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BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Mull of Kintyre crash: Wife's 'anger' at 1994 helicopter tragedy
The wife of a senior police officer killed in an RAF Chinook helicopter crash in 1994 has said she is still "angry" at the government's stance on the Susan Phoenix's husband Ian was among leading security personnel killed when the helicopter went down in foggy conditions over the Mull of Kintyre in of the 29 people killed have said they are launching legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for not ordering a public inquiry. The government has said the crash was a "tragic accident".Dr Phoenix, 77, who now lives in Portland, Dorset, said the case had been an "obscenity of justice". The helicopter was carrying 25 passengers - made up of personnel from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the Army - and four crew from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness on 2 June the crash, pilots Flt Lt Jonathan Tapper, from Norfolk, and Flt Lt Richard Cook, from Hampshire, were accused of gross negligence, but this verdict was overturned by the UK government 17 years later.A subsequent review by Lord Philip set out "numerous concerns" raised by those who worked on the MoD's testing centre at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire declared the Chinook Mk2 helicopters "unairworthy" prior to the crash. Dr Phoenix, whose husband Ian was a detective superintendent in the RUC, has joined with other families to campaign for a "judge-led objective inquiry"."It really is heart breaking. We stuck in there and fought for the pilots - who were the cream of the air force and trying to make do with a faulty piece of kit," she said."We now know the aircraft was not airworthy, but the government are constantly re-iterating that it was just a tragic accident."Whatever happened on that night we may never know that, but we certainly know they should not have been flying it and they did not want to fly it."The families of the victims want a High Court judge to review information that they say was not included in previous investigations and could offer new information on the airworthiness of the Phoenix said the tragedy had been "locked up in cover up" over the 31 years since the crash."I wasn't even angry at the time. I was consumed in heart-wrenching grief," she said."Now listening to the young families paying tribute to their fathers... so now I'm angry."Let's give these young people back a sense of pride - they knew their dads were doing great jobs. "We though our men would be protected by the government - they weren't."The MoD has said that records held in The National Archives contain personal information and early release of those documents would breach their data protection MoD spokesperson said: "The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
MoneyHub Unveils The Fleeced Kiwi Awards: Exposing New Zealand's Worst Financial Rip-Offs
Press Release – MoneyHub New Zealanders deserve a financial system that rewards trust, not exploits it, says Christopher Walsh, MoneyHubs Head of Research. Auckland, NZ – 1 June 2025 – MoneyHub today launches the inaugural Fleeced Kiwi Awards 2025, affectionately dubbed The Fleecys, a bold initiative to expose and shame the most egregious financial rip-offs plaguing New Zealanders. From sneaky surcharges to predatory scams, The Fleecys spotlight practices that drain wallets and betray trust, demanding accountability and reform in a cost-of-living crisis. Since 2018, MoneyHub has saved Kiwis millions by advocating for fairer financial products. Now, The Fleecys turn up the heat, naming and shaming the worst offenders in 2025. 'New Zealanders deserve a financial system that rewards trust, not exploits it,' says Christopher Walsh, MoneyHub's Head of Research. 'The Fleecys are our rallying cry to expose rip-offs—like a $10.50 ATM fee for a $20 withdrawal or $2.3 billion lost to scams on Meta's platforms—and spark a movement for fairness.' The 2025 Fleecys Winners: A Roll Call of Rip-Offs The Fleecys call out six practices that fleece Kiwis with hidden costs, deceptive tactics, and unchecked scams: Debit and Credit Card Surcharges, including PayWave – For slapping 1–3% fees on everyday transactions, turning a $100 restaurant bill into $102.50. 'Paying extra just to tap your card is a rort,' Walsh fumes. 'Shops must show fees upfront, and regulators need to outlaw these wallet-draining tricks.' Extended Warranties – For pushing $200+ add-ons on a $1,000 TV, duplicating free protections under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA). 'Retailers scare Kiwis into buying peace of mind they already have,' says Walsh. 'Know your CGA rights and save your money.' Ticketing Fees – For ambushing fans with 8% 'booking' and 'service' fees, inflating a $200 concert ticket to $218+. 'Fans deserve transparent pricing for the events they love,' Walsh insists. 'These fees should be outlawed.' Administration Fee on Road User Charges (RUC) for Electric Vehicles – For charging EV drivers $12.44 to print a sticker, a 16% markup on a $76 eco-friendly commute. 'This fee is a tax on a tax,' Walsh argues. 'NZTA must modernise RUC to stop fleecing green drivers.' Private ATM Fees – For extortionate charges like $10.50 to withdraw $20, a 52.5% markup. Walsh recounts a personal sting: 'Stranded in Kapiti, I paid $10.50 for $30 cash to catch a bus. That's not an error—it's a rip-off. Operators must lower fees to $2–3.' Meta Platforms – For profiting from scam ads on Facebook and Instagram, costing Kiwis $200 million to $2.3 billion annually. 'Meta's inaction is a scandal,' Walsh declares. 'They must verify advertisers like in Australia to protect vulnerable Kiwis from financial ruin.' A Movement for Change The Fleecys aren't just about naming names—they're a call to action. MoneyHub invites Kiwis to nominate 2026 candidates, share stories with #FleecedKiwiAwards, and report rip-offs anonymously via their secure form. 'Every nomination fuels our fight for a fairer New Zealand,' says Walsh. 'Together, we can force businesses to prioritise transparency and value.' The awards highlight systemic issues, from redundant warranties to scams devastating pensioners, like a Taranaki retiree who lost $220,000 to a Facebook crypto ad. 'These aren't inconveniences—they're obstacles to financial stability,' Walsh notes. 'In a cost-of-living crisis, every dollar counts. The Fleecys empower Kiwis to fight back with knowledge, like checking CGA protections or reporting scam ads.' Why The Fleecys Matter With living costs squeezing households, The Fleecys expose practices that hit hardest when budgets are tight. 'A dairy charging 40 cents for a debit tap or an 8% fee on a family's concert tickets isn't just annoying—it's a betrayal of fairness,' says Walsh. MoneyHub's research, backed by Commerce Commission guidelines and Netsafe data, ensures The Fleecys target widespread, evidence-based rip-offs. Looking ahead, MoneyHub is developing resources to tackle supermarket pricing, a complex issue warranting deeper scrutiny. 'We're committed to transparency at the checkout and beyond,' Walsh promises. 'The Fleecys are a stand against complacency, driving honest conversations between consumers, businesses, and regulators.' Join the Fight Kiwis can shape the 2026 Fleecys by emailing nominations, posting on social media, or submitting anonymous tips. Monthly reviews will culminate in updates by mid-2026. 'Financial literacy is power,' Walsh concludes. 'By exposing The Fleecys, we're arming New Zealanders to reclaim control and build a financial system that works for everyone.' 10 Things to Do Differently with Money in 2025 and 20 Supermarket Ripoffs. About MoneyHub: Since 2018, MoneyHub has empowered New Zealanders with guides and tools to save millions through fairer financial products. The Fleeced Kiwi Awards continue this mission, exposing rip-offs and advocating for a transparent, consumer-focused financial landscape.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
MoneyHub Unveils The Fleeced Kiwi Awards: Exposing New Zealand's Worst Financial Rip-Offs
Press Release – MoneyHub Auckland, NZ – 1 June 2025 – MoneyHub today launches the inaugural Fleeced Kiwi Awards 2025, affectionately dubbed The Fleecys, a bold initiative to expose and shame the most egregious financial rip-offs plaguing New Zealanders. From sneaky surcharges to predatory scams, The Fleecys spotlight practices that drain wallets and betray trust, demanding accountability and reform in a cost-of-living crisis. Since 2018, MoneyHub has saved Kiwis millions by advocating for fairer financial products. Now, The Fleecys turn up the heat, naming and shaming the worst offenders in 2025. 'New Zealanders deserve a financial system that rewards trust, not exploits it,' says Christopher Walsh, MoneyHub's Head of Research. 'The Fleecys are our rallying cry to expose rip-offs—like a $10.50 ATM fee for a $20 withdrawal or $2.3 billion lost to scams on Meta's platforms—and spark a movement for fairness.' The 2025 Fleecys Winners: A Roll Call of Rip-Offs The Fleecys call out six practices that fleece Kiwis with hidden costs, deceptive tactics, and unchecked scams: Debit and Credit Card Surcharges, including PayWave – For slapping 1–3% fees on everyday transactions, turning a $100 restaurant bill into $102.50. 'Paying extra just to tap your card is a rort,' Walsh fumes. 'Shops must show fees upfront, and regulators need to outlaw these wallet-draining tricks.' Extended Warranties – For pushing $200+ add-ons on a $1,000 TV, duplicating free protections under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA). 'Retailers scare Kiwis into buying peace of mind they already have,' says Walsh. 'Know your CGA rights and save your money.' Ticketing Fees – For ambushing fans with 8% 'booking' and 'service' fees, inflating a $200 concert ticket to $218+. 'Fans deserve transparent pricing for the events they love,' Walsh insists. 'These fees should be outlawed.' Administration Fee on Road User Charges (RUC) for Electric Vehicles – For charging EV drivers $12.44 to print a sticker, a 16% markup on a $76 eco-friendly commute. 'This fee is a tax on a tax,' Walsh argues. 'NZTA must modernise RUC to stop fleecing green drivers.' Private ATM Fees – For extortionate charges like $10.50 to withdraw $20, a 52.5% markup. Walsh recounts a personal sting: 'Stranded in Kapiti, I paid $10.50 for $30 cash to catch a bus. That's not an error—it's a rip-off. Operators must lower fees to $2–3.' Meta Platforms – For profiting from scam ads on Facebook and Instagram, costing Kiwis $200 million to $2.3 billion annually. 'Meta's inaction is a scandal,' Walsh declares. 'They must verify advertisers like in Australia to protect vulnerable Kiwis from financial ruin.' A Movement for Change The Fleecys aren't just about naming names—they're a call to action. MoneyHub invites Kiwis to nominate 2026 candidates, share stories with #FleecedKiwiAwards, and report rip-offs anonymously via their secure form. 'Every nomination fuels our fight for a fairer New Zealand,' says Walsh. 'Together, we can force businesses to prioritise transparency and value.' The awards highlight systemic issues, from redundant warranties to scams devastating pensioners, like a Taranaki retiree who lost $220,000 to a Facebook crypto ad. 'These aren't inconveniences—they're obstacles to financial stability,' Walsh notes. 'In a cost-of-living crisis, every dollar counts. The Fleecys empower Kiwis to fight back with knowledge, like checking CGA protections or reporting scam ads.' Why The Fleecys Matter With living costs squeezing households, The Fleecys expose practices that hit hardest when budgets are tight. 'A dairy charging 40 cents for a debit tap or an 8% fee on a family's concert tickets isn't just annoying—it's a betrayal of fairness,' says Walsh. MoneyHub's research, backed by Commerce Commission guidelines and Netsafe data, ensures The Fleecys target widespread, evidence-based rip-offs. Looking ahead, MoneyHub is developing resources to tackle supermarket pricing, a complex issue warranting deeper scrutiny. 'We're committed to transparency at the checkout and beyond,' Walsh promises. 'The Fleecys are a stand against complacency, driving honest conversations between consumers, businesses, and regulators.' Join the Fight Kiwis can shape the 2026 Fleecys by emailing nominations, posting on social media, or submitting anonymous tips. Monthly reviews will culminate in updates by mid-2026. 'Financial literacy is power,' Walsh concludes. 'By exposing The Fleecys, we're arming New Zealanders to reclaim control and build a financial system that works for everyone.' 10 Things to Do Differently with Money in 2025 and 20 Supermarket Ripoffs. About MoneyHub: Since 2018, MoneyHub has empowered New Zealanders with guides and tools to save millions through fairer financial products. The Fleeced Kiwi Awards continue this mission, exposing rip-offs and advocating for a transparent, consumer-focused financial landscape.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
MoneyHub Unveils The Fleeced Kiwi Awards: Exposing New Zealand's Worst Financial Rip-Offs
Auckland, NZ – 1 June 2025 – MoneyHub today launches the inaugural Fleeced Kiwi Awards 2025, affectionately dubbed The Fleecys, a bold initiative to expose and shame the most egregious financial rip-offs plaguing New Zealanders. From sneaky surcharges to predatory scams, The Fleecys spotlight practices that drain wallets and betray trust, demanding accountability and reform in a cost-of-living crisis. Since 2018, MoneyHub has saved Kiwis millions by advocating for fairer financial products. Now, The Fleecys turn up the heat, naming and shaming the worst offenders in 2025. 'New Zealanders deserve a financial system that rewards trust, not exploits it,' says Christopher Walsh, MoneyHub's Head of Research. 'The Fleecys are our rallying cry to expose rip-offs—like a $10.50 ATM fee for a $20 withdrawal or $2.3 billion lost to scams on Meta's platforms—and spark a movement for fairness.' The 2025 Fleecys Winners: A Roll Call of Rip-Offs The Fleecys call out six practices that fleece Kiwis with hidden costs, deceptive tactics, and unchecked scams: Debit and Credit Card Surcharges, including PayWave – For slapping 1–3% fees on everyday transactions, turning a $100 restaurant bill into $102.50. 'Paying extra just to tap your card is a rort,' Walsh fumes. 'Shops must show fees upfront, and regulators need to outlaw these wallet-draining tricks.' Extended Warranties – For pushing $200+ add-ons on a $1,000 TV, duplicating free protections under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA). 'Retailers scare Kiwis into buying peace of mind they already have,' says Walsh. 'Know your CGA rights and save your money.' Ticketing Fees – For ambushing fans with 8% 'booking' and 'service' fees, inflating a $200 concert ticket to $218+. 'Fans deserve transparent pricing for the events they love,' Walsh insists. 'These fees should be outlawed.' Administration Fee on Road User Charges (RUC) for Electric Vehicles – For charging EV drivers $12.44 to print a sticker, a 16% markup on a $76 eco-friendly commute. 'This fee is a tax on a tax,' Walsh argues. 'NZTA must modernise RUC to stop fleecing green drivers.' Private ATM Fees – For extortionate charges like $10.50 to withdraw $20, a 52.5% markup. Walsh recounts a personal sting: 'Stranded in Kapiti, I paid $10.50 for $30 cash to catch a bus. That's not an error—it's a rip-off. Operators must lower fees to $2–3.' Meta Platforms – For profiting from scam ads on Facebook and Instagram, costing Kiwis $200 million to $2.3 billion annually. 'Meta's inaction is a scandal,' Walsh declares. 'They must verify advertisers like in Australia to protect vulnerable Kiwis from financial ruin.' A Movement for Change Advertisement - scroll to continue reading The Fleecys aren't just about naming names—they're a call to action. MoneyHub invites Kiwis to nominate 2026 candidates, share stories with #FleecedKiwiAwards, and report rip-offs anonymously via their secure form. 'Every nomination fuels our fight for a fairer New Zealand,' says Walsh. 'Together, we can force businesses to prioritise transparency and value.' The awards highlight systemic issues, from redundant warranties to scams devastating pensioners, like a Taranaki retiree who lost $220,000 to a Facebook crypto ad. 'These aren't inconveniences—they're obstacles to financial stability,' Walsh notes. 'In a cost-of-living crisis, every dollar counts. The Fleecys empower Kiwis to fight back with knowledge, like checking CGA protections or reporting scam ads.' Why The Fleecys Matter With living costs squeezing households, The Fleecys expose practices that hit hardest when budgets are tight. 'A dairy charging 40 cents for a debit tap or an 8% fee on a family's concert tickets isn't just annoying—it's a betrayal of fairness,' says Walsh. MoneyHub's research, backed by Commerce Commission guidelines and Netsafe data, ensures The Fleecys target widespread, evidence-based rip-offs. Looking ahead, MoneyHub is developing resources to tackle supermarket pricing, a complex issue warranting deeper scrutiny. 'We're committed to transparency at the checkout and beyond,' Walsh promises. 'The Fleecys are a stand against complacency, driving honest conversations between consumers, businesses, and regulators.' Join the Fight Kiwis can shape the 2026 Fleecys by emailing nominations, posting on social media, or submitting anonymous tips. Monthly reviews will culminate in updates by mid-2026. 'Financial literacy is power,' Walsh concludes. 'By exposing The Fleecys, we're arming New Zealanders to reclaim control and build a financial system that works for everyone.' About MoneyHub: Since 2018, MoneyHub has empowered New Zealanders with guides and tools to save millions through fairer financial products. The Fleeced Kiwi Awards continue this mission, exposing rip-offs and advocating for a transparent, consumer-focused financial landscape.
Irish Independent
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Obituary: Paul Durcan, popular, prolific, performing poet who had the power to move people with his words
Prolific, popular and a performing poet, he had the power to move people with his words. A sensitive soul who took the daring leap to devote his life to poetry, he was a rare breed. He also had a great gift for making people laugh. One of his poems began with the line: 'My father was a man with five penises.' His poetry chronicled Irish life and his own life. The two were intertwined. His great friend Niall MacMonagle described his work as 'the soundtrack to our lives'. Indeed it was. Durcan's finger was relentlessly on the pulse of the nation. He would peruse the newspapers and broadcast media, then spin them into poetic gold. Such was the power of his writing that his verses often had more potency than any news report. 'That's one of the things about people who write poetry, you record things that you would have forgotten about, that I would have forgotten about,' he once said. He wrote about the poor Loreto nuns who burned to death in a tragic accident (Six Nuns Die in Convent Inferno). When a man drowned trying to cross the River Slane at a Bob Dylan concert, he commemorated it in verse. He wrote about the divorce referendum and his rage as a priest from the pulpit urged a vote against it, in accordance with the church's teachings. When the IRA killed two RUC policemen, his poem The Bloomsday Murders, 16th June 1997 was placed on the front page of The Sunday Independent. 'Not even you, Gerry Adams, deserve to be murdered, You whose friends at noon murdered my two young men, David Johnston and John Graham.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more He also had a great ability to look at the world from an oblique angle. His poems would go off on surreal tangents, like the one about the old ladies who escaped from a nursing home, giggling in their golden dressing gowns. Another one imagined his elderly mother installing a trapeze in her kitchen. He was a master at making people laugh. He captured the minutiae of Irish life. He wrote of a priest in the middle of a 'fast mass', asking his congregation to pray that Clare would beat Galway in the All-Ireland hurling quarter-final. When he wasn't writing, he spent a lot of time doing poetry readings. Although he has a poem about one lone man being his audience, this was not the norm. They were almost always booked out, and with good reason. To say that he recited his poetry would be an understatement. He performed. His readings were mesmeric. He would close his eyes, wait for silence and then freefall into an odyssey of his beautifully bizarre world. Complete with accents, facial expressions and fantastic timing, he would have the audience in howls of laughter. He would bask in this joy with his gentle smile. Other times when his criticism of IRA atrocities, in verse, was met with stony silence, he would carry on courageously. Having heard him, it was impossible to read his poems without his voice in your head. But equally, they were strong enough to stand alone. Paul Durcan was born in Dublin in 1944 to Sheila MacBride and John Durcan. His mother's family name was a huge part of his childhood because her father's younger brother was John MacBride who was executed in 1916. Her first cousin was Seán MacBride, the son of John MacBride and Maud Gonne. His father was a Mayo man. John Durcan was a secondary school teacher who went on to become a barrister and later a judge. He wrote about them both in his poetry. He had precious childhood memories of getting the 11 bus with his mother with her pearl earrings, matching necklace and glistening lipstick, on the way to see Treasure Island in the cinema. He said that she was his first childhood sweetheart. His relationship with his father was often troubled. It is all in the poetry, especially in the book Daddy, Daddy. Paul wrote of asking if they could pass out the moon as they drove in his father's Ford Anglia to Mayo. His father would quiz him on whether his bowels had moved or not and tell him that he would leave him his galoshes. As a young boy, when he didn't excel academically in the top three in the class, his father beat him. Years later, a doctor persuaded Mr Durcan his son should be institutionalised. When he was 19, Paul was put into a psychiatric hospital where he had to undergo 27 sessions of Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment. Alan Gilsenan covered this period in his documentary about Paul's life The Dark School. But ever after, he was reluctant to talk about that time. It was the distant past. 'I ended up in St John of Gods in a ridiculous way. There was nothing the matter with me. I'm sure you saw the film One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Well, I was one of the luckier ones, one of the ones who flew over the cuckoo's nest and survived it,' he said. 'I didn't get a leucotomy which would have finished me off completely but I did get massive amounts of barbiturates, the whole Mandrax and every lethal tablet you could ever name. I think I came out of it with a kind of melancholia.' As the years passed, he became softer about his father. 'I wrote what I wrote,' he said of his poems about him, 'but I realise that some people have formed too black an impression of him. He took his job as a judge unbelievably seriously and it definitely made him more melancholic. It took its toll on him. "But he was a terrific storyteller and he was forever telling me about the French Revolution. It fascinated him and so Robespierre and Danton were real to me.' He got a degree in archaeology and medieval history. Paul married Nessa O'Neill in 1968. She changed his life. They lived in London for some time and had two daughters Sarah and Síabhra. They finally settled in Cork. He wrote of the wondrous joy of their love and family life. When their marriage broke down in 1984, he wrote about it in verse. The heartache was heartbreaking to read. The Difficulty that is Marriage is one of his poems on the Leaving Cert syllabus. He poured his life into his work. Poetry was his life and his life was in his poetry. In one poem he wrote: 'Do not buy the biography of Primo Levi. If you want to know Primo Levi, read the poetry of Primo Levi. The poetry is the story; The story is the life.' And so it was with him. It is all there. He wrote of love, loneliness, how he was crazy about women and how his hair was grey with woman hunger. He wrote about two recovering alcoholics spending Christmas Day together. He wrote about how he was not a natural driver and had spent endless Sunday afternoons driving around, practising so he would pass his test. He wrote of how appalled he was that his bedroom had a matching squalor to the artist Tracey Emin's grubby exhibit, with his sheets the colour of stagnant dishwater. Last October, the Gate Theatre hosted a night to celebrate the publication of Paul Durcan — 80 at 80. It was his final book, a compilation of his poetry edited by Niall MacMonagle. His poems were recited by many including President Michael D Higgins. But Paul was not there. He was no longer able. His life had changed and he was in a nursing home.
