Thank goodness we have tight gun laws — or murders like Jo Cox’s could be commonplace
MP tragedy is a mercifully isolated incident
WE are not immune to the American disease of murderous gun crime.
Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in a street in Birstall, near Leeds, in a horrific attack that has shocked us all.
The 41-year-old MP for Batley and Spen was a mother of two young children and God only knows how her husband Brendan managed to tell those little ones that their mum wasn’t coming home to tuck them in.
Brendan was somehow also able to make a remarkable tribute to his wife, saying: “She would have wanted that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her.”
Jo had been receiving persistent threats over the past few months and there were plans to step up her security.
Perhaps it might have saved her.
Can you imagine the carnage if the 'crazed loner' who killed Jo had been able to get hold of a deadly automatic rifle?
No one wants to see our MPs surrounded by armed security guards as this would put huge barriers between them and us but they are obviously far too vulnerable.
Can you imagine the carnage if the “crazed loner” who killed Jo had been able to get hold of a deadly automatic rifle?
Thankfully we have tight gun laws or these mercifully isolated incidents could be as commonplace as they are in the US where, just this week, 49 people were slaughtered in a gay nightclub in Orlando.
The killer, a dangerous and unstable person, was legally and easily able to buy an assault rifle.
Instead of being utterly appalled and changing the law, the powerful gun lobby and buffoons like Donald Trump have called for MORE weapons to be available to everyone.
Sadly, people appear to be listening to those intent on instilling fear and loathing and sales of weapons have soared.
People in the city were already reeling from the killing of young singer Christina Grimmie who was (inevitably) shot dead by a madman while signing autographs.
It’s horror piled upon horror.
We can sympathise and offer support but until the gun laws are changed we can expect such tragedies on a regular basis.
And over here we mourn the death of Jo Cox, a compassionate, big-hearted woman who just wanted to make the world a better place.
Terrible treatment Sir Cliff suffered has hit him hard
IN light of all of the charges being dropped against Sir Cliff Richard, surely there must now be a complete rethink over how historical sexual abuse allegations are handled?
The “naming and shaming” of innocent men, including poor old Cliff, DJ Paul Gambaccini, and comedians Jimmy Tarbuck and Jim Davidson, has resulted in zero convictions and deep distress for those accused and their family and friends.
All concerned in this appalling treatment of Cliff should hang their heads in shame.
For the past two years, the police, the BBC and vile internet trolls and all of those “no smoke without fire” theorists have made his life a living hell.
The police “did a deal” with the BBC which meant the broadcaster was in place with cameras to film a search of his home in Berkshire, which was broadcast live and splashed all over the news bulletins.
Cliff’s good name was sullied before he was even interviewed by police and he had the threat of a court case for heinous crimes of child sexual abuse hanging over his head for almost two years.
At a time in his life when he should have been taking it easy and looking back over his career with satisfaction and a sense of achievement, Cliff has had no peace of mind.
The fear, angst and worry of having to face unsubstantiated and trumped up charges must have gnawed away at his heart and soul and kept him up at night.
The police have apologised about the way they handled the case but it’s all too little and way too late.
Maybe they were smarting from accusations of turning a blind eye to the vile crimes of disgusting pervert Jimmy Savile and overreacted horribly.
But in doing so, they have ruined lives and possibly discredited genuine victims in future cases.
That is unforgivable.
It’s utterly scandalous that any nutter can accuse a high-profile star of disgusting crimes and see his name dragged through the mud.
The fear, angst and worry must have gnawed away at his heart and soul and kept him up at night
Of course, legitimate claims must be taken extremely seriously but surely police officers are intelligent enough to know if they are being manipulated by fantasists?
If they really are that stupid they shouldn’t be in the force in the first place.
Cliff has always been feted for his “Peter Pan” looks and gently mocked for his healthy lifestyle, cheesy calendars and old fashioned dance moves — but the allegations have really taken their toll.
He looks every one of his 75 years and in recent photographs appeared to be a broken man.
But Cliff has an army of loyal fans at his back and they have helped him through his darkest times.
He also has good friends he can rely on.
They will all be celebrating this weekend — but it’s bittersweet.
Cliff was an open and trusting man, and inevitably that will have changed.
He has been badly hurt by the accusations and lurid headlines and it will take time for him to rebuild his life.
I really hope he gets back in the studio, records a best selling album of his favourite songs and hits, and gets his new calendar out in time for Christmas.
Pitiful... but still criminal
OSCAR Pistorius did indeed look pitiful as he limped and shuffled across the courtroom on his stumps.
It was a powerful image clearly meant to show his vulnerability and it was hard not to feel sorry for him.
Until you remembered what unspeakable acts of murderous rage he had committed on the body of a woman he was supposed to have loved.
The newly released photos showing the extent of poor Reeva Steenkamp’s injuries were shocking and gut-churning, and the searing evidence given by her heartbroken father was deeply moving.
Obviously the Pistorius camp knew they had to do their best to neutralise those images and attempt to stop the former golden boy being sent to jail for a very long time.
The media circus and farcical court proceedings since Reeva’s murder in 2013 have meant that, amid all the hoopla, it was sometimes easy to forget that a young, innocent woman had lost her life – and that she and her family deserve justice.
When Pistorius is finally sentenced on July 6, he must be given a sentence that fits his crime. He deserves to be treated just like any other criminal, regardless of his fame or disability.
God bless the Irish
THE Euro championships have been marred and scarred by violence.
But God bless the Irish for taking on the mantle of the Tartan Army (oh how it hurts and stings that Scotland did not qualify) and celebrating the event instead of acting as though it’s a battlefield.
The Irish fans have already helped an elderly French couple to change a flat tyre, played a hysterically funny game of human pinball and charmed a French nun on a train by singing a gutsy rendition of the Lord’s Prayer.
They have laughed and chanted with Swedish supporters and generally been a joy.
How I wish their love for the game and sense of fun was the norm instead of the exception.
Kate's throwbeck
I LOVED this throwback photo of Kate Beckinsale and her daughter Lily Mo, posted online this week, which depicts a stunningly gorgeous image of the two of them when Lily was just a baby.
I also loved the photo seen last month that Kate brought bang up to date, re-creating a pose of her and her daughter who is now 17.
What makes it even more special is the inclusion of Lily’s dad, Welsh actor Michael Sheen.
The couple might have split up in 2003 but they obviously put their daughter first and managed to have a civilised break-up.
I’m sure their daughter has grown up all the better for their adult behaviour.