Summary of The Irish News Newspaper
The Irish News front page this morning – summarised
The front page of The Irish News reports on a sex offender who targeted girls online across the UK – now jailed for 27 years.
- A prolific sex offender from Northern Ireland, who posed as a teenage boy on Snapchat and Instagram to trap his child victims, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison.
David John Andrews, 55, was told at Downpatrick Crown Court that he would serve a minimum of 13 and a half years, after which parole commissioners would determine when he can be released.
Police have said it is clear his offending, which involved coercing victims into sending him nude photographs, spread across the UK. - Government departments are on a collision course with unions unsatisfied with proposals to raise pay for more than a million public sector workers by 2.8% next year.
Inflation is predicted to average 2.5% this year and 2.6% next year, according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
The British Medical Association said the Government showed a “poor grasp” of unresolved issues from two years of industrial action, and the Royal College of Nursing called the pay recommendation “deeply offensive”.
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Sara was failed: ‘It’s not human to do this’ – Paper Talk UK
Thursday’s headlines are dominated by the conviction of a father and stepmother who killed 10-year-old Sara Sharif. Police said Urfan Sharif, 43, and Beinash Batool, 30, had subjected Sara to “horrific suffering” before her body was found at the family’s home in Surrey last year.
As more details emerge about the life and death of the young British girl, the newspapers react with horror at the brutality Sara lived – and died – under. Many of the newspapers pick up on the state’s failure to save her, pointing the finger at the courts, police, social services and teachers, who reportedly missed at least 15 chances to save her life.
Several domestic political stories also find space on the front pages with reports on Labour’s plans to build new houses, potential strikes this winter and ongoing reactions to the October Budget.
The back pages cover last night’s Champions League action – including yet another loss for Manchester City and the news that Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the 2030 World Cup hosts.
