Man (50s) arrested on suspicion of human trafficking offences
A man in his 50s has been arrested in Co Monaghan on suspicion of human trafficking offences.
The arrest was made as part of an ongoing investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced criminality.
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Gardaí attached to the Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-Ordination Unit at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau made the arrest this morning, Monday, June 9th.
The man is currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in the northeastern region.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may be the victim of human trafficking for sexual exploitation to come forward and speak to them at any garda station in person or by phone, or by calling the freephone Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.
Anyone who has information related to human trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation is also encouraged to contact gardaí.
Further information on human trafficking and sexual exploitation can be found at www.blueblindfold.ie.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
With retail cyberattacks on the rise, customers find orders blocked and and empty shelves
A string of recent cyberattacks and data breaches involving the systems of major retailers have started affecting shoppers. United Natural Foods, a wholesale distributor that supplies Whole Foods and other grocers, said this week that a breach of its systems was disrupting its ability to fulfill orders — leaving many stores without certain items. In the U.K., consumers could not order from the website of Marks & Spencer for more than six weeks — and found fewer in-store options after hackers targeted the British clothing, home goods and food retailer. A cyberattack on Co-op, a U.K. grocery chain, also led to empty shelves in some stores. Cyberattacks have been on the rise across industries. But infiltrations of corporate technology carry their own set of implications when the target is a consumer-facing business. Beyond potentially halting sales of physical goods, breaches can expose customers' personal data to future phishing or fraud attempts. Here's what you need to know. Cyberattacks are on the rise overall Despite ongoing efforts from organizations to boost their cybersecurity defenses, experts note that cyberattacks continue to increase across the board. In the past year, there's also been an 'uptick in the retail victims" of such attacks, said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, a U.S. nonprofit. 'Cyber criminals are moving a little quicker than we are in terms of securing our systems," he said. Ransomware attacks — in which hackers demand a hefty payment to restore hacked systems — account for a growing share of cyber crimes, experts note. And of course, retail isn't the only affected sector. Tracking by NCC Group, a global cybersecurity and software escrow firm, showed that industrial businesses were most often targeted for ransomware attacks in April, followed by companies in the 'consumer discretionary' sector. Attackers know there's a particular impact when going after well-known brands and products that shoppers buy or need every day, experts note. 'Creating that chaos and that panic with consumers puts pressure on the retailer,' Steinhauer said, especially if there's a ransom demand involved. Ade Clewlow, an associate director and senior adviser at the NCC Group, points specifically to food supply chain disruptions. Following the cyberattacks targeting M&S and Co-op, for example, supermarkets in remote areas of the U.K., where inventory already was strained, saw product shortages. 'People were literally going without the basics,' Clewlow said. Personal data is also at risk Along with impacting business operations, cyber breaches may compromise customer data. The information can range from names and email addresses, to more sensitive data like credit card numbers, depending on the scope of the breach. Consumers therefore need to stay alert, according to experts. 'If (consumers have) given their personal information to these retailers, then they just have to be on their guard. Not just immediately, but really going forward," Clewlow said, noting that recipients of the data may try to commit fraud 'downstream.' Fraudsters might send look-alike emails asking a retailer's account holders to change their passwords or promising fake promotions to get customers to click on a sketchy link. A good rule of thumb is to pause before opening anything and to visit the company's recognized website or call an official customer service hotline to verify the email, experts say. It's also best not to reuse the same passwords across multiple websites — because if one platform is breached, that login information could be used to get into other accounts, through a tactic known as 'credential stuffing.' Steinhauer adds that using multifactor authentication, when available, and freezing your credit are also useful for added lines of defense. Which companies have reported recent cybersecurity incidents? A range of consumer-facing companies have reported cybersecurity incidents recently — including breaches that have caused some businesses to halt operations. United Natural Foods, a major distributor for Whole Foods and other grocers across North America, took some of its systems offline after discovering 'unauthorized activity' on June 5. In a securities filing, the company said the incident had impacted its 'ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders." United Natural Foods said in a Wednesday update that it was 'working steadily' to gradually restore the services. Still, that's meant leaner supplies of certain items this week. A Whole Foods spokesperson told The Associated Press via email that it was working to restock shelves as soon as possible. The Amazon-owned grocer's partnership with United Natural Foods currently runs through May 2032. Meanwhile, a security breach detected by Victoria's Secret last month led the popular lingerie seller to shut down its U.S. shopping site for nearly four days, as well as to halt some in-store services. Victoria's Secret later disclosed that its corporate systems also were affected, too, causing the company to delay the release of its first quarter earnings. Several British retailers — M&S, Harrods and Co-op — have all pointed to impacts of recent cyberattacks. The attack targeting M&S, which was first reported around Easter weekend, stopped it from processing online orders and also emptied some store shelves. The company estimated last month that the it would incur costs of 300 million pounds ($400 million) from the attack. But progress towards recovery was shared Tuesday, when M&S announced that some of its online order operations were back — with more set to be added in the coming weeks. Other breaches exposed customer data, with brands like Adidas, The North Face and reportedly Cartier all disclosing that some contact information was compromised recently. In a statement, The North Face said it discovered a 'small-scale credential stuffing attack' on its website in April. The company reported that no credit card data was compromised and said the incident, which impacted 1,500 consumers, was 'quickly contained.' Meanwhile, Adidas disclosed last month that an 'unauthorized external party' obtained some data, which was mostly contact information, through a third-party customer service provider. Whether or not the incidents are connected is unknown. Experts like Steinhauer note that hackers sometimes target a piece of software used by many different companies and organizations. But the range of tactics used could indicate the involvement of different groups. Companies' language around cyberattacks and security breaches also varies — and may depend on what they know when. But many don't immediately or publicly specify whether ransomware was involved. Still, Steinhauer says the likelihood of ransomware attacks is 'pretty high' in today's cybersecurity landscape — and key indicators can include businesses taking their systems offline or delaying financial reporting. Overall, experts say it's important to build up 'cyber hygiene" defenses and preparations across organizations. 'Cyber is a business risk, and it needs to be treated that way," Clewlow said.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
How tinderbox Northern Ireland exploded into anti-migrant riots
Inside the charred remains of an end-of-terrace house on Ballymena's Queen Street, the smoke alarm could still be heard bleeping in the wrecked living room. A few doors down, a smashed window revealed the words 'Little Prince' on a cot inside an abandoned child's bedroom, while nearby front doors lay ajar after being battered down when properties were besieged by masked youths shouting, 'Where are the foreigners?' The scene was the result of a second night of anti-migrant rioting, which had swept the small Northern Irish town following the alleged attempted rape of a schoolgirl at the hands of two Romanian-speaking teenagers. Residents have spoken of long-running tensions with the Roma community, but the incident on Saturday lit the touchpaper for riots. Non-Roma immigrants have resorted to putting up signs displaying their nationality such as 'Filipino lives here', or even the King's coronation memorabilia and crockery featuring Elizabeth II, in a bid to deter thugs hunting migrants. Even those born and bred in Ballymena had resorted to similar attempts to protect their homes. 'I have two flags on my house and I've never ever done that in the 28 years I lived there,' said one resident as she headed home to her redbrick property expecting another night of violence. Vladimir, 33, a factory worker from Slovakia, cleared debris from his living room after his home was targeted because he was not born in the UK. 'The tension was there and it was like TNT,' he said. 'There have been tensions for some time with the Roma, and with the girl allegedly being assaulted it escalates. 'It was the last drop and the authorities, along with government and the courts, didn't take it seriously enough so people had to take it into their own hands.' He added: 'In Clonavon Terrace, they stand around, there is mess everywhere, throwing bikes, there are piles of garbage and rumours of petty thefts and adults snatching kids' phones.' He showed CCTV footage of a black metal bar stool coming through the front window of the terraced property he and his girlfriend Pavlina, 35, an agency worker from the Czech Republic, share with their 11-year-old daughter and two Jack Russels. The stool, hurled by masked youths, was followed by a heavy tree planter hours after they had been warned by police to leave or stay in the living room, making it easier to escape if the house was torched. 'It was not random, the way they operate,' he added. 'They know they roughly know where people are from. 'It's not racist, because it's not about skin colour, but discriminatory yes. It is very obvious they are trying to hound people out of the area and they are being quite successful.' The violence began on Monday following a vigil in support of the girl who had been assaulted, which was followed by disorder echoing the riots seen after the Southport murders. It began in Clonavon Terrace, where the alleged assault took place, with homes torched and cars set alight as rioters clashed with police armed with protective gear and attempting to restore calm with their armoured Land Rover Tangis. Three people had to be saved by firefighters after four houses were set alight. On Tuesday, the violence moved elsewhere in the County Antrim town, which is home to 31,205 residents, as rioters targeted houses where they believed foreigners lived. Officers were met with a hail of petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks and were forced to fire baton rounds and bring in water cannons and dogs as cars were again set on fire in scenes described by police as 'racist thuggery'. Sporadic incidents of disorder were also seen in other parts of Northern Ireland and a total of 30 officers have been injured since violence began and five people arrested. Yesterday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland requested support from colleagues in the rest of the UK as it brought in extra officers and equipment to the areas where unrest had erupted. Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said he 'utterly condemns' the violence while Jon Boutcher, the PSNI's chief constable, warned the disorder risked undermining the criminal justice process. Ballymena was 95.1 per cent white at the time of the latest census, with just 4.9 per cent of the population from another ethnic background, with Roma the largest minority. Although far less diverse than the rest of the UK, Ballymena's population has changed significantly over the last decade when previously just one in 50 residents were from a non-white background. Unemployment is above average and there are long-standing tensions with the Roma community in Ballymena, which is accused by some of failing to integrate into the town. On Clonavon Terrace locals from around the town visited, curious to see the damage, while those actually living on the street feared that years of tensions between largely loyalist Protestant communities and some Roma residents would result in their homes being targeted. Andrei Boteanu, 32, a factory worker who is Romanian but not Roma, pointed at the remains of a redbrick house where the arrested teenagers are believed to have lived. 'They threw the bins inside, it took all night to burn,' he said. Mr Boteanu feared they would do the same to his own house but added that he was nor surprised tensions had turned violent. 'Before there were many cars coming there, there were 20 people inside. There were rats, garbage, and mattresses lying around. It was messy, they were all on benefits. 'We always complain about them but nobody does anything. We didn't know that things would go so far.' He added: 'I'm worried because they don't know who lives in houses, it can be anyone. But I support local people, even if it was not right what local people did last night and the other night I don't blame them for nothing. I would be the same, it's a wee girl.' Around 100 yards down the road, Emma Little-Pengelly, Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, was harshly criticised as she met residents of the affected street who vented their frustrations about migration and worries their houses would not survive the night. 'I have constantly been putting in complaints, nobody wants to know,' one said. 'We are not racist.' 'I worked 30 years in medicine, my house is half the price I paid for it,' another told the DUP politician. Despite the communal fears over immigration, many fear that the violence had become mindless. One woman claimed residents had been threatened when pleading with rioters to leave the homes alone. 'I've been terrified,' she said. 'I've slept on the sofa so I can go out the front door quickly.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Boston lawyer sobs as she tells court how fireman visiting from Ireland raped her after boozy St Patrick's Day
A woman broke down in tears as she told a Boston court how a married Irish firefighter allegedly raped her while she slept in a hotel room after St Patrick's Day celebrations. The 29-year-old lawyer wept in Suffolk Superior Court on Tuesday as she recalled the evening she woke up to a man 'inside of her' at Boston's luxury Omni Parker House hotel on March 14, 2024. Terence E Crosbie, 38, from Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape over the alleged incident. He has been behind bars since his arrest last year. The defendant was in the city as part of the Dublin Fire Brigade delegation for the St Patrick's Day parade when he is alleged to have carried out what prosecutors called a 'nightmare' attack on the sleeping woman. The woman, whose identity is being kept anonymous, became emotional in court as she read out a text message she sent to a friend just hours after the alleged attack, according to a report by the Boston Globe. 'I woke up and a guy was inside of me,' the message read. The victim continued to fight back tears as she described the allegations, including the moment she says she woke up to find Crosbie assaulting her. He is accused of saying: 'This guy is sleeping. I know you want this.' She told police she screamed at her attacker: 'What are you doing? Stop', according to court documents. The woman became emotional when she was shown photographs of the hotel room and security footage of herself leaving. She told the court how she spent March 14 bar hopping around Boston, starting with a work party at Big Night Live at 1:45pm before moving to State Street Provisions restaurant and finally The Black Rose pub around 9pm. She admitted to drinking five or six beers throughout the day but insisted she was 'totally coherent' and although it made her 'looser' the alcohol had no 'negative impact' on her judgment. She met a man named Liam O'Brien, a member of the Irish Fire Brigade, at The Black Rose. After hours of talking and dancing she went back to his hotel room at around 11:30pm. She thought he was staying alone and did not know Crosbie was also staying there, she said. The woman told the court she had consensual sex with O'Brien before falling asleep on a separate bed in the shared hotel room. Prosecutor Daniela Mendes told jurors that Crosbie returned to find the woman 'vulnerable and defenseless' and 'saw an opportunity and took full, violent advantage of it.' The woman testified that after the alleged rape Crosbie followed her around the hotel room trying to kiss her and pushed her against the wall as she tried to collect her clothes to flee. 'I just wanted to get out of there,' she sobbed when asked why she didn't cry for help. 'I didn't know anyone. I just wanted to get out.' Crosbie's defense team claims their client is innocent and argued there is a lack of DNA evidence linking him to the alleged crime. The victim fought back tears as she described the horrifying moment she woke up to find Crosbie (pictured in court) allegedly assaulting her Defense attorney Daniel C Reilly grilled the woman about what he said were inconsistencies in her testimony. Some of his questions included whether the bathroom light was on during the alleged assault and what exactly Crosbie said to her, the Globe reported. 'It's fair to say your testimony from yesterday doesn't match what you first told the detective,' Reilly said to which the woman replied, admitting: 'Yes.' When she reported the assault at Massachusetts General Hospital hours later her blood alcohol level was .135, well above the legal driving limit of 0.08. When asked if she was still impaired at the time, she replied: 'I guess.' But nurse Carly Littlejohn who testified Tuesday said that the woman was medically cleared to undergo evidence collection, which means she was sober enough to give proper consent for the procedure. Crosbie had a history of disturbing social media posts, including one where he said he wanted to visit Europe's 'most underreported rape capital' and another where he said he would 'rupture his wife's cervix.' Back in 2017 Crosbie wrote about wanting to visit Amsterdam and see a soccer game before adding a questionable comment The Irish fireman is accused of raping a woman in Boston has a history of disturbing posts, including one where he shared his desire to 'rupture his wife's cervix' Back in 2017, Crosbie wrote about wanting to visit Amsterdam and see a soccer game before adding a questionable comment. 'Ajax away be a descent trip,' he wrote on X. '6ft blondes & most unreported rape capital of Europe sure even if it's Vigo vs Lyon be worth a trip.' More recently, on October 10, 2021, he had a NSFW birthday message for his wife of nine years. 'Happy Birthday babe,' Crosbie wrote on X. 'I will rupture your cervix later.'
