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Trainee firefighter, 32, faces the sack after ‘unnerving' boasts about his astonishing former life outside the UK

Trainee firefighter, 32, faces the sack after ‘unnerving' boasts about his astonishing former life outside the UK

The Sun5 days ago
A TRAINEE firefighter has been sacked for boasting he was a former drug cartel hitman.
Ali Gonzalez, 32, was six weeks into his basic training course when he was suspended this week.
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His colleagues in Bury, Manchester, turned web sleuths to find Gonzalez had previously given interviews about his life as a sicario — or hitman.
He claimed he worked in Mexico for the feared Sinaloa cartel, featured in Netflix dramas Narcos: Mexico and El Chapo.
His boasts included killing dozens of rivals and seeing one gangster beheaded in a jail fight.
A source said he had dropped hints to trainees about his past.
'It was unnerving,' they added.
Greater Manchester Fire Service said: 'We moved quickly to investigate. Public safety is our top priority.'
Gonzalez declined to comment.
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Graham Thorpe asked his wife to help him end his life after his mental health 'spiralled' following Covid lockdowns and being sacked from his England coaching job, inquest hears
Graham Thorpe asked his wife to help him end his life after his mental health 'spiralled' following Covid lockdowns and being sacked from his England coaching job, inquest hears

Daily Mail​

time16 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Graham Thorpe asked his wife to help him end his life after his mental health 'spiralled' following Covid lockdowns and being sacked from his England coaching job, inquest hears

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Thorpe would go on to become one of the most revered batsmen of his generation, a rare bright spark in an England team which often failed to deliver. His swashbuckling style and distinctive headband made him popular with fans new and old. And he set records along the way - becoming the first England batter for 20 years to score 100 runs on his Test debut, doing so against a Shane Warne-inspired Australia at Trent Bridge in Nottinghamshire in 1993. He would become only the eight man to reach 100 Test caps for England, scoring 6,744 runs at an average of 44.66. But he was also plagued by demons. In 2002, the year he scored the third fastest double-century in Test history, Thorpe took a 12-month break from cricket as he left a tour of India amid turmoil in his first marriage due to his cheating that led to a bitter divorce and a battle with suicidal depression and alcoholism. 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Murder victim's brother welcomes apology personally delivered by PSNI chief
Murder victim's brother welcomes apology personally delivered by PSNI chief

BreakingNews.ie

time19 minutes ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Murder victim's brother welcomes apology personally delivered by PSNI chief

A terminally ill man has welcomed the personal delivery of an apology by the chief constable over police failings following the murder of his brother. Eugene Thompson's brother Paul was murdered in 1994 by loyalist terrorists. Advertisement The 25-year-old died after being shot while in a taxi in the area of Springfield Park on his way home. Earlier that evening, UDA terrorists are believed to have cut a hole in a peace line fence to access the area which was reported to police. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher delivered an apology to Mr Thompson in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday which acknowledges failures by police. It describes Paul Thompson's murder as 'tragic and senseless', and pays tribute to his brother and mother Margaret, who has since died, for 'great courage and resilience in their journey for the truth about his murder'. Advertisement Paul Thompson was murdered aged 25 in 1994 (Committee on the Administration of Justice/PA) The apology says the murder has not been the subject of a full and effective investigation in accordance with article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, and accepts a conclusion by the former Historical Enquiries Team that police could have taken steps to provide patrolling in the area after suspicious activity was reported. 'That dedicated action may have prevented Paul's murder,' the apology states. It also acknowledges the original police investigation did not identify or pursue all lines of inquiry and significant disclosure delays at the inquest. 'The police service apologises unreservedly to Eugene for the above failings on the part of policing which impacted adversely both on the delivery of justice for Paul and on his family's quest for the truth,' it said. Advertisement 'We are committed to improving how we help families and communities impacted by the troubles by being more open, transparent and victim-focused, and by disclosing as much information as we possibly can. 'The police service believes that further information about Paul's murder can safely be released to Eugene and hopes that the pending Supreme Court judgment will allow for this to happen.' The UK government took a legal effort to the Supreme Court to prevent coroner Louisa Fee from disclosing a summary, or gist, of the evidence in a sensitive security force file following an inquest into Mr Thompson's death. A ruling has not yet been made. Mr Thompson welcomed the apology from Mr Boutcher, and said he hopes to see the judgment from the Supreme Court soon. Advertisement Eugene Thompson received an apology over the handling of the murder of his brother from PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher (PA) 'I thanked Jon Boutcher for coming himself and for acting quickly in delivering the apology from the PSNI after we had asked for it,' he said. 'That's different to the British Supreme Court, who also know my situation, and I had hoped they would have made their judgment by now, but there is no sign of it. 'The apology makes clear the RUC didn't investigate and arrest suspects when they could have and that they could have done things that could have prevented Paul's murder.' Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), said Mr Thompson and his mother 'long fought for justice and truth in relation to Paul's murder'. Advertisement He added: 'The High Court and Court of Appeal ruled over a year ago that Eugene was entitled to see the information in the coroner's 'gist'. Ireland PSNI disclosing information to inquiry 'as quickly... Read More 'The Secretary of State appealed the Supreme Court hearing was back at the beginning of June and Eugene is still awaiting the ruling. 'It's welcome that the PSNI chief constable has quickly delivered this apology in relation to the RUC and PSNI failings.' A PSNI spokesperson said: 'The Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, held a private meeting with Mr Eugene Thompson, the brother of Liam Paul Thompson, during which he provided a statement of apology on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland for failings identified on the part of the RUC and PSNI.'

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