July 2005 in Britain and Ireland

31 July 2005 (Sunday)

• A mother-of-five from Limerick has won Europe's largest-ever lottery jackpot. Dolores McNamara, 46, from Garryowen will collect €113 million after winning the EuroMillions rollover jackpot.

29 July 2005 (Friday)

• Two of the suspects of the 21 July attempted bombings in London are arrested in north Kensington, the fourth is arrested in Rome.

28 July 2005 (Thursday)

• The IRA formally orders an end to its armed campaign. The British and Irish governments welcome the statement in a joint communique.
• 19 people are injured when a Tornado hits a residential area of Birmingham.

27 July 2005 (Wednesday)

• A man suspected of being responsible for the attempted bombing near Warren Street Tube station on 21 July is arrested in Birmingham.
• Granville Technology Group, producer of Tiny and Time personal computers, go into administration and closed all its shops.

25 July 2005 (Monday)

• The Irish landline operator eircom agree to purchase the mobile operator Meteor for €420m.

24 July 2005 (Sunday)

• Cricket: In the first Ashes Test at Lord's, Australia (190 & 384) beat England (155 & 180) by 239 runs. (Cricinfo)

22 July 2005 (Friday)

• It is announced that a British woman in her 30s from Bury, Greater Manchester, died in hospital in Liverpool last Saturday from rabies. It is believed that she had been bitten by a dog while on holiday in Goa, India. The last case of fatal rabies acquired in the UK was in 2002, when a Scottish bat enthusiast died, the first such fatality since 1902. (BBC)

21 July 2005 (Thursday)

• It is reported that Irish Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has signed an agreement with the US to allow CIA and FBI officers to arrest, detain and question Irish people on Irish soil. (Irish Examiner) Opposition parties have asked for a full explanation (Irish Labour Party).
• States of Jersey vote to ban smoking in all places where food is served and indoor workplaces. (BBC)
• London Underground stations are evacuated after a series of small explosions, reported to involve detonators only. (BBC)
• Cricket - The Ashes:

Steve Harmison takes five first-innings wickets as the Australians are bowled out for 190 before tea on the first day at Lord's, before Glenn McGrath replies for the Australians taking five wickets to reduce England to 21-5. (BBC)

20 July 2005 (Wednesday)

• Cricket - National League:

Sophia Gardens: Middlesex Crusaders (284 for 9) beat Glamorgan Dragons (173) by 111 runs (Cricinfo scorecard)

The County Ground, Derby: Durham Dynamos (224 for 4) beat Derbyshire Phantoms (223 for 8) by six wickets (Cricinfo scorecard)

• UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke announces a global database of militants who are judged to use inflammatory language or behaviour to foment or provoke terrorism. Those on the list may be denied entry into the country or deported.

19 July 2005 (Tuesday)

• The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, announces that charges have been brought against three British soldiers. The soldiers, all serving in the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, are charged with inhumane treatment of persons under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. (BBC)
• Cricket - National League:

Old Trafford: Essex Eagles (156 for 2) beat Lancashire Lightning (154 for 8) by two wickets (BBC scorecard)

• EastEnders: The BBC confirm Jessie Wallace is to leave the soap opera this year. (BBC)
• Economics: Gordon Brown announces changes in the measurement of the budget deficit which allow him to meet his self-imposed golden rule. Critics accuse Brown of "cheating". (BBC)

18 July 2005 (Monday)

• The Chatham House releases a paper on "Security, Terrorism and the UK" affirming that "[a] key problem for the UK in preventing terrorism in Britain is the government’s position as ‘pillion passenger’ to the United States' war on terror." Chatham House
• The appointment of the new Dean of Jersey, head of the Church of England in the Bailiwick and member of the States of Jersey, is announced. The Reverend Canon Robert Key, 53, currently the director of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, will be inducted in October 2005. BBC
• Cricket - Twenty20 Cup Quarter-Finals (Cricinfo):

Grace Road: Leicestershire Foxes (159 for 6) beat Middlesex Crusaders (140 for 7) by 19 runs

Old Trafford: Lancashire Lightning (189 for 7) beat Derbyshire Phantoms (170 all out) by 17 runs

The Oval: Surrey Lions (149 for 8, 20 overs) tied with Warwickshire Bears (117 for 8, 15 overs) on the Duckworth-Lewis method. Lions win 4-3 in bowl-off

The County Ground, Northampton: Somerset Sabres (155 for 6) beat Northamptonshire Steelbacks (154 for 8) by four wickets.

17 July 2005 (Sunday)

• Sir Edward Heath, Conservative Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974, dies a week after celebrating his 89th birthday. He was Prime Minister when the country entered the European Economic Community.(BBC)
• The Duchess of Cornwall has been granted a Royal coat of arms by the Earl Marshal of the College of Arms. The coat was designed with input from Camilla, Prince Charles and the Queen.(BBC)
• Golf: Tiger Woods wins his second Open, finishing five shots clear of second placed Colin Montgomerie.(BBC)
• Football: Manchester City F.C. accepts Chelsea's £21 million bid for Shaun Wright-Phillips, after rejecting a £20 million bid yesterday. (BBC)
• Cricket - National League:

Division One:

New Road, Worcester: Glamorgan Dragons (274 for 5) beat Worcestershire Royals (270 for 3) by five wickets. (Cricinfo)

Southgate: Gloucestershire Gladiators (335 for 6) beat Middlesex Crusaders (333 for 4) by four wickets. (Cricinfo)

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire Outlaws (244 for 9) beat Hampshire Hawks (240 for 8) by one wicket. (Cricinfo)

Division Two:

Riverside Ground: Warwickshire Bears (148 for 5) beat Durham Dynamos (147 all out) by five wickets. (Cricinfo)

The Oval: Derbyshire Phantoms (264 for 5) beat Surrey Lions (260 for 8) by five wickets. (Cricinfo)

• Cricket - The Ashes tour: Leicestershire (217 all out and 363 for 5) draw with Australia (582 all out) in a 3-day match including four centuries - all from Australian citizens, although Chris Rogers, who made 209, was playing for Leicestershire. (Cricinfo)

16 July 2005 (Saturday)

• Football: Manchester City F.C. rejects Chelsea's bid for Shaun Wright-Phillips, manager Stuart Pearce saying that they need to come up with an acceptable offer. (BBC)
• Cricket - C&G Trophy: Yorkshire become the fourth side to qualify for the semi-finals, beating Northamptonshire by 33 runs. (BBC)
• Cricket - C&G Trophy, semi-final draw:

Warwickshire – Lancashire

Hampshire – Yorkshire (BBC)

15 July 2005 (Friday)

• Final medals table of the 2005 Island Games shows Guernsey on top with 40 golds, Isle of Man in second place with 34 golds, and Jersey in third position with 33 golds. Hosts Shetland occupy seventh position. (This is Jersey) (Official results)
• Magdi Mahmoud al-Nashar aged 33 years old has been arrested in Cairo, Egypt for his suspected involvement in the London bombings.(BBC)
• Football:
  • It is confirmed that Patrick Vieira, the Arsenal F.C. captain, is to move to Juventus in a £13.75 million transfer deal. (BBC)
  • Chelsea put a bid rumoured to be worth around £18 million for Manchester City midfielder and England international Shaun Wright-Phillips (BBC)
• The Cheadle by-election is won by the Liberal Democrats candidate Mark Hunter. (BBC)
• Professor Sir Roy Meadow is struck off by the General Medical Council, after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct, connected to his misleading evidence in the Sally Clark case (BBC), (Guardian).
• Cricket, C&G Trophy quarter-finals: Warwickshire, Lancashire and Hampshire progress to semi-finals after winning their respective games. Hampshire's game with Surrey was particularly high-scoring, with a total of 717 runs, as Hampshire successfully chased 359 to win. (BBC) (BBC) (BBC)

14 July 2005 (Thursday)

• High Court: Former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers admits to giving false evidence to a House of Commons sub-committee. The admission came as Byers was giving evidence in the case brought by shareholders of Railtrack against the government. The shareholders accuse Byers and the government of misfeasance.(BBC)
• The 2005 Emmy Awards are announced with nominations for British stars Ian McShane, Hugh Laurie and Kenneth Branagh amongst others.(BBC)
• A two-minute silence is held across Europe at 12:00 BST to remember the victims of the London bombings.(BBC)(Sky)(C4 News)
• Hatfield train crash: Charges of manslaughter against five rail bosses are thrown out by an Old Bailey judge, together with a charge of corporate manslaughter against Balfour Beatty. The judge, Mr Justice Mackay, has stated he is not permitted to reveal his reasons. Charges under the Health and Safety Act are still being considered.(Sky)(C4 News)(BBC)
• Thames Water and United Utilities are criticised by regulator Ofwat for failing to reduce leakages to agreed targets.(C4 News)(Sky)
• Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp sign an agreement with the former head of Ford in Europe, Mark Leach. The tie up between the two is expected to lead to a bid for the assets of MG Rover, currently held in administration by PricewaterhouseCoopers.(BBC)
• There is a fire at a factory near the site of the new Wembley Stadium. The smoke can reportedly be seen in the City.(BBC)
• Voting opens in the Cheadle by-election. The by-election was called due to Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament Patsy Calton's death from cancer shortly after the general election in May. (BBC)(Sky)
• The government will today present its London Olympics bill to Parliament. The bill will seek to outlaw ticket touting at the event and also create an Olympic Delivery Authority to oversee the event's building and staging on behalf of the government.(BBC)
• Women's Hockey: England beat the United States 3-2 in their Champion's Challenge match.(BBC)
• Newcastle complete the signing of Turkish International midfielder Emre from Inter Milan. He is the club's second signing in the summer transfer window.(BBC)
• The squad for the first Ashes test is announced, with Kevin Pietersen preferred over Graham Thorpe.(BBC)
• The 2005 Open Championship begins at St Andrews, with Yorkshireman Simon Dyson the first to tee off. Jack Nicklaus, competing in his final Open cards 75, three over par.(BBC)

13 July 2005 (Wednesday)

• In the UEFA Champions League 2005-06 - First Qualifying Round, first leg, Liverpool beat TNS 3-0, with Steven Gerrard scoring all three goals.(UEFA.com)
• Police and Anti-Terrorist Squad raid a house in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire in connection with the terrorist attacks in London. (Sky)
• The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, unveils an etching by Picasso. Weeping Woman I is thought to be amongst the greatest prints of the last century, and was acquired by the state in lieu of the inheritance tax payable on the estate of Joanna Drew. (BBC)
• The General Medical Council finds Sir Roy Meadow guilty of giving erroneous and misleading evidence in the Sally Clark case. (BBC)
• British American Tobacco is moving manufacturing abroad from Southampton to Poland, Romania, Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland. 530 jobs are expected to be lost when the factory closes. (BBC)
• Energy Regulator Douglas McIldoon alleges electricity consumers in Northern Ireland have paid £1 bn more for power than elsewhere in the UK due to the contracts drawn up at the time the industry was privatised. (BBC)
• Police confirm baton rounds were fired during yesterday's rioting in North Belfast. (BBC)
• DIY: A man dies after using a shower he had installed incorrectly. (BBC)
• The Forum of Private Business has called for a six-month suspension of the London congestion charge to allow the capital's economy to recover from the recent bombings. (BBC)
• Police in Strathclyde today criticise Orange Order organisers after trouble flared at a march yesterday. (BBC)
• Ofcom reports a rise in the usage of digital technology within the UK (BBC)
• Prime Minister's Question Time: Political leaders of all three main parties condemn the terrorist attacks, and Tony Blair promised consultation over laws to "combat the incitement and the instigation of terrorism as well as the acts of terrorism themselves". Michael Howard warned against the resenting of British Muslims, noting those that do are the "enemy of all of us because they would be behaving in the way that terrorists want them to". Charles Kennedy remarked: "It is incumbent upon all of us to keep stressing the fact that the vast majority of British Muslims totally condemn the bombings." (BBC)
• Unemployment figures are falling, according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics. The figures also show that the number of claimants of unemployment benefit has risen. (BBC)
• Cricket - 2005 ICC Trophy: Scotland (324 for 8) beat Ireland (277 for 9) by 47 runs in both teams' first final of the ICC Trophy. Despite the return of Ed Joyce, and home advantage in Dublin, the Irish could not complete what has been a good tournament for them. (Cricinfo)

12 July 2005 (Tuesday)

• The crew of the rowing boat Naturally Best have crossed the ocean from Canada to Europe in record breaking time. They have beaten the previous record, which had stood for 17 years, by over 15 days.(C4 News)
• Australia beat England by seven wickets to win the one day series between the two teams. Adam Gilchrist made 101 to guide Australia to victory. (BBC)
• A report into last year's train crash at Berkshire, published today, has called for more research to be conducted with regards to passengers of trains wearing seat belts. (BBC)
• London Bombings: Police have performed a controlled explosion whilst searching six homes in the Leeds vicinity, West Yorkshire, as part of the ongoing investigation into the attack. (BBC)
• Republican protestors are forcibly removed from the Crumlin Road in north Belfast. The demonstrators had been engaged in a sit-down protest against the Orange Order's refusal to discuss a march through the demonstrators' neighbourhood, with the road being a part of the route for the Ligoniel parade. (BBC)
• MPs are to meet Met Office officials today and ask them to reconsider their decision to close the Aberdeen centre. They argue that the centre is important to the area's economy, and that it is the only office which covers Scotland. (BBC)
• RSI: A study suggests workers in Wales are more likely to suffer from RSI than workers elsewhere in the UK. (BBC)
• Postal workers in Northampton return to work after talks settle a dispute over working practices. The workers had been on an unofficial strike since walking out on 7 July. (BBC)

11 July 2005 (Monday)

• Jury discharged: The retrial of Sion Jenkins for the murder of foster daughter Billie-Jo in February 1997 has ended after the jury failed to reach a verdict. Jenkins is to remain on bail as the Crown Prosecution Service seek a third trial. (BBC) (Channel 4 news)
• The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill has been given a third reading by the House of Commons, passing by 301 votes to 229. The bill is now referred to the House of Lords for scrutiny. (BBC)
• Commanders at the Mildenhall and Lakenheath US airbases in East Anglia issue orders forbidding servicemen from travelling within the M25 motorway until further notice, and strongly discourage family members not subject to their orders from doing so (Cambridge Evening News).
• Two of the victims of the London terrorist bombings are named. (BBC)
• Foreign Secretary Jack Straw apologises on behalf of the international community for their lack of sufficient action in preventing the massacre of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica during a speech given at a ceremony to mark the tenth anniversary of the atrocity. (BBC)
• Northern Ireland: Loyalist paramilitaries are believed to be behind two shootings which have left one man dead and another critically injured. (BBC)
• Home Secretary Charles Clarke calls for greater retention of data related to e-mail transmission in light of the 7 July 2005 London bombings. (BBC)
• The General Synod of the Church of England adopts a resolution "that the process for removing the legal obstacles to the ordination of women to the episcopate should now be set in train"; and schedules debate on the best form of legislation to achieve this for its February 2006 session. (BBC)
• Zimbabwean asylum seekers suspend their hunger strike after being granted a High Court review of the forced deportation of failed asylum seekers back to Zimbabwe, where it is feared they may be targeted by the government for having attempted to seek asylum. (BBC)
• Visitors to the Merseyside coast are urged to take care when viewing sea sculptures designed by Antony Gormley, after three teenagers were rescued by the coast guard on Sunday. (BBC)

10 July 2005 (Sunday)

• The British Grand Prix, held at Silverstone, is won by Juan Pablo Montoya, driving for McLaren. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen finished second and third respectively. (BBC)
• In a document leaked to The Mail on Sunday, Defence Secretary John Reid lays out plans to withdraw troops from Iraq. The document also details U.S. plans to cut troop numbers. Reid, however, insists "no decision" has been taken. (BBC)
• Two bidders emerge for the assets of MG Rover. Both preferred bidder Nanjing Automobile, and prospective bidder David James, backed by Shanghai Automotive are interested in producing models at the Longbridge Plant. (BBC)
• The Orange Order's annual march in Drumcree, County Armagh has passed once again without major incident. The route of the march has been altered since 1997 to avoid using the Garvaghy Road. (BBC)
• Cricket: Australia beat England by seven wickets in the penultimate NatWest Challenge one day match. Australian captain Ricky Ponting made a century. (BBC)
• Commemoration day: A Lancaster bomber drops a million poppies as the Queen gives a public address at The Mall to mark sixty years since the end of World War II. It is estimated that over a quarter of a million people are in attendance. (BBC)

9 July 2005 (Saturday)

• Following intelligence reports of a threat to the area, Birmingham city centre is evacuated by police. (BBC)
• Boxing: Junior Witter defeats Andreas Kotelnik on points. (BBC)
• Rugby Union: New Zealand beat the British and Irish Lions by 38 points to 19. (BBC)

8 July 2005 (Friday)

• Sir Ian Blair, head of the Metropolitan Police, revises the death toll for the London bombs yesterday up to at least fifty. However, he states that it is doubtful the figure would top 100. (BBC)
• NHS dental charges are revised in England, and patients are now recommended to have a check up once every 18 months to two years, rather than the previous recommendation of every six months, the health minister, Rosie Winterton has announced. (The Guardian)
• Steven Gerrard signs a new four-year contract with Liverpool F.C., just days after indicating he was leaving the club. (BBC)
• The 31st G8 summit finishes, with Tony Blair announcing a £28.8 bn boost in the aid given to developing countries. He also reports on the lack of progress on the issue of climate change. (BBC) Protestors block roads and bridges in Glasgow (IMC UK)

7 July 2005 (Thursday)

• Four suicide bombers kill 52 people on London's transport network. Please see 7 July 2005 London bombings.
• The England cricket team beat Australia by nine wickets in the opening match of their one day series, which precedes the 2005 Ashes series. (BBC)
• The Bank of England has announced that interest rates in the United Kingdom will remain at 4.75% for another month. (The Guardian)

6 July 2005 (Wednesday)

• London is chosen as the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games, beating Paris in the final round of votes 54 to 50. Other candidates, in order of elimination, were Moscow, New York City and Madrid. The election took place at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore during the 117th IOC Session held in the same city, bringing to an end the bidding process started two years earlier. (The Guardian) The event progress is being tracked at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• The 31st G8 summit commences as leaders fly in for a banquet with the Queen. The summit is being held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland. (The Guardian). The summit is being tracked at 31st G8 summit. Around 400 arrests are made as protestors block several roads all morning (UK IMC)

5 July 2005 (Tuesday)

• The Dublin Circuit Court ordered the return of memorabilia to the rock band U2. The items are currently in the possession of their former stylist, Lola Cashman, who has been instructed to return them within seven days. Judge Deery rejects Ms Cashman's claim that these proceedings were brought to stop her suit for defamation, filed in London's High Court, although he acknowledges that this outcome will have a bearing on it when it resumes. (BBC)

4 July 2005 (Monday)

• A former teacher of Prince Harry, Sarah Forsyth, wins her claim for unfair dismissal against Eton College. However her claim that she was instructed to complete portions of the prince's work, made at a hearing in Reading, Berkshire, earlier in the year, is rejected by the industrial tribunal. (BBC)

3 July 2005 (Sunday)

• Roger Federer becomes the Wimbledon champion for the third time, completing a hat-trick of titles, after beating Andy Roddick 6-2 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 in the 2005 Wimbledon Gentlemen's Singles final. (BBC)

2 July 2005 (Saturday)

• England hosts two Live 8 concerts, at the Eden Project, Cornwall, and Hyde Park, London. (The Guardian)
• Venus Williams becomes the Wimbledon champion for the third time after beating Lindsay Davenport 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 9-7 in the 2005 Wimbledon Ladies' Singles final. (BBC)

1 July 2005 (Friday)

• Tony Blair assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and announces a review of Europe's welfare system and its suitability to addressing the needs of modern life. (BBC)
• In the UK, cot death expert Sir Roy Meadow testifies before the General Medical Council hearing. He was involved with four court cases where four women were falsely accused of killing their children. Medical journal The Lancet defends him saying that he is just a "scapegoat" (BBC)

British and Irish events by month

• 2007 in the United Kingdom: January February March April May June July
• 2006 in the United Kingdom: January February March April May June July August September October November December
• 2005 in the United Kingdom: January February March April May June July August September October November December
• 2004 in the United Kingdom: December

(For earlier events in Britain and Ireland, see November 2004 and preceding months)