Partner of late dissident Bishop Pat Buckley ordered by judge to vacate home they shared
The partner of late dissident Catholic Bishop Pat Buckley has no legal entitlement to remain in the Co Antrim home they shared, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
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Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
'El Chapo' brother of ex-Liverpool player disputes sentence for £26m drug empire
Jonathan Cassidy imported hundreds of kilos of cocaine into the UK in modified vehicles before it was distributed by his younger brother Jamie. An ex-builder who ran a £26m drug empire with his former Liverpool FC wonderkid brother has failed in his bid to challenge his EncroChat sentence. Jonathan Cassidy imported hundreds of kilos of cocaine from South America in an international drugs racket with his younger brother Jamie and business partner Nasar Ahmed, reports the Liverpool Echo. Cassidy, 50, boasted on Encrochat messages that his criminal enterprise was reminiscent of Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán under the name "WhiskyWasp. However, following the hack of the EncroChat network by European law enforcement, Cassidy fled to Dubai. He was arrested upon his return to the UK in October 2020. Following over three years of legal challenges where the brothers and Ahmed fought the admissibility of the EncroChat data, the defendants pleaded guilty in February 2024. Cassidy was sentenced to 21 years, nine months for conspiracy to import cocaine; conspiracy to supply cocaine; and conspiracy to conceal, transfer and disguise criminal proceeds. Cassidy appeared before London's Court of Appeal on May 20 this year in a renewed application for leave to appeal against his sentence. His challenge, brought before the high court by counsel Michael Bromley-Martin KC, said too low a discount was applied as credit for his guilty plea and the sentencing judge failed to consider exceptional mitigating factors. But dismissing his case, the Court of Appeal bench of Lord Justice Fraser, Mr Justice Hilliard and Mr Justice Constable said they were "not persuaded that the resulting sentences are manifestly excessive or reached after an error in principle". 'Instrumental in organising significant quantities of drugs' The high court heard that EncroChat data showed Cassidy's first importation occurred in early March 2020, when 194 kilograms of cocaine, which was in blocks embossed with snowmen, was imported into the country. The payments for the consignment were arranged by Ahmed, with the two men sharing the profits, which amounted to between £2,000 and £10,000 per kilo. The ECHO previously reported how the gang brought the drugs into the UK via Amsterdam hidden in vehicles with modified hides. Cassidy exchanged messages with a Dutch contact on April 2 of the same year to arrange 90 kilos of cocaine and Ahmed arranged a Hawala banker in Amsterdam to release payment. Arrangements continued until police arrested a courier and found €800,000 and nine-and-a-half kilos of cocaine. But despite the dent in operations Cassidy exchanged messages with an associate in the Netherlands about a contact who claimed to be able to source 1,200 kilos of the class A drug. Discussions were had about purchasing 10 kilos as a test run with it arriving a few days later between April 14-15. At the same time Cassidy directed his brother Jamie to oversee the distribution of 162 kilos of cocaine, with the younger man providing a list of who had been given what. By this time EncroChat had been hacked and law enforcement had access to messages. An associate of the three men called Leon Atkinson was supplied cocaine sourced from and supplied by Ahmed, with payments nearing £500,000 in Bitcoin to a wallet controlled by a contact. The Court of Appeal heard that although details varied, "both Cassidy and instrumental in organising significant quantities of drugs, arrangements payment, instructing couriers and so on". Panadol box led police to Cassidy Message analysis showed the men not only conducted business on their Encro phones, but they began to use them for everyday conversations, sharing photos of their families and special occasions. On one occasion, Cassidy referred to plain clothed police officers as "quick scruffy c**** with rucksacks", while in a different message he shared a picture of a box of Panadol. Both of these messages, paired with cell site and fingerprint analysis, helped create a detailed timeline of events for detectives. Another message showed how highly Cassidy thought of himself. When watching an episode of Narcos, he sent an image to a friend joking that he and drug lord El Chapo, who had an estimated net worth of $1bn, shared the same birthday. His friend responded: "Coincidence, I think f***ing not". The administrators of EncroChat warned users on June 13 2020 that government entities had gained access to the domain and security was no longer guaranteed. Ahmed searched online for travel updates to the UAE on July 13, but was arrested at his house in Bury two days later. Cassidy used his iPad to read an article on the ECHO about a fugitive who had been on the run for 16 years but was arrested from Portugal on his return. He left the country on a flight to Dubai that evening, but perhaps emboldened by the fact his brother had been able to return to the country without being stopped, he flew back in October, where he was arrested. Cassidy, his brother and Ahmed were all sentenced in February 2024. The judge drew attention to the scale of the operation, the amount of drugs imported, the size of the transactions and the highly organised nature of the operation. He sentenced Cassidy to 27 years, but then reduced the sentence due to conditions in prison due to covid, as well as an additional discount of 15% for the defendant's guilty plea. Cassidy's brother Jamie, a youth star at Liverpool who was top scorer for England u16s before injuries blighted his promising career, was sentenced to 13 years and three months, while Ahmed received a custodial sentence of 21 years and nine months. 'Not persuaded sentence was manifestly excessive' The Court of Appeal heard Cassidy's sentence was reduced by four months to take into account him serving a period of imprisonment during covid conditions while on remand. The judges found the sentencing judge's adjustment was sufficient and not outside the range that could properly be granted. Ahmed also appeared during the same hearing at the Court of Appeal to challenge his sentence on the same grounds as Cassidy, in particular that he was awarded an insufficient reduction for his guilty plea. The judges confirmed they dismissed Ahmed's appeal and refused a renewed application. In May 2022, four associates linked to the Cassidys and Ahmed were jailed for almost 40 years after a selfie of Atkinson led to their downfall. Liverpool man Joshua Avis is wanted by Greater Manchester Police in connection with their investigation. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. 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. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Nursery teacher turned OnlyFans star to SUE student's dad who leaked x-rated pics to football mates and got her sacked
The miss was sacked after she refused to delete her account STAR'S REVENGE Nursery teacher turned OnlyFans star to SUE student's dad who leaked x-rated pics to football mates and got her sacked Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A CATHOLIC nursery school teacher turned OnlyFans star is set to sue the dad of a pupil who got her sacked after leaking her X-rated snaps. Elena Maraga, 29, became the centre of a scandal after her erotic online account filled with adult content was leaked to a football team's group chat. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Nursery school teacher Elena Maraga (pictured) was fired after her OnlyFans acount was discovered Credit: Newsflash 6 The teacher is now suing the dad she claims leaked her pictures on a football group chat Credit: Newsflash 6 Elena Maraga poses for her OnlyFans account Credit: Newsflash 6 Her X-rated pictures spread like wildfire before the dad's wife reported the miss to the school authorities Credit: Newsflash She was suspended without pay from her job at a nursery in north Italy after refusing to delete the account before being sacked. Although she fought fiercely to stay, church leaders said her adult content had exposed the school to "reputational risks". Now Elena is suing the dad she says found her OnlyFans profile and leaked the subscriber-only pictures to a football fans' group chat. The racey snaps spread like wildfire before the dad's wife reported the miss to the school authorities. Elena said: 'There are parents who accused me, but they are the same ones who paid to see me. It's embarrassing. "They made me look like a harlot, but who is the immoral one? "I want to give voice to all those women who, like me, have felt condemned or punished for doing things that men also do without facing any consequences. "Me, who can do what I want with my body in my spare time, or them, who pay to watch and then condemn? "I'm tired of the injustices I've suffered." Elena also filed complaints against three social media users for allegedly defamatory comments posted after the revelation broke. OnlyFans star Merve Taskin ARRESTED over offering Valentine's night with fan for £9k…& listing what she'd give in return The miss turned OnlyFans star is also facing a second legal battle in an appeal for financial compensation against school officials who she says dismissed her without reason. She said: "Despite everything, I miss the children - but not the problems related to that job that I loved. "But today I would not go back." School authorities said her contract would be terminated "for just cause with immediate effect. It claimed that her OnlyFans account "contrasts with the Catholic inspiration that guides the educational direction of the school". The controversy was unearthed after the father of one of her pupils allegedly bought photos from her OnlyFans. Maraga claims that the man's wife found out after he distributed the pictures to a football group. But the 29-year-old has blasted the way her former employer handled the matter. She said: "They attacked me, saying I was seeking media attention. "Taking compromising photos has never compromised my professionalism at work. "The school has never wanted to talk to me, they have always acted with letters and have never wanted dialogue. 6 The 29-year-old was suspended without pay last month after refusing to delete the account Credit: Instagram 6 She had been working in a Catholic nursery for five years Credit: Instagram "I am surprised that a Catholic school that preaches morality treats an employee in this way." The Italian education ministry has signalled its intent to draw up a new code of ethics to prevent teachers appearing on adult sites, The Telegraph has reported. Maraga told Italian media she has a degree in Educational Sciences and that she had been working in a Catholic nursery for five years. She told Il Messaggero: "I love being a nursery school teacher, it was my vocation since I was a child." She added that she opened the account one month ago "partly for fun, partly out of curiosity, partly to see if you could really earn money". She said: "In one day I get a month's salary."
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Nursery teacher turned OnlyFans star to SUE student's dad who leaked x-rated pics to football mates and got her sacked
A CATHOLIC nursery school teacher turned OnlyFans star is set to sue the dad of a pupil who got her sacked after leaking her X-rated snaps. Elena Maraga, 29, became the centre of a scandal after her erotic online account filled with adult content was leaked to a football team's group chat. 6 6 6 6 She was suspended without pay from her job at a nursery in north Italy after refusing to delete the account before being sacked. Although she fought fiercely to stay, church leaders said her adult content had exposed the school to "reputational risks". Now Elena is suing the dad she says found her OnlyFans profile and leaked the subscriber-only pictures to a football fans' group chat. The racey snaps spread like wildfire before the dad's wife reported the miss to the school authorities. Elena said: 'There are parents who accused me, but they are the same ones who paid to see me. It's embarrassing. "They made me look like a harlot, but who is the immoral one? "I want to give voice to all those women who, like me, have felt condemned or punished for doing things that men also do without facing any consequences. "Me, who can do what I want with my body in my spare time, or them, who pay to watch and then condemn? "I'm tired of the injustices I've suffered." Elena also filed complaints against three social media users for allegedly defamatory comments posted after the revelation broke. OnlyFans star Merve Taskin ARRESTED over offering Valentine's night with fan for £9k…& listing what she'd give in return The miss turned OnlyFans star is also facing a second legal battle in an appeal for financial compensation against school officials who she says dismissed her without reason. She said: "Despite everything, I miss the children - but not the problems related to that job that I loved. "But today I would not go back." School authorities said her contract would be terminated "for just cause with immediate effect. It claimed that her OnlyFans account "contrasts with the Catholic inspiration that guides the educational direction of the school". The controversy was unearthed after the father of one of her pupils allegedly bought photos from her OnlyFans. Maraga claims that the man's wife found out after he distributed the pictures to a football group. But the 29-year-old has blasted the way her former employer handled the matter. She said: "They attacked me, saying I was seeking media attention. "Taking compromising photos has never compromised my professionalism at work. "The school has never wanted to talk to me, they have always acted with letters and have never wanted dialogue. 6 6 "I am surprised that a Catholic school that preaches morality treats an employee in this way." The Italian education ministry has signalled its intent to draw up a new code of ethics to prevent teachers appearing on adult sites, The Telegraph has reported. Maraga told Italian media she has a degree in Educational Sciences and that she had been working in a Catholic nursery for five years. She told Il Messaggero: "I love being a nursery school teacher, it was my vocation since I was a child." She added that she opened the account one month ago "partly for fun, partly out of curiosity, partly to see if you could really earn money". She said: "In one day I get a month's salary."
