Human leg washes up on beach and is 'linked to body' found in Ireland
The grim discovery was made at Prestwick beach on June 10 and set Police Scotland on a investigative path. They've now confirmed that the remains belong to "a missing person from outside of Scotland".
Over with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, it's been stated that the body located in Millisle, County Down, has been identified.
Glasgow Live has linked the Prestwick beach find to the remains found in Co. Down.
According to a spokesperson for Police Scotland: "Around 10.45am on Tuesday June 10, we received a report that human remains had been discovered on Prestwick beach in Ayrshire. The remains have now been identified as those of a missing person from outside of Scotland," reports Belfast Live.
"The relevant police service has been informed."
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Meanwhile, the PSNI advised that the death of the man is not being considered suspicious.
In a statement, the force disclosed: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland can confirm that the body found in the Donaghadee Road area of Millisle on Wednesday May 21 has been identified.
"The remains were determined to be male and police are engaging with the family of the deceased. The death is not being treated as suspicious."
The authorities are of the belief that the deceased individual was not from Ireland.
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Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Claims about Nikita Hand and ex-partner rowing withdrawn from McGregor appeal
Conor McGregor has withdrawn "at the last minute" claims by a couple that they saw a row between Nikita Hand and her ex-partner on the night she said the UFC fighter raped her. The bombshell development occurred at the very opening of the UFC fighter's appeal at Dublin's High Court - which heard that these claims were 'unsustainable.'McGregor is appealing a jury decision in November that he assaulted former hairdresser Nikita Hand, who alleged she was raped by him at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018. The jury found in favour of Ms Hand and awarded her almost €250,000 in put forward five grounds for appeal against that decision - ultimately dramatically withdrawing what he argued was 'new evidence' in the form of claims made by former neighbours of Ms Hand - Samantha O'Reilly and her partner Steven Cummins. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The couple had sworn affidavits claiming they heard a row between Ms Hand and her then partner on the night of 9 December 2018, after the alleged rape, with Ms O'Reilly claiming she saw the row from her bedrooom in a house across the road. She claimed Ms Hand's then boyfriend pushed her and she saw him moving his arms and hips as though he was punching and kicking her. Mr Cummins had claimed he was woken by screams and shouts coming from Ms Hand's house but said he did not see what had happened. Their claims have now been totally withdrawn by McGregor - with Ms Hand's Counsel seeking an apology from him over the ordeal. Mr McGregor, who was not present in court, also argued four other grounds of appeal - such as that it wasn't specified on the issue paper to the jury that Ms Hand suffered a sexual was also arguing about the use and admissibility of his client's 'no comment' answers given to gardai in 2018, how the Judge handled that issue during the trial - and about his right to proceedings began with McGregor withdrawing what was set to be a major focus of the hearing - the evidence of Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins - which would have also seen Nikita Hand having to take the witness box. Mark Mulholland KC for Mr McGregor said they were also withdrawing evidence of Northern Ireland's former State pathologist Professor Jack for the MMA star admitted the ground for the appeal was 'unsustainable.' Ms Hand had stated in an affidavit that the claims by the couple were 'lies,' and in the opening moments of Tuesday's hearing, her counsel contended that McGregor was now 'conceding' that fact. Mr Gordon SC for Nikita Hand called for Mr McGregor's counsel to apologise to Ms Hand for what was done to her in the last few months with coverage of the couple's claims being broadcast in the media and in affidavits before the court, which the witnesses were now withdrawing."An apology would be a start", he told the court. Nikita Hand, who a civil jury found last November was assaulted by Mr McGregor, attended the appeal hearing before the Hugh Kennedy Court on Tuesday Hand was supported in court by her partner, mother, friends - and a large crowd of supporters who were outside the building - including assault victim Natasha O'Brien and Hazel Behan, the woman who accuses Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner of McGregor, who was not required to be present in court, did not appear - and was represented by Remy Farrell SC and Michael Staines solicitor. Ms Hand was being represented by John Gordon SC and Ray Boland SC - instructed by Dave Coleman solicitors. Mr McGregor's appeal was being heard before Ms Isobel Justice Kennedy, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore and Mr Justice Patrick for Mr McGregor told the court they 'cannot sustain' the grounds of appeal regarding the couple and the evidence of the former pathologist, which they said was taken to potentially corroborate those Gordon SC, for Ms Hand, told the three Judges that he had been informed of the development 10 minutes before the hearing today - and stated that it was 'unacceptable.'"My client (Ms Hand) has been put through the wringer yet again. She answered it in her affidavit that it was all lies. That has now been conceded,' Mr Gordon told the court. He further stated that Mr McGregor's side were now thinking they could 'waltz in here and think they can walk away from this.'Mr Mullholand, for McGregor said the evidence of Professor Crane told the Judges that there was "no corroboration" for Ms O'Reilly's evidence without Professor Crane, and therefore they had come to believe the conclusion that this grounds for appeal was "not sustainable." "It was the holistic view for both to be run in tandem and with one not being run, the strength of the other was not sufficient," Mr Mullholland told the Justice Kennedy said she found it most 'unsatisfactory' that this application to remove those grounds of appeal 'so late in the day.'Judge Kennedy says it is "unsatisfactory that this application is being made so late in the day." However she accepted the application, despite saying that it had been made 'at the very last minute.'Following that Remy Farrell SC for Mr McGregor spoke at length about the other grounds of appeal - first dealing with his client's 150 'no comment' answers to gardai in Dundrum garda station - who investigated the rape claims in told the court that the issue arose in cross examination of his client by John Gordon SC during the trial, and a misinterpretation of his response was used as a 'hook' to say that Mr McGregor was telling the jury he wanted to tell the gardai everything. Mr Farrell said that Mr McGregor was in fact telling Mr Gordon how he interacted with his solicitor at the time - and not gardai - but that Mr Gordon went on to describe it as otherwise. "There is a remarkable conflation with what Mr McGregor said and what was said to him in cross examination,' Mr Farrell submitted to the submitted that there was an attempt made by Ms Hand's counsel to 'lead the evidence,' that this was an issue of contention during the trial and that they 'simply decided to take a punt' on Farrell argued that there was a "persistent attempt" by Ms Hand's Counsel to "paraphrase the answer that was given,' by his client during cross examination - and he was submitting that this was 'simply not permissible.'He further stated that it was 'notable' that the trial Judge - Mr Justice Alexander Owens did not deal with it and alleged that he was 'patently incorrect' in terms of conclusions that he drew and stated to the jury in his charge to them.'It is simply wrong and in my submission manifestly wrong,' Mr Farrell said. Mr Farrell further alleged that Ms Hand's Counsel made an attempt to draw an inference from his client's no comment answers to gardai that there was 'no smoke without fire.'And he said that it was clear that Mr Justice Owens 'took a view' on this, intentional or not, to invite the jury to start drawing inferences over Mr McGregor's multiple no comment answers to stated that Judge Owens identified the purpose of the cross examination to the jury but that it was never followed through and so the jury was left 'with a bizarre proposition.'Mr Farrell said the question was never asked and the jury was therefore invited to decide whether they thought McGregor misled them or that he left them under a false impression.'The reason the Judge is scrambling for some other justification for the admission of this evidence is the witness has not been cross examined for the admission of this evidence,' Mr Farrell further stated that it invited an inference to be drawn that people cannot be allowed to sit in interviews and say nothing and then submit a Farrell said it invited an inference to be drawn that people should not be permitted to sit in interviews and say nothing and then submit a statement. Mr Farrell said this was like a reference to Jazz "where you look for the notes not being told the court that the evidence of the no comments was brought into the case 'without warning' and it was then 'not pursued for the appropriate purpose.' He therefore argued that in those circumstances a retrial is Farrell also made arguments in relation to the issue paper and the use of the word assault as opposed to sexual assault. At this point Judge Kennedy asked Mr Farrell if it was not absolutely clear that Judge Owens made it 'quite clear' in the trial that the assault in this incidence 'was committed by rape.'Subsequently Ray Boland SC for Ms Hand stated that the issue came up ahead of time and that both Counsels agreed on the wording on the issue paper.'As it happened the draft prepared by Mr Gordon said sexual assault, the draft prepared by the Judge said assault,' he told the court. However he said the issue was brought up with Mr Farrell at the time and they had agreed on the wording of 'sexual assault.''I say that that's the first defendant basically agreeing with the issue paper from which they are now criticising. Assault is a broad umbrella, it covers - sexual assaults,' Mr Gordon told the court..'What we were dealing with was assault by rape. There was no ambiguity whatsoever,' he added, saying it would be an 'insult to the intelligence of the jury to say that they didn't know what the case was about."On the no comment issue Mr Boland said there may have been a 'breakdown in communications' during the trial but that if this was such a serious issue, Mr Farrell could have made arguments at the time about discharging the jury but he did not.'He could at that stage have made an application to discharge the jury which wasn't made,' he told the court. He stated that the no comment answers were 'not hugely probative' other than Mr McGregor was putting himself forward during the trial as someone who wanted to cooperate fully with the gardai and he didn't.'That was the purpose for which it was put. The judge made it abundantly clear that the jury couldn't draw an inference just because of the no comment advice,' Mr Boland further stated. He also told the court that it became clear at another point in cross examination that Mr Gordon was asking McGregor about his cooperation with gardai and not his alleged that Mr McGregor was putting himself forward to the jury as a person who wanted to cooperate as much as possible.'That's the picture he was attempting to put forward before the jury." Mr Boland said 'no injustice was done' in this case and that Judge Owens was correct to allow the evidence to be Judges have yet to consider a costs issue in regards to James Lawrence - and so the matter has been put back to resume on Wednesday morning.
Irish Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Claims about Nikita Hand and partner rowing withdrawn from McGregor appeal
Conor McGregor has withdrawn "at the last minute" claims by a couple that they saw a row between Nikita Hand and her partner on the night she said the UFC fighter raped her. The bombshell development occurred at the very opening of the UFC fighter's appeal at Dublin's High Court - which heard that these claims were 'unsustainable.'McGregor is appealing a jury decision in November that he assaulted former hairdresser Nikita Hand, who alleged she was raped by him at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018. The jury found in favour of Ms Hand and awarded her almost €250,000 in put forward five grounds for appeal against that decision - ultimately dramatically withdrawing what he argued was 'new evidence' in the form of claims made by former neighbours of Ms Hand - Samantha O'Reilly and her partner Steven Cummins. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The couple had sworn affidavits claiming they heard a row between Ms Hand and her then partner on the night of 9 December 2018, after the alleged rape, with Ms O'Reilly claiming she saw the row from her bedrooom in a house across the road. She claimed Ms Hand's then boyfriend pushed her and she saw him moving his arms and hips as though he was punching and kicking her. Mr Cummins had claimed he was woken by screams and shouts coming from Ms Hand's house but said he did not see what had happened. Their claims have now been totally withdrawn by McGregor - with Ms Hand's Counsel seeking an apology from him over the ordeal. Mr McGregor, who was not present in court, also argued four other grounds of appeal - such as that it wasn't specified on the issue paper to the jury that Ms Hand suffered a sexual was also arguing about the use and admissibility of his client's 'no comment' answers given to gardai in 2018, how the Judge handled that issue during the trial - and about his right to proceedings began with McGregor withdrawing what was set to be a major focus of the hearing - the evidence of Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins - which would have also seen Nikita Hand having to take the witness box. Mark Mulholland KC for Mr McGregor said they were also withdrawing evidence of Northern Ireland's former State pathologist Professor Jack for the MMA star admitted the ground for the appeal was 'unsustainable.' Ms Hand had stated in an affidavit that the claims by the couple were 'lies,' and in the opening moments of Tuesday's hearing, her counsel contended that McGregor was now 'conceding' that fact. Mr Gordon SC for Nikita Hand called for Mr McGregor's counsel to apologise to Ms Hand for what was done to her in the last few months with coverage of the couple's claims being broadcast in the media and in affidavits before the court, which the witnesses were now withdrawing."An apology would be a start", he told the court. Nikita Hand, who a civil jury found last November was assaulted by Mr McGregor, attended the appeal hearing before the Hugh Kennedy Court on Tuesday Hand was supported in court by her partner, mother, friends - and a large crowd of supporters who were outside the building - including assault victim Natasha O'Brien and Hazel Behan, the woman who accuses Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner of McGregor, who was not required to be present in court, did not appear - and was represented by Remy Farrell SC and Michael Staines solicitor. Ms Hand was being represented by John Gordon SC and Ray Boland SC - instructed by Dave Coleman solicitors. Mr McGregor's appeal was being heard before Ms Isobel Justice Kennedy, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore and Mr Justice Patrick for Mr McGregor told the court they 'cannot sustain' the grounds of appeal regarding the couple and the evidence of the former pathologist, which they said was taken to potentially corroborate those Gordon SC, for Ms Hand, told the three Judges that he had been informed of the development 10 minutes before the hearing today - and stated that it was 'unacceptable.'"My client (Ms Hand) has been put through the wringer yet again. She answered it in her affidavit that it was all lies. That has now been conceded,' Mr Gordon told the court. He further stated that Mr McGregor's side were now thinking they could 'waltz in here and think they can walk away from this.'Mr Mullholand, for McGregor said the evidence of Professor Crane told the Judges that there was "no corroboration" for Ms O'Reilly's evidence without Professor Crane, and therefore they had come to believe the conclusion that this grounds for appeal was "not sustainable." "It was the holistic view for both to be run in tandem and with one not being run, the strength of the other was not sufficient," Mr Mullholland told the Justice Kennedy said she found it most 'unsatisfactory' that this application to remove those grounds of appeal 'so late in the day.'Judge Kennedy says it is "unsatisfactory that this application is being made so late in the day." However she accepted the application, despite saying that it had been made 'at the very last minute.'Following that Remy Farrell SC for Mr McGregor spoke at length about the other grounds of appeal - first dealing with his client's 150 'no comment' answers to gardai in Dundrum garda station - who investigated the rape claims in told the court that the issue arose in cross examination of his client by John Gordon SC during the trial, and a misinterpretation of his response was used as a 'hook' to say that Mr McGregor was telling the jury he wanted to tell the gardai everything. Mr Farrell said that Mr McGregor was in fact telling Mr Gordon how he interacted with his solicitor at the time - and not gardai - but that Mr Gordon went on to describe it as otherwise. "There is a remarkable conflation with what Mr McGregor said and what was said to him in cross examination,' Mr Farrell submitted to the submitted that there was an attempt made by Ms Hand's counsel to 'lead the evidence,' that this was an issue of contention during the trial and that they 'simply decided to take a punt' on Farrell argued that there was a "persistent attempt" by Ms Hand's Counsel to "paraphrase the answer that was given,' by his client during cross examination - and he was submitting that this was 'simply not permissible.'He further stated that it was 'notable' that the trial Judge - Mr Justice Alexander Owens did not deal with it and alleged that he was 'patently incorrect' in terms of conclusions that he drew and stated to the jury in his charge to them.'It is simply wrong and in my submission manifestly wrong,' Mr Farrell said. Mr Farrell further alleged that Ms Hand's Counsel made an attempt to draw an inference from his client's no comment answers to gardai that there was 'no smoke without fire.'And he said that it was clear that Mr Justice Owens 'took a view' on this, intentional or not, to invite the jury to start drawing inferences over Mr McGregor's multiple no comment answers to stated that Judge Owens identified the purpose of the cross examination to the jury but that it was never followed through and so the jury was left 'with a bizarre proposition.'Mr Farrell said the question was never asked and the jury was therefore invited to decide whether they thought McGregor misled them or that he left them under a false impression.'The reason the Judge is scrambling for some other justification for the admission of this evidence is the witness has not been cross examined for the admission of this evidence,' Mr Farrell further stated that it invited an inference to be drawn that people cannot be allowed to sit in interviews and say nothing and then submit a Farrell said it invited an inference to be drawn that people should not be permitted to sit in interviews and say nothing and then submit a statement. Mr Farrell said this was like a reference to Jazz "where you look for the notes not being told the court that the evidence of the no comments was brought into the case 'without warning' and it was then 'not pursued for the appropriate purpose.' He therefore argued that in those circumstances a retrial is Farrell also made arguments in relation to the issue paper and the use of the word assault as opposed to sexual assault. At this point Judge Kennedy asked Mr Farrell if it was not absolutely clear that Judge Owens made it 'quite clear' in the trial that the assault in this incidence 'was committed by rape.'Subsequently Ray Boland SC for Ms Hand stated that the issue came up ahead of time and that both Counsels agreed on the wording on the issue paper.'As it happened the draft prepared by Mr Gordon said sexual assault, the draft prepared by the Judge said assault,' he told the court. However he said the issue was brought up with Mr Farrell at the time and they had agreed on the wording of 'sexual assault.''I say that that's the first defendant basically agreeing with the issue paper from which they are now criticising. Assault is a broad umbrella, it covers - sexual assaults,' Mr Gordon told the court..'What we were dealing with was assault by rape. There was no ambiguity whatsoever,' he added, saying it would be an 'insult to the intelligence of the jury to say that they didn't know what the case was about."On the no comment issue Mr Boland said there may have been a 'breakdown in communications' during the trial but that if this was such a serious issue, Mr Farrell could have made arguments at the time about discharging the jury but he did not.'He could at that stage have made an application to discharge the jury which wasn't made,' he told the court. He stated that the no comment answers were 'not hugely probative' other than Mr McGregor was putting himself forward during the trial as someone who wanted to cooperate fully with the gardai and he didn't.'That was the purpose for which it was put. The judge made it abundantly clear that the jury couldn't draw an inference just because of the no comment advice,' Mr Boland further stated. He also told the court that it became clear at another point in cross examination that Mr Gordon was asking McGregor about his cooperation with gardai and not his alleged that Mr McGregor was putting himself forward to the jury as a person who wanted to cooperate as much as possible.'That's the picture he was attempting to put forward before the jury." Mr Boland said 'no injustice was done' in this case and that Judge Owens was correct to allow the evidence to be Judges have yet to consider a costs issue in regards to James Lawrence - and so the matter has been put back to resume on Wednesday morning.
Irish Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man who caused blaze at estranged father's home appeals sentence
An arsonist who set a fire at an apartment leaving its residents, including his estranged father, "with nothing" has launched an appeal against his eight-and-a-half-year sentence, arguing part of it should have been suspended to facilitate his rehabilitation. Jason Hughes (21) of Bawnlea Green, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to one count of arson at Pairc Na Greine, Tallaght, on December 9, 2022. The offence carries a sentence of up to life in prison. Jailing Hughes for eight and a half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on October 27, 2023, Judge Martin Nolan said there could have been a "significant chance of fatalities" if one of the occupants of the apartment he attacked hadn't been awake to raise the alarm. He said Hughes' "reckless act" had endangered the apartment, the lives of its occupants and the health of other residents of the complex. The court heard that €80-90,000 in damage was caused during the attack and the victims, which included the defendant's father, were "left with nothing". A female occupant of the apartment told gardai that she was in the sitting room of her home at the Pairc Na Greine complex in the early hours of the morning when she heard a loud bang. She looked outside and saw a fire in a corner of the balcony near to the apartment complex's main door. The court heard the woman saw the glass smash inwards and she got pushed against a wall. Scared by the speed of the fire, the woman took a young child who was sleeping in the apartment outside. She then went back inside to ensure that her partner had also left and shouted and made noise to alert her neighbours. Both the apartment and its contents were severely damaged. CCTV footage from the area showed Hughes walking towards the complex, before climbing over the balcony's railings. He left shortly afterwards and two minutes later, flames became visible. Launching an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal today, defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued that the 12-year headline sentence was too high, that the sentencing judge failed to properly consider Hughes' personal circumstances, and that a portion of the sentence should have been suspended to incentivise rehabilitation. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week He said the offence should have been placed in the middle of the mid-range, attracting a headline sentence of between five and 10 years. A discount should have been applied thereafter, counsel said, and a further portion of the sentence should have been suspended to incentivise rehabilitation. Counsel said that whilst there was no doubt this was "a very serious case" where a custodial sentence was required, the court was bound to take into account the fact that Hughes was a very young man, aged just 19 at the time, who had lived a "chaotic life" and who had made a serious suicide attempt on the same day as this incident occurred. He noted Hughes has ADHD and other cognitive difficulties and had witnessed domestic violence. Mr Ó Lideadha said Hughes's parents had separated when he was eight and the death of another "father figure" in his life had a "devastating effect" on Hughes leading to him going "totally off the rails". "His offending and his drug activity and suicide attempts occurred in those circumstances of extreme adversity," he said. The barrister said one of the victims in the case was Hughes' estranged father and noted the appellant's brother had died in a fire before he was born. Counsel said there was evidence in the psychological report that Hughes felt "aggrieved" by his estrangement from his father and had stated he would never have committed the offence if he had been sober. Mr Ó Lideadha said the trial judge had made a specific error in stating that an accelerant was used. He said the evidence indicated that Hughes set something on the balcony on fire. He said Hughes is clearly someone who "needs residential treatment" and who has "work to do" in terms of his own life and taking responsibility for his actions. He said it was "in the public interest" that a portion of the sentence ought to have been suspended to incentivise rehabilitation. Aoife McNickle BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, noted the injured parties in this case were present in court for the appeal hearing. Ms McNickle contended that the circumstances of this case brought the offence into the upper band. She noted the fire was set at a residential property in the early hours of the morning and Hughes was aware the property was occupied by his father and others at the time. She said but for the fact one of the residents happened to be up at the time and noticed the blaze, the alarm would not have been raised as quickly as it was. The barrister said the fire could be seen on CCTV within two minutes of Hughes leaving the scene and burned "ferociously enough" to blow in the windows of the sitting room. She said it could be inferred from the psychological report that Hughes's motivation was due to "some animosity or anger" towards his father. In relation to the argument put forward that part of the sentence should have been suspended, Ms McNickle said there was nothing put before the court that would have obliged the sentencing judge to suspend any portion of the jail term. She said the judge had taken the relevant mitigating factors into account in discounting three and a half years from the headline sentence. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the three-judge court would reserve judgement and deliver its decision at a later date.
