Latest news with #MichaelO'Brien
Wales Online
a day ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
Keir Starmer won me a £300k payout from police but I don't recognise him anymore
Keir Starmer won me a £300k payout from police but I don't recognise him anymore Michael O'Brien, who was victim to a horrendous miscarriage of justice, once believed the Prime Minister was 'a very compassionate man' Michael O'Brien, who was wrongly convicted of Phillip Saunders' murder (Image: John Myers / WalesOnline) A Welshman who was wrongfully imprisoned for 11 years has voiced a searing accusation of hypocrisy against his former barrister, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after losing a legal fight against the UK Government's decision to charge him "bed and board" for his time in jail. Michael O'Brien and two other men — known as the Cardiff Newsagent Three — were jailed for the 1987 killing of newsagent Phillip Saunders but later had their convictions quashed after police misconduct in the case emerged. Following his release Mr O'Brien, of Aberdare, was awarded £650,000 in compensation for the time he spent in prison, though an independent assessor decided £37,000 should be deducted from the payout to account for living costs like rent and food that he would have had to pay for if he hadn't been jailed. Mr O'Brien, 55, recently partnered with Paul Blackburn — who spent 25 years in jail for an attempted murder he did not commit and then had £100,000 bed and board cut from his compensation — to apply for a judicial review of the deduction. This week a High Court judge threw out their application, concluding: "Failing to reopen and increase past lawful compensation awards is not arguably irrational." Speaking to WalesOnline after the outcome, Mr O'Brien said it felt strange to have fought the Government in court given that its leader allegedly once told him the bed and board charge was "outrageous". During his time as a human rights barrister Sir Keir represented Mr O'Brien in a case against South Wales Police over the Cardiff Newsagent Three scandal, and in 2006 won a £300,000 settlement for his client — at the time described by the BBC as "the highest payout of its kind in a case of false imprisonment and malicious prosecution". That case was separate to the bed and board charge, but Mr O'Brien alleges the topic of the deduction came up during his conversations with Sir Keir at the time. "When we won the case he took me up to London," said Mr O'Brien. "He bought me dinner and everything. "We spoke about the bed and board charge and he told me it was outrageous and it should never have happened. He was a very compassionate man at one stage. I don't recognise the guy anymore. "Look at him now. He's allowing his Government to uphold bed and board charges against people who were wrongly imprisoned. I think that's disgraceful. Guilty people aren't charged when they are imprisoned, so why should innocent people be after miscarriages of justice?" 'Not a discrimination' After his conviction was overturned in 1999, Mr O'Brien successfully challenged the bed and board deduction in the High Court, but the UK Government then won in the Court of Appeal. At the time he decided not to appeal that ruling because of legal advice that he could face costs of around £140,000 if he lost again. But the debate returned to the headlines in 2023 when the rape conviction of Andrew Malkinson — who had spent 17 years in jail — was quashed and the then-Tory Government decided Mr Malkinson should not be charged for bed and board. The then-justice secretary Alex Chalk KC scrapped the policy of bed and board costs being deducted from payouts in such cases. But after coming into power last year the Labour government decided the change would not be applied retrospectively — meaning no refunds for people like Mr O'Brien whose compensation was paid before the new policy. In this week's ruling against Mr O'Brien and Mr Blackburn, the judge, Mr Justice Andrew Ritchie, said: "The fact that Government has recently changed the approach to be more generous to those applying after the policy change is not a 'discrimination'... [The ex-prisoners'] applications were dealt with and completed long before the time the policy changed." He added: "Failing to reopen and increase past lawful compensation awards is not arguably irrational. If it were, every time that a new head of compensatory damages was developed in the last 80 years (periodical payments for instance), all old claims would be arguably re-openable on the grounds that the change should have been retrospective." Michael O'Brien and supporters protesting 'bed and board' charge outside the Welsh Secretary's office in Cardiff in June 2025 (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne) Mr O'Brien has vowed not to give up the fight. More than 58,000 people have signed a petition against the deduction, and last year his campaigning led to 22 Senedd members signing a motion calling for retrospective repayment of bed and board deductions in cases like his. "I will be writing to every single MP calling on them to raise it in the UK Parliament as well," he said. "There's a lot of MPs who are outraged about it, we know that, but they need to speak up in Parliament." He added: "[This is] about every individual who has been wrongfully convicted and then charged for their stay in prison — a place they should never have been in the first place." The criticism of Sir Keir was not directly addressed by the UK Government, which told us living expenses have not been deducted from compensation since August 2023 but that "as is the case for most Government policy, this change does not apply retrospectively". Article continues below You can read more about the miscarriages of justice against the Cardiff Newsagent Three here.
Los Angeles Times
25-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Los Angeles Times
Water Feature Trends That Turn Your Backyard Into a True Escape
You know that feeling…when the day's noise fades and you hear water, even just a trickle. Instantly, the space around you feels different. Not bigger, exactly. Just more yours. And it's not about size. The new standard for 2025 is a quiet transformation. Water features that change your sense of time and place. Pools and fountains that borrow from architecture, nature, and technology. Nothing looks 'installed.' Everything feels considered. This isn't a design moment that started with an Instagram trend. It's a shift in how people live, especially in Southern California. More of us want the outdoors to feel personal and worth being outside for. There's actual science behind why it works. Water in the landscape reduces stress, can improve mental health, and may even boost physical recovery and immune response. The days of blue boxes and cold rectangles are over. There's texture everywhere. Edges you want to run your hand over. 'We're seeing more interest in raised-edge coping, especially in materials like board-formed concrete. It adds structure, texture, and a place to sit or gather,' says Michael O'Brien, founder of Los Angeles-based design studio Hommes + Gardens, known for their sculptural, plant-forward landscapes and immersive outdoor spaces. It's not just decorative. 'It turns a pool into something more sculptural, which is always the goal: we want our pools to function, but also to feel like part of the garden and the architecture.' A line between home and outdoors, blurred in the right ways. Raised coping creates seating, offers subtle elevation, and draws the eye across materials. There's an art to it. 'I like pairing this kind of edge detail with a deck that meets it flush, or using a tile that picks up on other textures around the property. Maybe something that references old pottery or a color from the home's façade. It's a way to connect the pool back to the house,' O'Brien adds. Curved coping is showing up everywhere…soft, continuous, less geometric. 'We've also been playing with curved coping to soften the geometry and add movement. Concrete finishes should be poured and stained together when visible in the same sightline; that consistency in tone makes all the difference.' Not just another backyard, but something that feels like it could have always been there. Research backs this up: organic forms and tactile materials invite us to linger, and can change how we feel in a space. The right light can change everything. 'When it comes to lighting, it's less about illumination and more about atmosphere. The right pool lighting should feel cinematic,' O'Brien explains. 'One of the most important (and often overlooked) elements is choosing the right color temperature.' And cool LEDs are seemingly out as they are said to feel harsh and disconnected when contrasted with the softness of garden lighting. 'Instead, we opt for warmer hues that flatter both the water and the plants, creating a seamless wash of light that enhances the mood rather than competing with it,' O'Brien suggests. It's not about showing off the pool. 'The light should graze, pool, shimmer. Whether it's subtly recessed beneath coping or diffused from within planted beds, our goal is always to sculpt an evening experience that feels effortless and serene.' No one wants the backyard to look like a showroom. People want materials that age well. Stone that remembers rain. Brick that's been somewhere. 'We're seeing a lot of reclaimed materials…antique brick, weathered limestone, honed concrete. When paired with natural elements like turf or crushed gravel, those textures ground the space and make it feel like it's always been there.' Texture does something to the brain. 'That's the balance we're always chasing: timeless, but not generic. Pools are getting softer in shape, less rigid. Curves are coming back in a more refined way. But classics still hold: a clean rectangular pool with aged materials and thoughtful planting will never go out of style.' There's a reason this matters. Natural surfaces, curved edges, and layers of planting help moderate temperature, reduce water waste, and make the space easier to live with year-round. What's showing up in remodeled and new backyards? Each of these trends is about more than just how things look. They change how spaces are used and how people feel in them. If your backyard isn't big or isn't fancy, it still qualifies. A single water wall or basin by the patio can change the whole experience. Not every project is on a sprawling lot. One of the most talked-about new pools in the Hollywood Hills sits where a driveway used to be. It isn't massive. But every detail is intentional. 'We recently designed a pool for a 1927 Spanish Revival home in the Hollywood Hills. The pool sits where the driveway used to be, so we had to make every square foot count. Instead of treating it as a standalone feature, we made it feel like part of the garden, with raised coping that doubles as seating, planting all around it, and materials that reflect the age and character of the home,' O'Brien shared. No two edges match. The board-formed concrete brings in grain and texture. The curved steps mimic the curved coping. Tiles pick up on the yellowed stucco and terra cotta nearby. Planting goes right to the water's edge. You swim in the garden, not next to it. 'It's a small space, but it feels generous because everything is working together: form, material, planting, and proportion. That's what we're always after, a pool that doesn't just sit in the backyard, but elevates the whole property.' There's a bigger story here. People invest in water not just to impress, but to reset. Research on 'blue space' shows consistent links between water in the environment and lower anxiety, improved mood, and even more time spent outdoors. Raised-edge plunge pools, sculptural fountains, or even just a small trickle at the back of the yard, these are not just luxuries. They're invitations. A way to get outside, linger, and actually enjoy where you live. If you want to make your backyard feel less like a set piece and more like a retreat, follow the water. Maybe the only thing between Tuesday and escape is a ripple, a bit of curve, and the right kind of light.
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Homeless Cork man admits role in €15,500 cheque fraud involving elderly victim
A Cork man who tried to lodge a cheque for more than €15,000 that was obtained deceitfully has pleaded guilty in the district court. Michael O'Brien, aged 55, of Arch House, Rock Street, Cloyne, Co. Cork, was arrested on a bench warrant and appeared at Midleton District Court. Giving evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Ronan Cogavin told the court that O'Brien said he was 'guilty of handling the cheque but knew nothing about it.' Court presenter Sergeant Linda O'Leary said that the incident happened on January 18, 2019, when an 89-year-old man was approached by another man about carrying out roof repairs to his property. The injured party wrote a cheque for €15,500 for the repairs that were not carried out and subsequently recalled the cheque when it became apparent he was the victim of an attempted deception. Michael O'Brien said he had been drinking in a park at the time and was approached by a third party who offered him €2,500 to lodge the cheque into his bank account. The court heard that O'Brien has 22 previous convictions, including nine for theft. Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said O'Brien made full admissions in 2022 and is a 'chronic alcoholic.' He told the court that his client had spent four years in treatment at St Vincent's and had been living in Cloyne for the past eight months in homeless accommodation. He added that O'Brien was effectively an accomplice in the attempted fraud and did not profit from it. Judge Colm Roberts said O'Brien was an accomplice and facilitator, who tried to gain from the crime, even though he was ultimately unsuccessful. He noted that O'Brien's circumstances had improved in recent years and requested a probation and welfare report. O'Brien was released on bail on his own bond of €500, and the case was adjourned to November 6 for completion of the report. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Rural Tipperary home gets green light despite neighbour's objections
Michael O'Brien had applied to Tipperary County Council for planning permission to build a house on land gifted to him by his father at Rossoulty, Upperchurch, which was granted by the local authority. However, Mr O'Brien's proposed neighbour, Ben O'Brien submitted a third-party appeal to the grant of planning permission to An Coimisiún Pleanála, stating that the applicant should not be allowed to build his home on this site, questioning his eligibility under the council's rural housing need policies. The appellant lives across the road from the proposed new house and stated that 'once the applicant reached 18 years of age he moved out of the area. "If the housing needs policy and requirements can be satisfied by a child residing in the area for a continuous period of 10 years then effectively there is no rural housing need policy because every child that grew up in their local area and finished secondary school, is eligible for a rural house.' Under Tipperary County Council's rural housing policy, applicants typically must demonstrate a strong local connection or 'rural-generated housing need'. The appellant also raised concerns about the height of the proposed new-build. In response, the applicant, Michael O'Brien rejected the appellant's claims and questioned his own connection to the area. "He is from a different parish, Hollyford, which is 20 minutes form his home. To say that he has a less right to build a house on the road than the applicant is ridiculous,' the planning files said. The applicant said that he and his family welcomed the appellant into the area when they built their house some years ago, and they did not lodge any objections to his planning application. The applicant criticised the neighbour's own large home, describing it as 'enormous' and contrasting it with his proposed build. ADVERTISEMENT "The third-party appellant has failed to mention his own dwelling house which is appropriately named 'The Height' which is 3-4 times bigger than the proposed development. His house is enormous and does not blend into the landscape.' Mr O'Brien was granted permission to build his home on the site, despite his neighbour's objections, subject to eight conditions. Among the conditions are that the applicant or his family live in the home for at least seven years after the house is built, that the site be landscaped with only indigenous deciduous trees and hedging species, and that any surface water run-off from the site be disposed of within the site.
Daily Record
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Man wrongfully jailed for murder he didn't commit hit with £37,000 bill for prison room
Michael O'Brien was wrongfully jailed for the murder of newsagent Phillip Saunders in 1987. A man who was wrongly jailed for 11 years over a murder he didn't commit was hit with a £37,000 bill for his prison room. Michael O'Brien and two other men — known as the Cardiff Newsagent Three — were convicted of the 1987 killing of Cardiff newsagent Phillip Saunders. However, the trio later had their convictions quashed after police misconduct in the case emerged. Following his release, O'Brien was given £650,000 in compensation. But an independent assessor, Lord Brennan KC, decided £37,000 should be deducted from the payout to account for living costs like rent and food that he would have had to pay for if he hadn't been jailed Nearly 60,000 people have signed a petition backing O'Brien's campaign to be reimbursed. Mr O'Brien, 55, and a group of supporters held a protest on June 27 outside the office of the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, in Cardiff's Central Square. As reported in Wales Online, he said: "No one came out even though we gave them the opportunity. They knew we'd be there because I told them we would be. It just goes to show the contempt they've got for us. She [Ms Stevens] should be looking after the Welsh people and raising our concerns. I wrote to her weeks ago and haven't heard back. We've got the backing of 22 members of the Senedd but we have not heard from her at all." Last year a motion backed by 22 members called for retrospective repayment of bed and board deductions in cases like Mr O'Brien's. After his conviction was overturned in 1999, O'Brien successfully challenged the bed and board deduction in the High Court, but the UK Government then won in the Court of Appeal. Mr O'Brien decided not to appeal that ruling because of legal advice that he could face costs of around £140,000 if he lost again. But the debate hit headlines again in 2023 when the rape conviction of Andrew Malkinson — who had spent 17 years in jail — was quashed. The then-Tory Government decided Mr Malkinson should not be charged for bed and board. A review was launched into whether other wrongly convicted ex-prisoners should have their deductions revoked. But the Labour Government opted against this as the Ministry of Justice warned it would mean "significant" costs. O'Brien has now partnered with Paul Blackburn, who spent 25 years in jail for an attempted murder he did not commit and then had £100,000 bed and board cut from his compensation. Hickman and Rose solicitors are representing Mr O'Brien and Mr Blackburn on a 'no win, no fee' basis but they could face heavy costs if the judicial review does not go their way, so they have launched a crowdfunding page. Mr O'Brien said: 'This is not just about us. It's about every individual who has been wrongfully convicted and then charged for their stay in prison — a place they should never have been in the first place. "It is estimated by the Innocence Project that hundreds could be affected by this policy. This practice adds insult to injury for victims of wrongful convictions and must be addressed immediately. We have now been refused legal aid to challenge this unjust decision and aim to raise the funds to cover our legal costs. "They did not charge guilty people for being rightly imprisoned — only innocent miscarriages of justice victims.' The UK Government said that since August 2023, living expenses have not been deducted from compensation but that it is "standard government protocol that policy changes are not applied retrospectively".
