Latest news with #Florin
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Roma in NI: Man 'living in fear' after knuckle-duster attack
A member of the Roma (Gypsy) community, who reported being threatened by a man wielding a knuckle-duster in what police treated as a racially motivated hate crime, has said he and others are living in man, who is being referred to as Florin to protect his identity, said the incident happened near his home in County Armagh in June – just days after violent riots in Ballymena, County riots, which later spread to Larne and Portadown, were described by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as "racist thuggery".Florin, aged in his 50s, said he feared anti-Roma sentiment had since spread across Northern Ireland. He told BBC News NI he was chased by a man with a knuckle-duster and told to go back to his own country. He said the incident had left him afraid to leave his PSNI has confirmed it investigated the report as a racially motivated hate a statement, it said all lines of inquiry had been completed and that it was now dependent on new information coming to light to progress. The chief executive of a Roma-led charity, which has direct links with the community in Northern Ireland, said Roma people across the board were still Lazar, from Union Romani Voice, said some families were worried about going to the shop or sending children to said the incident he experienced in County Armagh happened just days after the violent street disorder in Ballymena saw the homes of foreign nationals burnt trouble came after a peaceful protest was held in response to the alleged serious sexual assault of a teenage girl in the teenage boys, who spoke through a Romanian interpreter in court, were charged in connection with the alleged attack. 'Complex' situation in Ballymena Some members of the local community in Ballymena have long raised what they have said are "genuine concerns" about the growing number of Roma people in the town – dating as far back as 2018. Complaints about crime, as well as anti-social behaviour and dumping rubbish, have been levelled at the Roma, with those voicing concerns insisting they were not a recent Mid and East Antrim Borough Council meeting, the interim chief executive Valerie Watts said the situation in Ballymena was "complex" and that a recovery plan was needed to address the causes of the disorder and to work towards a "shared vision of a better future for all our residents".She also confirmed the council had been in contact with the Romanian Embassy since the term Roma refers to the Romany people of Eastern and Central Europe, and the Middle East. Many, but not all, Roma people are from Romania. Florin spoke to BBC News NI on the condition of anonymity due to continued concerns for his safety following his alleged experience."I have problems sleeping, but for one week after that I could not sleep at all," he said, speaking through a Romanian interpreter."And once it becomes a darker evening, I literally cannot go out onto the street. I'm afraid."Asked if he feared for his life, he said: "Yes, I do."He said he did not want to inflame tensions by speaking out, but rather hoped that people would appreciate that "not all Roma are the same" and that many just want to live their lives, go to work and feed their he said he knew of some who were too scared to go to work or send their kids to well as speaking to Florin, BBC News NI contacted a number of people who work with the Roma across Northern they have been reluctant to speak about rising tensions in communities for fear that what they say could be misinterpreted or make the situation worse. Roma community in NI 'feeling fearful' Ms Lazar, who is based in England, said she thought more needed to be done to protect members of the Roma community and their human added that the fear people were feeling is real."We're talking about vulnerable families with children," she said."We're talking about Christian families who attend the Romanian churches there. They've been even afraid to go to a shop to buy food, [to send] children to school. They've been scared."She said there were some within the Roma community who commit crimes – much like in all communities – but that it was for the police to deal with those said the same."We should not put all Roma in the same boat."Many have bought their house, they have a car, they have a good job."But he added that recent events have led to many leaving Northern Ireland for their safety."You feel like a stranger in this country," he added."You feel like you don't have any more courage to be here."
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Wife of doctor found dead in Tarpon Springs mansion ordered to pay his children $200M
The Brief The wife of a prominent doctor found shot to death in the garage of his Tarpon Springs mansion was ordered to pay his kids $200M as part of a civil suit. She was found in civil court to have "unlawfully and intentionally killed, or participated in procuring the death" of her husband. She was never formally charged in her husband's death. TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - It has been more than a decade since a prominent doctor was found shot to death in his garage in Tarpon Springs. Dr. Steven Schwartz, a 74-year-old kidney specialist, was found dead from two gunshot wounds in the garage of his Tarpon Springs mansion back in May 2014. His wife found him and called the police, saying there had been a burglary. READ: 'Bourbon Street Hustler' charged with murder in Super Bowl reporter's drug death, accomplice arrested: police Big picture view No one was ever formally charged with his murder, but his wife, 64-year-old Rebecca Schwartz, was found responsible for his death this month in civil court as part of a wrongful death lawsuit. She was ordered to pay his kids $200 million. "He was a wonderful man," said Wil Florin, the plaintiff's attorney. "He was the type of doctor that, if a patient was in need of money, he would have them come back to his office privately and help them out. Everybody loved him." Almost 11 years after her husband's death, Rebecca Schwartz was found in civil court to have "unlawfully and intentionally killed, or participated in procuring the death" of Steven Schwartz. The civil suit was brought against her by his three kids. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "The case we presented to the jury, the motive was very clear, was money. The testimony was that she'd been embezzling money from Doctor Schwartz, she the defendant for years, and giving it to her kids, and starting a marijuana grow house with the handyman," Florin said. Dig deeper Florin explained that he argued in court that Dr. Schwartz found out about the embezzlement and threatened to divorce her, which would have left her penniless. "She was caught red-handed, embezzling again by buying a Verizon Wireless store in Wisconsin for one of her sons from a previous marriage, and this time it was enough," Florin said. "And as he left for work at the hospital to do his rounds, he was going down the stairs and according to the forensic evidence, shot twice in the head." His wife was never charged with murder, but the handyman did end up pleading guilty to one count of accessory to the murder and was deported back to Albania. Detectives found his DNA on Steven Schwartz's shirt as well as cell phone records that didn't match his alibi. VIDEO: Missing runaway teen from Texas rescued in Florida after dramatic car chase "The handyman that was later convicted of an accessory after the fact was sent to the scene to clean up the mess, take the hard drive of the surveillance system, take a butcher knife and try to retrieve the bullets," Florin said. Florin said his kids are pleased with the verdict but said they will likely only collect anywhere from $10 to $20 million. What we don't know FOX 13 made attempts to reach Rebecca Schwartz's attorney and are still waiting to hear back. The Source The information in this story was gathered using details from the civil suit and information from the plaintiff's attorney. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
