Dall'Irish Independent:
Tell Lola we love her in Bono's stuff
Lola Cashman faces financial ruin
DANIEL McCONNELL
and LARISSA NOLAN
IRISH people have thrown their support behind U2's former stylist Lola Cashman, who faces financial ruin if she has to hand back Bono's Stetson and other memorabilia collected during her time with the band.
Two months after it emerged that U2 were turning their backs on Ireland by moving some of their financial operations to Holland, it now appears that Ireland is turning its back on U2.
A nationwide poll conducted this weekend reveals that only one in four believe Bono was right to go to court to recover "an Aladdin's cave" of personal items. Most of those contacted thought the U2 legal action was "farcical".
In a nationwide poll, 74 per cent of people surveyed by the Sunday Independent said Bono was wrong to take the cash-strapped stylist to court. Ms Cashman, who is based in London, is already paying off her legal bills from last year's Circuit Court action which she lost.
Ms Cashman revealed last week that she is currently paying stg£1,000 a month to the band, after costs were awarded against her in a defamation action taken by her in London. She said if she lost this case she would be facing bankruptcy.
She has already told the Sunday Independent: "If I lose the High Court case, it will cost me a hell of a lot of money. I am fighting to protect my reputation, to fight off accusations that I was a thief and a liar."
In court last week, Bono admitted the case is about money, power and control. He referred to a book Ms Cashman had written about her time with the band and said: "The book is reprehensible - that is why I am here. She took advantage of the band for remuneration. I am very annoyed about the book."
Many said the continued pursuit of the Stetson was bordering on ridiculous. Few said they could understand how a man, who won respect worldwide for his efforts in fighting Aids, hunger and Third World debt, would become obsessed with something so trivial and worth so little money.
His actions were "small minded and foolish", said one of those surveyed.
"It would be like the office hunting you down and dragging you through the courts over a staple or Biro. It's not even entertaining bad behaviour from a rock star," said one female respondent.
Last August, the Sunday Independent revealed that U2 were moving part of their commercial empire to Holland to avail of tax breaks.
_____________________________________
Good evening, there was already an injury, huh?
Giovanni Trapattoni, falling off his chair