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Sunday World
3 days ago
- General
- Sunday World
Murderer Richard Satchwell won over inmates with cooking skills in prison
Wife-killer had job in prison kitchens after impressing staff with his cooking abilities Satchwell is expected to return to Limerick Prison to serve his time behind bars Killer Richard Satchwell shared an isolation prison wing with Barbie Kardashian and Jonathan Dowdall – before winning over other inmates with his cooking skills. Satchwell is expected to return to Limerick Prison, where he has been in custody since his wife Tina's body was found buried under the stairs in the home. He will be spending a long part of his life with other killers in the lock-up who are already serving the life sentence he is due to get next week. When he first went into custody on October 2023 while awaiting trial, the English truck driver was placed the same isolation unit where Jonathan Dowdall and Barbie Kardashian are held. Satchwell is expected to return to Limerick Prison to serve his time behind bars But Satchwell, who has experience of prison, adapted quickly to life behind bars and was allowed to mix with the general population and got a job in the kitchens. He turned out to be a well-regarded cook and even prepared meals for the staff canteen, according to Sunday World sources. An unremarkable prisoner he is expected to get on fine in whatever prison he ends up while serving his time, it was added. He will also be entitled to apply to serve his sentence in his native UK and where he has family. During his five-week trial, Satchwell was held in Cloverhill Prison in west Dublin but is now likely to return to Limerick to serve his sentence. The nature of his crime initially meant there were concerns for his safety when first remanded into custody and he was put into the same wing as Dowdall and Kardashian. Victim Tina Satchwell Dowdall, is a former Sinn Féin councillor serving time for his part in the murder of David Byrne in the Regency Hotel attack. He also appeared as a prosecution witness in Gerry Hutch's trial for the same murder and was part of the Witness Protection Programme. Transgender Kardashian is serving a five-year sentence for making threats to kill her mother and recently was acquitted of making threats to kill a fellow prisoner and a member of staff. Satchwell won't be the only lifer to be jailed for killing a partner, joining Patrick Ballard who kicked his partner to death in a public toilet in Ennis in 2021. Richard Satchwell is working in prison kitchens News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025 Stephen Cahoon's victim was also a woman – his pregnant ex-partner – who he strangled to death in her Derry home in 2008. Also a lifer is Daniel Whelan, who battered a mother of four to death who he had met at an addiction treatment centre in 2018 in Waterford city. Other killers serving life sentences in the prison include Kenneth Collopy, the son of gangland figure Brian Collopy, who shot dead a man in 2009. Another is Alex Friedman, who broke into a house and stabbed his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend at a house in Clonmel in 2007. Jonathan Dowdall Barbie Kardashian Patrick Ballard Mark Crawford, who stabbed his pal to death during booze and cocaine binge in 2018, is also doing life in the prison. After Satchwell is sentenced to the mandatory life sentence next week it will be open for him to appeal against his conviction. During the trial his legal team sought an application to have the murder charge withdrawn on the grounds that there was no evidence of intent. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan also applied for the jury to be discharged after the judge's charge to the jury which he described as another prosecution speech. Neither application was accepted by the judge and the proceedings went on until the verdict was delivered on Friday just after noon. Under the rules in Ireland a prisoner serving a life sentence is allowed to make an application for parole after serving 12 years. However, the average time being served before being released on licence is now closer to 22 years, which in Satchwell's case would mean he will be 80 years of age. One of those serving a life sentence in Limerick, Ross Stapelton, was sentenced to life in 2004 for the 2002 murder of man who died nine months after being beaten into a coma. While eventual release may come, lifers face being returned to prison if they break release conditions.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Sean McGovern's partner waves Dubai to Kinahan cartel lieutenant
Kinahan lieutenant's partner remains in United Arab Emirates as he is extradited over murder and gangland charges The partner of senior Kinahan lieutenant Sean McGovern remains in Dubai under the watchful eye of his cartel associates, after the 39-year-old was extradited back to Ireland to face a murder and gangland charges. McGovern – who survived being shot during the Regency Hotel attack in 2016 in which David Byrne was killed – fled to Dubai in 2017 with innocent partner Anita Freeman, just months after the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. The couple's extensively renovated home on Kildare Road in Crumlin was later seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and sold on to Dublin City Council. Anita Freeman is the partner of Sean McGovern However, sources informed the Sunday World yesterday that Freeman – who has been in a relationship with McGovern since the two were teenagers – remains in Dubai. Should she remain there, a source said McGovern will be able to arrange video calls to her on a once-a-week basis from the A5 landing in Portlaoise Prison. 'On the basis that she has no previous criminal convictions and is not suspected of involvement in her husband's alleged crimes, she would be accorded the status of a family member and would have the same entitlement to video visits as any other prisoner's partner,' the source said. Freeman, who has two children with McGovern and who has maintained a far lower profile than the likes of Daniel Kinahan's partner, Caoimhe Robinson, has frequently returned to Ireland for visits since joining her exiled partner in 2017. Anita Freeman (right) with Liam Byrne's partner Simoan McEnroe She still has family in Dublin and sources believe it likely that she may return to the city in the near future to be close to her partner. Ahead of his trial on murder and gangland charges, McGovern is being kept on 23-hour lockdown in the State's only maximum-security prison. He is being housed in a single cell on A5, where his neighbours include double murderer Youssef Palani and treble killer Andy Cash, who murdered his innocent siblings Lisa (18), Christy and Chelsea (both aged eight). 'There are eight cells on the landing, and it normally houses very disturbed individuals,' the source said. 'But it is also the optimal location for someone with McGovern's risk profile. McGovern's former house, which was seized by CAB 'He is kept in his cell 23 hours a day and gets one hour exercise in the yard. 'It's referred to as a yard but it is more like a cage really, as it has advanced netting overhead, meaning nothing at all can be dropped in from above.' McGovern's extradition this week is being seen as a major coup for the Gardaí. He had been held in a prison in Dubai since his arrest last October and had launched a series of legal challenges to the extradition process. His original detention came after protracted consultation between the Gardaí, Interpol and the police and justice authorities in Dubai and Ireland A European arrest warrant was issued in April 2022 by the High Court for McGovern to face criminal charges here. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates did not act on the warrant, but a formal request from the Department of Justice to their Dubai equivalent was later issued. Sean McGovern (right) with Liam Byrne McGovern's original arrest was seen by the Gardaí as a test case for the planned arrest and eventual extradition of cartel leader Kinahan on criminal charges. On Wednesday, after flying out to Dubai on board an Irish Air Corps CASA aircraft, the Gardaí finally got their man. He was transported back to Ireland on Thursday and formally arrested by police investigating the activities of the Kinahan crime gang when the aircraft landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. From there he was taken in a Garda convoy to the Courts of Criminal Justice in Dublin, where he appeared before the Special Criminal Court. Dressed in a grey T-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms, white socks and black sliders, he spoke only once to confirm his name. Sean McGovern with David Byrne, who was killed in the Regency Hotel gun attack Detective Garda Sergeant Donal Daly gave evidence of arresting the accused for the purposes of charging him and explained that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) certified that he should be charged before the non-jury court. The defence counsel said at the outset of the hearing that they were reserving their position on the lawfulness of his arrest and the jurisdiction of the court. McGovern is accused of the feud murder of Noel Kirwan (62) at St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin, Dublin, on December 22, 2016. Sean MCGovern and Anita Freeman The grandfather, known as 'Duck Egg', was shot dead as he sat in his car with his partner in the driveway of her home. Mr Kirwan was not involved in the feud but was targeted after being spotted beside Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch at a funeral. McGovern is also charged with enhancing the abilities of a crime gang to carry out that murder between the same dates within the State. The court heard that McGovern also faces two additional charges relating to a plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, an associate of the Hutch gang, more than eight years ago. Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan (left) with Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch He is charged with both directing a crime gang to carry out surveillance of Gately, and facilitating a criminal organisation relating to the conspiracy to murder Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017. The maximum penalty on conviction for directing a crime gang is life imprisonment, while McGovern faces the mandatory life sentence if found guilty of Mr Kirwan's murder. No application for bail was made as this can only be sought before the High Court on charges of murder or organised crime offences. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, remanded McGovern in custody and he is due to appear before the court again on Thursday next. Sean McGovern and Anita Freeman News in 90 Seconds - June 1st
Sunday World
05-05-2025
- Sunday World
Exclusive pictures show gangster Glen Ward and Gucci Gang pals on nights out before prison
'Mr Flashy' photo album features underworld thugs who were murdered in turf feuds or now languish behind bars Ward and Hyland take selfie with gang of friends This is gangster Glen Ward partying with a host of gangland figures, most of whom are now dead or behind bars, as he rose to prominence in Ireland's underworld. Ward, who was jailed for five-and-a-half years for firearms offences, became a gang boss better known as 'Mr Flashy' after numerous Kinahan-aligned criminals based in north-west Dublin left the country in the aftermath of the Regency Hotel attack. He was given the nickname because of his love for designer gear, including high-end runners and as our photos show, Ward often showed off his passion for fashion as he sported luxury watches, Gucci caps and expensive man bags. Karl Hyland and Glen Ward The photos show Ward partying with pals as he enjoyed a glamorous lifestyle and splashed the cash on upmarket clothing brands and lavish holidays. Ward was still in his early 20s when he started making a name for himself in the criminal underworld, but had close links to older Cartel criminals, including Cabra man Karl Hyland and Finglas gunman Trevor Byrne. Hyland was a nephew of slain gang boss Martin 'Marlo' Hyland who was killed on the orders of one-time associate Eamon 'the Don' Dunne in Dublin in 2006. Dunne became the main player in north-west Dublin after Marlo's murder and ordered numerous gang hits in a reign of terror that ended when he was shot dead in 2010, in a hit believed to have been carried out by Kinahan-linked criminals. Ward and Hyland were also snapped together with Lee Boylan, who was seriously injured in a gun attack in Mulhuddart in March 2019 as part of a west Dublin feud with associates of Eric Fowler, who was shot dead three months earlier. Ian O'Heaire Boylan's father Noel Boylan survived a gun attack on the Blakestown Road in Dublin in June 2019 just three months after his son was almost killed. Like Ward, Karl Hyland was jailed after he was caught test-firing guns in a back garden. He was sentenced to was jailed for five years in December 2011 after he pleaded guilty to possession of the weapons, including two handguns, a silencer and dozens of rounds of ammunition. After his release from prison, Ward was regularly spotted with Karl Hyland on numerous nights out and trips abroad. He was also snapped with Hyland's close associate Eric Keogh, a criminal from Cabra who had amassed almost 200 convictions by his mid-20s. The group were close associates of Trevor Byrne, who was suspected of numerous gun attacks – including some linked to the Kinahan-Hutch feud – and took Ward under his wing. Ward and Hyland take selfie with gang of friends Hyland, Keogh and Byrne all left Ireland as the Kinahan- Hutch feud escalated and, despite his youth, Ward then rose to prominence as the leader of what became known as the 'Gucci Gang' due to their penchant for wearing designer watches, designer clothes and manbags. He aligned himself with numerous other criminals in a network that extended beyond his Finglas base. Our pictures show Ward partying with well-known criminal Ian O'Heaire, who was previously jailed for smuggling drugs from Dubai to Australia. O'Heaire is an associate and cousin of senior Kinahan Cartel figure Ross Browning. An investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau into Browning revealed how O'Heaire acted as a go-between with Ward's gang. GlenThompson parties with a Gucci gang pal The gang were involved in serious feuding in Finglas and surrounding areas as they rose in prominence in Ireland's underworld, falling out with one-time associates along the way. Among those to eventually fall foul of Ward was north Dublin drug dealer James Whelan, who was shot dead as part of a feud with the Gucci Gang in 2022. Our pictures show the numerous gangland figures who Ward previously partied with who are now either dead or behind bars. They include feared criminal Glen Thompson, who along with is brother Gary is serving a lengthy sentence after being caught with firearms in Dublin as part of 2018 plot to murder Patsy Hutch, a brother of Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch. He was also pictured partying with a close associate of Jason Hennessy Snr, who died following a Christmas Eve dinner at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown in 2022. The associate cannot be named as he is currently before the courts on serious charges. Several other associates pictured with Ward suffered worse fates than jail. Ward with Hyland and Jamie Tighe out clubbing They include Darndale criminal Jamie Tighe-Ennis who was shot dead in a gun attack on Moatview Avenue, Priorswood, Dublin 17, in October 2017. Another associate, Zach Parker, a drug dealer from Swords, was shot dead in the north Dublin suburb in January 2019. The day after Parker's murder, gardaí watched as Ward met up with another Gucci Gang associate, Sean Little, a drug dealer from Kilmore in north Dublin. Ward was pictured attending Parker's funeral with other Gucci Gang associates. DAPPER: Glen Ward (in Gucci cap) with Karl Hyland (left) and Lee Boylan Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 5th Another man who joined them at the funeral was Caolan Smyth, who is serving 20 years in prison for shooting Hutch associate James 'Mago' Gately in a murder attempt in Dublin in May 2017. Smyth, who was a suspect in up to 10 gun attacks, was blamed for the murder of Little (22), who was shot dead in May 2019 just months after Parker's killing. A day after Little was murdered another associate of Ward, Jordan Davis (23) was shot dead in Coolock on orders of Robert 'Roo' Redmond over a drug debt. Another man with links to Ward, Iranian criminal Hamid Sanambar (41), was shot dead a week later after being blamed for involvement in Little's murder. In the weeks after those killings, Ward tried to silence the Sunday World after we named him and exposed his links to organised crime when he was arrested following a drug seizure in Finglas in July 2019 Ward at house party with pals We highlighted his links to the Kinahan Cartel and the Coolock feud victims and revealed he had been arrested after gardaí raided a house on Ratoath Road. They seized an estimated €5,000 of cocaine and cannabis along with cash, weighing scales, packaging material, a number of mobile phones, electronic devices and weapons. Gardaí used flash grenades as they raided the house which has previously been targeted in attacks by criminal gangs. Ward was arrested in connection with the operation but later released without charge. In a legal letter, Ward's solicitor said his client denied being pals with Glen Thompson. He added that while he may have known Tighe-Ennis, Parker, Little, Davis and Sanambar it was 'reckless' to name him as a 'pal' of them. He went on to say Ward 'is not associated with any cartel' and said he would issue immediate legal proceedings against the Sunday World unless there was an admission of liability coupled with an offer of compensation. The Sunday World robustly defended the article and no legal proceedings were ever issued. Within a couple of years Ward's gang was back involved in serious feuding, this time based around Finglas which led to numerous gun attacks, petrol bombings and assaults. The feud claimed the life of Ward's former associate James Whelan who was shot dead in 2022. The feud also led to attempts on the lives of Ward and his brother Glen O'Driscoll. After one of those hit attempts, gardaí responded to reports that shots had been fired at a taxi on the Tolka Valley Road in June 2022. When they searched the taxi, they found a phone that they were later able to connect to O'Driscoll. Video footage on the phone showed Ward and O'Driscoll firing from a semi-automatic rifle from the back door of a Finglas home during a house party. Ward (32), pleaded guilty to a charge that on January 1, 2022 at an address in Finglas he possessed or had control of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose. O'Driscoll (23) pleaded guilty to possession of the same gun and was recently jailed for five years. Gardaí discovered the rifle alongside a military sub-machine gun during a search of a house in Finglas in February 2022.
Arab Times
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
India's Republic Day reception celebrates sovereignty, national pride
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 30: India's Republic Day reception, held at the Regency Hotel in Salmiya on Jan 29, was a grand celebration of India's sovereignty and national pride. The event gathered diplomats, dignitaries, and members of the Indian community in Kuwait to mark the 76th anniversary of the Indian Republic. The attendees were treated to an evening of cultural performances befitting the occasion, India's commitment to democracy, diversity and development. The occasion also reflected the enduring bond between India and Kuwait, acknowledging the close ties shared by the two nations across various sectors, including trade, culture and diplomacy. The event not only commemorated India's Republic Day but also served as a reminder of the deep connections and friendship between the people of India and Kuwait, further cementing the growing cooperation between the two countries. The guest of the evening was HE Dr Mahmoud Abdulaziz Bushehri, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy of the State of Kuwait who also highlighted the close ties shared by Kuwait and India. In his remarks, the Ambassador of India to Kuwait HE Dr Adarsh Swaika thanked Dr. Bushahri for gracing the occasion with his presence. 'I also express my heartfelt gratitude to His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, for their unwavering support and patronage of the strong India-Kuwait partnership. 'As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's Republic Day when our Constitution was adopted, India has largely fulfilled the promises outlined in the Constitution, securing justice, liberty, equality, and equity for all its citizens. 'This journey of progress and prosperity has also fostered unity and integrity within our diverse democratic framework. 'In line with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India a developed nation by 2047, we continue our path forward with determination, building on our past achievements. Today, India's developmental journey remains a subject of global attention, and I would like to highlight some key aspects of modern India,' said the Indian envoy. Speaking of India, Dr Swaika said India is the largest democracy on earth with a stable political regime; the world's most populous country with 65 percent of the population under 35 years of age makes it the world's largest working population; 5th largest global economy and poised to become 3rd largest soon; first in lowest manufacturing costs globally; preferred global foreign investment destination with FDI of $710 bn in the last 10 years; world's 3rd largest Startup Ecosystem (with 115 unicorns; 1 unicorn in India out of 10 globally); Global Pharmacy of the world; 4th largest renewable energy installed capacity of over 200 GW; 50% of all global digital payments take place in India on a real-time basis; the extraordinary pace of infrastructure development – from 70 airports in 2014 to 150 airports in 2024, 28 kms of highways and 12 kms of railway tracks are being constructed every day; 6th largest globally in patent filing (103000 patents last year) and so on. Dr Swaika went on to say, 'The Indian foreign policy is deeply rooted in our ancient philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', meaning 'the world is one family'. 'We consistently advocate for peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and diplomacy and proudly represent the global south as a reliable development partner. India's foreign policy is guided by two principles: national interest and global good. 'Our active participation in multilateral forums such as the Quad, BRICS, SCO, and BIMSTEC reflects this approach. India has also led numerous pro-planet initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuels Alliance, fostering global cooperation and understanding. 'Our bilateral relations with Kuwait are historically strong, with mutual understanding at both bilateral and multilateral levels. 'The recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024 marked a new chapter in our partnership, leading to the elevation of our ties to a 'Strategic Partnership'. 'This visit also saw the signing of a Defence Cooperation MoU and the conferring of Kuwait's highest national award, 'The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer', on Prime Minister Modi. Trade and investment between India and Kuwait continue to grow, with India being one of Kuwait's top trading partners and Indian companies contributing significantly to infrastructure projects. 'The Indian community in Kuwait, now over a million strong, serves as a bridge between our two nations. We look forward to further strengthening our ties, both at the government and people-to-people levels, especially under Kuwait's GCC Presidency.' He concluded his remarks by saying 'Long live India-Kuwait friendship!'
