Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Man beat to death over affair had broken eye, leg and arm’
Harrowing details as murder accused bailed
A MAN allegedly beaten to death over an extra-marital affair suffered a broken arm, leg and eye socket, the High Court heard yesterday.
Prosecutors also claimed Steven Peck’s blood was found on the boot of his lover’s husband.
Details emerged as a judge granted bail to two of the men accused of the murder in Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
Mr Peck, 33, was discovered with a serious head injury near the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre on January 3 this year. He died six days later. Three men – David Austin, 54, of Cherry Gardens in Ballymoney, and brothers Stephen Mccook, 28, and 24-year-old Brian Mccook, both from Urbal Road in Dervock – are charged with his murder. Police believe Mr Peck was in a relationship with Austin’s wife and was allegedly lured to the scene of the attack thinking he was going to meet her.
All three men charged with
LOOKOUT Badger watches as fox eats murder were granted magistrates’ bail on Monday.
But the prosecution appealed the decision to release Austin and Stephen Mccook, citing the risk of interference with the probe.
Following submissions, Mr Justice Rooney ruled that both men should be granted bail on strict conditions to live at addresses outside Ballymoney.
The major was a fossil we were making fun of him JOHN CLEESE ON WHY THE CUTS WERE WRONG
THE BBC is re-running Fawlty Towers to cheer Britain up - but with racist outbursts from cantankerous Major Gowan removed.
The classic comedy, which runs to 12 episodes, airs from Monday in its Festival of Funny.
Last year writer and star John Cleese, who plays Basil Fawlty, branded Beeb bosses “gutless” for temporarily removing the episode with the Major’s racist remarks from the UKTV streaming platform.
Arguing the remarks were fine in context, he said: “The major was an old fossil. We were not supporting his views, we were making fun of them.
“If people are too stupid to see that, what can one say?”
But in 2013, he agreed to the words being cut from a BBC2 prewatershed repeat.
At the time some viewers accused the BBC of
“airbrushing history”.
Writing on the BBC’S
Points of View message board, one sighed: “The major is a racist old bigot, incongruous with modern society.
“The audience isn’t supposed to agree with him, they’re supposed to laugh at him.” In the scene from The Germans, first aired in 1975, Major Gowan, played by Ballard Berkeley, talks of taking a woman to see India play cricket and uses the n-word.
A separate episode, The Anniversary, starts with the Fawlty Towers sign re-arranged into a rude anagram, which is also cut. The BBC said removing offensive language was policy for shows airing before 9pm and met Ofcom’s language guidance.
The series is available on iplayer from Monday.
THE Kardashians only managed 14 years before throwing the towel in. Meanwhile, there’s another family who have been keeping us entertained for centuries, and in whom our interest shows no sign of waning.
If anything, it feels like we’re more obsessed with the royal soap opera than ever.
In the last few days alone a mere trailer for Harry, Meghan and Oprah – during which the couple barely spoke – created global headlines, with ITV reportedly paying a million pounds to show the two-hour interview here.
Elsewhere, a fictionalised account of their lives was the success story of the Golden Globes, with Best Actor and Actress awards won by the people playing Harry’s parents.
The Crown – fundamentally – only told us what we already knew very well about their relationship, an old tale hashed and rehashed many, many times in the decades since it happened. And yet 29 million of us tuned in around the world, mesmerised all over again.
We cannot get enough. We’ll take whatever scraps we’re offered, be they Harry chatting to a sycophant on a bus or a TV drama with a debatable amount of artistic licence.
What makes the Royal Family
so endlessly compelling is the jewel in The Crown of their saga, the reason season four of Peter Morgan’s Netflix series was the most eagerly anticipated and successful.
Charles and Diana’s relationship, and the other woman.
We were reminded of this classic set-up this week, with the death of actor Johnny Briggs, best known for playing Mike Baldwin in Coronation Street.
When his affair with Ken Barlow’s wife Deirdre reached its climax in 1983, and the nation was desperate to find out which man she’d choose, Manchester United were playing Arsenal in a League Cup semi-final.
At the crucial moment, all mention of the match disappeared from the Old Trafford scoreboard, replaced with “Ken 1, Mike 0”. That’s how gripped we were. Why? We simply cannot get enough of a love triangle.
From Elizabeth Bennet, George
Diana being so young and beautiful only makes it extra intriguing
Wickham, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, to Cheryl, Ashley and that hairdresser, there’s something about three of us in this marriage that is infinitely fascinating.
Diana being so young and beautiful in comparison to Camilla only makes it extra intriguing, and discussable, even after all this time, much more so than the fact that one of the corners* will eventually be king.
We care so much about William and Harry because they’re the sequel to this captivating, tragic yarn. Those disagreeing with Harry’s recent decisions tend to disagree passionately, his supporters are equally fanatical – further proof of how invested they are. Whatever you think about him and his wife, you can’t deny they’re doing their bit to keep their storyline interesting.
Obviously everyone hopes this next generation will be happier than the previous one, with far less turbulent personal lives… but either way, apparently, we’ll be watching.
(*Of the triangle.
Come on, don’t be obtuse.)
ENGLAND legend Jimmy Greaves broke down in tears yesterday after the death of his much-loved TV partner Ian St John.
An emotional Greaves, 81, led the tributes to his old friend, saying he would “never forget the laughter” they shared.
St John, 82, who died surrounded by his family after a long illness, was one half of footy’s favourite double act in the Saint & Greavsie ITV show.
To millions of fans, they were the face of the game in the 80s and 90s – and trailblazers for presenters of the modern era.
Greaves told his son Danny “I will miss my mate forever” when he first heard the news yesterday morning.
“He broke down and cried and he’s very, very sad,” Danny told the Mirror. “We’re all very sad as a family. Unfortunately, like Dad, Ian has been unwell for a little while now but it’s still a very sad day when the news comes through that one of Dad’s big pals has passed away.”
He added: “My fondest memory is that the two of them were such good friends. The job they did wasn’t a job to either of them. It worked because it was two
They turned up on a Saturday to talk about the game they loved and had a laugh DANNY GREAVES, JIMMY’S SON ON SAINT AND GREAVSIE »
friends who came together, two ex-players, who understood the game and just generally had fun and a laugh.
“They turned up on a Saturday afternoon to talk about the game they both loved and fell about laughing for a couple of hours. That’s the underlying memory.
“The great thing about Saint & Greavsie was that a lot of people who didn’t necessarily follow football got into it because of the show. It almost became more important to watch than the games. It was iconic and people come up to dad now and say, ‘I never saw you play but I absolutely loved Saint & Greavsie’.
“There were people out there who realised Ian and Jimmy were such good players because they’d seen the show and researched who they were.”
Greaves urged fans to remember what a “great footballer” the Liverpool legend was and recalled the laughs they shared.
“After my illness Ian phoned several times to see how I was,” said Jimmy, who struggles with his speech after a massive stroke in 2015. “And now he’s gone. He was a lot of fun to be with and a great footballer. I will never forget his laughter for all the years we worked together.” He travelled to New York to meet Donald Trump with “The Saint” in 1992. In bizarre scenes, the future US President made the quarterfinal draw for the Rumbelows League Cup in the boardroom of Trump Tower. Greaves drew the home teams, Trump the away sides. As St John stood beside them ready to interview the billionaire, he turned to his old friend and said: “I don’t know how you managed this.” But the Spurs legend was in his element, telling Trump: “This is some pad you’ve got here’.” He added: “I haven’t ‘seen a boardroom like this since I was in with Doug Ellis at Aston Villa’.”
A bemused Trump was handed a Saint & Greavsie mug. It was TV gold and 25 years later, St John said: “I cannot believe he is going to be President.”
When Greaves was laid low by the flu in 1990, his Spitting Image puppet hosted the show alongside St John. Voiced by commentator Peter Brackley, the episode was one of their most memorable.
To those who remember his brilliant attacking prowess on the pitch, former Scotland striker St John was at the heart of the ‘Shankly Revolution’ at Liverpool.
When the Anfield board baulked at a record £37,500 fee paid to Motherwell in 1961, legendary Reds manager Bill Shankly told the board: “We cannot afford not to sign him.”
St John, the son of a steelworker, repaid his manager’s faith. He headed an extra time winner to beat Leeds Utd 2-1 and give the Reds their first FA Cup in 1965. And he went on to score 118 goals in 425 appearances for the Reds.
His loved ones told “with a heavy heart” of the loss of a loving husband, father and grandfather. “He passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside,” they said. “We would like to thank all the
staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for their hard work and dedication in these very difficult times.”
St John formed a deadly partnership with Roger Hunt and their goals fired Liverpool to promotion to the old First Division in the 61/62 season, his first at the club. But he became famous beyond football when Saint and Greavsie began in 1985 and ran until 1992.
It paved the way for modern coverage. BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey said: “We walk in their footsteps. As a lad I sat and watched his show. His rapport with Jimmy was something special.” In 2004, on BBC’S Fantasy Football, Frank Skinner
and David Baddiel described the pair as the “godfathers” of football comedy.
Liverpool FC said they were “deeply saddened” by the loss of a “true Anfield legend”. Former captain Steven Gerrard described St John as an “iconic figure” and “fantastic guy”, adding: “He’s someone I’ve got incredible respect for.” Reds defender and fellow Scot Andy
Robertson said the game had lost a man of “warmth, humour, knowledge, wisdom and joy”, adding: “Scotland and Liverpool have lost a true giant.”
Liverpool midfielder James Milner wrote: “RIP Ian St John – what a player, what a man.” Former striker Ian Rush said: “RIP Ian St John sleep well legend!”
Sir Kenny Dalglish said on the club’s website: “We should be eternally grateful for what he did for the football club.”
Across Stanley Park, Everton told of a “real loss... felt heavily in our city”. They added: “A rival for many years but a popular figure on and off the pitch.” After leaving Liverpool, St John had spells with
South African sides Hellenic and Cape Town City, and Coventry City, ending his playing days at Tranmere.
He returned to his native Motherwell as manager in 1973, then joined Portsmouth before moving into TV.
The final episode of Saint & Greavsie was broadcast in 1992, as the duo went out in typical style – on a bicycle singing the Rolling Stones hit The Last Time.
It was a fitting curtain call for the popular Scot who was as fearless on the pitch as he was friendly off it, a respected analyst of the game he loved.
HE’LL spend a month on a “liver shrinking diet”, before reintroducing solid food to his “tightened” stomach.
Even with surgery, there are no quick fixes for TOWIE’S James “Arg” Argent, after docs warned his 27 stone girth could prove “fatal”.
“If I was to catch Covid, I could be a goner,” said a solemn Arg, who suffers from asthma and has a history of heart problems in his family.
Arg said yesterday he is in consultations with the Transform Hospital Group to have “life-changing” surgery – either a gastric bypass or a sleeve gastrectomy, which removes part of the stomach.
Both procedures, which cost around £10,000, could help him shed 12 stone.
But the group’s clinical services director Christine Mozzamdar warns this is merely the start of his “medical, psychological, and surgical” process that could take between a year to 18 months to get him back to a healthy weight.
“Weight loss surgery is a tool to assist,” she explains. “There’s not a surgical cure that means everything will be magical and
resolved tomorrow.” Arg, who struggles with binge eating, will speak to dieticians trained in cognitive behavioural therapy to discuss changing his habits in the long term.
Prior to surgery, he will undergo a four-week low-fat diet – largely consisting of vegetables and clear soups – to reduce the size of his liver.
Christine says his diet will predominantly be “fluids and sloppies” for the first four to six weeks.
“Physically, he won’t feel like eating more than a couple of teaspoons,” she warns. “He physically won’t be able to binge – his body will tell him: ‘You can’t take any more’.
“It will make him unwell if he eats the wrong kind of food, there’ll be not so nice consequences of too much fats... Alcohol would have unwanted side effects.”
He will slowly reintroduce exercise and different food textures.
Arg’s weight has fluctuated throughout a seven-year battle with drink and drugs, with two stints in a Thai rehabilitation centre.
Recently, he said he believes he has since “substituted the drugs and alcohol with food”.
“I’ve got to tackle this now before it is too late,” he said yesterday.
Sobriety normally clears a fuzzy head – but not Liam Gallagher’s.
“Just tried to put the fridge in the kettle,” says the befuddled star, who quit drinking at the start of the year. “Whatever next, eh – toast on my Marmite?” The Oasis rocker plans to stay sober until June 25, the first weekend after all lockdown restrictions are due to be lifted...
Peanut Solomonswash has only been living with his family for a month, but mum Stacey Solomon has already drafted plans for the sausage dog to have a lead role at her wedding to Joe Swash.
The Loose Women star says Peanut and his Pomeranianchihuahua cross sister Theo feature prominently in plans for the big day in July.
“They’re getting suits and bow ties made,” she says to Hello.
But her invites might look like a dog’s dinner, after a “disaster” occurred with the personalised wax seals.
The stamps read: “J. S. Your Design Goes Here.” Stacey says: “That really puts a dampener on my stamps.”
OPRAH Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan will get maximum exposure as it is screened on ITV next Monday.
Sky and Channel 4 were understood to have bid more for the chance to show the chat in which the couple tell of their decision to quit The Firm.
But producers Viacom CBS yesterday chose to go with ITV’S offer of under £1million in the belief the channel will pull in the biggest audience.
A source close to negotiations said: “A key aim is for it to do well in the UK and ITV gives it a fair chance of getting the highest ratings of the year so far.” But a public relations expert has warned the timing of the interview, with Prince Philip, 99, in hospital, and the risk of upsetting the Queen, could reflect badly on the couple.
Mark Borkowski said Harry and Meghan are at risk of a “real reputational mess” if they go ahead with the broadcast in the US on Sunday, in which Oprah has said there will be “nothing off limits”.
He said: “The timing is just horrendous. Anybody who looks at this through the optics of a caring family... it’s very uncomfortable. Harry and Meghan are supposed to be a sensitive, caring and empathetic brand. Surely the disruption, particularly to the Queen. But they are going ahead with this juggernaut.”
ITV stands to make millions in advertising revenue from the interview, in which Meghan is believed to say her experiences in Britain were “almost unsurvivable”. In the US, advertisers are being charged around £150,000 for a 30-second slot in the CBS News special.
The show was extended from its original 90 minutes to allow more ads.
The timing’s horrendous. Harry and Meghan are supposed to be caring MARK BORKOWSKI PUBLIC RELATIONS EXPERT