Latest news with #Forsyth
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Violent Scots killer given sick nickname ‘Iron Fist' & was ‘proud' after battering mum's ex to death
His victim suffered 'catastrophic and unsurvivable' injuries - including a blood clot on the brain BRUTE CAGED Violent Scots killer given sick nickname 'Iron Fist' & was 'proud' after battering mum's ex to death Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTS killer who brutally battered his mother's ex-partner to death was callously dubbed "Iron Fist" after the attack. John Forsyth was said to have "battered the life" out of Barry Evans in November 2022. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up The 29 year-old had stormed over to his mum's home in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, having discovered Barry was there with his dog Thor. The 47 year-old suffered "catastrophic and unsurvivable" injuries - including a blood clot on the brain - following the unprovoked attack. Forsyth had claimed to be acting in self-defence. But, jurors rejected this and found him guilty of culpable homicide following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Forsyth had been on bail, but was remanded in custody by judge Lord Young. He repeatedly shook his head at jurors as he was led to the cells. Relatives also angrily left the courtroom. Barry had been the partner of Forsyth's mum 10 years earlier. He was latterly said to have been badly affected after losing his job. He was taking medication for anxiety and had been in hospital the day before the attack. A neighbour had last saw him that morning when he gave the woman and her children a wave. For some reason, he had ended up at the home of Forsyth's mum while she was out. Another son had came back to initially find Barry's dog there and then the victim lying on a bed. The court heard it was Forsyth who then "rushed over to deal" with Barry. Prosecutors stated the man passed away two days later in hospital having suffered repeated blunt force trauma to the head and body by means unknown. The injuries also included jaw fractures, broken teeth, black eyes and extensive bruising - some caused by Barry desperately trying to protect himself. Blood marks were consistent with him being repeatedly hit as he lay on a bed. Forsyth's brother had texted their sister stating: "Johnny's just battered the life out of him." Forsyth stated during a 999 call that "a random person" he assaulted was "dying". He claimed not to know who the man was. In his closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Vish Kathuria referred to prison phone calls after Forsyth had been held for the death. The killer was said to boasted that he had "battered" someone who had apparently "broke into" his mum's house. Mr Kathuria told jurors it appeared Forsyth and his father seemed "proud" of what he had done. The advocate depute: "That is perhaps best summed up when his dad jokingly said he was going to call him 'iron fist'. "You might think, regardless of how the situation unfolded, there is nothing funny about Barry Evans losing his life in these circumstances." Forsyth accepted assaulting Barry and had left him in "some nick" - but insisted he had been defending himself. He claimed in his evidence that he had been "petrified" at his mum's house and that there had been "a reaction" from Barry. But, Mr Kathuria said the thug had not mentioned at the time anything about an apparent "lunge" at him by the victim. The prosecutor added the self-defence claim may have been "created to try and get him off the charge". Lord Young adjourned sentencing until August 26 in Edinburgh. Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Wright said of Police Scotland said: 'I hope this conviction brings some comfort to the family and friends of Mr Evans. 'He was subjected to a violent attack which left him with serious injuries from which he later died. 'Violence is never acceptable in our communities and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.'
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Glen Lednock windfarm opponents submit 41-page objection
The Save Glen Lednock document includes concerns on access, traffic and transport, ecology, cultural heritage, noise and vibration. Campaigners opposed to a controversial windfarm in a scenic Perthshire glen have lodged a 41-page objection to the scheme. The Comrie-based Save Glen Lednock group - who have described the proposed scheme as a 'destructive industrial project' – submitted their objection to the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit (ECU) just hours before Monday's deadline (July 21). Renewable energy company Low Carbon, is aiming to build 19 turbines with blade tips extending as high as 200m, on land within Invergeldie Estate. It is expected to generate approximately 342,600 MWh of electricity per year or the equivalent of the annual electricity requirement of more than 100,000 households. Save Glen Lednock campaigners say those living near the windfarm – as well as businesses and residents in Comrie and Crieff, and rare birds including golden eagles - will all suffer as a result of the scheme. The Save Glen Lednock submission lodged this week includes objections on access, traffic and transport, ecology, cultural heritage, noise and vibration and national planning policy. Objector Alastair Forsyth said: 'This development has the potential to have very negative impacts on many people's lives, not just those who live in Glen Lednock, but also well beyond – with hundreds of additional vehicles for the construction phase, including many lorries, travelling daily along the A85 through Comrie and Crieff to the A9 at Perth.' The campaigners also highlighted that they only had six weeks to digest 293 documents detailing the plans. Mr Forsyth added: 'The developer has had years to put together this mass of documentation, yet concerned citizens of Strathearn, and visitors who value the tranquillity and beauty of Glen Lednock, have had just weeks to make sense of the 3,000 pages of documentation that were submitted by Low Carbon in support of their application.' A Low Carbon spokesperson said this week: 'The final design for the Glen Lednock Wind Farm has been shaped by extensive pre-application consultation with the local community and we are grateful for the input from residents, community councils and other organisations that took time to attend our public exhibitions and other events over the past two years and shared their views with us. Low Carbon has also undertaken a programme of survey and assessment over several years to inform our Glen Lednock Wind Farm application, which is in line with good practice guidance from the Scottish Government. This includes an assessment of the project's alignment with National Planning Framework 4 policy tests. 'Furthermore, the application sets out how Low Carbon will provide the equivalent of £5,000 per MW of installed generating capacity annually into a community benefit fund every year. 'This equates to £589,000 per annum or £23.6million (2025 prices) for local communities around Glen Lednock over the proposed 40-year operational life of the project.' Windfarm backers Low Carbon and opponents Save Glen Lednock have clashed over a number of issues. Developers Low Carbon last week disputed the campaigners' assertion of 400 lorry movements per day during construction of the windfarm. However, campaigners pointed to Low Carbon's own Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) to support their assertion. These figures itemise a seven-month peak daily traffic figure of 392 accounting for 251 large good vehicles (LGV) and 140 heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and one HGV articulated lorry. Heavy goods vehicles and large goods vehicles both have a gross weight exceeding 3500kg. Low Carbon also took issue with campaigners' mention of a new eight mile access road. However, the EIRC states: 'The Access Route Area to the Turbine Development Area would be approximately 12,687m (eight miles) in length, via the existing A85 bellmouth to the east of Comrie and along a series of access tracks, both existing and newly constructed comprising 'a number of localised upgrades to approximately 8,528m (5.29 miles) of existing tracks; and approximately 4,158m (2.58 miles) of new track. Another issue of contention is the impact the turbines would have on wild birds including golden eagles. Low Carbon point out research contained in their EIRC comprises a 'comprehensive assessment of disturbance and displacement of bird species, including golden eagle, [and] concludes that there will be no significant displacement' [by wind turbines]. However, Save Glen Lednock point to a collison risk estimate table in the Low Carbon report. Campaigner Alastair Forsyth said: 'What is shocking is the predicted mortality of birds of prey caused by collisions with wind turbines over the 40 year operational predicted life of the turbines. 'To be clear a collision equals a dead bird. 'For golden eagle Low Carbon estimate that this would equal approximately 12 birds in 40 years.'
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Outsider: how Frederick Forsyth used facts to inform his fiction
The conventional spy genre's analog charm has withstood the test of time largely due to its universal entertainment value. The generous helping of hair-raising action coupled with overt acts of machismo, prevalent in novels like those of Alistair MacLean feed into a primal, adrenaline-pumped, cycle of pleasure derived from doses of violence. Ian Fleming romanticised the genre, with James Bond conforming to a patriarchal society's constructions of ideal masculinity. But his characters also serve as vehicles of wish fulfilment and modes of deferred rebellion through their highly individualistic and anti-establishment tendencies. Conversely, in John le Carre's writing, the psychological impact of an existence defined by betrayal and confusion takes centre-stage. In his work, spectacle is replaced with characterisation, fantasy with reality, and sympathy with empathy. Free-flowing narratives In a genre thus alternatively populated by action and emotion, acclaimed British spy-thriller writer Frederick Forsyth's novels, much like him, identify as 'the outsiders'. Forsyth (1938-2025) does not resort to scenes of gaudy violence or high-octane fights, instead choosing understated motion and smooth efficiency as his tools of tension. His narratives are neither rigidly structured nor conventionally plotted, thereby imbuing them with a free-flowing, procedural linearity. His central characters generally cannot be boxed into the good-bad dichotomy, and often behave as emblems or caricatures rather than emotional human beings who can be empathised with. In spite — and often because — of this blatant and conscious flouting of established 'rules' and tropes, Forsyth's classic novels are not only critically acclaimed hallmarks of the genre, but also remain equally entertaining for the modern Hollywood action-addled reader base. Much of this enduring appeal and feeling of contemporaneity almost 60 years since their writing can be attributed to Forsyth's unique style of amalgamating a spy-thriller with a non-fiction novel. Also referred to as 'faction' — a portmanteau of the words fact and fiction — the non-fiction novel is characterised by its mode of presenting real historical events in a dramatic format. Forsyth's appropriation of faction largely adheres to a more developed style of the genre popularised by the likes of Truman Capote. Archetypal faction novels include Capote's InCold Blood (1965) and Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song (1979). Forsyth, who in the 1960s worked as a journalist for Reuters and the BBC before going freelance, was not only in the epicentre of the then-rapidly emerging form of New Journalism, but also debuted as a writer with the non-fiction book The Biafra Story (1969) — one of the first eyewitness accounts of the war from a Biafran perspective. It thus comes as no surprise that when he turned towards fiction in order to make ends meet, Forsyth's proclivity towards the journalistic mode of writing imbued his thrillers with certain key non-fictional aspects. Realist fiction The Day of the Jackal (1971) opens with the dramatisation of a real-life assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle by members of the OAS (Secret Army Organisation), who opposed his decision to grant freedom to Algeria. The Odessa File (1972) includes pages-upon-pages of information on the socio-political scenery of the world post the Third Reich's fall. The entire first act of The Negotiator (1989) is designed to paint an accurate and expansive picture of the geopolitical chessboard during the Gulf oil crisis, and even features real figures like Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev. These interludes, while language-wise dry and heavy-handed, prioritise journalistic insight and economy of words, and are purposefully designed to inform more than entertain. Forsyth's decision to thus incorporate his intricate and accurate knowledge of the inner workings of world powers and their covert operations into his novels serves not only to add to their verisimilitude and urgency, but also allows him to treat historical events as the first domino fall — Jackal's events are written as the fictional consequences of the factual failed assassination attempt. In his historical epic Shei Shomoy (1983) (Those Days), Sunil Gangopadhyay tackles an issue similar to that faced by Forsyth — writing a fictional story set in a world defined by fact. Both authors end up taking similar approaches. Gangopadhyay states in the afterword that the characters of his novel exist as emblems, meant to embody specific socio-cultural ideologies and institutions — the 'protagonist' Nobinkumar is a personification of Time itself. Similarly, Forsyth deliberately crafts one-dimensional characters, whose identities are defined by what they personify. In Jackal, The Jackal represents the Outsider, de Gaulle the Establishment, the OAS the Opposition, and Lebel the Idealist. None of them undergo a transformation, and none of them tread a character arc. Imperfect like life Historical characters and events are central to both novels, with the authors deciding to conduct their stories alongside the established course of history, often intertwining but generally not contradicting it. Similarly, both Gangopadhyay and Forsyth forego adopting any codified, traditional narrative. In both novels, the authors are unafraid to depict days passing by without any significant developments. The primary focus is always on the logical progression of events and the realistic passage of time, irrespective of the impact this has on the story beats. The original question, then, still remains — in the face of such extensive rule-breaking, why do these novels work? The answer might be simple. It is a truth undeniable that real life rarely adheres to the rules of literature. Normal people do not become heroes following a 12-step programme. The sum of our lives does not always fit squarely into character arcs. Tragedy does not discriminate between the righteous and the flawed — it comes for everyone. And because facts never die, Forsyth's fiction will not either. In essence, the 'imperfections' in his novels are perfected by the imperfections of our lived reality, and if there is any lesson to be learned from the width of the master's bibliography, it is that of spontaneity, motion, and enjoying the journey without worrying about its destination. Archisman Ghosh studies English at St. Xavier's College, Kolkata
Mint
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Frederick Forsyth's ‘Jackal' is back in 2025
I first read Frederick Forsyth's The Day of the Jackal 25 years ago as a college student, longing for a pick-me-up while I was struggling to write an essay on the 18th-century poet, John Dryden. It was just the antidote I needed against the endless rhyming couplets and iambic pentameters, the roll call of fops and dandies, that were fogging up my brain. Not quite an avid reader of thrillers then or now, I was surprised to find myself not only hooked to the pace of the action but also rooting for the hero, an unnamed assassin who goes only by the moniker of ' the Jackal." I wanted him to succeed in his mission to kill the controversial and divisive French President, Charles de Gaulle. Only much later did I realise that the 'target" had already died of natural causes a year before the novel was published in 1971. That knowledge put an ingenious spin on the masterful game of suspense and disbelief that Forsyth, who died last month at the age of 86, was playing with his readers. In a tribute to Forsyth's genius published shortly after his death on 9 June, the celebrated thriller writer Lee Child made an astute observation about the unique appeal of The Day of the Jackal. In writing this book, his first, Forsyth showed the reader that 'the how question was as powerful as who," as Child put it. 'He created a year zero thriller that reset the whole game." Recently, after I watched (and mostly enjoyed) a new adaptation of the novel for TV (starring Eddie Redmayne in the lead), I decided to pick up Forsyth's book again after all these years to see if, and how, it has aged. Reimagined for a 21st-century audience, with advanced gadgets and technology that make espionage and crime mightily sophisticated these days, the TV show substantially departs from Forsyth's plot, which, on a reread, felt clunky and occasionally dense. The Jackal, circa 2025, is fit and cunning like the one his creator put on the page in 1971. Except now he is armed with state-of-the-art weapons and ammunition (the entire show is a thirst trap for gun lovers). He is adept at striking deals on the dark web, an expert in creating disguises and aliases. He has a stash of fake passports in a secret vault and access to thick wads of cash, in a wide range of currencies, that enables him to fly off to anywhere at the drop of a hat. What's more, he doesn't hesitate to use sex as bait, even when it involves seducing another man. In short, he is James Bond gone rogue, and woke. Whereas Forsyth took great pains to depict the planning of the murder from its inception and the political storm that enabled it, the show's focus is squarely on the Jackal, who is just a seasoned mercenary. He already knows the best gunmakers around town, and his knowledge of artillery, thanks to his army background, is phenomenal. In this sense, the show reinvents the question of 'how"—the one which impressed Child so much when he read Forsyth's book for the first time at the age of 18. What it also does, somewhat clumsily, is give the Jackal a back story that lends psychological depth to his character. In spite of the poker face he puts on, he is, we learn, a family man, with a Spanish wife, who has no idea of his real identity, and a loving father to a toddler. Redmayne's Jackal is also far more self-reliant than his earlier incarnation. Instead of depending entirely on experts in his trade, people who live in the shadows, he knows enough about coding 3D printers to co-create the right gun for his job. He doesn't require external agents to help him put on make-up to make himself unrecognisable to the authorities. Alexander Duggan, the alias that Forsyth's Jackal steals from a dead child, is given a quirky twist in the reincarnated version, too. Above all, the pace at which he works is lightning fast, thanks to all the fancy tech that wasn't available to his predecessor. No wonder the prose that once seemed to be flying off the page felt rather congealed as I read the book this time. Divergences apart, the emotional pull of the novel, as well as the show, remains as potent. The Jackal's big target in the show is a billionaire tech bro, who has decided to make penance and release a software that would expose the dirty dealings of the rich all over the world. Ulle Dag Charles (Khalid Abdalla), guided by an inscrutable good angel, wants to turn the world into a better place for the future generations, even at the cost of his fortunes, while his rich friends want to eliminate him, and his software. The assassin's previous victim in the show is a right-wing politician in Germany, so it's not as if this new assignment is influenced by any ideological learnings. There is no motivation for him to do the job other than the staggering fee he had been promised. And so, he embarks on it with a fearsome precision, moving with a stealth that would put a cat to shame, developing a plan that defies even the tightest security cordon in the world. (When Ulle Charles Dag takes his morning swim, for instance, a group of bodyguards swim alongside him, while others trail him on a mini flotilla of boats.) As in the book, the Jackal remains unflappable, near-impossible to read. Redmayne's impassive face, complimented by the proverbial stiff upper lip, does the job credibly. In contrast to his chilling blankness is the bustling energy of his nemesis, an MI6 agent called Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch). She is as much of a gun enthusiast as him, not quite the ideal parent (like him, again), and just as ruthless. And yet, the audience's sympathy, which should have been with Bianca—she puts her life, family and career at stake to do her job—seems to tilt in favour of the Jackal. The underdog who succeeds against all odds is a familiar trope in the history of fiction. But in the case of The Day of the Jackal, the underdog doesn't rise to glory from the ashes. He is a cold-blooded killer, who will murder anyone for money. It's a testimony to Forsyth's genius that he could turn a textbook villain into a heroic figure, brave enough to take on the mighty status quo and defeat it with single-handed guile. So what if he isn't a Batman or a Robin Hood? In a world overrun with megalomaniac plutocrats, a fictional assassin's creed of executing a flawless hit, his ability to do a task perfectly, may be just the metaphor we need to push back against the forces that control our lives. Rereadings is a monthly column on backlisted books that have much to offer in contemporary times.
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First Post
04-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Explained: The row over the £9.6 million door at UK Parliament, which doesn't work
A front door at the UK House of Lords, part of a £9.6 million security overhaul, doesn't open automatically and requires a security officer to operate it manually. Peers are furious over the budget overshoot and technical failures, prompting an official investigation into what went wrong and who should be held accountable for the costly misfire read more Members of the House of Lords ahead of the King's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament in chamber of the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, London, UK, July 17, 2024. File Image/Reuters A front entrance to the UK House of Lords, designed as part of a major security overhaul, has become the centre of a controversy after it was revealed that it cost taxpayers £9.6 million — and still does not function without manual assistance. Despite being touted as a modern and secure addition to the parliamentary estate, the door cannot be operated independently and has to be manually triggered by a staff member at all times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The situation has drawn heavy criticism from across the chamber, prompted an official inquiry. From £6.1 million to £9.6 million Initially projected to cost £6.1 million, the front entrance refurbishment eventually ballooned by nearly 60 per cent, with the final expenditure totalling £9.6 million. This figure only became public following sustained pressure by members of the House of Lords, who expressed concern over the repeated refusal by authorities to disclose the amount, citing security risks. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean questioned the basis of this secrecy, stating, 'Very senior members of this House and members of the commission have been told repeatedly that they cannot know the cost of the front door, because if they knew the cost of the front door that would enable terrorists to work out what the security is surrounding it.' Baroness Smith of Basildon later revealed the cost breakdown, clarifying that part of the increase stemmed from the requirement that the entrance remain accessible throughout the parliamentary sitting period. She stated, 'The initial estimate was £6.1million for the door. That increased because it was the request of members that it should remain open during the duration of the works when the House was sitting.' She also explained that additional costs were incurred due to unexpected heritage-related challenges uncovered during construction. 'The fact that it could not be closed off to get on with the work meant the cost increased – plus some other issues around heritage were discovered,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How the £9.6 million failed to operate Despite the scale of the project, the newly installed security door has not delivered on its intended functionality. It currently requires the constant presence of a security officer to press a button to allow entry. Peers have been scathing in their assessment of the outcome. Lord Robathan described the expenditure as 'a scandalous waste of public money' and demanded accountability, adding, 'Somebody accountable must be identified and should perhaps resign for this terrible waste of public money.' Lord Hayward noted that maintaining a staff member to operate the entrance costs approximately £2,500 every week. He remarked, 'That cost has to be borne by someone.' Smith acknowledged these concerns during a debate, saying, 'It is completely unacceptable that we have a door that does not operate as it should.' She added, 'That is high, but what is more serious is that, having spent that money, the door does not work. That is a huge frustration to everybody.' The door, unlike others in the parliamentary estate, was designed to be fully accessible to people using wheelchairs or mobility aids, which added complexity to its design and implementation. Nonetheless, the current outcome has been disappointing. Forsyth cited a recent incident in which a person using a wheelchair was unable to enter, calling the entrance 'a complete white elephant and a disaster.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UK Lord Speaker calls inquiry In light of growing public and political outrage, UK Lord Speaker John McFall of Alcluith has formally requested an independent probe into the procurement and delivery of the door. In a letter addressed to Lord Morse, a crossbench peer and former head of the National Audit Office, Lord McFall highlighted the need for greater transparency and assessment. He wrote, 'Additional information will be needed to understand the failures, including information on costs – both how the initial project figure of £6.1m was arrived at and the increase to the current total of £9.6m, and any unanticipated additional costs such as increased staffing to manage and operate the entrance.' He added, 'The commission identified that it was unclear how many issues were due to manufacturing and installation failures and how many were due to issues with the initial identification of requirements and subsequent need for alterations.' The letter stressed that the problems with the entrance raise wider concerns about the way large-scale projects are executed within UK Parliament and questioned whether adequate planning and testing of specifications had taken place prior to approval. Parliament responds, contractors to bear repair costs In an effort to manage the backlash, senior deputy speaker Lord Gardiner of Kimble assured members that the financial burden for repairing the faulty door will not fall on the House of Lords. He said, 'The cost to remedy defects will not be borne by the House and will be met by Parliament's contractors.' He stated that the current staffing required to operate the door comes from within the existing personnel pool and does not represent additional hiring. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It is unacceptable that the Peers' Entrance does not operate as it should. The commission has directed urgent work to resolve this,' Gardiner told the chamber. A House of Lords spokesperson, responding to criticism, said that referring to the work as the simple installation of a door was inaccurate. They clarified that the project involved the implementation of new security systems and infrastructure modifications, along with heritage conservation efforts. According to the spokesperson, a number of factors had contributed to the increased cost, including the discovery of historical vaults, the need to minimise disruption to ongoing parliamentary sessions, and delays caused by unscheduled ceremonial events. Despite these explanations, dissatisfaction remains high among members, many of whom claim that their concerns about the design and execution were ignored from the outset. Forsyth asserted, 'Various Members from all sides of the House protested right at the beginning that this design would not work, as it would result in people having to queue outside to get in and they would therefore be more vulnerable.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He criticised the lack of accountability and questioned whether any lessons were being learned. Robathan added, 'If this were in the private sector, I am afraid that people would be sacked.' Smith admitted that there is a limited period in which a final decision must be made on the entrance's usability: 'There is a window where a decision has to be taken on whether or not it will ever be fully operational and serve the needs of this House.' She concluded, 'When we spend that much money on something that does not work, the key thing is that it is resolved, and that is what I am focused on.' With inputs from agencies
