Latest news with #RichardEvans
Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Picture This - Frank McNally on knowing your onions, the sophistication of French scammers, and journalism with legs
A reader had appealed to me as a 'last resort', seeking help in finding an old photograph. His name is Richard Evans, and he's writing a history of his family, the Irish branch of which began in the 1880s when his great grandfather – a Shropshire lad – moved to Dublin to become a butcher's apprentice. The apprentice later struck out on his own with shops in Baggot Street and Ranelagh, the latter beside where Humphrey's Pub still stands. When the building was redeveloped years ago, Richard salvaged the mosaic tiles on the footpath outside, bearing the name ' But he is now 'desperate' to find a photograph of the shop and has tried all the obvious places - including Susan Roundtree's book Ranelagh in Pictures - without success. If this column can't help him, he fears the quest is a 'lost cause'. On a tangential note, his email also notes that the butcher later transferred the business to his nephew, one Tom Onions. An aunt of Richard's, another Onions, tells him there were three shops in Ranelagh at one time owned by people called 'Lovely, Hamm, and Onions' respectively, although he doesn't remember that himself. READ MORE Alas, I can't confirm this either, although I dearly want to and have tried. But then, searching for a 'Lovely shop', or an 'Onions shop', or even a 'Hamm shop', tends to confuse search engines. As for asking AI to tell you more about 'Lovely, Hamm, and Onions' in Dublin 6, that's just a fool's errand. *** Also among my emails this week was one from a woman I'd never heard of before, and who didn't know my name. I immediately assumed it was spam, but it was in French. So before deleting, I mentally translated the opening sentences and was intrigued by their intellectual and philosophical tone. They began like this: 'In death, the family does not destroy itself, it is transformed, a part of it goes into the invisible. We believe that death is an absence, when it is a discreet presence. One thinks it creates an infinite distance, while in fact it suppresses all distance, restoring to the mind what was located in the flesh…' There was more in that vein, all of it sounding vaguely profound, at least in the original. Then at last the lady got around to introducing herself, stoically detailing the terminal illness with which she was diagnosed recently, and mentioning the €1.8 million she would now like to donate to a 'trustworthy and honest person'. Sigh. There are scammers everywhere these days. But it's extraordinary that even fraudulent attempts to get your bank details seem to be so much classier in French. *** Further to the theme of Connacht, Hell, and Longford (Diary Wednesday May 28th), regular correspondent Damien Maguire has written to point out that the Cavan panhandle was another destination from farther north. To this day, he says, there are families there – mostly from Donegal - known as 'Ultachs'. This even though Cavan itself is in Ulster (despite its GAA secessionist ambitions, circa 1915, to escape the baleful influence of Monaghan). Damien also mentions in passing that although everyone has heard of the famous 1947 All-Ireland in New York, not many people know Cavan also won in New York in 1958. This wasn't GAA, it turns out. It was a horse called Cavan, which won the prestigious Belmont Stakes that year, preventing the injured favourite Tim Tam, which had already won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, from completing America's Triple Crown. The 2025 Belmont Stakes is next weekend, June 7th, in Saratoga. And I'm delighted to see that favourites include a horse called Journalism, which has already triumphed in this year's Preakness. I may have to risk a few dollars. It's heartening to know that, even in Trump's America, Journalism in any shape can still win. *** On a more poignant note, this week marked the 30th anniversary of the demise of the Irish Press group, a milestone commemorated by a get-together of survivors in Wynn's Hotel. Disturbingly, that means the world has now been without Press newspapers for almost as long as it has had the Spice Girls, who have been the subject of 30th anniversary reunion tour rumours of late. Now I feel old. The last years of the Press coincided with the start of my career as a freelance journalist, which regularly involved pulling all-nighters, as they say. And seeking to get a jump in the competition, in those pre-internet days, it sometimes helped me to get the next day's papers as soon as they were printed. I was an Irish Times reader (although not yet working for it) by then. But having grown up with the Irish Press, thanks to a Fianna Fáil father, I still had a soft spot for that too. So, cycling into town circa 1am, I would first stop by Poolbeg Street, where bundles of the first edition Presses came rolling down a chute to the waiting vans. It was a bonus that the lads in the Press usually gave me the paper free. Atound the corner at The Irish Times, meanwhile, they always charged.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Sophisticated conman dupes 14 close family friends to shell out £600,000 on fraudulent sports betting scheme and then lavishes the money on himself
A 'sophisticated' conman duped family friends into shelling out £600,000 on a sports betting 'Ponzi scheme' - before lavishing their money on himself. Richard Evans, 41, was jailed for a seven-year scam which saw him convince 14 people they would make huge returns on an elaborate 'spread betting' operation. The victims left out of pocket when the venture went 'catastrophically wrong' included a teacher who lost an inheritance she had been left by her father at the age of 11. Most of the investors were 'lifelong friends' of Evans's parents and struggled to believe someone they had known for years could defraud them, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. Evans, a father-of-two, has now been jailed for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to nine counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering. Passing sentencing, Recorder Jaron Crooknorth said Evans should be 'ashamed' of his actions and the impact on the families he defrauded. He said: 'Although money was used to place bets it could not be called investing, there were no true profits, you made annual statements to induce more money. 'I do not accept there was little or no planning, this was sophisticated. 'This took place over a significant period, your actions were dishonest even if it did not start that way.' Evans told his victims they could make money through a 'sophisticated' scheme focused on spread betting, where gamblers bet on if the outcome of a match will be higher or a lower than a potential range of likely scores. The court heard that the investors signed a contract which promised a 15 per cent return on their investment guaranteed by Evans' wealthy business partner. They were told their money would be invested through a company called Sports Trust, which did not exist. But the plan - which began in 2014 - was 'inevitably' going to fail and he was left without the money to repay investors, prosecutors said. He 'frittered away' the money, which went straight into his bank account, on bars and restaurants as well as using it to pay his mortgage. In one family he targeted, both parents and their two adult children invested in the scheme and lost £225,050 between them. One victim, Alison Wem, said she felt she had 'failed as a mother' by recommending the investment option to the rest of her family. In total, 14 people invested £612,807 which has yet to be repaid, the court heard. Evans was said to have made £106,000 in bets with an index company, a gambling firm specialising in spread betting, but was paid out just £52,987 - a loss of almost £53,000. He did make a meagre profit of £300 through Paddy Power, far lower than the amount invested. Evans managed to keep the scheme afloat by making false annual statements to encourage people to keep their money invested and, when that failed, stalling or making excuses about repayments. Eventually, his victims grew suspicious and reported Evans to the police in late 2021. The court was told that the fraud has 'fractured' families, with some standing by Evans. One victim of the scheme even provided a character reference for the father of two. Prosecutor Tim Moores said: 'The fallout that has occurred, even between friends and family, between those who realised they were duped and those who still now refuse to believe Evans defrauded them was relevant to the fact that most people knew him, most of the investors were close family friends of his parents and their adult children.' He added: 'It is not a case where there are expenditures on large capital items, it is just a regular pattern of the defendant using the sums as his own, a lot of it has been frittered away on restaurants and bars.' James Williams, defending, claimed in mitigation that Evans' scheme had been a 'genuine' attempt to enrich himself and his investors. He said: 'They went into this with their eyes wide was an attempt by Evans to make money, largely for himself and for the investors, that went catastrophically wrong.'
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
10 best service stations across Britain revealed with cheapest fuel & great food options – is there one near you?
A GROUP of experts have revealed the UK's highest rated service stations - loved for their choice of food, value fuel and charging points. Whether it's commuting to work or you've set out on a road trip, millions of drivers make regular stops during their journeys each day - meaning service station essentials are as important as ever. Advertisement 4 Worcestershire's Strensham Roadchef has been rated the best service station in the UK Credit: Alamy 4 It boasts a plethora of much-loved restaurants and fast food chains - including a 24/7 McDonald's Credit: Alamy 4 Leigh Delamere, along the M4, is ranked second best Credit: Alamy 4 Reading comes in third, Credit: Alamy New analysis from car buying service By using these ratings, they were able to create a ranking of the best motorway stops - known as the Dream Service Station report. Their data found that Worcestershire's Strensham Roadchef is the best-rated service station in the UK, scoring an impressive 80.6 out of 100. Located between Worcester and Tewkesbury on the M5 Southbound, between junctions 7 and 8, it features a 24/7 McDonald's as well as a Costa Coffee, LEON, Coco Di Mama, Chozen Noodle, Fresh Food Cafe, SPAR and a WHSmith. Advertisement Read more Motors News Naturally, it also offers two hours free parking and EV charging. Indeed, it is the only service station to achieve a score of above 80 - closely followed by Leigh Delamere (79.4) and Reading (74.5). Leigh Delamere, located on the M4 near Chippenham, boasts all the favourites, including Burger King, Chow, Costa Coffee, Greggs and KFC. Third-place Reading, meanwhile, once boasted a 100% satisfaction score for the Westbound services and 96% for the Eastbound building, according to Transport Focus. Advertisement Most read in Motors Exclusive Of the top 10, three of the services can be found on the M1 motorway; Toddington, Woodall and Newport Pagnell. It's worth noting that Moto Rugby, located on the M6, Junction 1, has the highest rating in terms of Google review score. McDonald's Minecraft Taste Test - Sam Walker However, the location has limited options available, which sadly impacted its performance in the rankings. At the other end of the table, Bothwell Motorway Services, found just outside Glasgow, was the lowest ranked service station in the UK, scoring only 4.8 out of 100. Advertisement According to WeBuyAnyCar's findings, people spend an average of 16.5 minutes in a service station when they visit. They also found that, curiously, Marks & Spencer is the nation's preferred service station chain, followed by Greggs. Richard Evans, head of technical services at WeBuyAnyCar, said: 'While some variation in the quality of service stations is to be expected, the findings do show an inconsistency in UK service stations. 'For people who travel long distances, it's important to have service stations with good facilities available to them. Advertisement 'Taking regular breaks on long journeys is crucial for safety and well-being purposes, helping to prevent fatigue and keep drivers focused. 'Central to this safety approach is having the appropriate rest points where drivers actually want to stop and take a break.' Britain's 10 best service stations Source: WeBuyAnyCar Strensham, Worcestershire: M5 motorway, between junctions 7 and 8. Leigh Delamere, Wiltshire: M4 motorway, between junctions 17 and 18. Reading, Berkshire: M4 motorway, between junctions 11 and 12. Toddington, Bedfordshire: M1 motorway, between junctions 11A and 12. Cobham, Surrey: M25 motorway, between junctions 9 and 10. Woodall, South Yorkshire: M1 motorway, between junctions 30 and 31. Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire: M1 motorway, between junctions 14 and 15. Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire: M40 motorway, at junction 2. Hilton Park, Staffordshire: M6 motorway, between junctions 10A and 11. Cherwell Valley, Oxfordshire: M40 motorway, at junction 10.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Major car tax changes coming from April
Major changes to the UK's car tax system are just around the corner and they could mean heftier charges for some vehicles. Motorists are being urged to get clued up on the new rules to understand how their wallets might be affected. Do you think the new car tax hikes are fair? Have your say in our comments section The revisions kicking in from April could sway buying decisions, particularly when it comes to new motors. To keep abreast of all the latest driving news, why not subscribe to our newsletter here? READ MORE: The London boroughs with the most rough sleepers as number hits post-pandemic high READ MORE: The posh commuter village Londoners are desperate to move to Vehicle excise duty is set to go up for some new models, especially those with higher emissions, as part of a push to steer people towards greener or electric options. New petrol and diesel cars that emit more than 76g/km of CO2 will see their first-year tax rates double. For example, if you buy a new car that emits between 76-90g/km, you'll be slapped with a £270 fee, and the cost rockets for more polluting vehicles. Usually, vehicle tax is highest for new cars in their first year on the road before dropping to the standard annual rate of £195. Those thinking about splashing out on a new car need to factor in these extra costs, Birmingham Live reports. In a significant change, owners of electric vehicles will be required to pay ehicle tax for the first time. Richard Evans, a spokesperson for the car buying website webuyanycar, remarked: "For vehicles running on diesel or petrol emitting over 76g/km of CO2, the first-year tax will double compared to the current rate." He continued, "Even electric vehicles aren't exempt. From April 1, 2025, EVs will no longer be exempt from road tax, and their £0 first-year rate will rise to £10 for people buying an EV after April 2025." However, budgeting expert Beth Turbutt-Rogers has revealed a clever trick for electric vehicle (EV) owners to avoid the increase in road tax from 2025. As EV drivers prepare for the new road tax charges from April 1, Beth disclosed a smart loophole that could grant them an additional year without the cost. She suggested: "Go on to the government's website and renew your car tax even if you're not due to do this until the end of the year." By strategically planning the renewal, Beth explains, drivers can extend their "totally free" tax period. Sharing her personal success with her Tiktok followers, Beth said: "Mine isn't due until November, but I've just been online and taxed my car for another year from today and it means I won't have to pay any tax until February 2026." Do you think the new car tax hikes are fair? Have your say in our comments section
