Biker who died in Highland crash named by police
A 67-year-old biker who died following a crash in the Highlands has been named by police.Gilbert Duncan, from the Avoch area, was taken to hospital after the crash on the A862 near Beauly Saturday 17 May, but later died.The collision, at the junction with the A833, involved a black Mazda CX5 car and two Yamaha MT07 motorcycles.Police Scotland, appealing for witnesses, said the 47-year-old male driver of the car was arrested in connection with alleged road traffic offences and released pending further inquiries.
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BreakingNews.ie
10 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Coroner returns verdict of accidental death after boy (12) fell off the Cliffs of Moher
A 12-year old boy lost his balance after slipping in a puddle close to the edge of the Cliffs of Moher before falling over the edge to his death, an inquest has heard. In eye-witness testimony at the Clare coroner's court into the accidental death of Zhihan Zhao at the Cliffs of Moher on July 23rd last, French tourist, Marion Tourgon described seeing Zhihan fall over the edge at around 1:45pm on the day. Advertisement Zhihan had set out on walking the Cliffs of Moher trail from Hag's Head on the Liscannor side or southern side of the Cliffs of Moher to the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre with his mother, Xianhong Huang and her friends. The two Chinese nationals had arrived in Ireland only 12 days previous on July 11th. Last year, 1:49m people visited the Cliffs of Moher making it Ireland's most popular natural attraction. In her deposition, Ms Huang said that Zhihan was walking ahead of her on the Cliffs of Moher trail and she lost sight of him. Speaking through an interpreter at the inquest in Kilrush, Co Clare, Ms Huang wiping away tears, asked: 'What exactly caused Zhihan to fall from the Cliffs?' Advertisement Clare County Coroner, Isobel O'Dea told the distraught Ms Huang that the evidence of Ms Tourgon would help answer that question. In her deposition Ms Tourgon said that she was at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher with her husband and two children at around 1:45pm. She said that they were taking a selfie when she saw a young Asian boy, who was alone, come into view. She said: 'I saw him slipping in the puddle that appears in the photo that my husband sent to the police." Advertisement Ms Tourgon said: 'His right foot slipped into the puddle with him trying to stop himself from falling with his left foot but his left foot ended up in the air.' She said: 'It was very quick - he found himself in an awkward position with his left foot in a void over the cliff and his right knee on the edge of the cliff.' Ms Tourgon said: 'His right knee eventually fell into the void over the cliff and he was trying to grasp the grass with his hands to pull himself up. He didn't shout and there was no noise.' She said that 'it is the only the few of us who saw him falling' and the Tourgons alerted the emergency services by phone. Advertisement Speaking again through an interpreter, Ms Huang asked 'did he slip?' and in reply, Inspector Helen Costello told her: 'It appears from the witness that he slipped into the void having stumbled in the puddle.' In her deposition, Ms Huang said that she started out from Nagle's car park in Liscannor to walk to the Cliffs of Moher with Zhihan and friends of hers. She said: 'My son walked very fast and was ahead of us by 50 metres' She said: 'As there was only one path I thought we would meet him along the way. When I didn't I walked to the visitor centre and I checked the visitor centre." Advertisement When she couldn't find her son here, she walked back along the path to search for her son and after not finding him, she reported him missing. She said that she last saw Zhihan at 1pm that day. She said that Zhihan was a fluent English speaker and described the clothes that Zhihan was wearing that day including black shorts, Nike Air Jordans, an LA Lakers wristband and a kid's smart-watch. Sgt Claire McGuigan said that on the day, Ms Huang was able to provide a photo of Zhihan she had taken taken earlier on the Cliffs of Moher trail. Garda Colm Collins said that he received a call that day at 2pm to attend the Cliffs of Moher after a male was seen falling off the cliff edge. He said that the Irish Coastguard had spotted a body floating in the water at the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Through the interpreter, the mother asked was the location the same spot where scenes from a Harry Potter movie were shot and Insp Costello said that they were not. Garda Collins said that a lifeboat was launched but the craft was not able to access the site where the body was spotted due to the sea conditions. Zhihan's body would not be recovered from the sea for another five days and was recovered after fisherman, Matthew O'Halloran from Corofin, Co Clare spotted a body facedown and arms extended in the water between Doolin and the Aran Islands shortly after 10am on Sunday, July 28th. Mr O'Halloran alerted the Irish coastguard at Valentia and members of the Doolin unit of the Irish coastguard retrieved Zhihan's body from the waters and brought it ashore at Doolin. Ms O'Dea said that the post mortem found that Zhihan died from multiple traumatic injuries consistent with a fall from a height. Ms O'Dea said her verdict was one of 'accidental death'. She said: 'It is clear from evidence we heard that Zhihan slipped off the Cliffs rather than any other way. His death would have been very quick - instantaneous." Ms O'Dea told Ms Huang 'I can't imagine how upsetting this is for you' and the two embraced as Ms Huang left the coroner's court in Kilrush. Ms O'Dea also extended her sympathies to Zhihan's father who was not present at the inquest. Addressing Ms Huang, Insp Costello said: 'The pain must be immeasurable for you all.' Ms Huang declined to comment on the record when approached for comment after the inquest. On August 22nd of last year, the Clare Local Development Company closed off large sections of part of the Cliffs of Moher trail and it remains closed off today due to continuing safety concerns. At the time, the Clare Local Development Company confirmed that it was taking the action following the two recent fatal accidents on the Cliffs of Moher trail. In May 2024, a young woman died after she fell from the Cliffs of Moher. She was in her early 20s and a college student from Belgium who was studying in Scotland.
STV News
17 minutes ago
- STV News
Police find person sleeping in cupboard under stairs during search of properties
Police found a resident of a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) in Haddington sleeping in the cupboard under the stairs, it has been revealed. The landlord of two neighbouring properties in the East Lothian town is applying to have his licence to operate it renewed. But a report due to go to next week's East Lothian Council licensing sub committee reveals the houses have not had a valid HMO licence for more than three years. And it was revealed that in a scene reminiscent of the Harry Potter books, someone had been sleeping in the under-stairs cupboard of one or the properties. The report said the landlord 'admitted that a single person had been sleeping in the understairs cupboard of one of the properties (reported by Police Scotland following their visit of August 19, 2022)'. In the first of the Harry Potter books the wizarding schoolboy lives in the cupboard under the stairs of his aunt and uncle's house. The report on the HMO properties said that during a visit by licensing, police and fire officers, it was found 14 people were living in the two houses which had a limit of between six and ten tenants. Single beds were discovered in garden sheds at both properties and one tenant told officers they paid their rent in cash and received no receipts. Historic complaints about the HMO use of the houses, on Hope Park, saw neighbours accuse tenants of taking drugs in the garden, anti-social behaviour, and disturbances day and night. The report also said a meeting at council headquarters between the landlord, the licensing officer and homelessness team had been held in December 2023 where concerns were raised that tenant/lodger agreements were not in place for those living in the houses. It added there was 'frequent presentations to the homelessness team from former tenants of (the properties) and potential presentations from current lodgers due to both properties being in breach of HMO legislation'. The report outlined a timeline of events over the last two years including enforcement action over unauthorised use of the homes as HMOs, application forms which were incomplete and breaches of a rent suspension order. The sub committee will consider new applications which have now been lodged for the properties to operate as HMOs however its own planning department has lodged an objection saying both houses are the subject of an 'ongoing enforcement investigation' relating to planning permission for the use. The committee will meet to decide the licences next Thursday, June 12. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Mystery surrounds missing teen as police scour 2,000 hours of CCTV
The search continues for a missing teenager, Cole Cooper, who disappeared four weeks ago. Police say they have now spoken to over 400 people in connection with the case. The 19-year-old was last seen by his family in Longcroft, Falkirk, on either May 2 or 3. CCTV footage captured him at approximately 6am on May 4, attempting unsuccessfully to enter his father's house. The last confirmed sighting of Mr. Cooper was around 8.45pm on May 7. He was seen on the A803 at its junction with Cumbernauld Road, Longcroft, where he asked a school friend for a ride, which was not provided. Mr. Cooper's family reported him missing two days later, on May 9, prompting an extensive search and investigation into his disappearance. Since then, almost 400 residents have been spoken to during door-to-door inquiries and more than 2,000 hours of CCTV seized, according to Police Scotland. A major incident portal has been set up for the public to share footage, images and possible lines of inquiry, and detectives said it has received 'numerous' submissions. Detectives previously said the investigation was being treated as a missing person's inquiry rather than a criminal probe. A major search has involved helicopters, divers, digital and financial investigators. On May 28, detectives said the examination of more than 1,000 hours of CCTV had taken place along with door-to-door inquiries at more than 220 homes. Around a week later, the hours of CCTV examined had increased to more than 2,000. Chief Inspector Alex Hatrick, the local area commander, said: 'Our priority remains tracing Cole and getting answers for his family on his whereabouts. 'We have a dedicated team, including specialist officers and national resources, following all lines of inquiry. 'Specialist search teams as well as the air support and dive and marine units have been searching Longcroft and the surrounding area. 'I would like to thank the public for the support they've shown for this investigation and all the information provided to police. It shows the community is as committed to finding Cole as we are.' Officers will be revisiting the locations where Mr Cooper was last seen around the same time on June 8 and June 11 in an effort to trace anyone who may have seen him but has yet to speak to police. Mr Hatrick added: 'Officers will be revisiting the Glasgow Road and Cumbernauld Road areas around the same time as the last sightings to ensure we've spoken to as many people as possible who may have information which could help. 'I continue to urge anyone with information on Cole's movements or whereabouts to come forward. 'No matter how significant you believe that information is, it could prove vital.'
