29/09 The Morning JOE

The Front Pages

‘Fitzpatrick wife has €1.1m cash in banks: Money cannot be touched by bankrupt husband’s creditors’ – the Irish Independent.

‘Investigation underway after 5,000 mink freed from farm’ – the Irish Times.

‘First World War officially ends as Germany pays debts’ – the Irish Examiner.

The Indo says the wife of former Anglo Irish chief Sean Fitzpatrick had bank balances totalling €1,135,000 just two months ago, analysis of court documents have revealed.

The sums represent Catriona Fitzpatrick’s 50 per cent share in three joint bank accounts held with her husband, however, none of the money can be touched by her husband’s creditors, who are owed almost €146m.

The release of some 5,000 mink from a farm in Co Donegal is being described as an act by “animal liberation terrorists”, as gardaí launch an investigation into the incident, the Times reports.

The First World War finally draws to a close next week when after 92 years of shouldering a crippling debt the Germans will make their final payment of wartime reparations to the Allies, the Examiner reports.

The €69.1 million payment will end the onerous debt, the price for one world war and a cause of another.

Tales from the Tabs

A man said to be dead by an ambulance crew was found breathing by an undertaker, the Star reports.

Paramedics ran a series of checks before letting the body be taken away to a morgue. But he later recovered.

The incident in 2007 was published yesterday in a report by South Western Ambulance Service (UK).

Its medical director Dr Andy Smith said: “We can investigate and learn lessons.”

The Sports Pages

Tiger Woods had a face-to-face showdown with Irish starlet Rory McIlroy, the Sun claims.

Ryder Cup ace McIlroy claimed he would love to play the out-of-form world No 1 at Celtic Manor this week.

Woods (34) went up to McIlroy in the locker room at the BMW Championship in Chicago earlier this month and declared: "You had better be careful what you wish for young man - it might just come true."