The Government's legal challenge against the UK Legacy Act, Russian comedians targeting Leo Varadkar in a prank call, and Michael Lynn's conviction for stealing €17.9 million are among the stories that feature on Thursday's front pages.
The Irish Times leads with the legal challenge to the Legacy Act.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has claimed he “played along” with a prank phone call by two Russian comedians posing as African diplomats, the story makes the front page of the Irish Examiner.
The Irish Independent leads with a story on Michael Lynn being found guilty on 10 of the 21 charges against him.
The Echo leads with a story on people choosing to shop locally in Cork.
The Irish Sun leads with a story on Josef Puska's wife being charged with withholding information during the Ashling Murphy murder investigation.
Today's Irish Sun. pic.twitter.com/7lDrwR8kFl
— The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) December 21, 2023
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has denied claims that An Garda Síochána was not informed about plans for asylum seekers to be housed in a Co Galway hotel, the Irish Daily Mail reports.
Don't miss your terrific Femail magazine in the Irish Daily Mail every Thursday. pic.twitter.com/0dHiOYgB3P
— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) December 21, 2023
The Herald and the Irish Daily Star lead with stories about a man who has died following a shooting in Co Wicklow.
Thursday’s front page pic.twitter.com/1ftvr9qgtI
— Irish Daily Star (@isfearranstar) December 21, 2023
In the North, the Belfast Telegraph leads with a story on the legal challenge to the Legacy Act.
The UK papers on Thursday are led by messages from the family of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey following the conviction of her teenage killers.
“We will never stop loving her” is the headline on the Daily Mirror, while the Daily Mail runs with: “What they did to our beautiful Brianna will haunt us forever”.
Thursday's front page: We will never stop loving her https://t.co/dg0GaL5MK9 pic.twitter.com/9tefWZxeWO
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 20, 2023
Daily Mail: What they did to our beautiful Brianna will
haunt us for ever #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/TEjBeLzkgD— George Mann (@sgfmann) December 20, 2023
Elsewhere, The Times and i report mortgage rates are set to fall next year as inflation declines.
TheTimes: Cheaper mortgages set to ease living costs #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/xdgxrUav46
— George Mann (@sgfmann) December 20, 2023
The i: Tax cuts in 2024 after surprise fall in inflation #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4vVrZbjLQh
— George Mann (@sgfmann) December 20, 2023
However, The Independent says leading economists hold concerns on whether the Bank of England will be able to reach its longstanding target of 2 per cent inflation.
The Telegraph leads with the UK government saying it “profoundly regrets” a move by the Irish Government to legally challenge its legislation to deal with Northern Ireland’s troubled past.
📰 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Sunak vows to defend Ulster veterans'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletter ⬇️https://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/SFKDHUGlYH— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 20, 2023
There are privacy concerns over police being given access to 50 million driving licences to run facial recognition checks, according to The Guardian.
The Guardian: Outrage over police access to 50m
driving licences to run face checks #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ZSjAiSo53b— George Mann (@sgfmann) December 20, 2023
Metro reports the girlfriend of a British millionaire who was rescued from a crime cartel in Ecuador has been questioned by police.
Tomorrow's Papers Today 📰
FOUND ALIVE
🔴 Kidnap Brit, 78, 'set up' by lover #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/jIaln37uqy— Metro (@MetroUK) December 20, 2023
The Daily Express calls on its readers to get behind Dame Esther Rantzen’s campaign to hear a parliamentary debate on assisted dying
Front Page - We must give Dame Esther her final campaign victory#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/0AXZTSdo5M pic.twitter.com/KKBd8towMw
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) December 20, 2023
The Sun reports Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson has been charged following a police probe into domestic violence allegations.
The Sun: Bargain Hunt star's attack charges #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4Jh5YTAemH
— George Mann (@sgfmann) December 20, 2023
The Financial Times leads with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi saying he will “look into” any evidence of an Indian assassination plot on American soil.
Financial Times: Modi ready to look at any evidence of assassination plot on American soil #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/m0nQOLLP9w
— George Mann (@sgfmann) December 20, 2023
And the Daily Star says global warming will destroy the planet in 200 years.
Daily Star: Apocalypse soon #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Hm5NikTMce
— George Mann (@sgfmann) December 20, 2023
The New York Times leads with a report that has found many US voters see criminality in Donald Trump, but will vote for the former president anyway.
