What the papers say

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

Five Protestant clergyman from north Belfast have written an opinion piece in the News Letter.

They tell readers they are concerned at what they see as Stormont's failure to deal with sectarianism and they accuse the Executive of "collective amnesia".

The pace of healing is too slow, they say, and they want to see public policies which build on trust and cooperation, rather than simply hoping for the best.

'Support'

In the News Letter, Jeffrey Donaldson says that rather than criticising from the sidelines, he "would have hoped these church people would be giving their support and encouragement to what we're trying to do."

The Irish News reports that more than 100 members of a GAA club in Tyrone have been tested for heart problems.

Money was raised for screening after the sudden deaths of two schoolboys in the county.

The paper says doctors flew from England to Brackaville, near Coalisland, to scan footballers young and old, as well as some soccer players and other children from around the county.

The man behind the plan, who is a parent, says he is overwhelmed by the response from all those who donated money to pay for the tests.

The Belfast Telegraph brings the revelation that cocaine is "rife on our streets" and it is cheaper and more available than ever.

Cocaine

The paper has conducted a special investigation which will be running for the next few days.

There is a map showing the extent of cocaine seizures throughout Northern Ireland. The Telegraph reckons the cocaine market has exploded by more than 2,000% in just six years.

The Irish Times reports that the two main opposition leaders in the Republic have demanded Bertie Ahern's resignation.

They have made separate attacks on the credibility of his evidence to the planning tribunal. They reckon the accounts of his personal finances demean the profession of politics.

Gordon Brown features heavily in the Sun. He gives the paper a big interview on a range of topics, but his views on knife crime interest the paper most.

"Brown blitz on blades" is the front-page headline.

Police in England will be ordered to prosecute anyone carrying a knife, he says, and people in particular hot spots will no longer escape with a caution.

The Sun says that at last this is the crackdown it has been looking for.

Several papers concentrate on the final hours of police inspector Gary Weddell.

After being released on bail on a charge of murdering his wife, he shot his mother-in-law before using the gun to kill himself.

The Sun and the Mail want to know why he was given bail. One MP tells the Guardian, "It strikes me that this truly horrible business could have been avoided."

The Mail has a picture of the engagement ring that Nicolas Sarkozy has given his girlfriend Carla Bruni... a £15,000 Dior Cupidon in white gold and diamonds.

Very nice but, as the Mail points out, it is identical to the one he gave his wife - now his ex-wife - two years ago. The Mail says it is "an obvious case of deja vu".

Finally, the Daily Telegraph reports that members of the famously dour Free Church of Scotland - the Wee Frees - have been urged to lighten up... advice which is provided by the church's own official magazine, the Monthly Record.

The Rev David Robertson, who edits the magazine, says the definition of a Calvinist as a person who is miserable at the thought that someone somewhere is actually enjoying themselves is sadly all too typical.

He says: "This isn't a plea for frivolity, flippancy or fun worship - but please can we have some serious joy?"