Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brilliant! We21 can’t wait
Grateful kids receive home-school basics thanks to donations from Mirror readers
DELIGHTED families received much-needed home learning basics yesterday, thanks to our Help a Child to Learn campaign.
Primary school teachers delivered packages of notebooks, crayons, hand sanitiser and felt-tip pens to parents trying their best to home-school children during lockdown.
The Mirror joined staff at Courthouse Green
Primary School in Bell
Green, a deprived area of Coventry, West Mids, as they delivered the “godsend” parcels.
Among the recipients were Lily Griffin, 11, and her six-year-old brother Harry. Lily said: “It’s brilliant. I can’t wait to see what’s inside.” Mum Sandra said: “We’re grateful for the help. These things do make it easier.”
The items were paid for by kind Mirror readers, who have raised £185,000 alongside an additional
It’s one less thing for families to worry about SARAH MALAM HEAD OF COVENTRY SCHOOL
SO HAPPY Lily and brother Harry £1million donation from the National Education Union. Schools across the UK are getting vouchers for £500, £1,000 or £1,500, depending on their need, to pay for the equipment.
For poorer pupils, these basic tools make a huge difference to home learning. And as doubts are raised over plans to reopen schools on March 8, the items are needed more than ever.
Sarah Malam, 56, head of Courthouse Green Primary, is responsible for 685 children – 75% of whom are being home-schooled. She said: “These items kindly donated by the NEU and the Mirror will make it so much easier for families.
“We have families who are having to decide whether their money goes on food or fuel so to give them paper, pens and hand sanitiser is one less thing for them to have to worry about.
“The Mirror is doing a great job reminding those in Westminster that there are people struggling.”
The abuse I got out on the pitch was so severe VIV ANDERSON ON A MATCH WITH FOREST
ENGLAND’S first black international footballer says racist abuse players suffer on social media is worse than anything he faced from the terraces.
Nottingham Forest legend Viv Anderson, who endured vile monkey chants in the 70s and 80s, said it was “shameful” stars such as Marcus Rashford had been targeted in recent weeks.
Viv accused the Government and social media firms of failing to act even though
“the abuse is getting worse”.
And he urged authorities to fine trolls and platforms who “are as much to blame as the racists posting abuse”.
Viv, 64, who also played for
Arsenal and Manchester
United, recalled one shocking incident at Newcastle early in his career.
He said: “The abuse I got before the game was so severe I had to go back into the dressing room.” Boss Brian Clough ordered him back out. But despite that
STAR day being far from a one-off, Viv insisted: “The fight against racism has gone backwards – at least in my day you could look the person abusing you in the face. “Once I left the pitch it finished. For today’s players there is no getting away from it. But people like Rashford and Raheem Sterling are standing up to it.” Firms such as Twitter and Facebook must make users “accountable” by making them prove their identities when they join, he said. “We need to know who is writing the abuse, then they can be fined... and then the social media companies are fined for letting it happen.” This week we revealed FA president Prince William is to lead a movement to force social media firms to act over the “epidemic of abuse”. Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, said it will ban people who send racially abusive direct messages.
A MAN who filmed himself driving at 140mph just before hitting another car causing the deaths of three people was jailed for nine years yesterday.
Judge Martina Baxter said the 3-litre Audi driven by Keith Lennon, 21, on February 29 last year was essentially a weapon in the circumstances.
The two-vehicle collision killed Mary Faxton, 82, and her 58-year-old son Kevin, from Bessbrook, Co Armagh .
Bryan Magill, 24, from Newry, Co Down, also died.
He was a passenger in Lennon’s car although the two men had not met until that night, Dundalk Circuit Court heard.
An earlier hearing was told the vehicle was travelling at 140mph which was (equal to) 225kph and this was 105km above the 120kph speed limit for the road at Carrickarnon, Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth.
Lennon, who was not insured to drive the Audi, went into custody in December last year after he pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter.
Mary and Kevin Faxton were in a Peugeot 108 car that was struck from behind by the Audi as both cars headed northwards on the N1 dual carriageway.
Judge Martina Baxter was previously told the Snapchat videos, taken at 2.04am and 2.06am, by Lennon show the speedometer at 140mph.
The killer, with an address in Forest Park, Dromintee, Co Armagh, had also forwarded the clips to friends whilst driving, including one of the passengers in his car.
After the crash he left the scene but presented himself at Dundalk Garda station the next day.
Judge Baxter said the victim impact statements made harrowing reading and nothing would replace the loss of their loved ones.
She added it was a horrific collision and one of the worst cases she has ever
SCENE
heard with three fatalities and “showing off ” using social media.
Judge Baxter said the victim impact statements were also powerful reminders of the many road safety campaigns on both sides of the border directed at young men.
She added innocent people have lost their lives as a consequence of gross negligence of driving usually by young men. The judge added such driving, distractions and gross negligence are unacceptable.
The judge said Lennon had not mentioned to his Probation officer about being distracted or the Snapchat videos but he had said he was pushing the car to see what it could.
The earlier court heard how Mr Faxton was driving his mother home after they had gone for a spin because she suffered from depression and going out in the car benefitted her.
Mr Magill’s mother, in a victim impact statement from his family, said no parent should see their child leave home in a coffin.
She said Lennon will get visits in prison but she will be visiting her son in a graveyard.
Defence counsel Patrick Gageby previously expressed the profound apologies of his client and said Lennon had wanted it to be said in public he is absolutely remorseful for what he did.
Judge Baxter yesterday said she had no reason to doubt the genuineness of his contrition and his sorrow. Lennon’s mental health has deteriorated and he now has a diagnosis of depression. The judge said he will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life. The accused has no previous convictions.
The judge imposed 10-year sentences in relation to each of the deceased, to run concurrently, and the last 12 months were suspended on him complying with certain conditions. Judge Baxter disqualified him for 20 years.