TERAPROOF:User:rorynoonanDate:27/06/2009Time:09:32:04Edition:27/06/2009Satsatecho270609Page:2
Zone:EE
EE - V1
2 NEWS
INDEX
● Bounty of the Sea,
cops and robbers in
gangland, delectable
duck, Kyle fights back,
soapwatch: All in our
TV guide 24/7
● Car sellers warned of
false buyers scam: P6
● We must defend airport
says new Cork County
Mayor: P9
● Swimmers take plunge
for Lee Swim: P10
● Kinsale: A perfect place
in the sun: P12/13
● Business is Michael’s
bread and butter: P14
● Time to break out that
barbie: P18/19
● The Outdoor Setting:
Short Story: P20
● Fuchsia band in full
bloom after tour: P25
● Happy ending to
long-distance love story:
Wedding P32
MARY SMITHWICK 15
ENTERTAINMENT 24
34
DEATHS
22/23
FASHION
31
HOROSCOPES
30
PUZZLES
4
WEATHER
The numbers drawn were: 6,
11, 21, 30, 39. Lucky Stars
2, 8.
EuroMillions Plus: 1, 5, 6,
14, 42.
Three years for
knife-point attack
A MIDDLE-AGED couple
held hostage at knifepoint in
their own home no longer
feel safe living in Cork city, it
emerged as the violent
culprit starts a three-year jail
sentence for the crime today.
Barry Murphy, aged 19, of
Apartment 2, 11 West Beach,
Cobh, County Cork, was
jailed for falsely imprisoning
and robbing the couple at
Douglas Street in Cork city.
In court yesterday, Detective
Garda Myles Moran said the
couple, who are in their
mid-40s were so terrified by
the crime that they have
moved out of Cork city to live
in a rural area despite the
fact that they are native to
the city.
The crime was committed at
6.15am on November 21 last
as the victim was walking
along Rutland Street, on his
way to the city centre.
By LIAM HEYLIN
Murphy approached him,
held a knife to him and
demanded cash. The victim
was only carrying F5.
At knifepoint Murphy forced
the man down Sawmill Street
where he robbed him of his
mobile phone and then made
him go home to Douglas
Street where his partner was
still in bed.
Murphy went into the
bedroom brandishing the
knife and demanded cash
from the woman who was
absolutely terrified. She had
to get out of bed and find
money for Murphy. He got
away with F145.
The entire episode lasted
more than 20 minutes – half
of which was spent in the
flat.
By 5pm that day, Det. Garda
Moran and Det. Garda Shane
Bergin had tracked down
Murphy who ultimately
pleaded guilty to charges of
robbery and false
imprisonment.
However, Judge Cornelius
Murphy noted that defendant
gave gardaí a number of false
alilbis which had to be
investigated.
The judge said the defendant
had a respectable family
background. He became a
father at the age of 14,
something that probably had
a disorienting effect on him,
Judge Murphy said at Cork
Circuit Criminal Court.
“He is remorseful about his
actions but one cannot allow
people to ramble the streets
of Cork robbing people and
falsely imprisoning them
with a knife,” the judge said
as he jailed him for three
years.
SENIOR Bus Éireann
officials will meet with local
representatives on Monday to
discuss the cancellation of
two city bus services.
The meeting at City Hall will
focus on plans to cut the
number 12 and number 1
orbital bus routes.
The number 12 route services
the Glen and Blackpool while
the No 1 Orbital Route links
the northside with UCC, CIT
and CUH.
Bus Éireann plans to cut the
routes because they are not
financially viable.
A series of protests have been
held in recent weeks against
the plan to axe the number 12
route. Fine Gael councillor
Patricia Gosch said: “Just
because the local elections
are over does not mean this
issue is going to go away.
These services provide vital
transport links for people on
the northside of the city and
it is simply unacceptable that
they should be axed.”
PLANS to re-deploy staff
within the Civil Service are
being examined by the
Department of Finance.
The plans are contained in a
document seen by the Irish
Times.
According to the document,
the Minister for Finance
reserves the right to
re-deploy personnel in the
Civil Service — which has
30,000 employees.
The document says staff
would be re-deployed
between departments when
services are being
re-allocated to meet priority
needs or to address
requirements arising out of
rationalisation,
reconfiguration or
restructuring. If there are not
enough voluntary transfers,
employees could be
re-deployed on a last in, first
out basis.
Court report
EVENING ECHO, Saturday, June 27, 2009
Liam made it a
An iconic picture of Michael Jackson performing at
the 1995 MTV Video Music awards at Radio City
Music Hall in New York City.
Mary recalls day
Michael and his
Re-deployment of civil servants possible
three kids visited
her Kinsale shop
Kades Kounty
Tonight (Saturday)
DAVE REA
tickets €10 including supper
PARTIES SPECIALLY CATERED FOR
New Civil Partnership Bill published
A NEW bill published yesterday will
give statutory rights to gay and
lesbian couples. Under the newly
published laws, a gay couple living
together will enjoy greater tax,
inheritance and pension rights.
The Civil Partnership Bill will also
OFFALY V CORK
All Ireland Senior Hurling Qualifier - Saturday 4th July
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allow for a redress scheme when
long-term relationships end. This
will be open to both gay and
heterosexual couples who never
married or engaged in a civil
agreement. The bill will be enacted
before the end of the year.
Bishop Buckley
to lead Cork
Knock pilgrimage
BISHOP John Buckley was today
leading the annual pilgrimage of
Cork people to the shrine at Knock
in Co. Mayo.
More than 10,000 people from
across the country were expected in
Knock today, and buses were
expected from almost every parish
in Cork city.
Prayers were to be offered at
Knock today for the victims of
abuse, and for those affected by the
economic downturn.
NEWS 3
EVENING ECHO, Saturday, June 27, 2009
magical time in Cork for Michael Jackson and his three children
Cork magician spent two
weeks entertaining the family
HE may be the magician that wowed
Jacko’s kids, but not even Liam
Sheehan’s magic could grant the
wish of a pop-star who wanted to live
forever.
Residents to meet bus firm over
cancellation of northside bus routes
Glenville 021-4880111
EE - V1
The Glanmire-based magician and mentalist spent two weeks living in a plush castle in
Castletownroche with Michael Jackson and
his three children — Prince Michael, Prince
Michael II and Paris.
He made goldfish appear in glasses and performed head-scratching card tricks to entertain the king of pop and his kids.
The shock-waves from Jackson’s death, who
famously once said that he wanted to live
forever, continued to rumble across the globe
today.
But the Cork magic man has only fond
memories of the moon-walking icon who captivated the world.
Liam is now the proud owner of a unusual
set of playing cards — all signed by Michael
Jackson’s children and a dollar bill initialled
by the king of pop himself.
He has them soundly secured in a frame
and counts them as some of his most prized
possessions.
Liam, who can perform mind-boggling predictions said he always knew he would meet
Jacko.
“I went down to his concert at Páirc Uí
Chaoimh in 1988 with my daughter but I had
no ticket. Amazingly a man came up to me
and offered me two tickets, which I just
By RONAN BAGNALL
couldn’t believe. I somehow knew that night
that I would someday meet Michael Jackson,”
he said.
Close to 20 years later, Liam got a phonecall
from his friend Patrick Nordstrom, who owns
the Blackwater Castle in north Cork.
The Jacksons were using the castle as a
hideaway from media scrutiny for two weeks
in 2006.
Liam said: “You hear all sorts of stories
about the man and his kids being weird. But
the truth is they were wonderful, fun-loving
children. Michael was a thorough gentleman
and a loving father.
“You could see that he found it very difficult to trust people. His close friend and
nanny, Grace, told me how he was let down
many times before by people who used him
for publicity or money.
“He was betrayed a lot of times before.
“I would hate to be such a high-profile star,
people were always looking to get at him. But
once you meet him, you see what a normal
guy he is,” said Liam.
“I remember when they were leaving the
castle in a van, Michael sent his children
back out to say thank-you to all of us,” he
added.
“I was devastated when I heard the news
that he had died. I will always treasure my
time with him,” he added
Magician Liam Sheehan who entertained Michael Jackson and his children during their stay in
Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Cork.
By TOM FITZPATRICK
A WHIRLWIND tour of Kinsale’s shops saw
Michael Jackson visit Cronin’s Gift Shop where
store owner Mary Evans met the man she once
idolised.
Growing up, Mary had pictures of the King of Pop
on her wall and two years ago she got a call to say
he would be coming into the shop.
Michael Jackson and his three children stayed in
the private Kinsale estate, Ballinacurra House for
two weeks in the summer of 2007.
Owner Des McGahan organised the shopping trip
for the pop superstar after the shops closed one
night during his stay.
Mary Evans said she was thrilled to get a call
saying he would be coming and that Michael and
his three children spent more than an hour
looking through the store.
Mary said: “He was very pleasant, not at all
peculiar, weird or distant and he spent the time
wandering around chatting.
“There were rumours around that he was staying
in Kinsale but plenty of people have come into the
shop and I wouldn’t have told anyone.”
Mary said the superstar’s three children; Prince
Michael, Prince Michael II and Paris were
beautifully behaved throughout the time in the
store and were allowed to choose one gift each.
“We were thrilled to have him come to the shop
and I told the children that I had pictures of their
dad on my walls as a child and they couldn’t
believe it.
“They were lovely and chatty, it was a pleasure to
have Michael and his family and we are sorry that
he has gone.”
Michael
Jackson fans
Ciara Glenn,
Holly O’Dwyer,
Laura McCarthy
and Cliona
Flynn,
Dunmanway
and left: Mark
Coughlan,
Ballyphehane
and Diarmuid
O’Sullivan,
Douglas, buying
CDs at HMV,
Patrick Street,
yesterday after
his death.
Picture: Provision
Cause of death could
take up to six weeks
says LA county coroner
THE cause of Michael Jackson’s
death could take several weeks to
determine, according to the coroner
overseeing the case.
Toxicology tests will be required as
investigating police admit they are
seeking to interview Jackson’s
personal doctor.
An autopsy had been conducted but
further tests are required that could
take up to six weeks to complete.
Los Angeles County coroner’s
spokesman Craig Harvey said police
had put a security hold on Jackson’s
case, limiting the amount of
information that can be released.
He said a three-hour autopsy had
been held but the cause of death had
been “deferred”.
“It means that the medical examiner
ordered additional testing such as
toxicology and other studies,” Mr
Harvey said.
Family lawyer Brian Oxman told US
TV that he had been concerned about
the star’s use of pain relief
medication.
A spokesman for the Los Angeles
Police Department said investigators
had spoken to Jackson’s personal
doctor briefly on Thursday, but they
wanted to speak to him again.
Police also said a car owned by a
doctor had been towed away from
By RONAN BAGNALL
Jackson’s home.
A spokeswoman said the doctor was
not under criminal investigation, but
said the car could contain
“medications or other evidence that
may assist the coroner in
determining the cause of death”.
Jackson, who had a history of health
problems, collapsed at his Los
Angeles home around midday on
Thursday.
A recording of the telephone call
made to emergency services has been
released, in which the caller said
Jackson was unconscious and had
stopped breathing.
His personal doctor — who witnessed
his collapse — was trying to revive
him, the caller said.
Meanwhile, tributes have continued
to flow in for the moon-walking icon.
Fermoy-based dancer Michael Flatley
said he welcomed Jacko to his
Castlehyde home in the past.
“I found Michael to a warm and
lovely man. He was undoubtedly one
of the best dancers of all time.”
Singers Madonna and Justin
Timberlake praised his talent, US
and US president Barack Obama
considered Jackson a spectacular
performer.