Latest news with #Declan
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Norte Dame student's legacy lives on in graduation journey of Chicago's youth
CHICAGO (WGN) — Thousands of students will cross a graduation stage over the next couple weeks, among them, one very special group, known as Declan's 40. Declan Sullivan is a name few will ever forget. It has been nearly 15 years since the Notre Dame junior tragically died when the hydraulic scissor lift he was videotaping from, toppled due to high wind. His family could have sued the university, but instead they chose a different path, one that has dramatically changed the course for 100 students in Chicago. They handed over $400,000 in donations to Horizons for Youth, a local organization committed to ensuring underprivileged kids get to cross their own graduation stage. 'Education has always been extremely important to our family,' Declan's younger sister Wyn Sullivan said Greg Borkowski is the group's executive director. 'A lot of times, if you're from an under resourced aream you stop looking for things because they might not be there,' he said. They started with a group of four dozen kindergarteners from low income neighborhoods across the city. They called them Declan's 40. More information at 'For us it's been a really good way to keep a memory alive,' Declan's younger brother Mac Sullivan said. Through mentoring, tutors, and community support, more and more kids were added, becoming Declan's 52, than 64. Now, 14 years after his death, the Sullivan Family has raised more than $9 million dollars through their annual fundraiser, forever changing the paths of 100 Chicago students. That first group, Declan's 40, is graduating this month. Camrin Darke is part of that group. 'When we were in kindergarten, we were the ones that started,' she said. 'It's been amazing. That was probably the most significant part of my life that helped me get to where I am now.' Camrin will be attending Illinois State University this fall. Melanie Angel is headed to University of Wisconsin. 'I grew up in Little Village in the far Southwest Side of Chicago and there aren't a lot of opportunities in my neighborhood,' she said. Every year, the newest college bound grads are honored at the No Ordinary Night Gala. 'Seeing students that were in kindergarten, then now graduating high school moving through college … has an incredible impact on how they see their own opportunities,' Borkowski said. 'It really is a legacy. And I just think that is incredible.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘We're making it work' – Virgin Media star opens up on challenges of long distance marriage to Limerick hurler
VIRGIN Media star Louise Cantillon has opened up on the "challenges" of having a long distance marriage. The popular presenter is a frequent host on both Ireland AM and The Six O'Clock Show. 2 Louise Cantillon has opened up about her relationship to her husband Credit: Instagram 2 Louise is married to Declan Hannon, who is a Limerick hurler Credit: Instagram Outside of her on-screen duties, Louise also hosts a hugely popular podcast called How to Gael and has her own show on Today FM. Outside of her life in the public eye, Louise is married to Limerick hurler Declan Hannon. Due to their wavering work commitments, the pair have a long distance marriage during the week. Both of them come from Limerick, where Declan lives full time and where Louise goes on the weekend - she lives in Dublin on weekdays. Read more on Today FM Louise and Declan have , having initially met at a local teenage disco when they were 15 and 16. They got engaged in 2020 in the picturesque setting of Slea Head beach in Dingle. The happy couple Since Louise took up her job in Today FM 18 months ago she admitted there have been "more struggles" in their relationship. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Speaking to RSVP she said: "It's definitely not conventional, but we've found our rhythm. We're very motivated people and we're still really young. Ireland AM star left unimpressed after Alan Hughes makes blunder on air "We've been together since we were 18 and we've lived so much of our lives together, but now at ages 31 and 32 it feels like we're back in college again and meeting up on the weekends. "There were more struggles last year, but we don't have kids and we don't own a house just yet. "We're making it work and Declan is so supportive." Louise also admitted that when the call came from Today FM it seemed like a no brainer decision. She explained: "I wish I could say more thought went into it, I jumped at the opportunity. There's a great phrase as Gaeilge, 'Tapaigh an deis', which means jump on the opportunity, and I'm a big believer in that. HAPPY COUPLE "When a chance presents itself to take a job that so many people want to be in, you have to take it. I didn't think twice." Recently, one of Louise's Virgin Media co stars Ireland AM's Muireann O'Connell finally got the keys to her own house after a four year search. The Limerick beauty took to Instagram earlier this month to share the happy news with her fans. Muireann posed for a quick snap at the window in her stunning sitting room with the view of palm trees and other homes in the estate behind her.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Liverpool fan's tickets cancelled over accusation of touting
A life-long Liverpool fan accused of facilitating ticket touting has blasted the football club for cancelling his tickets and saying it would not refund him £1, from Northern Ireland, had bought three tickets for himself and his daughters, for Sunday's end of season game when Liverpool will lift the Premier League later received an email stating: "Your tickets have been cancelled due to suspicious activity and you will not be provided with a refund."LFC said it takes a "zero tolerance approach to all forms of ticket touting" and "anyone who facilitated ticket touting" or "breached the club's terms and conditions" would be sanctioned. A BBC Nolan Show investigation found that cancellation emails, like the one sent to Declan, are routinely sent out before fans who are under suspicion have an opportunity to defend receiving the correspondence Declan contacted the club."I automatically panicked, thinking what's going on? "Have I been hacked?"He was told the club had discovered that in 2024 he had sold a ticket which ended up in the hands of a ticket had advertised a ticket on X and this was a breach of the official LFC terms and then transferred the ticket via Liverpool's official website to a registered later emerged that the account was linked to a ticket tout which neither Liverpool or Declan were aware of at the time. "I passed on the ticket to an official member. What has happened subsequently to that I have no idea. "But again, I can't be held accountable, surely, for something that happened 15 months ago?"I have been to games since."Declan has acknowledged that advertising on social media is a breach of LFC terms and at the time, he said he thought he was selling a ticket to a genuine fan and said he did so at less than face value."The ticket cost me £32, I sent it to an official member for £30. If I am a ticket tout I am the worst ticket tout in history," he added. 'Zero-tolerance approach' University of Liverpool's Kieran Maguire, a football finance expert and host of the Price of Football podcast, said ticket touting is a massive problem for big clubs like Liverpool. "Liverpool cancelled 100,000 fake membership accounts last year, they had 75 lifetime bans, 136 fans have been given indefinite suspensions, so it's a huge problem," he said."And no system works particularly well so therefore decent fans like Declan get caught up in it."Andy Bell, a Liverpool supporter and a contributor to the Liverpool fan site The Anfield Wrap, said Liverpool's drive to tackle ticket touts isn't working."Touting sites have these tickets available, one is going for £18,000 this weekend, so it hasn't solved the problem at all," he the BBC contacted LFC, the club refunded Declan's money, but they have refused to restore the match tickets for Declan and his family , insisting he facilitated ticket a statement, LFC said : "Liverpool Football Club takes a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of ticket touting. We thoroughly investigate all reported cases and anyone who has facilitated ticket touting and breached the club's terms and conditions will be sanctioned."We will continue to do all we can to combat all forms of ticket touting and protect genuine supporters."
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Declan Rice & Lauren Fryer's pals reveal toll of online abuse on relationship & truth about THOSE X-Factor star rumours
Lauren was forced off social media after vile trolls told the Arsenal star to dump her and get an 'upgrade' - but the abuse and rumours didn't stop there TROLL HELL Declan Rice & Lauren Fryer's pals reveal toll of online abuse on relationship & truth about THOSE X-Factor star rumours IT started out as an innocent TikTok video - posted on a fan account - showing Declan Rice canoodling with his long-term partner Lauren Fryer. But days later, unfounded accusations linking Rice to an X Factor popstar began appearing in the suggested search bar below it - vicious rumours fuelled by a greedy social media algorithm. 8 Midfielder Declan Rice and girlfriend Lauren Fryer have been together since 2017 Credit: Instagram @laurenfryer_ 8 Declan pictured on a luxury yacht with girlfriend Lauren while holidaying in Formentera in 2021 Credit: BackGrid 8 Lauren, the mother of Declan's toddler son, has rarely been seen in public since being bullied off social media 8 Vicious, unfounded accusations linking Rice to an X Factor popstar began appearing on TikTok Credit: Getty While many of the bonkers headlines that appear on the app - including 'Tom Cruise dead' and 'Katie Price confirms pregnancy' - are obviously fabricated by clickbait-hungry AI machines built to increase engagement on the Chinese social media site, this one gained unwanted - and unwarranted - traction. A year has passed since Lauren was forced off social media after being fat-shamed by vile online trolls who cruelly told the Arsenal star to dump her in favour of an 'upgrade'. Lauren, the mother of Declan's toddler son, has rarely been seen in public since. Perhaps bots - knowing the furore that ensued following the horrific incident last year - are smart enough to know spinning a web of lies about her clearly besotted partner would get football fans clicking. Lauren was briefly seen in the stands at the Euros in Germany last year, when Declan ran to hug her after England's victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals. It was a rare occurrence, as friends say Lauren will never put herself in a position where she can be hung out to dry in the court of public opinion. Meanwhile, Declan has been seen letting his hair down following the Euros at Wayne Lineker's Ocean Beach in Ibiza - and contacts tell me he mingled with the A list at You Me Bum Bum Train in February. These two outings were enough to fuel the fires amongst the cesspit of social media bullies. 'The torment Lauren endured because of those pathetic people was horrific,' one confidante tells me. 'She had never lived a public life, so to be torn apart on social media felt even more unfair. Inside Declan Rice and Lauren Fryer's romance 'Lauren wasn't the kind of WAG you saw out and about, or going to big events or fashion shows. That wasn't her style. 'She virtually lived in the shadows anyway. To then be attacked so viciously and with such fury left a lasting mark.' Lauren is expected to be among the guests at Dani Dyer and Jarrod Bowen's huge wedding later this month - but it's unlikely she'll be pictured on the WAG social channels afterwards. 'Lauren has managed to carefully navigate life now where she is present at events but isn't seen,' the friend continues. 'Those close to her know she doesn't want to be shared in pictures unless they are on totally private accounts. 'She has her own private account which is just for her friends and family but she'd never share things publicly again. 'It's not because she's scared, it's because she just wants a quiet life doing what she loves with Declan and their family.' Relationship timeline Rice and Lauren have been together for eight years: 2016 - Rice and childhood sweetheart Lauren get together as teenagers May, 2017 - Rice makes his West Ham debut in a clash with Burnley March, 2019 - The Hammers ace makes his England debut after switching allegiances from the Republic of Ireland August, 2022 - Rice confirms the birth of his son, Jude November, 2022 - Lauren heads to Qatar to support her man at the World Cup July, 2023 - Rice leaves West Ham to join Arsenal, with Lauren regularly supporting him at games at the Emirates April, 2024 - Lauren wipes her Instagram account after vile bullying by trolls A quick glance at social media this morning shows the trolls have still not abated when it comes to stirring up egregious and unsubstantiated rumours about Lauren and her relationship with Declan - who she started dating as a teenager in 2017. On TikTok, the completely false allegations he 'cheated' with a former X Factor star are rife, while the no-marks who use gossip cesspit Tattle Life continue to stir up rubbish about their nine-year relationship. 'It's pathetic,' a friend says. 'But it's all nonsense. 'Don't these people have something better to do? Get a life and stop typing out b*****ks on your iPhone.' Lauren's private Instagram account has 295 followers, showing just how tightly she keeps her inner circle. Arsenal star Bukayo Saka's girlfriend Tolami Benson is among those who keep up to date with the account, along with Kennedy Alexa - the partner of Spurs star James Madison - and, of course, Jarrod's fiancée Dani. By contrast, Lauren's old public account has almost 100,000 followers, but features no photographs. Previously, Lauren liked to share posts - glamorous selfies and snaps of her and Declan with their beloved cockapoo Raffa covered her grid. 8 Previously Lauren liked to share posts, glamorous selfies and snaps of her and Declan with their beloved cockapoo Raffa Credit: Instagram @laurenfryer_ 8 Declan would regularly comment underneath her photographs with love heart emojis Credit: Instagram @laurenfryer_ Declan would regularly comment underneath her photographs with fire and love heart emojis. Underneath one picture, he wrote: 'Your support has been incredible, couldn't ask for better.' But a year ago, Lauren deleted all the photographs and memories she had shared. The decision was a reaction to the brutal and downright disgusting barrage of hate aimed at her after snaps of her and Declan on holiday four months prior. The comments on Instagram were far worse, and from behind their anonymous usernames, the lowlife keyboard warriors went on the attack. But while Lauren and Declan ignored the barrage of hate, it changed after quotes - purporting to be from Declan - started to circulate online with ferocity. The hate and the awful comments was one thing. But this whole saga meant the conversation just kept rolling on and people started picking apart Lauren and Declan's relationship. At the time, thousands believed the quotes - allegedly given by Declan at a press conference - were real. During the work of fictional nonsense, an internet idiot claimed Declan had hit back and said: 'My woman is the love of my life, and there is no upgrade that exists for me.' In truth, the press conference never happened. Declan never addressed what was being said and everything shared or written about it is completely false. It didn't stop the quotes from being shared thousands of times online - fuelling what had already become a painful and incessant barrage of nonsense. Just three days after this rumour first started, Lauren deleted her entire account. INCESSANT BARRAGE 'It all got too much,' a friend explains. 'The hate and the awful comments was one thing. But this whole saga meant the conversation just kept rolling on and people started picking apart Lauren and Declan's relationship. 'Bloggers started picking up the quotes as fact which meant it was being shared even more widely, even though the wider media ignored it because it was totally untrue. 'The sheer scale of it all became too ridiculous for words.' The deletion saw an outpouring of love and support for Lauren, from the tens of thousands of people who genuinely took an interest in Lauren's life and her posts. 'Lauren Fryer you are a beautiful young woman,' one wrote online. 'Stay strong.' 8 Arsenal's Declan Rice has had a good woman behind him in Lauren throughout his career Credit: PA 8 Lauren's private Instagram account has 295 followers, showing just how tightly she keeps her inner circle Credit: Lauren Fryer Instagram Another added: 'Appreciation post for this beautiful woman Lauren Fryer. 'We're sorry to see that in 2024 women are still subject to so many disgusting comments.' It was so hard for her [Lauren], the trolling, as she doesn't put herself out there. Dani Dyer The damage was done however, and while Lauren is still occasionally active on the account - she only comments and posts within her private domain. Her good friend Dani, who bonded with Lauren at last year's Euros, spoke out in her defence after the competition and told us: 'It was so hard for her, the trolling, as she doesn't put herself out there. 'I think it's harder when you are not in [the celebrity world] and you are being personally attacked. I found that hard. 'She is a really good mum, who keeps to herself. No one deserves to be criticised like that. 'It was so cruel. 'Attacking a girl because of what she looks like, in this day and age, I don't agree with it. 'She got a lot of support from all of us, which she definitely needed.' Those close to Lauren say she has no interest in ever putting herself into the public domain again - and after all of this, who could blame her?
ITV News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
ICRIR chief tells MPs the government is committed to changing 'imperfect' legacy legislation
The head of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) has told MPs that a Government 'reset' of the controversial Legacy Act , could include the appointment of an Irish Commissioner to assist with the organisation's discovery of information into Troubles killings. The ICRIR, which is currently conducting 60 investigations, also said it wants the power to challenge the government withholding documentation under national security concerns. Sir Declan Morgan, chief commissioner of the ICRIR described a 'reset moment' to improve the 'imperfect' Legacy Act. It comes after the controversial legislation was passed despite widespread opposition and concern from political parties in Northern Ireland and victims and survivors of the Legacy Act halted scores of cases going through the courts and inquests concerning the evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee over how the Government should address the region's past, Sir Declan said the ICRIR has received more than 160 include the deaths of five people in the IRA's Guildford pub bombings in 1974, the death of Alexander Millar in Ardoyne in 1975, the death of Seamus Bradley shot by the Army in Londonderry in 1972 and the death of the judge Rory Conaghan killed by the IRA in Declan told MPs: 'Those would not have happened if we had not looked at the opportunities that this legislation has provided, and we can do all of those things in an Article 2-compliant way, and in a way which will eventually secure the unvarnished truth.'By the end of this year we will have over 100 investigations in relation to probably more than 150 deaths ongoing, and by the time of the legislation we would expect that that number would have significantly increased, as would the number of people that we have been able to help.'The choice was whether to help those people who were anxious to have an answer to what they wanted or stand back and say, this legislation is not perfect. I don't make any apology for the fact that I decided I wanted to help people.'He added: 'I just wonder whether the approach to the work of the commission will be treated in such a negative light, particularly when the two governments reach agreement on what they want to do.'Also giving evidence to the committee, ICRIR commissioner for investigations Peter Sheridan said he absolutely rejects that they are carrying out light-touch reviews.'Let me assure this committee that it is absolutely not,' he told described the first stage of the process as being a cold case review which looks for new evidence, verifies old evidence, identifies investigative failures and re-examines forensics.'That's going to be the key for us because witness evidence from the past is difficult, but new forensic opportunities, and I already see it in some of the cases … so we're examining that with the latest trace evidence that you can use,' he said.'Looking at continuity of evidence in old cases, conduct fresh searches on data bases and use advances in digital forensics, so it is absolutely not a light-touch review.'I am duty-bound under the legislation to look into all of the circumstances of the case, that's what we're doing.'Sir Declan emphasised that the focus of the ICRIR is 'on finding a mechanism to ensure that we achieve the unvarnished truth for victims and survivors'.'The High Court and the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland have found that we are capable of doing this in an Article 2-compliant way in most if not all cases,' he said.'The litigation that has occurred in Northern Ireland has been very hard on families and with hindsight I just wonder whether we could all as lawyers have done better in dealing with it.'This is a reset moment, we need to make the changes to this imperfect legislation that will support the two governments and help us in the project of finding the truth.'Asked about their communication with the Northern Ireland Office over reform of the Legacy Act, ICRIR chief executive Louise Warde Hunter said there has been 'ongoing cordial and robust conversations'.'We are fully committed to the issue of reform, to strengthen in order to deliver for victims, survivors and families,' she Bramley, general counsel at the ICRIR, added that the areas they want to reform include greater independent oversight; a statutory voice for victims and survivors; statutory investigations, not reviews; a statutory conflict of interest policy; a self initiation power where there is a thematic link between different events; and 'a power for chief constables to refer cases directly to us when new evidence comes to light'.
