Convicted murderer and ‘Islamist fanatic' gets thousands in legal aid to argue about his anxiety
A CONVICTED murderer has got thousands in legal aid to argue that separating him from other lags made him feel too anxious.
Islamic convert Denny De Silva, 32 — said to be an 'extremist enforcer' — had taxpayers fund his human rights challenge.
Advertisement
He has previously been found guilty of smuggling in phones to share IS material and there were complaints he was battering other inmates at HMP Full Sutton, East Yorks.
He was sent to a separation unit but in January went to the High
Court
to argue limiting access to the gym, library, and educational opportunities violated his right to a private life under the European
Court
of
Human Rights
.
He won the case — adding more to his legal aid bill.
De Silva had already run up costs of £42,000 for barristers and £24,000 for solicitors at his 2016 murder trial.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON JAILS
Shadow Justice Secretary
"I couldn't care less if a dangerous Islamist fanatic has 'anxiety' from separation centres.
'Governors must be able to lock up radicalising prisoners in isolation without worrying about mad human rights laws.'
De Silva was jailed in 2016 for a minimum of 27 years for shooting dead a gangland rival.
Advertisement
Most read in The Sun
He converted to Islam in prison but is said to intimidate and incite other Muslim prisoners.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed the £66,000 figure was correct but billing was not finalised.
Inside evil Southport killer's cushy jail life where he STILL gets Maltesers, crisps & other treats despite guard attack
1
Denny De Silva has run up a legal aid bill complaining about his human rights in jail
Credit: Collect
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
20 hours ago
- Sunday World
Puppy farmer locked up after dogs he was ordered to give up ‘disappeared'
She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. A puppy farmer has been jailed for three months after three dogs, a Belgian Malinois, a Collie and a Shih Tzu he was ordered to surrender 'disappeared.' Dog Breeder PJ Rigney appeared before Tullamore District Court on Wednesday a week after he had been remanded in custody by Judge Andrew Cody for failing to surrender the animals. At the sitting, Judge Cody expressed surprise that Rigney, was present in person before the court. The judge asked Rigney's solicitor how his client had managed to secure his freedom. PJ Rigney Rigney's solicitor responded that the High Court granted his release on foot of an application by Barry White SC. Judge Cody responded: 'It is quite unusual that a person would be remanded in custody pending sentence.' Judge Cody next inquired if Rigney had complied with a previous court order which required him to sign over ownership of three dogs that were found at his property to the local authority or a rescue organisation. The solicitor said Rigney had been unable to do so as the three dogs had 'disappeared.' Judge Cody then asked 'where the three dogs had disappeared to' and whether Rigney had filed a complaint with gardai. The solicitor responded that Rigney had not alerted the gardai but had called Offaly County Council in the belief the council had seized the dogs. Solicitor Emily Mahon, acting on behalf of Offaly County Council, confirmed they had received such a call from Rigney but said the council had no knowledge of the matter. She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. The solicitor then requested that Mr Rigney be ordered to pay a fine of €3,600 and be disqualified for life from owning dogs. Rigney's solicitor argued that this sentence would be unduly harsh. He further claimed that the three dogs were Mr Rigney's elderly mother's pets and she had been consistently asking 'where her dogs ' were in the wake of their disappearance. Opposing a ban on keeping dogs he said Rigney lived in a rural area and needed dogs for protection and farming. He claimed that Mr Rigney was a 'man of limited means' and as a result any fine would likely 'remain unpaid. Judge Cody responded that Rigney had a 'rental property from which he derived a rental income' so this could be drawn upon to settle any court order fine. This rental was used to pay Rigney's 'significant debts' defence replied. Judge Cody sentenced Mr Rigney to three months in jail, disqualified him from keeping dogs for life and ordered him to pay a fine of €3,600 to Offaly County Council. Rigney lodged an appeal to the sentence. PJ Rigney News in 90 Seconds - June 1st In October of 2021, Rigney was served with a closure notice alleged he had been illegally running a dog-breeding establishment, housing dogs in substandard accommodation, in a yard off Circular Road, in Daingean, Offaly. According to a closure order published by the Council on October 1st that year Mr Rigney was not registered to run such a facility. Outlining the grounds on which he considered Mr Rigney's operation "poses a serious and immediate threat to animal welfare", Offaly County Council Veterinary Inspector Aidan Grant wrote: "The premises in which the dogs are kept and management of same are far below required of a registered dog-breeding establishment.' Mr. Rigney was subsequently convicted and fined in the District Court. He subsequently appealed that order but the order was upheld.
Sunday World
20 hours ago
- Sunday World
Mother of disabled woman who killed herself after benefits cut describes ‘long wait' for justice
Jodey Whiting, 42, from Stockton-on-Tees, died in February 2017 about two weeks after her disability benefit was stopped, when she did not attend a work capability assessment The mother of a housebound disabled woman who killed herself after a benefits cut has described the 'long wait' for justice, ahead of a second inquest into her daughter's death, following years of legal fights. Jodey Whiting, 42, from Stockton-on-Tees, died in February 2017 about two weeks after her disability benefit was stopped, when she did not attend a work capability assessment. Her mother, Joy Dove, fought for a new inquest to investigate the impact of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ending Ms Whiting's benefits, after the first lasted only 37 minutes and heard no evidence relating to the DWP. Ms Dove told the BBC: 'It's been such a long wait. It's now come back to where it all began. 'The coroner has said it will be a full and thorough inquest and I'm hoping for the best, not just for Jodey's sake but for the whole family, especially the young ones, who don't really know what the past few years have been like. 'Hopefully, they'll understand it more.' She will give evidence at the hearing, and told the broadcaster: 'I'm anxious, but I just want justice for Jodey.' The fresh inquest will open at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Monday and will hear evidence from a DWP representative. The coroner at the original inquest in May 2017 recorded a verdict of suicide. In 2020, Ms Dove was given permission by the attorney general to apply to the High Court for a new inquest, an application that was eventually refused. Jodey Whiting (Family handout/PA) Ms Dove took her fight to the Court of Appeal, where in 2023 her lawyers said the first inquest did not investigate 'whether any acts or omissions of the DWP caused or contributed to Ms Whiting's death', and argued that the High Court judges reached the wrong conclusions. They said another inquest was necessary to consider fresh evidence of 'multiple, significant failings' by the DWP when it terminated Ms Whiting's employment and support allowance (ESA), which was not before the coroner at the time of the first inquest. Judges ruled there should be a new inquest, heard by a different coroner, saying the public have a 'legitimate interest' in knowing whether Ms Whiting's death was connected to the abrupt stopping of her benefits. Ms Whiting had received benefits for more than a decade because of serious, long-term physical and mental health issues, including severe pain and a history of self-harm. In late 2016, the DWP started to reassess Ms Whiting, who said she needed a house visit as she was housebound, had severe anxiety and was unable to walk more than a few steps. Joy Dove (Victoria Jones/PA) News in 90 Seconds - June 1st Ms Dove's lawyers argued at the High Court in 2021 that a house visit was not properly considered before the DWP terminated her disability benefit, which led to Ms Whiting's housing benefit and council tax benefit also being terminated. Ms Dove told the BBC about a letter her daughter received from the DWP before her death, asking 'why she hadn't attended a medical assessment, because it could affect her money'. 'But she'd been in hospital,' she said. 'We waited for another letter and I couldn't believe it. It said 'you're fit to work'. 'She looked at me and said 'Mam, what am I going to do? I can't walk out the door, I can't breathe, I can't sign on'.' The decision to terminate Ms Whiting's benefit was overturned on March 31, weeks after her death. The independent case examiner, which investigates complaints about the DWP, later found multiple breaches of department policy, significant errors by staff, and several 'missed opportunities' for the DWP to reconsider the claim.
Dublin Live
20 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Dublin criminal outed as infamous 'Mr Flashy' could be back on streets by 2027
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 Criminal Glen Ward is said to be 'happy' he has been outed as the infamous Mr Flashy as we reveal he could be back on the streets as early as 2027. Ward, 32, who has been named as the leader of the 'Gucci Gang' based in Finglas, North Dublin, is serving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Portlaoise Prison. Two weeks ago, he was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence for violent disorder during a daylight melee against a rival gang. The media was not allowed to name him as 'Mr Flashy' over the years because he had only minor convictions. This was despite him being named in the High Court as the gangster and the leader of the Kinahan-affiliated 'Gucci Gang' during the €1.7 million CAB case against Kinahan's top lieutenant Ross Browning in 2022. But because he has now been convicted of gun charges in the Special Criminal Court and has no more charges before the courts, his street name and gang leadership role can be revealed. His younger brother Eric O'Driscoll, 23, was also convicted of the same gun charges and was handed a five-year term. They were jailed for possession of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle which was fired from the back door of a Finglas home during a house party. They both pleaded guilty to that offence. One source told the Irish Mirror: 'Ward seems to be happy to have been outed as 'Mr Flashy' – it doesn't seem to bother him at all. 'For years, he couldn't be linked to being 'Mr Flashy' so now that it's out there, he seems to be fine about it all.' We can also reveal that Ward could be back on the streets as early as 2027. This is because he has been in custody since January last year and his sentence was backdated to include time spent in custody. Ward is also expected to get a quarter off on remission or good behaviour and this could bring his release date to 2027. One source said: 'It is likely it will be mid or near the end of 2027 that he will be released and back on the streets.' At his sentencing hearing two weeks ago, when he was given a suspended sentence for violent disorder, Ward's defence barrister told the court the gangster had previously worked as a mechanic – and 'hopes to get back to that' on his release. The court also heard he works out daily in the prison gym and 'is keeping his head down'. Gardai say the Gucci Gang were involved in street-level organised crime and drug dealing and had links to transnational organised crime groups at the highest levels. The High Court was told it got this name 'due to their penchant for designer clothes and jewellery'. The Chief CAB Officer said the gang has been involved in murderous feuds with rivals over control of the drugs trade and named its leader. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
