Latest news with #MichaelWright
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
The Brooklyn, Swords review: One star for the worst chicken burger I've ever tasted
The Brooklyn Address : The Plaza, Malahide Road, Townparks, Swords, Co Dublin, K67 WV44 Telephone : 01 840 6760 Cuisine : Modern International Website : Cost : €€ Walk into The Brooklyn and the vibe hits immediately – all thump, gloss and security detail. Three suited bouncers check bookings – because nothing says 'gastro bar' like nightclub security at 6.15pm on a Friday evening. This is the latest dinner booking we can get at the new 160-seater in Swords , Co Dublin , and the place is already operating at full volume. It's a €2.5 million fit-out by O'Donnell + O'Neill – known for polished interiors such as The Leinster and Sophie's Rooftop Restaurant at The Dean , both in Dublin. This one aims for Brooklyn chic but lands somewhere between cocktail lounge and influencer backdrop: pineapple lamps, considered mismatched furnishings, salvaged brick and reclaimed timber. Dramatically lit big-brand bottles – Beefeater, Bombay – perch on glass shelves aiming for niche and premium but not quite hitting the note. Michael Wright and his sons, Brook and Mikey, say they're here to break norms and push boundaries. The result is an all-day menu in what they call a premium casual style, letting the ingredients speak for themselves. READ MORE There's nothing wrong with a one-pager offering burgers, wings, steaks and pasta – plenty of places do it, and people love it. But it has to be good. It has to be confident. The prawn tempura (€14) suggests otherwise. The wild Argentinian prawns come sealed in batter so thick and joyless 'tempura' feels like a typo. The calamari (€12) fares a little better: evenly cut, criss-crossed squid coated in golden panko. The pieces are just a little too precise to feel handcrafted, and the dipping sauce doesn't do much to elevate things. Inside The Brooklyn in Swords, Co Dublin. Photograph: Alan Betson The Brooklyn has an all-day menu in what it calls a premium casual style. Photograph: Alan Betson The menu promises cocktails and a 'curated' wine list. Stick to the more affordable classics – my Margarita (€12) is fresh and zingy, but the signatures run from €14 to €16. The Paul Mas Chardonnay (€8.50) is the best of a deeply unambitious glass selection, which veers into supermarket territory with Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Rioja. The fish and chips (€19) arrives with all the self-righteous fanfare the menu can muster – 'sustainably caught haddock, hand-cut fries, crushed sweet peas, tartar sauce' – as if this is some major flex. No points for highlighting a supplier using nets with larger mesh sizes while serving farmed sea bass and salmon. Pan fried sea bass at The Brooklyn. Photograph: Alan Betson The Brooklyn. Photograph: Jimmy Hawkshaw The Brooklyn. Photograph: Jimmy Hawkshaw And the poor fish. It lands in a slab of batter so thick and tough I consider asking for a serrated knife to get through it. The fish has spent way too much time in the heat, like it has been batch-cooked and revived to order. And the weird thing is, there's barely any flesh – it's mostly batter. It is, without a doubt, the worst battered fish I've ever had. Anywhere. Ever. The Korean chicken burger (€19) faces a similar fate, encased in a wodge of thick, hard, batter. How so much of it clings to the scrap of dried-out chicken is the real mystery. There's barely any flavour, certainly no real taste of kimchi. Compare and contrast with the glorious burgers at Korean fried chicken specialist, Chimac – crisp, juicy, and alive with heat – and try not to laugh. It's the worst chicken burger I've ever had – it is gasp-inducingly poor. Both mains come with hand-cut fries which are uniformly skinny – someone in the kitchen is hand-cutting with machine-like precision. One bowl is hot, the other cold. We're despairing. We share the sticky toffee pudding (€8). It's fine. The sponge is soft. The sauce is not overly confected. There is ice cream. It is the one dish that arrives as expected and tastes as described. If everything had been at the level of the pudding, we'd have left with fewer complaints. Not compliments – just fewer complaints. But this isn't a bad night at a good place. This is exactly how it's meant to be: calculated, commercial, and built to a brief. A concept, not a kitchen. A venue, not a restaurant. This is €2.5 million spent proving that money buys lighting, velvet banquettes, and nice mirrors. But not food. Not flavour. Not even a whiff of interest. It's a revenue stream with a menu. And they called it The Brooklyn. Why? Because 'The Swords' wouldn't sell a €19 chicken burger like this one and get away with it. Dinner for two with three drinks was €99. The Verdict: Gasp-inducingly poor. Food provenance: Haddock from Kilmore Quay, wild Argentinian prawns, Greek farmed sea bass, Scottish farmed salmon, duck from Musgraves, Manor Farm free-range chicken, O'Mahony's pork, John Stone beef, and Keelings. Vegetarian options: Caesar salad, soups, flatbreads, bruschetta, spaghetti aglio e olio, halloumi burger, and grilled cauliflower steak. Wheelchair access: Fully accessible with an accessible toilet. Music: Disco and soul.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
West Allis deputy fire chief on administrative leave; what we know
The Brief West Allis Deputy Fire Chief Michael Wright has been placed on administrative leave. It follows an investigation that coincided with a citizen complaint filed against him. Attorneys found he violated department policy by using "insulting, defamatory and obscene language" about other employees. MILWAUKEE - West Allis placed a deputy fire chief on administrative leave, and FOX6 News obtained an investigation that coincided with a citizen complaint against the man that sheds light on the situation. What we know Attorneys hired by the firefighters' union and the city's Police and Fire Commission found Michael Wright violated department policy by using "insulting, defamatory and obscene language" about other employees at least four times. The report also found Wright improperly handled an internal investigation. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android The attorneys concluded that Wright does not need "significant punishment" but a written reprimand, suspension or demotion could be "appropriate." Dig deeper Wright is not the only public official facing scrutiny in Milwaukee County. Over the past several weeks, Greenfield's police chief was placed on administrative leave, and Franklin's mayor faced allegations of misconduct tied to his time as a Waterford police lieutenant. Jay Johnson was placed on administrative leave from the Greenfield Police Department over "workplace concerns" after the city said it received "significant allegations" about his conduct. Johnson said the allegations against him include creating a toxic workplace and berating a union worker. Assistant Police Chief Eric Lindstrom is serving as Greenfield's acting police chief. Franklin Mayor John Nelson is under fire because of a now-closed investigation from months ago. He was accused of fostering a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and getting paid on-and-off the table when he was with the Waterford Police Department. FOX6 News obtained records that list some accusations, such as hostile work environment, sexual harassment and improper use of town resources while Nelson was campaigning for mayor in Franklin. The investigation ended when Nelson retired in October. He has not been charged with any crime. The Source FOX6 News obtained a report filed with the West Allis Police and Fire Commission. Information in this story is from that report, as well as prior coverage of other incidents.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Work in progress: bottlenecks hinder green export hub
Slow project approvals, energy storage gaps and investment uncertainty are proving hurdles to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry. For the Hunter, a region eyeing off green industrial exports as global demand for its coal wanes, the transition has not been all smooth sailing. Government support for clean tech innovation and steps to retrain workers for future careers are bright spots in a thorough assessment of the NSW region led by industry think tank Beyond Zero Emissions. Yet the Hunter was lagging on 17 of the 19 indicators of a successful shift towards an economy powered by decarbonised industrial exports, such as green iron and clean technology. Slow-moving clean energy projects are a big problem, with 74 per cent of renewable energy capacity in the pipeline yet to receive planning approval and facing delays of up to eight years. Much hinges on the timely rollout of the Hunter Transmission Project, key infrastructure for unlocking supply from renewable energy zones but still in its early phases and struggling to get full community buy-in. Local company commitments to cut emissions and shift to clean energy could be in jeopardy without faster progress, according to the report. Tomago Aluminium, a major energy user as the nation's biggest smelter, is in danger of missing its 100 per cent renewables by 2030 target without securing reliable, affordable clean energy soon. BZE chief executive officer Heidi Lee said if the Hunter Transmission Project was not delivered on time, the region would continue to rely on "expensive and polluting" coal. "It's time for action," she said. "The region understands the importance of good planning to keep the shift happening quickly here, because local advantages will be lost if we take too long." Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said workforce, training and project proposals "spending nearly a decade in consultation hell" were interrelated problems. "There's no certainty for developers, and hence no reliable pipeline of work to support the workforce and train apprentices on anywhere the scale we need - an extra 42,500 electricians in the next five years," he said. Several Hunter industry figures voiced their support for the think tank's assessment of the region and recommendations to get things moving. Founder of Australian battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance, Brian Craighead, said accelerating investment, building a strong local workforce and progressing the energy transition were key. "Unlocking the Hunter's full potential requires collaboration across government, industry, and communities - guided by clear, consistent policy," he said.
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Work in progress: bottlenecks hinder green export hub
Slow project approvals, energy storage gaps and investment uncertainty are proving hurdles to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry. For the Hunter, a region eyeing off green industrial exports as global demand for its coal wanes, the transition has not been all smooth sailing. Government support for clean tech innovation and steps to retrain workers for future careers are bright spots in a thorough assessment of the NSW region led by industry think tank Beyond Zero Emissions. Yet the Hunter was lagging on 17 of the 19 indicators of a successful shift towards an economy powered by decarbonised industrial exports, such as green iron and clean technology. Slow-moving clean energy projects are a big problem, with 74 per cent of renewable energy capacity in the pipeline yet to receive planning approval and facing delays of up to eight years. Much hinges on the timely rollout of the Hunter Transmission Project, key infrastructure for unlocking supply from renewable energy zones but still in its early phases and struggling to get full community buy-in. Local company commitments to cut emissions and shift to clean energy could be in jeopardy without faster progress, according to the report. Tomago Aluminium, a major energy user as the nation's biggest smelter, is in danger of missing its 100 per cent renewables by 2030 target without securing reliable, affordable clean energy soon. BZE chief executive officer Heidi Lee said if the Hunter Transmission Project was not delivered on time, the region would continue to rely on "expensive and polluting" coal. "It's time for action," she said. "The region understands the importance of good planning to keep the shift happening quickly here, because local advantages will be lost if we take too long." Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said workforce, training and project proposals "spending nearly a decade in consultation hell" were interrelated problems. "There's no certainty for developers, and hence no reliable pipeline of work to support the workforce and train apprentices on anywhere the scale we need - an extra 42,500 electricians in the next five years," he said. Several Hunter industry figures voiced their support for the think tank's assessment of the region and recommendations to get things moving. Founder of Australian battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance, Brian Craighead, said accelerating investment, building a strong local workforce and progressing the energy transition were key. "Unlocking the Hunter's full potential requires collaboration across government, industry, and communities - guided by clear, consistent policy," he said.
CNN
12-05-2025
- CNN
Family demands murder charges after Ohio man dies following jail restraint incident
The family of an Ohio man who died two days after deputies restrained him in jail is calling for murder charges to be filed against the jail employees involved in the incident. Christian Black was arrested and taken to the Montgomery County Jail on March 24 for an alleged incident involving a carjacking. Hours later, footage from inside the jail, obtained by the family attorney, shows the 25-year-old appearing to experience a crisis inside his cell. In the video, at least 10 jail employees are seen preparing outside the cell before entering and attempting to restrain him. The video shows Black agitated, running and slamming his body into officers as they enter the cell. In a matter of seconds, officers deploy stun guns, but Black continues to fight back, shouting at officers, 'Shoot me.' While it appears Black is experiencing some kind of crisis, his family told CNN that he did not have any mental health issues and was not on any prescribed medication. 'We believe the officers were complicit in bringing him to that state of mind,' Black family attorney Michael Wright told CNN. Eventually, correctional officers overpower Black, putting him in a safety restraint chair, which is used by jailers to 'control combative, self-destructive or potentially violent inmates to reduce the risk of physical harm to both the inmate and staff,' according to a Facebook post by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Dayton. About five minutes into the video, Black is forced forward by correctional officers while restrained in the chair, with his hands behind his back. An officer can be heard saying, 'Let him tire himself out.' At this point in the video, Black can be heard saying, 'Help me.' 'It's very evident to me he was gagging,' Black's mother told CNN about the video. 'As a mom, when you hear or watch your son in that vulnerable position, it makes a horrific situation even more horrific.' By the seven-minute mark of the video, Black is leaned back in the chair and appears unconscious, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. One officer continues to firmly hold his face back, which is now restrained in a mask. 'Can you get him out of this chair because I don't feel a heartbeat … I don't feel a heartbeat,' a nurse can be heard saying after checking Black with a stethoscope. Minutes later, some of the same officers involved in restraining Black are seen performing CPR on him. Black was eventually transported to Miami Valley Hospital by the Dayton Fire Department, where he died two days later. Black's cause of death was ruled a homicide, likely caused by 'mechanical and positional asphyxia,' according to the coroner's office preliminary findings. In an interview with CNN, his mother, Misty Black, said correctional officers murdered him. 'They murdered him. They put him in a position that killed him. It was a homicide.' The Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association defended the deputies involved in a statement to CNN, and said several officers were used to contain Black because of his 'size and strength.' 'In an effort to prevent Mr. Black from injuring or killing himself, Officers had to secure Mr. Black. Consistent with their training and practice, Officers placed Mr. Black in a forward-leaning position bent at the waist with Officers controlling his movement,' an OPBA statement to CNN said. 'During this time, Mr. Black continued to yell and resist movements. Officers and Mr. Black remained in that position in order to allow Mr. Black to calm down and tire himself out,' the statement added. 'All of the OPBA Members involved with this incident performed their duties justly and humanely and the OPBA stands behind our Members.' The 10 employees involved in the incident were placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues, the sheriff's statement said. Black's mother said he was preparing to take a test to obtain his CDL to become a truck driver. Instead, they recently laid him to rest. 'What she saw on that video is what we all saw, it's the murder of her son,' family attorney Wright told CNN. 'I expressed my deepest condolences to Mr. Black's family and assured them that the Sheriff's Office will continue to fully cooperate with all independent investigations,' Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said in a statement. 'I also promised that once the criminal investigations are complete, there will be a thorough internal review and investigation to ensure accountability and transparency.' The Black family expressed gratitude for the sheriff's condolences, but noted that it does not address the actions of the corrections officers involved. His family is calling on the sheriff to resign and is now considering civil litigation. 'My son was my gentle giant. My baby. My protector. He was the most giving person you would ever meet,' his mother said. The Dayton police homicide unit is actively investigating the incident and will present the case to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office, a sheriff's spokesman told CNN. CNN's Diego Mendoza, Devon M. Sayers and Shawn Nottingham contributed to this report
