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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ketsuda Phoutinane

Monday headlines: Ex-loyalist paramilitary chief Sam 'Skelly' McCrory dies 'after fall' in Scotland

Good evening and welcome to the Daily Record's Monday briefing.

The top stories you need to know today include a loyalist paramilitary group ex-chief's death in Scotland, Stacey Solomon's wedding, and the Scots treasure hunter who found a £500 pot of gold.

Here are the latest headlines from Scotland and beyond.

Ex-loyalist paramilitary chief Sam 'Skelly' McCrory dies 'after fall' in Scotland

Sam 'Skelly' McCrory (Sam McCrory)

The ex-chief of a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland has reportedly died in a fall. Sam ‘Skelly’ McCrory, a former leader of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), passed away in Scotland over the weekend.

The 57-year-old is said to have accidentally fallen on concrete steps and suffered a catastrophic head injury as a result.

According to Belfast Live, tributes to McCrory - the first loyalist paramilitary to come out as gay - emerged on social media from loyalist circles on Sunday night amid rumours that he had been the victim of violence. However, that speculation was roundly rejected by those closest to him and his family.

Read more HERE.

Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash marry in intimate wedding at Pickle Cottage

Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have officially married in a sweet ceremony at their home known as Pickle Cottage.

Loose Women panelist Stacey, 32, and 40-year-old Joe said 'I do' in a star-studded ceremony in their garden at their home on Sunday. The bride and groom celebrated their love with family and friends inside a large marquee, according to the MailOnline.

Stacey and Joe were reported to have been joined by Stacey's Loose Women pals while James Argent's The Arg Band performed at the celebration following a Jewish ceremony.

Read more HERE.

Scots treasure hunter finds £500 pot of gold hanging from tree in Cairngorms

A treasure hunter struck lucky by discovering a pot of gold worth hundreds of pounds. Michael Barron found the first of 36 oak caskets filled with the precious metal hanging from a tree in Glenshee in the Cairngorms.

The pot contained enough gold to make a £500 ring. He located the “FaerieGold” nuggets by following clues posted on YouTube and social media.

Michael drove from his home in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, and spent hours walking in the Glenshee area over a two-day period. He found enough gold to have a ring and pendant made.

Read more HERE.

Scotland set to sizzle in more heatwaves as Saharan surge brings temperatures of 27C

Scots could be set to swelter in more heatwaves expected next month, according to forecasters. Saharan surges of up to 27C will hit the country from August 7 to 21.

The Weather Outlook ­forecaster Brian Gaze said: "After the record heat, four more spells which people would call heatwaves are ­forecast this summer. There is a good signal for warm conditions this coming weekend, and then into mid-August and also late August."

Read more HERE.

DWP identifies two groups of claimants to get delayed £326 payment after this month

The first cost of living payment for people on certain means-tested benefits will no be paid to everyone in July (Getty)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared details of two groups of benefit claimants who will not receive the first instalment of the £650 means-tested cost of living payment this month. The first payment of £326 started landing in bank accounts on July 14 with 99 per cent of those eligible to receive one having done so by July 20.

However, the DWP had previously advised that there would be a delay to some payments where people with “more complex circumstances” would have to wait a bit longer for the money.

Read more HERE.

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