Latest news with #IanWigglesworth
Irish Times
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Gavin Pepper agrees to abide by certain orders but denies filming son of finance firm's boss
Dublin city councillor Gavin Pepper has told the High Court he is prepared to abide by orders prohibiting him from attending or filming outside the homes of staff of credit servicing and asset management firm Pepper Finance Corporation. Mr Pepper, an Independent who was elected in the Ballymun/Finglas area, and who has no connection with Pepper Finance, has denied he shot footage for social media outside Pepper managing director Ian Wigglesworth's west Dublin home or of the businessman's son, who has special needs. He told the court he and his partner have a child with special needs themselves and had every sympathy with someone in the same situation. He also said when he was outside the Wigglesworth home, he did not engage with Mr Wigglesworth's son and it was the child who approached him while he was talking on the phone to his partner. READ MORE On Tuesday, Mr Wigglesworth and Pepper were granted an interim injunction preventing the councillor from attending the Wigglesworth home or filming and watching him and his family or from publishing home addresses of Pepper employees. That application was made ex parte – meaning only the Wigglesworth/Pepper side was represented – and on Thursday Mr Pepper appeared himself saying he wished to be given time to get legal representation. Mr Pepper, who is also a taxi driver, of Plunkett Green, Finglas, Dublin, was also required to remove social media posts which contain footage of videoing which took place outside Mr Wigglesworth's home. Brian Conroy SC, for Mr Wigglesworth and Pepper Finance, said Mr Pepper has a well-established association with the far right and social media posts promoting far-right ideas. Mr Conroy said while Mr Pepper had since Tuesday agreed to some of the orders, he did not seem prepared to delete certain social media posts or not attend homes of other Pepper employees. [ Injunction granted restraining Gavin Pepper from filming home of Pepper Finance boss Opens in new window ] Mr Pepper told Mr Justice Brian Cregan he was prepared to comply with most of the orders made on Tuesday but he said a number of allegations had been made against him which were not true, including that he had recorded the Wigglesworth family. However, certain orders now sought in relation to deleting posts would interfere with his role as a democratically elected representative and his constitutional right to free speech. He needed time to get legal representation, he said. Mr Conroy said his side was particularly concerned in relation to certain posts already up in relation to Mr Wigglesworth and his family. These and other posts were clearly threatening and crossed the line in relation to freedom of expression, counsel said. His claims about Mr Wigglesworth's son 'rang hollow' when there was one video in which Mr Pepper is clearly outside the Wigglesworth home and there is clear identification of a minor who is a member of that family. Asked by the judge if he was prepared to abide by the order not to attend outside the homes of other Pepper employees, he said he was. Asked if he was prepared to take down four specific posts, Mr Pepper said he wanted time to challenge it 'because they are making out that I am a bad guy'. He did not believe 'anything I said was defamation'. The judge said he had an absolute right to express any 'understandable grievances about vulture funds' but Pepper was saying some of the posts clearly crossed the line. Pepper does not think it can be called a vulture fund, the court heard. Mr Pepper agreed to a suggestion by the judge that he would take down the posts until the case returns before the court in October when he will also have a chance to get a solicitor to argue his case in that respect. He also said he did not accept he was some sort of a bad person and he thought looking for extra orders in this way was unfair before he got representation. The judge said he would have the opportunity to address what he felt was tarnishing his name and an unfair portrayal of him so far when he swears an affidavit. The judge said he would make an order in relation to taking down four posts of June 12th, July 24th, 25th and 27th within seven days of making the order. He also made similar orders on Tuesday in relation to other Pepper employees. The orders must be complied with within seven days of them being formally made. He also gave both sides liberty to apply to the vacation courts should anything arise between now and October.
BreakingNews.ie
31-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Gavin Pepper agrees to abide by certain orders but denies filming finance firm boss's son
Dublin city councillor Gavin Pepper has told the High Court he is prepared to abide by orders prohibiting him from attending or filming outside the homes of staff of credit servicing and asset management firm Pepper Finance Corporation. Cllr Pepper, an independent who was elected in the Ballymun/Finglas area, has denied he shot footage for social media outside Pepper managing director Ian Wigglesworth's west Dublin home or of the businessman's son, who has special needs. Advertisement He told the court he and his partner have a child with special needs themselves and had every sympathy with someone in the same situation. He also said that when he was outside the Wigglesworth home, he did not engage with Mr Wigglesworth's son, and it was the child who approached him while he was talking on the phone to his partner. On Tuesday, Mr Wigglesworth and Pepper were granted an interim injunction preventing the councillor from attending the Wigglesworth home or filming and watching him and his family or from publishing home addresses of Pepper employees. That application was made ex parte - meaning only the Wigglesworth/Pepper side was represented - and on Thursday Mr Pepper appeared himself, saying he wished to be given time to get legal representation. Advertisement Cllr Pepper, who is also a taxi driver, of Plunkett Green, Finglas, Dublin, was also required to remove social media posts which contain footage of videoing which took place outside Mr Wigglesworth's home. Brian Conroy SC, for Mr Wigglesworth and Pepper Finance, said Cllr Pepper has a well-established association with the far right and social media posts promoting far-right ideas. Mr Conroy said that while Mr Pepper had since Tuesday agreed to some of the orders, he did not seem prepared to delete certain social media posts or not attend homes of other Pepper employees. Cllr Pepper told Mr Justice Brian Cregan he was prepared to comply with most of the orders made on Tuesday, but he said a number of allegations had been made against him which were not true, including that he had recorded the Wigglesworth family. Advertisement However, certain orders now sought in relation to deleting posts would interfere with his role as a democratically elected representative and his constitutional right to free speech. He needed time to get legal representation, he said. Mr Conroy said his side was particularly concerned in relation to certain posts already up in relation to Mr Wigglesworth and his family. These and other posts were clearly threatening and crossed the line in relation to freedom of expression, counsel said. His claims about Mr Wigglesworth's son "rang hollow" when there was one video in which Cllr Pepper is clearly outside the Wigglesworth home and there is clear identification of a minor who is a member of that family. Advertisement Asked by the judge if he was prepared to abide by the order not to attend outside the homes of other Pepper employees, he said he was. Asked if he was prepared to take down four specific posts, Cllr Pepper said he wanted time to challenge it "because they are making out that I am a bad guy". He did not believe "anything I said was defamation". The judge said he had an absolute right to express any 'understandable grievances about vulture funds", but the business was saying some of the posts clearly crossed the line. Pepper Finance Corporation do not think they can be called a vulture fund, the court heard. Cllr Pepper agreed to a suggestion by the judge that he would take down the posts until the case returns before the court in October, when he will also have a chance to get a solicitor to argue his case in that respect. Advertisement Business Couple allege Pepper Finance is pursuing them over... Read More He also said he did not accept that he was some sort of bad person, and he thought looking for extra orders in this way was unfair before he got representation. The judge said he would have the opportunity to address what he felt was tarnishing his name and an unfair portrayal of him so far when he swears an affidavit. The judge said he would make an order in relation to taking four posts of June 12, July 24, 25 and 27 within seven days of making the order. He also made similar orders on Tuesday in relation to other Pepper employees. The orders must be complied with within seven days of them being formally made. He also gave both sides liberty to apply to the vacation courts should anything arise between now and October.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New pre-school classroom will go ahead despite 22 objections
Plans to build a new portable classroom to expand a pre-school in a Nottinghamshire village have been given the go-ahead after a debate over whether it was suitable for the area. Newark & Sherwood District Council has given final approval for Little Elms Pre-School to build the extra room next to their main building, located on Main Street in Oxton. The portable classroom will create 17 more places for toddlers aged 15 to 23 months, increasing the school's capacity from 55 to 72 children. The school is located on the Green belt and within the Oxton Conservation Area. Oxford Parish Council and 22 residents objected to the plans, raising concerns over flood risks, visual impacts to the village, parking issues and noise disturbances. The application was discussed at Newark & Sherwood District Council's planning committee meeting on Thursday, June 5. READ MORE: Nottingham Trent University launches job-cutting scheme and will pay off Confetti staff who resign READ MORE: Latest list of A52 QMC closures as key bridge repairs continue - warning over Wollaton Hall event Resident Ian Wigglesworth, who lives next to the site, opposed the plans over its design, visual impacts to neighbours and noise concerns. During the meeting, he said: 'There are three beautiful buildings within 30 metres of the proposed cabin. It's not really keeping with what we want for the village to have this unit building located there. 'I live next door to the proposed building; this will directly affect us. It will have a massive effect and impact on our daily lives. 'We worked hard to live in Oxton, to live in a lovely area. I'm quite emotional about this, and I'm really dead against it.' Cllr Hannah Lempick, representing Oxton Parish Council, said the council 'fully support the nursery in its capacity' but oppose the extension over its design and parking at the site. She said: 'The structure proposed for the outbuilding doesn't compliment the surrounding properties. We have great concerns with the parking capacity, parking management and safety of children at peak times due to cars not being appropriately parked.' Cllr Celia Brooks (Lab) supported the plans, saying there is a demand for pre-school spaces in the district – but said noise isn't an issue the committee should consider. She said in the meeting: 'There is an urgent need for pre-school places at the moment. It doesn't matter where they are, there are always parking problems. 'I thought the front of the building alleviates them to some extent – I've been to some pre-schools where you have to park on the main road to drop children off.' Supporting the application, Cllr Tim Wildgust (Con) said the extension will have an overall positive impact on the village. However, he asked if the building can include soundproofing to minimise noise to residents. He said: 'I can't justify any real reasons for it not to go in place. It's a temporary portable cabin for five years, there is a little harm to the Green Belt. 'But the temporary nature of the structure is outweighed to the benefits of the community in terms of increased employment and the child placements, which are needed.' Cllr Penny Rainbow (Con) opposed the plans, saying she is 'fearful' over the building's impact to the Green Belt, as well as its character and appearance. She said in the meeting: 'I'm very fearful this is something that shouldn't be going into the Green Belt. We also have to consider the character and appearance of the Conservation area, and its design. 'The design of a temporary classroom is very difficult to make look appealing.' Councillors approved the plans with a majority vote. The classroom will measure 2.8 metres tall, 11 meters in length, 3.8 meters in width and be located to the north of the school's existing building. The external walls will be made out of horizontal timber-cladding with white plastic windows and doors. Plans will see the school's existing wooden fence moved to make space for the new classroom. The school caters to children aged six months to five years, employing 11 full-time staff.
