Category: news

A Belgian court has ruled that recent raids by police investigating alleged child sex abuse by Catholic priests were illegal.

The appeals court also said the documents seized in June’s raids on several buildings of Belgium’s Catholic Church cannot be used by prosecutors.

The ruling could throw the long-running investigation into doubt.

Belgium is one of several countries in which a stream of abuse claims have shaken the Church.

In April, the Church was shaken when the Bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, resigned and admitted to having sexually abused a boy before and after becoming a bishop.

The inquiry into child sex abuse has been running for several years, but prosecutors are yet to bring any charges.

On Thursday, the appeals court in Brussels said the raids on the Church headquarters north of the capital and at the home of the former Archbishop of Belgium, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, were disproportionate.

The court also ordered that all the seized documents – including nearly 500 files and a computer from the offices of a Church commission investigating allegations of sex abuse – must be returned.

The current Archbishop of Belgium, Cardinal Andre-Joseph Leonard, said after the ruling that it was “in everyone’s interests that the fundamental rules of law are respected”, the AFP news agency reports.

He stressed that he was “in no way opposed to a correctly-run judicial investigation” had that he was “satisfied that clarity has finally been shone on this affair”.

The Church commission resigned en masse soon after the raids, and Pope Benedict XVI has denounced the raids as “deplorable”.

But Belgian Justice Minister Stefaan De Clerck has said that normal procedures were followed.

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MSPs claimed a record amount of expenses last year, with payments totalling almost £11.7m, Scottish Parliament figures have revealed.

Expenses and allowances for 2009-10 reached £11,662,598, an increase of £706,394 from the previous year.

Holyrood bosses stressed changes to the allowances system partly accounted for the increase.

Alasdair Allan, MSP for the far-flung Western Isles seat, claimed the most at almost £46,000.

Lothians MSP George Foulkes claimed the least, at less than £3,000.

The total MSP allowances bill takes accout of an increase in salary costs for politician’s staff, following the recommendations of an independent review.

However, the amount claimed by MSPs for other expenses, such as accommodation and travel, was down by £300,000.

A Scottish Parliament spokesman, said: “Staff salary costs aside, the wider picture shows costs remain steady.”

Liberal Democrat Tavish Scott, who represents Shetland, one of the most remote constituencies, claimed the most of the four party leaders, receiving £35,983.

Labour leader and East Lothian MSP Iain Gray, who received £6,271 in relation to his party position, was paid a total of £23,661, while his Tory opposite number, Annabel Goldie – a West of Scotland MSP, received £9,924.

SNP leader and first minister, Alex Salmond, was paid £19,943 for expenses in relation to his role as MSP for Gordon.

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A man who texted two other women with messages of affection on the day he killed his wife of nearly 26 years has been jailed for life.

Jonathan Palmer, 52, had denied killing 57-year-old Melinda at their home in Wadborough in Worcestershire on 22 December.

He was found guilty of murder at Worcester Crown Court and told he would serve at least 18 years.

Afterwards, police said he had a “callous disregard” for people.

Det Ch Insp Daryn Elton, of West Mercia Police, said Palmer had continually changed his story, including during the trial.

He said Palmer’s responses to police during the investigation and to questioning during the trial demonstrated “a huge capacity for lies and deceit at the expense of his deceased wife’s family”.

“But his callous disregard for the feelings of others did not stop there.

“There are two other innocent women from the three years leading up to the death of Mrs Palmer who were beguiled and then betrayed by the man they both first came into contact with through a website, one of whom believed they had a future life together,” he said.

He said he texted both his lovers with “messages of affection” on the day Mrs Palmer was murdered.

“Perhaps, most damning of all, Palmer made a 120-mile round trip to Nottinghamshire to take one of them Christmas shopping knowing that his wife of nearly 26 years lay dead at his hand,” he said.

One of his lovers, from Surrey, was given many reasons as to why he could not visit her – he led her to believe he was fireman working in Germany.

As part of his defence Palmer said neither relationship was important to him, despite texting one of the women referring to her as “Mrs Palmer-to-be”.

Police said she had loved him and thought their relationship was a “fairy tale come true”.

The court heard that Palmer told detectives his wife had been killed by a burglar.

But Palmer had repeatedly struck her head with a blunt instrument after he was caught with a secret phone which he used to contact the other women.

Judge Robert Juckes QC said the attack had been savage and brutal.

“Your were lying to the two deeply unfortunate women with whom you were conducting an affair, you had convinced both of them that you were a single man,” he said.

Melinda Palmer’s family issued a statement saying the sentence reflected the crime.

They thanked police and everyone involved in getting the case to court.

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The son of a man killed in the Claudy bombings has said he does not believe Martin McGuinness has told the whole truth about the Claudy bombings.

Gordon Miller, whose father David was killed in the attack, also said he did not want to meet the Sinn Fein MP.

Mr McGuinness has said he would be prepared to meet the victims’ families.

This follows his admission that he once visited Fr James Chesney, a priest suspected of involvment in the attack.

He had previously denied meeting Fr Chesney but has now said he “forgot”.

Mr Miller said he would not agree to be “in the same building” as Martin McGuinness.

However, Ulster Unionist councillor Mary Hamilton, who was injured in the Claudy bombings, said she did want to meet the deputy first minister because she had questions to put to him.

She said that if he had forgotten his meeting with Father Chesney it was possible he had also forgotten “other things”.

“If we were all sitting around a table talking to him maybe we would be able to jog his memory…because I really can’t believe that was eight miles down the road and didn’t know what was happening in Claudy.”

Ms Hamilton added that he “owed it” to the victims’ families to sit with them and answer their questions.

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A light aircraft has crashed in a garden in Hampshire.

The Cessna plane came down in Woodlands Road, between Ashurst and Netley Marsh on Thursday afternoon.

It is believed two people who were on board the plane have been hurt. It is not yet known how serious their injuries are.

Hampshire police said Woodlands Road has been closed while officers attend the scene. The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch will be notified.

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The House of Commons is to vote for the first time on whether UK troops should remain in Afghanistan – almost nine years after the war started.

There have been several statements and debates since the invasion in November 2001, but never a motion put to MPs.

The vote, on the question that “this House supports the continued deployment of UK armed forces in Afghanistan”, is expected at about 1800 BST.

More than 330 UK troops have died and around 10,000 are serving in the war.

The decision to join the US-led invasion was taken without a parliamentary vote, unlike the invasion of Iraq in 2001.

It was backed by the leaderships of all three main parties.

In June, Prime Minister David Cameron said he wanted UK troops out of Afghanistan within five years, but added he preferred not to “deal in too strict timetables”.

The Commons motion on troops in Afghanistan was tabled by the newly established Backbench Business Committee, which lays down the agenda for debate time not taken up by the government.

Green Party leader and Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has laid down an amendment arguing the Commons “does not believe that there is a military solution to the crisis in Afghanistan; and supports the pursuit of talks to secure a regional solution, including a potential power-sharing agreement and ceasefire, thus enabling the swift withdrawal of troops”.

This is backed by Labour’s Paul Flynn, Katy Clark and Jeremy Corbyn, and Jonathan Edwards of Plaid Cymru.

There have been numerous ministerial statements and general debates about the war in recent years, without going to a vote.

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Health officials are investigating a second death which is being linked to a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in south Wales.

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US President Barack Obama says plans by a small church to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 are a “recruitment bonanza” for al-Qaeda.

Mr Obama said that if it went ahead, the burning could endanger US military personnel serving in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The plan has drawn widespread international condemnation.

The pastor behind the threat says the burning would be a way to stand up to terrorism.

Terry Jones leads a congregation of 50 followers in the city of Gainesville, Florida.

In an interview with ABC television, Mr Obama said he hoped Mr Jones “understands that what he’s proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans, that this country has been built on the notion of freedom and religious tolerance”.

“And as a very practical matter, I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women who are in uniform,” the president said.

“Look, this is a recruitment bonanza for al-Qaeda. You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan… This could increase the recruitment of individuals who’d be willing to blow themselves up in American cities, or European cities,” he said.

“I hope he listens to those better angels and understands that this is a destructive act that he’s engaging in,” the president said.

US officials say they cannot intervene as the church’s actions would likely be protected by the US constitution’s guarantee of freedom of speech.

Mr Jones said on Wednesday that he would not cancel the Koran burning, and that his plan to burn the Islamic holy book was intended to draw attention to his belief that “something’s wrong.”

“It is possibly time for us in a new way to actually stand up, confront terrorism,” Mr Jones told reporters outside his church.

Earlier, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari said in a statement that “anyone who even thought of such a despicable act must be suffering from a diseased mind and a sickly soul”.

“It will inflame sentiments among Muslims throughout the world and cause irreparable damage to interfaith harmony and also to world peace,” he said.

His comments were the latest in chorus of condemnation from Muslim countries.

Malaysia called it a heinous crime, while Indonesia said it would damage relations between Islam and the West.

The plan has also sparked condemnation from the Vatican, Nato and the top US Afghan commander.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the plan “disgraceful”.

On Monday General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Afghanistan, warned troops’ lives would be in danger if the church went ahead with its bonfire.

Muslims consider the Koran to be the word of God and insist it be treated with the utmost respect. Any intentional damage or show of disrespect to the holy book is deeply offensive to them.

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The Commons is to vote for the first time on whether UK troops should remain in Afghanistan – almost nine years after the war started.

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Defence company BAE Systems has revealed plans to cut 1,000 jobs at five sites in England.

It said the cuts were a result of changes in the defence programme announced in December, together with “other workload changes”.

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions said it meant “worrying prospects” for the industry.

The job cuts will be spread across BAE operations in Brough, Chadderton, Farnborough, Samlesbury and Warton.

The company said there could be 212 job losses at Brough, in East Yorkshire, associated with a reduction in workload, mainly on the Hawk programme and 26 job losses at Chadderton, Manchester, because of a reduction in workload in the large aircraft business.

A further 55 job losses are expected within the Harrier team at Farnborough, Hampshire, and 149 jobs are set to go at Samlesbury in Lancashire.

In Warton, Lancashire, 298 jobs are set to be cut.

A further 206 cuts are planned at BAE’s Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte).

Kevin Taylor, managing director of BAE’s Military Air Solutions division, said: “We have today initiated consultation regarding potential job losses across the Military Air Solutions business, affecting the Brough, Chadderton, Farnborough, Samlesbury and Warton sites.

“Potential job losses are in manufacturing, engineering and associated support functions.

“These potential job losses result from the impact of the changes in the defence programme announced in December 2009, together with other workload changes.

“It is vital that MAS remains competitive by ensuring we have the correct balance of skills, capabilities and resources as we await the outcome.

“Today’s announcement is designed to ensure we remain properly positioned in what will undoubtedly become an increasingly challenging environment.”

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University vice chancellors are set to be told that raising student tuition fees is the best way to ensure future finding for higher education.

Universities minister David Willetts is expected to make the argument during a speech to vice chancellors later.

The Tory MP will say the approach is better than cutting student numbers or reducing the standard of courses.

In the past his Lib Dem partners in the coalition government pledged to abolish tuition fees in England.

In England, students pay fees of £3,225 a year, for which they take out loans, repayable after their income reaches £15,000.

Tuition fees are free for Scottish students in Scotland, and capped at £1,285 for Welsh students studying in Wales.

Graduate tax alternative

Mr Willetts’s speech will take place as university vice chancellors will meet later for a conference at Cranfield University, in Bedfordshire.

Universities in England are waiting for two major announcements – the result of the government spending review, which could cut higher education budgets by 20% or more – and the outcome of the review by Lord Browne of long term university funding.

Both are due this autumn.

The university minister’s speech is expected to discuss three options open to the government – stepping back from the rapid rise in student numbers, allowing funding cuts to decrease the standard of university teaching, and higher fees.

It is understood the universities minister will suggest asking students to pay more is the best option.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, meanwhile, has suggested a graduate tax linked to postgraduate salaries as an alternative.

Under a graduate tax, the amount the student pays would be a percentage of his or her income, rather than a fixed amount linked to a specific university fee – so some students could end up paying more than the fees for their own degree.

However, the idea has not received strong support in government.

Senior Conservative sources said the coalition government wanted to maintain the direct payment from the individual to the university, and that ministers believed it would be unfair for high-earning graduates to pay back more than the cost of their degrees.

Labour have accused the two coalition partners of squabbling over the issue.

Cost-cutting suggestions

It has also been reported that Lord Browne will reject a graduate tax and instead raise fees to around £7,000.

Higher university fees are also opposed by the National Union of Students which has supported proposals for a variable graduate tax.

Other moves to cut costs have also been mooted in the past, such as two-year degrees, more students studying part-time, by distance learning or living at home, and expanding the role of private institutions.

In the UK as a whole, income from fees – including fees paid directly by students such as postgraduates and overseas students – makes up about 29% of universities’ total funding, which was £25.4bn in 2008/09.

Another 35% comes from government funding bodies, while the rest comes from other sources such as research grants, endowments and investments.

In addition, students are eligible for loans towards their maintenance costs, which they pay back in the same way as their fees.

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An investigation has started after a Tube train was sent into the path of another train during Wednesday morning’s rush hour.

Transport for London (TfL) said the Hammersmith & City Line train was wrongly switched to an eastbound track after leaving a siding at Plaistow.

TfL said the driver stopped the train immediately and the nearest eastbound train was stationary almost 1km away.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed of the incident.

The Office of Rail Regulation was also notified.

Last month an out-of-control engineering train, without a driver, went through six stops on a 13-minute journey on the Northern Line.

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David Cameron pays tribute to his late father, describing him as a “amazing man” who had “touched a lot of lives”.

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A British journalist held captive by suspected militants in north-west Pakistan since March has been released.

Asad Qureshi was abducted in Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun tribal areas along with two former Pakistani intelligence officers.

His release was confirmed by the British High Commission in Islamabad.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that Asad Qureshi has been released. Our consular staff are providing assistance.”

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At least five people are killed and dozens wounded in an explosion in the southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz, local officials say.

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