China's Execution Of A Man Convicted Of Breaking The Law Is Not Earth-Shattering News, Writes Eilis O'Hanlon AKMAL Shaikh is -- or rather, was -- the first European citizen to be executed in China in 50 years. During that time, the Chinese authorities have done to death tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of their own citizens without provoking a fraction of the same outrage which the death by lethal injection of this 53- year-old father of five, convicted two years ago of smuggling heroin into the country and finally executed last week, brought in its wake. [continues 1011 words]
Eilis O'hanlon In Belfast On Why Drugs Are Becoming A Common Factor In Northern Irish Violence And Why The Authorities Are Reluctant To Interfere `MAY the last person in the book be the last person to die.'' The words were those of Seamus Kelters, journalist with BBC Northern Ireland and co-editor of the recent Lost Lives a necessarily monumental testament to all those murdered during the Troubles when interviewed on RTE radio before Christmas. His wish was not to be. By this new year, another name was added to the list, a new entry for any updated second edition: loyalist Denver Smith, who died after a New Year's Eve beating on an estate in Antrim. And last week there was another: Richard Jameson, UVF commander in Portadown, gunned down as he returned home, apparently by the Loyalist Volunteer Force. [continues 822 words]
DRUG testing of Irish athletes and other sports participants is expected to begin in October, chief executive of the Sports Council, John Treacy, confirmed yesterday. The introduction of the testing was delayed until the Sports Council was set up on a statutory basis, giving it the legal power to carry out the tests. The testing will not be confined to elite athletes alone but will also involve other sports people involved in a range of games, including GAA, soccer and rugby. [continues 448 words]
