What the papers say

Journalist Mike Philpott takes a look at what is making the headlines in Monday's morning newspapers.

The Belfast papers follow up the BBC Panorama programme, which identified a loyalist community worker as a man who read out a statement on behalf of the UFF at a press conference last year.

Denis Cunningham denies that he was the hooded man who appeared at the event, flanked by gunmen.

The Irish News says the programme - which examined links between organised crime and loyalist paramilitary groups - is being studied by detectives.

The News Letter comments that Panorama provided little in the way of hope that the "bad old days are behind us".

It should matter to everyone in a position of responsibility that terrorist violence is continuing, it says.

The cross-channel papers are dominated by pictures of a man in a peach dress who looks like Osama Bin Laden

It adds that every effort must be made to steer young people away from organisations with what it calls a "nefarious, criminal agenda".

The paper leads with the future of Jeffrey Donaldson, reporting that the MP will remain in the Ulster Unionist Party to fight his corner from the inside.

The Irish Times says Mr Donaldson will announce that he is resigning the party whip and he will be joined by David Burnside and the Reverend Martin Smyth.

The paper says the immediate effect will be to deny the Ulster Unionists their current status as the fourth largest party in the House of Commons.

The Irish Independent announces that assembly elections will definitely go ahead in the autumn.

The paper says official approval will come within the next 10 days.

But it also reports that Tony Blair may encounter pressure from David Trimble for a further postponement to allow him to bind the wounds in his party.

The opening of the Special Olympics in Dublin is hailed by the Irish News as a "wonderful spectacle".

The Irish Independent says the feeling of the moment was captured in the moment when Irish President Mary McAleese almost broke down with emotion as she spoke to the assembled crowds.

The cross-channel papers are dominated by pictures of a man in a peach dress who looks like Osama Bin Laden.

As the Mail points out, it is "bizarre that such a strangely-dressed individual managed to create the worst Royal security scandal for 20 years".

The Mirror says five blunders by the police allowed Aaron Barschak to gatecrash Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.

'Beggars belief'

Its front page picture shows him walking beside a police officer.

The Daily Telegraph wonders what it says for the security of the rest of us.

If the police cannot spot a man in a peach dress with a fake beard at a Royal party, it says, how can they protect people from global terrorism?

The Express says the incident simply beggars belief. The warnings about the capabilities of Al Qaeda become more blood curdling with each passing month, it says.

And yet those in charge of Royal security seem to believe that nobody would be unkind enough to ruin a birthday party.

Finally, the Guardian reports that Bradford is so proud of its Indian restaurants that it expected to win first prize in the British Capital of Curry contest.

The city was stunned when it was beaten by Glasgow. But the paper reports that someone at the council filled in only half the entry form.

People can make mistakes, it says, but it turns out that the council had received no fewer than six reminders.