Booking a day in advance its actually a right bargain
Does a split ticket just mean you need to change trains at some point of the journey?
Sorry can we keep this thread for discussion related to the major Gaa star and leave the travails of first class flatly and the UK rail system to the appropriate thread please
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No. Once the train stops/goes through the station, you are fine. Ridiculous really
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I wonder who this is.
GAA star sought bailout from Irish-American
Former player told prominent figure he was ill and needed urgent financial support
SIMON CARSWELL
Public Affairs EditorThe former GAA star who is under investigation for alleged fraud approached a prominent Irish-American figure last month seeking help to secure a financial bailout to repay his debts, the Irish Times has learned.
The well-known figure in Irish-American circles said he was contacted āout of the blueā on his mobile phone by the former player in early January seeking the names of wealthy people from his home county living in the US who might help him resolve his financial difficulties.
The sports man told the individual he was ill and needed financial support urgently. āHe listed a long number of medical and financial problems he had,ā the Irish-American said.
The former player, who is not being named for legal reasons, has been accused of taking large sums of money from people for specialist medical treatment for cancer.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau is investigating whether the retired player deceived friends and business associates into lending him money for medical and other bills. They are investigating whether he falsely claimed he had cancer to a number of people from whom he sought money. People have made statements of complaint to GardaĆ claiming they gave the retired player sums ranging from a few thousand euro to more than ā¬100,000.
The sportsmanās call to the prominent Irish-American came soon after detectives visited and searched a premises where the former sports star was staying last December.
āStart againā
According to the Irish-American figure, the former GAA player asked him for help finding āa couple of hundred thousandā from rich people from his county so he could repay his debts and āstart againā. He said he had never spoken to the sports star before and was surprised by the call. āIt was a strange call, completely out of the blue. There was no context. The main thing I remember was the urgency in his voice. He seemed like a guy who was deeply troubled,ā he said.
He told the sportsman he did not know any wealthy people he could refer him to.
Speaking to The Irish Times, he expressed concern at how agitated the former player was on the call and how he considered contacting a support group for GAA players for a time but ultimately decided not to. He has not received any further contact from the former athlete.
One businessman loaned the sports star ā¬120,000 and later secured a debt judgment against the player in court.
Thatās privatisation for you.
The TFK capitalists would be all in favour of it.
Is that a current article or old?
This mornings paper.
Whoever he is, heās a bad cunt to go to the press with that phone call.
It doesnāt rain but it pours.
Euston mate. I also needed to be in by 0845 latest.
FFS. You are searching standard class tickets. This is the deputy Lord Mayor of Didsbury that we are talking about.
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The king of the steps rang theā¦
GardaĆ donāt consider GAA legend at centre of alleged cancer scam a flight risk amid investigation
The investigation team have been inundated with new cases
Gardai investigating a GAA legend over allegations of fraud and deception say it could take several weeks before they are in a position to charge him.
They have allayed fears of several complainants that he may try to flee the country and say they know where he is at all times and they donāt regard him as a āflight riskā at this stage.
The investigation team have been inundated with new cases against him since details of the scandal were disclosed last weekend.
A source said: "A load more people have come forward and made new allegations as a result of the publicity. They are no longer embarrassed because they know loads of others where caught by the same scam.
"We are talking about a huge amount of ordinary people who were stung and also a very substantial amount of money.
āAlthough there are a handful of people who gave him big six-figure amounts that have come forward, there are smaller donors from all over the country who gave him anywhere from between two to five thousands euros,ā they alleged.
āThe majority of these people did it out of the goodness of their heart because they genuinely thought he was seriously ill with cancer and wanted to help save his life,ā the source claimed.
"These same people couldnāt afford it and could really do with their savings back now in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
āThey feel really angry and betrayed. He was still trying to tap people up for money only a few weeks ago even though he knew we were investigating him.ā
The initial estimate of the sum involved was ā¬1 million but now it is believed to be much higher. The whole saga has been going on for over a decade.
The player allegedly claimed to be suffering from a form of blood cancer and claimed he needed the money for stem cell treatment in the USA.
One man who gave him ā¬10,000 said: "The whole cancer story is an absolute and utter lie. He made it all up to secure money under false pretences. The man was a very good friend of mine and he duped me. I like everyone else who gave him the cash, acted in good faith.
We have seen text messages the player allegedly sent last summer to a businessman heād met on the GAA golf circuit and gives an insight into how he operated. The man concerned didnāt give him any cash in the end.
The legend asked him not to say anything to a mutual friend they had and that he was trying to get back for transplant to Seattle and to keep it between themselves.
The player allegedly told how he asked five people in his home county for help and they couldnāt do it. He also asked them to keep it quiet but all of a sudden it got out there that he was asking for money and he had to let it go.
He allegedly claimed he missed three transplants and was a bit down over it but heād have to wait until he has the funds.
He also claimed the cost of the treatment was ā¬60k in total and that he had ā¬35k already sent and was due to travel the next Saturday. He said he was normally covered by the elite sports insurance in the USA but not this time.
A few weeks later the player allegedly texted the same person and claimed he was on pain management at the moment but doing ok.
The businessman concerned had a number of friends who were hit by the star for large amounts of money. A number of them have now made statements of complaint to the Gardai.
After the last week, I had surmised that perhaps this story was made up. But other reports would suggest it was not made up.
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Was it the panto thing that pissed you off so much? Good to know anyway, explains a lot 
Some lads would believe anything
Surely here if a player of this profile was ill someone would have suggested a race night or charity match or something youād have raised the money no bother in a gofundme with proper coverage