Moldovan courier company advertising people trafficking services on Facebook, Belfast court hears
A Moldovan-based courier company advertising on Facebook is at the centre of an investigation into a suspected people smuggling operation, the High Court heard today.
Prosecutors said two men and a woman working for the firm were stopped at Belfast port in a van carrying Romanian nationals who were illegally in the United Kingdom.
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Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
Michael Ross still in 'no man's land' as Prime Video drops Orkney Assassin documentary
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Michael Ross' solicitor has claimed that his client, who maintains his innocence, is stuck in "no man's land" three decades after being convicted of murder. Back in June 1994, a masked figure donning a balaclava entered the Mumataz Restaurant in Kirwall at about 7.10pm and fatally shot 26-year-old waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood before exiting the scene. Despite 14 years going by, Ross, then aged 15, was apprehended and found guilty of the crime in 2008. Following his conviction at the High Court in Glasgow, Ross notoriously attempted to flee but was thwarted and now remains incarcerated for life at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, as reported by the BBC. Prime Video has recently unveiled a one-off special titled The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, which includes interviews with officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and Ross' parents,. In an exclusive chat with Screen Time prior to the documentary airing, Ross' lawyer Aamer Anwar provided an insight into his client's current plight. (Image: PRIME VIDEO/ORKNEY PHOTOGRAPHIC) "I suppose he's very much in no man's land," he commented. "The difficulty with an appeal you've ever watched Shawshank Redemption and Andy comes into prison and Morgan Freeman tells him 'Don't you know everyone's innocent inside'. "But I've come to learn from over 25 years of being a lawyer that the reality is there are lots of innocent people inside prison. "How to prove it is another matter, because the system is almost a raid against human rights throughout the United Kingdom, to be able to fight your appeal and to prove your innocence. "And even if you say you have five pinnacles of evidence, five issues, and one is so critical. "For instance, someone comes in and lies about you and says 'I saw him, that's definitely him.' "But that person is ruled out, 'well we'll still rely on the other four afterwards.' "The damage is already done. So therein lies the problem, as in people remain convicted." Anwar then highlighted the crucial role of DNA in cases like Ross', stating: "The idea that someone could walk into a restaurant, shoot someone at point blank range and not leave anything of themselves, beggar's belief. "I always say to my lecture students, to commit a murder is extremely difficult. "To not leave anything of yourself: footprints, DNA, CCTV maybe, whatever it may be. "Fair enough, this is a remote island but there were still people there. "The idea that this person then disappears into the darkness? Then begs the question that people always said, 'well they never closed the ports of entry and exit.' "Is it somebody from off the island that came on, well how do they know? They didn't." Even though three decades have passed, Ross maintains his innocence, with the former Army sniper having attempted to break out of prison thrice, the latest being in 2018 when he tried to scale a fence. "You still have someone who claims he is innocent, who has never given up that he is innocent, who is still fighting to prove his innocence," Anwar added. "He could have made his life a lot easier by saying 'I did it.' A lot more chance of parole then, a lot more chance of getting out earlier." The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles is available to watch on Prime Video.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Teen, 19, dies after viral social media ‘dusting' challenge went wrong leaving family ‘utterly devastated'
The teen's heartbroken dad Aaron O'Rouke described how his daughter dreamed of fame Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TEEN has died after taking part in the viral "dusting" challenge that went wrong leaving her family "utterly devastated". Renna O'Rourke, 19, from Arizona, tragically passed on Sunday after being in an intensive care unit for a week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Renna O'Rourke, 19, from Arizona, tragically passed on Sunday Credit: Facebook 3 Renna and her boyfriend used an app delivery service to have the cleaning agent delivered to their door Credit: Facebook Dusting involves young people inhaling aerosols like spray deodorant, paint thinner or keyboard cleaners. Renna went into cardiac arrest before later being declared brain dead after using a cleaning product to take part in the deadly challenge. The teen's heartbroken dad Aaron O'Rouke described how his daughter dreamed of fame. He told AZFamily: "She always said, 'I'm gonna be famous, Dad. Just you watch. I'm gonna be famous', and unfortunately this is not under the most optimal of circumstances." Aaron and his wife Dana shared their daughter's tragic story to raise awareness of the social media challenge. Dana said: "There's no ID required. It's odorless. It's everything kids look for. "They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test." The mom explained how Renna and her boyfriend used an app delivery service to have the cleaning agent delivered to their door. She told 12news: "[Renna] and her boyfriend had Door Dashed product to my house and I didn't know. "It's keyboard cleaner. I didn't know what they were doing with it. Pheobe Bishop cops arrest 34-year-old flatmate who was last to see missing Aussie teen on explosive journey to airport "We want to make sure that we use our tragedy so that no other parent has to experience looking at their child on life support and a ventilator and not breathing on her own all because she huffed out of a can." Dr. Randy Weisman, from the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, explained how inhaling aerosols can make users feel drunk or euphoric for a few minutes. But such use can result in liver failure, heart failure and lung disease among other irreversible issues - or death. He told AZFamily: "This is extremely concerning. "When they inhale these chemicals in the gas it will actually replace the oxygen within their lungs and within the rest of their body." Renna's parents said that the only light to come from her passing is that her organs have gone on to save at least six other people. Mom Dana said: "Through that we're finding strength and purpose. "She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now. "She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now." A post on the GoFundMe set up for Renna read: "On Sunday, June 1st at 1:30pm, our wonderful daughter, after 4 days in the ICU, was pronounced brain dead. "She was the light in every room she walked into, and the pain that her family and friends feel is simply immeasurable. "We want to use the proceeds of this fundraiser to cover the extensive medical bills, burial costs, therapy costs, and to spread awareness about the dangers of Huffing/Dusting, the practice of inhaling keyboard cleaner or similar."
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Orkney Assassin living in 'no man's land' as Michael Ross pleads innocence 30 years on
Michael Ross was just 15-years-old when he murdered waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood in Orkney in 1994. Michael Ross' lawyer has described his client's existence as akin to being in "no man's land" while he continues to assert his innocence three decades on. Back in June 1994, an individual donning a balaclava entered the Mumataz Restaurant in Kirkwall at approximately 7.10pm and fatally shot 26-year-old waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood before exiting the premises. Ross, who was a teenager at the time of the crime, was eventually arrested and found guilty of the murder in 2008. Following his guilty verdict, Ross notoriously attempted to flee the High Court in Glasgow but failed and is currently serving a life sentence at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, as reported by the BBC. Prime Video has recently unveiled a one-off special titled The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, which includes interviews with law enforcement officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and Ross' parents. Speaking exclusively with Screen Time prior to the documentary's premiere, Ross' lawyer Aamer Anwar provided insights into his client's current situation. "I suppose he's very much in no man's land," he stated. "The difficulty with an appeal you've ever watched Shawshank Redemption and Andy comes into prison and Morgan Freeman tells him 'Don't you know everyone's innocent inside'. "But I've come to learn from over 25 years of being a lawyer that the reality is there are lots of innocent people inside prison. "How to prove it is another matter, because the system is almost a raid against human rights throughout the United Kingdom, to be able to fight your appeal and to prove your innocence. "And even if you say you have five pinnacles of evidence, five issues, and one is so critical. "For instance, someone comes in and lies about you and says 'I saw him, that's definitely him.' "But that person is ruled out, 'well we'll still rely on the other four afterwards.'". "The damage is already done. So therein lies the problem, as in people remain convicted." Anwar then highlighted the significance of DNA in cases like Ross', stating: "The idea that someone could walk into a restaurant, shoot someone at point blank range and not leave anything of themselves, beggar's belief. "I always say to my lecture students, to commit a murder is extremely difficult. "To not leave anything of yourself: footprints, DNA, CCTV maybe, whatever it may be. "Fair enough, this is a remote island but there were still people there. "The idea that this person then disappears into the darkness? Then begs the question that people always said, 'well they never closed the ports of entry and exit.' "Is it somebody from off the island that came on, well how do they know? They didn't." Despite three decades having passed, Ross continues to maintain his innocence. The former Army sniper has attempted to break out of prison thrice, with his most recent attempt in 2018 involving an effort to scale a fence. "You still have someone who claims he is innocent, who has never given up that he is innocent, who is still fighting to prove his innocence," Anwar added. "He could have made his life a lot easier by saying 'I did it.' A lot more chance of parole then, a lot more chance of getting out earlier."
