Coffee magnate Luciano Frattolin has been found guilty of drowning his nine-year-old daughter in a shallow swamp in what prosecutors described as a brazen attempt to get revenge on his ex-wife.

The 46-year-old founder of organic coffee brand Gambella was swiftly convicted on Monday of second-degree murder and concealment of a body charges in connection with his daughter Melina’s death last year, the New York Post reports.

Frattolin, of Montreal, Canada, had taken Melina on a trip across the Northeast United States in the summer of 2025 in what prosecutors claimed was a ploy to kill his daughter.

The young girl’s remains were then found on July 19, 2025 hidden under a log in a remote pond in the town of Ticonderoga, New York.

‘Melina’s short life came to a violent end,’ Essex County District Attorney said during his closing statements on Monday. ‘All stained with mud, her long, black hair that she’d just taken out of her braids, was covered in dirt and grass.’ 

Frattolin shook his head as the prosecutor spoke and showed no remorse for what had happened to his daughter, the Post reports.

Jurors at the New Jersey courthouse then spent only about an hour deliberating before they handed down their verdict. 

At that point, family members in the courtroom let out sobs and held onto one another, according to CBC. 

Prosecutors said Frattolin brought his nine-year-old Canadian daughter, Melina, on a trip to the United States in a ploy to kill her so he could avoid paying child support according to friends

Frattolin has maintained that his daughter was mysteriously kidnapped the night of her death. 

He called authorities at around 9.30pm on July 19, 2025 from Lake George, New York, claiming Melina was forced into a white van.

Frattolin also said he chased the van for 15 to 20 minutes before he decided to stop in Warren County to make the call. 

The report sparked a massive manhunt for Melina, as law enforcement officers stopped white vans throughout the region. 

At first, prosecutors said Frattolin cooperated with the investigators by allowing them to search his vehicle and cellphone as well as Melina’s phone.

But Frattolin changed his story as investigators uncovered new evidence in the case.

According to the prosecution, what officers had expected to be a brief drive to the alleged abduction site instead took hours, with Frattolin repeatedly redirecting officers.

At one point, he even allegedly told the cops they traveled too far north on Interstate 87 when they approached Exit 28 – though his cellphone and vehicle data placed Frattolin in the area, where he stayed for nearly an hour.

When he was then questioned about the stop, Frattolin allegedly told investigators that he and Melina had been looking for a place to hike or swim.

The young girl’s remains were found on July 19, 2025 hidden under a log in a remote pond in the town of Ticonderoga, New York

Investigators also noted that Frattolin told them he had been unable to access his cellphone immediately after the abduction because it had fallen between the seats of his rental car.

Yet prosecutors said there is evidence showing he had texted the girl’s mother, Kali Galanis, that Melina would be home in 10 minutes.

Galanis, though, had already become worried about her daughter.

She had been tracking the young girl through her phone, but after Melina and Frattolin stopped at a McDonald’s in Saratoga Springs earlier in the night, she lost access.

Authorities later discovered that the McDonald’s was the last place the nine-year-old girl’s phone showed any activity.

Video footage from the restaurant also allegedly showed Frattolin wearing different clothes than what he was seen donning after reporting his daughter missing. 

Officers later located his wet clothes and shoes in a garbage bag off of I-87.

When the coffee guru was then questioned about Melina’s disappearance, he admitted it ‘would’ve been easier’ to murder the young girl overseas, either in Italy or Ethiopia, New York State Police investigator Daniel Mauro testified during the trial.

Frattolin has maintained that his daughter was mysteriously kidnapped the night of her death 

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Frattolin also claimed his ex-wife had been abusing the young girl 

Authorities then found disturbing notes inside the Toyota Prius Frattolin had rented, in which he spoke of ‘ending the madness’ and a ‘Luciano Frattolin 2.0′ who was with a ’10/10 blond’ and bought a Porsche.

‘Let God decide. If you want to become famous. God, do not give me money until I end this evil. I mean big money, like $2 million,’ he wrote in one of the notes.

‘Don’t let Melina suffer anymore,’ the coffee magnate wrote in another.

He also accused the girl’s mother, Kali Galanis, of abusing their daughter before alleging she was framing him in Melina’s kidnapping.

‘If she is behind this, she does this to make me look like a bad person,’ he could be heard saying in a recording of his interrogation.

But jurors also heard from Galanis, who testified that Melina pleaded with Frattolin not to take her on a trip months before she was found drowned in the swamp.

Kali Galanis recounted how Frattolin wanted to take Melina to his native Ethiopia for two weeks in January 2025, but their daughter protested that ‘she didn’t want to go.’

The devastated mother added that she had become concerned about Frattolin’s plans to travel overseas with Melina, as her lawyer mentioned cases in which estranged spouses take their children to other countries and refuse to return with them.

The worried mother also noted there were other ‘troubling and alarming things’ that the young girl told her that her father said about her unwillingness to travel to the east African nation that Galanis ultimately decided not to allow Melina to go.

‘I became uncomfortable,’ she explained as Frattolin’s murder trial continued. ‘I was not OK with that anymore.’

But after informing Frattolin of her decision, Galanis said he then suggested that he take Melina on a trip to New York and she relented.

Frattolin now faces life in prison. He is due to be sentenced on October 14.

Brad Pitt has revealed he is drinking again after quitting alcohol for seven years.  

The actor went sober after splitting from Angelina Jolie amid accusations that he poured booze on her and their children during a volatile flight on board a private jet in 2016. 

The winery owner subsequently announced he had turned his back on drink and had been working through inner demons at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. 

Now Pitt, 62, is boozing again – but is much more mindful of his consumption. 

In a wide-ranging interview with Esquire, the actor admitted he had gotten ‘back off the wagon’ after the interviewer noticed the star had offered him a glass of wine. 

When asked if the beverage was for guests, Pitt responded: ‘No, I got – I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,’ he said, offering a little laugh.

‘In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, “Yep, nope, not good for me.” Not in big quantities.’

The 62-year-old admitted he had gotten ‘back off the wagon’ after his Esquire interviewer noted the actor had offered him a glass of wine 

Pitt clarified he was now able to ‘have a few’ glasses of wine but is unable to indulge any further.  

‘Yeah. Well… I can have a few. But I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it,’ Pitt said. 

‘He likes mornings now anyway, and you can miss a lovely morning when you drink too much the night before, and it’s just not as interesting,’ the profile noted of Pitt. ‘Mornings are interesting, and he doesn’t want any more of them to go by unseen.’

The revelation that Pitt has started drinking again comes amid his painful family drama. 

The actor, who is now dating jewelry executive Ines de Ramon, has been embroiled in a bitter legal battle with his ex, Angelina Jolie, for years, and the split has seemingly exposed his fractured relationship with their children.

Last month, their daughter Vivienne, 18, followed in the footsteps of her three older siblings and filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court to drop Pitt from her name.

The reason behind the teenager’s name change is listed as ‘personal’, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail. An official court hearing is scheduled for November 2.

Their daughter Zahara and son Maddox also published notices revealing their intentions to drop Pitt from their last names.

The advertisements were both published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal throughout June and July.

Pitt is drinking again but at a reduced rate. Above, at the SAG Awards in 2009

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Pitt has had a complicated relationship with alcohol that is alleged to have been the source of issues he has suffered with his family

Last year, Shiloh, who was born Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie. Aside from Pax, Vivienne’s twin brother Knox is the only other sibling who has yet to formally drop the actor’s surname.

Pitt has had a complicated relationship with alcohol that is alleged to have been the source of issues he has suffered with his family. 

His marriage with Jolie ended after a volatile plane incident in 2016 in which the actor was accused of being physically abusive towards both his wife and two of their children. 

In a 2022 court filing, Jolie alleged Pitt had been drinking during the flight and poured alcohol on herself and the children, according to CNN.

‘At one point, he poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children.’

Pitt denied the allegations and he was never charged in connection with the alleged incident following an FBI investigation.  

A source close to Pitt told CNN at the time the court filing was released: ‘All parties have had this information for nearly six years and was used in previous legal proceedings. There is nothing new here and serves no purpose other than being a media stunt meant to inflict pain.’ 

A year after his split from Jolie, self-proclaimed ‘professional’ drinker Pitt was sober.

Pitt and Jolie’s family drama has come to light since their split; pictured with Maddox in 2010

Zahara and Maddox have both taken steps to legally drop ‘Pitt’ from their name; Pax, Jolie, Zahara, and Maddox pictured in 2024

Pitt said he was now drinking in a more ‘restrained manner’ during his interview with Esquire

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‘I have to be professional about it,’ Pitt said of his drinking 

Pitt and his ex, Angelina Jolie, were once considered Hollywood’s golden couple during their marriage. Above, in 2015

‘I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground,’ he told GQ in 2017. ‘I had to step away for a minute. And truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good.’ 

For a year and a half, Pitt was in Alcoholics Anonymous, confiding in other men about the ‘ugly sides’ of himself. 

‘You had all these men sitting around being open and honest in a way I have never heard,’ he told The New York Times. ‘It was this safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself.’

‘It was actually really freeing just to expose the ugly sides of yourself,’ he said. ‘There’s great value in that.’

Pitt’s relationship with alcohol went beyond personal and into business.

During their marriage, Pitt and Jolie bought the French winery Chateau Miraval – a property that is now at the center of their legal ordeal.

Jolie sold her stake in it in part because of Pitt’s ‘acknowledged problem of alcohol abuse on their family.’

‘Resigned that Pitt would not share control of the winery or distribute any profits, concerned about participating in a business that was associated with such painful and traumatic memories for her and their children, and seeking financial independence, Jolie concluded that she needed to sell her interest in Chateau Miraval,’ court documents stated. 

Pitt has been dating jewellry executive Ines de Ramon since 2022; pictured July 2026

During their marriage, the former couple bought the French winery Chateau Miraval – a property that is now at the center of their legal ordeal; pictured 2023

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Jolie was motivated to sell her stake in the winery in part because of Pitt’s ‘acknowledged problem of alcohol abuse on their family’

For a year and a half, Pitt was in Alcoholics Anonymous, confiding in other men about the ‘ugly sides’ of himself; pictured in a 2020 promo photo for his wine

Pitt addressed the ‘family stuff’ during his Esquire interview, admitting he battled suicidal thoughts amid his estrangement from his children with his ex-wife.

The actor explained how the pain he felt was so ‘oppressive’ and, while he would never act on it, he struggled to see a way out.

He told Esquire UK: ‘I was never suicidal in any way. It just was not my makeup. In fact, if I have any afflictions, it’s probably being a congenital optimist. Which has helped many times, and it’s also gotten me – I’ve walked foolishly head-on into a Mack truck because of my optimism.

‘Or, as my forever-funny friend David Fincher will say, “Yeah, you see the glass as half full, but it’s half full of urine.”

‘Anyway, I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period. And in that one little period, I just thought – I just couldn’t – just didn’t see a way out. The pain was so oppressive that – I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel – I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief.

‘And I thought, “Oh, okay, now I understand” – I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain.

‘But I also think we have incredible survival instincts. And for me, that immediately kicked in, but it was just…Yeah. Like, listen: This s**t ain’t easy…And you’re talking to a guy who won the lottery.’

When quizzed by the interviewer, Pitt confirmed he was talking about ‘family stuff’.

Now in his sixties, Pitt shows no signs of slowing down. His next film, Heart of the Beast, a man-and-his-dog story, will be coming out this fall, followed by Quentin Tarantino’s The Adventures of Cliff Booth, in which he stars as a Hollywood stuntman.

He just wrapped up the thriller The Riders a few weeks ago.

But Pitt says he longs to be in his fifties again.

He told Esquire: ‘God, I want my fifties back…I would do more. Your fifties are just – man, anything that’s on your mind, go. Go attack it. Go attack it now.’

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org. 

The One Show kicked off its 20th anniversary celebrations on Monday evening with a heartwarming clip that revisited one of the programme’s most memorable stories.

In 2016, presenter Joe Crowley met a family whose five-year-old daughter Scarlett was saved by a donated heart.

The young donor, named Evie, had died, and their parents made a decision that would transform another child’s life.

The show captured the emotional moment both families met for the first time. 

A decade later, Joe visited Scarlett, now a 15-year-old, to talk about what it’s like to grow up as a beneficiary of a donated organ.

The pair revisited Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, where Scarlett underwent her transplant.

In 2016, presenter Joe Crowley met a family whose five-year-old daughter Scarlett was saved by a donated heart (Scarlett pictured now)

Standing outside ward 23, she revealed that she plans on training to become a paediatric nurse after she finishes school.

When asked by Joe what inspired her to do so, she replied: ‘Just all the staff here, so caring. 

‘It is like a second home, just makes me want to do the same as them.’

Reflecting on how her life turned out, she gushed: ‘The transplant is the greatest gift I’ve ever received. 

‘I just feel very fortunate because I could have had a very different outcome. 

‘We’ll just always remember Evie, and what she did for me and my family.’

After Scarlett’s original episode aired, there was a 70 per cent increase in organ donations.

Since May 2020, all adults in England are now considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

Scarlett pictured meeting Alex on the show, which saw a 70 per cent increase in organ donations after the original episode (pictured a young Scarlett)

The young donor, named Evie, had died, and their parents made a decision that would transform another child’s life (pictured Evie)

A decade later, Joe visited Scarlett, now a 15-year-old, to talk about what it’s like to grow up as a beneficiary of a donated organ

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The One Show celebrations will culminate on August 14 with an extended hour-long anniversary special – where Alex Jones and Roman Kemp will be joined by the wider family of presenters – Angellica Bell, Clara Amfo, JB Gill, Lauren Laverne and Vernon Kay.

As well as a surprise live music guest, former presenters Matt Baker and Christine Lampard will be back on the infamous sofa and reflect on their time on the show, along with a special film from Adrian Chiles.

BBC Commissioning Editor Alex McLeod said: ‘For 20 years, The One Show has brought the nation together every weekday evening, becoming one of the BBC’s most-loved programmes and home to some of television’s biggest interviews, unforgettable live moments, inspiring stories and exclusive performances. 

‘This celebration pays tribute to that and how important it is to have The One Show at the heart of the national conversation, reflecting the people, places and stories that matter most across the UK.’

The One Show Editor, Joanne Vaughan-Jones, added: ‘We started off the celebrations on Friday at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of traditional Irish music and culture, and we’ve got so many treats in store for our viewers this week – which may also include the rare sight of a partial solar eclipse sweeping across the country.

‘The team has worked hard to bring together the biggest names, most memorable stories and standout moments from 20 years of The One Show. 

‘We’re proud to be part of viewers’ lives and look forward to celebrating the films and stories that captured the nation’s hearts.’

“Until there’s real change to the licensing laws, independent breweries are going to struggle to survive.”

Northern Ireland lost nearly a fifth of its breweries in the first six months of 2026 – the highest closure rate recorded anywhere in the UK, new research today reveals.

The number of breweries closing in the whole of the UK has slowed significantly, with some areas actually seeing modest growth, but Northern Ireland at 19% was among those that saw the net number of breweries drop – and in percentage terms was by far the worst hit.

According to figures released by the SIBA UK Brewery Tracker, the number of active breweries in Northern Ireland now stands at 17, down from 21 in January 2026 and over 30 just three years ago.

William Mayne, managing director of Bullhouse says Northern Ireland has the toughest trading environment for independent breweries anywhere in the UK.

He added: “The vast majority of the beer we make can’t be sold here because of the restrictions on opening taprooms and pubs, resulting in Northern Ireland having by far the fewest number of breweries per capita in the UK.

“At the same time, more than 99% of beer sold in Northern Ireland is brewed outside Northern Ireland by Global brands who are the key beneficiaries of the monopolised licensing regime. Until there’s real change to the licensing laws, independent breweries are going to struggle to survive.”

SIBA has been campaigning for changes to the licensing laws in NI including allowing taprooms to open in line with the rest of the UK and for the surrender principle to be reformed. This restricts the number of pub licences, preventing innovative businesses from opening.

The SIBA UK Brewery Tracker takes into account all brewery openings and closures in the UK, where the net brewery closure rate from January to June 2026 was just -16, compared to a loss of -137 breweries in 2025 – or an average loss of 68.5 breweries per six months.

The SIBA UK Brewery Tracker figures paint a mixed picture across the UK, with four of the nine regions seeing an overall growth in brewery numbers.

The North West, South East and Wales had the strongest performance, each seeing the Net number rise by +3, followed by the South West which had a more modest +1 growth.

Fairing worse in the first 6 months of 2026 were Scotland (-9), the North East (-8), Midlands (-4), Northern Ireland (-4), and finally the East of England (-1).

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The changes will mean that betting and vape stores will soon require planning permission before opening, giving councils and residents a direct say in shaping their high streets.

The new measures are part of a wider strategy to revitalise high streets and return decision-making power to communities.

Mr Burnham’s plans will allow communities to have a say over what businesses can open in their town centres and how local high streets should look.

Since 2016 the number of vape and tobacco shops has risen to nearly 2,200. (Image: Getty Images)

Prime Minister announces crackdown on vape and betting shops

Under the proposed legislation, the Government plans to revoke the Gambling Act’s “Aim to Permit” rule, which limits councils’ ability to refuse new betting outlets even when there are strong objections from the community.

Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), venues offering up to 24-hour access to slot and fruit machines, would also be subject to the same planning rules, with changes expected to take effect at the start of next year.

Currently, such businesses can open without planning permission as easily as a coffee shop or clothing retailer.

The Centre for Social Justice has reported that since 2016, nearly 1,800 pubs and bars have closed across the UK, while the number of vape and tobacco shops has risen to nearly 2,200.

Mr Burnham said: “For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline.

“The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.

“That’s not on.

“I said we would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do.

“We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street.

“Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life.

“High streets are the beating heart of local communities, but for too long Westminster has stood by while they have been in decline.

“This government is committed to restoring our high streets and bringing back hope across Britain.”

Government shares plans to revitalise British high streets

Under the new measures, the government will also require planning permission for vape shops, giving locals a say on whether they should open and to stop them opening near schools.

The government also intends to double the maximum duration of Closure Orders from six to twelve months, giving police and councils more time to investigate businesses linked to organised crime.

Angela Rayner, secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government, said, “People know when their high street isn’t working for them.

“Whether it’s the vape shop or betting shops that have opened with no say from locals, the shopfront that’s seen better days, or the sense that nobody’s in control.

“These problems have built up over years, but this government won’t leave councils and communities powerless to crackdown on everyday eyesores that blight our high streets.

“That’s why we’re giving local leaders the power to say no to what doesn’t belong on their high street, and the tools to fix it themselves.”

The government also plans to revoke the Gambling Act’s “Aim to Permit” rule (Image: Getty Images)

The Government also said it plans to work with councils to improve the appearance of town centres.

It aims to set clearer standards for shopfront design and signage, targeting issues like poor quality facades and garish neon lights that make high streets less appealing.

Over the next six months, councils will be supported in revitalising their high streets, drawing on successful examples such as Cross Street in Oswestry and Keynsham High Street.

The new measures come alongside other Government efforts to tackle rogue businesses linked to organised crime, including a £30 million campaign targeting money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal employment.

Additional actions include a 20 per cent business rates cut for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across England from next year.

News Media Association Chief Executive Theo Bamber said: “The scrutiny of power that local news publishers and their journalists provide will be crucial to the success of the devolution agenda.

“Forty-two million people a month read local news across in print in digital. This illustrates the immense public appetite for the trusted local journalism and the value it has as a tool for proper democratic engagement.

“People around the country deserve full transparency from those making the decisions that affect their lives. That’s what local news delivers, and no democratically elected person should shy away from scrutiny or accountability.”

Do you agree with the government’s plans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Emma Millen, from Whitley Bay, only became a qualified diver in 2023 but has already gained a following online under the name The Geordie Shores Diver.

Through her social media videos, she aims to show the rich marine life off the North East coast and encourage more people to try diving for themselves.

Ms Millen, who works for a radio station, said: “I love our coast so much.

“In the last couple of years I’ve got into doing sea dips and getting on a paddle board and being on the water.

“Then I thought, why don’t I go underneath the water. Let’s see what’s down there.”

Her videos have sparked questions about diving and marine life.

She describes discovering seals, shipwrecks, and unusual sea creatures during her dives.

But her diving journey hasn’t always been easy – she suffered a panic attack during one of her exams for the diving qualification.

Emma said: “I felt claustrophobic.

“I felt horrible.

“I had a panic attack and said I’m never doing that again.”

A friend later encouraged her to try a dive at Cullercoats beach, which changed her mind.

Ms Millen said: “I did it and I was like, this is actually amazing.

“It’s like another world out there and I wish more people could see it and that’s why I decided to start documenting it.”

The response to her videos has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers saying she’s inspiring young girls to get into diving.

Ms Millen said: “There aren’t many young girls who get into diving and that’s one thing I’m trying to push on my social media – anyone can do it.”

England is “on the cusp” of becoming one of the first countries globally to eradicate hepatitis C, health officials have said.

Efforts such as A&E blood tests, GP registration testing, and free home test kits have helped identify individuals who were previously undiagnosed.

Global health leaders have set out plans aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis across the world by 2030.

NHS England stated that the nation is among a small number of countries worldwide to have already beaten the World Health Organisation benchmark of treating 80% of all known cases.

It added that deaths associated with the virus have fallen by 36% over the past 10 years.

Hepatitis C is transmitted via contact with infected blood.

Many people have no symptoms but if it is not treated it can cause serious, and potentially life-threatening, liver damage.

A treatment course of antiviral drugs for eight to 12 weeks cures more than 95% of cases.

NHS England said that since 2015, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C, often referred to as hep C.

Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, said: “Hepatitis C can cause serious harm, including liver failure and cancer, yet many people live with it for years without knowing or having any symptoms at all until it’s too late.

“That’s why the NHS has worked hard alongside public health teams and charities to find and treat hidden cases, and it’s really encouraging that over 100,000 people have now received potentially life-saving treatment in just a decade.

“England is now leading the world in the mission to eliminate this disease and on course to beat the WHO’s 2030 target, but we are determined to keep up the momentum and finish the job.

“With hepatitis C curable in more than nine out of 10 cases, we are committed to finding and treating everyone who needs support and would urge those at greater risk to come forward by ordering a free and confidential home-testing kit online.”

Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust said: “We are on the cusp of one of the most significant public health achievements in our country’s history. To sustain this momentum, continued commitment and long-term investment are essential.”

Health officials have urged people at risk of undiagnosed hepatitis C – including people who have had a tattoo abroad, people who have moved to England from certain eastern European countries or those who use or have previously used injectable drugs – to order a confidential home-testing kit.

Adults born in Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechia or Slovakia are particularly urged to test, as many could have been potentially infected through medical or dental procedures before 1991.

Paul Eatwell, 65, tested positive for the virus after routine liver function tests flagged an abnormality.

The grandfather from Blackburn, Lancashire, said: “My first reaction was disbelief. I remember saying: ‘Are you sure? Surely there’s been some mistake’.

“I didn’t feel ill. I kept wondering how I could possibly have caught it.

“The support from the specialist team made a huge difference. Their message was simple: ‘Don’t spend your time worrying about how you got it – focus on getting rid of it’.”

While it has not been established how Mr Eatwell caught the virus, it has been suggested that surgery in South Africa decades ago is a potential risk factor.

He added: “If you think you may be at risk, why wouldn’t you have the test? It gives you peace of mind.

“Treatment today isn’t life-changing in the way people might imagine – it’s one tablet a day for 12 weeks and a few blood tests.

“The alternative is to ignore it, potentially develop serious liver disease, or unknowingly pass the virus on to someone else.”

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We are leading the world in wiping out this disease for good.

“This is exactly the kind of preventative, forward-looking healthcare that we want the NHS to deliver across the board – catching illness earlier, easing pressure on hospitals, and giving people the chance to live longer, healthier lives.”

Dr Sema Mandal, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: “We are making significant progress towards eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat.

“The sharp fall in cases since 2015 shows the impact of expanded testing and sustained access to modern curative treatments, and the commitment of health services and community partners across England.

“Treating over 100,000 people in just 10 years is a remarkable achievement and brings England closer than ever to becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate this disease as a public health threat.”

It comes just after the closure of the Infected Blood Inquiry.

The probe examined what has been dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.

The inquiry concluded the scandal “could largely have been avoided” and there was a “pervasive” cover-up to hide the truth.

More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.

More than 3,000 people have died as a result while survivors are living with lifelong health implications.

Ann Widdecombe’s funeral is set to take place this week, with the her church requesting that members of the public refrain from bringing floral tributes to the abbey

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The funeral service for Ann Widdecombe is scheduled to occur this week at Buckfast Abbey, where she regularly attended worship.

The update on her private funeral comes days after the investigation into her murder turned a new corner as counter terrorism police confirmed it s looking into an attempted burglary incident.

The attempted robbery is connected to the former MP which occurred at an address in Greater London in April last year.

It comes after Ann, 78, was found dead in her Dartmoor, Devon, home on July 9 with serious injuries.

As for her funeral, in an official announcement on the Abbey’s website, Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community of Buckfast declared: “Ann’s family are deeply grateful for the many messages of sympathy and support they have received.

“The family wish to hold a private Requiem Mass, attended by Ann’s closest family and friends, so that they may gather in remembrance and grief with dignity and peace.

“The family respectfully request that members of the press do not attend, to preserve their privacy, and to avoid disruption to those attending.

“Buckfast Abbey asks the press for understanding and restraint at this time, to respect the family’s wishes. There will be no access to the Abbey Church on the day of the Requiem Mass,” reports the Devon Live.

“The Order of Service will be published online at 9am on the day of the Requiem Mass, and will contain the texts of the Scripture Readings, Prayers, Hymns and musical items to be sung by the Abbey Choir.”

The abbey has confirmed the order of service can be downloaded here: https://www.buckfast.org.uk/press/.

The Requiem Mass will take place on August 12, conducted by The Right Revered David Charlesworth, Abbot of Buckfast. His Homily delivered at the Requiem Mass will become accessible at 2pm that day, through the identical link.

The abbey has confirmed that a “small number of official photographs” from the service will be made available following the funeral. It has also stated that no Book of Condolence will be provided and has respectfully requested that members of the public refrain from bringing floral tributes.

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Ann was a regular attendee at the Abbey Church, participating in the Sunday Solemn Mass alongside the church’s Holy Week and Easter services.

Following her passing on July 8 at her Dartmoor residence, Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community of Buckfast paid tribute: “Many in our worshipping community knew her as a kind and warm character. She will be missed and fondly remembered.

“Ann was a woman of profound faith, a faith which found expression in the public forum of politics. Ann was unafraid to express her unwavering convictions, formed through her Roman Catholic faith.

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“She had a sharp intellect and was a dedicated public servant. Fr Abbot and the Monastic Community extend their heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.”

Buckfast Abbey houses a community of Roman Catholic Benedictine Monks, who conduct their lives in accordance with the ancient rule of St Benedict. The location holds significant historical value – the original Abbey having been established in 1018 AD by King Cnut – and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

The smash between a van and a car took place shortly before 2pm

One person has died and two others have been injured following a horror collision earlier today.

The smash between a van and a car took place on the N3 at Drummallaght in Co Cavan shortly before 2pm on Monday, the Irish Mirror reports.

The driver of the car, who was a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was then removed to Cavan General Hospital.

Meanwhile, a woman, who was a passenger in the car and also in her 60s, was seriously injured. She was then airlifted to Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.

The driver of the van, a man in his 50s, was taken to Cavan General Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

The road has been closed to facilitate an examination by Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions are in place.

In a statement, gardai said they are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or was travelling on the N3 between Virginia and Cavan, particularly between 1pm and 2pm to come forward.

“Gardaí are particularly appealing to motorists who may have dashcam or other camera footage of the area during this time to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bailieborough Garda Station on 042 969 4570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

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Firefighters and police were called to the scene on the A19 at Bridforth near Thirsk shortly before 11.10am on Monday (August 10).

Everyone was out of the vehicles when the fire crew arrived, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A service spokesperson said the crew made the scene safe then moved one of the vehicles to a safe location.

“The incident was left with the police and recovery company,” they said.