Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at what is making the headlines in Thursday's morning papers.

The death of Monsignor Denis Faul is reported widely, with many tributes paid to him.

Although, there is some adverse comment as well.

Daily Ireland talks of his "boundless courage", but it says that in republican circles he "ended up being a hate figure because of his attitude to the hunger strikes".

The paper says that when he told the families that "to take their sons off the strike was not only possible but the moral thing to do" he earned the "undying enmity of republicans throughout Ireland and beyond".

But the Irish News says he was "a consistent and courageous voice".

Thousands of Northern Ireland pupils are skipping school and there is little evidence that the education authorities are using special court orders to punish parents Irish News

"He stood up for those who could not defend themselves and he was completely fearless in confronting groups and individuals who abused their powerful positions," he says.

The Irish Times says Monsignor Faul "lived life honestly, energetically, courageously and compassionately".

The Irish Independent says his determination to shout out on behalf of the oppressed "may have denied him high office, but it may also have denied the Irish Catholic Church an outstanding bishop".

Elsewhere, the News Letter has the warning from the Victims' Commissioner that "piecemeal funding could jeopardise the future of groups supporting people who lost loved ones in the Troubles".

The paper focusses on the report to be released on Thursday, pointing out that many of the 50 or so groups "are finding it hard to survive".

'Launched investigation'

The Irish News highlights problems in schools. It says "thousands of Northern Ireland pupils are skipping school and there is little evidence that the education authorities are using special court orders to punish parents".

The paper tells us that schools reported more than 5,000 children to the welfare services last year because of concerns about attendance.

However, the education boards "sought only 30 court orders to make parents fulfil their legal responsibilities".

The Belfast Telegraph describes how a family from Londonderry - mum, dad, two small children - went on holiday to Bulgaria, but got rather more than they bargained for - "in the shape of a nude photoshoot for Playboy on the balcony of their hotel".

That prompted a nuclear response from the Brown camp who claimed that Mr Cameron had only gone to the match once he discovered that the chancellor would be there The Mail

The Telegraph says they have now received an apology from the travel company.

And the Mirror reports that the Irish Football Association have launched an investigation into how one of its batch of World Cup tickets ended up in Stuttgart where it was sold by a tout.

A Mirror reporter bought the ticket, for the Spain-Tunisia game, for £200. An editorial says "ordinary fans watching the football on TV will be disgusted".

Meanwhile, the cross-channel papers report on a dust-up between two England fans over which of them is the more genuine supporter.

The fans in question are Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

The Daily Telegraph says "the tantrums began when one of Mr Cameron's aides criticised Mr Brown for watching the England v Sweden game from the comfort of an executive box".

Mr Cameron, on the other hand, sat in the stand with the fans.

The Mail says that prompted "a nuclear response from the Brown camp" who claimed that Mr Cameron "had only gone to the match once he discovered that the chancellor would be there".

Not only that, the Telegraph says, but "he had gone by private jet, thus damaging the ozone layer, while Mr Brown had gone by train".

Finally, news that Noel Edmonds has sustained an industrial injury. The Daily Telegraph reports that "he has got RSI in his elbow from having to lift that big phone on Deal Or No Deal".

He tells the paper "it is all a bit ridiculous but he is in agony".

The Telegraph says he is in good company. In 2001, Rick Parfitt of Status Quo was also diagnosed with RSI.

In his case "it was down to playing the same three chords for 35 years", says the paper.