Latest news with #Adamson
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Motherwell and Wishaw MSP to lead Holyrood debate on problem gambling and public health
Problem gambling can cause massive impacts on finances, health, and wellbeing. People experiencing problem gambling face stigmatisation and this can put-off people from seeking support when it's needed. Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson will lead a Holyrood debate on problem gambling and public health. Problem gambling can cause massive impacts on finances, health, and wellbeing. People experiencing problem gambling face stigmatisation and this can put-off people from seeking support when it's needed. In 2021, more than half of adults reported taking part in any gambling activity in the previous year (58 per cent) and around 55,000 people are estimated to be experiencing severe gambling problems, with a further 3.8 per cent at risk of developing gambling-related issues, according to the Scottish Health Survey 2020. Ms Adamson will also host a session in the Scottish Parliament encouraging MSPs to speak with support organisations and people with lived experience of problem gambling on May 22. The SNP MSP said: 'Gambling takes many forms and includes scratch cards, lottery, bingo, games on mobile devices as well as the more traditional sports betting and casino games. 'Problem gambling causes serious individual harm but it also has wider impacts on families and communities. Loss of employment, debt, deterioration of physical and mental health and this can lead to increased risk of suicide among individuals affected by problem gambling. 'It's estimated that six people are directly affected by the person experiencing gambling harms. Women are more likely to be an affected other. 'And we know that financial desperation is linked with crime. GamCare's Annual Statistics report shows more than 50 per cent of individuals seeking help for problem gambling also reported committing criminal acts to fund gambling activities. 'I am keen to lead this debate to frame problem gambling as a public health issue which requires a public health, person-centred response. 'We need to look again at regulation and our public health approach given the unprecedented variety of websites, social media platforms, marketing campaigns, and apps with algorithms designed to keep you hooked despite the public health problems. 'It is easy to access addictive gambling apps. It needs to be easy to access support services for people who require it – free from judgement.' Thursday's event, which follows the debate, will bring together organisations which support people experiencing problem gambling. Led by GamCare, who run the National Gambling Helpline, attending are: The Simon Community; RCA Trust; Fast Forward; Cyrenians; John Hartson Foundation; and people with lived experience of problem gambling. You can reach out day or night for free information, support and advice on problem gambling by calling the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or by visiting *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘I will live the rest of my life not knowing what happened,' says missing Niagara man's mother after remains found
The mother of Nicholas Adamson, whose partial remains were discovered in Hamilton in December, fears she will never know what truly happened to her son. Adamson, 29, disappeared after walking away from The Moose & Goose nightclub in Thorold in the early morning hours of March 17, 2022, after going out with friends. In a news release issued in late April, Niagara Regional Police said human remains found in Hamilton Harbour were identified as belonging to the St. Catharines man. Hamilton police submitted DNA from the remains found Dec. 4 to the RCMP's National DNA Data Bank. NRP said in its April release foul play is not suspected, and the Hamilton police investigation also concluded foul play was not suspected. Jennifer Adamson said she assumed her son died the night he went missing in 2022, as he would have come home otherwise. 'We always had hope, though,' she said. 'When you don't have a definitive answer, there's always hope, but now there is no hope.' She fears she will never know what happened to her son that night. 'I will live the rest of my life not knowing what happened, as nobody has ever come forward,' she said. 'Nobody has any video of him walking anywhere; that to me is suspicious.' Both Niagara and Hamilton police services say foul play is not suspected in the death of the Following Adamson's disappearance, numerous searches were conducted but turned up nothing to lead investigators to his location. 'To make a statement that it's not homicide, when we don't know how (Adamson) ended up there is confusing,' said Nick Oldrieve, executive director of Please Bring Me home, a Canadian organization that assists families of missing persons. '(We) have to hope they've done a thorough investigation, and they have a strong belief that they haven't made public as to why they don't believe there's foul play involved,' said Oldrieve. In a statement, NRP corporate communications manager Stephanie Sabourin said the police service had conducted an exhaustive investigation on Adamson's disappearance, collaborating with 'partner agencies.' 'From the outset, our priority has been to support the family while seeking answers with care, diligence and professionalism,' said the statement. 'Every investigative lead was pursued in an effort to understand what happened, and to provide the family with as much clarity and closure as possible. 'As a result of the investigative findings and in consultation with the coroner's office, there has been no indication of foul play in this case.' Oldrieve said it's good to finally have some answers for the family, but questions remain. 'The part that can be a little bit upsetting is (we) still don't know why, when or even who and how did a part of Nick end up where it did,' said Oldrieve. Adamson's mother said her family is left with questions that will likely never be answered. 'Police don't have any answers; they have no answers whatsoever; they have no ideas where he went into water or why he went in the water,' she said. 'We're just assuming the (Welland) Canal, but we don't know that … there's more questions than answers right now.' She said police told her they are planning dives in Hamilton Harbour near where her son's remains were found hoping to locate the rest of him. 'At least they're not closing the case entirely,' she said. Sabourin confirmed police have closed the missing person's aspect of the case, but plan to conduct further investigations, including a search of Hamilton Harbour 'should additional information or circumstances warrant it.' 'We remain committed to ensuring that all avenues are thoroughly explored and to supporting the Adamson family with compassion and care,' she said. 'We recognize that this is an incredibly difficult time for Nicholas's loved ones. Our members have remained in close contact with the family throughout and continue to offer support as they navigate this loss.'
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Owen Doyle: Leaving an arguable try scoring decision totally in the Television Match Official's hands does not stack up
Munster left it late, again. At half-time against Benetton at Musgrave Park, fans were fearing the worst with anxious and worried faces everywhere. But what seemed a different team emerged after the break and a performance full of energy and effort dug out the most vital of victories . So, could these guys win the trophy again? Well, I wouldn't put anything past them. In truth, though, the match against Benetton was Munster's cup final. The winning of it saved next year's season. Dropping out of the Champions Cup would have been cataclysmic for them and awful for Irish rugby as a whole. The organisers, EPCR, will also have been relieved. Munster, with their wonderful supporters, have massive appeal, home or away. Ever since 2014, when the newly formed EPCR upped sticks, leaving Dublin for Switzerland, they have become pretty anonymous. Hands up if you know who the CEO or chairman is? READ MORE When in Dublin, they had opportunities for plenty of water-cooler moments with World Rugby, who were just around the corner. No longer being able to drop in for informal chats seems quite a loss. If you find yourself on Boulevard de Grancy in Lausanne, do drop in. I'm sure they'll be pleased to see you. I doubt they get many visitors. Switzerland's national rugby team is known as the White Flowers (Edelweiss), but the country is probably better known for yodelling competitions. In days of yore, European rugby under the leadership of Derek McGrath had a clear identity. McGrath oversaw the format of home and away pool matches. It was all so much more appealing, more engaging, more thrilling, more understandable. Is it beyond the men in Lausanne to bring it back? When Scotland's Mike Adamson was appointed referee for Friday's match, I was concerned. But, having criticised him before, I have no problem saying that, on this occasion, he was better. Nonetheless, Benetton will have several gripes, including that Adamson himself didn't check if there was an obstructive block, or pull, by John Hodnett on Benetton's Nacho Brex prior to Jack Crowley scoring. It was a critical moment, worth seven points. Any player so animatedly earnest in his appeal, as Brex was, often has a point and this try needed a complete examination. We often hear referees telling the opposition that an obstruction has been checked, and that the television match official (TMO) has okayed it. But, when a try is at stake, it's a mystery to me why all referees do not insist on seeing the replays. These 'scoring' decisions, often altering results, need the head man's input. It should be compulsory. Leaving an arguable try scoring decision totally in the hands of the TMO doesn't stack up for me – he is not the referee. In fairness to Benetton, Adamson should have taken ownership of the decision. Surely the visitors were entitled to due process, rather than a judgment in camera. Benetton's Jacob Umaga makes a break during Friday's game against Munster in Cork. Photograph: Ben Brady/INPHO Later on, Adamson had good reason to admonish the otherwise excellent Tom Farrell, who threw some unnecessary verbal abuse at him. The referee told the player that a repeat would see him leave the field. It's a common modus operandi. England's Dylan Hartley will forever wish Wayne Barnes had adopted it when he, correctly, red carded him, playing for Northampton against Leicester, in the 2013 English Premiership final. Hartley's outburst cost him dearly, the heaviest price imaginable: his already secured place on the Lions, the last time they visited Australia. So, instead of weak, meaningless verbal warnings about the 'next time', referees should apply an immediate sanction, the minimum being a penalty. A card is also available, the appropriate colour depending on the level of abuse. Adamson was right to be distinctly unamused. He spoke forcibly to Farrell, then confirmed things to Tadhg Beirne. The outcome was a penalty to Munster for a high tackle. But Farrell could still have been sanctioned and was fortunate to avoid 'yellow'. The accompanying penalty could have been reversed in Munster's favour, in consideration of the non-carded high tackle. Did that option even cross the ref's mind? I've no idea, but the optics of Farrell getting off scot-free were not good. Referee Hollie Davidson is seen at Connacht's away game against Zebre in Parma, Italy, on Saturday. Photograph: Roberto Bregani/INPHO Recently, I suggested that Hollie Davidson deserves a URC quarter-final. While she might well get one, her performances have earned something far bigger. She will referee the European Challenge Cup final between Bath and Lyon on Friday. Davidson is the first Scot to handle a final since 1998 when Jim Fleming oversaw the then Heineken Cup decider. Heck, that's a long time ago. It confirms Scotland's consistent failure to develop established top-class elite referees. But who is doing so? Ireland's stellar period, for example, started to peter out around 2017. Before that, the Irish count was six Heineken Cup finals and about the same number of Challenge finals. There is a fault-line in many unions, it's not just Scotland any more. Urgent attention is imperative. Congratulations are also due to Georgia's Nika Amashukeli, appointed to officiate at the Champions Cup final between Northampton Saints and Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday. It's bound to be an absolute cracker, both teams playing a dynamic, adventurous style. The progress in recent times of Davidson and Amashukeli has seen them on a very fast track. Nonetheless, if anybody had suggested a few years ago that a Georgian man and a Scottish woman would referee the two European finals in 2025, they would have been scoffed at. These two have actually gone and done it. It's a terrific achievement, brilliant. May it all go well. That has always been the tricky bit.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Father of two killed after ‘excessively risky' NSW police car chase
But even though there was no evidence the offender continued to speed or to drive dangerously after the first pursuit ended, NSW Police decided to begin a second chase, Deputy State Coroner Rebecca Hosking found. The police car in this second pursuit reached speeds of 204km/h. A communication breakdown meant instructions on how to conduct the pursuit were not received by officers on the road. 'The risk posed by the pursuit was, in my mind, excessive,' Hosking found. She concluded it should not have been authorised under the Safe Driving Policy, which requires police to weigh the need to immediately apprehend an offender against the risks to the community, police and the offender. But the coroner also called on the Commissioner of Police to introduce a new threshold for pursuits. Under the new policy, police wishing to chase would need to be satisfied a 'serious risk to the health and safety of a person' existed before the decision to intercept or stop the vehicle. The recommendation repeated one that was handed down in 2022, after an inquest into the death of 22-year-old man Tyrone Adams, which police did not adopt. Jokinen's elder daughter, Lisa, told this masthead she felt 'really let down' by police and hurt that officers attending the inquest left the courtroom before the family read their statements last month. 'Where's the respect, or any form of accountability, by standing up and walking out when it's actually time for the victims to have their say?' Lisa Jokinen said. In her statement, she described her father as 'gentle, kind and endlessly generous'. Loading 'I hate that I will never get to see my dad again, I'll never get to hug him, tell him I love him, and hear him saying it back,' she said. 'On 30th December, 2021, I wish I had been killed too.' Adamson told the court: 'I am devastated we don't get to grow old together'. She also said that when she learnt of Jokinen's death, 'my present and my future exploded into a million tiny pieces'. She said she had little anger towards the driver who crashed into Jokinen, who has since been sentenced to more than 10 years' jail for manslaughter and other offences, and who has apologised for his actions. 'I am angry at the NSW Police Force's lack of reflection and inability to assess and learn from their actions in the events leading to Harri's death,' Adamson said. In a statement, NSW Police said: 'a comprehensive review of the findings will be undertaken and all recommendations will be considered'. Jokinen's family said they would now seek to meet with either the outgoing Commissioner of Police Karen Webb or her replacement to discuss the findings. 'Historically, they've ignored coronial recommendations,' Adamson said. 'That's not good enough.'
The Age
17-05-2025
- The Age
Father of two killed after ‘excessively risky' NSW police car chase
But even though there was no evidence the offender continued to speed or to drive dangerously after the first pursuit ended, NSW Police decided to begin a second chase, Deputy State Coroner Rebecca Hosking found. The police car in this second pursuit reached speeds of 204km/h. A communication breakdown meant instructions on how to conduct the pursuit were not received by officers on the road. 'The risk posed by the pursuit was, in my mind, excessive,' Hosking found. She concluded it should not have been authorised under the Safe Driving Policy, which requires police to weigh the need to immediately apprehend an offender against the risks to the community, police and the offender. But the coroner also called on the Commissioner of Police to introduce a new threshold for pursuits. Under the new policy, police wishing to chase would need to be satisfied a 'serious risk to the health and safety of a person' existed before the decision to intercept or stop the vehicle. The recommendation repeated one that was handed down in 2022, after an inquest into the death of 22-year-old man Tyrone Adams, which police did not adopt. Jokinen's elder daughter, Lisa, told this masthead she felt 'really let down' by police and hurt that officers attending the inquest left the courtroom before the family read their statements last month. 'Where's the respect, or any form of accountability, by standing up and walking out when it's actually time for the victims to have their say?' Lisa Jokinen said. In her statement, she described her father as 'gentle, kind and endlessly generous'. Loading 'I hate that I will never get to see my dad again, I'll never get to hug him, tell him I love him, and hear him saying it back,' she said. 'On 30th December, 2021, I wish I had been killed too.' Adamson told the court: 'I am devastated we don't get to grow old together'. She also said that when she learnt of Jokinen's death, 'my present and my future exploded into a million tiny pieces'. She said she had little anger towards the driver who crashed into Jokinen, who has since been sentenced to more than 10 years' jail for manslaughter and other offences, and who has apologised for his actions. 'I am angry at the NSW Police Force's lack of reflection and inability to assess and learn from their actions in the events leading to Harri's death,' Adamson said. In a statement, NSW Police said: 'a comprehensive review of the findings will be undertaken and all recommendations will be considered'. Jokinen's family said they would now seek to meet with either the outgoing Commissioner of Police Karen Webb or her replacement to discuss the findings. 'Historically, they've ignored coronial recommendations,' Adamson said. 'That's not good enough.'
