seasonal special from vet Noel

Fitzpatrick’s clinic catches up with some of the animals to have benefited from his revolutionary techniques. Pick of the litter? The plucky cat given a new lease of life thanks to a bionic limb.

9. Bressie’s Teenage Kicks

RTÉ2, 10pm In the finale of the programme following Niall Breslin’s project putting together a band of five young musicians from Limerick, the group

comes together after six months of rehearsing, recording and writing.

10. Today’s Film: Waterworld

UTV, 11.10pm When Kevin Costner first paddled about on a raft in this 1995 drama, it seemed pure fantasy. But as flooding becomes more frequent, Kev now looks well ahead of the game as he drifts about in a world where the polar ice caps have melted.

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tech&gaming

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

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features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

a big return: Lara Croft and The Temple of osiris

cROfT ORiginAL: lara’s evoluTion

Lara Croft has been a significant part of game culture ever since her October 1996 appearance in Core Design’s first outing.

Naturally, graphic fidelity has improved her look over the years, with each console generation adding realism and, on the whole, lower bra cup sizes. However, the basic model has remained the same.

Tomb RaideR (1996) In the first Tomb Raider, which many enjoyed on the original PlayStation, Croft was an angular collection of pixels but wonderfully animated and a leap forward for action adventure games.

LaRa CRofT: Tomb RaideR (2001 fiLm) Although actress Rhona Mitra and models such as Nell McAndrew have portrayed Lara in real life for promotional purposes, Angelina Jolie is best known for bringing the character to life in two flawed but underrated action movies.

Tomb RaideR: The angeL of daRkness (2003) Many of the games preceding Angel Of Darkness featured a similar Lara, albeit with slight jumps in graphic definition, but this introduced a darker and more rounded character. Shame, then, that this game was the worst in the franchise.

Tomb RaideR: Legend (2006) Crystal Dynamics was first handed development duties for Tomb Raider: Legend and instantly the game series looked promising again. Lara became a more confident action star, with a few James Bond-like sequences.

Tomb RaideR (2013) This 2013 reboot changed everything by telling the original story of Croft in a heartfelt, sinister and bloody way. RH kick-ass: angelina Jolie as Lara

THE gifT Of gADgETs n Looking for a tablet this Christmas? istmas? Check out the ailable in 7in, 8in or new Linx Windows 8.1 32gb. Available

10in display, it comes with a 12-month subscription iption to Office 365 Personal. From €119.99, Meteor n know someone who’s addicted to selfies? perhaps a bluetooth selfie stick would make their Christmas.

€24.99, Vodafone

lara’s TeMPle oF BOOM

L

ara Croft is one of the most enduring and endearing of video-game characters. Her first appearance was in 1996’s tomb raider and her adventures have since spanned almost 20 games across a vast array of formats.

Her last outing, in the tomb raider reboot, featured a younger, less experienced Lara at the beginning of her journey, but fans will be pleased to find that the kick-ass Croft we know and love is still in the hearts and minds of publisher Square Enix.

Lara Croft and the temple of osiris sees the much welcome return of not only the older Lara but actress Keeley Hawes, who as well as gracing our tV screens in ashes to ashes and other dramas, provided the voice of the heroine for seven years prior to Camilla Luddington (Lara’s voice in the 2013 game). It adds a sense of nostalgia to proceedings, as does the entire game’s format.

Like the previous isometric offshoot game, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, temple of osiris is part puzzle game, part Gauntlet-style dungeon crawler. and though it’s possible to complete it entirely as a solo player, it’s an adventure adv best

The big release LaRa CRofT and The TempLe of osiRis (12) XO/PS4/PC played with a friend or three. In fact, up to four players – either online or locally – can take on one of the characters of Lara, rival treasure hunter Carter Bell or Egyptian gods Horus and Isis as they battle evil god Set. there are puzzles throughout here that cleverly adapt to the number of players in attendance, requiring more effort the greater the presence. While cooperation is a must to progress through the Egyptian tombs, competitive elements add humour to the action. as artefacts and treasures can be gathered by individuals, you might find yourself fighting your friends more than your enemies at times.

It’s worth it, though, as items you pick up can also help beef up your character. rings, weapons and amulets all give you additional powers. Developer Crystal Dynamics will also be putting in

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community challenges, inviting players to complete certain goals for even greater power-ups, thus increasing longevity.

Lara Croft and the temple of osiris is a great appetiser to feast on while waiting for next year’s rise of the tomb raider. although as that is an Xbox exclusive initially, other platform owners might have to make this last a bit longer.

Rik Henderson

18 METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

travel

D

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 MEtro hEraLD

19

features@metroherald.ie

art

s far as tropical getaways go, Cormier Plage ticks all the right boxes. I’m by the beach, rum punch in hand, plate of lobster in front of me, palm trees crackling in the breeze and waves lapping on the sand. It couldn’t be much more of a Caribbean idyll, really. Except I’m in Haiti. surprised? Perhaps you shouldn’t be.

Up until the 1950s, Haiti, along with neighbouring Cuba, was the go-to destination for the European and american jetset, but the following 30 years of dictatorships and 2010’s earthquake put paid to all that, and the majority of foreigners left here are missionaries, NGO workers or UN staff.

But that might be about to change. I’m on a newly launched tour of the island with adventure travel operator G adventures, taking in the capital, Port-auPrince, as well as the seaside towns of Jacmel and Cap-Haitian. We hike up The best time to the breathtaking hilltop fortress, to visit is in the La Citadelle Laferrière, drink dry season from sugar cane rum straight from a ch bubbling distillery and dive off a November to Marry cu er m e th jungle waterfall at Bassin Bleu. n whe so far, so wonderfully Caribbean. hovers around and then there’s the art. Haitian 26 degrees. handicrafts have long been commercially successful, at least locally. The papier-mâché masks and bowls you find in Jacmel, the country’s arts centre, get sold all over the Caribbean, passed off as local work, but now Haitian artists are starting to exhibit on the international scene too.

We head to a Clockwise slum off Port-aufrom top: A Prince’s Grand Haiti hotel; rue, which is Jacmel home to atis town; rezistans, a graffiti in collective of Jacmel; red sculptors. Part sea snapper; of shacks, part Bassin Bleu open-air gallery, waterfall the slum was home to les tourneurs (woodworkers) before branching out into metal 20 or so years ago.

It’s home to 25 artists and people trudge through with scrap – car parts, broken street furniture – while chickens and cats wander around under the Noailles, near Port-au-Prince, we meet searing midday sun. You can’t help but artist Jean Baptiste Jean-Joseph, who is a notice the phallic imagery in the work as Houngan or Vodou priest. He shows us his well as one material that stands out among beautiful embroidered flags representing the metal and wood: human skulls.

Vodou spirits that have fetched several Local artist romel Jean Pierre, 22, tells thousand euro in Europe, before me that it’s not about being macabre: ‘We explaining that Vodou isn’t the black get revolutions, earthquakes and political magic cult that the likes of films like Live trouble, so themes of death and and Let Die would have you believe. regeneration are appropriate.’

People use Vodou to heal, prosper and another big influence is Vodou, one of move forward, he says. It’s celebratory and Haiti’s two official religions. Derived from accepting religion with joyous ceremonies.

Catholicism and the religions that slaves It’s intriguing stuff and makes you feel brought from West africa, it was renamed about a million miles away from the allVoodoo by Hollywood, who went to town inclusive holiday resorts. Nevertheless, I’m on its sinister side. Presumably, told that Hilton and Marriott are opening scriptwriters were taking their cues from hotels here and Carnival Cruise Lines is the sort of Vodou-inspired art we see later investing €50million in the region. in Port-au-Prince’s Marché-en-fer metal market: mutilated children’s dolls in bottles Great news, surely, but it will be a while before Haiti can compete for and a two-headed statue of a knight for the crowds. so the truly adventurous $600 (€480). should get there quick.

Later, in another artistic enclave,

to advertise, call 01 7055010

Five years after a devastating earthquake ravaged Haiti, the Caribbean country is on a mission to woo back tourists through its unusual arts scene. By Patrick Welch

thou haiti?

A Beginner’s gu guide To HAiTi What aND WhErE A country of 10.5million people, which borders Dominican Republic to the east. Under the French it was the Caribbean’s jewel, producing half the world’s coffee and 40 per ce cent of its sugar before declaring independenc independence in 1804.

¡Hola!

Learn Spanish and enjoy our culture!

hEaLth aND SaFEtY hE Roads Ro aren’t great and there’s still damage from the earthquake, but Haiti is now one of the safest places in the Americas in terms of crime.

Stick to bottled water and protect yourself against cholera and malaria.

GEttiNG arouND Buses and tap-taps, hand-painted trucks that serve as transport. Even the longest journeys won’t cost more than €12.

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travel

D

20 METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

puzzles

D

METROSCOPE

by Patrick Arundell

NEMI by Lise

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20

If life seems chaotic you might feel better by looking into experiences that offer some relief. Yet, whatever is happening could take time to resolve – even though further reflection can bring answers.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 70

Taurus Apr 21 – May 21

Today’s Libra Moon hints at finding balance. You might find it easier to do this by settling into your routine and allowing it to soothe away any angst.

Exercise that takes you out into nature or appeals to a love of movement could also help.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 71

Gemini May 22 – Jun 21

METROKU Easy, Moderate and Challenging

The current Sun-Jupiter aspect helps you look on the bright side. And whatever you’re dealing with, you’ll likely find that friends will offer support. Meanwhile, with Saturn in the final degree of Scorpio, work pressures might increase.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 72

cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23

A Venus-Jupiter link encourages you to say no to a big expense that might not seem entirely justified. With the seasonal sales coming up, you could benefit from hanging on for a while and snaffling yourself a bargain.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 73

Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23

While a self-indulgent whim can be great fun, a moderate approach should help you stay on the straight and narrow. Meanwhile, a desire to opt out may be hard to resist. Mind, you’ll experience greater peace of mind if you get jobs finished.

PEARLs BEFORE swINE

For your forecast, call 15609 114 74

Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23

Although the day can begin on a note of optimism, watch out for some surprising news. Don’t react immediately – allow time for it to percolate into your awareness, as a measured response may be best.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 75

Libra Sep 24 – Oct 23

Friends may be in a lively mood, wanting to involve you in their

projects or plans for fun.

Yet, perhaps you’d prefer quieter activities, so you can take the day at your own pace. Meanwhile, the Moon in your sign could help you connect with your emotions.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 76

scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22

It will help to keep things in perspective and to be wary of making assumptions or of being too trusting. Neptune links hint that all is not what it seems, so check before you make a promise.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 77

sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21

Excitement regarding a plan might mean you’re looking to the future with greater optimism. Despite this, you can more easily enhance your potential for success by taking each day as it comes rather than playing for an outcome which is contrived.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 78

capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20

If the week has brought up unexpected events or news, a chance to make sense of it can help you decide on your next step. It seems you could be heading in a new direction, which though potentially challenging, will offer fresh opportunities.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 79

Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19

The Libra Moon encourages a balanced view of the future as a way to offset any disruptions, especially if any have been unnerving. The Uranus-Pluto square is still powerful, so reduce your schedule if possible, especially if events seem to run away.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 80

Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20

Kindness and pleasant conversation may be helpful in lessening any stresses today, even though you may be keen to assert your independence.

When the push to do more and be more is balanced by a desire to volunteer your time to others, it can help you to feel settled.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 81

Mend (6) Hurry (6) Guard (7) Pamphlet (5) Pitcher (4) Underneath (5) Ill-defined (5) Independent (4) Depress (5) Honest (7) Noiseless (6) Style (6)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 14 15 16 19 20 21

Seer (7) Against (7) Compare (5) Wariness (7) Filch (5) Concord (5) Energetic (9) Tramp (7) Bandit (7) Bonds (7) Near (5) Reside (5) Fracture (5)

Solutions to previous puzzle: Across: 1 Rival; 4 Diverts; 8 Fatuous; 9 Ledge; 10 Idle; 11 Profound; 13 Etna; 14 Heat; 16 Archives; 17 Part; 20 Irate; 21 Elevate; 22 Natural; 23 Dress. Down: 1 Refrigeration; 2 Vital; 3 Loot; 4 Desert; 5 Vilified; 6 Redoubt; 7 Steadfastness; 12 Engineer; 13 Enchant; 15 Reveal; 18 Abate; 19 Send.

ENIGMA Some people, up before the beak, Will plead this when they’re asked to speak.

It saves time and, if they confess, They hope their fine may be the less.

firing on the BBC reality show The Apprentice.

WHO AM I? An entrepreneur, I was born in London in 1947. I set up my own company in the 1970s, and in the 1980s I launched the Amstrad PCW8256, the first line of affordable PCs. I do the hiring and

WHAT... is obsidian?

WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? WHO... became the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket in 1987?

WHERE... was the city in and around which the Ōnin War in 15th-century Japan began?

WHEN... did the Seven Years War end?

SCRIBBLE BOX

7 8 10 11 12 13 17 18 22 23 24 25

QuIz

ACROSS

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

QUIZ ANSWERS: ENIGMA: Guilty. WHO AM I? Alan Sugar. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? Sunil Gavaskar; Dark volcanic rock; Kyoto; 1763.

QUIcK cROsswORd

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

football

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD

D main picture: reuters

fOOTbALL DigEsT Whelan decides to accept Fa charge

Goodison spark: Barkley hammers Everton in front, main picture, before a deflected Mirallas free-kick, below left, makes it 2-0 and Naismith, bottom right, heads home

WigAN chairman Dave Whelan is facing a Football Association ban after accepting a misconduct charge over comments he made regarding Jewish and Chinese people. Whelan, 78, (pictured) will be writing a letter in mitigation to the FA after requesting a non-personal hearing to decide the sanction. He has admitted an aggravated misconduct charge after a newspaper interview defending his decision to appoint Malky Mackay, who is the subject of an investigation into alleged racist and anti-Semitic texts. Whelan had said he would resign if found guilty.

table Chelsea Man City Man Utd West Ham Southampton Arsenal Tottenham Newcastle Swansea Everton Liverpool Stoke Aston Villa West Brom Sunderland C Palace Burnley QPR Hull Leicester

pREMiER LEAguE

everton.............. 3 qpr ........................1

by Danny griffiths ROSS BARKLEY hit a stunning goal to light up Goodison Park last night as Everton climbed above neighbours Liverpool and into the top half of the table.

The England midfielder’s belter sent QPR to an eighth straight away defeat in the top flight this term and leaves them stuck in the bottom three.

The Hoops are the only club in all four divisions not to have gained a point on their travels.

Barkley’s moment of brilliance began when he picked up the ball just inside his own half just after the half-hour mark.

He then surged forward, played a one-two with Romelu Lukaku

P 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16

W 12 11 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 6 5 5 4 2 3 3 4 2 2

D 3 3 4 4 2 5 3 5 4 6 3 4 4 5 10 6 6 2 7 4

L 1 2 3 4 6 4 6 5 6 5 7 7 7 7 4 7 7 10 7 10

F 36 33 29 27 25 28 20 18 21 27 19 18 10 15 14 19 11 17 15 15

A 13 14 17 19 13 19 22 22 19 24 22 21 20 20 24 24 24 30 23 27

Pts 39 36 31 28 26 26 24 23 22 21 21 19 19 17 16 15 15 14 13 10

Championship trio facing transfer ban

boss barkley has Toffees in charge on Merseyside before lashing a scorching, but slightly deflected, left-foot drive beyond Rob Green from 25 yards.

The Toffees then increased their lead just before half-time when Kevin Mirallas bagged his sixth goal of the campaign thanks to a huge piece of good fortune.

The Belgium midfielder’s fierce

free-kick took a wild deflection off Eduardo Vargas before flying past the luckless Hoops goalkeeper.

Steven Naismith headed home Aiden McGeady’s 53rd-minute cross after Green made a real hash of a clearance, before substitute Bobby Zamora hit a late consolation with his first of the season.

boys eye everton EVERToN were drawn against Swiss outfit Young Boys in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Celtic will face a difficult showdown with inter Milan.

Onward Christian’s soldiers fit for purpose CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN believes Tottenham’s new fitness levels are responsible for their run of dramatic late Premier League victories.

Eriksen fired an 89th-minute winner in Spurs’ 2-1 win at Swansea on Sunday to maintain their recent fine away form and take Mauricio Pochettino’s side up to seventh.

The Denmark midfielder (pictured) scored an even later winner at Hull last month in another 2-1 win and Spurs also struck twice in the final six minutes to overturn a 1-0 deficit at Aston Villa at the start of November. ‘You see the last few games and we’re still

21

100 per cent ready to go at the end of the game,’ Eriksen said. ‘Before we wouldn’t have been fit enough to go the whole game.

‘There were periods when they had the ball but we had

‘You can see we’re still 100 per cent ready to go at the end of the game’ the confidence and the power to keep going for 90 minutes. Everybody would rather win a little bit earlier but it does give us an extra feeling of confidence.’

BLACKBURN, Leeds and Nottingham Forest will all have a transfer ban for the January window after breaching Football League financial fair play rules.

The League announced the three clubs incurred financial losses of more than the £8million permitted last season.

They will be prohibited from signing any new players – either on a permanent or loan deal – unless they have 24 or fewer ‘established players’.

41 People, including Manchester United’s Ander Herrera (left) and Atletico Madrid’s Gabi, have been named in an alleged case of match-fixing involving a La Liga match in 2010-11.

royals make new plans after nigel READiNg have sacked manager Nigel Adkins in the wake of Saturday’s humiliating 6-1 defeat at Birmingham.

Adkins leaves with the Royals in 16th position in the Championship. Reading have also confirmed the exits of assistant manager Andy Crosby and first-team coach Dean Wilkins. Adkins succeeded Brian McDermott in March 2013, presiding over relegation from the Premier League before missing out on the play-offs by a point on the final day last term. However, results have been far more patchy this season.

Chest must replay

CHESTERFiELD have been ordered to replay their FA Cup second-round tie with MK Dons by the Football Association. The Spireites won 1-0, but after the game admitted Spurs will play a charge of fielding an ineligible Fiorentina in the player – george Margreitte, on last-32 of the loan from Wolves – and will now Europa League play Karl Robinson’s side again.

EuRO DRAw

22 METRO HERALD Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Heading home: Wenger is going back to Monaco

football champions league

D

Nou Spanish test in store for City

Gunners get fortunate with Old rivals Barcelona dream pairing lie in wait after daunting draw

arsene WenGer was granted his wish yesterday as arsenal were handed the easiest draw they could hope for and their manager was granted a return to one of his former clubs. the Frenchman managed monaco from 1987 to 1994 and the current monte carlo outfit represented the dream draw for arsenal who, as group runners-up, could have faced real madrid, Bayern munich or Barcelona in the champions League last 16.

Instead, they will take on a team who managed just four goals in eight games on their way to winning Group c.

‘Monaco! I’m sure our fans will enjoy the away trip .. great draw’ ‘Whoever we played would have been tough. and I know people will say we have a favourable draw but nevertheless it’s going to be difficult,’ said club secretary David miles. ‘monaco have earned the right to be there, the same as we have, and I’m sure arsene will be delighted to go back to one of his former clubs. everyone at the club is looking forward to it.’

Gunners midfielder aaron ramsey (pictured) spoke for many fans when he tweeted: ‘monaco! I’m sure our fans will enjoy the away trip... great place, great draw!’

by DANNy GRiFFiTHS manchester city have been warned they will need to be at their best to avoid more champions League heartache at the hands of Barcelona. city were not seeded for the knockout stages after scraping through their group. the result is a return to the nou camp, and a two-legged tie with the team who ended their interest at the same stage last season. elsewhere chelsea play Paris saint-Germain, who they beat in the quarter-finals last term, while arsenal manager arsene Wenger will be reunited with his former club monaco.

But it is city who face the sternest test of the english clubs, as director of football txiki Begiristain acknowledged.

‘We don’t like facing Barcelona very much, we would have preferred to face a team that isn’t as strong,’ he said.

‘We hope we’ll reach our best form when the tie with Barcelona comes around, because that’s the only way we’ll be able to beat them.’

But Begiristain, who won the european cup with Barca during his playing days, admits the closing group-stage wins over Bayern and roma which secured city’s qualification, give reasons for optimism.

‘We have plenty of confidence with the way we qualified beating Bayern munich at home and roma away, so the players will be working hard to get fit and arrive in con-

TRANSFER TALk

Roma refusing to talk about kevin rOMA have slammed the door on Manchester United signing holland international midfielder Kevin Strootman United boss Louis van Gaal has been strongly linked with the 24-year-old after becoming an admirer during his time in charge of the Dutch national side. But roma general manager Mauro Baldissoni said: ‘Our president [James Pallotta] has already spoken about this and he gets angry with the rumours that link Kevin to Manchester United. We Wanted: Strootman want to build our future with young players like Kevin.’

LAST16TiES Paris St Germain v chelsea Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern Munich February 17 & March 11 Schalke v real Madrid Basle v Porto February 18 & March 10 Manchester city v Barcelona Juventus v Borussia Dortmund February 24 & March 18 Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid Arsenal v Monaco February 25 & March 17 fidence for those games,’ he added. ‘every tie in that draw is the same, it is fantastic, so we are looking forward to it.’ city’s hopes of further progress may lie with their medical staff, with top scorer sergio aguero, striker partner edin Dzeko and captain Vincent Kompany all currently significant injury concerns.

But whichever side they manage to put out in February, Barcelona boss Luis enrique is confident they will again be disappointed.

‘If we’re on form, we’re good enough to cope with [anybody]. I always think positively, ’ he said.

@metrosporthQ u SWANSEA will tell admirers including Liverpool and Tottenham that star striker Wilfried Bony will cost them at least £30million. u HOLLAND star Wesley Sneijder has emerged as a January target for Southampton boss Ronald

Koeman, who wants to pep up his faltering side. But Manchester United are also keen on the Galatasaray man (pictured). u ANDErLEchT forward Alek Mitrovic is being targeted by Newcastle.

Poyet plans to strike for goals SUNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet is after a new striker even though he has just signed Connor Wickham to a new long-term deal. The Black Cats have scored just 14 goals in 16 league games and Poyet said: ‘Even if you listen on the radio, you know what we are missing.’

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 METRO HERALD 23

D picture: anadolu/getty

r

Kolo: We’re all behind muchloved rodgers

Friends and foes: Argentina strike partners Lionel Messi, left, and Sergio Aguero will meet again for their clubs

cahill sits out Rams raid after ‘dive’ claim

cLASicO TiMing

Barcelona face a La Liga clash with Real Madrid the weekend after the second leg with City on March 18

2-0

Defeat for City in the first leg in Manchester last February. They lost the second leg 2-1 in the Nou Camp a month later

GARY CAHILL has been taken out of the firing line by Jose Mourinho and will miss Chelsea’s trip to Derby for their Capital One Cup quarter-final.

Hull manager Steve Bruce accused Cahill of ‘diving’ in the Blues’ 2-0 win on Saturday.

The centre-back will be replaced by Kurt Zouma tonight but Mourinho has vowed to field a strong team.

‘We’re going to play a top team in the Championship,’ he said. ‘The difference between a top team in the Championship and Premier League teams is very, very small.

‘The only one not going because he played against Sporting [in the Champions League last week] – I never gave him a break – is Cahill.’

Chelsea have played four times in December and face six games in 19 days between now and their FA Cup third-round tie with Watford on January 4.

‘I don’t think one player is going to play six matches,’ added Mourinho.

‘We gave a rest to some [against Sporting] and we’re going to do this from now until the end of the month.’

derby manager steve mCClaren ‘At the moment they are the strongest. I can’t see a weakness, we tried to find one and it lasted about five seconds.’

Mata: We can’t just rely on de gea JUAN MATA hopes Manchester United will become less dependant on David De Gea. The goalkeeper put in a man-of-the-match display at Old Trafford to help United record a 3-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday, saving two close-range efforts from Raheem Sterling and tipping Mario Balotelli’s fierce shot onto the bar.

The 24-year-old also won United three points against Everton earlier this season with two stunning late saves and played a key role in the team’s triumph over Southampton last Monday.

But Mata said: ‘[De Gea] is in top form.

Everybody’s praising him and now we have to

keep working hard so we don’t need so many saves from him in the next few games. We have to get better in that regard.’

De Gea is now looked upon as one of the best goalkeepers in the world alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer, Joe Hart and Thibaut Courtois.

Mata added: ‘It’s tough to find anyone better than him. He’s been in top form since the beginning of the season and has saved a lot of points for us.

‘David gives us complete confidence. Liverpool created chances and didn’t score because of him.’

Safe hands: De Gea is in great form

KOLO TOURE thinks speculation over Brendan Rodgers’ future is ‘crazy’ and has backed the Liverpool boss to turn things around at Anfield.

The Reds slumped to tenth in the Premier League after their worst start to a season in 50 years continued with a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.

The heat is on Rodgers following a display far removed from nine months ago when Liverpool won by the same scoreline as they chased the title. This time around the Reds are a shadow of their former selves, lacking goals without the departed Luis Suarez and injured Daniel Sturridge.

But, despite his side being 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, Toure is backing his manager ahead of tomorrow night’s Capital One Cup quarterfinal at

Bournemouth. ‘It’s crazy to even talk about his future,’ said the centre-back. ‘He’s a great manager and we all know that. Just look at how fantastic he did [for the club] last season.’

Toure says he will forever be indebted to Rodgers for handing him an exit route from Manchester City, where he struggled to hold down a regular spot, in the summer of 2013. He insists the squad have complete faith in the Northern Irishman following a run of just two wins in ten matches in all competitions.

‘We’re all behind him and we’re all trying to make things better,’ Toure added. ‘We all love him. I enjoy my football under him. We will all do our best to get him and the club out of this situation.’

Holding on: Rodgers has been under fire after a terrible run this season

James seeks to end Saints slide

JAMES Ward-Prowse hopes Southampton can end their run of five matches without a win tonight by beating Sheffield United in their Capital One Cup quarter-final.

Saints made a flying start to the season but are now without a win since beating Leicester on November 8.

Boss Ronald Koeman has seen his men draw at Aston Villa before suffering successive defeats to Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Burnley and wants them to turn around their fortunes against the League One opponents at Bramall Lane.

‘We’re all desperate to turn around the run at the moment and get back to winning ways,’ midfielder Ward-Prowse (pictured) said.

‘The Christmas period, there’s always another game around the corner to change the fortunes around. I don’t think there’s any better opportunity than the quarter-finals of the cup.

‘We’re very confident that we can beat them and take it on. The manager’s made it very clear we want to win every game, whether it’s a league game, a cup game, whatever it is. We’ve got enough quality to win this game.’

SPorT

24 Metro Herald Tuesday, December 16, 2014

D

Rodgers dismisses axe talk as Toure backs ‘much-loved boss’

«see page 23

It’s deja Blues Revenge in mind as PSG get Chelsea

PICTuRe: ReuTeRS

by gavIn Brown Paris saint-Germain have warned Chelsea they will be out for revenge after being drawn with the Premier League leaders in the Champions League knockout stages.

The two clubs will meet in the last 16, with the first leg in February, in a rematch of last season’s quarter-final, which Jose Mourinho’s men won on away goals thanks to Demba Ba’s late strike at stamford Bridge.

‘We hope we will have revenge on Chelsea after last season,’ said their sporting director Olivier Letang.

President Nasser al-Khelaifi added: ‘What happened last year was a good experience that shall not be repeated.’ and defender Marquinhos admitted: ‘Last year’s setback was a painful one.

We’ll learn from that and avoid the mistakes we made then.’

Yesterday’s draw in Nyon also had a familiar look to it for Manchester City – who will play Barcelona in the first knockout round for the second successive season – and arsene Wenger, whose arsenal side face one of his former clubs, Monaco.

ross Is tHe Boss Flying start: Ross Barkley celebrates after his stunning first-half strike set Everton on their way to a 3-1 Premier League victory at home to QPR last night

«

« lasT-16 Draw – pages 22-23

reporT – page 21

Aussie legend calls for Irish cricket team to get full Test status Former Australia paceman Jason Gillespie has called for Ireland to be elevated to the Test cricket ranks.

The 39-year-old, now head coach of Yorkshire, believes the move would both reward Ireland’s performances in limited-overs internationals and provide a necessary boost to the five-day format.

Gillespie told All out Cricket: ‘Let’s face it, outside of Australia and england and, to a lesser extent, South Africa, people don’t turn up to watch Test cricket. That’s just the way it is, and it’s sad. ‘one fantastic way to give Test cricket a lift straight away would be to give Ireland full Test status. It’s something that should

happen sooner rather than later from the ICC. ‘Imagine if Ireland were given Test status. That would be huge news in world cricket, and it would be a massively positive story for the world game.

‘The ICC and all the national boards talk a lot

‘Ireland have punched above their weight’ about the importance of protecting the integrity of Test cricket. If it is that important, then we should look to improve it, and in my view including Ireland would improve it.’

Ireland reached the Super

eight stage of the 2007 World Cup, beating Pakistan and Bangladesh in addition to a memorable tie with england, and also qualified for the World Twenty20 in 2009 and 2010.

Gillespie added: ‘Ireland are ticking all the boxes.

They’ve punched well above their weight in limited-overs tournaments.

‘Think of the list of names who’ve plied their trade in english domestic cricket and who have even played for england. It would make a decent Test side.

‘I don’t see why it couldn’t happen. eoin morgan is obviously with england full-time now but, apart from him, you’ve got ed Joyce

(Sussex), William Porterfield, Boyd rankin (both Warwickshire), George Dockrell (Somerset) and Peter Chase (Durham).’

Surrey captain Gary Wilson, middlesex opener Paul Stirling and brothers Niall and Kevin o’Brien are also among the Irish contingent to make their way in the county game across the water.

Ambition: Jason Gillespie thinks elevating Ireland would be a shot in the arm for Test cricket PICTuRe: GeTTy