Britain's government has secured a legal victory in its lawsuit against PPE Medpro, with London's High Court awarding £122 million in damages over a disputed contract for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Health and Social Care sued the company in 2022, alleging breach of a June 2020 contract to supply 25 million sterile surgical gowns. Judge Sara Cockerill ruled in the government's favor, finding that the gowns were not properly validated as sterile and therefore could not be used in healthcare settings.

The case centers on PPE procurement during the pandemic's peak, when the Conservative government faced repeated criticism over deals awarded to companies with political connections. PPE Medpro, linked to Conservative peer Michelle Mone, was among firms that secured contracts through what became known as a VIP lane. The government argued it was entitled to reject the gowns and recoup its expenditure, while the company maintained the equipment met contractual requirements and accused officials of experiencing "buyer's remorse."

Michelle Mone has publicly denounced the court's decision, describing it as "shocking but all too predictable" in a social media statement. The Tory peer and her husband, businessman Doug Barrowman—identified as PPE Medpro's "principal backer"—claim they have been "scapegoated" for broader procurement failures. Mone asserted that the company had offered to settle the case and accused the government of orchestrating a campaign to distract from what she called "catastrophic mismanagement of PPE procurement."

The financial recovery remains uncertain, as PPE Medpro's most recent accounts show net assets of less than £700,000. The company filed a notice to appoint an administrator ahead of the ruling, signaling potential insolvency. While the government sought additional storage costs of £8.6 million, Judge Cockerill rejected this claim. The outcome highlights ongoing scrutiny of pandemic-era procurement practices and the challenges of recouping public funds from contractors facing financial difficulties.

Kilcoo secured their place in Down football history on Sunday, capturing an unprecedented seventh consecutive Senior Football Championship title with a 1-17 to 1-11 victory over Carryduff at Pairc Esler. The Magpies delivered their strongest performance of the championship when it mattered most, with Paul Devlin's first-half penalty goal providing crucial separation in a hard-fought contest that saw the throw-in time pushed back to 5pm following a pitch inspection.

The match, originally scheduled for 3:30pm, saw Kilcoo demonstrate the championship experience that has defined their remarkable 12-title run over 13 seasons. Devlin's 22nd-minute penalty strike down the middle proved decisive, with the player explaining his calculated approach: "It was a big moment in the game and it needed to go in, so I didn't want to put it in the corner and the keeper has a chance if diving. I just thought I wanted to hit it hard."

Carryduff, making their first final appearance since losing to Kilcoo in the 2020 decider, mounted a second-half rally but ultimately fell short of claiming what would have been their inaugural Frank O'Hare Cup. The South Belfast club had powered past Burren in the semi-final with their full contingent available, but couldn't overcome Kilcoo's championship pedigree despite showing improved form from their previous final appearance five years earlier.

Devlin expressed satisfaction with the victory amid external skepticism, noting "it's nice to see that people want Kilcoo to fall" while emphasizing the team's resilience. "This one is sweet with how the game played out and the build-up where we were doubted in this year's championship," he told BBC Sport NI. "It just shows the character of this team. Big teams play well in big games and we have that experience to put in those big performances." The win solidifies Kilcoo's status as the dominant force in Down football, achieving a landmark that had eluded them when Burren denied their seventh consecutive title bid in 2018.