What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at what is making the headlines in Monday's morning papers.

If you woke up feeling a bit under the weather with a tummy upset, then you're not alone.

The News Letter reports that Northern Ireland suffers a million cases of acute gastroenteritis every year - adding up to the loss of half a million working days and tens of millions in earnings.

In any four week period it seems that 5.4% of the population is struck down.

The paper has advice on how to avoid the bug - make sure you wash your hands.

Elsewhere, the Mirror is one of several papers to report that the search of the Monaghan bog for the remains of Columba McVeigh has been called off.

It also reflects the anger of Monsignor Denis Faul. He says the IRA should dig for the body.

He tells the paper: "It's about time they did something honourable after their years of treachery and deceit."

'Political significance'

The News Letter reflects on that party in Donegal at the weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the IRA break-out from the Maze.

It will have offended many, it says, but its more positive political significance won't be lost on others.

The paper says the generation that drove the IRA campaign is middle-aged or older and in no mood for a return to active service.

It also notes that in England there's to be a special memorial to British soldiers who died in Northern Ireland.

Both events underscore the fact that we're in a kind of commemoration era, the News Letter says, and there is considerable confidence that the war is indeed over.

Not the case with sectarian violence, however. The Irish News carries a front page picture of the battered face of 20-year-old Kieran Conlon from west Belfast.

'Hope on horizon'

He was beaten with an iron bar at Ballyskeagh greyhound track near Lisburn and the police say they are treating it as a sectarian attack.

The Irish Times sees hope on the political horizon.

It notes Gerry Adams' remarks after meeting David Trimble that if the Unionist leader says he's going to sustain the institutions then he'll take his word for it.

The paper says it's vital that the current window of opportunity should be seized because Northern Ireland badly needs the stimulus and discipline of renewed political stability.

The Irish News turns its attention to Tony Blair.

It says he has a crucial role to play in restoring the political process and in doing so he may well dictate his own destiny in Downing Street.

The Irish Independent has words of praise for President Mary McAleese after her trip to Belfast to meet the leaders of the UDA.

She demonstrated uncommon courage and humanity, it says, since some of those she met may be the very same people who once machine-gunned her family out of their home.

Slump

Meanwhile, the London Independent reports on difficulties facing Bertie Ahern who's struggling to cope with a spectacular fall in popularity.

The paper lists some of the problems which have led to the slump, including the plan to ban smoking in pubs and his daughter's extravagant Hello-style wedding to Nicky Byrne from Westlife.

But they are minor celebrities, of course, compared to David and Victoria Beckham.

And if you're tired reading about them, then you better steer clear of the cross-channel tabloids.

Several papers put the famous couple's marriage under the microscope after their statement on Sunday denying rumours of a rift.

The Mail reckons that was a PR strategy that backfired and will only add to the rumour mill.

But the Mirror says they need time and space to sort themselves out.

The Star notes that their work schedules are going to keep them apart for the next six weeks.

And it sums the situation up with the headline - "Sex-starved..but happy".