Latest news with #JohnO'Brien
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Housing crisis is nearing boiling point – and it's a threat to the economy
I believe we are dealing with a ticking time bomb in this country – the possibility of a whole generation of pensioners renting in the future is unsustainable. We are nearing boiling point. We have the highest levels of youth outward emigration since 2015. We are losing gardaí, teachers and healthcare workers. I believe the housing crisis is a key threat to our economy. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Is Israel treated differently to Russia because it buys weapons from the EU? It is reported that the Tánaiste has 'issued condemnation of Israel's plan to seize Gaza' ('Simon Harris among six EU foreign ministers to issue condemnation of Israel's plan to seize Gaza', May 7). What do the six EU leaders hope to achieve by such condemnation? It is clear Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no interest in listening to any 'complaint/concerns' relating to the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza or the West Bank. What is needed is action, just like the EU took against Russia. So why double standards? Could it be because many EU states are selling military equipment to Israel? Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Co Cork Contrasting photos from the Vatican were excellent and evocative of scripture I would like to congratulate you for the excellent contrasting photos from the Vatican (Irish Independent, May 8). We see the red-robed cardinals assembled under the artistic work of Leonardo Da Vinci in the Sistine Chapel. In contrast, we have the kneeling pilgrim clad in a hooded hessian robe and sandals and clasping his staff. You have to consider which is most in keeping with the teaching of Christ – those within the Sistine Chapel or the pilgrim outside. The Gospel of Mark 6:8-9 quotes: 'He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts – but to wear sandals and not put on two coats.' Regarding the pilgrim, as an electrician I wondered why he had chosen bands of green/yellow insulating tape for earth wire to add to his staff. Paddy Murray, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath A new front is opening up in the centuries-old world of warring over religion As an age-old religious war comprising pseudo post-Christianity and radical Islam versus radical Judaism rumbles on, a new religious war is breaking out. Fundamentalist Islam and nationalist Hinduism have entered the ring. On behalf of which side will the acute sensitivities of the Irish media and populist commentators proselytise? Eugene Tannam, Firhouse, Dublin 24 Skirts, skorts and shorts camogie 'controversy' was bound to wake up the wags One wonders if one is allowed to wear a skort on the Dort. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 As VE Day is remembered, rising racism is putting us on same path as the Nazis Amid the 80th anniversary commemorations of the official end of the war in Europe, it's sobering to think that racism, which was at the heart of the evil regime the Allies defeated, has made a comeback. It is metaphorically crawling its way out of the ruins of the Berlin Bunker to ensnare new generations of Europeans. I listened recently to an old interview with an Irishman who was among the first Allied soldiers to enter the Nazi death camp of Bergen-Belsen. Nothing he had experienced in the war up to that point had prepared him for what he saw and felt when he passed through the gates of a man-made hell. He had lost friends on the battlefield, had numerous brushes with death and had seen the ugliness of war up close, but this left him stunned and disbelieving. We should never forget that the horrific scenes of mass murder, torture and the classification of entire ethnic groups as sub-human only became possible because people had allowed themselves to fall under the spell of racism. It started with name-calling, the casting of racial slurs and the dehumanising of people. In Britain, the VE Day (Victory in Europe) events are lavish and colourful and the relatives of those who served in the war or gave their lives are rightly proud of their sacrifice. How sad to see, though, in Britain and Ireland, that people are using the national flag to promote hatred of 'others', such as refugees and asylum-seekers, with cries of 'Our nation first' or 'Get them out'. Eighty years have passed since the Nazis ran up the white flag. Unfortunately, unreasoning hatred of people on grounds of creed, skin colour or ethnicity still thrives. Will any of us live to celebrate VR Day – Victory over Racism? John Fitzgerald, Callan, Co Kilkenny Remembering the Irish who fought alongside the British to save our world On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, it is to be remembered that Ireland was neutral, but Irish men fought with the Allies in Europe. One of them was John O'Neill, who emigrated from Bere Island, Co Cork, to England in the 1930s. He and his comrades fought through WWII until he was killed in action in late 1944. He is buried in the military cemetery near Overloon in the Netherlands. The late RTÉ journalist Cathal O'Shannon joined the RAF when war began. He went on to make the award-winning TV documentary Even the Olives are Bleeding in 1976 on the Irish in the Spanish Civil War. I would like to give a mention also to the Allied army and civilian engineers who ensured military vehicles, tanks and troops moved quickly into Europe after D-Day on June 6, 1944. The war in the Pacific was not yet over. Dr Aidan MacCarthy, from Castletownbere, Co Cork, joined the war as an RAF doctor. He survived Dunkirk in 1940 and was next sent to Asia. They were attacked and captured by the Japanese. He survived brutal POW camps and the atom bomb on Nagasaki in August 1945. He said faith and lots and lots of luck helped him survive.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PayPal and dLocal expand payments services in emerging markets
dLocal has expanded its partnership with PayPal to provide businesses with enhanced capabilities to process payments in more than 40 new emerging markets. This leverages dLocal's platform to facilitate both B2B and B2C payment flows without establishing local entities. The tie-up leverages PayPal Enterprise Payments, previously known as Braintree, transforming the way merchants approach international e-commerce. Through this partnership, businesses can now process local and alternative payment methods across regions including Latin America, EMEA, and APAC. Merchants using the dLocal platform can now access new global customers and process payments locally with minimal technical resources required, as they can leverage their existing PayPal Braintree integration and stored card information. This initiative is expected to result in increased authorisation rates due to the preference for domestic cards by local acquirers. Additionally, businesses claims to benefit from a single platform that manages both local and international payments. dLocal CRO John O'Brien said: 'Partnering with industry leaders like PayPal reflects dLocal's commitment to helping global businesses succeed in high-potential, emerging markets. 'We are proud to integrate with PayPal's Enterprise Payments solution, enabling their customers to tap into the full potential of these markets and access to over 40 untapped countries. Together, we are solving the challenges of moving money across borders and unlocking new opportunities for global growth.' This March, dLocal teamed up with Belmoney, a remittance-as-a-service provider in Europe, to enhance cross-border payout capabilities. This tie-up will incorporate over 900 local and alternative payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and instant transactions, into dLocal's platform. "PayPal and dLocal expand payments services in emerging markets " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Sunday World
28-04-2025
- Sunday World
US crackdown on Irish crime gangs connected to home repair scams
Huge resources are being brought to bear on the organised crime gangs as part of the hardline 'Operation Take Back America' aimed at immigrant criminals A website used in the alleged home improvements scam in the US AJ Oshier, below, admitted his role in smuggling people from Canada to the US Some of the work carried out by John O'Brien (below) Elijah Gavin, who is unlawfully at large from prison, is facing charges in Rhode Island Investigators in the US have identified dozens of people they believe are connected to home repair scams by Irish citizens. Huge resources are being brought to bear on the organised crime gangs as part of the hardline 'Operation Take Back America' aimed at immigrant criminals. Two recent cases in Rhode Island highlighted how alleged scammers have taken millions from unsuspecting homeowners. John O'Brien (28), who is charged with conspiracy and wire fraud, briefly appeared again in court last week where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Elijah Gavin is facing charges in Rhode Island There was some discussion as to whether he had access to funds to pay a lawyer and it was heard his family members are scattered all over the US and Ireland. The allegations against O'Brien are that he preyed on homeowners who initially agreed to have work carried out, only for more damage to be discovered that could be fixed at a higher cost. Documents found in his vehicle suggest that contracts worth almost $1million had been signed with various people in Rhode Island. Under the crackdown, local police have been able to call on federal agencies to assist in tackling the alleged scam artists. Homeland Security Investigation officers put surveillance on the home of one homeowner in Warwick, Rhode Island, who had contacted the local sheriff's department. It is claimed when O'Brien (27) turned up at the house on the morning of Friday, March 28, the authorities were waiting for him. He had allegedly tried to persuade a homeowner that a further €80,000 was needed to repair work on damaged foundations at his home. In the affidavit of the investigator, an unnamed brother of O'Brien is alleged to be a co-conspirator and is also now wanted by the federal agencies. It is alleged that the pair made 74 mostly cash deposits worth $220,838 at Bank of America between May 31, 2022 and June 22, 2023. O'Brien, they said, had entered the country originally as a tourist in 2021 and had overstayed his visa. Some of the work carried out by John O'Brien (below) . A statement earlier this month from the US Attorney's Office said the case is part of Operation Take Back America 'a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organisations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime'. Another Irish man is facing similar charges in Rhode Island having been arrested in January and accused of defrauding $850,000 from an elderly woman. Elijah Gavin was indicted by a jury for his part in a 'multi-state construction and money laundering fraud scheme'. Gavin, who is unlawfully at large from prison in Northern Ireland, is also charged with wire fraud between March 2022 and May 2023. In criminal complaint documents filed in court, Gavin is alleged to have acted along with other 'targets' who are also being sought by law enforcement. It is claimed money paid to Gavin was deposited into a Bank of America account controlled by a third party which saw funds totalling $5 million in November and December 2023. AJ Oshier, below, admitted his role in smuggling people from Canada to the US . US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Rhode Island State Police and the US Diplomatic Security Service are also involved in the case, highlighting the priority given to investigating the scams. The FBI's Terrorist Screening Centre has given the scamming gangs the name 'Travelling Conman Fraud' and described them as Irish or UK nationals. 'Once in the United States, they go to different cities and states, soliciting construction work,' a statement said. The FBI was directly involved in another case involving James Dinnigan (27) and Martin Maughan (31), who were arrested in New York in January suspected of involvement in a €1.4 million scam. Like the Rhode Island cases, they are alleged to have set up a bogus home repair company to look for work and ripping off customers. While they are the only people named in the criminal complaint filed with the courts, it is suspected others are involved in the same alleged fraud. A 68-year-old woman was persuaded to hand over $335,000 while another aged in her seventies lost $400,000. The FBI launched an operation into the alleged scam in January which they believe ran from October 2023 to February 2025. A website used in the alleged home improvements scam in the US Maughan was arrested just moments before he boarded a flight from Boston to Dublin on February 7 last, according to a deposition from Special Agent Jed Fisher. A clue into the number of people involved in the alleged scams came in the case of a man hired to get people across the Canadian border late last year. AJ Oshier has since agreed a plea deal with the authorities for his role in a criminal group that smuggled up to 100 people over a two-month period last year. He admitted four offences of people smuggling and conspiracy which carries a minimum mandatory five-year sentence One Irish citizen caught by federal agents near the border in New York state told officers he had paid CAN$3,500 to get into the country from Canada. After his initial arrest, Oshier refused to name the person referred to in court documents as 'co-conspirator 1' but was listed on his phone as 'Elevated Siding and Roofing.' It is believed many of those smuggled into the US are involved with home repair scams or related to members of a criminal gang.
Boston Globe
15-04-2025
- Boston Globe
‘I'm kicking myself': Retired R.I. veteran describes Irish contractor's alleged home repair scam
'We clicked,' Fife told the Globe. 'He's Irish, I'm Irish. I trusted him.' Advertisement The man used blue spray paint to mark cracks on the foundation stucco, and offered to fix them for $4,000 — no money up front. Fife agreed. The man said his crew needed to dig around the foundation to see how far down the cracks extended. Bad news: He said he'd need $9,500 to fix the damage. Fife wrote the check. Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up John O'Brien, 28, of Ireland, faces wire fraud and conspiracy charges in connection with a "traveling conman fraud" group that allegedly bilked homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. US District Court documents The crew kept digging and chiseling away at the foundation. And soon the man had more bad news: The damage was worse then expected; he'd need $95,000 to fix the foundation. Fife said he'd go to the bank to get a loan the next day. But by then, Fife was growing suspicious. The man had asked how much his house was worth. 'That's none of his business,' Fife told himself. 'Red flags.' Advertisement Fife called his son in New York City. His son wasn't home, but when he told the story to his daughter-in-law, she said, 'That is a scam! Go to the police go right now.' According to federal prosecutors, she was right. Related : John O'Brien, 28, of Ireland, A preliminary hearing was set for 2 p.m. Monday before US District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan. But at the defendant's request, it was rescheduled until 2 p.m. Friday. O'Brien's attorney, Kensley Barrett, issued a statement Monday, saying, 'My client and I believe these charges are wholly without merit and that the evidence will show that my client entered into service contracts with numerous homeowners where the work was completed satisfactorily.' If homeowners are dissatisfied with the completed work, 'there is a proper forum for those complaints — civil court, not criminal court," he said. O'Brien is accused of defrauding property owners by convincing them to pay for home repairs that were not needed and often not completed. He is also accused of misrepresenting the qualifications of his purported construction business, Traditional Masonry & Construction. Investigators say they found four binders in O'Brien's truck containing quotes, contracts, and invoices ranging from $300 to $205,000 and totaling $1,987,650, court documents show. Advertisement Federal authorities said the alleged scheme, known as 'traveling conman fraud,' is becoming increasingly common in the United States. According to the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, conmen travelers are groups of residents of Ireland or the United Kingdom who enter the country illegally or overstay tourist visas. The victims included four homeowners in Warwick, two in Providence, one in Pawtucket, and one in West Roxbury, Mass., according to an affidavit written by an East Providence police officer on a Homeland Security Investigations task force. According to the affidavit, the West Roxbury victim is an 82-year-old widow who reported paying O'Brien and his brother more than $200,000 for work that was worth between $13,000 and $30,000. The widow told Boston police they initially charged her $25,000 for work on her chimney. They then requested more money, in $7,500 increments, after discovering supposed problems, and ended up charging her $175,000 for repairs to the foundation of her home, court records show. The widow told authorities 'she did not know any better without her husband, and she did not want the house to fall down,' according to court records. In late March, O'Brien showed up at Gillooly Drive in Warwick, not far from O'Brien told the couple their foundation might also need work, but they said they'd never had water in their basement. O'Brien then suggested replacing their bulkhead stone stairway, and they agreed to pay an additional $17,000, for a total of $24,000, court records show. Advertisement 'O'Brien was very friendly and showed up to work each day,' the affidavit states. 'He even bought Victim 2 two 4-packs of Guinness beer for Victim 2 to drink.' Victim 2 lives just down the street from Fife, who is described in court records as Victim 1. On Friday, Fife sat in his garage, wearing an Air Force cap and working on his fertilizer spreader, as he recounted what happened after O'Brien rang his doorbell. Donald S. Fife points to the place where an Irish contractor dug around the foundation of his home in Warwick, R.I. Edward Fitzpatrick He said he has owned his home for 55 years and usually gets quotes and asks contractors to show their licenses. But he didn't this time, he said, because O'Brien was already working on his neighbor's home, and they bonded over their Irish heritage. Fife showed a reporter a 4-foot-deep ditch the crew dug around his house and the spray paint on his foundation. In the side yard, he picked up nails driven through pieces of cardboard that he said the workers left behind. He suspects O'Brien's crew used them to intentionally damage his foundation. Donald S. Fife holds the nails and cardboard that he suspects were used to damage the foundation of his house in Warwick, R.I. Edward Fitzpatrick According to court records, a home inspector hired by the US Attorney's Office examined Fife's home on March 31. 'The inspector was unable to observe any obvious cracking along the front or side of the house that would raise concern about the foundation's structural integrity,' court records state. The police arrested O'Brien on March 28 when he drove onto Gillooly Drive in a Chevrolet Silverado registered to John Paul O'Brien, of Framingham, Mass., court records show. Fife said that when the police arrived, two of O'Brien's workers ducked into his back yard and jumped over a six-foot-high wooden fence to escape. He said there were about 15 officers on the street from the Warwick Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations with masks on. Advertisement 'It was like watching the 'Cops' TV here,' Fife said. Fife said he told a Warwick police officer that 'I'm kicking myself for being stupid.' But the officer told him it could have been worse — other victims lost more than $200,000 of their savings. Now, Fife said, he has planted a new sign in his front yard that reads: 'Private property — NO soliciting, loitering, trespassing.' Donald S. Fife stands next to his new lawn sign, which reads, "No soliciting: NO soliciting, loitering, trespassing." Edward Fitzpatrick Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
