What the papers say: Friday's front pages

Aer Lingus cancellations and the sentencing of a member of the Defence Forces for assault lead the national papers on Friday.

The Irish Times carries quotes from the victim impact statement of Natasha O'Brien, who was assaulted in Limerick city in May 2022 by Defence Forces member Cathal Crotty, who on Thursday received a three-year fully suspended sentence at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for the attack.

The Irish Examiner reads: 'Harris urges talks on pilot strike', as thousands of Aer Lingus customers wait to learn how the impending work to rule action by pilots may impact travel plans.

Meanwhile, The Echo reports on funding for summer programmes for vulnerable children.

The Irish Independent leads with an image of Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, who died on Thursday, aged 88, following a long illness.

Finally, the Irish Daily Star leads with a story on the death of Michael 'Chino' Ryan.

In the UK, headaches for UK prime minister Rishi Sunak dominate the front pages of Friday’s newspapers with bets on the General Election date taking centre stage.

The Independent, the i and the Daily Mirror all report on the investigation into a spike in bets.

INDEPENDENT: All bets off on trust in Tories #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/6u3bF19yaJ

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

I: Betting farce derails Tory campaign amid fears that more names will emerge #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ONmVrlhopU

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

MIRROR: What are the odds on that? #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/sfB5p2nUl4

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

The Metro and the Financial Times both lead on the “flurry of bets” before Rishi Sunak announced the election date.

METRO: What a flutter shambles #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/GP2dXTtvEH

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

FT UK: Flurry of bets on July election placed in run-up to Sunak’s announcement #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/7C9MiEnqwj

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

The Times leads on Mr Sunak’s vow to cast out Tories involved in any poll betting.

THE TIMES: Sunak bows to boot out Tories over poll betting #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KMCmT99QA4

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— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

The Guardian reports on another headache for the Prime Minister after a former Tory minister has revealed he intends to vote Labour at the upcoming election.

THE GUARDIAN: New blow for PM as former Tory minister says he will vote Labour #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/DhvTaTaBLy

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph both lead on Sir Keir Starmer saying former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Boris Johnson.

MAIL: CORBYN would have been better PM than Boris, Keir claims #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/X3GzzMnJT5

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

TELEGRAPH: Starmer: Corbyn better than Johnson as PM #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/FyyR4tBWDb

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 20, 2024

The Daily Express splashes with an image of baby Dexter Newton, whose future has been made much brighter thanks to an NHS drug made available after a five-year campaign by the paper.