Saving Private Ryan: Sinkhole Swallows Grave

Military bosses are trying to save Private Ryan's headstone after a sinkhole swallowed his grave.

The World War One soldier's body had lain in rest for nearly 100 years, but was lost when a 20ft-deep hole opened up in a military cemetery in Pembroke Dock, West Wales.

His military headstone has been left teetering close to the edge of the precipice.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now battling to preserve the memorial to Private Francis Ryan, who served in the 3rd Reserve Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment.

Private Ryan's headstone is teetering on the edge of the sinkhole

The 40-year-old soldier died in 1915 after volunteering to serve in the regiment.

Pembroke Dock district Parade Marshal David Boswell told Wales Online: "The graveyard is a monument to the Army, Navy and Artillery stationed here during the First World War.

"But unfortunately Mother Nature has taken over and when she opens up her body there is not much you can do.

"It's a shame it's happened but the MoD have looked into it and are trying to restore the grave to its original condition as soon as possible.

"This is the only military cemetery in Wales so will be nice to have it re-opened and ready for the centenary of the First World War."

The MoD has so far failed to trace a living relative of Private Ryan, who was born in Longford, Ireland, in 1875.

Five other military graves are in danger beside the hole. They have the names J O'Brien, Private J McGuiness, Gunner William Henry Hurley, Private Charles Joseph Duffy and Private E Sullivan.

The sinkhole was caused by water erosion through limestone beneath Private Ryan's grave - and his coffin is hidden beneath mud and rubble.

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Triple Killer Joanne Dennehy In Jail For Life

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Psychopathic killer Joanne Dennehy laughed as she was taken away to serve life for the random killing of three men and the attempted murder of two others.

The mother-of-two was told by trial judge Mr Justice Spencer that she was a "cruel, calculating and manipulative serial killer" and will now die behind bars.

Dennehy is the third woman to get a whole-life tariff in England and Wales

He said the slayings were carried out in "cold blood" and although she had pleaded guilty it was "clear you have no remorse for those murders".

At one point Dennehy swore at the judge as he made his sentencing remarks.

Dennehy swore at the judge in court

After she was sentenced to a whole-life order, she could be heard laughing as she was taken down to the cells.

Dennehy, 31, is only the third woman to be given a whole-life tariff in England and Wales - after Rose West and Myra Hindley.

Mr Justice Spencer said medical reports made it clear she was a sadomasochist who enjoyed sex with extreme violence.

Earlier this month, she admitted stabbing to death her victims in a 10-day killing frenzy before trying to murder two other men while on the run. 

Dressed in a pink athletics vest, with her hair tied back in a ponytail with a purple scrunchie, Dennehy was handcuffed for the hearing, with another set of handcuffs linked to a female prison guard.

Her bare arms were marked with grim-looking scars and several tattoos in blue ink could clearly be seen.

During the sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey, she smiled, smirked and chatted with her guards, as well as co-accused Gary Stretch - and at one point she called out to her lawyer so she could write him a note.

Stretch and Layton were both jailed

Family members of the victims were in court and security was tight in the dock with nine guards, including two women, keeping watch over Dennehy and her three co-accused.

Earlier in the week the same court had been the scene of violent disturbances after Woolwich killers Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, brawled with guards in the dock.

Mr Justice Spencer called Dennehy a "pathological liar" and said she had killed to "satisfy her sadistic lust for blood".

Lukasz Slaboszewski and Kevin Lee were murdered by Dennehy

Dennehy, from Orton Goldhay, near Peterborough, slaughtered her victims, Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31, Kevin Lee, 48, and John Chapman, 56, in and around Peterborough at random last March and April.

Cambridgeshire Police said the investigation was the biggest the force had been involved in since the Soham schoolgirl murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Her sentencing was delayed because of a Court of Appeal review earlier this month after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that whole-life terms breached human rights.

Mr Rogers, left, and Mr Bereza both survived attacks by Dennehy

Dennehy also admitted the attempted murder of dog walkers, John Rogers and Robin Bereza, in Hereford while on the run from police as well as preventing the lawful and decent burial of her victims.

The Old Bailey hearing heard she had carried out the attempted killing of Mr Rogers because she wanted his dog.

Stretch, 47, also of Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, who stands at 7ft 3, was found guilty of the attempted murders of Mr Bereza and Mr Rogers and three counts of preventing the lawful burial of a body.

He was given life with a minimum term of 19 years. He told the judge " thank you very much" as he was taken down to the cells.

Moore admitted assisting an offender

Leslie Layton, 36, of Orton Goldhay, was found guilty of preventing the lawful burial of two murder victims and perverting the course of justice and jailed for 14 years, with a minimum of seven years.

Robert Moore, 55, of Peterborough, admitted assisting an offender and was given three years with a minimum of 18 months to be completed.

During the earlier trial, prosecutor Peter Wright QC, said Dennehy "cast a spell" over her accomplices and some of her victims as she killed "for fun".

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British Runaway 'Feared Kidnapped In Spain'

A British man who fled to Spain is believed to have been kidnapped by men posing as police officers.

Francis Brennan left the UK ahead of a sentencing date last October for an assault he committed in the Thames Valley area in 2012.

He was last seen in Alicante on January 24. He was in a friend's car when it was stopped by several men who posed as police officers.

The 25-year-old's parents, Carl and Janet, have appealed for information about his disappearance.

"We got a call from one of his friends and his girlfriend back in January to say that Francis had been arrested on January 24 but we later learnt from the Spanish authorities that this was not the case and that he had been taken against his will," they said.

"This has come as an awful shock to us as Francis is our only son and we can still remember him as a fun-loving child who was football-mad in a football-mad family who loved nothing more than playing out with his friends."

They said they pleaded with their son not to leave the country, but he did not listen.

"He told us not to worry and that he would be home after Christmas," they said.

Mr Brennan went missing in Alicante

Mr Brennan's girlfriend, Sophie Staunton, went to Alicante in December to try to persuade him to return home.

"Francis met Sophie, his lovely girlfriend, in 2012 and he seemed to start to grow up and they seemed very settled and happy," Mr Brennan's parents said.

"Sophie went out to Javea in December to try and persuade him to come home but then last month he disappeared and none of us know where. This whole thing has devastated all of us."

Detective Superintendent Richie Carr, from Merseyside Police, said: "Francis's disappearance is completely out of character and because of this, as well as his associations and lifestyle, ourselves and the Spanish police are extremely concerned for his safety.

"We do however believe he has been taken against his will and we and his family are hopeful that someone in the criminal fraternity here in Merseyside has information that could help bring about the safe return of Francis."

:: Anybody with information should call Merseyside Police on 0151 777 8520 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Floods Fund: £2m To Support Tourism Firms

Tourism businesses affected by the recent flooding are to get a £2m boost from the Government.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller says the money will fund experts who will visit affected areas and offer practical advice to tourism firms such as how to access business support measures.

The advice sessions will be hosted by VisitEngland and run throughout March.

The fund comes on top of  the £10m set aside by Prime Minister David Cameron last month to help flood-hit businesses generally.

Ms Miller said: "We want to help all those tourism businesses that have been affected by the horrendous floods get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

"Experts will be put on the ground to help small businesses with practical advice and communications while a bespoke Easter marketing will bring people back to the areas hit."

Welcoming the funding, VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: "Our message to customers is 'Business as usual'.

"Despite many areas having been affected by bad weather and some travel disruption, the tourism infrastructure is largely unaffected."

VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said: "International tourism is worth around £1.5bn to the economies of south west England and Wales.

"We are already getting out the message that it is a great time to travel to Britain and will be intensifying that activity over the coming months."

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:: Watch Sky News' special programme 'Battered Britain: From The Air' about the effect of the recent storms on the UK's landscape on Sunday, March 2, at 4pm.

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Free Bus Services For Elderly 'Under Threat'

Free bus services for the elderly and disabled people are under threat as councils struggle to fund the services.

Funding for free, off-peak travel has fallen by 39% since 2010, according to the Local Government Association.

Councils are now being forced to subsidise free travel at the cost of other essential services, the LGA added.

Among the county councils forced to cut back on the services due to funding shortages are Buckinghamshire, Cumbria and Somerset.

Peter Box, the LGA's economy and transport board chairman, said: "The concessionary fares scheme provides a lifeline for our most vulnerable residents to go shopping, pick up medication, attend doctor appointments or socialise with friends. However, it is now under real threat.

"Years of underfunding of the scheme forces councils to spend millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to subsidise the scheme.

"This is now impossible with councils having to make savings while struggling to protect vital services like adult social care, protecting children, filling potholes and collecting bins."

A Government spokeswoman said: "We know that bus services are vital for many older and disabled people.

"That is why the right to free travel is enshrined in law and government provides funding to meet the cost of subsidising off-peak travel for these groups.

"In addition, the Department for Transport provides funding to bus operators to help more services run and keep ticket prices down.

"The current level of this funding is protected until 2015/16."

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Moazzam Begg Remanded Over Terror Charges

Ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg has appeared in court charged with providing terrorist training and funding terrorism overseas.

The 45-year-old British citizen, from Hall Green, Birmingham, was one of four people arrested earlier this week on suspicion of terrorism offences linked to the Syria conflict.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today alongside a woman, Gerrie Tahari, 44, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, who also denied funding terrorism overseas.

Begg was remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on March 14.

Both were arrested on Tuesday with two other men held on suspicion of facilitating terrorism overseas.

Begg was released from Guantanamo Bay in January 2005

The pair - a 36-year-old man from Shirley, Solihull, and a 20-year-old man from Sparkhill, Birmingham, who is the son of Tahari - remain in police custody.

Begg was held by the US government at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba for nearly three years after being arrested in Pakistan in February 2002.

He was detained on suspicion of being a member of al Qaeda before being released without charge in January 2005.

He was allowed to return to the UK where he was arrested by police before being released without charge.

Begg is a director of Cage - which campaigns "against the War on Terror" - and has always maintained that he has never been involved in any kind of terrorist activity.

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Newcastle Boss Fined £100,000 For 'Headbutt'

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was sent off during his side's match against Hull City after appearing to headbutt an opposing player.

Midfielder David Meyler barged into Pardew as he tried to get the ball for a throw-in during the second half of Saturday's match at the KC Stadium.

Pardew squared up to Meyler and was seen to move his head in the direction of the player. Referee Kevin Friend then sent him to the stands. He was later fined £100,000 for his behaviour.

The incident overshadowed Newcastle's win

Speaking to Sky Sports News after the match, which Newcastle won 4-1, Pardew said it was a "heat of the moment thing" he "massively regrets".

"I think I'm going to sit down now because that's two or three incidents I've been involved in. I think I'm going to sit now.

"I didn't meant to do anything aggressive but I moved my head forward and that's enough."

The Football Association could take further action against Pardew

Hull boss Steve Bruce said the club had accepted Pardew's apology and wanted to move on from the incident.

"I think Alan knows he's been stupid and apologised.

"In the heat of the game we all do silly things and I think he regrets it. It's a game of football with emotions."

Pardew apologised after the match

At least one bookmaker has suspended betting on the next Premier League manager to leave after the run-in.

Pardew has been involved in touchline clashes with three opposition managers in the last year, and was given a two-game ban for pushing an assistant referee in 2012.

Later that year he signed an eight-year contract extension up until 2020.

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EU Pay Cap Triggers Pay Rise For Lloyds Boss

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

The chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group is being lined up for a salary increase that could see his fixed pay almost double as it tackles new remuneration rules imposed by Brussels.

Sky News has learnt that Lloyds, which is 33%-owned by taxpayers, is likely to announce next week that it has decided to follow other big UK banks in awarding "allowances" to its most senior risk-taking staff.

Lloyds' board remuneration committee is understood to have met in the last few days to agree the move.

The decision still requires the formal approval of UK Financial Investments (UKFI), the Treasury agency which manages the taxpayer's stake in Lloyds.

If it gets UKFI's backing, the details will be announced as part of Lloyds' annual report, which is expected to be published on Wednesday.

From one perspective, UKFI's backing would not be surprising since George Osborne, the. Chancellor, has already mounted a legal challenge to the European Union rules.

Under the Brussels scheme, which affects pay deals awarded from this year onwards, banks can hand out bonuses worth up to 100% of an employee's salary without the consent of shareholders.

However, they must seek investors' consent to award up to double that sum in variable pay, which even at that upper limit is much less than many bankers have typically been paid.

The rules have prompted major banks operating in Europe - including Barclays, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Morgan Stanley - to devise new monthly or quarterly payments which count towards an employee's basic salary for the purposes of calculating their annual bonus entitlements.

Stuart Gulliver, HSBC's chief executive, used the bank's annual results last Monday to attack the rules, pointing to the overwhelming backing its shareholders had given to its existing pay schemes.

Lloyds is understood to have identified approximately 50 executives who will be eligible for the role-based payments, which will be awarded in shares that recipients will have to hold onto for a lengthy period.

Much of the focus is likely to be on the allowance handed to Antonio Horta-Osorio, Lloyds' chief executive, who receives an annual salary of £1.061m.

Insiders said that while the plans had not yet been finalised, Mr Horta-Osorio was likely to receive an allowance of up to another £1m, which would mean that with the approval of Lloyds' shareholders, he could theoretically receive annual bonuses worth up to roughly £4m.

News of the bank's plans comes just a fortnight after Mr Horta-Osorio was awarded a £1.7m bonus for 2013 as an acknowledgement for his work in improving Lloyds' performance during the last year.

The payment will not vest until conditions relating to the share price or a further sale of the taxpayer's stake, and if they are met, he would not receive the bonus until 2019.

Sky News has also learnt that Lloyds' remuneration committee has decided to award Mr Horta-Osorio up to half of a deferred share award made in 2011 when he joined the lender from Santander UK.

That payout is likely to be worth in the region of £2m.

A Lloyds spokesman said that final decisions had still to be taken.

More contentious will be the decisions on pay made by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), the other big state-backed lender.

Ross McEwan, its chief executive, said on Thursday that RBS needed to be able to pay "fairly" otherwise he would not be able to retain key staff.

Analysts and investors interpreted the remark as a signal that he also wants to make additional payments, although he insisted that RBS was still consulting with shareholders.

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Leytonstone Murder: Victims Stabbed To Death

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8:46am UK, Sunday 02 March 2014

Police forensic teams combed the scene of the double murder

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Connery 'Shakes And Stirs' Scotland Debate

James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery is urging fellow Scots to vote for independence as the opportunity is "too good to miss".

The Hollywood star claimed a "new nation" with more hope would be created if Scotland backs leaving the UK in September's referendum.

Sir Sean, who does not live in the country but is a well-known supporter of independence, said a yes vote would "capture the world's attention".

He said: "I fully respect the choice facing Scotland in September is a matter for the people who choose to work and live there - that's only right.

"But as a Scot with a lifelong love of Scotland and the arts, I believe the opportunity of independence is too good to miss.

He added: "Scotland has the chance to make a step change."

Sir Sean said a yes vote would mean a "renewed focus on our culture and politics, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to promote our heritage and creative excellence.

David Bowie wants Scotland to remain part of the UK

"Simply put there is no more creative an act than creating a new nation."

The movie star, 83, said he was "particularly excited" about the prospects that independence could offer the film and creative industries.

He claimed these could be boosted by more investment, helping to create jobs north of the border with the "international promotion of Scotland as an iconic location".

Writing in an article in the Sun on Sunday and the New Statesman, he said a "a bigger and more confident film and broadcast sector" could help bring about "an inflow of resources and new jobs and training".

But the Better Together campaign - which wants Scotland to stay in the UK - says independence would mean losing jobs, and create more uncertainty, instability and barriers for businesses.

Last month, singer David Bowie, in a message read by model Kate Moss at the Brits, urged Scots to remain a part of the UK, saying: "Stay with us Scotland."

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