Your Thursday lunchtime news catch-up

Marriage Equality Referendum is ‘about us. It’s not going to affect anybody else’; Judge discharges foreman of jury in Sean FitzPatrick trial; and a video of the demolition of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Thu, 21 May, 2015 - 01:00

TOP STORY

Marriage Equality Referendum: ‘It’s about us. It’s not going to affect anybody else’

IRELAND

Judge discharges foreman of jury in Sean FitzPatrick trial

The foreman of the jury in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank Chairman Sean FitzPatrick has been discharged for personal reasons.

MOST READ: Tighter school controls agreed

SPORT

Sterling agent: 'He is definitely not signing, not for £900k a week'

“He is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000 a week. He is not signing."

MOST READ: VIDEO: The demolition of Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Demolition has begun at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.

WORLD

IS takes control of Palmyra, raising fears for World Heritage site

Islamic State (IS) militants have overrun the famed archaeological site at Palmyra, just hours after seizing the central Syrian town, raising concerns the extremists might destroy some of the priceless ruins as they have done in neighbouring Iraq.

MOST READ: Man with 17 girlfriends charged with fraud

Life just keeps getting more complicated for a Chinese man caught cheating by all 17 of his girlfriends simultaneously.

ANALYSIS

MOST READ: Marriage Equality Referendum: ‘It’s about us. It’s not going to affect anybody else’

“I’ve been going door to door for the last six weeks asking strangers if it’s ok for me to marry my girlfriend.”

EXAMVIRAL

The Lough birds chat about the referendum, like

Everyone’s been talking about tomorrow’s marriage equality referendum - even some of the birds on the Lough in Cork.

MOST READ: VIDEO: The demolition of Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Demolition has begun at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.

TECHNOW

#Google to launch standalone photo service | http://t.co/zPQT8PjIYS (GM) #TechNews pic.twitter.com/EvIqMeZRhN
— Irish Examiner Lifestyle (@IELifestyle_) May 21, 2015

MOST READ: Google to launch standalone photo service

Google is preparing to launch a photo service that won’t rely on Google+ in any way. Apparently, this standalone photo sharing and storage service will be unveiled at Google IO 2015.

BUSINESS

Ex-Central Bank chief contradicts ECB president at banking inquiry

The former governor of the Central Bank says the ECB warned Ireland not to allow Anglo Irish Bank to collapse like Lehman Brothers.

MOST READ: Western Union fined €1.75m by Central Bank

The Central Bank has fined Western Union €1.75m after the payment services giant failed to comply with money laundering and terrorist financing laws.

LIFESTYLE

MOST READ: Helen Fennell's parents adamant she won't have died in vain

18-year-old Helen Fennell was given another chance at life when she received a heart transplant and months later was hanging out with Graham Norton in London. But, it wasn’t to be and her heartbroken parents are adamant that she won’t have died in vain, says Ailín Quinlan

SHOWBIZ

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor clears up her baby mystery | http://t.co/zKF7auKCXb (DOD) pic.twitter.com/SeHO8jBgoS
— Irish Examiner Arts & Culture (@IEArtsCulture) May 21, 2015