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Flowers at Forbury Gardens, in Reading town centre Aaron Chown/PA Images

Terror suspect held over killing of three people in Reading park had come to attention of MI5

Khairi Saadallah remains in custody over the knife attack in the English town west of London on Saturday.

A TERROR SUSPECT held over the knife attack in a Reading park that killed three people came to the attention of MI5 last year, security sources have said.

The 25-year-old man, understood to be named Khairi Saadallah, was detained a short distance from the scene at Forbury Gardens and arrested on suspicion of murder.

He was later re-arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act, which gives police the power to detain him without charge for up to 14 days.

School teacher James Furlong, 36, is the only victim to be named so far from Saturday’s attack.

Two other people injured in the attack remain in hospital, while one has now been discharged.

It emerged yesterday the suspect, a refugee of the civil war in Libya, briefly came to the attention of MI5 last year, but the information provided did not meet the threshold of investigation.

PA understands from security sources that M15 had received intelligence he planned to travel abroad, possibly for terrorism purposes, but the threat was found to be insubstantial.

As counter-terror officers investigate, mental health is understood to be considered a major factor in the latest incident.

Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “appalled and sickened” by the incident and said “we will not hesitate to take action” if there are lessons to be learned from the circumstances.

The suspect was jailed in October for a complex series of non-terror offences before his sentence was reduced to one of 17 months and 20 days’ imprisonment in the Court of Appeal.

One of the appeal judges who gave the judgment in March, Mr Justice Goss, noted Saadallah’s various mental health issues in reducing the sentence.

Saadallah was released from prison earlier this month, it is understood, and the Covid-19 pandemic played no part in the decision to free him.

The Sun reported that he left HMP Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, 17 days ago after less than half of his sentence.

Tributes from former students of Furlong poured in after a letter from the two co-head teachers at his school – the Holt School in Wokingham – announcing his death was circulated online.

His parents, Gary and Janet, said in a statement: “He was the best son, brother, uncle and partner you could wish for.

“We are thankful for the memories he gave us all. We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.”

2.54251034 History teacher James Furlong was one of those killed in the attack Furlong family / PA Furlong family / PA / PA

Security guard Sydney McDonald, 65, who saw the suspect being rugby-tackled to the ground by police described how it looked as if he had put his hands “in a big bucket of red paint”.

He told the PA news agency: “I had just finished work at about 7.10pm and as soon as I came out of the shop, there were about four police cars, they turned around in the middle of the road, they were driving pretty fast.

“There was a guy and I saw him pointing to a man and saying ‘There he is, there he is’. If he hadn’t, they would have missed him. He was running really fast, properly fast.

“They put the emergency brakes on, jumped out of the car and rugby-tackled him to the floor. He was on his stomach and the blood on his hands looked like he had put his hand in a big bucket of red paint.

“They put the handcuffs on, he wasn’t putting up a fight or anything like that, they picked him up and put him in the van, he just sat there all quiet, he wasn’t saying nothing.”

2.54244434 PA Images PA Images

Personal trainer Lawrence Wort, 20, who said he was around 10 metres from the incident, told PA on Saturday night the suspect was alone and “shouted some unintelligible words” before launching the attack.

“He went around a large group of around 10, trying to stab them,” he said.

“He stabbed three of them, severely in the neck, and under the arms, and then turned and started running towards me, and we turned and started running.”

Thames Valley Police have pleaded with the public not to share any pictures or images of the killings on social media, and instead contact them on 101, or upload the footage to UKPoliceImageAppeal.co.uk.

Despite treating the incident as a terror attack, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said on Sunday the motive is still “far from certain”.

Mr Basu said there was no evidence to suggest anyone attending crowded places is at risk, but asked people to “be alert, not alarmed, when you are in public”.

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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 15th 2017, 12:58 PM

    Everybody should ban/boycott the rag! Hillsborough was enough of a reason on its own

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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:08 PM

    @Soccer T’s: Some people still believe in freedom of the press believe it or not.

    86
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:09 PM

    @Soccer T’s: some of us still believe in the freedom of the press believe it or not.

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    Mute ktsiwot
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:28 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo:
    the sun is not freedom of press it is rupert murdoch and the belief system. There is a huge difference between cutting edge analysis and insulting, lazy and vindictive journalism.

    244
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    Mute willypearson
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:28 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: and some of us believe in the truth

    178
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:29 PM

    @ktsiwot: I am no fan of the Sun but I believe in freedom of the press for all news outlets, not just the ones I like or agree with.

    22
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    Mute Séamus Ó Lochlainn
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:30 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: freedom of the press to insult and incite a whole community through disgusting narrow minded racist and elitist articles? Absolutely.
    And in turn we should all exercise our right to boycott this sensationalist braindead rag of pure tripe.
    Agreed?

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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:42 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: Did I say they should be closed down or anything like that? No I said that people/individuals should make the choice to boycott the rag. The more that boycott them the less viable their business model.

    91
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:45 PM

    “Everybody should ban/boycott the rag! ”

    Ban ≠ Boycott.

    Reading comments here it appears “everyone” already boycotts it and have done for years.

    15
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: You’re looking for drama where there is none. If I had said that the paper should be shut down, you would have a valid point but I’m afraid you will have to find your drama elsewhere today. People/ organisations being encouraged to ban/boycott is not censorship!!

    63
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: I don’t think “everyone” comments on the journal but I may be wrong.

    34
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    Mute Ricky Spanish
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:53 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: Using “Freedom of the Press” as a means of defending The Sun is an insult to real journalists who risk their lives or livelihoods to report the truth. This guy was a glorified troll looking to insult and degrade people for the sake of it.
    If you can’t see the difference you are an utter fool.

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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:54 PM

    @Soccer T’s: You probably are wrong as you’ve been wrong in all your other commentary, there’s a pattern emerging.

    3
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:55 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: Aha maybe the trend is your lack of understanding/education. Nice try!

    51
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:57 PM

    @Ricky Spanish: should the right of freedom of the press only apply to outlets you like or agree with?

    “insult to real journalists who risk their lives or livelihoods to report the truth”

    FYI very few journalists risk their lives anymore, case in point thejournal.ie

    6
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:58 PM

    “insult to real journalists who risk their lives or livelihoods to report the truth”

    Any journalist working for the Sun would meet your criteria just by being in Liverpool, Ricky.

    2
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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:59 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: And Charlie was responsible for the deaths of so many innocents including his own workers and I am sure in the KKK.English Defence League HQ MacKenzie is a true patriot.

    14
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    Mute Steve Mac
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:59 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: they can print what they want. I also have the freedom to not buy or read the rag. Well done everton.

    50
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    Mute Fergal O' Reilly
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:02 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: I think you’re wilfully missing the point in order to soap-box. No one’s calling for The Sun to be banned. Simply Everton FC are availing of their own right to reply and offering a rebuttal. That they, a private company, are choosing not to engage with another private company whose practices they fundamentally disagree with, is hardly tantamount to shutting down the press.

    52
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    Mute Ricky Spanish
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:04 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: Some of the most thought provoking and enlightening journalism comes from points of view I disagree with. This article was neither of those things. What exactly has this guy added to the public discourse with this article? It’s trash and people have every right to voice their criticism without​ being accused of harming the freedom of the Press.

    31
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:06 PM

    @Fergal O’ Reilly: ” No one’s calling for The Sun to be banned” . . . The OP called for it to be banned and that is what my original comment was responding to. also Everton have banned the newspaper.

    1
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    Mute Just Me
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:19 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: Believe it or not, some people don’t want gutter journalism.

    30
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:19 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: Maybe you struggle with basic language but if you would like to re-read my original comment you will find that I did not call for the Sun to be banned. I said that people and organisations should make that decision. If I had said that “the sun should be closed down or banned” you would have a very valid point but it’s obvious that you are just grandstanding for the sake of it.

    25
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    Mute Peedur Dante
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:29 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo:
    Wow charlie, you really are going all out to defend the sun. How on Earth did you find yourself in such an unenviable position. The sun paper is in no way being censored or discouraged from printing its tripe, EFC have simply decided that they don’t want the suns product on their private property. Like a children’s food store might choose not to sell rat poison on their shelves. But all of this has already been explained to you, but you seem unwilling or unable to process sensible explanations or arguments. You seem dogged in your defence of one of the most disgusting papers ever to go to print. Are you proud of yourself? Is anyone proud of you?

    35
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    Apr 15th 2017, 3:16 PM

    @Peedur Dante: To be fair to him he’s defending freedom of the press rather than the Sun specifically

    6
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    Mute Peedur Dante
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    Apr 15th 2017, 3:32 PM

    @Soccer T’s:
    And I’m pointing out to him that the freedom of the press is not being attacked here. This is a different matter all together. He is confusedly arguing that EFC’s actions towards the sun constitutes an attack on the free press. This is not the case, and if he felt so passionately about the freedom of press why not comment on an article about vladimir putin rather then defend the sun so vigorously.

    12
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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Apr 15th 2017, 5:14 PM

    @Soccer T’s: Labour Party and Tory party should be treated like sc€m for this and the other covers ups.
    Don’t have anything against British people but their government are consistently awful.
    How you can trust a government to do good abroad when they even have such disdain for their own people.
    The double standards in the press here w.r.t British parties is galling.

    9
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    Mute Brian OConnor
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    Apr 15th 2017, 9:01 PM

    @Soccer T’s: best selling paper in England and the sun is printed in Knowsley in Liverpool so as to boycotting it not all Liverpool is so you all wasting your time just get over yourself and move on , great paper buy it everyday.

    1
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    Mute Peedur Dante
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    Apr 15th 2017, 10:45 PM

    @Brian OConnor:
    If you buy the sun everyday and consider it a great paper, all I can do is pity you.

    11
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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Apr 15th 2017, 12:58 PM

    Good news. Horrible publication and an even more horrible man.

    367
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    Mute Ossi Fritsche
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    Apr 15th 2017, 12:59 PM

    Everton fans don’t buy that rag, as it insulted their family members. The Mail, Express any rag of a paper owned by Rubert Murdoch.

    224
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    Mute Dick Durkin
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:59 PM

    @Ossi Fritsche: the family that use to own the mail owned Everton for many many years.

    17
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    Mute SteveW
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:01 PM

    How anyone still buys that rag defies belief..

    190
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    Mute Government Sachs
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    Apr 15th 2017, 6:33 PM

    @SteveW: Low IQ, so low in fact that they can’t even use a smartphone.

    15
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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:00 PM

    28 years late is better than never. They should have shown solidarity with Liverpool over their articles on Hillsborough

    138
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    Mute J.D. Finnerty
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:12 PM

    @Alan Lawlor: Huh? What you talking about? Everton have never shown anything but solidarity with Liverpool.

    214
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    Mute blueman79
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:12 PM

    @Alan Lawlor: ya… because everton hasn’t shown enough support over the years. .. wind your neck in lad

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:17 PM

    @Alan Lawlor: Alan Liverpool only banned the Sun 2 months ago so Everton should get no criticism here.

    66
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:24 PM

    @Alan Lawlor: still going on about that.

    7
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    Mute Calvin McFly
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:28 PM

    @Alan Lawlor: A bit of an ill informed comment. Everton football club and supporters have ALWAYS shown solidarity with LFC in the fight for justice for the 96 fans that died at Hillsborough.
    https://youtu.be/Nmzu29eRhMU

    58
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    Mute Paul Lee
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:32 PM

    @Alan Lawlor: and stupidest comment of the week goes to…..You.

    55
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    Mute Seamus Mc Meel
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:39 PM

    @Alan Lawlor: Troll.

    27
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:31 PM

    Haven’t read that rag in years. The article was published to upset Liverpudlians on the eve of the anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy and does not surprise me one little bit. The editor should be fired for publishing it and the author should be shot for….just being himself.

    109
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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:11 PM

    The Sun is only one of two publications that I’ve actually wiped my ar$e with.

    76
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    Mute J.D. Finnerty
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:13 PM

    @Muiris O’Daltuin: My sympathies to your butthole. It’ll never be the same again.

    112
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    Mute Martin Flood
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:14 PM

    @Muiris O’Daltuin: better not download the app then.

    36
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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:18 PM

    @J.D. Finnerty: It was no Andrex quilts, thats for sure. Cheap paper for cheap words.

    22
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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:28 PM

    I thought the sun was a great news paper. Both it and the Daily mail are often only a euro. Which is a quarter the price of smoke pellets for testing newly installed stoves. I honestly used to buy them for that until I realised I was supporting them by buying it, so now I pay more for another news paper just to burn.

    54
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:36 PM

    @Bilbo Baggins: you are a modern day Joan of Arc.

    22
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    Mute Conor
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:01 PM

    Great news rag of a ‘paper’

    60
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    Mute Neal, not Neil.
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:36 PM

    What I don’t understand is why The Sun is still going, when everybody claims to not buy it.

    48
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    Mute Just Me
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:20 PM

    The Sun like all of Rupert Murdoch’s publications and TV outlets are pure dirt.

    57
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    Mute austin flevin
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:52 PM

    Says a lot about the eNglish, when this is their most popular paper.

    34
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    Mute Pete Rossiter
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:00 PM

    300k a year for a colume! I’m in the wrong line of business. No wonder he’s on holiday

    32
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    Mute Alan
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:59 PM

    I automatically assume that anyone who gathers their information from outlets like the sun, daily mail, etc. are buffoons whose opinion should be ignored at all costs.

    22
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    Mute Games Greatest
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:29 PM

    Their 99% rags most of them but that sc$m is on another level

    17
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    Mute Charlie Hebdo
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:25 PM

    This sets a very dangerous precedent and creates a chilling effect for all sports journalists. Restricting the free press is dangerous.

    13
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    Mute willypearson
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:30 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: demanding the press reports the truth seems reasonable

    71
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    Mute Joe Travers
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:30 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: what he wrote was nothing got to do with sports journalism. Allowing these views are more dangerous. We have a right to free press alright but not the opinion and ramblings of a spiteful hateful person.

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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:34 PM

    @Joe Travers: in other words Joe you just disagree/dislike his views and want them suppressed, freedom of the press should apply to all news outlets not just the ones you like or agree with.

    4
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    Mute Séamus Ó Lochlainn
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:37 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: dangerous precedent my ar$e. You’re still living in the 70s are ya when journalists actually reported News rather than deliberately incite hatred, persecute and vilify persons of their own choosing and sensationalise tragic stories.
    In fact small gestures like this might actually prompt editors to be more responsible in their reporting.
    Unlikely though.

    24
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    Mute Just Me
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:31 PM

    @Charlie Hebdo: Err just to educate you, Kelvin Mc Kenzie the author of the offending article, is not a sports journalist.It must be dizzy up on your high horse.

    18
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    Mute John Campbell
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    Apr 15th 2017, 2:39 PM

    It may be a loathsome publication but I think a complete ban on it or its employees sets a dangerous precedent. Sanitised news/reporting only results in dumbed down information.

    6
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    Mute Paul Cullen
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    Apr 15th 2017, 5:06 PM

    Everton ban the sun from its stadium…it’s going to a dull aul place without any sun!!

    5
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    Mute Colin hoop
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    Apr 15th 2017, 1:57 PM

    Jesus what a stupid pc world we live in,so what the sun said something bad about someone what’s new, ppl these days need to grow up and grow a pair

    12
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    Mute Spud
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    Apr 15th 2017, 5:45 PM

    The paper is a rag, it must be said, and that phrase, “Any publicity is good publicity.”, makes me think they won’t care one bit about all this, and might actually be secretly delighted their paper is in the news.

    3
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    Mute dannyboy
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    Apr 15th 2017, 9:18 PM

    A comic of a newspaper….actually that’s not fair on comics…a pure gutter rag…

    3
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