WESTLIFE star and Dancing With The Stars host Nicky Byrne’s entire family was at last night’s show to support him as they had their first dance-off elimination.

The singer took to his Instagram today to share some adorable snaps of him and his entire family on the set of Dancing With The Stars.

He shared a snap of him and his wife Georgina and his young daughter Gia wearing his jack backstage in the dressing room.

Nicky captioned this adorable post saying: “Dancing with the family. GIA stole my jacket!@gginaahernbyrne @dwtsirl.”

Fans of the singer flocked to his Instagram comment section to send him and his family some love.

One of his followers commented: “Not only did Gia steal your jacket, she also stole my heart.”

‘AMAZING’

Annika said: “Amazing pictures of you and your family. Gia so cute and it is quite obvious that she is daddy’s girl.”

Gil also commented saying: “Beautiful family. Daddies girl.”

Majorie gushed: “Amazing photos Nicky thank you for sharing.”

This comes after the singer paid tribute to the late Caroline Flack as he said that her “passing is utterly devastating”.

Caroline was found dead at her home in London on Saturday aged just 40.

Since news broke of her death tributes have been pouring in for the former Love Island host.

CAROLINE TRIBUTE

Now Nicky Byrne has also spoken about her passing and he called for change.

Taking to Instagram and sharing a snap of Caroline he said: “I never write these type of posts, however the news of Caroline Flacks passing is utterly devastating.

“No matter who you are or what you do, no matter how positive you always are or as tough and strong you may always seem to be, absolutely NO one is strong enough to completely ignore hate or insults.

“Famous or not we are all only built to take so much.

“Massive responsibility lies with the writer and sender.

“Think more than twice before you write or post.

“We are all just on our own journeys, our own path through life and making the best of it we can.

“Social media can be amazing, it can also be the most putrid toxic environment.

“We all have a role to play in this.

“It must change. Be kind. What a terrible loss of a talented young woman.”

A WOMAN who blamed the IRA for beating her son to death has claimed Sinn Fein has put her through hell.

Breege Quinn’s son Paul was attacked in Co Monaghan in 2007.

PA:Press Association

Pacemaker Press

PA:Press Association

After the murder, Sinn Fein powersharing minister Conor Murphy said Mr Quinn was a criminal. He has withdrawn the remarks and apologised to the family.

Ms Quinn said: “He has … put our family through hell.”

She and her husband Stephen visited Stormont today to meet politicians including the SDLP and Ulster Unionists.

She added: “Conor Murphy does not have a mandate to criminalise people he is supposed to represent.

“He does not have a mandate to call our son a criminal.

“We are once again calling on him today to say the simple words that Paul Quinn was not a criminal.”

‘STOP PROVIDING POLITICAL COVER FOR MURDERERS’

Mr Murphy said he spoke to the IRA in south Armagh about the killing.

Ms Quinn asserted: “He must also go to the PSNI and the gardai to give the names of the IRA men he spoke to in Cullyhanna.

“He must stop providing political cover for murderers.”

The killing became one of the talking points in the Irish election as Mr Quinn’s mother called for the Newry and Armagh MP to be removed from his post as a minister over the comments.

Sinn Fein faced criticism from its political rivals over its response to the killing.

Mr Murphy apologised for the remarks while Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald spoke to Mrs Quinn in a telephone call.

POLICE ‘DON’T NEED PROMPTING’

On Monday, Ms Quinn said: “It must not be okay for any elected representative to call anyone a criminal and be rewarded with ministerial office time and time again.

“It should not be okay for a minister to seek assurance about a crime from a paramilitary group that has supposedly gone away.”

She added: “I hope Conor Murphy is listening so that we can move attention back to the men who killed our son Paul and who are walking freely around Cullyhanna and Crossmaglen while our son is buried in the ground.”

Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald said the investigation by the PSNI and Garda into the murder of Mr Quinn is ongoing and there is no suggestion Mr Murphy has not disclosed information on his murder.

“The PSNI and the Gardai are perfectly capable of seeking out and speaking to any individual that they need to speak to. They don’t need my prompting or anyone else’s.

“Conor has made it plain that he did speak with the police and authorities at the time of this awful murder and I think it’s important to say this. There is no suggestion of an involvement by Conor covering up for anything.”

She added: “I have already spoken to Breege and I hope to meet with her. I would like her and Conor Murphy to sit down and talk. We are not going to resolve this over the airwaves.

“I wish her peace of mind and justice because those who carried out this brutal murder are still at large. For the purposes of justice and law and order – the priority is that these people are apprehended and brought to justice. I know that Breege has made her statement and our next move has to be to sit down and discuss these matters.”

PA:Press Association

PA:Press Association

Pacemaker Press

LABOUR TD Alan Kelly is to announce his attention to stand for party leadership following Brendan Howlin’s resignation last week.

The Tipperary TD is due to make the announcement at a press conference tomorrow at 12pm.

PA:Press Association

The Labour Party obtained six seats in the election (4.4 per cent of the vote) – one seat less than 2016.

Other party members elected to the Dail include Aodan O Riordan, Duncan Smith, Ged Nash and Sean Sherlock.

However, Cork East TD Sherlock has confirmed he will not be contesting.

Speaking last week following his resignation, Howlin said that Labour will not formally be part of the next Government but will be constructive from opposition benches.

In a statement Howlin said: “It has been an honour to lead the Labour Party but now is the right time to pass on the baton to a new generation.

“It has undoubtedly been a difficult election for us but I believe we have succeeded in sowing the seeds for future growth.

“I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their support over the last four years, and to thank the party’s members and staff who have put in a huge effort in the recent election as they do between elections.

“I will continue to represent the people of my beloved Wexford to the best of my ability and I thank them wholeheartedly for their continued support.

“I will, of course, offer my total support to my successor when they are elected.”

Mr Kelly is the person person to officially declare an intention to run for the leadership.

A PARAMEDIC doctor choked to death seconds after she took part in a chocolate cake-eating contest in a Moscow bar.

Footage from the contest shows how Alexandra Yudina, 23, is seen with her mouth full and unable to swallow properly.

VK.com

She covers her mouth with her hands and pats her chest.

A few seconds later as she walked away from the table where the contest was held, CCTV footage shows a photographer taking her picture as she suddenly became unsteady on her feet while evidently heading towards the toilet in Killfish bar.

The person next to her tries to catch her but she collapses on the floor.

Reports say she still had cake in her mouth as she gasped for breath when her air pipe becoming blocked.

Bar staff and her friends – some with medical qualifications – rushed to help her but were unable to clear the blockage.

An ambulance crew arrived quickly but could not save her, it was reported.

Footage of the appalling incident was released by pro-Kremlin REN TV and party-goers at the tragic event.

Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper said that that Alexandra – known to her friends as Sasha – had been diagnosed six months ago with leukaemia, and that she told friends she wanted to use every chance to have fun.

However this illness was not confirmed by her grieving father Vasily Yudin, 57.

She had not planned to participate when she went out for Saturday evening with friends but joined in when the contest started, said reports.

Each competitor was given three small chocolate cakes.

Later reports said they were instructed to eat three Choco Pies – a cake snack with marshmallow filling.

Videos shows how Alexandra – who had graduated from medical college with a qualification as a paramedic doctor – ate the first one then tried to eat two at once.

It was after this that she choked.

Alexandra had been happily “drinking, dancing and joking” earlier in the evening, said friends.

VK.com

The paramedic doctor took part in a cake eating contest

CORONATION Street star Tina O’Brien has quit Instagram, branding it “toxic”.

The 36-year-old admitted she sometimes feels a bit of “fraud” giving her fans just her “best bits” as she signed off from the social media site today with a lengthy post to explain her decision.

Tina, who  has played Sarah Platt in Corrie since 1999, wrote:  “Goodbye you wonderful Instagram using humans and my lovely friends. I’m taking a break from social media, I’m sure it won’t be forever but I need a cleansing break.

“I don’t want to scroll through peoples highlight reels and compare myself unfavourably. Wonder do I need to post something to validate who I am and what I stand for? Give everyone a filtered version of my best bits ( I feel a bit of a fraud).

“I’m so much more than the image I portray, warts n all. On social media I tend to be what I think people want to see a filtered version of my life …Even writing this down seems absolutely ludicrous, What am I playing at?

ITV

“I’m detoxing from this toxic relationship, Goodbye insta, See you all in the real world.”

She posted her thoughts alongside a quote an inspirational quote that read: “In a world of algorithms, hashtags and followers, know the true importance of human connection.”

Tina tied the knot to partner Adam Croft’s last year in a secret New Year’s Eve wedding.

The couple share a four-year-old son Beau and she is also mum to daughter Scarlett, 10, from her former relationship with Ryan Thomas.

A LOT goes into planning a wedding and when the big day finally comes around you’d expect to be able to enjoy the day hassle free. 

Unfortunately for one one bride, her big day turned to chaos and when she finally lost her temper she ended up being dumped by the man she had just married.

Getty Images - Getty

In the post shared in a private Facebook group, the bride, who originally posted to Twitter,  was seeking help on how to win her husband back after she attacked his sister on their wedding day.

The bride claimed that her sister- in-law made her wedding ‘a living hell’, saying she ‘strolled in drunk, threw up on the gift table’, stole the gift money while attempting to clean it up and to top it all off she proposed to her boyfriend – who declined, by the way.

Left fuming, the bride then lashed out and revealed she’d punched her sister-in-law as a result of her actions.

And the groom? Well, rather than having a word with his sister who caused such chaos, he instead dumped his new bride.

Twitter

The post detailed the string of events that occurred at the wedding, and while the list was shocking enough, people were most shocked about the woman trying to win her husband back, with many claiming that she ‘shouldn’t want him back’ after what his sister did in the first place.

One person wrote: “Well that’s one hot mess. I wouldn’t want him back if he chose his [drunk] sister over me. Move on sis!”

And a second wrote: “Girl, you run away from that family. You do not win him back.”

But while some were offering sincere advice, one person found it hard to comprehend the issue at hand and instead commented on the actions of the sister.

He mockingly wrote: “The only thing worse than proposing at somebody else’s wedding is getting rejected at somebody else’s wedding”

For more wedding horror stories, this bride was horrified as her videographer adds scene from Miss Piggy’s wedding as she walks down the aisle.

And this mother-of-the-bride demanded her ginger bridesmaid dye her hair for the wedding because it “clashed” with the dress.

Plus this mother-in-law wore a WEDDING DRESS to her son’s big day – and people can’t tell her apart from the bride.

DAENERYS Targaryen proved to be the deadliest woman in Westeros.

The silver-haired leader, played by Emilia Clarke, firmly divided the Game of Thrones fanbase, with some seeing her as a progressive liberator, and others a ruthless warmonger.

Alamy

In any case, one of the most captivating aspects of the character was her affinity with dragons.

Daenerys took command of three of the formidable beasts after successfully incubating a trio of eggs in a blaze.

In one of the HBO drama’s most cinematic moments, Daenerys strode naked out of a burning building without a mark on her, flanked by Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal.

From this point on, the beauty was shows on multiple occasions to be unaffected by fire, burning a group of Dothraki betrayers to death by setting light to a counsel chamber she herself was locked inside.

Alamy

HBO

In various exchanges it was hinted that the entire Targaryen bloodline possessed a genetic immunity to fire, along with their command of dragons.

However, in an unearthed interview from 1999 with George RR Martin, the author of the Song of Ice & Fire saga upon which Game of Thrones was based, the theory is completely debunked.

In a transcript posted to Reddit, Martin addressed the dramatic moment Daenerys strode through flames for the first time.

“Thanks for asking that. It gives me a chance to clear up a common misconception,” he said.

“Targaryens are not immune to fire! The birth of Dany’s dragons was unique, magical, wondrous, a miracle,” he went on.

HBO

HBO

Martin also addressed what appears to be an inconsistency with one of her titles and referenced the death of her brother Viserys too.

“She is called The Unburnt because she walked into the flames and lived,” he went on.

“But her brother sure as hell wasn’t immune to that molten gold.”

The comments come after prequel series House of the Dragon revealed the three leading Targaryens who would front the series.

Elsewhere, Tormund actor Kristofer Hivju revealed what happened to Jon Snow (Kit Harington) after the controversial season finale.

BARCELONA have been forced to deny sensational claims they paid a PR firm to attack star players including Lionel Messi.

It was suggested that the LaLiga champions worked alongside I3 Ventures to damage the reputation of Messi, Gerard Pique, former players and potential presidents.

Getty Images - Getty

In reports by radio programme SER Catalunya and La Llotja del Que t’hi Jugues, they were tasked with “creating opinions on social media.”

It is suggested their main aim was to “protect the reputation of President Josep Maria Bartomeu.”

The apparent whistleblowers suggested that I3 Ventures had Twitter and Facebook accounts that wrote numerous posts to alter public opinion of the players.

These included attacks on Messi’s reluctance to sign a new contract at the Nou Camp while Pique was targetted following his project to revamp the Davis Cup.

It is claimed that over 100 accounts were created in total and Barca paid the company around £830,000.

But the Catalan giants have issued a statement denying any knowledge or involvement.

LADBROKES 1-2-FREE Simply predict Leicester vs Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal scores this coming weekend and win £100

It read: “FC Barcelona roundly deny any relationship, and furthermore, the contracting of services linked to social media accounts that have broadcast negative or disparaging messages related to any person, entity or organisation that may be, or have been, related to the Club.

“I3 Ventures, a service provider to the Club, has no relationship with the accounts mentioned and, if any relationship was to come to light, the Club would immediately end their contractual agreement and bring about any necessary legal action to defend their interests.

“As such, FC Barcelona confirm that it has services contracted relating to the monitoring of social media with the aim of analysing both positive and negative messages about the organisation itself.”

Getty - Contributor

LOVE Island star Ched Uzor’s mum has insisted bosses are right not to tell her son about Caroline Flack’s death – because he’ll be heartbroken.

The ITV2 show will return tonight after a two-day break following the 40-year-old’s suicide – but bosses are keeping it a secret from the Islanders.

Rex Features

Ched’s mum has backed the channel’s call to tell the stars after they leave the villa.

“I think it’s the right decision,” Maureen Uzor told the MailOnline.

“When they find out what has happened they are going to be heartbroken and will find it very difficult to deal with.

“There is no reason for my son and the others to know what has taken place.”

Splash News

BBC

ITV

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123

Caroline had presented Love Island since its launch in 2015, but was forced to step back from hosting the new winter series following her assault charge.

The 40-year-old was due in court next month accused of attacking her boyfriend Lewis Burton.

Tragically, she was found dead in her flat after taking her own life on Saturday.

She had been left terrified after learning prosecutors were not going to drop the assault case against her.

Instagram

Laura Whitmore – who took her place as show host – will not go ahead with tonight’s Love Island Aftersun.

There had been calls for the show to be culled following the suicides of Caroline and former show stars Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon.

But staff have reportedly been assured their jobs are safe and it’s thought the summer series will return as normal.

Tonight the show will pay tribute to Caroline by airing a montage of clips featuring the former host.

Pals of the popular presenter have been sharing their memories of Caroline on Instagram as they admit struggling to take in the news.

Amanda Holden said she was angry Caroline had been “thrown to the dogs” by ITV, claiming she wasn’t shown the “same level of consideration, protection, warmth and importance as other artists in our industry who have struggled recently.”

It is believed Amanda was referring to the broadcaster standing by Ant McPartlin, 44, after his battle with alcohol and prescription drugs, which included a drunken crash into a family with a young child.

ITV have insisted they were in “constant contact” with Caroline before her death.

And host Laura described the show as being “loving and caring and safe and protected”.

MANCHESTER CITY fans are raising £4,000 to protest against a two-year Champions League ban – with anti-Uefa banners and a “Poznan” at next month’s showpiece at home to Real Madrid.

The supporters club and the 1894 Group will stage a huge outcry before the Champions League last-16 return leg on March 17 over Uefa’s severe punishment for Financial Fair Play breaches that City deny.

PA:Empics Sport

Getty Images - Getty

City fans are planning fierce protests beyond booing of the Uefa anthem, including turning their backs on it.

The Poznan involves fans turning away from the pitch, linking arms and bouncing up and down.

The Mail report City Supporters Club general secretary Kevin Parker as saying: “The banners will probably be pretty straight to the point about Uefa.

“We think the Poznan is the ideal scenario – something visual and everyone can get involved. It creates a positive energy and the team see it too.

“It’s been spontaneous in the past but this is probably the first organised one.

“The idea is gathering pace. Everybody do the Poznan: turn your back on Uefa and be together as one.

“Booing isn’t exactly right because it’s no different to before – and it also starts the game on a negative.”

More than £3,000 has already been raked in from a crowdfunding appeal for banners.

And Parker added: “We see FFP as the elite protecting themselves. They see us as a threat.

“They don’t want the likes of City. We’re the working-class family from Moss Side who won the lottery and went to live in Hale. We’re not welcome.”

News Group Newspapers Ltd

LADBROKES 1-2-FREE Simply predict Leicester vs Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal scores this coming weekend and win £100

Meanwhile, it has also been suggested the Premier League could investigate City – putting the title triumphs of 2012 and 2014 in danger.

If the Prem find Etihad chiefs broke rules over FFP rules, they could deduct points from past seasons.

The 2012-2016 period is thought to the timescale that could be investigated.

A MAN with multiple sclerosis required emergency treatment after a tube inserted in his belly to drain urine from his bladder was pushed too far and ended up coming out his penis.

The patient, 55, complained of a sore abdomen and “significant penile pain” when he presented at the emergency department of Beaumont Hospital, reporting that he had produced no urine since the tube was replaced by a local physician 24 hours before.

Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

‘CLEARLY VISIBLE’

On examination, doctors saw that the tip of the device – a suprapubic catheter – was “clearly visible” emerging from the man’s genitals.

It had been pushed into his urethra from the bladder when an “anchoring balloon” was inflated.

The “unique case” was documented in a research paper by three clinicians at Beaumont Hospital, which was published in this month’s issue of the Irish Medical Journal.

‘BLEEDING AND DISCOMFORT’

They reported treating the patient by “gently deflating” the balloon and replacing the suprapubic catheter.

“Bleeding and discomfort” subsequently settled, and two litres of urine were drained from his bladder.

The authors of the paper stated that there were “important learning points” arising from the case.

They said urine draining should be observed after routine catheter changes, and genitalia should be examined when a misplaced catheter is suspected.

The patient suffered from neuropathic bladder secondary to multiple sclerosis, making it impossible for urine to be properly drained or stored.

A suprapubic catheter is often favoured in such cases “due to its relative comfort”, the paper notes.

However, misplacement of the catheter is possible due to the typically small capacity of neuropathic bladders. In this case, it entered through a hole under the patient’s navel, entered the bladder, and exited again via the urethra.

The authors explained: “The catheter was advanced through the suprapubic tract and inadvertently into the proximal urethra within inflation of the anchoring balloon [which is designed to keep the device in place].”

The patient was kept for a period of observation to ensure adequate catheter drainage, and was well when he was later discharged.

JORDAN Banjo is a true family man – and his new house reflects just that.

The Greatest Dancer presenter, 27, loves sharing pictures of his brood on social media, meaning fans have been given a sneak peek at his latest plush pad too.

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Jordan moved into his new house last year, having kissed goodbye to his former home – and beloved man cave.

But it seems he, fiancee Naomi Courts and their two children, Cassius and Mayowa (Mimi for short), have settled straight into their new surroundings.

Taking to Instagram, proud dad Jordan has shared some sweet snaps of his offspring as they relax in the house.

In one photo, one-year-old son Cassius can be seen alongside Jordan while enjoying a restful Sunday morning on a huge grey sofa in the family room.

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Cleverly, Diversity star Jordan and Naomi – who got engaged in January – have covered the sofa with a matching quilted throw, which is a wise move given they have small children!

With safety in mind, the couple have also placed foam tiles on the hard floor underneath the footstool.

Jordan and Naomi’s family room, which is filled with toys and a TV on the wall, leads into the fancy kitchen.

The modern room features grey fitted cupboards, with sparkling silver handles, and white worktops.

In one photo of Jordan relaxing on the floor with his pet dog, the sticker on their brand new oven hasn’t even been removed.

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Elsewhere in the property, the family have a second, more formal, sofa in a separate lounge.

With plush cream carpet, the grown-up room features a set of French doors that lead out into the family-friendly garden.

At Christmas, the couple displayed their tall white Christmas tree in front of the doors.

The grandest addition to the Banjo/Courts household, however, appears to be a whopping marble dining table.

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

Instagram/Jordan Banjo

The huge piece of furniture is set in another grown-up room and seats eight, thanks to a collection of comfy-looking upholstered chairs.

Meanwhile, the fresh white and grey theme doesn’t stop downstairs either.

Upstairs, the couple have chosen mirrored drawers and bedside tables in their adult haven.

INSTAGRAM

Alongside a gorgeous photo of himself relaxing with baby Mimi, seven months, on the giant bed, Jordan recently told his followers that he was off to watch his brother Ashley and pal Perri Keily on Dancing On Ice.

He said: “Always be my little princess Sunday chills before I see the bros @ashleybanjogram & @realperrikiely down at @dancingonice.” 

CHOCOHOLICS can live out their dreams at a real-life Willy Wonka chocolate factory – where you can eat as much of the stuff as you like for free.

An outlet factory in Brussels owned by Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus lets visitors try as much of the chocolate as they want while there.

Journalist Jon Stone revealed the secret outlet story on social media, with images of the unlimited free chocolate.

He tweeted: “I don’t want to alarm anyone but at the end of Brussels metro line 5 there’s a factory outlet for chocolate maker Neuhaus and you can literally ‘try’ (eat) as much as you like for free.”

A sign confirmed this, stating: “Here you can taste our chocolate to your heart’s content.”

However, it does note that you cannot take the chocolate home and you can’t open other boxes – as they want you to buy your own boxes to share.

The factory is located near Erasme Metro station , with many social media users saying they were planning their next trip there.

Kim Shirley wrote: “I never knew heaven existed but now I do. Brussels here I come!”

Someone else added: “I don’t dare tell my husband or he will be on the next plane.”

Fans of the factory also praised it on TripAdvisor, with one woman writing: “It is really all you can eat chocolate. There must be well over 50 different chocolates to sample.”

Another person said: “This chocolate factory outlet beats Willy Wonka any day.”

Instagram/neuhauschocolates

Instagram/neuhauschocolates

Neuhas first opened in 1857, with John Neuhaus covering medicine in chocolate to mask the bad taste, which led to his invention of the praline.

They were given the Royal Warrant to the Belgian Royal Court in 2000, and was voted the best chocolate truffle in the world in 2017.

While there are classic flavours from dark chocolate to white chocolate to try, one of the famous treats is the Caprice praline – a chocolate covered biscuit with vanilla cream.

A common piece of advice is to take a bottle of water to the factory, due to the richness of the chocolate and the amount you will most likely be eating.

If you can’t make you way to Brussels, you can currently buy Neuhaus chocolate in Harrods or Selfridges in the UK.

View this post on Instagram

So much chocolate!!! #neuhauschocolate #neuhaus #belgium

A post shared by Danny M Graham (@dannygraham) on Jun 16, 2018 at 1:16am PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Xavier Vandervelde (@del_campo_) on Nov 4, 2015 at 4:47am PST

You can stay at a chocolate themed hotel in the UK, with chocolate fountains, workshops, and free daily truffles.

In Slovenia, there is a whole “chocolate village” with free wine and treats in your room.

Fancy a cruise? A chocolate-themed excursion with masterclasses throughout Europe is available with Costa Pacifica.

WALKING down the street, Mary Smelczerczyk sees a tall, bearded man ahead of her so she smiles and nods, aware it could be her son.

However it is pure guesswork, as she can no longer tell her own kids and grandkids apart from people she’s never met before.

Supplied

Former childcare worker Mary, 58, is living with prosopagnosia – also known as face blindness – as a result of a brain haemorrhage she suffered 22 years ago.

The condition means she can’t recognise anyone, including her own family. In fact, should her children walk up to her in the middle of the street, she wouldn’t have a clue who they were unless they spoke to her or she recognised their clothes.

Hull mum Mary was diagnosed with the condition after she collapsed at her home when she was 36 years old.

After being rushed into hospital she was placed into a coma and only woke up days later, completely unaware of where she was.

Shockingly, Mary also lost almost a whole lifetime of memories… She woke up believing she was a child whose parents were still alive, while she also forgot her former marriage and subsequent divorce, as well as having her three children.

While her memories slowly began to return in the years that followed, she still couldn’t recognise a single face around her – and still can’t now, more than two decades later.

Now, after Netflix released South Korean limited series My Holo Love – about a woman with face blindness who falls in love with a humanlike hologram – Mary shares her story and how she’s learned to live with such a rare condition.

‘My brain was going to explode’

Mary was a single mum of three kids, while also in the middle of adopting a fourth son, when she suffered a horrifying collapse at home 22 years ago.

“I remember I had been suffering from a migraine and all of a sudden I collapsed on the floor. I thought it was a really bad migraine but it turns out I was having a brain haemorrhage,” she exclusively tells the Sun Online.

Supplied

“It took days for them to find out what had happened… They did a lumbar puncture and everything like that thinking I must have caught some kind of virus.

“They eventually had to put me into an induced coma and I was in that coma for quite some time, I can’t remember how long.”

Mary eventually underwent an operation to reduce swelling on three blood vessels in her brain, one of which had burst.

“My brain was going to explode. If my sisters hadn’t got me into hospital when they did, they’ve told me I could have been dead,” she says.

“If you have an accident and the skull opens, the blood comes out. But mine was trapped inside and it was squashing my brain. It essentially squashed all my memories.”

‘I thought I’d been in some sort of war’

While physically, Mary appeared to be recovering well in the weeks that followed, what many of her family didn’t immediately realise was that she was living her own personal hell – as she had completely forgotten more than half of her life and could no longer recognise anyone around her.

“When I first came round I got really confused, I couldn’t understand [what was happening],” she says.

“I’d gone back to being a child, I couldn’t remember being married or having children or anything,” she recalls.

Her memories of the three months she spent in hospital remain blurry even now, but Mary says she can recall convincing herself she must have survived a war.

“I remember being on some sort of trolley and being taken down to a scanner on one day,” she says.

“Above me were lots of pipes. Well the only other place I’ve seen that was in old bomb shelters, so I thought I must have been in one of those.

“Your brain tries to make sense out of what’s going on around you… But nobody put two and two together at first and didn’t realise that I didn’t recognise the people around me.”

Asked how long it took for her family to realise, Mary says: “It took quite some time because I would smile and nod. I thought everybody else was crazy, not me, because they were talking to me strangely about children and getting out and going home to ‘my house’, and showing me pictures of people I didn’t know.

“You go back to being a child. You try and protect yourself as a child, you smile, you nod, you think, ‘how can I escape from here?’”

Mary says one of the most traumatic moments when she finally returned home was being told by her family that her parents had in fact died years before.

“I was absolutely and utterly distraught to hear they’d died,” she admits.

‘I didn’t recognise myself in the mirror’

While Mary spent years in a state of confusion over what had happened, she began to read old diary entries to try and remember parts of her life.

However, while she could recognise her handwriting, photos were a different matter altogether – and Mary couldn’t even recognise herself in the mirror.

“When I looked in the mirror after my operation, I didn’t even recognise that I was older,” she explains. “I didn’t even recognise the reflection looking back at me.

“Then you see photos of someone wearing your clothes and you think, who is that in my clothes? Then you realise it’s you.

Supplied

“It took me a long time. It took me seven years to fully understand that I wasn’t well.”

Having become aware of how advanced Mary’s condition was, her sister moved in with her at first to help her look after her kids.

The children were only aged eight, 10 and 12 when she returned home, so didn’t understand exactly what had happened to their mum. They simply knew she had been ill, and struggled to recognise them.

However, as they got older and this continued, it became somewhat of a family joke.

“My children thought it was hilarious. Looking back now, they realise how horrendous it must have been, but they were just children at the time,” she says.

Asked what she sees when she looks at people’s faces now, Mary adds: “They have similar features, eyes, nose, mouth, but I am unable to distinguish between plain, beautiful, young or old.

“If someone has a truly remarkable distinguishing feature on their face it has often had to be pointed out to me, I look for hair colour and style, style and colour of glasses, beards, I don’t even notice bad teeth or even no teeth.”

‘I nearly took someone else’s child’

While Mary’s memories have largely returned now, she still struggles to recall the years immediately before and after her collapse.

However, her prosopagnosia has remained and she cannot tell a single face apart in a crowd – including her own children.

“My daughter goes out with me now and it’s a running joke, she’ll take her cardigan off and say, ‘you were talking to a stranger mum!’” she laughs.

While at first Mary admits she was worried to leave the house, over fears she’d appear rude when old friends approached her and she wouldn’t be able to recognise them, she’s since found the strength to face her fears as those around her have grown aware of her condition.

But it came after a particularly chilling experience.

“I had a problem at a local nursery, one of my friends asked if I could go and pick her daughter up,” she says.

“I knew she was wearing a pretty red dress, so at the allotted time I went across to pick her up and there was a little girl in a red dress. She was putting her arms up so I picked her up.

Supplied

“I said the magic word to get out of the nursery, and then another little girl came up in a red dress. I was about to walk out with someone else’s child. It’s so frightening.

“It really scared me so I’ve never done it again. But it also reinforced why I couldn’t go back to work, because I worked for social services. I was putting people at risk, but I didn’t understand that when I was ill.”

Asked if she’d recognise her own kids and grandkids now, she says: “No. My eldest grandchild won’t be happy with me for saying this, but I was so blessed when she was born because she was born with a birth mark on her head.

“I was so happy because I knew she was mine. I can recognise her when I can’t recognise anyone else.

“I tend to buy stupid great big bows and things for my grandkids. Horrible great big jumpers and things!

“My son is one of these with no hair on their head and lots on their chin. So I walk down the streets smiling at all these men with no hair, just in case!”

Describing what she sees when she looks at people, Mary says they simply appear like strangers to her.

So, what is prosopagnosia (face blindness)?

Face blindness is thought to affect around two per cent of the world’s population (around one in 50 people), according to the Department of Psychology at Bournemouth University.

It can either affect people from birth (developmental), or it can develop following a brain injury or damage (acquired) – like in Mary’s case.

Essentially, people with the condition can’t recognise other people’s faces at all.

Getty Images

Getty Images - Getty

Getty - Contributor

The university’s professor of psychology, Sarah Bate, says: “While some people cope relatively well with face blindness, using sometimes very elaborate compensatory strategies to identify familiar people, others struggle more profoundly.

“It can be particularly difficult to identify someone using their hairstyle or clothing when they are met out of context, and this can cause embarrassment or social anxiety to the face blind individual.

“People with face blindness see faces completely normally – there aren’t distortions or blurring… The problem is in distinguishing between different faces – face blind people can’t see the small differences between people, so all faces look the same to them.”

While it’s fairly rare, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt previously revealed he thinks he may suffer from prosopagnosia himself. He told Esquire he hadn’t been tested or diagnosed yet, but added: “It’s a mystery to me, man. I can’t grasp a face, and yet I come from such a design/aesthetic point of view. I am going to get it tested.”

He’s not the only well-known face who believes they have it, as Stephen Fry and Duncan Bannatyne have also spoken of having face blindness too.

For Mary, she’s come out the other side and now manages her own condition as best she can, by focusing on clothes, voices and aid from those who know her.

“I’m a rotund shape. And I always say, the Lord made me this shape because I bounce back. I can bounce back from anything!” she insists.

PROMOTER Bob Arum has declared that WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is an “atrocious” boxer and is lucky he has freakish power to rely on.

The Bronze Bomber, 34, faces Tyson Fury, 31, in their eagerly-awaited rematch on Saturday with both men promising knockout victories in Las Vegas.

The duo’s first encounter ended in a controversial draw where the majority of fans and pundits believed the Gyspy King had won, despite being dropped twice.

And Top Rank CEO Arum has stated that the only way the Bronze Bomber can beat the unbeaten Brit is by knocking him out.

Of Wilder’s 42 wins, 41 have come by way of KO, with the draw against Fury the only blemish on his record.

Speaking to BT Sport, Arum said: “Wilder is a one-trick pony. He is not a very good boxer, as a matter of fact is an atrocious boxer.

“But he has that one weapon and that is this massive right hand which to me looks like the hardest-hitting right hand that I’ve seen – certainly since George Foreman.”

The 88-year-old has also tipped Wilder to suffer his first defeat of his professional career, as he claimed the American will not hear the final bell.

He added: “On February 22 I’m going to make a prediction, because I’ve watched Tyson Fury train in my gym in Las Vegas and I think there’s not going to be a decision this time.

“I think Fury is going to knock out Wilder before the eighth round.”

Fury believes that he will end the contest early as he revealed he has been dreaming of stopping Wilder in the second round.

The former unified champ has been backed to win by Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko.

Though AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has claimed he think Wilder will win by KO after he insisted he has heard Fury has had issues in his training camp.

REAL MADRID legend Iker Casillas has confirmed that he is standing to become president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The 38-year-old – who hasn’t played football since suffering a heart attack during training last May – will, therefore, hang up his gloves in the summer if he is elected ahead of current head, Luis Rubiales.

Instagram

EPA

During his recovery, Spain’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper had been the liaison between Porto’s first-team squad and the board of directors.

Casillas had been given a March deadline by doctors to establish whether he should continue playing, but his bid to rival Rubiales for presidency signals that he is set to retire.

In an announcement on Twitter, he said: “Yes, I will stand for presidency of the Spanish FA when elections are called.

“Together we will put our federation at the level of the best football in the world.

LADBROKES 1-2-FREE Simply predict Leicester vs Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal scores this coming weekend and win £100

“I have informed the president of my club, FC Porto, of this decision, to whom I can only express my deepest gratitude.

“We are working with the utmost respect and determination in our candidacy. More than 23,000 voters are waiting for us in a fair and transparent election. 139 assembly members will decide.

“Thank you all for the love I have received. Your support and your strength encourage me. Go for it!”

Should Casillas be elected for the four-year term through to 2024, it would bring the curtain down on the legendary goalkeeper’s illustrious 20-year career.

He joined Porto in 2015 from Real Madrid, where he made 725 appearances and helped them win three Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles.

Casillas is also second on the all-time list of Los Blancos’ appearance makers, with his tally only bettered by compatriot Raul, on 741.

He also led Spain to their first-ever World Cup win in 2010, as well as being between the sticks for the two successive European Championships, in 2008 and 2012.

AFP - Getty

View this post on Instagram

Sí, me presentaré a la Presidencia de la @somosrfef cuando se convoquen las elecciones. Juntos vamos a poner nuestra Federación a la altura del mejor fútbol del mundo: el de España. He informado de esta decisión al presidente de mi Club, el FC Porto, al que solo puedo expresar mi más profundo agradecimiento. Estamos trabajando con el máximo respeto y decisión en nuestra candidatura. Más de 23.000 electores nos esperan en unas elecciones justas y transparentes. 139 asambleístas decidirán. Gracias a todos y todas por el cariño que he recibido y recibo. Vuestro apoyo y vuestra fuerza me animan. ¡A por ello! #IkerCasillas2020

A post shared by Iker Casillas (@ikercasillas) on Feb 17, 2020 at 4:59am PST

SAMSUNG’S pricey new folding smartphone is apparently breaking within a few days of use.

One of the first people to shell out for the £1,300 Galaxy Z Flip claims its screen has already cracked despite only hitting shelves on Friday.

Another early adopter reports that his Z Flip squeaks whenever he presses on the ultra-thin glass display.

The sci-fi bending phone was unveiled last week at a lavish event in San Francisco, and went on sale on February 14.

It has a complex flexible screen that allows it to fold in half like a retro flip phone.

Alleged issues with the gadget’s durability mirror problems experienced by Samsung’s first malleable mobile, the Galaxy Fold.

AP:Associated Press

The £1,900 phone had to be pushed back six months after early adopters reported that it broke within days of use.

It appears the Z Flip is undergoing similar teething problems after customers took to Twitter to report issues with the device.

One user, who goes by Amir, posted a photo of what they claimed was a crack in their screen, apparently sustained shortly after removing the phone from its box.

They tweeted: “Received my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip just now. Opened the box. Removed the protective/instruction film.

Samsung

“Flipped the phone as you would do since it’s a flip phone and this happened. I heard the crack as well.”

Refer to Caption

“Uh oh, only took a day,” he said in the clip.

A Samsung spokesperson told The Sun that the company was looking into the issue and would report back as soon they had an update.

Samsung will be hoping to avoid another folding phone scandal.

Its last bendy mobile, the Galaxy Fold, went on sale in September 2019, months after the planned April launch. It bent like a paperback novel using flexible screen technology.

The gadget’s original release was cancelled after test samples given to gadget reviewers broke within a few days of use.

Samsung pulled all pre-orders of the device while it furiously worked to fix the issue, said to be caused by a fault with the screen’s hinge.

The device eventually hit shelves for £1,900 and rapidly sold out despite its early issues.

Samsung unveiled a host of new smartphones during last week’s Galaxy Unpacked event.

Here are all the Samsung Galaxy S20 features that iPhones don’t have.

You can read our breakdown of the S20 range’s release dates, specs and prices here.

What do you think of the Galaxy Z Flip? Let us know in the comments!

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk

A FURIOUS six-year-old wrote a hilarious letter to his teacher after she scolded him for talking – telling her she’s going straight to hell and she has a bad haircut. 

The schoolboy’s angry note has gone viral after he told his teacher, Mrs Jones, she was going to the ‘real burning hell’ for confiscating his toy money. 

Twitter

His mum was called to the school to have a meeting over the letter, which he signed off with his name, Isaiah, just in case Mrs Jones wasn’t sure who it was from. 

The youngster didn’t hold back in his scathing note to Mrs Jones, even branding her a “thief” and a “crook”. 

Isaiah wrote: “Dear Mrs Jones I am angry of you because you took 25 of my humming bird bucks all because I was talking to Conner…

“That’s no big deal I’m only 6 I can’t be quiet all the time and that makes you a thief and and crook a you are going to hell real hell the burning 1 because you a thief.

Your new hair cut is bad real bad

Isaiah

“I worked hard for those bucks and my only prayer in chapel today was that God gets you to hell fast super-fast and your new hair cut is bad real bad. Isaiah.” 

The note was shared on Twitter, where it’s since racked up more than 250,000 likes, as people praised Isaiah’s spelling – but most of all his commitment to telling off his teacher. 

Sharing the letter, Isaiah’s mum’s friend wrote: “Okay so my co-worker told us that she had to attend a parent teacher conference because of a letter her son wrote to his teacher.

“So she brought the letter to work and I almost fell out of my chair y’all.

“He actually deserves a little credit.” 

Thousands of people have commented on the letter, which included adorable spelling mistakes such as ‘qyuet’ for quiet, and ‘chaple’ for chapel.

Twitter

One person wrote: “I would also like to point out that Isaiah has great handwriting to be 6 and can spell better than most adults. He has a bright future ahead of him.”

Someone else said: “I bet she’s in the mirror RIGHT NOW looking at that haircut.”

A third commented: “Okay but, the sentence structure and spelling is amazing for a 6 year old.” 

This person said: “This is a man who would not take anymore.”

Another thought: “This is a real one. he signed his name and everything. Wow!”

Someone else added: “And he understands the value of currency!” 

While this person said: “The 6 year old version of ‘I said what I said’.”

In more parenting news, this mum claimed she calms her three-year-old’s tantrums with “heart hugs”.

Plus this mum claims she was lunchbox shamed by her kid’s teachers for giving too much food.

And this mum had the internet in hysterics after her kids ordered “extreme farts expansion pack” on Amazon Alexa.

MOST trainers dream of having one runner in the Champion Hurdle. Nicky Henderson is set to have five.

With Epatante and Pentland Hills first and second in the market, Seven Barrows already look to have at least a finger on the Unibet Champion Hurdle Trophy.

PA:Press Association

In what looks a wide-open renewal, Henderson has taken the view that the more shots he fires, the more chance he has of big race glory.

“They all wouldn’t be going there if I didn’t think they realistically had a chance,” he said at a media morning on Monday.

Epatante fluffed her lines at the Festival last season when a supposed good thing for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle and it led to many questioning whether Cheltenham is her track.

But the Seven Barrows sorcerer has no worries whatsoever about the Prestbury Park hill.

Of his 11-4 favourite, he said: “This time last year I thought she was our best chance going for the Mares’ Novice so it was disappointing.

“But she’s come forward this year. Four or five of ours didn’t turn up to the Festival last year and she was certainly one of them. The vaccines really affected them.

“Plenty have now said she only goes on flat tracks like Kempton but I’d say that was just a one off. If it happens again, I’ll agree with them, but not for now. I’ve got no worries there.”

Epatante was backed off the boards at Kempton in December where she dazzled in a Christmas Hurdle rout to leap to the top of the betting for the Champion Hurdle.

She’s not been seen since Boxing Day, but that was always the plan according to Henderson.

He added: “Although it’s not by design we’ve had a quiet season with her after Kempton I didn’t think there was much point doing much else.

“There is Aintree for her afterwards but that’s over two-and-a-half so we’ll see.”

Henderson’s other mare in the race Verdana Blue was given an encouraging mention throughout and she is as big as 33-1 with many bookies.

Her trainer said: “As we know now the ground is crucial to her. It’s got to be good ground, but we can only hope for that.

“If it was soft or heavy you’ve got to weigh up whether it would even be worth it. But she’s in very good form and works with Epatante most days.”

However, in the betting it is last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills that looks Epatante’s main danger.

Despite not winning this season, Henderson is keeping the faith and has given his 5-1 shot a recent wind procedure he made clear was officially not a ‘wind-op.’

He said: “He has had a cauterised palate since Haydock, that’s not because we’re hearing any noises and I doubt it will even have an effect. It’s just something we thought we’d do.

“Both times he’s come to win his race and just hasn’t quite followed through with it. I don’t think he’s done anything wrong as such but it could have been the bad ground which it has been both times.

“There can be silent noises though and it does feel like that, it may help him it may make no difference whatsoever.”

Don't miss out on all the best of Sun Racing

Twitter – @SunRacing

Instagram – sunracing

Youtube – SunRacing

Facebook – SunRacingOnline

He has also been racing keenly this season. Henderson hopes a slight switch in tactics plus a racecourse gallop could help take some of the fizz out of him.

He said: “We’ll try and switch him off a little bit more this time out and tuck him away.

“But the problem is he’s such a good jumper and he’s taking us forwards the whole time, a bit like Buveur D’Air did.

“He worked very well on Saturday and he’s in great form to be honest, we’ll have a racecourse gallop with him before Cheltenham.”

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede pair of Call Me Lord and Fusil Raffles are set to complete the Seven Barrows lineup.

The latter was set run at Wincanton’s meeting on Saturday before Storm Dennis intervened and will likely head to the re-arranged race at Kempton this Saturday.

Henderson said: “We were never going to be running at Wincanton in that ground anyway, we need it better for him.

“I thought Call Me Lord was a little bit flat at Sandown the other day and he proved when he won the International that he can go left-handed and he obviously likes it there. So he’ll join in too!”