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A lot of people have been to Oz. On paper it's a place I'd like to have visited but the getting there is very off putting for someone who hates flying. How many 1 hr flights would it take?!

There are a cluster of family hotels in Olhos D'Agua just outside Albufeira - 3HB Guarana etc. with steps nearby down to the beach. We stayed in the area last year and going back this year but not to a kid friendly hotel thankfully! Less than €10 by Uber into Albufeira.

Only thing for sure is that there are no winners, but hopefully justice is service.

As I said before, it is hard to see how you can prove something 20 years ago beyond reasonable doubt, I doubt there were witnesses other than his wife.

Hearing other cases the PPS didn't prosecute due unlikelihood of conviction even when there is evidence, they must feel there's a high chance of conviction based on what ever evidence they have. No?

I've no idea myself - I'm doing a lot of reading between the lines and may well be getting it wrong.

Today was the 1st appearance. I'd be shocked if the PPS even have the full file yet let alone have made a decision. It would be unusual for them to have the full file yet particularly if the allegations only surfaced in March.

So does that mean the PPS could still decide not prosecute?
I've no idea how these things work, I'd made the assumption it only gets this far if the PPS are already in a position to prosecute.
Interesting.

Police once they arrest someone can question them for a total period of initially 24 hours before they must release them without charge or charge them.  That time can be extended firstly by senior by police officers and then by courts.  Until that time is used up police can release upon pre charge bail in order to gather further evidence but conditions are largely unenforceable (not going into the details of that here not really relevant).   Once police believe they have sufficient evidence to establish a prime facie case they can charge.  Alternatively they can release for report.  Neither way suggests the evidence is any stronger or weaker than the other it more comes down to the perceived necessity by police for bail conditions and/or a remand.  The reason some are charged is essentially that police believe there a likelihood of reoffending if not charged, is there a likelihood of interference with witnesses or is there a likelihood of absconding.  Rarely there may be other reasons for charging such as to uphold public confidence but these are rare.

If an individual is charged they can be kept to the next remand court (the next day or two if its over a holiday or weekend) if PSNI feel that remand is necessary to meet the above.   Or they can be released on post charge bail by the custody sergeant who will set a date within 28 days for a defendant to appear at court and will set bail conditions.  That is what happened in this case.

After charge PSNI will continue to gather evidence and collate the already gathered evidence in order to submit a file to the PPS.  Once a file is received it will be allocated to a suitably qualified prosecutor who will review the file and if necessary request the police to gather further evidence.  Once the PPS have a full file they will decide whether to prosecute and what charges are to be prosecuted and where they are to be prosecuted.

Asking how long that process will last is like asking how long is a piece of string.  I recently had a fast tracked one that took 14 months but I've had ones take anything from 4 months to 3 years.  It depends on the amount of evidence, the quality, the likelihood of getting more, how busy the directing officer is, how busy the investigating officer is etc etc.

With a charge sheet case the court will keep under review how long things are taking.  Had the case been taken for report then its simply a case of when PPS can get round to it, but defendants aren't on bail in report cases. 

Statistically report cases have a higher conviction rate but a lower decision to prosecute rate but there's very little difference.

Ultimately all cases investigated by police are sent to PPS for decision.  A lot never see the light of day, some get dropped after being charged and others get prosecuted the whole way to trial.  At this moment nothing has happened that I am aware of that could lead to any proper conclusions on the strength of the evidence and we would simply be speculating.

A simple "the PPS might decide not to prosecute" would have sufficed.     
Thanks for that - definitely an education for me on the process.
All the more reason for people not to jump to conclusions at this stage of things I guess as anything could happen.

That'll be £700 please.

[His killing in prison, also feels like it could have had a level of facilitating about it - perhaps to keep him quiet?]

You will have noticed that the LVF were generally unable to carry out any attacks in the Garvaghy Road and Tunnel areas of Portadown. They did once try to shoot up the Tír na nÓg clubhouse one night but apparently the gunman was shaking so much he missed the building. Billy Wright and his cohorts were very much protected and enabled by the RUC, everyone in Portadown was aware of this hence the RUC couldn't guarantee easy access and exit from any of the nationalist areas of town. As an aside Robert Hamill's mother died this week without seeing any justice for her son's murder.

Wasn't aware of the Portadown situation, but thinking back on it there was genuine fear of the LVF across the catholic community. Watching King Rat and his cohorts patrol the crowds at Garvaghy always sent chills. There was that feeling that they could and would do what they wanted. Pure evil.
I know Wright eventually finished up in prison, but I can't remember what the charge was.
His killing in prison, also feels like it could have had a level of facilitating about it - perhaps to keep him quiet?

Happy enough with the outcome of that facilitation. Crip died young but he performed an important task.

Ha ha ha

Biggest victory since the 1995 FA Cup?

It's a shame. It's going to peter out for Klopp.

Would you as a Liverpool fan have taken a trophy win,a top 4 finish and a  return to Champions League football and title challenge at the start of the season?

I suppose it would have been considered a decent season if Klopp hadn't announced he was leaving which only seems to have made everyone think only a quad or treble at the very least would be considered a success in his final season, certainly some other clubs would have been happy with what Liverpool will end the season with.

As a neutral I'll be sorry to see Klopp leave the league.

From where Liverpool were last May, of course I would have taken top 4, a trophy and a title challenge.

But you take it as it comes. A quad or treble was never realistically on, but Liverpool were in a really strong position a few weeks ago in the league, which is what fans REALLY care about. Now the last month of the season, once top 4 is sealed,  will simply be a case of fulfilling fixtures, and Klopp's farewell will be a lot hollower then it might have been had they at least taken it to the final weekend.

Definitely going out with a whimper. I think everyone hoped they'd keep the pressure on til the end but seem to have given up

[He's still innocent until proven otherwise though , is he not?]

Some of the videos  I seen after court was a  bit  ridiculous (The  getaway car not being  available didn't help  either)

He's still  innocent until  proven otherwise though  , is he not?

Indeed he is, regardless of who or what he is.

I remember at the time it sent chills through the whole  nationalist community. Just listening to Talkback and Trevor Birney talking about and how attacking someone like Sean Brown was a deliberate ploy as he was decent and could not be associated with any paramilitary organisation. It was purely to put fear and Terror through a whole community by striking at its centre.

We had just won the AI and had beaten Bellaghy in the Ulster final before Christmas 1996. There was a crew of us living in Belfast and we had close relationships on and off the field with a lot of the Bellaghy lads. It struck hard. I remember travelling home at the time and we regularly changed out pick up spots etc. Going to matches in Lurgan and that was always a concern as well. How the f**k was that normal? 

Unfortunately we normalised it at the time and adopted

My dad handed me the book The Shankill butchers when it came out

Made me read it before I headed out that weekend, needless to say that put the willies up me for that period of heading out! 

Absolutely horrible book. Really tough. I read the book called committee. Really opened my eyes as a teenager growing up.

Only policeman you trust is a dead one.

Haven't read the Shankill butchers but did read the committee.
Certain well know  car dealerships at the fore.
If I remember right they have the oath taken by orange order members in the back cover too.

McPhilemy later had to retract on any involvement by those two and it cost him a few quid too from recollection. It was very messy as Trimble also took them to court too I believe. Must be 30 years ago!

I think Sean got a few himself

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/mar/31/northernireland.sarahhall

Cheers Itchy. Must go back and read about. I think Amazon were involved at one stage too.

1. Radio Ga Ga - specifically the televised version from Live Aid. Talk about owning a stage!

2. Bohemian Rhapsody

3. The Show Must Go On. I could pick any number for my 3rd choice but I'd keep 1 and 2.

Anyone been round Tuscany on thier travels?

Yes, I went in 2018 (I Think) and it was amazing. It was just me and my now wife so no kids, and I think the type of holiday we done kids would find it pretty boring, so take that into consideration.

Flew into Pisa, hired a car and travelled down to a town called Castiglione della Pescaia, we loved it here. It is a lovely seaside town, not touristy at all, but clearly a place favoured among Italians for a weekend trip or staycation.

From there we headed inland to Pienza (small walled town, with stunning surroundings and scenery) and Montepulciano for a vineyard visit.

We then headed north to San Gimignano, stayed in a local Agriturismo, which was a nice experience, they produced their own olive oil and wine.

The food on the trip was stunning throughout, as was the scenery and the locals all very friendly (we found that if you make a small effort to speak Italian they warm very quickly to you).

Driving was abit nuts however, luckily we avoided any accidents, but the locals are very fast, and lack lane discipline even on blind corners.

Also done a night in Pisa, which has nothing in it bar the tower, have to get the picture, but I'd avoid staying any longer than the time it takes to visit it.

We stayed clear of the bigger cities, but thats just our preference.

Overall we loved it.

What time of year was that as Ive read it's not pleasant in summer

Chelsea are a shambles.

Going against popular opinion but mccoist annoys me. There, Ive said it 🤓

He's a dose

He was OK as a change from the usual Sky commentators but now that he is on nearly every time BT have a game he is sickening. Comes out with the same shit the whole time.

Once in a while was fine but now its just hard to listen too.

He got a bit of a cult following at the World Cup and people were saying he was refreshing etc etc. He has then had to play up the persona and over time it grates on some people. I don't mind him but I watch less and less soccer ball these days so it doesn't annoy me.

I remember at the time it sent chills through the whole  nationalist community. Just listening to Talkback and Trevor Birney talking about and how attacking someone like Sean Brown was a deliberate ploy as he was decent and could not be associated with any paramilitary organisation. It was purely to put fear and Terror through a whole community by striking at its centre.

We had just won the AI and had beaten Bellaghy in the Ulster final before Christmas 1996. There was a crew of us living in Belfast and we had close relationships on and off the field with a lot of the Bellaghy lads. It struck hard. I remember travelling home at the time and we regularly changed out pick up spots etc. Going to matches in Lurgan and that was always a concern as well. How the f**k was that normal? 

Unfortunately we normalised it at the time and adopted

My dad handed me the book The Shankill butchers when it came out

Made me read it before I headed out that weekend, needless to say that put the willies up me for that period of heading out! 

Absolutely horrible book. Really tough. I read the book called committee. Really opened my eyes as a teenager growing up.

Only policeman you trust is a dead one.

Haven't read the Shankill butchers but did read the committee.
Certain well know  car dealerships at the fore.
If I remember right they have the oath taken by orange order members in the back cover too.

McPhilemy later had to retract on any involvement by those two and it cost him a few quid too from recollection. It was very messy as Trimble also took them to court too I believe. Must be 30 years ago!

[Are people just more sick?]

Are people just more sick? More people and less doctors?

Living longer, as I've said many times is a curse.

Yeah but why are we all so sick

Eating carbs

I watched some of it last night but after seeing Mrs. Brown talking about going up to the pitch with a torch at 2.30am and the peelers coming to the house I didnt have the stomach for the rest of it as I knew it would be another wretched story of the senseless murder of a good man. It's right up there with the most senseless of all of the killings by puppets on strings that reached all the way to Whitehall. I'll give it another go at some stage.

My friends aunt was up from the South, needed to see a doctor, paid £75 quid to see one in a private clinic in Armagh ran by an ex Tyrones missus, the doctor she saw is the doctor I would see if I ever got an appointment!

That Doctor is in all likelihood taking those shifts because his or her practice can not give them any more shifts. Not the fault of the GP but the system.

I dont think so. Went part time (or just left) NHS to go into the private sector.

GP Practices have a limited number of sessions, even if they decided to go part time it would not impact on the number of appointments available at your practice. Most Doctors who leave HSC GP work do so because they can no longer put up with the insane work load.

Insane workload? 9-6 with a few hrs off for paperwork and calls in my local surgery. As you have said the GPs have limited availability which hasn't changed despite the massive uptick in need so how is their workload insane? The biggest complaint the seem to have is that they were being taxed too highly on their pension fund.