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The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Family of Irishman missing abroad fly out to search for ‘needle in a haystack' oil rigger after unsettling phone calls
THE family of a missing Belfast man will travel to France today to begin a search following a number of distressing calls from his phone. Robert Kincaid, 38, has not been heard from or seen since he missed a flight from Advertisement 2 Robert Kincaid disappeared after missing his flight from Paris to Dublin earlier this month Credit: Family Handout Robert, a local of the Tullycarnet area of east He had told friends and family earlier that day that he had missed his flight and was waiting in the However, when they later attempted to contact him via FaceTime, his phone was answered by a man they did not know. Speaking with Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS "We tried to contact him around ten o'clock that night on FaceTime, and it was answered by a man who appeared to be in a corrugated hut. "He spoke with broken English and said that the phone was on zero per cent, then it cut off." Even more worryingly, a call that took place the next day was answered by an unknown woman with a baby heard crying in the background. The phone has since been switched off. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Latest According to Louis, Robert has been reported missing to the PSNI, and the family has been in contact with the British embassy in Paris; however, they have yet to receive any news. Louis says they have been unable to get in contact with French However, they do know that Robert is not in any hospitals or medical centres. NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK Desperate for answers, the family is now preparing to fly to France themselves in a last-ditch effort to find him, with Louis set to travel to Paris today to begin searching for his brother directly. Advertisement There, he is expected to meet with British embassy officials who will help him liaise with local police. He said: "We are preparing to fly out for a couple of days on Wednesday to do a mini search. "I know it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and I am not sure what we will accomplish, but we have to do something." 2 Robert's family is traveling to Paris this week in an attempt to find the missing 38-year-old Credit: Family Handout Advertisement
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Ex-garda showed ‘breathtaking disregard' by inciting men to rape female colleague he impersonated online as cop jailed
A FORMER garda who impersonated a colleague online and incited men to come to her home and rape her has been jailed for seven years. Advertisement Flanagan, with an address in Co He also shared the woman's personal information, including her address, photos of her and her daughters, and screenshots from the Strava app, showing her running route. Flanagan pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting two men to rape the woman on dates between November and December 2020. He further pleaded guilty to six counts of endangering the woman and her daughters between 2018 and 2020, and to one count of possession of four images of child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on January 7, 2021. Advertisement Most read in Irish News He has no previous convictions. Imposing sentence at the Central Criminal She imposed a sentence of eight years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for three years. 1 Shane Flanagan impersonated the woman on a fetish website and on Facebook Credit: Advertisement
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Greg O'Shea wins fifth series of Love Island
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (28th July - 3rd August) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 28th July to 3rd August. This Week In Irish News The Transocean Airways DC8 Jet became the first chartered transatlantic flight to fly directly to Cork Airport from New York City. The landing came following a recent extension of a thousand feet to the Cork Airport runway. When the plane landed, The St. Finbar's Pipe Band, along with crowds of people, were there to greet them. The then Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Chrissie Aherne, and Minister of State for Tourism and Transport, Denis Lyons, were also present to welcome its passengers to Cork. 2014: When the Jedi came to the great Skellig Skellig Michael became a part of the Star Wars universe when filming of The Force Awakens took place there. Local boatmen ferried crew members from Portmagee to the World Heritage Site for filming while the cast was brought by helicopter from a helipad on Valentia Island. The island, located off the coast of County Kerry, featured in two Star Wars movies: The Force Awakens in 2015 and again in the following instalment, The Last Jedi, released in 2017. This Week In Irish Sports 2015: Team Ireland finish on a high in Special Olympics Team Ireland finished the Special Olympics in Los Angeles with an incredible 86 medals. On the final day of the competition alone, Irish athletes won six gold, five silver, and five bronze medals. The final medal tally of 26 gold, 29 silver, 31 bronze, 31 personal bests and 43 placement ribbons. The team obtained medals in disciplines such as basketball, soccer, athletics, badminton, equestrian, gymnastics and bowling, 2024: Paris Olympics bring medals for Ireland in multiple disciplines Ireland had an Olympics to remember, with gold medals and more obtained in multiple disciplines. Overall, the final tally was four golds, three bronzes, and 26 top-10 finishes. In swimming, Daniel Wiffen took gold in the men's 800m freestyle and bronze in the men's 1500m freestyle, while Mona McSharry took the bronze in the women's 100m breaststroke. In rowing, Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan took gold in the men's lightweight double sculls, while Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle took bronze in the men's double sculls. Kellie Harrington took gold in the women's lightweight boxing, and Rhys McClenaghan took gold in the men's pommel horse. This Week In Irish Entertainment 2001: Brian Dowling crowned winner of Big Brother 2 The reality TV game show Big Brother saw Brian Dowling crowned the winner of its second series. Over four and a quarter million people cast telephone votes, making Dowling, from Rathangan in Co. Kildare, the winner. The series was the most-watched Big Brother ever, with the final watched by 13.7 million viewers, making it Channel 4's second most-watched show. 2019: Greg O'Shea wins fifth series of Love Island Limerick rugby player Greg O'Shea and his partner Amber Gill, who is from Newcastle in the UK, were announced as the winners of Love Island 2019. They were competing against Longford model Maura Higgins and her partner Curtis Pritchard, Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague, and Ovie Soko and India Reynolds. O'Shea entered the villa on day 43 before coupling up with Gill on day 46 This Week In Irish Culture 1965: The first Grand Canal Festival in Co Kildare The first Grand Canal Festival opened in Robertstown, Co. Kildare in 1965. Created as part of an effort to maintain the canals for boating, the festival evolved into an annual event featuring people dressed in 18th-century costumes, entertainment, archaeological and art exhibitions, and more. The festival centre was the Grand Canal Hotel, which operated as a museum showcasing weapons, Georgian maps and rare books relating to the canal. Funds raised from the festival were used to cover additional repairs to the building. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1976: 'The Boys Are Back in Town' by Thin Lizzy Considered to be the band's best song, the song was the first single from their album Jailbreak. 2003: 'Crazy in Love' by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z The lead single in Beyoncé's debut solo album Dangerously in Love, her song has been ranked in several best-of lists. 2022: 'Running Up That Hill' by Kate Bush The 1985 hit gained a new lease of life after featuring in the fourth season of Stranger Things, reaching number one in eight countries. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Eamon Dunphy (80) Media personality, journalist, broadcaster, author, and sports pundit Frances Fitzgerald (75) Former Fine Gael politician who was Tánaiste from 2016 to 2017 Micheál Martin (65) Taoiseach of Ireland and leader of Fianna Fáil Other Irish Trivia From This Week 1994: Having tea with Daniel O'Donnell Thousands of fans turned out in County Donegal, travelling as far as Australia, to chat and have tea with Daniel O'Donnell. The tea party hosted by the singer in his mother's home in Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, is a highlight of the Mary from Dungloe Festival. Several thousand fans queued up outside his mother's house to have a cup of tea and a chat with the man himself. The tradition began four years previously when he invited some fans to call around. The tradition would continue until 2000 when large numbers made it unfeasible. Looking Ahead Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘When the car hit us, I never thought we'd all get out alive' – Family's miracle survival in horror crash that killed 3
A MUM of four told how her family's lives changed forever after their car collided with a drunk driver's vehicle. Three men in one car lost their lives in the smash on the Military Road in Dungarvan, 2 One Irish family's lives changed forever after their car collided with a drunk driver's vehicle Credit: RTE 2 Three passengers in the opposite car instantly died in the horrifying crash Credit: RTE Mary Bermingham was in the front seat with her partner Gary Fenton driving. Heading towards Kilmeaden to see the Santa train, the family's car was struck by a Mary said: 'I sat in a car and thought I would die. I can't explain what that feels like.' READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS The other car was driven by Eamon Dixon, 22. He and his passenger Michael Tobin, 38, were both from Dungarvan. The other passenger was Kenneth O'Sullivan, 39, of Blackpool, All three were burnt beyond recognition after their car burst into a fireball. Most read in Irish News All three were killed instantly. Dixon had 221mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood as well as traces of cocaine and other Two 'challenging' rescue ops at 'rocky locations' off Dublin coast as 3 kids cut off by tide & teen falls from cliffs Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said such intoxication would 'seriously impair the ability to drive'. Speaking on Impact — Anatomy Of A Car Crash, which airs tomorrow at 9.35pm on Her daughter Chloe said: 'When I looked up from my phone, I saw a car coming head on. 'I screamed. I remember the bang to this day, I can still hear that bang. 'I can feel my body being thrown forward still. It's just horrific.' Mary told how a witness pulled her daughter Abbie from the crushed 'It was one of the worst nightmares' She said: 'I thought 'he's going to comfort her at least'. I thought this is going to be the last time we see her. I shouted 'I love you Abbie' and genuinely thought I'd never see her again. 'It was one of the worst nightmares you could be awake in. I could see Gary unconscious, slumped on the wheel. I could see his mouth foaming.' Mary lost brother Christopher, 24, in a car crash just two years prior to And describing her rescue, she said: 'As I was being wheeled onto the helicopter, my brother was standing there. He didn't speak, we just hugged. My brother was there that day.' Mary woke up in intensive care and was 'struggling to breath'. Daughter Chloe, then 15, underwent a five-hour surgery to repair her spleen and intestines. With her family members taken to separate Mary continued: 'I was told Gary was in intensive care. I didn't think he would come out.' Gary had the most serious injuries and was taken to theatre. Medics then informed him that he had broken his C2 vertebra. Gary said: 'The doctor said, 'How are you still alive?'. I broke all my ribs. I'd a punctured lung, internal bleeding. I'd shattered my femurs, broke my kneecaps, my arm. I wanted to see Mary and the kids, to make sure they were alright.' Mary fractured her C2 and broke her ribs, both legs, her back, her left arm and an ankle. She said: 'Thomas had no injuries, just a seat belt mark. His angel was with him. Abbie broke her pelvis, but still climbed the seats and took our seat belts off. Annalee fractured her skull and neck.' But Mary added: 'I still have night terrors. I jump out of bed thinking I'm trapped.'
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Ex-soldier, 34, sentenced to 15 years over the murder of Irish girlfriend on ‘make or break' Spain holiday
A FORMER soldier has been jailed for just 15 years for the brutal murder of his Irish girlfriend at their Spanish holiday hotel. And Keith Byrne has been told that the two years 4 Kirsty Ward was murdered by her boyfriend on their holiday in Spain Credit: Collect image 4 Keith Byrne has been jailed for just 15 years for the brutal murder Credit: Social media - Refer to source 4 It emerged that Kirsty was planning on leaving Keith on their 'make or break' holiday The sentencing decision, revealed overnight in a 121-page written ruling by the judge who presided over Byrne's trial at a court in the east coast Public prosecutors had demanded a 20-year jail sentence for the 34-year-old Irishman after a jury convicted him of strangling Kirsty to death with a hair straightener power cord at their four-star hotel in the popular Costa Daurada resort of Salou on July 2 2023, after she told him she was leaving him. And a private prosecutor for Kirsty's family said after the guilty verdict, she was still seeking the 30-year sentence she argued for before and during the Sentencing judge Susana Calvo Gonzalez ruled the fact Bryne and his 36-year-old partner had been in a stable eight-month relationship made the horror READ MORE ON KIRSTY WARD But she said the convicted killer's consumption of The judge said in her lengthy ruling, rejecting arguments private prosecutor Estela Cortes put forward to justify a 30-year prison term: 'I understand that there is a prevailing basis for imposing the lower penalty and, therefore, imposing a sentence of between seven years and six months and 15 years. 'Within that range, the recognition of the aggravating circumstance and the motivation for the act…lead to the imposition of the maximum penalty, which is 15 years in Jurors found Keith Byrne guilty of murdering his South Most read in Irish News The Irishman had claimed during his Tarragona trial the mum-of-one committed suicide at the four-star Magnolia Hotel. He described himself as a 'respectful and intelligent' father-of-three who would never commit an act of domestic violence - and demonised Kirsty as someone who could be 'four people in one day', especially after binging on alcohol and cocaine, he claimed, made their romance 'toxic'. 'YOU'RE MINE OR YOU'RE NOBODY'S' Kirsty's mum Jackie Ward described Byrne as someone she 'didn't like' and 'didn't trust' on day one of the trial on April 23, and said she had found out after her daughter's death that She was asked as she gave evidence whether she thought her daughter, whose son Evan was 14 when she died, could have committed suicide but replied angrily: 'She did everything for her son. 'She would never ever leave him. She would never do that to him.' Public prosecutor Javier Goimil, a domestic violence specialist, rubbished Byrne's court claim that Kirsty took her own life during his closing speech to the jury on the final day of the murder trial. He claimed the former soldier, who had been living in Duleek, Co He said the forensic evidence pointed to Kirsty being strangled from behind between 8pm and 10pm on July 2 2023, after 'incapacitating herself' with alcohol and cocaine. He told the court: 'Byrne has adapted his version of events of what happened in that timeframe nearly two years on in accordance with the evidence he's learnt there is against him. TOXIC RELATIONSHIP 'He's saying Kirsty tied a cable round her neck and attached it to the door knob but in the state she was in it would have been impossible for her to do that and there's nothing showing there was a knot in the cable. 'What's occurred here is a violent and painful death, a strangulation from behind where someone is pulling from the front to the back. This was not a He added: 'She didn't leave a note for her son or her siblings or her mum and what's more she had bought a plane ticket back to Dublin for July 4. 'Kirsty's relationship with Byrne was very toxic, very intense and very emotional. 'She decided to end it during the week they stayed at the hotel in Salou and her partner couldn't accept that decision. 'His mindset at that moment was: 'Or you're mine or you're nobody's. You, woman, are no-one to say you're going to detach yourself from me the man and have your own independent life. 'That was why he killed her the way he did.' He also said the amount of alcohol Kirsty had drunk before being killed would have significantly impacted her ability to defend herself. WANTED IN ENGLAND Byrne's defence The killer was led handcuffed from the court after learning he was a convicted criminal following nearly two years on remand in prison following his arrest, with the judge deferring sentencing as is normal in Spain. It emerged following Byrne's Spanish arrest that he was wanted in England by the Reports in One of these women previously claimed in an interview with the Irish Independent that Byrne had tried to strangle her in an incident at a property in Co Meath a number of years ago. 'ADORED DAUGHTER' Jackie Ward described her daughter after her death as a 'fantastic friend' to her parents and 'an absolutely adored daughter.' She told the congregation at the Church of John the Evangelist in Ballinteer, Dublin, in July 2023 that she had been an amazing mum to Evan, saying: 'The two of them were an amazingly strong and tight team and I hope to continue the great work she has done. 'To me she was a fantastic friend and an absolutely adored daughter to myself and John. She was a caring sister, a cherished granddaughter and much loved niece and cousin. A loyal and true friend.' Kirsty's family said in a statement after the May 7 jury verdict: 'Our family wish to thank our private prosecutor Estela Cortes and her team for guiding, supporting and representing Kirsty, her son and our family at this very difficult and painful time; Javier Goimil the public prosecutor for his commitment and passion; the Spanish investigation teams and police for their expertise, empathy and understanding; and the jury for seeing and believing in what was the truth about our beautiful Kirsty. 'Our family now requests our privacy be respected, while we grieve and come to terms with all that has happened during the past two years.' The slain Irishwoman's loved ones have yet to react to the sentencing decision. Well-placed legal sources said after Byrne's trial finished, they expected him to be jailed for around 20 years. 4 The shocking murder occurred at the Spanish hotel Credit: Solarpix
