What the papers say: Thursday's front pages

Conor McGregor's driving ban, a litany of high profile court cases and Graham Dwyer's final appeal to the Supreme Court are among the stories that feature on Thursday's front pages.

Unrest in the Middle East following two high profile assassinations this week, and a story on jailed swimming coach Derry O'Rourke feature on The Irish Times front page. There is also a report on potential savings for consumers if VAT is cut on internet connection charges.

The Irish Examiner leads with seizures of illegal weight-loss drugs that may contain rat poison or floor polish.

The Irish Independent leads with the naming of the victim of a helicopter crash in Co Westmeath on Monday and a report on how TDs are seeking a Budget windfall for pensioners.

The Echo leads with the sentencing of two men who were sentenced to four years for manslaughter of a man in Carrigaline in 2022, a story which also features in The Irish Examiner.

The Irish Daily Mail's front page is dedicated to a worrying poll that shows a dramatic increase in disinformation and conspiracy theories.

The Irish Daily Mirror and the Irish Daily Star both lead with Conor McGregor's driving ban and his appearance in court on Thursday, in which he managed to avoid jail time.

The Herald also features McGregor's driving ban, but leads with a story about an arson attack that took place in a prison warden's home earlier this week.

In the UK, former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, with the story leading Thursday’s UK papers' front pages.

The veteran broadcaster admitted having 41 images on WhatsApp, including seven of the most serious type, with The Times, the Daily Express, the Daily Mirror, The Independent, and The Sun leading on his guilty plea.

THE TIMES: Edwards pleads guilty to viewing indecent images #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/nHCmNjmLKb

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

EXPRESS: I’m Guilty #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/urkq3A0x9g

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

MIRROR: Huw’s child abuse pics shame #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ivvKSK0Kiw

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

INDEPENDENT: Huw Edwards faces jail #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/YfR4I20tOT

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

THE SUN: Guilty #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/AdDsBVFHwU

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

The i and The Daily Telegraph run with the same story, focusing on the BBC’s “turmoil” over the charge after it “paid Edwards £200k after (his) arrest”.

Thursday's front page: BBC in turmoil over presenter's indecent images #TomorrowsPapersToday

Latest from @adamsherwin10: https://t.co/d1nb1ax1y8 pic.twitter.com/qiPhOLw9cg

— The i paper (@theipaper) July 31, 2024

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:

'BBC paid Edwards £200k after arrest'#TomorrowsPapersToday

Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/pHgBmqqxof

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 31, 2024

The Metro splashes on the Southport riots and the fury of the mother of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, in response to scenes of violent disorder in the UK overnight.

METRO: Outrage #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/bvaZQ0Nh9t

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

The Daily Mail in Britain links Russia to the misinformation regarding the Southport attacker’s identity which sparked violent public unrest. The 17-year-old boy, from Banks, Lancashire, has since been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder for the attack.

MAIL: Russia linked to fake news that sparked Mosque Riot #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/97E79xfmhG

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

The Guardian and the Financial Times look further afield for headlines, with both papers reporting on unrest in the Middle East after Israel launched strikes on both Iran and Lebanon on Wednesday to eliminate both leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah.

GUARDIAN: Fears of escalation after Israel kills leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/aTZKCERNDm

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

FT: Iran vows revenge #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/1Ey0YeiiTC

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 31, 2024

Lastly, the UK's Daily Star riffs off the classic road trip phrase ‘Are we there yet’, as motorways across Britain face roadworks en masse… with holidaymakers also set to endure a plague of midges.