Latest news with #O'Malley
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Letters to Editor: cycleways, Gaza, mining
Today's letters to the editor include criticism of Cr Jim O'Malley over reactions to a cycle way, the war in Gaza, and discussion around Santana mining. Councillor O'Malley and his lost anatomy Poor Councillor Jim O'Malley. He's facing a life ahead of him without an important part of his anatomy, his backside, having "worked his arse off" on the Albany St cycleway committee, only to have people, God forbid, disagree with him. Spectacularly tone deaf to the pleas of the business community's complaints of more disruption, the loss of 68 valuable parking spaces on campus, and the cycling community stating they don't need or want it, Jim seems mainly offended by the suggestion that his conclusions might just be wrong. He is so aggrieved he's threatening to give up politics. Yeah, right. It may be time for the councillor to realise that committees alone don't make a bad idea good, and that the everyday operation of the city may be more important than costly and damaging leisure and vanity projects for a tiny minority. Ian Pillans Dunedin Stand up Wars may be far away, but their repercussions will affect us now and into the future. New Zealand's mild remonstrances on the Gaza genocide do not reflect our strong stances in the past, where we stood up against South African apartheid, nuclear armed ships and the white supremacy of the mosque attacks. We are allowing Israel to destroy a people and a culture. It is conceivable that a Trump-like character might arise in Australia in the future, who fancies a bit of choice agriculture land across the Ditch. Who will protect us — not the US, whose leader covets Greenland among other places? There are alternatives. The Hague Group is standing up for international law with real action. BRICS is an alternative non-aligned trading group that is trying to bypass the extractive US dominated WTO and IMF. These countries are not perfect, but why are we following the US which continually dabbles in regime change and endless failed wars around the world? Peace and diplomacy are rhetorical flourishes at the moment. Building trust is a hard road which requires listening to the perspectives of others, especially when they are in danger of annihilation, and not pattern-matching our own misconceptions. Ann Mackay Oamaru [Abridged — length. Editor.] Take the offer Cole Martin lists many reasons why there's no peace in the Holy Land (14.7.25) but omits the most obvious. Solely blaming a supposed "system of domination," he ignores critical historical context, ongoing Palestinian violence, and Palestinian leadership's refusal to recognise Israel. The West Bank was occupied by Jordan from 1948 to 1967. Israel gained control of it in a defensive war. Large portions of it are governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), created through the 1990s bilateral Oslo Accords with the goal of establishing a Palestinian state. Those hopes were dashed when Palestinian leaders rejected generous Israeli peace offers that would have given them control over most of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Instead, they launched the Second Intifada, a wave of terrorism that left thousands dead and hardened attitudes on both sides. The violence and restrictions Martin laments largely stem from these actions. Palestinians were offered more opportunities for sovereignty than other Middle Eastern minorities. Yet, they squandered each one, attempting to destroy Israel rather than pursuing statehood. Real change can only come when Palestinians choose to stop the violence, recognise Israel, and build the state they were repeatedly offered. A. Levy Dunedin [Abridged — length. Editor.] Historic tale of ironclad ship battle questioned Tuesday's Today in History (8.7.25) describes in 1862 the use of the novel gun turret on USS Monitor being used "to good effect in a decisive battle with CSS Virginia". Wrong on both counts — the ships fought at close range for three hours, inflicting minimal damage on each other, then returned to their bases. Ineffective and indecisive, black-powder muzzle-loaders firing solid shot achieved little in this historic engagement, the first between ironclad vessels. Richard Lea Clough St Leonards [Today In History is based on old ODT files and is updated annually. We welcome reader feedback on omissions and possible inclusions.] Debt and Covid response RE R John Wilson's letter (15.7.25), what would he have done different so as not get into debt? Remembering every other country spent their way out of Covid. Henry Schakelaar Dunedin Saving our species but losing land Wonderful to read of the "Tireless work to save our native central species" (Central Otago News 3.7.25). Sad then to also read of the proposed Santana Minerals Open cast gold mine with its blasting, digging, trucking and carting away of hillsides to leave "open pits a kilometre wide and hundreds of metres deep" across a swathe of our outstanding natural landscapes (Opinion ODT 9.6.25). Sad as we'll lose the stunning landscape many thousands of tourists fly in to admire or millions of people view on TV. Expecting a second series of the murder mystery drama A Remarkable Place to Die to be shot here from November till the end of April, will be so incongruous with the noisy polluting open-cast gold mining and the arsenic and cyanide that'll leak from the unlined toxic sludge dam it leaves. Or maybe they can incorporate this and the waste of native habitat for native birds and lizards in the series for the German, American, Australia and New Zealand audiences? Lynne Stewart Earnscleugh Overseas plunder RE Gavin Dann's letter (18.7.25), His points re jobs, boost to local economy etc, are valid, to a degree. However, if one is to google Tui Mine Tailings Dam, there is a prime example of the perils of an overseas company mining in New Zealand. Since the days of flax and kauri, we have allowed Australian interests to plunder our resources with little return and no regard for the consequences. By all means, allow mining but not at the expense of our environment, and pay well for the privilege. Jerry Lynch Mosgiel
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Two men jailed for gang rape of vulnerable teen launch appeals against convictions
'COURT OF APPEAL' | Launching an appeal against conviction, counsel for Genockey, Thomas O'Malley SC said that his client had given evidence during the trial that there was consent Daryl Rooney and Dion Genockey At the Court of Appeal today, counsel for Dion Genockey (26) argued that the trial judge should have advised the jury that the appellant may have had reasons for not mentioning to gardaí that he believed the victim had given her consent. Counsel for Daryl Rooney (27), meanwhile, argued that the appellant was not aware that the woman had not given her consent. Genockey, of Clarion Quay Apartments, and Rooney, of Railway Street, Dublin City Centre, were convicted of raping the woman at Bull Island, Dollymount, Dublin, on January 5, 2016, following a second trial at the Central Criminal Court in March 2022. The jury in the first trial, which was held in 2020, was unable to reach a verdict. Genockey was sentenced to nine years by Mr Justice David Keane while Rooney was sentenced to ten years. A third accused, Troy Ryan of Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin City Centre, was also convicted and sentenced to nine and a half years. The sentencing court heard none of the men accepted the verdict of the jury and maintained their innocence. Launching an appeal against conviction, counsel for Genockey, Thomas O'Malley SC said that his client had given evidence during the trial that there was consent on the part of the complainant, but he had not mentioned this in his interviews with gardaí. Mr O'Malley referenced section 19A of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, which states that if a person charged with an offence fails to mention any fact relied on in their defence, being a fact which in the circumstances called for an explanation when questioned, then the court may draw inferences from this failure, and the failure may be treated as capable of amounting to corroboration of evidence. Mr O'Malley said that one factor to be considered is the circumstances the accused person finds themself in. He said that Genockey was advised by his father not to mention anything to gardaí, which in this case turned out to be his defence. Mr O'Malley went on to say that his client had a difficult relationship with one of the gardaí, who had allegedly called the appellant 'a rapist'. Given the appellant's age at the time and the fact he was under the influence of his father, these were factors to be taken into account when interpreting section 19A, said Mr O'Malley. Counsel submitted that the trial judge ought to have said to the jury that they had to consider the possibility that Genockey may have had reasons for not mentioning to gardaí that he believed the woman had consented. Counsel for Rooney, Dominic McGinn SC said that for a rape conviction, the prosecution must prove the act, the absence of consent, and the fact that the accused person knows there is an absence of consent. In this case, said counsel, the third aspect was lacking. Mr McGinn said that the complainant said she was not interested in sexual activity, but when Rooney was alone with her in the car, she did not say anything. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said that while the defence was relying on an honest belief, this belief must be founded in reality. 'Where is the counter evidence? The evidence was all going the one way, as she said she did not consent,' said Ms Justice Kennedy. Mr McGinn replied that the complainant had changed her mind about getting into the car with the men, which made Rooney 'alive to the fact she was a young woman who could change her mind'. 'By time he got into the car, he knew two others had had sexual relations with her,' said Mr McGinn. He said that in her evidence, the complainant said she made it clear to the first two men that she was not consenting, but Rooney was not aware of that. He said that by the time Rooney got into the car, he was handed a prophylactic by one of the others, while the woman did not say anything, so he was not aware that she was not consenting. On behalf of the State, Eilis Brennan SC pointed out that it was the prosecution case that this was a very vulnerable lady addicted to tablets, who was targeted by the men. They lured her away in a car, even though she told them she did not want to have sex, and took her to a remote location. She said it was the defence case that the complainant approached the men, that she had lubrication, that she wanted to stay in their house, and she consented to having sex. Ms Brennan said this was an issue to go to the jury. Concerning Rooney's claim that he did not know the woman had not consented, Ms Brennan said that an honest belief is subjective, but there must be some reality to it, so there was ample evidence for the matter to go to a jury. Concerning Mr O'Malley's submission on the section 19A matter, Ms Brennan said the trial judge was very careful on this issue. She said the jury was told to look into all the facts, including Genockey's age, the fact that he was with his father, and the fact that he hated one of the gardaí. She said the trial judge linked his failure to mention his defence to these facts, so the judge's direction to the jury was impeccable. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, presiding over the three-judge court, said the court would reserve judgement in the case. During the men's trial, evidence was heard that on the day in question, the young woman, who had recently left State care, travelled to Dublin to meet with friends. Later that evening, she purchased some Xanax pills and then went to an internet cafe. While there, she was approached by a boy and told that the three teenagers, who she had never met before, wanted to talk to her. The men told her they wanted to bring her for a 'quick spin'. The woman initially declined but eventually agreed and left the cafe with Ryan and Rooney to get into a car outside, which was driven by Genockey. The men drove out to Clontarf and down to the end of the wooden bridge at Dollymount Strand where they stopped by a shelter. Genockey then asked the woman: 'Are we going to have some fun?' The woman replied no, she didn't want to and had only wanted to go for a short drive, but the men were 'refusing to listen', the court heard. Genockey and Rooney got out of the car and stood in the shelter while Ryan produced a condom from a stash in the glove box of the car and proceeded to rape the woman. When he was finished, Genockey got in and put a condom on. Genockey tried to 'sweet talk' the woman, the court heard and said he wasn't going to hurt her, before he proceeded to rape her. Genockey then handed a condom to Rooney who raped the woman. At this stage, the woman 'didn't even get a chance to say no'. It was 'three against one' and she didn't have a choice, the court heard. The trial heard her door had a child lock on it and she could not get out of the car. The woman was told another person was going to pick her up and bring her home and the men left the scene quickly. Another car arrived containing three men and she was raped by two of the men in this car. She said that the men all got into the car afterwards, laughed and drove away, leaving her in the middle of nowhere. Daryl Rooney and Dion Genockey News in 90 Seconds - July 24th
Otago Daily Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Bridge could scupper bid to divert heavy traffic
A government proposal to direct traffic around Dunedin's central city could be hampered by an inadequate overbridge, city councillors say. Earlier this month, proposed roading changes aimed at making the area around the new Dunedin hospital safer were released for public consultation. The changes proposed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) included removing the westbound right turn from St Andrew St on to Cumberland St — northbound heavy traffic was instead expected to use the Ward St overbridge to join the one-way system. Dunedin City Council infrastructure committee chairman Jim O'Malley said the proposal to direct traffic on to the overbridge did not make sense. Following an NZTA report to council in April, Cr O'Malley raised concerns about the bridge's capacity to support extra traffic and said substantial investment was needed to upgrade it. Yesterday, he said he still held concerns about the proposal. "Bottom line is to put everybody over that bridge, it just doesn't make sense — NZTA knows that," he said. "The reality of it is we just can't get the money [to upgrade it]. "We don't have a full metro status in the eyes of NZTA and that shows up in these projects." Cr Lee Vandervis had also raised concerns about the bridge's suitability. "[The] bridge and feeder roads are already at capacity at times," he said yesterday. Other suggestions to limit the St Andrew St traffic flow and railway crossing would make the bridge and the council's Harbour Arterial project — which was intended to provide a safe and efficient alternative route for traffic to bypass the central city — "even more problematic", he said. Council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the bridge underwent a detailed assessment in 2019 and was used by about 7000 vehicles per day, including about 450 trucks, without significant issues reported. Replacing the bridge had been included in initial plans for stage 4 of the Harbour Arterial project. "This stage of the . . . project would be the most expensive part of the entire project, and there is currently no funding for stage 4 in either the [council's] 9 year plan or the Regional Land Transport Programme," she said. "It's possible this stage may be funded and progress at a later date." Public consultation on NZTA's roading proposal closes on Monday.
Otago Daily Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Claim councillors 'kept in dark' over cycleway
Councillors were left "completely in the dark" about a legal risk that triggered further consultation on a contentious central Dunedin cycleway, a committee member says. All three members of the Dunedin City Council's hearings committee — which heard from submitters and voted through a proposal on the Albany St Connection project — say they were not informed of the legal rationale to re-consult on the project. "I still don't know what it's about," Cr Mandy Mayhem said yesterday. "Completely in the dark about why there was anything wrong with the first time round." Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said the hearings committee asked staff if all businesses and property owners affected by the project had been approached, and had been reassured they were. Staff had even gone door-to-door. "I'm not sure why this has taken so long." The council announced last week it had reintroduced nine carparks to the project's design and public consultation would take place until August 7 regarding suggested parking restrictions. The project aims to provide a safe walking and cycling connection between the shared Te Aka Ōtākou harbour path, Dunedin's tertiary area and the CBD. Crs Mayhem and Lucas, along with chairman Cr Jim O'Malley, were members of the hearings committee who, in late 2023, voted 2-1 to proceed with a proposal for the project which would have removed 68 carparks in the area. But a transport report, tabled ahead of an infrastructure services committee meeting in April last year, said some property owners and local businesses had raised concern about the consultation. Initial legal advice was the consultation process was "potentially open to challenge" and re-consultation would be "prudent", the report said. Cr O'Malley said he had not seen the legal opinion and did not know what it was based on, which was "exceptionally extraordinary". He did not believe the consultation process was "flawed" and said there had not been any need for re-consultation. "I believe that everybody was informed. "It was publicly notified, we had hearings, there was a huge amount of support for what was there. "What was not supported was the businesses that wanted those parks back. "Lo and behold — now the parks are back." Council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the legal advice was given verbally to staff, who were advised the initial consultation process could expose the council to "a risk of judicial review in the High Court". "This followed concerns raised by an Albany St property owner that they had not been properly consulted during initial consultation and that they were considering legal proceedings as a result. "An assessment was made that re-consultation would be a better use of ratepayer funds than potentially significant litigation costs." Offering a version of events that differed from the one provided by Cr O'Malley, Ms Benson said Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich and Cr O'Malley were both briefed on the legal advice by council chief executive Sandy Graham in the week before last April's committee meeting. The procurement process was still on track to start this month and construction to begin in November, she said.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sean O'Malley loves BMF champ Max Holloway's options after UFC 318
Sean O'Malley sees various options for BMF champion Max Holloway's next fight. Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23- 8 UFC) became the first fighter to retain the BMF belt when he outlasted the retiring Dustin Poirier in Saturday's UFC 318 headliner at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. "Wow, I'm so glad neither of them got knocked out," O'Malley said while watching Holloway vs. Poirier on his YouTube channel. "I thought it was the perfect way to end it. I mean, obviously for Dustin he wanted to get the win there, but God, that was such a sick fight. "Max Holloway officially at 155 (pounds), I love Max at 155. So, who's next for Holloway at 155? There's Arman Tsarukyan. Imagine Max vs. Charles (Oliveira)? That would be a f*cking sweet fight at 155. Ooh, Paddy (Pimblett) vs. Max Holloway at 155." Holloway wants to run things back with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who knocked him out in their featherweight title fight at UFC 308. Topuria was the first to finish Holloway by strikes. Dana White is open to the rematch, and so is O'Malley. "Max vs. Ilia at 155? I mean, that's there," O'Malley added. "I don't know. Max vs. Ilia is always a sick fight." Former UFC bantamweight champion O'Malley concluded by praising Poirier (30-10 MMA, 22-9 UFC) for his career. "Dustin Poirier retirement fight, absolute legend," O'Malley said. "Super inspiring to see his career play out, the wins, the losses. He went up, he went down, he had some of the biggest fights with Conor McGregor. Very inspirational fella."
