Latest news with #PaulThompson
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Belfast murder victim's brother dies days after receiving police apology
A man who campaigned for answers over the murder of his brother has died days after receiving a police apology. Eugene Thompson died in the Mater Hospital in Belfast this week. Advertisement Last week, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher delivered a personal apology at his bedside over police failings around the murder of his brother Paul by loyalist terrorists in 1994. Paul Thompson, 25, died after being shot while in a taxi in the area of Springfield Park on his way home. Earlier that evening, UDA terrorists are believed to have cut a hole in a peace line fence to access the area which was reported to police. In his apology Mr Boutcher acknowledged failures by police and said the murder has not been the subject of a full and effective investigation. Advertisement Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey paid tribute to Eugene Thompson (PA) Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey expressed his condolences following the death of Eugene Thompson. He said: 'Eugene, alongside his family, led a brave and dignified campaign to uncover the full extent of Paul's sectarian murder and the role the British state played in it. 'Shamefully, the British government continues to conceal this, denying Eugene's family, and so many others, even the most basic justice. 'Just last week, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher delivered a letter to Eugene Thompson as he lay terminally ill in the Mater Hospital.' Advertisement Mr Maskey added: 'This was testament to Eugene's character, determined right to the end to see justice for Paul.' The UK Government has launched a legal bid at the Supreme Court to prevent coroner Louisa Fee from disclosing a summary, or gist, of the evidence in a sensitive security force file following an inquest into Paul Thompson's death. A ruling has not yet been made. Last week, Eugene Thompson welcomed the apology from Mr Boutcher, and said he hoped to see the judgment from the Supreme Court soon. Advertisement
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardiff Devils sign defenceman Oligny
Cardiff Devils have finalised their defensive line-up for the 2025-26 season with the signing of Jimmy Oligny. The 32-year-old joins Devils from Austrian side Graz 99ers, having started the 2024-25 season in Slovakia with HKM Zvolen. Devils head coach Paul Thompson said: "We are delighted to have signed Jimmy to complete our defensive core. "After 10 years in the AHL (American Hockey League) and three of them as captain of the Manitoba Moose, his leadership qualities, his impressive defensive game and his invaluable experience will further enhance our group. "Jimmy will be a key signing for us with his presence and knowledge of the game. He is just the type of player and person I had been looking for." In 2023, Oligny won the AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as Man of the Year, awarded annually for service to the local community, an award chosen by the league's president. The Canadian endured an injury-hit 2023-24 season but recovered to shine in both Slovakia and Austria last season - the latter in which he played 23 league games and in all seven of his side's play-off fixtures.
BreakingNews.ie
23-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Murder victim's brother welcomes apology personally delivered by PSNI chief
A terminally ill man has welcomed the personal delivery of an apology by the chief constable over police failings following the murder of his brother. Eugene Thompson's brother Paul was murdered in 1994 by loyalist terrorists. Advertisement The 25-year-old died after being shot while in a taxi in the area of Springfield Park on his way home. Earlier that evening, UDA terrorists are believed to have cut a hole in a peace line fence to access the area which was reported to police. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher delivered an apology to Mr Thompson in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday which acknowledges failures by police. It describes Paul Thompson's murder as 'tragic and senseless', and pays tribute to his brother and mother Margaret, who has since died, for 'great courage and resilience in their journey for the truth about his murder'. Advertisement Paul Thompson was murdered aged 25 in 1994 (Committee on the Administration of Justice/PA) The apology says the murder has not been the subject of a full and effective investigation in accordance with article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, and accepts a conclusion by the former Historical Enquiries Team that police could have taken steps to provide patrolling in the area after suspicious activity was reported. 'That dedicated action may have prevented Paul's murder,' the apology states. It also acknowledges the original police investigation did not identify or pursue all lines of inquiry and significant disclosure delays at the inquest. 'The police service apologises unreservedly to Eugene for the above failings on the part of policing which impacted adversely both on the delivery of justice for Paul and on his family's quest for the truth,' it said. Advertisement 'We are committed to improving how we help families and communities impacted by the troubles by being more open, transparent and victim-focused, and by disclosing as much information as we possibly can. 'The police service believes that further information about Paul's murder can safely be released to Eugene and hopes that the pending Supreme Court judgment will allow for this to happen.' The UK government took a legal effort to the Supreme Court to prevent coroner Louisa Fee from disclosing a summary, or gist, of the evidence in a sensitive security force file following an inquest into Mr Thompson's death. A ruling has not yet been made. Mr Thompson welcomed the apology from Mr Boutcher, and said he hopes to see the judgment from the Supreme Court soon. Advertisement Eugene Thompson received an apology over the handling of the murder of his brother from PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher (PA) 'I thanked Jon Boutcher for coming himself and for acting quickly in delivering the apology from the PSNI after we had asked for it,' he said. 'That's different to the British Supreme Court, who also know my situation, and I had hoped they would have made their judgment by now, but there is no sign of it. 'The apology makes clear the RUC didn't investigate and arrest suspects when they could have and that they could have done things that could have prevented Paul's murder.' Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), said Mr Thompson and his mother 'long fought for justice and truth in relation to Paul's murder'. Advertisement He added: 'The High Court and Court of Appeal ruled over a year ago that Eugene was entitled to see the information in the coroner's 'gist'. Ireland PSNI disclosing information to inquiry 'as quickly... Read More 'The Secretary of State appealed the Supreme Court hearing was back at the beginning of June and Eugene is still awaiting the ruling. 'It's welcome that the PSNI chief constable has quickly delivered this apology in relation to the RUC and PSNI failings.' A PSNI spokesperson said: 'The Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, held a private meeting with Mr Eugene Thompson, the brother of Liam Paul Thompson, during which he provided a statement of apology on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland for failings identified on the part of the RUC and PSNI.'
The Independent
23-07-2025
- The Independent
Murder victim's brother welcomes apology personally delivered by police chief
A terminally ill man has welcomed the personal delivery of an apology by the chief constable over police failings following the murder of his brother. Eugene Thompson's brother Paul was murdered in 1994 by loyalist terrorists. The 25-year-old died after being shot while in a taxi in the area of Springfield Park on his way home. Earlier that evening, UDA terrorists are believed to have cut a hole in a peace line fence to access the area which was reported to police. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher delivered an apology to Mr Thompson in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday which acknowledges failures by police. It describes Paul Thompson's murder as 'tragic and senseless', and pays tribute to his brother and mother Margaret, who has since died, for 'great courage and resilience in their journey for the truth about his murder'. The apology says the murder has not been the subject of a full and effective investigation in accordance with article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, and accepts a conclusion by the former Historical Enquiries Team that police could have taken steps to provide patrolling in the area after suspicious activity was reported. 'That dedicated action may have prevented Paul's murder,' the apology states. It also acknowledges the original police investigation did not identify or pursue all lines of inquiry and significant disclosure delays at the inquest. 'The police service apologises unreservedly to Eugene for the above failings on the part of policing which impacted adversely both on the delivery of justice for Paul and on his family's quest for the truth,' it said. 'We are committed to improving how we help families and communities impacted by the troubles by being more open, transparent and victim-focused, and by disclosing as much information as we possibly can. 'The police service believes that further information about Paul's murder can safely be released to Eugene and hopes that the pending Supreme Court judgment will allow for this to happen.' The UK government took a legal effort to the Supreme Court to prevent coroner Louisa Fee from disclosing a summary, or gist, of the evidence in a sensitive security force file following an inquest into Mr Thompson's death. A ruling has not yet been made. Mr Thompson welcomed the apology from Mr Boutcher, and said he hopes to see the judgment from the Supreme Court soon. 'I thanked Jon Boutcher for coming himself and for acting quickly in delivering the apology from the PSNI after we had asked for it,' he said. 'That's different to the British Supreme Court, who also know my situation, and I had hoped they would have made their judgment by now, but there is no sign of it. 'The apology makes clear the RUC didn't investigate and arrest suspects when they could have and that they could have done things that could have prevented Paul's murder.' Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), said Mr Thompson and his mother 'long fought for justice and truth in relation to Paul's murder'. He added: 'The High Court and Court of Appeal ruled over a year ago that Eugene was entitled to see the information in the coroner's 'gist'. 'The Secretary of State appealed the Supreme Court hearing was back at the beginning of June and Eugene is still awaiting the ruling. 'It's welcome that the PSNI chief constable has quickly delivered this apology in relation to the RUC and PSNI failings.' A PSNI spokesperson said: 'The Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, held a private meeting with Mr Eugene Thompson, the brother of Liam Paul Thompson, during which he provided a statement of apology on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland for failings identified on the part of the RUC and PSNI.'
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cardiff Devils sign Canadian forward Yaremko
Cardiff Devils have signed Canadian forward Nolan 27-year-old spent last season with German side ESV Kaufbeuren, where he scored seven goals and 21 assists in 38 games in a campaign which was cut short by previously played for Trois-Rivieres in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), registering 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points in 44 games for the Quebec has played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for Laval Rocket and also spent four years playing at Canadian university level."Nolan brings us good size and presence through the middle and plays the game the right way, with and without the puck," said Devils head coach Paul Thompson."I like his vision, and he brings others into the game with his heads-up plays."He also plays with an edge, is strong on face-offs and has proven to be a top offensive forward during his career."Yaremko is the Devils' seventh new signing as they prepare for the new season, which begins in September.
