Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
YOUR SHOUT
Fiona, apparently Rishi,
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the Chancellor, will put a smile on our faces with next week’s Budget. Well,
I’ve seen what some of it entails, thanks to the Mirror, and there’s not much in it for me.
I’m a widow and live on my own. I don’t have a car, so the fact there won’t be a 5p rise in fuel duty means nothing to me. I’m not moving house, so a three-month stamp duty break extension doesn’t apply. I could go on… but I’ll save you that.
I just wish there was some pension news.
A rise would put a smile on thousands of faces.
Margaret, Leicester
FP: Yes, we could all do with something to make us smile, Margaret.
Fingers crossed!
Hi Fiona, I always read your column and agree with a lot of what you have to say and share your love of Frank Lampard, who sadly didn’t spend long enough at Derby.
But, as if I couldn’t like you more, you mention your love of the village of my childhood, Spondon!
I’d love to know more about your weekends there in the 1980s, perhaps a book in the offing?
Keep up the good work!
Heather Van-de-broucke Late of Spondon, now Derby
FP: Well, what kind words Heather! Thank you. My association with the lovely Spondon involved a first love… Naturally, I respect his privacy, so couldn’t possibly reveal more!
Fiona, I just hope that
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when this horrible period is all over that people will respect each other a bit more. Society has become very “me me me” of late – not helped by social media.
Mary, via email
FP: I couldn’t agree more, Mary. I remember when showing off was considered to be a vulgar no-no, but now it’s how show-offs become so-called celebrities and earn a considerable living. (I have just realised that I sound like a miserable old git! Oh, well).
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TWO would-be robbers were chased from an offlicence by a worker who shouted: “I’ll see your mothers,” a court heard yesterday.
Derry Crown Court heard Marc Mccarron and Damien Mcfadden, both 22, admitted the raid on May 13, 2019.
Mccarron also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the off-licence counter by hitting it with a golf club while demanding alcohol.
Instead of backing down when confronted by the two defendants, the lady employee, who was described in court as “a woman of fortitude and of a reasonably mature age” rebuked them, came from behind the counter and chased them off.
The fingerprints of both defendants were found on the smashed off-licence counter and the golf club was found by police officers in Mccarron’s home in Slievemore Park, Derry.
Mccarron, and Mcfadden from Moyola Walk, in the city were sentenced to two years of probation and 80 hours of community service,
Judge Philip Babington said: “The lady behind the counter was left shocked by the incident, not so much as being fearful as opposed to being shocked it was these two people who tried to rob the shop.”
JOE Biden has carried out his first military action as President, launching a deadly airstrike on Syrian facilities used by Iran-backed militias.
The attack is claimed to have killed 22 fighters.
After barely a month in the White House, Mr Biden struck following a rocket assault on a US base at Erbil International Airport in Northern Iraq.
The attack on February 15 killed a Filipino contractor with the States-led coalition and wounded six, including a National Guard soldier and four US contractors.
Officials said the US strikes were a small, careful military response in Al Bukamal.
A total of seven 500lb bombs dropped on a cluster of buildings at an unofficial crossing at the Syria-iraq border used to smuggle weapons and fighters.
MILITANT
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said: “We’re confident that that target was being used by the same Shia militants that conducted the [February 15] strikes.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby added the attack “destroyed multiple facilities at a border control point used by a number of Iranianbacked militant groups”.
He claimed the groups included Kataib Hezbollah and Kataib Sayyid al-shuhada, adding the US action was a “proportionate response”.
Mr Kirby said it “sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and coalition personnel”.
He added the raids were meant to punish those behind the rocket attack but not to escalate hostilities with Iran.
Since Mr Biden came to power last month, he has sought to renew talks on a nuclear deal predecessor Donald Trump had ended.
Mr Kirby said: “We have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in eastern Syria and Iraq.”
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