Influencer accused of harassing mum of John George murder suspect ignores court
Ash Mac as she goes by on social media – was a leading campaigner in the search for 37-year-old John George.
This is the woman accused of harassing the mother of John George murder suspect Jonny Smyth but who has failed to turn up to court.
Ashling MacCarthy is listed in court papers alongside the murder victim's father Billy George and his brother Darren – all three are accused of harassing Dawn Smyth.
MacCarthy – or Ash Mac as she goes by on social media – was a leading campaigner in the search for 37-year-old John George after he went missing in Spain in the middle of December.
John George disappeared in December in the Alicante area. His remains were found in January following extensive appeals from the family and friends who travelled out to search for his body.
John George
The father of two was shot and his body was left in a rural area in the Alicante region around December 14 but his body wasn't discovered for several weeks.
Back in Belfast, Ashling MacCarthy — a mum of two from Dunmurry — started up fundraisers for the George family campaign, including selling £20 T-shirts with pictures of John's face and a GoFundMe page which raised tens of thousands of pounds.
She's pictured at protests in Belfast alongside James Burns – a convicted woman beater who was recently released from prison for turning up to hospital with a hammer which he said he had as he feared he would be attacked by Muslims.
But MacCarthy has repeatedly accused Dawn Smyth on social media of being involved in covering up the murder of John George — something the Spanish police have completely discounted.
Jonny Smyth
And despite being fully aware of the proceedings against her, Ashling has failed to attend any of the hearings so far or had legal representation there on her behalf.
Earlier this week John's father Billy George was listed to appear at the civil court at Laganside and, as reported here previously, Mr George, along with his other son Darren who's also facing the same allegation, have said they will fight the harassment claims vigorously.
All three named defendants are subject to an interim injunction banning them from 'harassing' Dawn Smyth in any way.
But the court heard on Tuesday that while the Georges were engaged with the proceedings, Ashling MacCarthy had not engaged in any form despite receiving the necessary court documents.
The court was also told about a pipe bomb attack on the home of Dawn Smyth at the end of April.
The Sunday World contacted Dawn Smyth once again about the proceedings but she said she did not want to comment.
Proof that Ashling MacCarthy is fully aware of the legal case against her is shown by the fact she has posted on social media about it — laughing about it and saying it won't keep her silent.
In fact in one post she says she has 'all the time to go to court' but so far has not attended one hearing.
Dawn Smyth
This week the court heard how Billy George had submitted a replying affidavit to the allegations but more time was needed for his son Darren to file similar.
But when the third named defendant was mentioned — Ashling MacCarthy — the court was told they had nothing from her and if she continued to refuse to engage, a final order might be made against her in her absence.
She sold T-shirts and helped raise money for the George family but she also relentlessly targeted Dawn Smyth and Jonny's partner Maddison Allen.
On social media she repeatedly accused Dawn and Maddison of being involved in covering up the murder of John George without ever showing any evidence to back up her wild claims.
Billy George, who campaigned for justice for his son John, is also facing a similar harassment case taken by Carly Allen, the mother of Jonny Smyth's partner Maddison Allen.
Speaking in advance of the injunction harassment cases, he said: 'I welcome the chance to meet these groundless allegations head on. They've been taken to try and intimidate me.
'Not only will they fail to do that but it will give me a chance to raise my own concerns. I feel emboldened by this latest attempt to stop me getting justice for my son.
'I really think the people behind this litigation may well rue the day they decided to take me on in court.'
His legal representatives KRW Law added: 'He wants to make it clear there is absolutely no basis for what he sees are completely vexatious proceedings.
'He feels strongly that they have been taken as part of a concerted plan to try and stop him seeking the truth about his son's murder.'
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