Welcome

By ELEANOR HARDING

Louis Walsh had seen Westlife sing in Dublin before the alleged incident


Louis Walsh last night denied allegations that he indecently assaulted a man in a nightclub toilet.

The X Factor judge said: ‘The allegations made against me are wholly false and with no foundation.

‘I will happily cooperate fully with the police and am 100 per cent confident that after a full investigation I will be fully exonerated.’

An anonymous 24-year-old, who is understood to be a single father, told police that Mr Walsh, 58, touched his groin after they struck up a conversation, according to The Sun newspaper.

According to the unsubstantiated claims from the alleged victim, the attack happened in the early hours of April 10, when Mr Walsh is said to have visited Russell Court Hotel in Dublin.

Earlier in the evening, Mr Walsh had attended a concert by Westlife, the Irish boyband he created.

The man allegedly told police he chatted with Mr Walsh in the hotel’s private Global Bar, before the pair moved on to its well-known Krystle nightclub.

His statement to officers claims the TV star then indecently assaulted him in the nightclub’s toilets.


The venue: The alleged assault is said to have taken place at the Krystle nightclub, inside Dublin's Russell Court Hotel


According to The Sun, a police source said the investigation was ‘ongoing’ and that officers have taken CCTV footage from the nightclub and will also study film from cameras in the hotel.

A spokesman for Mr Walsh said: ‘He vigorously denies all of the allegations. If contacted by the police he will willingly co-operate with any investigation. Louis categorically denies any wrongdoing and will fight to clear his name.’


Famous: The nightclub is one of the most popular and exclusive in Dublin
Last night, the alleged victim refused to comment.


Mr Walsh is on the judging panel for this year’s X Factor, alongside Gary Barlow from Take That, Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child and N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos. The Irishman first appeared on the programme in 2004 alongside Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne.

Mr Walsh became well-known in the 1990s for creating the group Boyzone after deciding to create an Irish version of Take That.

Under his management, they achieved international success, selling more than 12million copies worldwide



Back to work: Louis Walsh arrives at the London Studios for X Factor yesterday


He later used the same formula to produce Westlife, co-managed by Boyzone member Ronan Keating. Mr Walsh launched his television career as a judge on the Irish edition of reality music show Popstars.

After finding a band on that show he was brought across to London to star in Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. It was on this show that he found UK fame, as mentor of the winning group, Girls Aloud.

During his time on the X Factor, Mr Walsh had success with classical-style boyband G4, who went on to have a chart-topping album and completed two tours of the UK.


source: dailymail

By Paul Bentley


Revealing all? Oprah is said to be lining up an historic interview with Simpson


O.J Simpson has confessed to Oprah Winfrey that he murdered his former wife, it has been reported.

The talk show host made headlines recently saying that one of her regrets was never having got the shamed former sportsman to confess to the killing.

And it appears her wish may well have come true with reports Simpson has already told one of her producers in an interview from jail that he knifed ex-wife Nicole in self-defence - a confession he will now repeat to the talk show queen during a spectacular televised sit down interview.


The chat, which would be held in prison, would be a huge coup for Oprah, whose network, OWN, has suffered a massive hit in ratings recently.

Simpson is currently serving a nine-year sentence at Nevada’s Lovelock Correctional Centre, after he was convicted of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas in October 2008 after a botched heist to retrieve his memorabilia he said was stolen by dealers.

He was famously acquitted in October 1995 of the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman despite huge amounts of evidence against him.

According to the National Enquirer, the interview is set to be filmed after Simpson confessed he killed the pair in self-defence to a producer from inside prison.

'Oprah has been in touch with O.J. for the past year,' a source told the magazine.

She contacted him in prison to explore the possibility that he might give her an interview.

'He has always been a big fan of hers, but for a long time he was reluctant to say he did the crime or give the details of how it happened.'

According to the insider, Simpson recently decided to go through with the confession after he was contacted again by one of Oprah's producers.

'He told the producer: "Tell Oprah that yes, I did it. I killed Nicole, but it was in self-defence. She pulled a knife on me and I had to defend myself",' the insider was quoted as saying.

He reportedly then went on to give a full account of what happened on the night of the murders on June 12 1994.

Confession? O.J. Simpson and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, when they were a couple in 1993

Murdered: Ronald Goldman was an American waiter and an aspiring model


The former couple had got into an argument after Nicole was said to have snubber Simpson when he interrupted a meal she was having at a restaurant with their children.

'O.J. said he went home and kept getting angrier and angrier and worked himself into an absolute rage,' the source told the Enquirer.

Simpson allegedly told the producer he 'didn't like the way she treated me in front of the kids at the restaurant. I didn't like that she was routinely having guys have sex with her at her condo with the kids there.

'I went over there to give her a piece of my mind,' he was quoted as saying.

When he arrived and no one answered at the house, he started pounding the door and shouting, according to the report.

The door allegedly then swung open and Nicole was standing there with a kitchen knife in her hand.

'O.J. told the producer, "she was yelling go away! Go away! And waving the knife around at me. At one point she was lunging at me with the knife and I was just trying to talk to her. Nicole stepped out of the apartment - slashing the knife in the air.

'"I was in such a rage that something just snapped. I couldn't take her constant taunting of me with other men or her using drugs and drinking while my kids were living with her. I went beserk.

'"Before I knew what I was doing I took the knife away from Nicole and started slashing at her. I cut her over and over again until she was lifeless. I was shocked at my own anger - I had killed the woman I had loved for so long.."'

Evidence: A glove that was found at Simpson's home - originally said to have been the pair to another which was bloodied from the violent murders


Weapon: A German-made 15-inch knife similar to one originally said to have been sold to Simpson five weeks before the murders


He allegedly went on to tell the producer he also knifed Ron Goldman in self-defence as he tried to attack Simpson when he turned up at the home soon after and spotted Nicole's body on the floor.

The shamed former sportsman was acquitted on October 3, 1995 of stabbing to death his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman after perhaps the most famous trial in modern history.

After the bodies were found in a pool of blood on her driveway in Los Angeles driveway, Simpson, who has until now maintained he did not commit the murders, began a bizarre slowspeed car chase with police.


Almost 100million people are thought to have watched the events live on television as the sports star held a gun to his head while being driven by a friend.

He was allegedly headed for the Mexican border with $5,000 dollars and his passport when he was tracked by authorities.

Eventually, 27 police cars trailed him until he surrendered on his mansion's driveway an hour and a half later.

Despite huge amounts of evidence against Simpson, including bloodstains in his car, a glove holding DNA from the three, a sock engrained with traces of his victims' blood on his bedroom carpet and tapes of a terrified Nicole begging police for help as Simpson hit her - he was acquitted of the murders.

If the confession is made to Oprah on television, Simpson will not, however, suffer legal consequences.

Under the law of double jeopardy, a second trial is forbidden following an acquittal.


source:dailymail

By GEORGINA LITTLEJOHN

Compassion: Lady Gaga wipes away her tears as she remembers the victims of the Japanese earthquake at a press conference in Tokyo today


She donated more than £1million out of her own pocket towards relief efforts after the Japanese earthquake and another £500,000 from sales of her charity bracelet.

So it was no surprise to see the Lady Gaga compassionately shed a tear for the victims of the disaster which devastated the country in March.

The singer was at a press conference in Tokyo today to promote the MTV Video Music Awards Japan.


Choked up: The tears falling down her face, Gaga struggles to compose herself


She will be performing at the awards, which take place on Saturday, which have been renamed Video Music Aid Japan and will raise money for the Japanese Red Cross.

Today Gaga broke down as she spoke about her love for the country.

She said: 'I am always so inspired when I come to Japan, inspired by the spirit, the passion, the love, the absolutely infectious joy of Tokyo.'


Hello, Tokyo: Gaga arrived at the press conference in her new aquamarine wig and black Aladdin pants


And she encouraged people from all over the world to visit the country, which has seen a huge plunge in tourism since the disaster, the nation's biggest recorded earthquake struck.

It created a tsunami that caused widespread destruction and set off a crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant about 140 miles (220 kilometers) north of Tokyo.

It killed almost 20,000 people, tens of thousands more were left homeless and thousands of others were forced to leave homes near the plant because of the radiation danger.



Please visit: Gaga urged tourists to come to Japan declaring it 'beautiful' and 'safe'


Wearing a long aquamarine wig, she said: 'I can't say enough to people all over the world that the majority of Japan right now, Japan in general, is very safe. It's fine to come here. It's beautiful.

'The most important thing, and the best thing, we could do for Japan right now is to boost tourism.

'I would like to use my position here today and all week long to run around Tokyo enjoy the beautiful city and kiss all the beautiful little monsters and scream at the top of my lungs that everyone should come visit this beautiful place.'


Thirsty work: Gaga sipped from a china tea cup which had Japanese characters that read 'Pray For Japan' across it


For luck: The singer kisses an Okiagari-Koboshi, a traditional Japanese doll


During the press conference, she sipped tea from a china cup that was painted with Japanese characters that read 'We pray for Japan'.

She was also presented with an 'Okiagari-koboshi' - which means 'getting up little priest' - a Japanese traditional tumble doll that is considered a good-luck charm and a symbol of perseverance and resilience

GaGa arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday, days in advance of her performance on Saturday's Music Aid Japan benefit concert which will be broadcast live to an estimated 30 million households in Japan, Korea, Singapore and China.


For her Little Monsters: Gaga stopped to sign autographs as she left a restaurant last night...


... and kept her faithful followers happy as she stopped to greet fans at the airport


Last night she was bombarded by fans as she left Shabuzen, a popular restaurant that specialise in a common Japanese dish called Shabu-shabu, which is a Japanese hot pot, in the trendy night life area of Roppongi, in Tokyo.

But ever gracious to her 'Little Monsters', she happily stopped and signed autographs for them, just as she did when she arrived at Narita International Airport.


Just put your paws up: Gaga gives her trademark claw-hand sign and then waves to her fans as she heads out of the airport


Lady Gaga at the MTV Video Music Aid Japan press conference (june 2011)


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Racy Katie: Katie Holmes left a Miami restaurant today in a white crochet top which exposed her black bra


She is known to keep her wardrobe on the conservative side with her array of sophisticated dresses and covered-up comfortable casualwear.

But in a daring turn, Katie Holmes stepped out today in a white crochet top, which exposed her black bra.

The 32-year-old sported the uncharacteristic risqué look as she left a restaurant in Miami.

The actress had clearly gone for a relaxed look, paring the vest with some white floaty trousers and embellished sandals.

Toting a cup of coffee, she topped off the look with a fedora hat, black wayfarers and a make-up free complexion.

Katie has been getting into Miami style with her array of beachwear.

On the weekend, Katie showed off her slimmed-down physique in a bikini as she played with five-year-old daughter Suri on Miami beach.

Mother and daughter are together at the seaside town in Florida where Tom Cruise, 48, is filming Rock of Ages.


Beachy keen: The actress had clearly gone for a relaxed look, paring the risqué vest with some white floaty trousers and embellished sandals


Katie wore a red bikini and pink denim shorts while Suri was fully clothed in a multi-coloured dress.

The family were also spotted celebrating Father's Day in Miami on Sunday where Katie and Suri were pictured strolling with Cruise and then boarding a boat.

The close-knit trio were seen around the marina together in casual weekend wear.

Katie carried Suri in her arms, as always, to the luxury yacht which they hopped on for their afternoon cruise.


Accessorising: Toting a cup of coffee, she topped off the look with a fedora hat, black wayfarers and a make-up free complexion


After they boarded the yacht, named Marquis, Katie and Suri sat on the deck while Cruise kept cool inside as they sailed out to sea.

The couple have been the butt of break-up rumours pretty much from as soon as they got together six years ago.

But the loved-up twosome showed that their relationship is stronger than ever and were very touchy-feely at an event in Miami Beach later in the weekend.


Making waves: On the weekend, Katie showed off her slimmed-down physique in a bikini as she played with five-year-old daughter Suri on Miami beach


Katie lovingly grabbed her husband of nearly five years from behind and Cruise reciprocated, resting his hand over hers in a sweet gesture.

The couple turned up the Miami heat during a night out with the cast members from Rock of Ages including Julianne Hough and Malin Akerman.

They cosied up at Larios Cuban style bongo club and seemed to enjoy their date night in the Sunshine State.


Beach babes: Katie keeps close to her daughter Suri as they play in the water


Cruise is undergoing an amazing transformation to play long-haired, tattooed rocker Jaxx in the film, which is due for release next year.

Also starring Russell Brand, it tells the story of a girl who arrives in Hollywood at the height of the 1980s rock scene.

It's a very different role for Cruise, and Katie has given her backing to the career departure for her husband by revealing that he likes to perform at their home.

'Tom is such an amazing performer. Yes, we have music in our house and it’s amazing,' she told Access Hollywood.



Casual Cruises: The family celebrate Father's Day in Miami, Florida on a yacht

source : dailymail

By PAUL BENTLEY

Revealing all? Oprah is said to be lining up an historic interview with Simpson


O.J Simpson has confessed to Oprah Winfrey that he murdered his former wife, it has been reported.

The talk show host made headlines recently saying that one of her regrets was never having got the shamed former sportsman to confess to the killing.

And it appears her wish may well have come true with reports Simpson has already told one of her producers in an interview from jail that he knifed ex-wife Nicole in self-defence - a confession he will now repeat to the talk show queen during a spectacular televised sit down interview.

The chat, which would be held in prison, would be a hug coup for Oprah, whose network, OWN, has suffered a massive hit in ratings recently.

Simpson is currently serving a nine-year sentence at Nevada’s Lovelock Correctional Centre, after he was convicted of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas in October 2008 after a botched heist to retrieve his memorabilia he said was stolen by dealers.


Coup: Will Oprah finally get the confession from O.J. Simpson that she is said to have been pining for?


He was famously acquitted in October 1995 of the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman despite huge amounts of evidence against him.

According to the National Enquirer, the interview is set to be filmed after Simpson confessed he killed the pair in self-defence to a producer from inside prison.

'Oprah has been in touch with O.J. for the past year,' a source told the magazine.

She contacted him in prison to explore the possibility that he might give her an interview.


Confession? O.J. Simpson and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, when they were a couple in 1993


'He has always been a big fan of hers, but for a long time he was reluctant to say he did the crime or give the details of how it happened.'

According to the insider, Simpson recently decided to go through with the confession after he was contacted again by one of Oprah's producers.

'He told the producer: "Tell Oprah that yes, I did it. I killed Nicole, but it was in self-defence. She pulled a knife on me and I had to defend myself",' the insider was quoted as saying.

He reportedly then went on to give a full account of what happened on the night of the murders on June 12 1994.


Murdered: Ronald Goldman was an American waiter and an aspiring model


The former couple had got into an argument after Nicole was said to have snubber Simpson when he interrupted a meal she was having at a restaurant with their children.
'O.J. said he went home and kept getting angrier and angrier and worked himself into an absolute rage,' the source told the Enquirer.


Family: Simpson, pictured with Nicole and their children, Sydney Brook and Justin


Simpson allegedly told the producer he 'didn't like the way she treated me in front of the kids at the restaurant. I didn't like that she was routinely having guys have sex with her at her condo with the kids there.

'I went over there to give her a piece of my mind,' he was quoted as saying.

When he arrived and no one answered at the house, he started pounding the door and shouting, according to the report.

The door allegedly then swung open and Nicole was standing there with a kitchen knife in her hand.


Evidence: A glove that was found at Simpson's home - originally said to have been the pair to another which was bloodied from the violent murders


'O.J. told the producer, "she was yelling go away! Go away! And waving the knife around at me. At one point she was lunging at me with the knife and I was just trying to talk to her. Nicole stepped out of the apartment - slashing the knife in the air.

'"I was in such a rage that something just snapped. I couldn't take her constant taunting of me with other men or her using drugs and drinking while my kids were living with her. I went beserk.

'"Before I knew what I was doing I took the knife away from Nicole and started slashing at her. I cut her over and over again until she was lifeless. I was shocked at my own anger - I had killed the woman I had loved for so long.."'


Weapon: A German-made 15-inch knife similar to one originally said to have been sold to Simpson five weeks before the murders


He allegedly went on to tell the producer he also knifed Ron Goldman in self-defence as he tried to attack Simpson when he turned up at the home soon after and spotted Nicole's body on the floor.

The shamed former sportsman was acquitted on October 3, 1995 of stabbing to death his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman after perhaps the most famous trial in modern history.

After the bodies were found in a pool of blood on her driveway in Los Angeles driveway, Simpson, who has until now maintained he did not commit the murders, began a bizarre slowspeed car chase with police.



Custody: Simpson's original mugshot


Almost 100million people are thought to have watched the events live on television as the sports star held a gun to his head while being driven by a friend.

He was allegedly headed for the Mexican border with $5,000 dollars and his passport when he was tracked by authorities.

Eventually, 27 police cars trailed him until he surrendered on his mansion's driveway an hour and a half later.

Despite huge amounts of evidence against Simpson, including bloodstains in his car, a glove holding DNA from the three, a sock engrained with traces of his victims'

blood on his bedroom carpet and tapes of a terrified Nicole begging police for help as Simpson hit her - he was acquitted of the murders.

If the confession is made to Oprah on television, Simpson will not, however, suffer legal consequences.

Under the law of double jeopardy, a second trial is forbidden following an acquittal.

source: dailymail

By EMILY ANDREWS and GABBY MORGAN

Ball girl: Bethanie Mattek-Sands wears an unusual bespoke outfit for her first match at Wimbledon today


A quick glance and you might have mistaken her for some sort of quirky pop star.

Not for nothing is Bethanie Mattek-Sands known as the Lady Gaga of tennis.

The American baffled fans as she stepped out on court yesterday in war paint and a white bomber jacket decorated with spray-painted white tennis balls chopped in half.

And when she removed her coat, the white dress she had on underneath appeared to have lost a sleeve.


All white? The white fringed jacket was created by Lady Gaga's own fashion designers


The outfit complemented an armful of colourful tattoos, socks pulled up to the knees and the face paint. The 26-year-old claimed that was actually a couple of anti-glare patches.

Miss Mattek-Sands had already turned heads with an equally bizarre tennis ball outfit at a pre-Wimbledon party last week, which was designed by one of Lady Gaga's own dressers.


Ball-girl: Mattek-Sands arrives for her match against Japan's Misaki Doi


British designer Alex Noble had again been commissioned for yesterday's outfit.

Unfortunately for Miss Mattek-Sands, it failed to inspire her to victory.

Despite going into the match as the firm favourite and 30th seed, she lost in three sets to Japan's Misaki Doi. And her decorum appeared to desert her as she refused to shake the umpire's hand at the end.

The tongue-in-cheek number is just another example of how players are working around the rules to make fashion more prominent on court.


Skin art: The tennis player shows off her tattoos in a one-shouldered top


On Monday, Venus Williams wore a Greek-inspired romper suit by her own brand Eleven. And high-end label Ralph Lauren have designed new uniforms for the ball-boys.

Mattek-Sands said last month: 'I don't think I can really challenge the colour rule right now. You know, I got to figure something out. Obviously the white, you got to work with a lot of the cuts.

'Obviously I'll be wearing my high socks. But yeah, it's always challenging to think of new things for Wimbledon.


When fashion meets function: Serena, left, and Venus Williams are trendy sisters at the tournament


source: dailymail

By SARA NATHAN

The marrying kind: Elisabetta Canalis, pictured here in Cannes in May, recently revealed her hopes to wed


It looked like she was going to succeed where so many others had failed.

But just weeks after Elisabetta Canalis hinted that she could be walking down the aisle with committed playboy George Clooney, their relationship has ended.

Friends claimed last night that Clooney feared the Italian model and TV presenter was trying to tie him down after two years together.

Earlier this month, the 32-year-old suggested marriage could be on the cards as she addressed Clooney’s reputation as an eternal bachelor, saying: ‘I could never be with someone who every time he opens his mouth says he doesn’t want a child with me or to marry me


Hollywood bachelor: George Clooney, pictured with the Italian star in September, has vowed never to walk down the aisle again


‘My boyfriend has not given an interview on his private life since 1999 – everything that you read is just a rehash of stuff that has been written in the past.’

In an interview with Italian magazine Chi that appears to have tempted fate, Miss Canalis continued: ‘My second job at the moment seems to be maid of honour. For the time being that’s how it is, but I’m not putting any time limits.

‘Who knows what will happen? I am a firm believer in marriage, in the future I will be married, but for the time being I am happy as I am. I don’t need anything to confirm how happy I am.’

Clooney, however, has insisted that he would not walk down the aisle again following the end of his four-year marriage to actress Talia Balsam in 1993.


Before the split: The pair were spotted at Il Gatto Nero restaurant near Clooney's home on Lake Como last week


The actor, who turned 50 last month, said: ‘I tried marriage and it didn’t work.
‘I have had long relationships with women and they get bored with me working all the time.

‘My fear is that I would make a lousy husband and I don’t want to put myself, or anyone else, through the pain of finding out. If I was my girlfriend, I wouldn’t put up with me for very long.’

A source in Los Angeles said: ‘Elisabetta is a traditional girl and wanted the fairytale.


Ex factor: Sarah Larson, Lisa Snowdon and Clooney's first wife Talia Balsam


‘But George has never made a secret of his feelings and he wanted things to continue as they were.’

Clooney and Miss Canalis made their romance official in September 2009 after stepping out together at the Venice Film Festival.

The ER star's ex-girlfriends include British model and radio personality Lisa Snowdon and cocktail waitress Sarah Larson.

He is currently working on his new drama, Gravity, with Sandra Bullock.

source : dailymail

By ELEANOR HARDING

Louis Walsh had seen Westlife sing in Dublin before the alleged incident


Louis Walsh last night denied allegations that he indecently assaulted a man in a nightclub toilet.

The X Factor judge said: ‘The allegations made against me are wholly false and with no foundation.

‘I will happily cooperate fully with the police and am 100 per cent confident that after a full investigation I will be fully exonerated.’

An anonymous 24-year-old, who is understood to be a single father, told police that Mr Walsh, 58, touched his groin after they struck up a conversation, according to The Sun newspaper.

According to the unsubstantiated claims from the alleged victim, the attack happened in the early hours of April 10, when Mr Walsh is said to have visited Russell Court Hotel in Dublin.

Earlier in the evening, Mr Walsh had attended a concert by Westlife, the Irish boyband he created.

The man allegedly told police he chatted with Mr Walsh in the hotel’s private Global Bar, before the pair moved on to its well-known Krystle nightclub.

His statement to officers claims the TV star then indecently assaulted him in the nightclub’s toilets.


The venue: The alleged assault is said to have taken place at the Krystle nightclub, inside Dublin's Russell Court Hotel


According to The Sun, a police source said the investigation was ‘ongoing’ and that officers have taken CCTV footage from the nightclub and will also study film from cameras in the hotel.

A spokesman for Mr Walsh said: ‘He vigorously denies all of the allegations. If contacted by the police he will willingly co-operate with any investigation. Louis categorically denies any wrongdoing and will fight to clear his name.’


Famous: The nightclub is one of the most popular and exclusive in Dublin
Last night, the alleged victim refused to comment.


Mr Walsh is on the judging panel for this year’s X Factor, alongside Gary Barlow from Take That, Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child and N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos. The Irishman first appeared on the programme in 2004 alongside Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne.

Mr Walsh became well-known in the 1990s for creating the group Boyzone after deciding to create an Irish version of Take That.

Under his management, they achieved international success, selling more than 12million copies worldwide



Back to work: Louis Walsh arrives at the London Studios for X Factor yesterday


He later used the same formula to produce Westlife, co-managed by Boyzone member Ronan Keating. Mr Walsh launched his television career as a judge on the Irish edition of reality music show Popstars.

After finding a band on that show he was brought across to London to star in Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. It was on this show that he found UK fame, as mentor of the winning group, Girls Aloud.

During his time on the X Factor, Mr Walsh had success with classical-style boyband G4, who went on to have a chart-topping album and completed two tours of the UK.


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Distraught: A forlorn-looking Johnny Knoxville attends the memorial service for his tragic Jackass co-star Ryan Dunn in West Chester, Philadelphia. Dunn was killed in a high-speed car smash on Monday aged 34


Controversial church plans to picket public funeral later this week

Memorial comes as toxicology results reveal Dunn was more than two times over the drink-drive limit

Police say there is no suspicion of drug abuse

Star had notched up 23 driving convictions - including ten for speeding - before accident

Pilferers collect ghoulish mementos from crash scenes and 'plan to sell parts of wreckage on eBay'


A private memorial service was held today for Ryan Dunn, who was killed in a high-speed car crash in the early hours of Monday morning.

Jackass frontman Johnny Knoxville led the mourners as a private ceremony was held at a funeral home in West Chester in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon.

Dunn's best friend and fellow Jackass star Bam Margera was also in attendance with his wife Melissa Rothstein and parents April and Phil, who were also close Ryan.


Mournful black: Dunn's best friend and Jackass associate Bam Margera and his wife Melissa Rothstein


It comes on a painful day for the 34-year-old stuntman's loved ones after toxicology reports confirmed Dunn was more than two times over the drink-drive limit when he crashed in the early hours of Monday morning, killing himself and passenger Zachary Hartwell.

Wednesday's memorial was held at the DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith and Boyd funeral home and comes ahead of a full funeral, which is set to be held later this week.

Meanwhile a controversial church from Kansas has released a statement, saying it plans to picket Dunn's funeral.



Remembrance: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Glenn Howerton, left, and Rob McElhenney cut a sombre figure


In a statement which will no doubt cause fresh anguish for Ryan's loved ones, Westboro Baptist Church proclaimed: 'Ryan Dunn is in hell,' adding: 'WBC will picket any public memorial/funeral held for Dunn, warning all not to make a mock of sin, & to fear & obey God.'

Westboro was started by the Rev. Fred Phelps in 1955. The website for the group outlines plans to send parishioners to Philadelphia to protest at the funeral in Philadelphia.

Funeral director Joseph DellaVecchia told CNN today that he didn't expect any disturbances at the memorial- but admitted he had heard of Westboro's plans.

He told CNN: 'We can’t stop someone from coming to a public funeral, but this is private, and the police have everything under control.'


Support: Bam's parents April and Phil Margera, who were very close to Dunn, arrive hand in hand


Time to reflect: DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith and Boyd funeral home in West Chester, Philadelphia, where the memorial was held


Dunn was heavily intoxicated at the time of his deadly high speed crash, police revealed yesterday.

The star's blood alcohol level was 0.196, more than twice the legal limit in Pennsylvania, which is 0.08, West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll confirmed in a statement released today.

Mr Carroll added that the toxicology report from the Chester County Coroner's Office indicated there were 'no drugs of abuse detected'.

The 34-year-old had been drinking at a bar with friends in the hours before the crash, which also killed his passenger, Zachary Hartwell.

He is said to have drank three beers and taken shots before getting behind the wheel shortly after 2am on Monday morning.


Over the limit: Ryan Dunn, seen here in a Twitter picture hours before the crash, was twice the legal limit at the time of the crash


It has emerged that Dunn had notched up 23 driving convictions, including ten for speeding, before his accident, it was revealed yesterday.

Dunn, whose Porsche sports car slammed into a tree at 130mph, had also been arrested for drink driving.

His driving record was revealed as friends from the Jackass films mourned his death and visited the crash site in Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, Margera was in tears as he stood on the roadside where Dunn and his passenger Hartwell were killed in the early hours of the morning.


Wreckage: The charred remains of the Porsche 911 GT3 is towed away as police survey the scene



Fresh details: A statements released by the West Goshen Township Police Department revealed details of the the toxicology report


Police say Dunn was travelling at around 132mph and 140mph in a 55mph zone when his Porsche 911 flew off the road in West Goshen and burst into flames.

It is not known if the pair died from the crash impact or were unable to escape the vehicle as it exploded in a fireball.

West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll, who was involved in the accident reconstruction, described it as the worst crash he had ever seen.


Ghoulish: New footages shows 'treasure hunters' at the scene pilfering bits of the car wreckage


Cashing in: Some people told reporters they were planning to sell the mementos on eBay


Court records showed that Dunn received at least 23 driving citations in the last 13 years.

Ten were for speeding and careless driving and three others were for driving on a suspended licence.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer 90 per cent of the citations ended in guilty pleas.

Dunn was drinking with friends in the hours before the fatal crash.

Meanwhile it has emerged that 'treasure hunters' are pilfering debris from the car that Dunn crashed.


Heartbroken: Bam Margera returns to the spot where his best friend and Jackass co-star lost his life in a horrific car smash in the early hours of Monday morning in Philadelphia


Devastation: Dunn's car span off the road, through a guardrail and into the woods


A video report by Philadelphia Fox News captured footage of people collecting ghoulish mementos along the stretch of road where the accident happened in the Pennsylvania state.

Reporter Chris O'Donnell said that some had told him they were planning to sell the parts on eBay.

'You should have seen these people pilfering away,' an outraged O'Donnell reported back to the studio, while reporting from the scene.

O'Donnell added that police had told him taking parts of wreckage from an investigation scene is illegal.



Where the night started: Dunn and Hartwell were both at Barnaby's in West Chester hours before the accident


Bam Margera Breaks Down After Hearing About Ryan Dunns Death


source: dailymail