Latest news with #Courtney
Sunday World
11 hours ago
- General
- Sunday World
UDA vows to keep up attacks on Catholic homes in new housing development
The Sunday World can reveal the terror group has no intention of letting up West Belfast UDA has vowed to maintain its attacks on a mixed housing development in the north of the city. Residents in a new project in Alloa and Annalee streets in the Oldpark area have had the run the gauntlet of a series of attacks on their homes over the last few weeks. The Sunday World can reveal the terror group has no intention of letting up. A number of homes have been attacked windows broken and residents at the Clanmill Housing Association development being warned that they risk being burned out if they refuse to leave. Some of the homes that were targeted There have been a series of public meetings and this week the First and Deputy First Ministers condemned the attacks. We can also reveal that Justice Minister Naomi Long is to meet a delegation early next week, including independent City Councillor Paul McCusker who has been a vocal advocate for the targeted families. He will be joined by victims campaigner Raymond McCord, who has been in constant contact with families over the period of the attacks. Two others, representatives of the residents, are also expected to attend. According to sources, the campaign is being waged by long-time drug dealer Mo Courtney with the blessing of alleged West Belfast Brigadier Matt Kincaid and support from convicted extortionist Geordie Taggart who lives close to the targeted development. Some of the homes that were targeted According to loyalist sources, Courtney has boasted that he has no intention of letting up — and has vowed to step up attacks. 'He has said he will keep going until they've gone,' said our source. The Sunday World understands there is a UDA drug house in the area and the terror mob is concerned an influx of people from outside the area may compromise its safety. The local population has lived under UDA threats and intimidation for decades. 'It's about control, total control — they will do anything to protect their drugs trade, the arrival of outsiders brings with it the possibility of questions being asked.' Read more Five Catholic families refuse to flee after new homes smashed up by UDA thugs Convicted killer and lower Shankill UFF boss Courtney has had an iron grip on the area's drug trade for years. Close associate Taggart has been identified as a main player in the attacks on houses. He is believed to have sanctioned the intimidation after discovering Catholic families moved into Alloa Street and Annalee Street, off Manor Street. UDA sources have told the Sunday World the associates of the 63-year-old launched the sectarian attacks spree with the approval of the leadership. The group started by spreading false stories of people playing loud 'rebel music'' and of kids wearing GAA tops. 'GAA tops? How can grown men be afraid of kids wearing sports tops? Anyway, it was all lies. Pathetic.' Three of the families targeted in the UDA attacks fled their homes permanently. They have been offered temporary accommodation in a local hotel and face the prospect of going back to the bottom of housing waiting lists. At a meeting with other targeted families, they were told the PSNI had intelligence the properties were to be petrol-bombed that evening. Police have confirmed the motive behind the Alloa Street and Annalee Street attacks is sectarian and were treating the incidents as hate crime. Geordie Taggart, who sources have linked to the attacks, has managed to keep a particularly low profile but is understood to lead the UDA in the lower Oldpark area. He was jailed in 2000 for running protection rackets for the terror group. Taggart was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted on eight counts of blackmail at Belfast Crown Court. The case centred on an attempt to extort £3,000 from a building contractor operating in the north Belfast area. The trio are also closely associated with alleged drug dealer Roy Douglas, also believed to live close to the targeted streets. He is a close associated of Courtney's and has been under investigation by the PSNI for alleged drug dealing. The 60-year-old's home has been searched twice by officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force as part of anti-UDA drug-dealing operations. He was never charged and has previously denied any involvement in terrorism or drugs. Homes on Annalee Street News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025 In a separate development, the north Belfast attacks are to be discussed at a specially convened meeting of the Irish government's Good Friday Implementation Committee. Raymond McCord, who sits on the government-appointed body, said the issue of sectarian attacks is as prevalent today as it was decades ago. He said the committee is also to consider the flow of Irish taxpayers' money to grant aid community projects in loyalist areas. 'Many of the people behind these attacks are growing fat on the back of public funds yet continue to carry out these attacks. It's wrong and has to stop, starting with their funding.' The north Belfast attacks comes weeks after a similar UDA campaign of intimidation aimed at families in a mixed housing development in Lisburn. And in recent weeks two Catholic families have been forced to quit their homes in the Skegoneill area of north Belfast after being targeted by a known UDA drug dealer. In all instances the PSNI has appealed for information.
Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Courtney Dodd of Floify named to HousingWire's 2025 Marketing Leaders list for a second year in a row
- HousingWire's Marketing Leaders award celebrates the most innovative and influential marketing executives in the housing finance industry - BOULDER, Colo., June 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Floify, the mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale (POS) solution, today announced that Courtney Dodd, head of marketing, has been named to HousingWire's prestigious Marketing Leaders list for 2025. She was also a 2024 Marketing Leaders recipient. The Marketing Leaders award honors the outstanding accomplishments of mortgage and real estate marketing executives who are the visionaries behind the strategies, campaigns and branding efforts that push the industry forward. Dodd joined Floify in 2023 with 12 years of experience in the mortgage and fintech industries and quickly set to work executing a comprehensive full-funnel marketing strategy that rebranded Floify — a highly intuitive POS platform — and solidified its standing as a fintech leader. Courtney has played a key role in the successful launches of Floify Broker Edition and Floify Lender Edition, and in 2025 spearheaded the release of Dynamic Apps, a no-code feature that empowers users to customize borrower applications for new products. Many of the fast-track achievements Dodd is implementing at Floify draw from her prior 12 years of experience leading large-scale fintech marketing initiatives. The industry veteran was formerly the director of integrated marketing at SimpleNexus (now an nCino company), where she oversaw all of SimpleNexus's events and conferences, association relationships, demand gen marketing, digital marketing and account-based marketing. Prior to SimpleNexus, Dodd was product marketing manager at Ellie Mae (now ICE Mortgage Technology), where she led strategic product marketing initiatives including branding, positioning, client communications and go-to-market planning. She also served as marketing manager at Calyx Software and was the regional marketing consultancy team lead at PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. 'Courtney's extensive expertise in mortgage marketing has helped us adeptly respond to the industry's fluctuations, ensuring we remain responsive and relevant for our customers,' said Sofia Rossato, Floify's president and general manager. 'We are extremely proud of Courtney's achievements, especially in earning this recognition two years running.' For a complete list of HousingWire 2025 Marketing Leaders winners, please visit the HousingWire website. About Floify Floify is a digital mortgage automation solution that streamlines the loan process by providing a secure application, communication, and document portal between lenders, borrowers, referral partners, and other mortgage stakeholders. Loan originators use the platform to create product-specific applications (no coding required!), collect and verify borrower documentation, track loan progress, communicate with borrowers and real estate agents, and close loans faster. The company is based in Boulder, Colorado and is a subsidiary of Porch Group, Inc. ('Porch Group') (NASDAQ: PRCH). For more information, visit the company's website at or on social media at Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter / X. Twitter: @Floify #mortgage #fintech #housingfinance NEWS SOURCE: Floify ### MEDIA ONLY CONTACT: (not for publication online or in print) Elizabeth Schroeder Depth for Floify (209) 774-6555 [email protected] ### Keywords: Mortgage, HousingWire Marketing Leaders list, Courtney Dodd of Floify, fintech, mortgage industry's leading point-of-sale, Porch Group Inc., NASDAQ: PRCH, BOULDER, Colo. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Floify) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126652 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Big Brother star to play Princess Diana in new musical in theatre debut
The drag queen won Celebrity Big Brother in 2019 after receiving 49 percent of the public vote and is now set to step into the shoes of royalty Celebrity Big Brother winner Courtney Act is set to make her UK theatre debut in the unexpected role of Princess Diana in a bold new musical. The production, which is called The Diana Mixtape, will have its world premiere at HERE at Outernet in London. It will be running in the English capital from 28 July to 10 August 2025, before transferring to The Lowry in Salford for a week-long run from 19 to 24 August. The show has been described as a hybrid of concert, biopic and musical. It was created, written, and directed by Christopher D. Clegg, and reimagines the life and legacy of Princess Diana through a soundtrack of modern pop hits. The songs that will be used to lead the audience through Diana's major milestones were originally performed by artists including Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue. Courtney Act, whose real name is Shane Gilberto Jenek, will be one of five drag performers playing the People's Princess. Fellow RuPaul's Drag Race alumni Rosé and Priyanka will be joining Courtney on stage as Diana, alongside UK drag favourites Divina De Campo and Kitty Scott-Claus. Other members of the cast include The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle as Queen Elizabeth II, former Hear'Say singer Noel Sullivan as King Charles III, and Lucinda Lawrence as Queen Camilla. Courtney first came into the public eye as a finalist on Australian Idol in 2003, and went on to earn more global recognition on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6, where she finished the series as the runner-up. But it was her 2018 win on Celebrity Big Brother UK with 49 percent of the public vote that made her a British household name. Courtney made headlines before even stepping foot in the Big Brother house, thanks to a memorable wardrobe malfunction where her skirt fall off during her grand entrance, exposing the drag star's bits. Thankfully, this only boosted her popularity, as Little Mix star Jade dubbed it "iconic". While on the reality show, Courtney won audiences over with her bubbly personality while advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and also formed a close and slightly flirty friendship with The Apprentice star Andrew Brady. When asked about their relationship after the Channel 5 show ended, she shared: "The thing I love about Andrew is that he's so comfortable with everything and everyone... not caring about what anyone in the house thinks... I love and respect him. The thing that I really did respect was that we both had that understanding." After winning Celebrity Big Brother, the drag queen described the experience of coming in top place as "very surreal". She also gushed: "It's amazing to think that the public chose me – I guess it's validation in the things that I believe in." Now Courtney is prepared to step into the shoes of royalty for the first time, and will be joining the show alongside a creative team led by musical director Matthew Harvey, choreographer Taz Hoesli, costume designer River Smith, and lighting designer Toby P. Darvill. The show's dramaturg is Geri Allen, with wigs by River Medway and video design by Adam Nightingale.
UPI
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Jai Courtney wanted 'Dangerous Animals' killer to be fun
1 of 7 | Jai Courtney, seen at the 2021 premiere of "The Suicide Squad" in Los Angeles, stars in "Dangerous Animals." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo LOS ANGELES, June 3 (UPI) -- Jai Courtney says he had two goals with his character in Dangerous Animals -- to be terrifying while also retaining a sense of fun. The actor plays Tucker, a boat captain who kidnaps tourists and feeds them to sharks as he films their deaths. In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Courtney, 39, said Tucker is as entertaining as he is scary. "I wanted to create something that people could have a lot of fun with as well as hopefully be terrified by," Courtney said. "He's a very colorful character but there's a lot of elements to him that aren't about his dedication to killing." Courtney said he focused on Tucker's talkative nature, which is one way he lures victims onto his boat. "He feels like that guy you've run into in the pub that won't shut up," Courtney said. "He's the cab driver that knows too much about politics and wants to talk your ear off." The audience sees Tucker's unhinged side before his victims do. When alone, Tucker dances in his cabin and barks at the dog living on a neighboring boat. "It was always my intention to go big with him and keep him larger than life," Courtney said. "Milo the dog is kind of the one person who's really not too flash on Tucker himself. He kind of sees through the bull[expletive] and figures there might be a threat in there. When that role's reversed all of a sudden and Tucker gives it back to him, it's kind of cool." For the dancing scene, Courtney danced to Stevie Wright's "Evie (Part One)" twice and improvised after discussion with director Sean Byrne about how the dance should feel. "We didn't really know what was going to happen with the dance," Courtney said. "It just came out of me." Hassie Harrison also stars as Zephyr, an American surfer traveling alone, who proves more formidable than Tucker's usual victims. Harrison played a ranch hand on Yellowstone, but said nothing compared to surfing and dodging sharks. "This is by far and away one of the most physically demanding roles I've taken on," Harrison, 35, said, although she did acknowledge on Yellowstone "you'll be sore the next day when you're on a horse for eight hours." Zephyr stands up to Tucker and insults his inadequacies for preying upon women. Courtney said this confrontation rattles Tucker. "There's a few times where I think Zephyr sees through the mask that Tucker's presenting and cuts to the core of the wound that's within him," Courtney said. "He's a person who's isolated himself into a world where he can believe he's this apex predator, but really within that there's a lot of vulnerability." Harrison did not believe Zephyr had any master plan to provoke her captor. "I think she's just authentically being herself and holding up a mirror to a monster which is a really scary thing to do sometimes," she said. Though set during the prime surfing season in Queensland, Dangerous Animals filmed during Australia's winter. This made it challenging for Harrison to perform in her bathing suit. "It was freezing when we filmed the movie," she said. "I feel like the last 15 minutes of it, you can see my breath the whole time." Before encountering Tucker, Zephyr meets local surfer Moses (Josh Heuston), who comes looking for her after she goes missing. Heuston agreed both the water and the wind on the deck of Tucker's boat were frigid. "We're up against the elements there," he said. To Courtney, a Sydney native, even Australian winter is postcard-worthy, warm and sunny. "Australian winter, particularly in Queensland, is kind of a pretend winter," Courtney said. "I certainly wouldn't be able to sit here and complain."
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Personal trainer on first date jailed for causing pile-up that injured seven cop
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A novice driver who caused a 'catastrophic' crash on the A1 near Newcastle has been given 14 months' detention. Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, caused a huge crash on the A1 when he suddenly braked at 120mph, which left seven police officers injured, while taking a woman home from their first date. The personal trainer sped away in his powerful BMW SUV after cops spotted him driving over the speed limit and with defective rear lights in the early hours of April 9. Police cars were left mangled on the dual carriageway when the officers chased Mazyar down the road. One officer was left with nerve damage to her back and soft tissue damage to her knee, while another officer needed stitches on his forehead after a cut. Mazyar had bought the car on finance although he only had a provisional licence, no insurance, and he later admitted having paid for only three driving lessons. It was a 'miracle' that no one died or was injured more seriously, Judge Tim Gittins said during sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court today. Mazyar, who moved to the UK after fleeing Iran when he was 14, was given 14 months' detention in a young offenders' institution. The judge said: 'You should have been nowhere near the driving seat of any vehicle that night, let alone one such as a BMW X5, a large and powerful SUV. 'It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was more seriously injured or that there were not multiple fatalities.' Mazyar was driving his date, Courtney Redfern, home in the SUV after the pair's first date. To make matters worse, the personal trainer was back behind the wheel just two days after the crash as he drove to get to work at a gym in Newcastle on April 11, 12 and 13. He had been stopped for driving without a licence and insurance in 2023. He admitted several driving offences, including driving without insurance multiple times, even after the crash and failing to stop. On the night of the horrific crash, he had first pulled over, but when an officer approached on foot, he said 'nah' and sped away, his passenger, Courtney, said. The driver's defence said that Mazyar had claimed Courtney told him she had drugs on her and he 'panicked.' Judge Gittins said: 'Whether or not you were made aware of the small amount of cannabis in her possession, I am satisfied you made a deliberate decision to make off substantially because of your unlawful driving position.' More Trending Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said Courtney told him to stop several times and she thought he 'could have killed someone.' He was going at 119mph when he suddenly braked harshly in the middle of the carriageway, causing the pursuing officers to crash, the court heard. The prosecutor said: 'A number of these officers were trapped in vehicles. There were liquids involved, thankfully not petrol. A number of officers were rendered unconscious. It was clearly a very traumatic incident.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man dies after Mercedes crashes at roundabout on the A5 near Old Stratford MORE: M1 closed towards London after multi-vehicle crash MORE: It was a normal drive – then teenagers going 100mph nearly killed me
