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Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council refused to hire ex-MSP over perjury conviction
Glasgow City Council refused to give former MSP Tommy Sheridan a job because of the "unacceptable level of risk" his perjury conviction posed, a court has heard. The former politician had applied to become a criminal justice social worker with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership. However he was told in a letter that future applications for jobs with the organisation would not progress due to him serving three years in jail for perjury. In 2011 a jury at the High Court in Glasgow concluded the former MSP lied under oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World newspaper. More stories from Glasgow & West Scotland More stories from Scotland Mr Sheridan received a job rejection letter from the council in August 2024, which said his conviction presented an "unacceptable level of risk" to the organisation. He then instructed lawyers to go to Scotland's highest civil court in a bid to get the decision overturned. His lawyer Mike Dailly told Lord Young the council acted unlawfully in its decision to permanently exclude Mr Sheridan from social work jobs. He said the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council - had assessed Mr Sheridan as being a suitable candidate for working in the profession. Mr Dailly said: "It's a simple matter - the petitioner has been assessed as being a fit person for the profession by the statutory social work body. He has also been assessed as being suitable to work with children and younger people under the PVG scheme. "The petitioner has been told he cannot be a social worker. However, the Scottish Parliament has allowed the SSSC the role and responsibility to determine who is a fit and proper person to be a social worker. "The SSSC says the petitioner is a fit and proper person. I say the decision made by the council is irrational - it cannot say the petitioner cannot be a social worker." Mr Sheridan wants Lord Young to pass legal orders stating that Glasgow City Council's decision was "unlawful" as it "permanently excluded" him from working in social work at the local authority. The former MSP posted online last summer about graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University after undertaking a two-year master's degree in social work. Mr Sheridan used to lead the Scottish Socialist Party which won a number of seats at Holyrood in 1999 and 2003 before collapsing following his high-profile court case. Since then he has remained involved in politics as a supporter of Scottish independence group Hope over Fear. He took the News of the World to court in 2006, alleging it defamed him after reporting claims about his private life. He netted £200,000 but he was later convicted of perjury during this civil action, and was sentenced to three years in jail. Glasgow City Council's lawyer Paul Reid KC told the court the local authority acted lawfully and were legally entitled to refuse employment to Mr Sheridan. He said the matter was an employment decision and could not be challenged by judicial review. Lord Young told the court that he wanted time to consider the matter, and he would issue a verdict in the near future.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ross Kemp's 'rollercoaster' first marriage and wife who 'straightened him out'
Ross Kemp has been married twice and is a proud father of four. The former EastEnders actor's first marriage was to Rebekah Wade, and he described their relationship as a 'rollercoaster' Ross Kemp returns to our screens this week as he delves into his family history on the popular series Who Do You Think You Are? But how much do you know about his life behind the scenes? From a turbulent first marriage to becoming a father of four, we take a closer look at the EastEnders star's personal life beyond the spotlight... Rebekah Wade Ross encountered his first spouse, Rebekah Wade, at a golf event; she was then serving as deputy editor of News of the World while he played the iconic role on EastEnders. The duo pledged their commitment in 1996 but hit pause in 1997 citing 'work pressures', reports the Mirror. They soon reunited, leading to a Las Vegas wedding in June 2002. Their marriage, however, experienced turbulence, with Rebekah confessing later on that their union resembled a 'rollercoaster', openly acknowledging infidelity. By 2006, the partnership unravelled, ending in divorce by March 2009. In the same year, Rebekah tied the knot with racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks. Reflecting on her departure from Ross, she remarked: "I think we were both working incredibly long hours... in completely different industries. The whole relationship was a bit of a roller coaster. Sometimes it was really good, and sometimes it wasn't so. I think that's how he would describe it." Renee O'Brien In 2012, Ross tied the knot with his second wife, Australian native Renee O'Brien, and they continue to enjoy marital bliss. The couple prefers to keep their personal life under wraps, hence little is known about Renee. However, Ross has occasionally mentioned his wife in interviews. While discussing the demanding nature of his filming schedule, the ex-EastEnders actor expressed remorse over spending time away from his family. Speaking to Metro Online, he confessed: "Guilt, I think that's part and parcel of it. But I think, my wife didn't really know me from my soap days [...] So when we [he and Renee] first got together, she just thought I was some kind of grumpy old bald bloke like in a bar – and she's probably right about that today, I'm still a grumpy old bald bloke in a bar." During a 2022 interview on the Plot Twist podcast, he delved deeper into why his marriage has stood the test of time. "Renee's pretty practical, she's Australian, she's a lawyer, she's very straight. She'd never seen EastEnders. She had no idea I was Grant Mitchell or anything like that and she didn't really understand that I was doing documentaries," Ross explained. He also disclosed how he behaved poorly during the initial stages of their relationship, but Renee managed to 'straighten him out'. He admitted: "I'd just come back from Afghanistan when I first met her and I generally behaved quite badly the first four or five weeks." "I've changed now, obviously, but I used to go on a bit of a bender with some of the guys, and she sort of straightened me out. But she knows what I do and you know, there's a great saying, particularly used by mates of mine in the armed forces, which is 'quick goodbyes and long hellos'." Children Ross proudly dotes on his four children. Following his divorce from first wife Rebekah, his next relationship with makeup artist Nicole Coleman saw the arrival of his first son. With Renee, he had three more children: son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, who arrived in 2017. In an interview with Mail Online back in 2019, Ross expressed contentment with his family life, saying, "I'm very happy I've got my children and wouldn't have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should've done." He reflected on his previous lifestyle before fatherhood, noting: "I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what's going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything you do."
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ross Kemp's wild love life - 'rollercoaster' marriage and wife who 'straightened' him out
Former EastEnders star Ross Kemp might be a well-known face on TV - but he prefers to keep his private life out of the spotlight. Here's everything we know about his love life Ross Kemp is back on screens this week, researching his ancestors for the hit series, Who Do You Think You Are? But how much do you know about his family life at home? From his rollercoaster first marriage through to the arrival of his four children, we've taken a closer look at the EastEnders star's private life away from the cameras... Rebekah Wade Ross met his first wife, Rebekah Wade, at a golf tournament when she was deputy editor of News of the World and he was starring as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders. The couple got engaged in 1996, but in 1997 took a brief break 'due to work pressures'. They soon reunited and, in June 2002, they got married in Las Vegas. They encountered a rocky relationship, and Rebekah later revealed that their marriage was a 'rollercoaster', with her admitting to having an affair. They separated in 2006 and divorced in March 2009. That same year, Rebekah married racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks. Speaking about her split from Ross, she said: "I think we were both working incredibly long hours… in completely different industries. The whole relationship was a bit of a roller coaster. Sometimes it was really good, and sometimes it wasn't so. I think that's how he would describe it." Renee O'Brien In 2012, Ross married his second wife, Australian-born Renee O'Brien, and the couple remains happily married to this day. The family like to keep their personal life private, and little is known about Renee. But Ross has briefly spoken about his wife in the past. While discussing his intense filming schedule, the former EastEnders actor revealed his guilt about leaving his family. He told Metro Online: "Guilt, I think that's part and parcel of it. But I think, my wife didn't really know me from my soap days […] So when we [he and Renee] first got together, she just thought I was some kind of grumpy old bald bloke like in a bar – and she's probably right about that today, I'm still a grumpy old bald bloke in a bar." In an interview on the Plot Twist podcast in 2022, he went into more detail and explained why his marriage has lasted. "Renee's pretty practical, she's Australian, she's a lawyer, she's very straight. She'd never seen EastEnders. She had no idea I was Grant Mitchell or anything like that and she didn't really understand that I was doing documentaries," Ross said. He also revealed how he misbehaved in the early days of their relationship, but Renee 'straightened him out'. "I'd just come back from Afghanistan when I first met her and I generally behaved quite badly the first four or five weeks," he admitted. "I've changed now, obviously, but I used to go on a bit of a bender with some of the guys, and she sort of straightened me out. But she knows what I do and you know, there's a great saying, particularly used by mates of mine in the armed forces, which is 'quick goodbyes and long hellos'." Children Ross is a proud father of four. After his divorce from his first wife, Rebekah, he welcomed his first child, a boy, with his former partner and makeup artist, Nicole Coleman. He and Renee also share three children together; a son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, born in 2017. Speaking to the Mail Online in 2019, Ross said: "I'm very happy I've got my children and wouldn't have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should've done. "I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what's going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything you do."
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
John Higgins' massive net worth and sting operation that rocked sporting world
John Higgins has taken another step towards a fifth world title after making it through to the quarter-finals of this year's World Snooker Championship. The 49-year-old will face Welshman Mark Williams in an enticing last eight match-up on Tuesday, having edged past Xiao Guodong of China with a 13-12 victory in the second round. Higgins is looking to add to the titles he won at the Crucible in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011, but faces stiff opposition in Williams, who he lost out to in the World Championship final seven years ago. Having turned professional in 1992, Higgins is now one of the most successful players of all time, with his 33 ranking titles putting him third in the all-time list of ranking event winners, behind only Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry. READ MORE: Mark Williams' huge net worth, career-threatening health condition and entrepreneur wife READ MORE: Shaun Murphy's 'life-saving' surgery, marriage splits and 'unsavoury' escort story In addition to his World Championship titles, he has also won three UK Championships and two Masters titles, with his total of nine Triple Crown wins putting him level with Mark Selby and behind only O'Sullivan, Hendry and Steve Davis. A former world number one, Higgins also spent a record 29 years of his career in the top 16 players globally, only dropping out in September last year. But despite his success at the table, it's fair to say that the Scottish star has not attracted quite the same celebrity status as the likes of O'Sullivan and Hendry, with much of his personal life kept out of the spotlight. However, that is not to say he has led an uneventful life away from the table, having faced plenty of ups and downs over the course of his time in professional snooker. Here's what you need to know. As one of the most successful snooker players of all time, it is unsurprising that Higgins is also one of the most wealthy. Over the course of his 33 year career, he has banked a whopping £10.5 million in prize money, according to CueTracker. Nearly £600,000 of that amount has come this season, making it the second most profitable individual campaign of his career after 2016/17, when he banked just over £650,000. According to reports, Higgins has an estimated net worth of around £8.8 million, making him the eighth richest player of all-time. Having won the World Championship in 2009, Higgins was banned from snooker the following year in a move that sent shockwaves through the sport. The snooker ace - who was the world number one at the time - was at the centre of a sting operation carried out by the News of the World in Ukraine, which the tabloid claimed showed him and his then-manager agreeing to lose specific frames in future matches for money. An investigation followed and Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, with an independent tribunal placing responsibility on his former business partner, Pat Mooney, who received a lifetime ban despite dodging match-fixing charges on a technicality. However, the Scotsman didn't escape punishment altogether as he was found guilty of failing to disclose an invitation to breach the sport's betting rules and giving the impression that he was agreeing to it. As a result, he was hit with a six-month suspension from professional snooker and fined £75,000, as well as additional costs of £10,000. After receiving the ban, Higgins said: "I welcome today's judgment by Sport Resolutions and endorsed by the WPBSA following their exhaustive inquiry into the allegations against me by a tabloid newspaper. "I am pleased that Sport Resolutions and WPBSA have concluded, after a thorough and fair investigation, that I was not guilty of any dishonesty and had no intention to fix a match and no intention to do anything corrupt." Vowing to return to snooker a "stronger person", he added: "I accept the decision to suspend me for six months and impose a fine of £75,000. Those who run WPBSA have made it plain that if the sport is to advance it must be above reproach and those of us playing and involved in snooker must be cleaner than clean. "Those who know me will appreciate that I have tried to encourage and advance snooker. I have tried to be an ambassador for the sport." Describing the ordeal as "traumatic", Higgins said it had been "made all the more hurtful by the knowledge that I never have, and never would, fix a snooker match." He added: "I have been sustained by the love and support of my wife, family and friends." However, the snooker star soon bounced back as he returned from his ban and won the World Championship for a fourth time in 2011. Higgins has been married to his wife Denise since 2010, having met at school as teenagers. They have since welcomed three children - sons Pierce and Oliver and daughter Claudia - and they sometimes join their father at competitions, particularly major championships. While Denise tends to avoid the limelight, she has been a source of unwavering support for her husband throughout his career and has been present for some of his biggest moments as a professional. However, she missed out on seeing him win his 32nd ranking title at the World Open in March, as a logistical error meant she flew out to Hong Kong too late to watch him in action in the final. "It's just a shame, my missus is coming to Hong Kong and she's going to be flying tomorrow while I'll be playing the final," he told the Metro at the time. 'We didn't work that out right, she's getting on a flight today to Hong Kong, so hopefully when she lands I'll have a chance of winning the title.' Higgins suffered heartbreak in February 2011 as his father John Sr passed away following a six-year battle with cancer. He had been competing at the German Masters in Berlin when he was told that his father's condition was deteriorating, leading him to immediately withdraw from the tournament and fly back to Glasgow. Tragically however, he was told of his dad's death as he prepared to board the flight alongside his brother Joe. John Sr had been told he had terminal cancer on the same day that his son was cleared of match-fixing allegations. After winning the UK Championship on his return to the sport, Higgins dedicated his victory to his late father, saying: "This is my finest hour. This is for my dad." The Scottish star also faced a family health scare ahead of this year's World Championship, withdrawing from the media day and skipping the annual pre-tournament festivities like the Champions Dinner and Green Carpet Ceremony after his father-in-law suffered a heart attack days before the opening round. After supporting his wife Denise, Higgins returned to Sheffield to clinch a 10-7 victory over Joe O'Connor in the opening round. Following that win, he was left in tears as he spoke to the BBC and needed consoling by presenter Seema Jaswal. "Obviously my father-in-law wasn't great," he said. "I was sitting having dinner with my boy last night and I was thinking about sitting here with my dad 25 years ago. I was drained today. "I had a couple of hours sleep, I came out tonight feeling much better and definitely played a lot better. I am still so proud that I am still playing at a good level at this age."
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
John Higgins' massive net worth and sting operation that rocked sporting world
John Higgins' massive net worth and sting operation that rocked sporting world The four-time world champion faces Mark Williams in the quarter-finals of this year's World Snooker Championship Higgins is aiming for a fifth world title in Sheffield John Higgins has taken another step towards a fifth world title after making it through to the quarter-finals of this year's World Snooker Championship. The 49-year-old will face Welshman Mark Williams in an enticing last eight match-up on Tuesday, having edged past Xiao Guodong of China with a 13-12 victory in the second round. Higgins is looking to add to the titles he won at the Crucible in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011, but faces stiff opposition in Williams, who he lost out to in the World Championship final seven years ago. Having turned professional in 1992, Higgins is now one of the most successful players of all time, with his 33 ranking titles putting him third in the all-time list of ranking event winners, behind only Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry. In addition to his World Championship titles, he has also won three UK Championships and two Masters titles, with his total of nine Triple Crown wins putting him level with Mark Selby and behind only O'Sullivan, Hendry and Steve Davis. A former world number one, Higgins also spent a record 29 years of his career in the top 16 players globally, only dropping out in September last year. But despite his success at the table, it's fair to say that the Scottish star has not attracted quite the same celebrity status as the likes of O'Sullivan and Hendry, with much of his personal life kept out of the spotlight. However, that is not to say he has led an uneventful life away from the table, having faced plenty of ups and downs over the course of his time in professional snooker. Here's what you need to know. Article continues below Massive net worth As one of the most successful snooker players of all time, it is unsurprising that Higgins is also one of the most wealthy. Over the course of his 33 year career, he has banked a whopping £10.5 million in prize money, according to CueTracker. Nearly £600,000 of that amount has come this season, making it the second most profitable individual campaign of his career after 2016/17, when he banked just over £650,000. According to reports, Higgins has an estimated net worth of around £8.8 million, making him the eighth richest player of all-time. Ban from snooker Having won the World Championship in 2009, Higgins was banned from snooker the following year in a move that sent shockwaves through the sport. The snooker ace - who was the world number one at the time - was at the centre of a sting operation carried out by the News of the World in Ukraine, which the tabloid claimed showed him and his then-manager agreeing to lose specific frames in future matches for money. An investigation followed and Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, with an independent tribunal placing responsibility on his former business partner, Pat Mooney, who received a lifetime ban despite dodging match-fixing charges on a technicality. However, the Scotsman didn't escape punishment altogether as he was found guilty of failing to disclose an invitation to breach the sport's betting rules and giving the impression that he was agreeing to it. As a result, he was hit with a six-month suspension from professional snooker and fined £75,000, as well as additional costs of £10,000. After receiving the ban, Higgins said: "I welcome today's judgment by Sport Resolutions and endorsed by the WPBSA following their exhaustive inquiry into the allegations against me by a tabloid newspaper. "I am pleased that Sport Resolutions and WPBSA have concluded, after a thorough and fair investigation, that I was not guilty of any dishonesty and had no intention to fix a match and no intention to do anything corrupt." Vowing to return to snooker a "stronger person", he added: "I accept the decision to suspend me for six months and impose a fine of £75,000. Those who run WPBSA have made it plain that if the sport is to advance it must be above reproach and those of us playing and involved in snooker must be cleaner than clean. "Those who know me will appreciate that I have tried to encourage and advance snooker. I have tried to be an ambassador for the sport." Describing the ordeal as "traumatic", Higgins said it had been "made all the more hurtful by the knowledge that I never have, and never would, fix a snooker match." He added: "I have been sustained by the love and support of my wife, family and friends." However, the snooker star soon bounced back as he returned from his ban and won the World Championship for a fourth time in 2011. Childhood sweetheart wife Higgins has been married to his wife Denise since 2010, having met at school as teenagers. They have since welcomed three children - sons Pierce and Oliver and daughter Claudia - and they sometimes join their father at competitions, particularly major championships. While Denise tends to avoid the limelight, she has been a source of unwavering support for her husband throughout his career and has been present for some of his biggest moments as a professional. However, she missed out on seeing him win his 32nd ranking title at the World Open in March, as a logistical error meant she flew out to Hong Kong too late to watch him in action in the final. "It's just a shame, my missus is coming to Hong Kong and she's going to be flying tomorrow while I'll be playing the final," he told the Metro at the time. 'We didn't work that out right, she's getting on a flight today to Hong Kong, so hopefully when she lands I'll have a chance of winning the title.' Devastating family tragedy Higgins suffered heartbreak in February 2011 as his father John Sr passed away following a six-year battle with cancer. He had been competing at the German Masters in Berlin when he was told that his father's condition was deteriorating, leading him to immediately withdraw from the tournament and fly back to Glasgow. Tragically however, he was told of his dad's death as he prepared to board the flight alongside his brother Joe. John Sr had been told he had terminal cancer on the same day that his son was cleared of match-fixing allegations. After winning the UK Championship on his return to the sport, Higgins dedicated his victory to his late father, saying: "This is my finest hour. This is for my dad." The Scottish star also faced a family health scare ahead of this year's World Championship, withdrawing from the media day and skipping the annual pre-tournament festivities like the Champions Dinner and Green Carpet Ceremony after his father-in-law suffered a heart attack days before the opening round. After supporting his wife Denise, Higgins returned to Sheffield to clinch a 10-7 victory over Joe O'Connor in the opening round. Following that win, he was left in tears as he spoke to the BBC and needed consoling by presenter Seema Jaswal. "Obviously my father-in-law wasn't great," he said. "I was sitting having dinner with my boy last night and I was thinking about sitting here with my dad 25 years ago. I was drained today. Article continues below "I had a couple of hours sleep, I came out tonight feeling much better and definitely played a lot better. I am still so proud that I am still playing at a good level at this age."
