Man (54) dies in Co Derry crash
Tony Wright, 54, sustained fatal injuries in the single-vehicle collision involving a van he was driving in Magherafelt.
Advertisement
The incident happened at around 12:10pm on Sunday on the Grange Road.
Mr Wright, who was from the Magherafelt area, was taken to hospital where he later died.
The PSNI has appealed to witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the area at the time to come forward.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Parents of boy who died with severe scoliosis pledge to continue advocating for children
The parents of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who died last Tuesday after waiting years for scoliosis surgery, said they 'will continue to campaign' for healthcare for children with serious life-threatening conditions. 'We are devastated, Harvey was our rock star,' said Stephen Morrison, Harvey's father. Advertisement 'We have to continue to campaign for other kids, because if we didn't we would be doing Harvey a disservice.' 'After a while we will go strong again in our campaign. There are so many other children like Harvey and families like ours who need help and support,' Mr Morrison said. 'Harvey was our little rock star, he would burst into a room, he wanted to let everyone know he was in the room.' 'Anyone who met him said he had these big wide beautiful eyes that would draw you into him, a lot of people said to us that they felt like Harvey was here before, that he was an old soul.' Advertisement 'Harvey was battling for so long, we are absolutely devastated.' Harvey, from Clondalkin in Dublin, was waiting three years for scoliosis surgery as the curvature on his spine continued to extend to a life-threatening 130 degrees. The spinal curve grew so serious that it was crushing Harvey's ribcage and lungs and putting severe pressure on his heart. His condition was highlighted in February 2024 when his parents shared a video of their son struggling to breathe due to the curve on his spine. Advertisement His story as well as growing waiting lists for children's surgery nationally were all later highlighted in the Dáil. Despite long demanding action over their son's surgery, his mother Gillian Sherratt discovered during a routine enquiry last August that, in fact, Harvey had been removed from Children's Health Ireland's active scoliosis surgical waiting list without their knowledge and despite Harvey requiring the life-saving operation. While not directly involved in their son's care, orthopaedic surgeon David Moore, director of a recently formed government appointed spinal surgery to deal with the inadequate surgical services, emailed Ms Sherratt in response and told her: "I apologise for any misunderstanding that appears to have occurred in respect of Harvey's case." Mr Moore also explained in the email that Harvey was not a candidate for surgery abroad, but that he was "happy to facilitate' Harvey being reviewed by two Irish-based surgeons. Advertisement Harvey eventually had his surgery last December. However, his curve had grown to such a significant size it was impossible to completely correct it. Professor Damian McCormack, lead consultant surgeon in paediatric orthopaedic surgery at Temple Street Children's Hospital, performed the surgery reducing some of the pressure on the boy's lungs and heart. Ms Sherratt said at the time that she and Mr Morrison had 'huge respect' for Prof McCormack, and that they were 'so thankful to Professor Damian McCormack for being the only person that was actually willing to operate on Harvey'. Professor McCormack and consultant surgeon Connor Green had previously addressed an Oireachtas Health Committee calling on CHI and the State for more resources to help tackle the scoliosis surgery waiting list scandal, and regularly advocated for better training for Irish surgeons to tackle the 'most complex' scoliosis cases at home. Advertisement Harvey was one of those complex cases, his parents explained on a number of occasions, as they campaigned for more timely treatment for children with scoliosis and other serious health issues. Ireland Call for full inquiry into CHI and how they handle... Read More Harvey's remains will repose at Massey Bros Funeral Home, Clondalkin, Dublin, from 3pm-5pm, Friday, August 1st. He will be remembered at a public cremation service at Newland's Crematorium Chapel, Newlands Cross, Dublin, at 1pm on Saturday. His parents have invited friends and the wider public 'to join us to celebrate Harvey's life, and dress in colour' at his cremation service, and they asked that mourners make a donation, if desired, to Child Vision In Memory of Harvey, in lieu of flowers at Harvey is survived by his parents Gillian and Stephen, his sister Lyla and brother Remy, grandparents Ann, Gordon, Christina and Thomas, and his aunts, uncles and cousins.
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Acquitted law professor Diarmuid Phelan in legal fight with State over 'enormous' trial costs
The State appears to have suggested that even people of means should make legal aid applications, which a barrister for law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who was acquitted by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering a trespasser on his farm, has argued is "entirely contrary" to spirit of the scheme. A judge will give her ruling in September as to whether the State should pay the "enormous" legal costs for Mr Phelan following a trial that ended last January. Advertisement The costs issue was raised this evening on the last day of the Trinity term before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, who presided over the 10-week murder trial that ended on January 3rd last. Law lecturer Mr Phelan, who has assets valued in the millions, instructed two senior and two junior counsel at his trial and did not receive legal aid. He also called expert witnesses who gave evidence following the close of the prosecution case. Mr Phelan maintained from the outset that he had no intention of shooting the deceased Keith Conlon and had acted in self-defence when he fired three warning shots. The jurors unanimously agreed with the defence case following the trial that Mr Phelan was entitled to defend himself when he came under threat on his own land. Mr Phelan (56) went on trial in October 2024 after he pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Keith 'Bono' Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on February 24, 2022. Advertisement Mr Conlon from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, was seriously injured in the shooting incident on February 22 and died at Tallaght University Hospital two days later. The defendant is a barrister, law lecturer and farmer who owns Hazelgrove, formerly a golf course in Tallaght. It was the defence case that this was an unintended killing and what Mr Phelan had been trying to achieve in discharging the shots was not to strike Mr Conlon. Opening the application on Thursday evening, Sean Guerin SC, who was one of two senior counsel representing Mr Phelan at his trial, told Ms Justice Lankford that the starting point - and also expressly the most important consideration - in awarding costs was the verdict. Advertisement Counsel submitted that Mr Phelan was entitled to his costs and the onus was really on the prosecution to show why he shouldn't succeed in the application. He said there was no substantive reason as to why costs should not be awarded. Mr Guerin said one of the prosecution's submissions, which had previously been handed into the court, was that Mr Phelan had the option of applying for legal aid but had chosen not to do so. The lawyer said legal aid had been put in place because of the desperate injustice done to people who couldn't secure the means to defend themselves and to protect those of limited resources. The barrister said the State appeared to be suggesting that even people of resources or means should make a legal aid application, which he suggested was a complete misunderstanding of what the legal aid scheme was. "There is no suggestion of that in the authorities and is entirely contrary to the word and spirit of the statutory scheme of legal aid," he added. Mr Guerin went on to say that the personal financial consequences was that Mr Phelan had to bear "the enormous costs" of being on trial in the Central Criminal Court for nearly three months. "The court doesn't need to be told what those financial consequences are and how they weigh on anyone who has to meet their defence". Advertisement Opposing the application, John Byrne SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), argued there was no presumption in favour of costs and one cannot simply say they had been acquitted so were entitled to their costs. He said a more complex and nuanced enquiry was required by the trial judge. The barrister said an award of costs is a discretionary order and it was "too simplistic" to say an acquittal gives rise to a presumption in favour of costs being awarded. Ms Justice Lankford said she had not finalised her view in relation to awarding costs but asked both parties to articulate their views if she decided to award Mr Phelan his costs but confined it to legal aid costs. She noted there was quite a wide discretion in case law, where 50 per cent of costs had been awarded to applicants. Mr Guerin told the judge there was no warrant for doing so as those weren't the costs his client had incurred. He said legal aid was not a guide or a measure as to what are the appropriate costs in a case. "If the court concluded Mr Phelan is entitled to his costs, then the appropriate order is for the adjudication of those costs in the usual way". Advertisement Whereas, Mr Byrne said the discretion seemed to be very wide and awarding legal aid costs was not something the court couldn't do, provided it set out the basis for it. Ms Justice Lankford said she hoped to deliver the court's judgement as to whether Mr Phelan can recoup his legal costs from the State in the first week of September. Ireland Young man jailed for raping teenage girl and engag... Read More Mr Phelan's trial heard that Keith Conlon and others were trespassing on Mr Phelan's land at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane in Tallaght on February 24, 2022. Mr Phelan shot a dog belonging to one of the trespassers due to concerns the dog might go after his sheep. An angry confrontation followed in which Mr Phelan produced a handgun and fired three shots, the third of which struck Mr Conlon in the head and caused his death. Mr Phelan said he acted in self-defence and that the fatal shooting was accidental. The jury had rejected the State's case that when the third shot was fired by Mr Phelan, the gun was pointed in the direction of Mr Conlon, who was shot in the back of the head when it was argued he had turned away to leave. It was in those circumstances, the prosecution said, that Mr Phelan intended to either kill or cause serious injury to Mr Conlon. Instead, the jurors accepted Mr Phelan's position that he was acting in self-defence after two trespassers were "coming to fulfil the threats they had made" and that he was fearful and facing an "imminent attack" as the men closed in on him.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Police officer dismissed for sending racist and sexualised WhatsApp messages
The office of the Police Ombudsman said the messages, which were sent while the officer was on duty, contained material which was sectarian, racist, homophobic, anti-semitic, misogynistic and sexualised. The complainant contacted the Police Ombudsman when the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer continued to send the material, despite being asked to stop on two occasions. Nikki Davis, director of investigations at the ombudsman's office, said: 'Digital analysis of the police officer's phone showed that he had sent multiple images and videos, which were highly inappropriate and offensive, to the complainant, other members of the public and other police officers 'This was not a one-off, isolated incident, which could potentially be attributed to a lapse in judgment. 'It was sustained, consistent behaviour, exacerbated by the police officer's view, when interviewed by our investigators, that he did not consider the material to be offensive or his actions to be in breach of the PSNI Code of Ethics.' Mrs Davis added: 'When this kind of messaging specifically targets women and combines sexual, racist and sectarian references, it moves into the realm of online gender-based hate speech 'For a police officer to display these attitudes and behaviours towards women is unacceptable, and specifically undermines the PSNI's commitment to ending violence against women and girls. 'However, this case demonstrates that allegations of misconduct will be robustly investigated and that officers will be held to account, all of which contributes positively to public confidence in policing.' Following the conclusion of the Police Ombudsman investigation, a file was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in relation to the potential offences of Misconduct in Public Office and sending grossly offensive messages contrary to the Communications Act (2003). The PPS directed no prosecution. A misconduct file was then submitted to the PSNI Professional Standards Department. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher held a special hearing, after which the police officer was dismissed. He was found to have breached a number of articles of the PSNI Code of Ethics, including those relating to professional duty, equality and integrity. Eight police officers, who received the messages and failed to report or challenge them, were referred to the PSNI in relation to potential breaches of the code of ethics. The Police Ombudsman received the complaint about the police officer in July 2023. The office has previously called for fast-tracking powers in cases where it is clear from an early stage in an investigation that there is criminality or gross misconduct which could result in an officer being dismissed without undue delay. The chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, said such behaviour would not be tolerated. He said: 'Police officers are held to the highest possible standards both on and off duty. 'Behaviour such as this case has rightly resulted in dismissal from service and should serve as a timely reminder that similar behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.'
