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Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
John George murder suspect gets ‘hotel room' for wife's conjugal visits
New bride Madison Smyth tells of her three-hour conjugal romps in a Spanish jail as husband Jonny is suspect in John George killing Jonny and Madison Smyth are allowed to see each other for three hours when she visits him in jail John George murder suspect Jonny Smyth is provided with three-hour conjugal visits with his new bride Madison Allen. As revealed exclusively in the Sunday World, the controversial couple tied the knot at a secret ceremony in Gibraltar back in February – while Jonny was on the run from Spanish police who wanted to speak to him about the murder of the 37-year-old father-of-two. Madison Smyth, as she is now called, revealed they got married in a low-key ceremony on St Valentine's Day after sneaking back into Spain from their secret hideout in Portugal – before travelling across the border to the British Overseas Territory to get married and then sneaking back. Jonny and Madison Smyth before he was jailed in Spain Belfast man Jonny Smyth was arrested and returned to Spain six weeks later after John George's dad, Billy, tracked the couple down, though he has yet to be charged with any offence. Much to the annoyance of the family and supporters of John George, Madison was never arrested despite their belief the 19-year-old Newtownabbey woman helped cover-up the murder. Smyth is one of two men Spanish police quizzed about the murder of John George in Alicante in December last year. John disappeared in December in the Alicante area. His remains were found in January following extensive appeals from the family and friends who travelled out to search for his body. Now, they are officially husband and wife Jonny and Madison, who used to make tens of thousands of pounds from streaming their steamy sessions on OnlyFans, are entitled to conjugal visits which last a staggering three hours. The remains of father-of-two John George were found in January Last night, Madison Smyth told the Sunday World they are effectively provided with a hotel room for private use twice a month. 'You have a big room with a large window and a double bed with blankets and pillows,' says Madison. 'There's a bed, bedside table and chairs and then the bathroom is separate. It's not particularly romantic, but when you aren't getting to see each other much you don't care – I wouldn't even care if it was a prison cell – so long as we get to spend time together. 'You also have a shower and a bathroom in the room with deodorant and towels and things like that. You get three hours. I would describe it like a one-bedroom hotel with a bathroom. It's very clean and just pretty plain.' Jonny and Madison Smyth Earlier this week Madison explained why she had decided to get married to a man who has himself talked about the possibility of going to jail for several years. 'We had wanted to get married for so long and we decided to do it in February in private. 'Jonny proposed in Portugal on the 11th of February and we got married three days later on Valentines Day. 'I'm the happiest I've ever been right now and we both know we are each other's number one supporter and always will be. Jonny and Madison Smyth are allowed to see each other for three hours when she visits him in jail 'I'm forever grateful for how happy he makes me and the things he has done for me in the past and even now and it will continue – we will continue to be and do our best for each other.' She says after they tied the knot they went out for dinner but they are planning a full wedding when Jonny is released. 'We just went out for dinner afterwards – my mum or the rest of my family didn't know I was even with Jonny at that stage – they thought he was in Thailand and I was in Spain. 'When he proposed I sent a picture of the ring to my mum but she didn't believe it until I sent her a picture of the marriage certificate. Madison shows off her wedding ring but must content herself with conjugal visits since Jonny Smyth's arrest 'I was shopping one day and I came back and he had the apartment all decorated and he asked me to marry him. And I couldn't believe it and said 'yes' straight away. He bought the ring last July and he said he would marry me – after the fallout after the John George murder he realised I was the only one to stand by him. 'I'm proud to be his wife he's been there for me more than anybody. At the start, when I first met him, he asked me what my job was and I said OnlyFans. 'But he made me stop it. I said to him I wanted to do it and he agreed – and when he saw how much I was making he joined in. 'We made £10,000 in a week. He still has money and is able to send me money. It's money from the gym.' In the aftermath of John George's murder Madison was subjected to a hate campaign in which it was claimed she had covered up the murder. 'I've done nothing wrong and neither has Jonny,' she claimed 'I made my witness statement to the police two weeks ago – I have never been arrested because they know I had nothing to do with it – no matter what anyone else wants to say.' Smyth was made a wanted man in January after disappearing following the discovery of missing Mr George's body in an orchard in Rojales near Torrevieja south of Alicante. He was held on March 25 on an international arrest warrant after being tracked down to an unnamed Airbnb in Braga, a city in the far north of Portugal. Jonny and Madison Smyth After being brought back to Spain, Smyth was initially held in a remand prison near the border town of Badajoz in Spain's south-west Extremadura region after being driven across the frontier by armed cops. He was then transferred to another prison where he is at the centre of an ongoing investigation into the murder of Belfast dad-of-two John George. Madison says whatever happens to Jonny she won't be returning to Northern Ireland ever again. 'We will always live in Spain – we will never return to Northern Ireland,' she said. 'He could be locked up but I think he will be set free because he's done nothing wrong.' Jonny and Madison Smyth are allowed to see each other for three hours when she visits him in jail Today's News in 90 Seconds - 09 June 2025
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
2026 Six Nations will see major format rejig starting with Ireland's opening fixture vs holders France
IRELAND will open their Six Nations campaign away to champions France on a Thursday next year. The fixtures for the 2026 competition have been released with just one down weekend instead of the usual two. 2 Andy Farrell will be back in charge for next year's competition 2 Captain Caelan Doris should also be back in good time from the shoulder injury that ruled out of the Lions tour Friday night fixtures have become a regular feature in recent years but the organisers have opted to start on Thursday February 5 with a 9:10pm local time kick-off. That is to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics to maximise the television audience in France. The two teams have won the last four titles between them but it has not yet been confirmed where the game will take place with the French Rugby Federation at loggerheads with the Stade de France owners over a new tenancy deal. Les Bleus played matches in Marseilles - where Ireland beat them - Lille and Lyon last year when the Paris venue was unavailable because of preparations for the Summer Olympics. Read More On Irish Sport Those three alternatives all have significantly smaller capacity than the Stade de France which holds 80,000. Ireland will follow that up with a home clash against Italy nine days later on St Valentine's Day. There is usually a fallow week after the first two fixtures but, in 2026, teams will play three weekends in a row with Andy Farrell's side in Twickenham on Saturday February 21. There is then a rest week before Ireland return to action at home to Wales on Friday March 6. Most read in Rugby Union And they will finish up against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in the opening game on Saturday March 14 with France's game against England the final fixture. Round 1 France v Ireland - Thursday 5 February (20:10) Italy v Scotland - Saturday 7 February (14:10) England v Wales - Saturday 7 February (16:40) Shocking moment enormous brawl breaks out in rubgy league after 'horrendous hit' Round 2 Ireland v Italy - Saturday 14 February (14:10) Scotland v England - Saturday 14 February (16:40) Wales v France - Sunday 15 February (15:10) Round 3 England v Ireland - Saturday 21 February (14:10) Wales v Scotland - Saturday 21 February (16:40) France v Italy - Sunday 22 February (15:10) Round 4 Ireland v Wales - Friday 6 March (20:10) Scotland v France - Saturday 7 March (14:10) Italy v England - Saturday 7 March (16:40) Round 5 Ireland v Scotland - Saturday 14 March (14:10) Wales v Italy - Saturday 14 March (16:40) France v England - Saturday 14 March (20:10)
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Adi Roche: Chernobyl is now a military target. We cannot let this continue
On Saturday, April 26, 1986, at 1:23am, the world changed forever when a new word, 'Chernobyl', entered into the history of language, the history of world disasters and the history of the world… with deadly and frightful force. Described by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan as 'the greatest environmental catastrophe in the history of humanity', the explosions sent clouds of radioactive gases and debris 7-9km into the atmosphere, which had an enormous health, environmental, economic and socio-economic fallout. As the world marks the solemn 39th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, we are faced with the devastating reality of an evolving conflict that continues to inflict immeasurable suffering on innocent civilians and poses an unprecedented threat to the environment. The catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 left an indelible mark on history, yet in February 2022, the world watched in horror as Russian troops recklessly advanced through the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, reawakening deeply buried radioactive elements and contaminating the air, land, and water eight-fold. This was not merely an act of war — it was an act of nuclear terrorism. The occupation and shelling of nuclear facilities in this conflict, including Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia, have set a dangerous precedent in modern warfare, turning nuclear power plants into potential weapons of mass destruction. The threat that Chernobyl poses remains very real. Just a few short weeks ago, on St Valentine's Day 2025, we woke up to news Chernobyl had been attacked, and the sarcophagus that is meant to protect humanity was breached. Once deemed impregnable, this emboldened act heightens the risk of another devastating nuclear catastrophe, demonstrating that nuclear facilities, once considered off-limits, are now pawns in geopolitical warfare. This reminds us that Chernobyl is forever, and its tragic lessons must not be ignored. This has been the war that has changed all wars in terms of weaponry and tactics. It has brought with it a sense of foreboding for all future conflicts, that nuclear power stations/nuclear waste storage facilities are now regarded by war planners as legitimate targets. My worst nightmare in this conflict is that a second Chernobyl disaster could be unleashed on the world —this sacred area of utter vulnerability and danger, a special area of human tragedy, could once again, have deadly radioactive contamination released. Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: The occupation and shelling of nuclear facilities, including Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia, have set a dangerous precedent in modern warfare, turning nuclear power plants into potential weapons of mass destruction Never before in the history of the atomic age have nuclear stations been used as weapons of war — because such an act was deemed inconceivable, there are no protocols for operating nuclear power stations under military attack, setting a dangerous precedent in modern warfare, turning nuclear facilities into potential weapons of mass destruction. What has happened in Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia has presented us with a new reality. Nuclear facilities should remain globally, totally and completely off limits, because of their lethal potential to destroy people, animals, indeed, the whole planet. Mass evacuations would have to implemented and then, where would evacuees go? It would be a nightmare scenario. The weaponising of nuclear facilities has resulted in a collision between warfare and nuclear power, which is a whole new threat with potentially devastating, unimaginable consequences for humankind for centuries to come. I fear this area, a sacred area, an area of utter vulnerability and danger, a special area of human tragedy, could once again have deadly radioactive contamination released which would spread everywhere, like an uncontrollable monster. Today, we must unite to call for global recognition of the environmental destruction caused by war and to urge immediate action to safeguard our planet for future generations. While Chernobyl happened almost 40 years ago, its impact continues to stalk across the generations. It remains locked in the land, water, air and DNA of all life. Chernobyl is not something from the past — Chernobyl was forever, Chernobyl is forever. The impact of this single shocking nuclear accident launched an invisible war that we cannot see, taste or touch and it can never be undone. Chernobyl's radioactive footprint is embedded in our world forever, with countless people still being affected by its deadly legacy shadowing their lives for future generations. If another nuclear explosion or meltdown happens, by either accident or design, the world would never recover. Humanity and the environment would be scarred forevermore. Now, in a nuclear age, a time of grave mortal danger, our very existence is on the cusp, a planet that has become so fragile in the hands of man. We cannot overstate the current critical situation and nuclear threat in Ukraine. If we remain silent, we are playing with a loaded gun and risk a humanitarian Armageddon. We no longer want nature and the environment to be held hostage, silent victims in today's wars — our environment can no longer be sidelined as collateral damage. The consequences are devastating, long-term and widespread. Further compounding fears, the attacks on Kyiv this week, including strikes near key energy and administrative infrastructure, have cast a fresh shadow over the Chernobyl anniversary. Adi Roche: 'We cannot overstate the current critical situation and nuclear threat in Ukraine.' The proximity of these attacks to the Remembrance Day is more than symbolic — it's a stark reminder the lessons of Chernobyl are being forgotten. The spectre of nuclear disaster looms once again, not just as a historical event, but as an imminent risk. As the world marks nearly four decades since Chernobyl, the targeting of Kyiv reaffirms how vulnerable civilian populations remain in this nuclear age. Let us have peace and an end to war. change the narrative to one of permanent peace, dialogue and restoration. Let's remember what is at stake here: the future of the planet itself! As a first step towards peace negotiations, we need all sides to agree that Chernobyl, Zaporizhzhia or any nuclear facilities are no longer targets, used for shelling, bombarded, or as a base for ground fighting under the Hague Convention. Declare these spaces as absolute no war zones. Let us be the advocates for peace, so the people of Ukraine and beyond do not follow the same devastating fate as the victims of the 1986 disaster. Let us use our collective voice to call for peace and give our brothers and sisters in Ukraine hope in knowing they are not alone. Our children and grandchildren will either thank us or curse us. Read More Chernobyl campaigner Adi Roche warns of global nuclear threat as power plant attacked in Ukraine
Belfast Telegraph
21-04-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
‘The diagnosis of my spinal tumour is terminal... I aim to prove them wrong'
At the end of 2024 Belfast man Matthew Starkey had so much to look forward to. A new teaching job, a new home, a new car and the prospect of getting married to his fiancée. But what started out as a seemingly innocuous football injury sent his life down a path he never could have imagined. He is still looking forward, but the 32-year-old's plans never included gruelling treatment for cancer. The prognosis isn't good. Doctors say he may have just a year. But positivity remains. He's not sitting back, despite spending more than a month in hospital since March rather than teaching at St Colman's Sixth Form College in Ballynahinch, after his temporary contract was made permanent. Indeed, everything about his situation since that moment has been fast. 'Life's really throwing everything at me,' he said. While Matthew, who teaches business, IT and PE at St Colman's, will remain in hospital until his round of intensive treatment ends, he's ready to throw everything back at life once he gets out — starting with getting into his new home with fiancée Carrie Fleming. By September he hopes to take part in the Belfast Half Marathon in a wheelchair to raise funds for the Friends of the Cancer Centre. He said: 'A couple of months ago I was an able-bodied man, I went to the gym four times a week. 'I'd been playing seven-a-side football and came home with a sore leg. I thought I must have pulled a muscle. 'When the pain refused to go away you think of things like deep vein thrombosis. 'My foot was discoloured, the veins in my leg were standing out.' Several visits to the doctor followed, and eventually a collapsed valve at the top of his leg was diagnosed. It was corrected, other tests were clear, but the pain just refused to go away. 'I just felt something was wrong,' he said. 'I can remember buying flowers for Carrie before Valentine's Day and completely losing control of my right leg, falling into the window of the shop.' It got to the stage where Matthew couldn't walk. 'I had shocking pain, I couldn't go to the toilet, my stomach was so large I looked pregnant,' he explained. 'On February 13 my mum took me to hospital. I had an MRI scan and that's when they found a 3cm tumour through my spinal cord which would require urgent surgery.' He was operated on the next day, St Valentine's Day. 'I had been planning to ask Carrie to marry me, maybe in a year or so. In March I just went for it. We got engaged.' But a day after she said 'yes', the pain returned to his leg. A further MRI scan revealed the news he had been dreading. Just three weeks after his surgery, the tumour had grown back. Matthew has been in hospital since March 16. 'I've just completed 20 of the 30 treatments — I'm told I have been responding well,' he said. As he undergoes his ordeal, Carrie has been busy, with a wedding set for June and changes made to the house they bought together. There's also a wish-list of memories he wants to make — places to visit and things to do. Central to it all is fundraising for cancer charities, with one of his main targets the Belfast event in September. His wheelchair effort, he hopes, can contribute to his aim of raising £100,000. There's also those nuptials in the summer, and dreams of foreign travel. Matthew added: 'We both love Italy and have been there separately. We'd love to go together. 'And we're looking into going to see the Northern Lights. It's the medical insurance that's the real problem.' A GoFundMe page has raised more than £40,000 and a training schedule has been drawn up to get ready for the half marathon. Along with Carrie, Matthew said his parents have been hugely supportive. 'My mum Fiona had breast cancer a few years ago and has been right with me through all of this,' he explained. 'We've beaten cancer as a family before and we can do it again.' That positive, can-do attitude shines through. 'I might not make it back to school before the summer, but I plan to be there in September,' he said. In the meantime he'll be rejoining a gym, with fellow St Colman's teacher Stephen Conlon as a personal trainer. 'Stephen has worked with people with cerebral palsy. He's drawing up a plan for me so I can get used to the fitted wheelchair and get myself into shape,' Matthew said. 'Yes, my life has completely changed. There are moments when you come out of your treatment and you feel so ill. But I have a wonderful support network. 'I have the social media platforms to tell things like they are and hopefully get the message out there that no matter how insignificant you feel a pain or an issue is, you get it checked. That's what I did. 'The tumour may be fast-growing, but I'm here in the middle of getting the treatment and I'm staying positive that I'll come out the other side, get married, get into my new home and get back to teaching.' You have to stay positive, keep looking forward, he says. 'The diagnosis was terminal — I aim to prove them wrong,' he added.
