- NEWS
Martin wades into abortion debateAs the Dáil committee hearings continue on the abortion bill, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has waded into the debate saying it is important that Christian believers "be, and seen to be, on the side of life, especially when life is most vulnerable".
Payment cuts see families pay rent shortfallLimits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.
- WORLD
Anger as North Korea launches another missileNorth Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast, a day after launching three more of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said.
How Star Trek predicted the futureWHEN Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first dreamed up the concept of a television show based in the unexplored universe of Outer Space in 1964, the world was a very different place.
- BUSINESS
Warnings over future of eurozoneThe eurozone is heading towards a break up unless there are moves towards much closer political and fiscal union, according to chief economist with State Street Global Advisers, Chris Probyn.
Bruton defends corporate tax rateIreland will be able to maintain its current corporation tax code in the face of international pressure to prevent multinational corporations avoid paying their fare share of tax, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said yesterday.
- SPORT
Mayo’s statement of intentGalway 0-11 Mayo 4-16 Five minutes to go in Salthill yesterday and James Horan was still cajoling his men to sew it into Galway.
Wilkinson inspires Toulon to gloryASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16 Not for the first time this season, a matchday performance and the result have made a mockery of the statistics.
- LIFESTYLE
What Lenny did nextLENNY Abrahamson has directed three feature films: Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did.
Clothes maketh you madTrying on clothes, said Ewart, produced "sensations which bring deep peace and perfect contentment" to the female mind.
14-17C
US tourists snub Scotland for here in Lockerbie protest
AMERICAN tourists are changing their holiday plans and coming to Ireland instead of Scotland in protest at the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
By Niamh Hennessy
A spokesman from the website boycotscotland.com said they have received thousands of emails from Americans and English tourists who said they will no longer visit Scotland or drink Scotch whisky. “Hundreds of people have told us they have cancelled upcoming trips to Scotland. Among those, there have been many who will be boycotting golfing tournaments and resorts in Scotland,” he said, adding that many tourists, particularly golfers, said they will be going to Ireland for their holiday instead of Scotland.
The website spokesman wished to remain anonymous because he said himself and the four others involved with the website have received death threats since the site was established. He described the reaction to the site as “overwhelming”.
The webpage has been victim to a number of “malicious hacks” attempting to damage the site, according to the spokesman who added that “there are quite a number of people out there who have a very serious vendetta against us”.
He said there have been many responses from Scottish companies in the tourism and whisky sectors asking them to stop the campaign.
The five people involved with the site have all lost relatives or friends in the Lockerbie tragedy.
“What we want most is for the Scottish government to admit their error in releasing al-Megrahi and for the British government to reveal their role in the release,” said the spokesman.
A spokeswoman for Tourism Ireland said it was too early to say if there has been an increase in the number of American visitors deciding to switch their holidays to Ireland.
Meanwhile, following the release of the Lockerbie bomber relatives of victims of IRA terrorism in Britain have increased calls for compensation from Libya.
Libya supplied weapons and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles.
The families want Libya to recognise the pain it inflicted through its support for terrorism.
Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed in the IRA attack in Warrington in 1993, said the release of Megrahi should be reciprocated by Libya with an acknowledgement of past wrongs.
He said: “I think it’s now time for Libya to acknowledge the pain and suffering they inflicted by supporting the IRA and show the same compassion to its victims.”