Latest news with #StValentine'sDay
Sunday World
30-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man described as ‘Jekyll and Hyde' character jailed after reckless road rampage
Owen Orr committed a series of offences on St Valentine's Day in 2019 leaving a trail of destruction in his wake A man described as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character after he drank alcohol has been jailed for eight months and put off the road for five years after going on a rampage in Co Donegal. Owen Orr committed a series of offences on St Valentine's Day in 2019 leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The father-of-five punched another motorist in the face, assaulted a Garda, damaged his motorbike and then crashed his car into a terrified mother and daughter. Orr, who has 31 previous convictions, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to a range of offences which all occurred on the same evening. Judge Roderick Maguire said it was completely unacceptable that Gardai had been put in such danger while doing their duty. He also said members of the public were fortunate not to have suffered more serious and lasting injuries as a result of Orr's actions. The 32-year-old was charged that, at Cullion Road, Letterkenny, he assaulted Garda Michael Kilcoyne, a peace officer, acting in the course of his duty. The charge is contrary to Section 19 (3) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, as amended by Section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. He was charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Garda Honda motorcycle, belonging to the Chief Superintendent, An Garda Siochana. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. Orr was charged with the unlawful interference with a mechanically propelled vehicle, the property of Charles Bonner, while such vehicle was stationary at Manorcunningham by removing the key from the ignition. The charge is contrary to Section 113 or the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended by Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 and Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 2006. He is also charged with dangerous driving o the N13 on February 14th, 2019 He is further charged that, at Dromore, Letterkenny, on February 14, 2019, that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Toyota Corolla belonging to Kathleen Birch intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. He is also charged with failing to report an accident when injury was caused to property or a person at Dromore Lower on February 14th, 2019 being the driver of a vehicle involved in the accident. Other charges were also taken into account by the court. Prosecutor for the State, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, along with Garda Daire Sheridan outlined the series of events on the day which led to Orr's arrest. He told how another motorist, Charles Bonner, was driving on the dual carriageway into Letterkenny when he saw another car overtaking a series of other vehicles before pulling in front of him. Mr Bonner flashed his lights at the car but the other driver, now known to be Owen Orr, slammed on his brakes forcing the other driver to brake. Mr Bonner stopped and the driver of the other car came over, punched him in the nose, pulled the keys out of his jeep and then threw them into a hedge and drove off with the entire incident being captured on dashcam. At Dromore Lower, some kilometres down the road, Mrs Kathleen Birch and her daughter were traveling towards Letterkenny down Lurgybrack when a car pulled out and smashed into them. Mrs Birch suffered pain in her back and legs and feared her car was going to go on fire as other motorists came to her aid. The driver of the other car fled on foot but left his wallet with bank cards and identification at the scene. Garda motorcyclist Michael Kilcoyne arrived at the scene of the accident and went in search of the driver of the other car and found Owen Orr walking at nearby Cullion Road. He addressed Orr who became aggressive and assaulted the Garda by grabbing him by the neck causing his motorbike to fall to the ground. Owen Orr at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (North West Newspix) News in 90 Seconds - Wednesday, July 30 A scuffle broke out and Orr lashed out at the arresting officer by kicking him before he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning. While in the station, Orr refused to give either a blood or urine sample to a registered nurse. The accused man was interviewed four days later when sober and the court was told he was very apologetic about the incident. Barrister for Orr, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, directed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said his client was very cooperative during the second interview describing him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character when he had alcohol taken. He added that he finds himself in a better place today and has been sober since 2023 after two periods in rehabilitation apart from a small lapse. The accused man had a total of €2,000 in compensation to offer including a sum to replace the €500 key for Mr Bonner's jeep, another €750 for the damage to his glasses and €750 to be given to a charity of Garda Kilcoyne's choice. A further €500 was also available to Mrs Birch while the court was also told that civil proceedings are also ongoing arising from the collision. Mr Elders added that his client was now trying to put his life back together and was a man with a high IQ with five children, the oldest of which were also academically gifted and wanted to attend college. Judge Roderick Maguire addressed the accused and asked him how his family were now keeping and how his life was now that he is trying to remain sober. Orr said that he was attending AA meetings four times a week. Mr Elders added that now that it appears that Orr has been rehabilitated and has also come a long way since this incident in 2019, he was not sure how a custodial sentence could benefit Orr or society at large. Passing sentence, Judge Maguire outlined all the events of the night saying he had considered all matters. He outlined a headline sentence but then said he had to consider mitigation before passing a final sentence. He said Gardai had noted that Orr was very easy to deal with when sober, he had not come to Garda attention since, had entered an early plea and was in a much better place today. The Judge also noted his probation report, the fact that he has five children and also considered the management of his alcohol abuse and that he is now attending alcoholics anonymous four times a week. He also noted that compensation had been offered to those caught up in Orr's rampage which he said were concrete expressions or remorse of the accused. Taking all these matters into account, Judge Maguire reduced the headline sentence to one of sixteen months with the last eight months suspended and banned Orr from holding a driving license for five years. He also ordered him to enter a bond to keep the peace for a period of two years upon his release from prison.
Sunday World
17-07-2025
- Sunday World
Dad-of-five crashed car into mum and daughter and assaulted Garda in rampage
Owen Orr, who has 31 previous convictions, punched a fellow motorist in the face, assaulted a Garda, damaged his motorbike and crashed his car into a mother and daughter A man who was described as having a very high IQ but who is a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character after drinking alcohol has appeared in court after going on a rampage in Co Donegal. Owen Orr committed a series of offences on St Valentine's Day in 2019 leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The father-of-five punched a fellow motorist in the face, assaulted a Garda, damaged his motorbike and crashed his car into a mother and daughter. Orr, who has 31 previous convictions, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to a range of offences which all occurred on the same evening. The 32-year-old is charged that, at Cullion Road, Letterkenny, he assaulted Garda Michael Kilcoyne, a peace officer, acting in the course of his duty. The charge is contrary to Section 19 (3) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, as amended by Section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. Owen Orr at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West Newspix Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th He is also charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Garda Honda motorcycle, belonging to the Chief Superintendent, An Garda Siochana. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. Orr is charged with the unlawful interference with a mechanically propelled vehicle, the property of Charles Bonner, while such vehicle was stationary at Manorcunningham by removing the key from the ignition. The charge is contrary to Section 113 or the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended by Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 and Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 2006. He is also charged with dangerous driving on the N13 on February 14th, 2019 He is further charged that, at Dromore, Letterkenny, on February 14, 2019, that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Toyota Corolla belonging to Kathleen Birch intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. He is also charged with failing to report an accident when injury was caused to property or a person at Dromore Lower on February 14th, 2019 being the driver of a vehicle involved in the accident. Owen Orr at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West Newspix Other charges were also taken into account by the court. Prosecutor for the State, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, along with Garda Daire Sheridan outlined the series of events on the day which led to Orr's arrest. He told how another motorist, Charles Bonner, was driving on the dual carriageway into Letterkenny when he saw another car overtaking a series of other vehicles before pulling in front of him. Mr Bonner flashed his lights at the car but the other driver, now known to be Owen Orr, slammed on his brakes forcing the other driver to brake. Mr Bonner stopped and the driver of the other car came over, punched him in the nose, pulled the keys out of his jeep and then threw them into a hedge and drove off with the entire incident being captured on dashcam. At Dromore Lower, some kilometres down the road, Mrs Kathleen Birch and her daughter were traveling towards Letterkenny down Lurgybrack when a car pulled out and smashed into them. Mrs Birch suffered pain in her back and legs and feared her car was going to go on fire as other motorists came to her aid. The driver of the other car fled on foot but left his wallet with bank cards and identification at the scene. Garda motorcyclist Michael Kilcoyne arrived at the scene of the accident and went in search of the driver of the other car and found Owen Orr walking at nearby Cullion Road. He addressed Orr who became aggressive and assaulted the Garda by grabbing him by the neck causing his motorbike to fall to the ground. A scuffle broke out and Orr lashed out at the arresting officer by kicking him before he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning. While in the station, Orr refused to give either a blood or urine sample to a registered nurse. The accused man was interviewed four days later when sober and the court was told he was very apologetic about the incident. Barrister for Orr, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, directed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said his client was very cooperative during the second interview describing him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character when he had alcohol taken. He added that he finds himself in a better place today and has been sober since 2023 after two periods in rehabilitation apart from a small lapse. The accused man had a total of €2,000 in compensation to offer including a sum to replace the €500 key for Mr Bonner's jeep, another €750 for the damage to his glasses and €750 to be given to a charity of Garda Kilcoyne's choice. A further €500 was also available to Mrs Birch while the court was also told that civil proceedings are also ongoing arising from the collision. Mr Elders added that his client was now trying to put his life back together and was a man with a high IQ with five children, the oldest of which were also academically gifted and wanted to attend college. Judge Roderick Maguire addressed the accused and asked him how his family were now keeping and how his life was now that he is trying to remain sober. Orr said that he was attending AA meetings four times a week. The reason the case has taken so long to come before the court was that Orr was involved in a very serious car accident during Covid lockdown and was seriously injured, the court was told. Mr Elders suggested to Judge Maguire that if he was considering a custodial sentence that perhaps he would consider suspending the sentence for a long period so his client could be encouraged not to engage in negative behaviour again. He added that now that it appears that Orr has been rehabilitated and has also come a long way since this incident in 2019, he was not sure how a custodial sentence could benefit Orr or society at large. He said Orr was available to undertake community service and ended by asking the court to be as lenient as possible. Judge Maguire said he will deliver his final sentence next week.
Sunday World
08-06-2025
- 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
