I think it's a shame there's so much negativity surrounding U2 right now. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the Irish Press was upset about the tax situation and then used this situation to jump all over them.
Don't get me wrong. If evidence came out that U2 did in fact give Lola those items and then lied about it, well, even being the fan that I am, I would say shame on them 1,000 times over. If the press reported such evidence, I wold be open to hearing it. What bothers me is that this case doesn't seem to be about who is right or wrong anymore. It seems to be about who is rich or poor, who the press thinks needs taken down a few notches/have a bone to pick with, and who they do not.
On the other hand, I try to remember that the vast majority of press outside of Ireland has been very positive...Oprah, New Orleans, Red, etc., etc. Hopefully this will all get sorted out in the end.