GEORGE Michael’s ex-lover Fadi Fawaz ducks out of the star’s £5million London pad on the second anniversary of his death. Fadi, 45, appeared full of emotion outside the home they shared near London's Regent’s Park. An onlooker said: “He had a distant look on his face. He seemed sad, lonely, lost.” Fans left tributes, above, at George’s home in Goring, Oxon, where he was found dead on December 25, 2016. Fadi, who won’t inherit any of George’s wealth, has been ordered to move out of the London flat.

BANKSY could be prosecuted for shredding his own Girl With Balloon artwork after it sold for £1million at a Sotheby’s auction, a legal expert claims. Salomé Verrell, a solicitor and senior lecturer at the University of Law, said the graffiti artist “committed criminal damage” because the auctioneer’s hammer had already come down. The Girl With Balloon was due to go to the new owner, but instead it was fed through a shredder that Banksy revealed he hid into the frame meaning the artist technically destroyed someone else's property. Verrell says Bansky broke the law with the stunt and if police can figure out who he is then he should expect police to turn up at his door. She said: “When Banksy shredded the painting, he was damaging someone else's property, and he did so intentionally and knowing that it belonged to someone else. "It seems Banksy is not content with alleged criminal damage of buildings but now has apparently criminally damaged someone else's painting. "The painting belonged to the highest bidder because the hammer had gone down and the sale had ended before the shredding began. "Therefore at the time of shredding, the painting belonged to someone other than Banksy and he knew that since he was selling it at auction. "He intended to destroy it knowing it belonged to someone else.” She said that it falls under the Sale of Goods Act of 1979 and the Criminal Damage Act of 1971. Under the Sales of Goods Act, the artwork had transferred owners as soon as the gavel fell. Verrell said that even though the woman who bought the painting was happy with the result it would be interesting to see if she didn’t want to artwork in the end. She added: "It could however be said that he actually improved (or increased the value) of the piece, and that (unknown to the buyer) it was a dynamic and evolving piece of art. "Damage is a matter of fact and degree in each case. "If the piece itself is damaged by shredding this does seem to fit the definition of 'damage' within the Act, but the increase in value may throw this into doubt. "However, just like his antics when spray painting someone's exterior walls, without a loser, that is, someone to make a complaint to the authorities, it seems Banksy will continue to get away with breaking the law, in the name of art.” The Sun Online approached Banksy's representatives for comment.

Stephen Hawking, Margaret Thatcher and Ada Lovelace are among a list of nearly 1,000 people who could feature on the new £50 note. Bank of England governor Mark Carney announced earlier this year that the new polymer note would celebrate British achievement in science. The Bank said nearly 230,000 nominations were made in the six week nomination process which ran until December 14, with the list now whittled down to 992 eligible names. Other names include Alan Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Dorothy Hodgkin, as well as Magnus Pyke and Marie Stopes. At this stage, any nomination of a person who is real, deceased and made a contribution to science has been deemed eligible. The Banknote Character Advisory Committee will go on to look at the names and it is expected the new face of the £50 will be revealed in the summer. The note will be the last upgraded to a plastic polymer version, with the £20 no longer being manufactured out of paper from 2020 when it will be replaced by a design featuring artist JMW Turner. The new £50 will replace the current paper note which features industrial revolution pioneers Matthew Boulton and James Watt. Others who are on the list are Alice Vickery, the first woman to qualify as a chemist and pharmacist, author and natural scientist Helen Beatrix Potter and Peter Mansfield, a pioneer of the MRI machine.

A TOP Tory MP was left red-faced last night after “liking” an X-rated tweet about oral sex. Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell gave a heart to a saucy post by beauty vlogger James Charles. The 56-year-old later blamed the faux pas on his “big thumbs”. Other Twitter users reacted with shock to the MP’s gaffe, with one commenting: “Oh my.” But others posted their support. Sam Shenton said: “David Mundell has liked this tweet and is already my favourite Cabinet Secretary.” Ido Vock added: “Merry Christmas to everyone and especially David Mundell” — a tweet also liked by the dad of three MP. The Scottish Tories leapt to his defence and criticised those paying attention to Mr Mundell’s social media activities on Christmas Day. A spokesman said: “Anyone who spends Christmas forensically going through an MP’s Twitter account needs a new way to spend the festive period.” Mr Mundell came out as gay in a post online three years ago, saying he had “set my political priorities and now for a personal one”. He added: “I just want to get on with it, and now, just like that, I have said it.”

POSH Oxford students have been blasted for posing naked in their historic library. They used books and mortar boards to hide their modesty at the 161-year-old university rooms. The Exeter College group then posted the snap online and bragged they’d end up in the newspapers. Sources say the stunt was in response to a crackdown on partying in the college’s chapel — as revealed in The Sun in March. At the time a 200-strong group of revellers romped in rooms, exposed their breasts and smashed glasses. Among the latest students to shame the college is ex-Eton pupil Nick Whitley, whose family were behind the Greenall Whitley brewing empire that became the De Vere Hotel group. They also include Bella Monkcom daughter of a millionaire insurance firm boss. Former pro-cricketer Mark Crawley’s daughter Charlotte, niece of ex-England batsman John Crawley, also appears. A student said: “It’s not ‘witty banter’, it’s disrespectful and has brought shame to the college. Everyone finds it terribly embarrassing. “Disruption in the library is the last thing you want with exams only a few weeks away.” Another said: “They came in late in the evening while I was working on an essay. “It was a bit of a spectacle, most of them were completely naked and they’re not a bad-looking bunch. “You could see everything. They were giggling and making smutty jokes. “I put my headphones in to try and block them out.” Nick Whitley is descended from one of the two families which created Greenall’s, sold for £1.14billion in 1999. Dad Jeremy is a millionaire hedge fund manager in Edinburgh. A woman at the family home said: “The photo was done for charity for a calendar to raise money. “It was all harmless really. Other universities have done them this year too.” A neighbour confirmed Bella Monkcom is in the snap and that she lived at a £1.2million home with Wessex Group chairman dad Jon, in Winchester, Hants. Lottie Crawley’s family confirmed she appeared in the photo and her dad and uncle were ex cricketers. Oxford University declined to comment.

AMAZON customers are furious and blame it for “ruining Christmas” amid claims their next day deliveries haven’t arrived and their packages are “full of junk”. The online retail giant appeared to have buckled under the pressure of delivering the millions of gifts ordered in the lead up to Christmas as many took to social media slam them. One said Amazon ruined their Christmas and posted to their Facebook page this morning: "Thank you to amazon for ruining my boys Christmas. Bought him fortnight PS4 game and he has just opened it and their was no game in it". Another customer experienced a similar issue and said: "Not happy with Amazon at the moment. Ordered two games for our daughter Nintendo (evee and mario aces). "Both sealed packages and both empty. That's half our daughters Christmas gift that she can't have!!! "We only found out when she went to open the Packages. #amazon #amazoncustomerservice." Amazon replied to both customers apologising and asked for them to get into contact. Amazon Prime members also blasted the company for failing to delivery their parcels within the guaranteed Prime delivery window they offer. Members fork out £79 a year to get an unlimited number of next day deliveries on millions of goods. One angry customer said on Twitter: "A massive merry f***** Xmas to @Amazon who failed to deliver half the presents I bought despite saying delivery 24th when I ordered. "I pay good money for prime membership too. #MerryChristmas2018 #amazon #taxdodingc****" Another claimed: "Thanks Amazon, tell me something I ordered last week is going to be delivered today with my Prime account, only to receive an email today saying it's now going to be Thursday. Don't think I'll be renewing my Prime account." One customer shared a photo claiming their box arrived empty. They said: "Well this sucks!! 01:20, wrapping presents ready for Christmas. "Come to wrap my wife’s perfume only to find some cheeky thief has made off with the perfume and sent me an empty box! Not bloody impressed!! Cheers Amazon!!!!" Another customer shared a photo claiming they got a box of junk after ordering a £400 box. They said: @AmazonUK ordered £400 Michael Kors Smartwatch. Opened it to wrap it for the morning. "Box filled with 2nd hand junk. You d**ks!! I'm so gutted. What the hell am I supposed to do now !??" It comes as consumer watchdog Which? warned of Christmas deliveries not going as planned. Last year they found that 58 per cent of people experienced problems with at least on of their deliveries and 24 per cent faced failed deliveries altogether. Alex Neill, Which? Managing Director of Home Products and Services, said: “Problems with our deliveries really can be a nightmare before Christmas, causing added stress at a busy time of year. “If you face a delivery issue, remember that you have rights and should contact the retailer as soon as possible to have your problem solved.” Amazon UK responded to most of the customers asking for them to get into contact with them to resolve the issue. An Amazon spokesman said: "We work very hard to deliver on our fast shipping promise and customer satisfaction is our top priority. If there is an issue, our customer service team will work with the customer directly to make things right."

A DRIVER has died following a Christmas Day car crash in Scotland. The man was rushed to hospital following the single-vehicle collision on the A9 near Perth. The crash occured at around 2pm today. An air ambulance was called to the scene and the man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. Police Scotland has since confirmed the man died from his injuries in hospital. An investigation has been launched into the circumstances of the crash and police have asked any potential witnesses to come forward. The road was re-opened around three hours later. The driver's family are said to have been informed. Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101.

THE singer of a popular Indonesian band has buried his wife who was killed along with three of his bandmates when a tsunami tore into a venue where he was performing. Riefian Fajarsyah , 35, was on stage with his band Seventeen as they performed at a beach resort in the area close to where a volcanic eruption caused the tsunami. The death toll from the tsunami that hit Indonesian islands without warning on Saturday night has now passed 420 with more than 1,400 people injured. Horrifying footage showed a huge wave smash through the stage as terrified fans could be heard screaming as the 16ft-high torrent of water slammed into the set mid-performance. Fajarsyah’s wife Dylan Sahara was killed along with three bandmates of when the tsunami hit Tanjung Lesung Beach at 9.30pm. He is the only surviving member of Seventeen and the funeral of his 25-year-old actress and TV personality wife is due to take place in her hometown of Ponorogo, on the east side of Java. Fajarsyah posted a video clip of himself on social media stroking his wife’s coffin of his wife. He wrote on his widely followed Instagram account "How can I live without you, Dylan Sahara? "Thank you guys for your prayers. Only God can repay your kindness. Please send prayers for my wife Dylan so she will be at peace. "(She) was not perfect and neither am I, but she never stopped trying to be the best wife. I could not ask for more." Sahara is the daughter of a well-known Indonesian politician, who was running for a parliament seat in next year's elections. According to media reports she was identified at a hospital late Monday, the day before her 26th birthday. Funerals were held Monday for the group's bassist, guitarist, road manager and a crew member who were killed in the disaster. The guitarist has also been confirmed dead. Some 200 people had gathered at the concert for an end of year Christmas party when disaster struck. In between songs while the drummer was playing, the stage suddenly heaved forward, throwing the band and all their equipment into the audience. Video footage shared on social media showed partygoers enjoying the music and then screaming as waves crashed into the stage and band members were swept away. Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors along the devastated west coast of Java and at least 154 people are still missing. They used heavy machinery, sniffer dogs and special cameras to detect and dig bodies out of mud and wreckage along a 60-mile stretch of coast Thick ash clouds continued to spew from Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island where a crater collapse at high tide sent waves smashing into coastal areas on both sides of the Sunda Strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java.

A PUB drinker sexually assaulted a woman — by putting a pal’s hand on her bum and thigh. As she objected, Liam Moon, 28, sneered: “What are you going to do? We can do what we want.” He first made a lewd comment about her rear in a bar. CCTV caught him molesting her as they met at a second venue in St Aubin, Jersey. Prosecutor Chris Baglin told a court: “Moon takes his friend’s arm/wrist, touches the top of her thigh, before moving the arm on and over the bottom, over her trousers.” Moon, of Bellozanne, got 90 hours’ community service for indecent assault and must sign the sex offenders’ list. JP Peter Harris said use of his pal’s hand was “an aggravating factor as you put them at risk”.

A FIRE broke out this morning at the iconic Langtons Hotel in Kilkenny City ahead of Christmas Day preparations. It's been reported that the blaze broke out in the hotel's kitchen at around 9am. Footage posted online by Twitter use Pamela Brophy, where she is heard coughing repeatedly, showed how plumes of smoke filled John Street as fire fighters tackled it. Kilkenny Fire Brigade units and Gardai attended the scene and quickly brought the situation under control, according to local radio station KCLR96fm. There's no confirmation that anyone was injured in the fire although there are reports that a man has been taken to hospital as a precaution. RTE News reported that part of the kitchen was damaged in the hotel on John St. News of the fire comes after an elderly man died after a house fire on Christmas Eve in Co Fermanagh. The alarm was raised at around 11am yesterday morning with emergency services attending the scene at Braeside Park in Enniskillen. A PSNI spokesman told Belfast Live: "Police can confirm that a man, aged in his 80’s, has died following a fire at a house in Braeside Park in Enniskillen this morning, Monday 24 December. "Police received a report of the fire at around 11am. Emergency Services attended but unfortunately the man was found deceased at the scene. "An investigation into the cause of the fire, which is not believed to be suspicious, has now commenced."

A RUSSIAN hunter was killed and eaten to the bone by a raging brown bear he kept as a pet in a cage on his plot of land. The man’s “skeletal remains” were found by police who went to his house after his relatives reported him missing and the beast on the loose. The bear - raised by Sergey Grigoriyev, 41, after he found it as a cub - also killed and ate to the bone one of his three dogs. Police in Ozersk, Chelyabinsk region, shot dead the aggressive bear which had earlier escaped from its cage. Blood marks were seen on the snow from the fatal attack on the hunter. A police statement said: “Officers used their service weapons to kill the dangerous animal. “As a result of the measures taken, the bear does not pose a threat to citizens' lives and health any longer.” Senior detective Alexey Petrov said: “The cage was open. “The animal was walking around behaving aggressively. “On the plot we found the skeletal remains of a man.” Reports say Grigoriyev rescued the bear - named Vorchun or Grumbler - four years ago, along with another cub. He raised the wild animal on his suburban plot. He gave away one cub but kept the other after the only offer he had for it was from a “baiting station” - where hunting dogs are trained with live predators. Such stations are notorious for their cruelty. This attack come after a woman had her arm torn off by a bear at a Christmas party. The Russian woman had bragged about how she could feed it through the cage, but when she attempted it, the bear took her arm for dessert. A neighbour said he had shared tea with Grigoriyev but not seen him afterwards. “We called him but he did not answer,” he said. “When his relatives came, they saw a bear wandering around the plot. “There was a dog with them. “It attacked the bear, giving the people the opportunity to escape in the car.” Petrov said a dog belonging to Grigoriyev and another that came with the relatives were killed and gnawed to the bone. The bear had previously attacked its owner - a father - but he had ignored advice from friends to get rid of it. The Russian Investigative Committee is examining the case.

THESE parents were celebrating special Christmas arrivals today. The first baby born today was Deirdre McDermott at University Maternity Hospital Limerick at 12.11am. Her parents Brid and John said the tot weighed in at 3.3kg (7lbs 5oz). Four babies were born in the Coombe Hospital in Dublin — giving their mums and dads the ultimate festive gift. The first was a baby girl, born at 12.38am to Kitti and Arunesh Tengur from Swords, Co Dublin. Kitti and Arunesh’s baby girl, Emma, weighed in at 3.5kg (7lbs 7oz). Almost two hours later, another little girl was born, this time to Denise and Joe Dolan from Sallins, Co Kildare. The couple’s first child weighed in at 3kg (6lbs 6oz) and has yet to be named. Information about the other two babies born at the Coombe unit have not been released. Elsewhere, a little boy was the first baby to be born in the Rotunda Hospital on Christmas Day. Nadine McHale gave birth to Hunter at 7.18am weighing 2.89kg (6lbs 4oz). The tot will join father Callum Norton, sister Mia, eight, and brother Kairyon, two, at home in Swords. A total of seven babies were delivered in the Rotunda today. Meanwhile, three babies were born in the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin today. And a Cork couple Ed Long and wife Karen Kellegher welcomed Freya into the world at their home in Farran, Co Cork, at 2am. Amid the baby news, some of Dublin’s GAA stars started their day visiting sick kids in hospital. Stephen Cluxton, Bernard Brogan, Michael Fitzsimons, Jack McCaffrey and Michael Darragh MacAuley brought the Sam Maguire to the Children’s University Hospital on Temple Street.

SHOPPERS drawing blood while fighting over marked down clothes, picking through discarded tampons and soiled nappies in the changing room, and bargain hunters stripping off in the middle of the store - these are just some of the realities of working in retail at Christmas. Under pressure to keep up during the busiest time of the year, here three former Next retail assistants reveal what it’s like to work during their famous Boxing Day sales. 'A honeymooning couple had sex in the changing rooms' Market researcher Rihan Ahmed, 38, single and lives in North London. He said: "I worked for Next five years ago. During the sales it was crazy in the store. I usually manned the changing rooms. We had separate sections for men and women. One couple insisted on going in together. I said no. They were from Italy on their honeymoon. He tried to convince me explaining they were just married and were trying on things to take home. My instinct told me that they wanted to use the changing room for more than clothes shopping. Against my better judgement I let them go in to a cubicle together. They were taking a while. So I radioed security to accompany me and see what was going on. My headset was connected to the in-store radio system and for reasons I still can’t fathom our conversation with the couple in the cubicle ended up being broadcast throughout the store on the public sound system. Their grunting and groaning could be heard throughout the Central London shop. In the end we had to wait until they had finished. They didn’t even buy any clothes either. All bets are off over the festive sales period. We had a work do during the sales and I walked into the manager‘s office to find him copping off with one of the Christmas temp staff. She got offered a permanent contract for her efforts. Staff would act crazy. During our breaks you’d find photocopies of people’s bums lying around the staff room. There was a homeless guy who I would see outside the store. Sometimes I’d give him a cup of tea and some toast on the way in to work. Once during the sales it was freezing outside so I invited him in to get warm. With his beard and oversized clothes he had the hipster look going on. He was genuinely homeless but that didn’t stop shoppers haranguing him to help them find stock. They mistook him for staff. He did eventually get given a job too." 'One shopper left a soiled sanitary towel in the changing room' Graphic designer Stephanie Coles, 33, lives in West London. She says: "I worked at Next while at university in Sheffield from 2001-2003. I didn't work the first Christmas - you have to be prepped for the sales. It was a great store to work for, apart from the Boxing Day sales. I had to arrive at the store by 4am to make sure the stock was in place and also to do a massive tidy up. We had two hours to prepare the sale stock. Even when I arrived people were already queuing round the block. When it was time to open up, it was akin to animals pouring through the doors. One colleague was visibly pregnant and yet shoppers still shoved her aside to get to the rails. The queues were enormous for the changing rooms. Some women would get fed up of waiting or refuse to queue. Those were the ones who would just strip off and try clothes on in the middle of the shop floor. Customers would get very stroppy about the changing rooms. They could only take eight items in - and would repeatedly moan about it. One shopper even left a soiled sanitary towel on the floor of the changing cubicle. None of us would pick it up. Even though customers would exit the room and tell us. We left it there for the cleaners to deal with! Fights did break out but I was 19 - I wasn't going to attempt to control women who were hell bent on shopping. We didn’t have a security guard to back us up. I just let it happen. People would argue over anything and everything. Someone would grab a sleeve of a dress while someone else had picked up the item on the hanger at the same time. It happened that often we’d just shrug our shoulders. You couldn't really get involved, as emotions were so high among customers. 'One woman used her stiletto as a weapon - there was blood' Hannah Doyle, 42, a health writer, lives in West Sussex. She says: "Next was posh when I worked for the company for two years. It was my first job at 16. People who couldn’t afford to shop there got really excited about the sales. Almost everything got marked down. One Christmas a lot of summer stock ended up reduced. There were pastel pink suits and dresses. An argument broke out between two respectable-looking women - who then began fighting. My manager immediately asked me to keep kids and nosy bystanders out of the way. One of the women even slipped her shoe off and began brandishing her stiletto as a weapon. We had a very enthusiastic security guard who fortunately intervened. I had to clean up after the fight was over and to my surprise I even discovered blood splattered on a pale pink skirt suit! Hygiene in the changing rooms left a lot to be desired. We discovered everything from used tampons to soiled nappies. It amazed me that people used the changing cubicles like lavatories. Leading up to the sales, we would be pestered by customers wanting to know what was going to be marked down. It was pointless asking because we weren’t allowed to tell anyone. Even so, the day before it started we had to put on special codes on the items. Customers were far from stupid. They’d spot us doing it and follow us around the store. During the sale people would return full priced items in an attempt to switch it for the reduced price. They’d get annoyed at how cheap their clothing was now it had been marked down. Everyone had to work during the sales. I remember missing family gatherings because I was in the shop on Boxing Day. It was all hands on deck. I was allowed to make a phone call from my manager’s office at lunchtime to wish season’s greetings to my family. During the sales I’d prefer to work on the tills than on the shop floor - but shoppers would often argue while waiting in line to be served. Then there were those who had nicked stuff and ‘return’ them to get a refund during the sales. You knew who they were but we were that busy we just had to get on with it. During this time of year it was like a jumble sale – there were clothes chucked everywhere. My dad used to meet me after work and he’d complain that it was slave labour. My manger just said, 'tough!'"

RUSSIAN researchers claim to have found a way to produce instant erections with a remote control zapper. Tests on monkeys are reported to show “spectacular” results at the press of a button on a device similar to a TV channel changer. Research has now begun on humans in the hope of a cure for impotence, says entrepreneur Boris Aleksandrov, a former GP who is behind the studies. Graphic video footage from a research centre appears to show a monkey getting a sudden and rapid erection. It is claimed to be a response to a signal from a remote control. The erection vanishes just as quickly after another signal. Dr Aleksandrov said: "We can cause a monkey to have an erection at any time of the day - remotely. "We press a button on a remote control. The manhood immediately rises. "We press the button, the penis droops." The technique involves connecting tiny electrodes to nerves in the male reproductive system, said Dr Aleksandrov. Erections are then induced by electro-stimulation of the nerves by remote control. The "breakthrough" was made by a team of 20 scientists studying male reproductive health and impotence over several years. Dr Aleksandrov said: “This is the first successful study of its kind in the world, opening a new possibility of fighting erectile dysfunction in humans.” Pioneering tests have been carried out on men with “encouraging” results, he added. The first patients were men undergoing planned prostate surgery, with the aim of preserving sexual function afterwards. Researchers at the Lopatkin Research Institute of Urology have been urged to publish a detailed scientific paper on their claimed breakthrough. The technique has some similarities to an approach being investigated in Brazil which involves electrical stimulation of the penis. In tests, two tiny electrodes were placed on the genitals with a power-pack used to generate a current. Volunteers reported a mild tingling as the current passed through tissue. Reports say one man in ten suffers erectile dysfunction at some point. Drugs like Viagra have revolutionised treatment, but more than one in three men sees no improvement with this method, it is claimed. Last week we told how a man left impotent by diabetes hopes a £1,200 "Vampire penis jab" will reignite his sex life.

A HUGE family of 121 chowed down on Ireland’s biggest Christmas dinner today. Cork mum-of-15 Ellen Buckley helped serve up ham, turkey, beef and spiced beef for her children, 65 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. And Ellen — who has five girls and ten boys — told the Irish Sun how she loves everyone getting together for the mega festive bash. She said: “Obviously not everyone can sit around the kitchen table, but they come, grab a plate and help themselves to the food. “The day is alcohol-free and we have gallons of soft drinks as well as teas and coffees. “We have sherry trifle without the sherry, flans, pudding and ice-cream for dessert. “There is never an argument and everyone just loves spending this time together and catching up on family news.” And Ellen revealed she expects to have even more family at another bash on January 6 for her 88th birthday as a few relatives are expecting babies. Widow Ellen lost a son and a daughter over the years but loves Christmas time when all her remaining children, their kids and even their children’s children gather with their partners at Rose Cottage, on the outskirts of Cork city, from around noon. Super great-gran Ellen — who is affectionately called Nan Gigi or Nana Buckley — sits back on her favourite chair in the kitchen as her relations pack into the living room, the kitchen and the outer kitchen in the family home. As Ellen suffered a stroke a few years ago, most of the cooking for the mammoth meal is now done by her son Eddie, who lives with her and cares for her. He explained: “I have everything bought and prepared and spend Christmas Eve cooking so everything is ready to go when the family members arrive. “It is a great day. We are very fortunate that everyone gets on so well and there has never been a falling out among any of the children. “Mam sits in her chair and directs operations when I am cooking. She taught us all how to cook so that comes in handy now. “She did it for so many years and I am happy to be able to do it for her. Everyone enjoys the food and when they all leave mam and I sit down and have our Christmas dinner. “It’s a family tradition now and one that we all love and enjoy.” Ellen’s family knows the presents she loves best — lottery scratch cards, making sure she ends up with a variety to take a coin to each Christmas. And in turn, the 87-year-old gives every family a box of chocolates. But when their massive Christmas Day ends, Ellen and Eddie start all over again for the next big family occasion. That takes place next Sunday when the family gather for her late husband Timothy’s anniversary mass, before heading back to Rose Cottage for yet another huge family dinner.

A MUM claims her daughter nearly bled to death when she was turfed out of hospital just 20 minutes after having three teeth removed - leaving her vomiting blood clots 'the size of her FIST'. Lois Booth, 34, woke up in the middle of the night to find Esme-Lyn, five, choking and bleeding heavily from the tooth extraction 12 hours earlier. The mum-of-two claims little Esme-Lyn had barely come around from the anaesthetic when she was discharged just 20 minutes after going into surgery at Whiston Hospital in Prescot, Merseyside. She called an ambulance in the early hours of December 13 and the little girl was rushed to see a specialist at Royal Blackburn Hospital. Lois, from Bolton in Greater Manchester, said: "I was screaming down the phone to the ambulance I thought she was going to die. The amount of blood coming out of her, it was just too much. "I woke up to hear a gagging, choking sound. "By the time the ambulance got to us, her bedroom literally looked like a crime scene there was that much blood coming out of her. "The clots were the size of my hand. They were huge." Esme-Lyn was booked in to have two teeth removed at Whiston Hospital on December 12. But after she went under general anaesthetic at 9:40am, Lois was stunned when nurses simply gave her an information pack and told her she could take her daughter home just 20 minutes later. Lois claims that she had to carry Esme-Lyn to the car as she was still so drowsy from the procedure she was unable to keep her head up. A spokesperson for Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “We aim to provide the highest quality care to all our patients and the potential risks following any procedure are always fully discussed with patients and carers in addition to written and verbal advice on aftercare." John Bannister, director of operations at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are very sorry to hear Ms Booth is unhappy with the care we provided to her daughter as we work hard to provide safe, personal and effective care to all our patients."

RUSSIA has begun testing an "unstoppable" underwater drone that experts fear could trigger a 300ft radioactive tsunami with a massive nuclear blast in the sea. The unmanned Poseidon submarine - designed to wipe out enemy naval bases - is dubbed the "City Buster" because it is said to be be able to sneak close to shore to unleash Armageddon. The prototype doomsday craft took to the waves for the first time on Christmas Day to begin under-sea trials, Russia's state Tass news agency reported. A defence source is quoted as saying: "In the sea area protected from a potential enemy’s reconnaissance means, the underwater trials of the nuclear propulsion unit of the Poseidon drone are under way." The drone is said to be powered by a miniaturised nuclear reactor, which has been fitted to the rear for ocean tests. However development is at an early stage and the craft is being carried by one of the Russian navy's nuclear submarines "as part of experimental design work rather than full-fledged sea trials at this stage", the source told Tass. Vladimir Putin revealed the existence of the state-of-the-art new weapon earlier this year. He claimed it would be able to whizz through the ocean almost silently at up to 70 knots. The president said in March: "We have developed unmanned submersible vehicles that can move at great depths (I would say extreme depths) intercontinentally, at a speed multiple times higher than the speed of submarines, cutting-edge torpedoes and all kinds of surface vessels, including some of the fastest. "It is really fantastic. They are quiet, highly manoeuvrable and have hardly any vulnerabilities for the enemy to exploit. "There is simply nothing in the world capable of withstanding them." Poseidon - originally called the Status-6 Oceanic Multipurpose System - got its name after a Boaty McBoatface-style public poll by Russia's defence ministry. The drones will be armed with conventional weapons and a two megaton nuclear warhead with the "primary purpose" of destroying naval bases, according to reports in Russia. However analysts at the Pentagon - which uses the name Kanyon for the drones - are said to believe they will carry "tens of megatons" of explosive power. Experts have said that kind of blast under water could be enough to trigger a tsunami as powerful as the one that killed 20,000 people in Japan and knocked out the Fukushima power plant in 2011. Rex Richardson, a physicist, told Business Insider: “A well-placed nuclear weapon of yield in the range 20MT to 50MT near a sea coast could certainly couple enough energy to equal the 2011 tsunami, perhaps much more.” Some reports claim the resulting wave could reach 300ft, swamping entire cities. And there are fears it could blow ocean sediment into the air, generating a deadly radioactive dust cloud. Russia's navy hopes to have Poseidon in service by 2027. The claimed miniature nuke reactor - said to be 100 times smaller that previously achieved - is the same one that allegedly powers the Burevestnik 9M730 cruise missile. That was also unveiled earlier this year, part of an arsenal of advanced weapons Russia claims is capable of thwarting the most modern defences to help it win World War Three.

DRUG use is rampant in Ireland’s prison system while addicts are forced to wait months to see a counsellor, a former prisoner has revealed. An ex-Mountjoy inmate today lifts the lid on drug abuse inside Ireland’s prisons where addicts can “get whatever they want once they have the money”. ‘Declan’, who has asked us not to use his real name, was jailed after he was caught transporting grenades and a gun to earn money to feed his drug habit. The recovered addict, who now runs his own business, is close to ten years clean and is calling for a revamp of drug treatment inside Ireland’s prisons. Figures released to the Irish Sun through the Freedom of Information Act show just over €1million a year is spent on addiction counselling services in our prisons every year. In 2017, €1,036,361 was spent on addiction counselling for our prisoners while €417,067 was forked out for drug treatment pharmacy services. Despite this, addicts going into prison are forced to wait months for an appointment with a counsellor due to the demand. Former inmate ‘Declan’ told the Irish Sun these long waiting times combined with the availability of drugs make it extremely difficult for addicts inside our prisons. He said: “I got caught carrying around grenades and a firearm. I was strung out to bits. There’s plenty of drugs available in prison. You can get what you want if you have the money.” ‘Declan’ managed to get clean after bringing himself to Coolmine Therapeutic Community for addiction treatment for six months before he went into prison. The charity runs a peer-led therapeutic community where clients work together in a strictly drug-free environment. The group has called on the Government to set aside €469,000 for a drug-free wing in one of our prisons to start a therapeutic community inside. ‘Declan’ added: “Addiction counselling inside is very beneficial but it’s understaffed. There’s waiting lists to see them. If you come into prison with an addiction you could be waiting six months. “I got to see an addiction counsellor quicker as I came in from Coolmine. But if you’ve an ordinary person who goes in with a drug habit, the first thing they’re going to do is take drugs. The whole system needs to be looked at.” Therapeutic communities are separate residential drug treatment programmes in prisons for inmates with addiction issues. These TC programmes, which are in place in the UK and the US focus on a peer-led community recovery routine. Coolmine TC CEO, Pauline McKeown, told the Irish Sun: “There are medical and detox services, there is addiction counselling all in the prison but there isn’t formal therapy or formal treatment for addiction in the prison. “We should introduce proper recovery pathways for the prisoners. I’ve been lobbying for this for three years. “There is a commitment to establishing a drug-free prison TC in Irish prisons but the budgets don’t allow for it is what I’m being told.”

A GRIZZLY bear tore off a woman's arm and ATE IT after she bragged about feeding it through a cage at a boozy Christmas party. The angry beast grabbed her outstretched hand as she fed the wild animal through the bars of its cramped cage. The bear wrenched off her arm during a Christmas party at an Aidashki guest house in Krasnoyarsk region of Russia. The unnamed 53-year-old woman is now in intensive care in a “grave” condition following the attack in the city of Achinsk. She suffered huge blood loss and underwent emergency surgery on the stump of her arm. The wild animal is kept caged as entertainment for visitors to a guest house - where it cannot hibernate in winter or roam free. The victim is an employee of the small hotel who had been drinking at a Christmas party when she boasted to other guests how she could feed the beast. A local said: "It ended in tragedy for the woman as the bear took its revenge on being held captive - and ate her arm for its festive meal." The guest house owner had defied an earlier police order to release the two bears he keeps into the wild, it was reported. A regular guest said: “We have often fed those bears ourselves. “We used a stick provided there to push the treat towards the cage. “Sometimes the bears open their mouths just like hippos and you can throw an apple right into it. “They are very smart, stretching their paws waiting for treats.” A video shows the bear drinking from a bottle help by a man through the bars of the cage. Police are investigating the attack. Normally bears are shot after attacking humans - but this beast may get a reprieve. State hunting inspector Vasily Vershkov denied local fears that the attacking bear or the hotel’s other caged bear would be shot dead. He said: “We will wait until spring and assist in the release of these bears. “Nobody will kill them.”

GARDAI are probing the tragic death of a young man. The deceased, a 25-year-old, was discovered on the ground outside his apartment on Quay Road, Newport, Co Mayo. The man was found by a neighbour at around 1.30am this morning, who then raised the alarm. Gardai attended the scene where the young man was later pronounced dead. His body was removed to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar where the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis carried out a post mortem this afternoon. Gardai said they are investigating the death which has been referred to the Corner's Court. A spokeswoman for the force said: “Gardaí are investigating the death of a 25 year old man found on Quay Road, Newport, Co. Mayo in the early hours of this morning Tuesday, 25th December, 2018. “Gardaí were called to the scene when the body of the man was discovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene. “His body was removed to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar where a post mortem took place this afternoon by Dr. Curtis.”

BARGAIN-hunters are expected to provide a major boost to retailers today after a “challenging year”. The retail sector is today bracing itself for a busy onslaught as the Christmas sales get into full swing. Thousands of Irish shoppers will take to the streets today as major stores like Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Debenhams and Argos all open their doors. And prices on everything from tech essentials to homeware have been slashed in a bid to encourage shoppers to spend the last of their Christmas cash. Retail Ireland says shops were on track to have a bumper year but bad weather and pre-Christmas sales have impacted festive spending. But it’s hoped that a strong run of sales over the next few days will provide an end-of-year bonus of €150m. Director of Retail Ireland Thomas Burke said: “2018 has been an up and down year for Irish retail and one characterised by a series of peaks and troughs in trading. “The sector is still hopeful that growth targets can be realised, but trading conditions have been challenging. “Trade in the early part of the year was severely disrupted by heavy snowfall while conversely the long, hot dry Summer brought bumpers sales for some categories of retail. “Retailers have also been impacted by bad weather as storms and inclement weather hit during vital shopping weekends in the run up to Christmas Day itself. “Footfall on these weekends was down significantly on comparable weekends in previous years.” But it’s not all bad news as Irish retailers are reporting strong performance in their online stores. And many of those who had left their Christmas gift buying to the last minute were delighted to find that some shops were offering heavy discounts as early as last week. Today, serious bargain-hunters will be flocking to Arnotts where bags by Michael Kors, Kate Spade and DKNY will be marked down by up to 50pc. The store’s homeware section will also offer reductions of up to 70pc on certain brands. Debenhams will welcome shoppers from 10am, with up to 50pc off all departments including beauty, homewares, electricals and fashion. Online retailer Littlewoods Ireland has also cut the price of many of its products by half, and is expecting strong demand for TVs which will be discounted by up to €350. Harvey Norman is also anticipating a big run on furniture when it opens its doors at 9am. Among its star items is a Delonghi Eletta coffee machine reduced from €1,299 to €599.

IS your meaty mouth causing offence? The past year has seen a growing trend towards vegan and vegetarian lifestyles and with it debate about the use of language around food. As 2018 draws to a close we look at some well-known phrases that may not last long into the new year. The number of people following meat-free food plans has soared in recent years, thanks to increased awareness of the benefits of a plant-based diet and a growing concern over the environmental impact of meat production. Now it looks as if the changing trend could also transform our daily vocabulary. You may not realise it, but the English language is peppered with colourful expressions which refer to animals or animal products, and often in a very violent way. Yet phrases like “flogging a dead horse” and “bringing home the bacon” could soon be for the chop. That’s the prediction of a leading academic who believes veganism and vegetarianism may cause certain idioms to be replaced by “animal friendly” versions. In an article published on theconversation.com, Shareena Hamzah, researcher at Swansea University, said: "The increased awareness of vegan issues will filter through consciousness to produce new modes of expression." Here, we look at the mouthy massacres in our everyday speech and try out some less offensive alternatives. FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE A violent way to explain that a particular endeavour is a waste of time and will not change the outcome. Alternative suggestion: Feeding a fed horse TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS Bulls are formidably scary animals, so this phrase perfectly describes the act of tackling something difficult in a brave and direct way. Alternative suggestion: Taking the flowers by the thorns OPEN A CAN OF WORMS All is fine when the can is closed, but unwise actions create situations that cause greater problems. Alternative suggestion: Open Pandora’s box KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE The hallmark of efficiency is completing two jobs in one go, although this popular phrase is a gruesome way of doing it. Alternative suggestion: Feed two birds with one scone PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET A warning to gamblers, this sage advice points to the folly of staking everything on one single, potentially futile, venture. Alternative suggestion: Put all your berries in one bowl LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG Once secrets are revealed they can’t be recovered, in much the same way an escaped cat can’t be coaxed back into a bag. Alternative suggestion: Spill the beans BRINGING HOME THE BACON A very accurate phrase for meat-eaters, who literally earn money in order to be able to afford to bring home the bacon and eat it. Alternative suggestion: Bring home the bagels MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT A vividly gruesome way to describe the fact a problem generally has more than one solution. Alternative suggestion: More than one way to peel a potato BE A GUINEA PIG One who is used to test something, as these furry creatures are often used in labs to examine the effectiveness of drugs. Alternative suggestion: Be the test tube HOLD YOUR HORSES Meaning "wait", rather than rounding up the cavalry and charging into action. Alternative suggestion: Hold the phone

LEO VARADKAR has signalled that there will be no “sudden increase” in property tax in 2019 – even though houses and apartment have shot up in valuation under his watch. However, homebuyers who purchased in 2013, 2014 and 2915 will be forced to cough up the levy for the first time, as the Government moves to bring more cash into the exchequer’s coffers. Introduced in 2013, the Local Property Tax is based on the market value of relevant properties. The rate is due to be reviewed in 2019 when – if the same bands were applied – homeowners can expect major tax rises as a result, due to the booming property market. A home valued at between €200,000 and €250,000 currently comes with a €405 annual levy for example. But since 2014 many of those pads in that category have gone up in value into the next band, of €250k to €300k, where the property charge comes to €495 - so a potential €90 rise. And some homes would have have gone up to the next band, of €300,000 to €350k where the charge is €585. That means a potential annual increase of €180 for some householders. But now Varadkar has signalled there will be a shakeup of the valuation bands and rates, so people don’t end up with any major bill rises. At a Christmas roundtable interview with political reporters, he said: “We are still doing some work on that. "The main thing we want to avoid is anyone facing a significant increase in their property tax because we just don’t want that to happen. “I know people feel that because house prices have gone up a lot in the last four or five years that it means their property tax will go up by that amount. "We are going to make sure that doesn’t happen. We want to make sure that the amount of revenue collected by the local authorities from property tax is roughly the same and that would mean making sure nobody faces a sudden increase in their property tax. That would not occur until 2020 at the earliest in any case.” The Taoiseach also signalled there was bad news for some of those who escaped the tax last time around, saying: “One thing we can do though, and we will have to consider this in the New Year, is removing the exemption from homes that were bought since 2013. “Anyone who bought a home in 2013, 2014, 2015 does not pay property tax. That is not fair because they benefit from the same local services as everyone else. “That was done for a particular reason in 2013 to encourage increased housing supply but that is now going in the right direction. "So we need to consider that and it will bring in extra money for local authorities.” And the Fine Gael leader wants more of the property tax going to local services. He explained: “The other thing we are certainly looking at is reforming the property tax to ensure that all of the money you pay goes to your local authority. "At the moment in urban local authorities and a few of the wealthier counties about 20 per cent gets diverted to less well-off counties and we think there is a better way to do that. "There would still need to be an equalisation fund to make sure those less well-off counties, particularly those down the western seaboard, don’t lose out but I think people would prefer to see the actual tax they pay going to their own local authority.”

FIVE people have been arrested and 11 motobikes were seized on Christmas Day as part of a clampdown on illegally operated scrambler bikes. Gardai also seized two cars in the operation to tackle illegal use of scramblers, quads and mopeds in the Cabra and Finglas areas of Dublin. In a statement, Gardai said: "In the last number of years, there has been a significant problem on Christmas morning with illegally operated Scrambler bikes, Quads and Mopeds on the roads in Cabra and Finglas in Dublin. "This year, a significant Garda Operation was put in place in order to tackle same. "It began a number of weeks ago with community policing members calling to schools and parents in order to warn of the dangers associated with this activity. "Leaflets were produced and distributed in an attempt to dissuade parents from purchasing these vehicles and young people from using them. "Yesterday morning, Tuesday 25th December 2018, a major part of the operation was in place in order to combat their use. "It involved members attached to Regular Policing Units, DDU, Specialist Units and Divisional and Regional Traffic. "11 Motorbikes and 2 cars were seized. Two of these bikes are confirmed to have been stolen. "Five people have been arrested so far, with follow up operations to come in the coming days and weeks as CCTV footage is analysed and results of Technical Examinations return. "Investigations are continuing." There have been a number of fatal accidents involving scrambler bikes on Christmas morning in recent years, with Leroy Coyle, 19, from Ballybough getting killed on Christmas Day in 2013 and Warren Kenny, 16, dying after a crash in Cherry Orchard in 2015.

BRENDAN O’Carroll fears Brexit could be bad news for Mrs Brown — and admitted he’s going “crazy” with worry. The star today calls for a second referendum in the UK and insists he has little sympathy for British PM Theresa May — who he says will commit “political suicide” if she goes ahead with a no-deal Brexit. The 63-year-old’s Mrs Brown organisation could take a huge hit if Britain leaves the EU without a deal on March 29. It’s a worry for him as Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Musical opens in Glasgow in March before touring the UK and he operates a huge warehouse in Britain sending out merchandise to fans who watch his TV show on the BBC. And Brendan — whose Mrs Brown Christmas special was watched by millions yesterday — told the Irish Sun: “I’ve no idea how Brexit is going to affect us. “It’s a quagmire because although our warehouse only sends out stuff within the UK, the merchandise comes from all sorts of places. “For instance our T-shirt supplier gets his shirts from China. How will he bring those in and juggle the tariffs after Brexit? Because what affects our suppliers affects us. “My only consolation is that we also have a Mrs Brown warehouse in Ireland which supplies Canada, America, Australia and South Africa. Our UK warehouse only supplies the fans in Britain.” Concerned Brendan said the chaos facing his UK Mrs Brown operation is the same for countless other businesses across the water threatened by Brexit. He said: “We’re all in the same boat. How can you prepare for something if we don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s driving everyone crazy. Even at this late stage, we don’t know how Brexit is going to affect us.” And Brendan has little time for besieged Theresa May as she battles to get her Brexit deal through UK Parliament — with huge numbers of her own party ready to vote it down. He explained: “It’s very hard to have sympathy for Theresa because she took on the role herself, she wanted to be leader of the Conservative Party. “Any normal human being would have looked at the situation and said, ‘This is a poisoned chalice, who’d want this?’ It’s like being Donald Trump’s head of staff. “As regards the situation Theresa is in now, if she can’t get her own party to unite around her, how the hell is she going to get the rest of the country to support her? “She might as well be refereeing an England vs Scotland match. You are never going to get the decisions right.” With the UK in chaos, Brendan sees nothing wrong with voters being offered a second referendum which would give them the chance to reverse Brexit. Asked if there should be one, he boomed: “Why the f*** not? “Why are the politicians so afraid to look at this? Who says having a second referendum is not respecting the decision of the electorate? People are entitled to change their minds. “They do it all the time in normal elections. We elect political parties, they don’t fulfil their promises and we vote them out. Simple. “I really don’t think that the public or the political parties who voted for Brexit really understood what was going to happen. The UK spent 45 years in Europe knocking it into shape, yet now they have decided to leave, it makes no sense.” Brendan was speaking after he jetted into Dublin with wife Jenny Gibney for Christmas from his Florida base. And with the holidays being a time to see good friends, they don’t come much dearer than old pal Gay Byrne, who gave him his break on the Late Late Show in 1992 — something he’ll never forget. He said: “I sent Gay a hamper yesterday just to say thank you for all these years and the wonderful life he has given me. “I can truly say that it started on the Late Late Show. That really kick-started my career. “Whenever I thank Gay, he just says he loves opening the door a crack for people, and it’s up to them what they do with that chance. But in my case, it kicked the door off its hinges, so I’m forever grateful to Gay.” With his own chat show on the BBC, Brendan is well placed to tell if our RTE stars are worth their money — after new figures showed Late Late host Ryan Tubridy is the top paid star, trousering €495,000 a year. He said: “If you want stars you have to pay. I’m not sure if what they (the RTE top ten) are getting is the market rate. But if you look at Chris Evans, he was getting a million a year just for doing radio. Ryan Tubridy does the Late Late and a big radio show five days a week. “In Ireland we have two million people paying the licence fee, In the UK they have 50million. Yet we want the same standard of TV as Britain without paying any extra. It just doesn’t work like that, and I don’t think we’d get people to do the job in Ireland for any less.”