Troubled Aer Lingus Sells Artworks Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - Jay Dooling News about Ireland & the Irish From the New Wires Troubled Airline Selling Artworks PA 11/04/01 21:56 Copyright 2001 PA News By Chris Parkin, PA News Hard-up Aer Lingus is selling some of its collection of paintings as part of the company's survival package in the light of IR 2 million-a-day losses. As many as 25 works or art owned by the airline are due to be auctioned later this month in a bid to raise IR 500,000. But the move is unlikely to leave too many bare spaces on the walls of the troubled carrier's offices at Dublin airport. The paintings on offer make up only a part of the Aer Lingus collection and only two of those going under the hammer have been on display in recent years - both in the company chairman's office. The others have all been in storage for some time. But one of those to go from the chairman's office is likely to fetch around half the total sum realised. It's a work titled By Merrion Strand, by celebrated Irish artist Jack B Yeats, brother of the poet W B Yeats. Dating back to 1929, it shows a woman standing beside a south Dublin coastline, and was bought by Aer Lingus in 1940 - a period when paintings by Yeats were worth a fraction of their current value. An employee of the airline secured the purchase in London with a 5 deposit. Other artists whose works are set to go in the include Louis Le Brocquy, Patrick Collins, Norah McGuinness, Gerard Dillon and George Campbell. Aer Lingus are set to shed around a third of their 6,300 workforce and have cut services by 25% in a bid to save the company after being financially crippled by the effects of the September 11 terrorist attack the US. Details of the survival blueprint were spelled out by management to employees a few days ago. ****************************************** Bloody Sunday Troops Bid To Overturn Evidence Ruling PA 11/04/01 21:56 Copyright 2001 PA News The High Court in London was today being asked to overturn a ruling requiring soldiers to give evidence in person at the Bloody Sunday inquiry in Londonderry. Lawyers for 36 servicemen and ex-soldiers argue their security cannot be guaranteed, and the decision of the tribunal headed by Lord Saville of Newdigate that they must attend the Guildhall in Derry to give oral evidence breaches Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the "right to life". The soldiers, whose identities cannot be revealed for legal reasons, have indicated they are willing to give evidence, but object to being forced to do so in Derry. Lord Saville's legal team will argue the decision was "fair, lawful and reasonable". Among those who will be represented is the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, which organised the march on Sunday January 30 1972, when 13 people were shot dead by British soldiers. Others represented will include some of the 32 families who had relatives killed or injured, and the Ministry of Defence. ends To subscribe sent to the same email address: subscribe ireland_list newemail@ISP.com (assuming newemail@ISP.com is your email address) ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-11.05.01-04:13:33-23360