Latest news with #Irish-born
West Australian
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
A famous Aussie pub at the centre of Netflix's true crime series Last Stop Larrimah hits the market
An infamous Aussie pub at the centre of an eight-year-old outback mystery and a Netflix series that gripped the world has hit the market. The Larrimah Hotel in the Northern Territory is for sale for the first time since the popular two-part series was released in 2023. The show delved into the disappearance of Paddy Moriarty who was one of town's 12 residents and a regular at the pub when he went missing. The Irish-born 70-year-old was last seen with his red kelpie cross Kellie leaving the Pink Panther Hotel in Larrimah on December 16, 2017. Publican Steve Baldwin bought the pub from Barry Sharpe in 2018 not long after Mr Moriarty went missing. The hotel is located about 500km south of Darwin in the middle of the Northern Territory along the Stuart Highway and is a popular stopover for travellers and tourists keen to know more about the town where Mr Moriarty disappeared. Real estate agent Warren Andrews is selling the property listed for $795,00 saying, 'You have to see it to believe it'. He describes the hotel as everything you would expect and want in a 'true blue Aussie bush pub.' 'From the pink panthers, the giant draught stubble, to the resident emus and crocodiles, this pub is steeped in history and mystique,' he said. Mr Baldwin told NewsWire there was more to the pub's history than the tale about one of its most regular punters disappearing. 'The pub will be 100 years old in five years, it was created during the war by the military and played a big part,' he said. 'We're at the end of the railway line from Darwin, where a lot of troops would come from down from, then go south to Alice Springs and then to Mount Isa and end up back here on the train. 'They built an airstrip here after the bombing in Darwin. 'There were nearly 10,000 people here which is huge, now there is eight.' Mr Baldwin said three of its residents had died since Last Stop Larrimah first aired on Netflix. 'They were all geriatrics,' he said. 'According to Carl, who was in the Netflix show and lived across the road, he reckons there was no beer on tap here for about 30 years,' he said. 'There were taps in the cool room when I got here that weren't being used so we opened the place up and rebuilt the bar.' Mr Baldwin said it was hard to quantify how many visitors passed through the hotel each year but more and more people stopped to find out more about the mysterious town. He said a new gas plant in the Beetaloo Basin was due to start soon which would bring more workers to the region. The pub also comes with two crocodiles called Sneaky Sam and Agro that live out the back of the hotel and are fed by Mr Baldwin. 'We say we are selling the crocs and we'll chuck in the pub,' he said. When asked how much a crocodile was worth, Mr Baldwin replied, '$795,000.' 'I just want to slow down a bit and retire,' he said. 'It's a good opportunity for a low level entry into a good business that has lots of opportunity going forward. 'You don't often get a 100-year-old building here in the tropics, or in the Territory, or one at the centre of a Netflix series, and he still hasn't been found. 'There was a reward of $250,000 to find out what happened to Paddy Moriarty, and in the budget last week the treasurer upped it to $500,000. 'I don't know it will ever be solved, and the old publican has died. 'Fran still lives here, she's 81 years old now, she'll stand on the balcony or come in here and say, 'He's leaving, don't go missing now'.'
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Infamous Aussie outback pub up for sale
An infamous Aussie pub at the centre of an eight-year-old outback mystery and a Netflix series that gripped the world has hit the market. The Larrimah Hotel in the Northern Territory is for sale for the first time since the popular two-part series was released in 2023. The show delved into the disappearance of Paddy Moriarty who was one of town's 12 residents and a regular at the pub when he went missing. The Irish-born 70-year-old was last seen with his red kelpie cross Kellie leaving the Pink Panther Hotel in Larrimah on December 16, 2017. Publican Steve Baldwin bought the pub from Barry Sharpe in 2018 not long after Mr Moriarty went missing. Paddy Moriarty lived in Larrimah for 11 years when he mysteriously disappeared after leaving the Larrimah Hotel in December 2017. Helen Orr Credit: News Corp Australia The hotel is located about 500km south of Darwin in the middle of the Northern Territory along the Stuart Highway and is a popular stopover for travellers and tourists keen to know more about the town where Mr Moriarty disappeared. Real estate agent Warren Andrews is selling the property listed for $795,00 saying, 'You have to see it to believe it'. He describes the hotel as everything you would expect and want in a 'true blue Aussie bush pub.' 'From the pink panthers, the giant draught stubble, to the resident emus and crocodiles, this pub is steeped in history and mystique,' he said. Real Estate agent Warren Andrews said the classic Aussie bush pub had everything from pink panthers, giant stubbies, emus, crocodiles and was steeped in history and mystique. Jason Walls Credit: Supplied Mr Baldwin told NewsWire there was more to the pub's history than the tale about one of its most regular punters disappearing. 'The pub will be 100 years old in five years, it was created during the war by the military and played a big part,' he said. 'We're at the end of the railway line from Darwin, where a lot of troops would come from down from, then go south to Alice Springs and then to Mount Isa and end up back here on the train. 'They built an airstrip here after the bombing in Darwin. 'There were nearly 10,000 people here which is huge, now there is eight.' Mr Baldwin said three of its residents had died since Last Stop Larrimah first aired on Netflix. 'They were all geriatrics,' he said. 'According to Carl, who was in the Netflix show and lived across the road, he reckons there was no beer on tap here for about 30 years,' he said. 'There were taps in the cool room when I got here that weren't being used so we opened the place up and rebuilt the bar.' The Larrimah Hotel, also known as the Pink Panther Hotel, is located about 500km south of Darwin in the NT. Jason Walls Credit: Supplied Mr Baldwin said it was hard to quantify how many visitors passed through the hotel each year but more and more people stopped to find out more about the mysterious town. He said a new gas plant in the Beetaloo Basin was due to start soon which would bring more workers to the region. The pub also comes with two crocodiles called Sneaky Sam and Agro that live out the back of the hotel and are fed by Mr Baldwin. 'We say we are selling the crocs and we'll chuck in the pub,' he said. When asked how much a crocodile was worth, Mr Baldwin replied, '$795,000.' Publican Steve Baldwin said the NT government recently increased the reward to find out what happened to missing punter Paddy Moriarty to $500,000. Jason Walls Credit: Supplied 'I just want to slow down a bit and retire,' he said. 'It's a good opportunity for a low level entry into a good business that has lots of opportunity going forward. 'You don't often get a 100-year-old building here in the tropics, or in the Territory, or one at the centre of a Netflix series, and he still hasn't been found. 'There was a reward of $250,000 to find out what happened to Paddy Moriarty, and in the budget last week the treasurer upped it to $500,000. 'I don't know it will ever be solved, and the old publican has died. 'Fran still lives here, she's 81 years old now, she'll stand on the balcony or come in here and say, 'He's leaving, don't go missing now'.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dior's revival rests on its historic appointment of Jonathan Anderson as creative director
Christian Dior, one of the main businesses within French conglomerate LVMH, will have a new creative chief overseeing the entire brand—Jonathan Anderson. Originally from Northern Ireland, Anderson was previously the long-time designer at another LVMH-owned brand, Loewe, credited with turning it into a buzzy, trending label. Now, he'll be only the second person after Christian Dior to lead the fashion house's men's, women's, and couture divisions. The announcement followed the departure of Dior's first female designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri, last week after nine years. Anderson will now design a range of collections, the first of which will be presented in late June, marking the start of a new journey for the well-known fashion label. 'New creative energy is a step in the right direction,' Luca Solca, a luxury analyst at Bernstein SG, wrote in a note following Chiuri's departure. Dior accounts for nearly 20% of LVMH's fashion and leather goods segment—the most lucrative part of its business. It's overseen by CEO Bernard Arnault's daughter, Delphine. It's also been crimped by the luxury slowdown after successive price increases in recent years, as shoppers favor more reasonably priced brands. 'At 40, Jonathan Anderson has exceptional qualities combining creativity and savoir-faire. He is attentive to commercial demands and has the talent to respond to them with his characteristic daring and inventiveness,' Delphine Arnault told Fortune. The Irish-born Anderson has accomplished much on his way to securing the top job at Dior. When he joined Loewe, the Spanish brand LVMH bought in 1996, he was just 29 years old and tasked with turning around the brand. He also ran his brand JW Anderson on the side. His collections balanced traditional and modern designs, featuring footwear with smashed eggs on their heels and an ad campaign with the 88-year-old Maggie Smith instead of opting for a younger model. Loewe has also had viral moments, such as when Rihanna wore its red jumpsuits at the 2023 Super Bowl. The brand also gained from the recent 'quiet luxury' trend, in which people opted for more understated luxury brands over recognizable ones. Loewe's sales went from approximately €230 million in 2014 to between €1.5 billion and €2 billion in 2024, per Morgan Stanley and Bernstein SG estimates, respectively. 'Anderson has a strong track record from his time at Loewe – one of the top performing brands at LVMH's fashion & leather in the past few years,' Jelena Sokolova, an analyst at Morningstar, said in a note Monday. She added that his role as the unified creative director could further help strengthen Dior as it's proved a 'weaker link' in LVMH's portfolio. 'This should help Dior create a more consistent brand representation and improve [its] stance amongst peers,' Sokolova said. It won't be an easy job for Anderson—the reason Dior typically appoints different creative directors for men's and women's fashion is because of how taxing it could be to develop 10 different collections. And at a brand with the status of Dior in the fashion circle, the stakes are even higher. But Anderson has proved himself over the years, leading multiple creative endeavors with great success. 'I have followed his career with great interest since he joined the LVMH group over ten years ago. I am convinced that he will bring a creative and modern vision to our House, inspired by the fabulous story of Monsieur Dior and the codes he created,' Arnault said in a statement. A rocky period for the luxury sector has prompted a slew of creative leadership changes in recent months, including at Kering-owned Gucci and privately-owned bag maker Chanel. While the shuffling around is done in the hopes that the new creative era would be characterized by more growth, there's virtually no guarantee. It'll take new designs, a recovery in high-end spending, and generating more brand heat for brands to revive themselves. Update, June 2, 2025: This article has been updated with quotes from Delphine Arnault. This story was originally featured on
The Journal
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Undocumented Irish are not attending routine US immigration meetings over deportation fears
UNDOCUMENTED IRISH PEOPLE living in the US are not attending routine meetings with immigration enforcement agents out of fear that they may be deported. Many believe that they can 'disappear back into the economy' where they have been evading deportation for years. Others avoid meeting with immigration officials on advice from their solicitor. This is according to two Irish-American lawyers who assist Irish-born people who are living in the US. The lawyers told The Journal that these meetings with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency are typically described to attendants as being informal, but can have serious outcomes. According to Brian O'Dwyer, a veteran Irish-American lawyer and a well-known immigration activist, there have been people who attend the 'routine' meetings 'and have the handcuffs put on them' immediately. However, if someone doesn't turn up to the meeting, a warrant can be issued for them and eventually, ICE agents can obtain a court-ordered deportation notice. The O'Dwyer & Bernstein lawyer in New York said the meetings are currently viewed as a legal 'grey area'. Some Irish people try to avoid them and blend away into the workforce or informal economy, he said. Most undocumented Irish people living in the US have overstayed a visa and are considered 'low-hanging fruit' by ICE officials, it is understood. These visa overstayers are not entitled to appear before a judge if detained by immigration officers, and typically are deported within days. The group commonly come to ICE's attention after being ticketed by police for minor traffic infractions. Boston-based Irish-American immigration lawyer John Foley told The Journal : 'I wouldn't encourage any individual to speak to ICE without first speaking to a lawyer.' Advertisement Foley, who is representing a Donegal man facing deportation despite waiting three years for a green card application, said even if people discuss their meetings with a lawyer, they are not guaranteed their desired outcome. According to the Legal Aid Society in New York, ICE agents require immigrants to appear for regular appointments to confirm that they are still living at the same location and that they are not a security risk. 'It is important to show up to your ICE appointments,' their website says. 'If you miss an appointment, ICE may try to detain you.' O'Dwyer said the detention process amounts to 'deliberate cruelty' and that some people are picked up and 'put into a centre for days on end'. Many people who have been detained by ICE have reportedly not had access to counsel either. The lawyer said there was 'no question' that the manner in which ICE is detaining people is an attempt to intimidate people before deporting them. He said that many Irish citizens facing deportation are 'keeping it quiet' in hopes that they can return again. O'Dwyer said there is no evidence to suggest that there have been any diplomatic communications between the US and Ireland, as there have been in the past, that seek to minimise the deportation of undocumented Irish people in the US. 'I'm unaware of what the Trump administration has done that would give any satisfaction to Irish people,' O'Dwyer said, adding that ICE does not seem to have a 'preference' for who faces deportation. Speaking to The Journal previously, Foley said he had his request for his client's release under 24/7 monitoring with an ankle bracelet rejected, without hesitation. He said there was 'no flexibility' from the ICE officials. He noted that agents had been willing to compromise before the second Trump administration. Foley said fear of deportation is growing among Irish immigrants and other diasporas in the US. Since January, the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement, carrying out widespread arrests at immigration courts across the US. Over 70,000 people have been detained and deported since Trump took office in January. Increased deportations have impacted many Irish nationals living in the US, sparking concern among communities and advocacy groups about family separations and legal rights. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nicholas Rossi: How the mask slipped during US fugitive's court saga
I first met Nicholas Rossi - or Arthur Knight, as he insisted on being called - in February 2022 in a corridor at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. He was there to fight extradition to the US, where he was accused of rape. Sitting in his electric wheelchair, dressed in a three-piece suit and sporting a wide brimmed hat, the raspy voice behind the oxygen mask was telling anyone who would listen that this was all a terrible misunderstanding. His hands, meanwhile, were hoovering up reporters' business cards. Rossi's departure that day set the tone for what became a familiar scene - a slapstick performance in front of the cameras during which he tipped his wheelchair onto the pavement while trying to manoeuvre into a waiting taxi. Later that evening an unknown number flashed up on my mobile phone and I heard that same raspy voice. "Hello Steven, it's Arthur… do you have a minute?" And so began an exercise in separating fact from fiction that continues three years later, which I have explored in a new podcast as part of the Strange But True Crime series on BBC Sounds. The name Nicholas Rossi first came to wider attention in December 2021 when he was arrested on the Covid ward of a Glasgow hospital. Staff had recognised his mugshot and distinctive tattoos from an Interpol wanted notice. The problem for the American authorities was that the man they were seeking to extradite swore blind he was the victim of mistaken identity. He claimed he was Arthur Knight, an Irish-born orphan who had never been to America - and said he could prove it. A couple of weeks after our first phone-call, "Arthur" was sitting opposite me in a BBC studio, his wife Miranda by his side, telling his tale for the cameras. He said he grew up in care in Dublin and escaped to London as a teenager. There, he sold books with his friends at Camden market, like Del Boy from the comedy Only Fools and Horses. Years later he married Miranda in Bristol before they moved to Glasgow. He showed me their marriage certificate - accompanied by a special licence from the Anglican Church, because "I wouldn't lie to the Archbishop of Canterbury". What he couldn't produce was a birth certificate. Or a passport. He was vague about his schooldays and couldn't say what happened to his old friends. At times the conversation veered as wildly as his accent – from claims he survived the London Tube bombing (he got the date wrong) to a story about once meeting Del Boy's sidekick Rodney. He repeatedly denied being Nicholas Rossi, but when I asked about tattoos he said he was "too tired" to show me his arms. It was a surreal, unconvincing performance that was being watched across the Atlantic by plenty of people who recognised the main character. "I'd know those hands anywhere," Mary Grebinski later told me. She'd been a college student in 2008 when Nicholas Rossi sexually assaulted her on the way to class. He was convicted and placed on the sex offenders register. In Dayton, Ohio – the city where that attack happened – I also spoke to Rossi's ex-wife. Kathryn Heckendorn said she had bought him the red silk pyjamas "Arthur" had been filmed wearing outside court. Their unhappy marriage lasted eight months. The judge who granted their divorce in 2016 said Rossi was guilty of "gross neglect of duty and cruelty" on account of his abusive behaviour. Conversations like this helped fill in the blanks. Nicholas Rossi was born Nicholas Alahverdian in 1987. Rossi was the name of his stepfather, who at the time was Rhode Island's premiere Engelbert Humperdinck impersonator. As a teenager he spent time in care and, years later, enjoyed a degree of local fame as a child welfare campaigner. When reports of Alahverdian's death emerged in 2020, politicians paid tribute from the floor of the Rhode Island State House. According to an online obituary his last words were: "Fear not and run towards the bliss of the sun." But it didn't take long for this deception to begin unravelling. A priest who had been asked to arrange a memorial mass was warned by a detective not to go ahead because "Nicholas isn't dead". Instead, the authorities suspected Rossi was somewhere in the UK, having fled after discovering that the FBI were investigating an alleged credit card fraud. It was his online footprint that ultimately led police to his hospital bedside in Glasgow – ironically as the fugitive was recovering from a genuine near-death experience in the shape of Covid. At one of his early extradition hearings the sheriff commented that advancing the case shouldn't be "rocket science". But the legal process dragged on and on – in large part due to Rossi's antics. There were rambling courtroom monologues, questionable medical episodes and theatrical outbursts which were often directed at his own lawyers as a prelude to sacking them. Sitting in the public gallery, it was rarely dull. Rossi's claim that a corrupt hospital employee called Patrick tattooed him while he was in a coma was one of the more memorable exchanges. In the end the sheriff's conclusion was that the Arthur Knight charade was "implausible" and "fanciful". And yet Rossi stuck to his story – even as his extradition was approved and High Court judges refused his appeal. He stuck to his story as US Marshalls bundled him onto a private jet and as prison guards booked him into the Utah County jail. He stuck to his story in a Utah courtroom, until suddenly he didn't. In October last year I tuned in to a routine bail hearing online when, without warning, the posh English persona disappeared. Speaking in a clear American accent he told the judge he was born Nicholas Alahverdian before his name changed to Rossi. As he claimed to have hidden his identity to escape "death threats", I found myself wondering why he'd chosen that specific moment for the mask to slip. The saga continues, but the novelty has worn off. The intrigue and farce has been stripped away while the serious allegations remain. In May, Nicholas Rossi is due to face the first of two separate rape trials. He denies all the charges.
