Grieving Shannon home from horror
The heartbroken teenager arrived at Belfast International Airport accompanied by her father Raymond McGuinness and her brother David yesterday afternoon, after catching a transit flight at London Heathrow.
Shannon, who was wearing a light black dress with white flowers, remained quiet but she could not hide her distress as she returned home. She appeared to wipe tears from her face as she waited for her suitcases.
Mr McGuinness explained that she had not only lost her mother in the ordeal but her best friend as well.
"It has been a very long and arduous day for all of us. It has been very difficult," he said.
"As for Shannon, it hasn't really hit her yet. Her mum was her best friend. They went everywhere together," he explained, before adding that he hoped his ex-partner's remains would be brought home "very soon".
Local media reports in Turkey are reporting that killer Cetin will claim he acted in self-defence. According to police sources, he confessed that he attacked Marion and her best friend Kathy because they had stolen his "dream".
His lawyer Alkan Tunal said that his client retaliated when the two Irishwomen attacked him and slashed his hand.
Prior to his alleged confession, Cetin claimed that Marion and Kathy had been kidnapped in port city Izmir and that his hand had been wounded while he tried to defend them.
However, this first explanation fell apart when he failed to clarify how he had returned to the women's rented townhouse in Kusadasi, 75 miles south of Izmir, where he had also been staying.
Cetin is expected to be formally charged for the murder later this week.
He claimed he was 17 years old, but concerns over his age have arisen. It has emerged that Cetin told tourists that he was 24 years old.
If he is tried as an adult, the bodybuilder could be sentenced to more than 70 years in prison for double murder, instead of a maximum of 24 years for a juvenile.
Cetin is thought to have stabbed and slit the throats of Newry natives Marion and Kathy in a wood near Izmir last Thursday, after they both opposed his dating Shannon.
Irish tourists, who met Cetin on their honeymoon in the tourist resort of Kusadasi in June 2010, claimed yesterday that he told them he was 24 years old.
"He told us he had no girlfriend because he was too busy, he worked a lot of hours and said he had no time," John O'Brien from Gorey, Co Wexford, said.
"He said he was 24 because he couldn't believe I was 28 and my wife [Joanne] was 25 with two children.
"We couldn't believe it when we saw the papers over the weekend.
"We looked at the pictures and just said, 'that's him'.
"It's absolutely horrific but you would never have known this guy could do such a thing.
"He seemed to get on with everyone."
Cetin, also known as Alex, is understood to have wanted to marry Shannon, who he had been seeing for two years, but her mother forbade it as Shannon was underage.
The women's bodies will not be repatriated until tomorrow at the earliest, it has emerged, because of the paperwork involved.
Ms Dinsmore's niece Ruby and nephew Robert are expected to stay in Turkey until tomorrow to deal with the procedures. It is expected that the remains will be flown from Antalya, 350 miles from Izmir, on the southern coast of Turkey, to Belfast directly.
Dubliner leads rebels into Tripoli after joining up while on holidays
A DUBLIN native has been hailed as one of the main leaders of Libyan rebel groups as their national council is recognised internationally as the legitimate administration of the country.
Irish national Husam Najjair joined the Libyan revolution earlier this year after going over to his father's country to visit family, but he has since been at the forefront of the fight against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
The building contractor, who has led rebel groups on the final advance to Tripoli in the last 72 hours, has been cautious in his approach.
He admitted he was concerned that rebel forces might turn on one another as they pick their next leader.
"The first thing my brigade will do is set up checkpoints to disarm everyone, including other rebel groups, because otherwise it will be a bloodbath," he said. "All the rebel groups will want to control Tripoli. Order will be needed."
Husam's mother is Irish and he admitted that he started to feel a sense of responsibility only when he travelled to Libya for a family wedding in January. When the revolt began on February 17, he joined the fight.
"I wasn't always such a good Muslim in Dublin, you could say I spent some time at nightclubs," he revealed.
"This has made me learn about myself, what I am capable of achieving,"
Meanwhile, another Irish rebel joked yesterday that a year ago, he would never have thought he would be taking part in the political upheaval of the country. "This time last year I was in Ireland enjoying Electric Picnic. I never thought of it," said Kareem Salem, from Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
500 care home nursing jobs unfilled
Up to 500 nursing jobs are waiting to be filled in care homes for the elderly, it has been claimed.
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) highlighted the job opportunities in private and voluntary homes after a third of its members revealed they had difficulty filling vacancies in the past.
Unions have warned the majority of newly-qualified nurses are being forced to emigrate for employment because of a public sector recruitment embargo.
Tadhg Daly, NHI chief executive, said: "Nursing graduates are finding their employment prospects greatly diminished and some are choosing to move overseas, while experienced nurses are being forced into early retirement from the public sector."We want nurses to be aware nursing homes are offering challenging and rewarding employment opportunities in their own local communities."
A survey of nursing homes by the NHI revealed there are 448 nursing posts immediately available, with six out of 10 members having one or more nursing vacancies.
Another 71% are planning to offer nursing employment in the next 12 months.
Elsewhere, the survey revealed up to 1,364 nursing posts will be created in the private and voluntary sector in the next 12 months.
NHI published a brochure that aims to offer nurses - students, graduates and the experienced - a comprehensive insight into the challenges and rewards of working in a nursing home.
Professor Brendan McCormack, president of the All Ireland Gerontological Nursing Association, told the recruitment seminar in Dublin the impact of an ageing population globally has a knock-on effect on nursing, resulting in increasing numbers of nurses working with older people.
McAleese hails Irish rugby stars
Ireland's rugby stars will do the country proud in the World Cup and serve as great ambassadors for the sport, Irish Republic president Mary McAleese has said.
Hosting a reception at Aras an Uachtarain, her official residence, ahead of the squad's departure, Ms McAleese said the players will acquit themselves with honour and distinction in New Zealand.
Mrs McAleese said the Irish Rugby Football Union deserved huge credit for what they had achieved over the past two decades.
"When I came into office in 1997, I said the theme of my presidency would be bridge-building - between people, between communities, between both parts of this island," Mrs McAleese said.
"Over the last 14 years, the IRFU and Irish rugby has done a huge amount of bridge-building of its own - building up the sport at grass roots level, building a provincial system with which people could feel a real sense of allegiance and community and building an Irish team that all traditions on this island are proud to call their own."
Coach Declan Kidney has revealed the 30 names who will be travelling to New Zealand for the tournament's kick-off on September 9.
Despite commentators suggesting the team could secure success for Ireland, there were a number of high-profile omissions including Tomas O'Leary and Luke Fitzgerald.
Ms McAleese said the squad was made up of players of extraordinary talent and commitment, with a management and coaching staff of outstanding ability and judgment.
"It only remains for me to extend to all the team - players, coaching staff, medical and physio team and officials - every best wish for the World Cup finals," Ms McAleese said.
"I know you will acquit yourselves with great honour and distinction, I know you will be great ambassadors for Irish rugby, I know you will make all of us proud, and I hope that all of your collective talent, commitment and preparation will be rewarded with the positive results they so manifestly deserve."