Jul 25 2012
By Paul O’Hare

USA fans arrive at Hampden ahead of their Olympic clash against France

FANS of the USA women’s team brought some glamour to Hampden Park yesterday as the Olympics arrived in Scotland for the first time since 1908.

Thousands of fans created a carnival atmosphere to the national stadium for their side’s clash with France.

Fans of both teams waved their national flags while some painted their faces for the occasion ahead of the 5pm kick-off.

The USA are favourites to retain the Olympic title they won in Beijing in 2008 – and they didn’t disappoint as they beat their opponents 4-2.

Many fans travelled to Scotland to cheer on FIFA’s No1-ranked side.

Brad Jackson, 58, from Redding, California, was there to cheer on his niece, Megan Rapinoe, one of the stars of the US team.

Brad has Scottish connections through his mother, whose surname was Nisbet.

He plans to travel to all the team’s matches to support her and has bought tickets for the gold medal game in London.

He said: “The people are friendly but it takes us a little while to sort through the strong Scottish accent.

“I have a lot of Scottish blood in me so it’s great to be here. I feel I am with my people.”

“Depending on how the games work out, we might even end up back in Glasgow on August 3 for the quarter final.”

Donald Steinhoff and son Del, 11, travelled from Arbroath with a friend to support the USA.

The Albion Rovers fan said: “I was born in Springfield, Missouri. It is fantastic to be going to see an Olympic event in Glasgow.”

Julie Tucker travelled to Glasgow from Dallas, Texas, with her husband and five children for the big match.

She said: “My girls are big fans. They play soccer so we like to follow the national team.”

She said women’s soccer is massive in the US, adding: “It is bigger than it is here.”

The match was followed by Colombia v North Korea. Team GB’s women won their first game, beating New Zealand 1-0 in Cardiff.

Jul 25 2012
By Paul O’Hare Gordon Parks

North Korea were angered after the flag of South Korea was shown on Hampden’s big screen

OLYMPIC staff at Hampden Park triggered a major diplomatic incident yesterday – after mixing up the flags of North and South Korea.

The blunder delayed the kick-off of the women’s clash between Colombia and North Korea for more than an hour after the upset Koreans refused to come out following the warm-up.

They were ­astonished when the flag of their hated neighbours South Korea was beamed on to the national stadium’s big screens.

TV viewers around the world expecting to watch the game were greeted by the sight of an empty pitch with an on-screen caption reading: “Competition delayed.”

There were fears it would add to tensions between the two countries, who fought a civil war at the height of the Cold War.

Yesterday’s chaos erupted when a North Korean official noticed South Korea’s flag was displayed next to each squad member on Hampden’s video screens.

Olympic officials were told the team would not take to the pitch for the 7.45pm kick-off until the matter was resolved.

As word spread, North Korean officials were spotted arguing in the stands.

Johnnie Macdougall, 34, from Airth, Stirlingshire, said: “If there are two ­countries you don’t want to mix up, it’s North and South Korea.”

Fans in the stadium slow hand-clapped their disapproval at the delay. Just 1000 were left in the 52,000-capacity stadium to watch the game, which ended just before 11pm. Hamish Burns, 39, from Glasgow, left so he and wife Dianne could get their girls Grace, six, and Ruby, four, to bed before it got too late.

He said: “You can understand the Koreans being upset. It’s like putting up an England flag at a Scotland game, except we don’t point missiles at each other.”

The actual North Korea flag

The North Koreans came out at 8.25pm after the squad appeared on big screens with the right flag beside their pictures.

Their giant national flag was also shown before the game kicked off at 8.50pm. A spokesman for Olympic organisers LOCOG said: “We will apologise to the team and the National Olympic Committee.

“Steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again.”

Despite an armistice signed in 1953, Communist North Korea and democratic South Korea are technically still at war.

Unpredictable North Korea’s nuclear tests have upset South Korea and their western allies.

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Jul 25 2012
By Janice Burns

David Cairns

Pictured: David Cairns

THE partner of tragic MP David Cairns yesterday demanded the new Archbishop of Glasgow resign – for linking his premature death at the age of 44 to his gay lifestyle.

Dermot Kehoe nursed the Scotland Office minister on his deathbed when he became gravely ill with acute pancreatitis last year.

Kehoe insisted Archbishop Philip Tartaglia had “blackened” the late Inverclyde MP’s name by implying his death was linked to his sexuality.

The archbishop’s comments about the MP – a former priest – date back to April but were only made public on Tuesday as his appointment was announced.

As the row flared, the SNP yesterday hurriedly arranged a last-minute press conference to declare they would legalise gay marriage in Scotland.

Tartaglia, whose then Paisley diocese covered the Cairns family’s parish, made the comments at a debate at Oxford University on religious freedom.

He said: “If what I have heard is true about the relationship between the physical and mental health of gay men, if it is true then society is being very quiet about it.

“Recently in Scotland, there was a gay Catholic MP who died at the age of 44 or so and nobody said anything.

“And why his body should just shut down at that age? Obviously, he could have had a disease that would have killed anybody.

“But you seem to hear so many stories about this kind of thing but society won’t address it.”

Tartaglia, 61, said he had not meant to cause offence and his words were taken out of context.

At the time of Cairns’s death, internet slurs claimed he had suffered from a drink problem. In fact, he had gall stones which had blocked his pancreas, triggering pancreatitis.

Kehoe, 44, demanded the archibishop apologise and resign.

He said: “It is beyond belief that a man of God can come out with something as ridiculous and hurtful as that. He is not fit for public office.

“I would also like him to show some genuine contrition for what he said. Tartaglia now has no authority for moral leadership at all and he must resign.

“I hope to God he never has to watch someone he loves lying in intensive care. It was horrific and traumatic.

“David was my life. I was with him till the end. For two months before he died, I spent every day at David’s bedside hoping he would pull through as he slipped in and out of consciousness.

“That is what I think relationships are about. We loved each other and were devoted to each other.

“It is devastating enough to lose someone you love without people like Tartaglia coming out and trying to blacken his name. He has besmirched David’s memory by saying he died because of his choice of lifestyle and seeking to use this to influence the issue on equal marriage.

“This is more than distressing for me and his family, it has caused us all a great deal of emotional and physical pain. It makes me very angry.

“What he has said about David is worse than irresponsible, it was prejudice and homophobic. It’s generalising on the basis of ignorance.”

A spokesman for the archbishop said his words had been taken out of context. He added: “They were made in answer to an audience question at a lecture he gave on religious freedom in Oxford 14 weeks ago.

“He had no previous knowledge of the question, which was not related to his speech. In his reply he mentioned a situation he had been closely involved in, namely the funeral arrangements for the late David Cairns.

“The archbishop knew David Cairns, met him regularly at events in Inverclyde and got on well with him, and was personally involved in his funeral arrangements. He is sorry for any hurt which has resulted, there was certainly no offence or judgment intended in his words.”

Cairns’s close friend, Labour MP Tom Harris, said: “His death was nothing to do with his being gay.

“The bishop was clearly thinking out loud. Nevertheless, this was a public forum and he should not have said it.

“He was making an assumption about someone he did not know at all, and when he did not know about the circumstances of his death, to justify the Church’s attitude to homosexuality.

“It was incredibly insensitive. David’s family are still getting over this. They are devout Catholics and take seriously whatever the Archbishop of Glasgow says.”

Former first minister Jack McConnell also accused Tartaglia of making “prejudiced remarks” and called for an apology.

He said: “Compared to the thoughtful and very human eulogy by the Catholic priest at David’s funeral, these comments are uninformed and prejudiced.”

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – who yesterday announced laws to allow gay marriage in Scotland – condemned the archbishop’s remarks.

She said: “I’m sure during Bishop Tartaglia’s tenure as Archbishop of Glasgow – on which I congratulate him – I will agree with him on many issues and disagree with him on many issues.

“On this issue, I profoundly disagree with him.

“I disagree with him both in terms of the specifics, on the circumstances of David Cairns’s death, and generally on the link he makes between ill health and homosexuality.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband also rejected the bishop’s claims. He said: “I think he’s wrong.”

David left the priesthood in 1994 and met Dermot while they were both Labour Party researchers in 1997.

They moved in together in 2002.

Lining up for a pop at the new guy in the job

By Liz Leydon, Editor of Scottish Catholic Observer

WITH regards to the headlines “Glasgow’s new archbishop – not one day in the job without controversy,” who does this actually reflect badly on?

The priest who has agreed to shoulder the immense responsibility of the pastoral care for the Catholics in Scotland’s largest diocese or those who seem completely unwilling to give him the slightest chance to do so?

Given that the announcement of Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley as the new Archbishop of Glasgow came as little surprise this week to either those within or outwith the Catholic community, there has been plenty of time for would-be critics to prepare their dossiers for a smear campaign.

Archbishop-elect Tartaglia has been Bishop of Paisley for more than six years.

In that time he has been the communication bishop for the Scottish bishops and he has bravely spoken out on many difficult, challenging and sensitive subjects, not just the one currently causing this furore.

He must not, and will not, be afraid to speak his mind on such matters in the future.

The archbishop-elect’s comments with reference to the late David Cairns MP – an impromptu response to a conference question earlier in the year and not part of his message to delegates – have been taken out of context according to his spokesman.

That said, the archbishop-elect has apologised “for any hurt which has resulted”.

Given that he knew Cairns and was personally involved in his funeral arrangements, the matter should rest there.

To err is human, to forgive divine … and to continue to speak out as the Scottish Government use this as a chance to roll out their same-sex “marriage” legislation is absolutely necessary.

Jul 25 2012
By Paul Byrne

jet2 airliner lands safely (after aborted landing)

A schoolboy who evaded security checks to fly to Rome alone on a packed holiday jet had never been on a plane before.

Liam Corcoran caused an international incident when he wandered on to a Jet2.com plane.

The 11-year-old has never had a passport and didn’t have a ticket, boarding card or a penny in his pocket.

But he somehow managed to evade five security checks before strolling to a seat and buckling himself in.

It was only during the flight to Italy that other passengers became suspicious and alerted the crew.

Bosses at Manchester Airport and Jet2.com yesterday launched an investigation into the incident. Last night, dad Aaron insisted Liam will never get near another plane.

He said: “Liam told me the first time he knew he was in trouble is when the engines roared and the plane started to rise. He has never flown before.

“Maybe he thought it was not going to take off when he first boarded.

“He just did what the stewardesses told him and sat in his seat with his belt on.

“It was one of the other passengers who realised he was alone. One of them asked him where his mum and dad were and he said he did not know. But by that time, they were flying over France.”

Liam, of Manchester, had apparently walked three miles to the airport after giving his mum the slip on a shopping trip.

He mingled with other families and staff failed to realise he was on his own and had no documents as he headed to the gate.

He managed to bypass another security check and wandered on to the budget flight. No head count was carried out onboard.

After Liam was discovered, the captain radioed back to Manchester, where police contacted his mum
Mary Corcoran, 31.

After landing in Rome, the youngster stayed on board while the other passengers left the aircraft. He returned to Manchester on Tuesday after a 3000-mile round trip, where he was reunited with his relieved mum.

It is understood five Jet2.com staff have been suspended.

An airport source said: “It’s a pretty extraordinary set of circumstances.

“He appears to have been milling about with families. Several checks should have happened but never did. It was quite an adventure for him.”

Liam’s most exciting previous journey was a tram ride in Blackpool.

Aaron, 34, who is separated from Mary, added: “I don’t think my wife has done anything wrong. He just slipped away. The nearest he is going to get to planes in future will be an Airfix kit.”

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Jul 25 2012
By Magnus Gardham

david cameron nick clegg coalition Image 2

DISASTROUS new figures showing Britain slipping deeper into recession have sounded the “death knell” of Tory economic policy, Ed Miliband said yesterday.

The Labour leader launched a ferocious attack on David Cameron and George Osborne’s austerity drive as GDP figures showed the economy shrank by 0.7 per cent from April to June.

Speaking on a visit to Edinburgh he said: “We are in a deep recession as a country because of this
Government’s economic project.

“I think today marks the death knell of their economic policy.

“We have had three quarters of negative economic growth, the economy is smaller than when they took over and to proclaim it as anything other than a failure is wrong.”

He said Osborne had blamed snow, the Royal wedding, the jubilee and the euro crisis for Britain’s slump but added: “He should stop blaming everyone else and start blaming himself.

“People want action not excuses.”

Miliband said it was an “absolute disgrace” that long term youth unemployment was on the rise across Britain.

He called for a temporary tax cut and a tax on bankers’ bonuses to help kickstart the economy. He also demanded investment in infrastructure projects to help the beleaguered building industry but stopped short of backing Alex Salmond’s call for a £400million cash advance to launch a string of “shovel ready” schemes across Scotland.

He added: “They promised people that the pain they were inflicting would put the economy back on track. But month on month, year on year, we see things getting worse and not better.”

Yesterday’s figures showed a steeper than expected drop in Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, which is the value of goods and services produced in Britain.

The 0.7 per cent fall followed a 0.3 per cent drop in the first quarter of the year and a 0.4 per cent drop in the last three months of 2011. Figures last week showed Scotland had not plunged so deeply into
recession over the same period.

But the scale of the UK-wide fall suggests the Scottish economy will also be stuck in a slump when figures are released in three months time.

The Office for National Statistics, said the extra bank holiday and poor weather from April to June may have hit output. But the biggest cause was a slump in the construction industry, which shrank by 5.2 per cent over the period.

The news came after a record 420 firms went bust in Scotland in the first three months of the year, a fifth more than the same time last year.

First Minister Alex Salmond repeated his plea for cash to get building projects off the ground.

He added: “For a third consecutive quarter the UK economy has contracted – and with the speed of decline increasing, the Westminster Government need to adopt a Plan B and take immediate action to
kick-start the economy in the form of a stimulus to capital investment.”

Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, said: “This woeful performance is the inevitable outcome of an austerity programme based on wildly inaccurate analysis of current economic conditions.”

He urged people to join a mass rally on October 20 to protest at ConDem policies.

John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said the figures were disappointing but that there was potential for Britain to get back to growth later in the year.

The dire figures prompted renewed infighting in the coalition.

Senior Lib Dems demanded Mr Osborne is shifted from the Treasury in the Autumn reshuffle.

Panel of Scots give their verdict on how the economy is affecting them

WE asked a panel of Scots three questions about the economic downturn. We asked them:

1 Are you better or worse off than you were last year?

2 Do you struggle to cope financially?

3 How financially secure do you feel over the next five years?

Here a family, a businesswoman, an OAP and a student tell how their lives have been blighted by the downturn.

THE OAP

OAP Nell McFadden, 85, says she is worse off now than she has been in years – despite budgeting throughout her entire life.

The pensioners’ rights campaigner, of Gourock, Renfrewshire, is chairwoman of Inverclyde Elderly Forum and sits on 16 other community groups.

Question 1: “I am worse off now. Utility bills have gone up quite considerably, prices of food have gone up in the shops, while everything has been cut in size, so you get less than you used to, and in the last year or so, I have noticed by the time you get to the till the final bill is far more than it used to be.

Question 2: “I come from quite a poor background, and have always lived on a budget. A budget is part of my life, but recently I have had to budget harder and have to see if there are things reduced in price in the shops.

“I don’t buy anything I’m not going to use, but still have to budget for everything else.

“Older people don’t want to be in debt to anyone, and don’t want a bill coming in we can’t afford, so we have to keep cutting back.”

Question 3: “I can only see things getting worse over the coming years. There has been talk of taking away the pensioners winter fuel allowance. If we had a decent pension in the first place we wouldn’t have a lot of these problems.

THE FAMILY

FAMILY of four Tony Black, fiancée Claire McMillan and their kids, Abigail, three, and Tony, one, have been struggling to make ends meet in recent times, with the rising cost of everything from food to nappies and utility bills.

Tony, 28, revealed he also had to count on cash loans from his own mum to get by at the end of the month.

Care workers, Tony and Claire, 27, of Riddrie, Glasgow, have a monthly income of around £1500 but have little left by the time they pay their bills..

Question 1: Claire said: “We are definitely worse off than we were before.

“There is stuff we would like to buy now, but can’t because we don’t have any money left at the end of the month after we have paid all our bills.

“Once we have taken care of our bills we only have around £30 or £40 to tide us through to next pay day – and that’s not enough.

“Tony has to borrow money from his mum sometimes, and she is great about it, but other people may not be so lucky to have family they can depend upon.

Question 2: “We are finding it really hard to make ends meet. No one has had an increase in their wages for years, yet practically everything is more expensive, and we are having to face our wages being cut later this year after a pay deal we had in place runs out.”

Question 3: “We rent at the moment and the way things are, we will probably never be able to buy a house.”

THE BUSINESSWOMAN

Lorna Reid has been self-employed for 20 years, but is finding times tough in the current financial climate.

Lorna has had to make cutbacks, including taking a “staycation” holiday this year.

Question 1: “I am reasonably comfortable, but there are still things I worry about, including rising costs to my business and the way I see it, things won’t be getting easier any time soon.

“I do believe however we are better off up in Scotland than we would be living in England, I trust the
Scottish government more to look after the people of this country than I do David Cameron and George Osborne.”

Question 2: “As a textile designer, I have a large market to deal with, especially in America, so I am fortunate in that way, although it has been tougher to sell there since 9/11 happened.

“I live month-to-month, and as a self-employed person for the last 20 years, its just what I have to do.”

Question 3: “I have never been a person for projecting far into the future, and don’t have any sort of big plan.

“I do budget, and have had to adopt practices, while keeping on developing my business, and changing it in order to survive.”

THE STUDENT

THIRD-YEAR Aberdeen University student Megan Dunn, 21, is struggling to make ends meet.

The Politics and International Relations student has found herself working up to 20 hours a week in cafes, bars and shops as well as doing a full-time course.

Question 1: “I am definitely worse off now. I have rising student debts and will owe around £20,000 by the end of my degree.

“Combined with rising costs of rent, food and general living, as well as the student debt at the back of my mind, I am in a worse financial place than I have ever been.”

Question 2: “I have worked through the entire three years of my degree, and am constantly finding it difficult to make ends meet.

“A large proportion of the money I do get is spent on rent and students in general could benefit from help with this.”

Question 3: “A lot of entry-level jobs, for example in shops and restaurants, are being taken by graduates, who are being turned down for jobs in their own field, so that means there are less opportunities out there.

“I’m not confident I will be able to find a job which would pay enough to allow me to start paying off my student debt.”