Yacht captain charged over forest blaze
Liverpool & Scotland great out of hospital after illness
The crew are detained
THE captain and crew of a yacht have been charged after a firework display triggered a forest fire.
About 75 acres of pine forest on the popular resort island of Hydra, south of Athens in the Aegean sea, was destroyed.
The captain of another yacht anchored nearby told authorities that the blaze was started by fireworks let off by from the suspects’ vessel on Friday.
Greek police arrested 13 people on Saturday when the yacht docked near Athens. Under strict new laws, they could face jail.
Authorities in the country warned of a particularly high risk of fires this summer following a warm, dry winter.
Last year, wildfires in Greece killed 28 people and burned 444,000 acres.
FOOTBALL legend Alan Hansen has been discharged from hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
The former Liverpool and Scotland defender, 69, has been in hospital for most of June with a serious illness.
Fans, former team-mates and co-workers had expressed concern over his condition, but a statement from Liverpool FC yesterday confirmed he had been allowed home.
The centre-back won the league and FA Cup Double as Reds captain in 1986 – two of 18 major trophies in his 17-year career, after which he became famous again as a Match of the Day pundit.
He is married to Janet, and has two children, Adam and Lucy.
The statement read: “Alan has been discharged from hospital today to continue his recovery at home.”
“Alan, Janet, Adam, Lucy and family would like to thank everybody for their wonderful messages of love and support. It has been overwhelming and has helped enormously.
“We also hugely appreciate the ongoing respect that has been shown for our privacy as Alan continues his recovery. Thank you.”
Hansen, who won 26 caps for Scotland and played in the 1982 World Cup, is thought to have been fighting for his life when he was first admitted.
Fans and pals reacted with joy at the news that he was home. MOTD host Gary Lineker
Lineker, 63, described it as “the best news ever” and former England manager Glenn Hoddle, 66, said: “What great news that Alan Hansen is out of hospital. Take it easy big man.”
Before yesterday, the last update had been a few weeks ago from his former Liverpool and Scotland team-mate, Graeme Souness. He said he “sounded
the park looking for us. This happening in 2024? If we didn’t run or hide, God knows what would have happened.”
The incident was also raised last week in the Seanad by Fine Gael’s Barry Ward.
He told the chamber: “What on earth is going on that this still happens when every right-thinking member of society recognised the normality of sexual relationships between people of the same gender or sex?
“What is going on that we do not have gardai in the park?”