March 2005 in Britain and Ireland

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Deaths in March • 10 – Dave Allen • 6 – Tommy Vance • 5 – David Sheppard • 1 – Brian Luckhurst Ongoing events • Justice For Robert McCartney Related pages 2005 in the UK 2005 in Ireland

Events in Britain and Ireland

This page deals with current events in Great Britain and Ireland, of interest to and/or involving the British or the Irish.

Prince Charles causes a media frenzy by calling journalists asking questions about his forthcoming marriage "these bloody people." He said of BBC reporter Nicholas Witchell "I can't bear that man. I mean, he's so awful, he really is." ((BBC News online)

In England, Manchester police questions a man in relation to the murder of Desmond Noonan, suspected gangster, who was stabbed to death. (BBC) (Manchester Online)

Private Johnson Beharry is awarded the first Victoria Cross issued since 1982 for his actions in two attacks in Amarah, Iraq in May and June 2004 when he saved approx 30 comrades. He spent two weeks in a coma after the second attack. (MOD)

Three United Kingdom MPs - Jonathan Sayeed, Paul Boateng and Iain Coleman - announce that they will not be contesting their seats in the next general election. Sayeed and Coleman are retiring due to ill health; Boateng plans to become the UK's high commissioner to South Africa if the Labour government is returned in the next election. (BBC) (BBC) (BBC)

In the two by-elections in Ireland, Shane McEntee of Fine Gael takes the Meath seat, while an independent, Catherine Murphy is elected in Kildare North. (RTÉ)
Home Secretary Charles Clarke uses the powers of the new Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 to issue interim control orders restricting the rights of ten people suspected of terrorist activity. (BBC) (BBC)

Red Nose Day: Comic Relief raises over £37 million for good causes in the UK and Africa. (BBC) (Belfast Telegraph) (BBC)
After more than 30 hours of debate in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 is finally passed and given the Royal Assent. (BBC)

The Travers Report into illegal charging of patients in residential care in Ireland is published. The report states that 315,818 people were illegally charged for long-term residential care over the years since 1976, of which only 20,000 are still alive. Former Minister for Health Micheál Martin is now coming under pressure to resign for allowing the illegal charging to continue. (RTE)

Trevor Phillips, the head of the Commission for Racial Equality in the UK, suggests that black boys may have to be taught separately to improve their performance at school (BBC)

Sir John Stevens, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, claims that up to 200 members of Al-Qaeda are operating in UK (BBC)

Snow covers parts of south-eastern England, with Kent worst affected, causing traffic and school closures throughout the region. (BBC)
Manchester United footballers Mads Timm, 20, and Callum Flanagan, 19, are jailed for 12 and 8 months respectively for dangerous driving. The pair caused an accident resulting in permanent injuries to another driver. (BBC)
Disgraced pop mogul Jonathan King will be paroled from jail on March 29. (BBC)
Sinn Féin suspends seven members over their alleged involvement in the murder of Belfast man, Robert McCartney, who was killed on January 30. (BBC)
Amid an escalating war of words between the government and the Conservative Party, UK Health Secretary John Reid visits Warrington hospital. A proposed meeting with Margaret Dixon, whose shoulder operation has reportedly been cancelled by the hospital on seven occasions, falls through, with Reid claiming her complaints have been orchestrated by Conservative Central office. Tory leader Michael Howard later writes to Reid, complaining that the Government has been "telling lies" about Conservative health policy. The affair echoes the "War of Jennifer's Ear". (BBC) (Independent).
One quarter of British adults have or know somebody who has been the victim of identity theft, according to a survey by Which? magazine. (BBC)

Arsenal F.C. midfielder Jermaine Pennant, currently on loan to Birmingham City F.C., is found guilty of drink-driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance. He is sentenced to three months in prison. (BBC)
The New Forest becomes England and Wales's 12th national park. (BBC)