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05 EURO) Monday, September 5, 2011

The pride of Northern Ireland

www.newsletter.co.uk

Since 1737

Bluegrass festival and airshow draw the crowds PAGES 3, 6 & 7

Church rocked by gay clergy storm

BY SAM McBRIDE
sam.mcbride@newsletter.co.uk

Tragic riders poignant return

News Letter, Monday,

September 5, 2011

23

KEEP THE FAITH!

Monday, September 5, 2011 5, 2011

Monday, September

Contents
Young feeling the pressure See pages 24-25

Feenos Euro appeal: P28

-29
Liam Beckett

Also inside...

Champions win again Turn to pages 26-27

Home Nations round-up See pages 30-32

Murder trial sparks fears

POLICE will be on high alert in Northern Ireland this week amid fears of unrest in loyalist communities as one of the largest paramilitary murder trials in decades gets under way. UVF chief Mark Haddock and 13 alleged associates will be in the dock in Belfast Crown Court tomorrow on charges connected to the killing of rival loyalist leader Tommy English 10 years ago. Police have concerns the trial could spark trouble in loyalist areas. See page 5

AN unresolved battle about gay clergy within the Church of Ireland is threatening to erupt after the News Letters revelation that a senior cleric entered a civil partnership. The Very Rev Tom Gordons same-sex union, which was reported for the first time on Saturday, led to weekend meetings of genuinely shocked senior

figures from the traditional wing of the church, while gay rights campaigners hailed the move as evidence of the growing acceptance of same-sex couples within the Church of Ireland. Yesterday the Rev Gordon said that he had received approval from his bishop, the Rt Rev Michael Burrows, prior to entering the partnership in July with his boyfriend of 20 years. Turn to page 4

Hundreds of bikers escort the hearse carrying Portadown motorcyclist Wayne Hamilton (inset) along the M1 as the riders body is returned to Northern Ireland. Wayne was killed in a racing crash on the Isle of Man last week. See page 5 MAIN PICTURE: Jonathan Porter/Presseye

THE DUP has slammed a revelation that a new mural in north Belfast depicting Provisional IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands as a boy was developed and funded by the public purse. The artwork, which appears on a wall at the junction of Newington Avenue and Atlantic Avenue near the Antrim Road, shows the young Sands and was unveiled by culture minister Caral Ni Chuilin on Friday. See page 10

Public fund Sands mural

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