Latest news with #StephenRea
ITV News
27-05-2025
- ITV News
Liverpool fan from Isle of Man describes being 'inches away' from parade incident
A Liverpool fan from the Isle of Man has described being 'inches away' from the car that struck pedestrians during the victory parade. Stephen Rea had travelled from the Isle of Man to the Liverpool FC parade with a friend, before witnessing the incident on Water Street. A 53-year-old man was arrested after the 'horror' incident and four children were among 65 who were injured – including one child who was seriously hurt. Stephen said: "All of a sudden we heard some beeping. And then next thing, if it wasn't for myself telling my friend to get in, we would have been hit by the car unfortunately. It came six inches away from us. "It was chased by a group of people. I initially went to chase and then I got told by my friend to think better off it, so I stopped. "There was a bunch of people chasing the car, trying to get to the driver, trying to stop the driver. As the car went past or it went into another mass of people, so we couldn't see anything. "But what we did hear was about four or five thuds of him hitting other people behind us." Footage of the incident circulating online appeared to show people in the crowd following the Liverpool Football Club celebrations attempting to get close to the driver of the car, with one managing to open the driver's car door. Videos then appeared to show the driver close the car door before suddenly speeding up and veering into pedestrians on both sides of the crowded street. "After that we sort of stood to the side and tried to understand what we witnessed as to why was there a car driving down? You couldn't make sense of it. It is understood the car made its way onto Water Street after a roadblock was lifted to make way for an ambulance attending a member of the public suffering from a suspected heart attack. "So as we walked towards our hotel and we were seen, unfortunately, we've seen people that were hit on the side of the pavement and there was a couple on the road and the emergency responders were all running down chasing after the car. "And yeah, just, you know, it was horrible. It was really horrible." The force said the suspect was the driver of the car was white, British and from the West Derby area, adding that it was not being treated as terrorism. He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving offences and driving while unfit through drugs. On Tuesday morning a police cordon remained in place at the scene, with a large police van parked in front of a blue tent on the road and officers stationed along the street. Stephen concluded by saying: "I just hope everyone's ok - I know there's some people in hospital seriously ill - I hope they get a full recovery and we can all move past it."
The Journal
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Swiss police probe 'slit throat' gesture by Gaza protester at Eurovision opening parade
POLICE IN THE Swiss city of Basel are investigating after a pro-Gaza protester made a slit-throat gesture during a parade taking place in the city as part of the opening events around the Eurovision Song Contest. The acts in this year's competition took part in the parade as part of the 'Turquoise Carpet' opening event yesterday. In the aftermath of the event footage circulated of a pro-Palestine demonstrator allegedly making the gesture towards the Israeli delegation. Israeli public broadcaster Kan said it had filed a complaint with Swiss police following the incident 'in which a young man wearing a keffiyeh and holding a Palestinian flag made a throat-slitting gesture' towards the country's singer and the Israeli delegation. Kan said it had also contacted contest organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) requesting that 'action be taken to identify the individual who made the gesture and spat at members of the delegation'. A video shared by the country's foreign ministry on X yesterday shows a man from the group of demonstrators following the parade and making the gesture . A local police spokesperson said: 'The Cantonal Police is aware of the incident and will draw up a report for the responsible prosecution authorities.' Advertisement The EBU have also been contacted for comment. Israel's singer this year, Yuval Raphael, is a survivor of the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival in Israel in October 2023 . 378 people died in the attack on the festival, and over 1,200 were killed in the wider attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October. Israel's presence at the song contest this year has once again been the subject of controversy over its government's offensive in Gaza, which has killed over 52,800 people. Actor Stephen Rea was the latest well-known figure to add his voice to calls for RTÉ to boycott the contest on behalf of Ireland, at a protest in Donnybrook last week . Demonstrators protested Israel's participation in the Eurovision this year over its government's actions in Gaza. Alamy Alamy A number of public broadcasters, including RTÉ, have called for a debate on Israel's ongoing inclusion in the contest. Broadcasters in Iceland, Slovenia and Spain have also raised concerns around Israel's participation. Further protests by local campaign groups are planned for Basel throughout the week. The EBU have defended Israel's right to participate, saying the emphasis of the competition is to be 'positive and inclusive'. Israel and Ireland's EMMY both compete in the second Eurovision semi-final this Thursday night. The first semi-final happens tomorrow night, with the final taking place on Saturday. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
RTÉ urged to boycott Eurovision Song Contest
RTÉ has been called on to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's inclusion in the competition - which has already banned Russia from competing as a result of its invasion of Ukraine. Actor Stephen Rea read the poem If I Must Die by Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, as he joined scores of protesters gathered at the main entrance to RTÉ's campus in Dublin on Friday evening. The demonstrators, some wearing keffiyehs, waved Palestinian flags and held up banners with slogans including "you can't culturewash genocide" and "you need to boycott Israel now". Organisers staged a mini-concert featuring short speeches as well as musical performances of anti-war and pro-Palestinian songs. Those taking part were calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025, saying more than 70 former contestants have backed the campaign to see Israel's national broadcaster KAN banned. They note that the organisation behind the event, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), indefinitely suspended Russia and Belarus in 2022. The event featured artists, musicians and LGBT and human rights activists as well as the chairman of an RTÉ sub-branch of the NUJ Trevor Keegan. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said it would not pull its entry – Laika Party performed by singer Emmy – out of the competition. However, he said he had written to the EBU, chaired by Irishman and former RTÉ director general Noel Curran, to ask for a "discussion" on Israel's inclusion in the contest in May. Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairwoman Zoe Lawlor accused Israel's national broadcaster of attempting to "culturewash" an apartheid ideology at Eurovision. She said: "It's vital to exclude the genocidal apartheid state of Israel from this global cultural platform now. "Ireland showed the way in the 1980s, standing resolutely against the racist and murderous crimes of apartheid South Africa. "RTÉ can help do the same now, by withdrawing its participation and standing on the side of humanity, equality and human rights." Earlier on Friday, several pro-Palestine demonstrators picketed outside a BBC studio in Belfast city centre. The activists banged dustbin lids on walls and shouted chants criticising the corporation's coverage of the conflict in Gaza. They also called for a boycott of Eurovision, to which the BBC is sending Remember Monday with the song What the Hell Just Happened? Eurovision, which is hosted by the EBU, will begin on May 13 in Switzerland with the final on May 17. Israel is set to be represented at the contest by Yuval Raphael, 24, a survivor of the October 7 2023 Hamas attack.
Sunday World
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Protesters hold rally outside RTE calling for boycott of Eurovision
Organisers staged a mini-concert featuring short speeches as well as musical performances of anti-war and pro-Palestinian songs. Ireland's national broadcaster has been called on to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's inclusion in the competition. Irish actor Stephen Rea read the poem If I Must Die by Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, as he joined scores of protesters gathered at the main entrance to RTE's campus in the Donnybrook area of Dublin on Friday evening. The demonstrators, some wearing keffiyehs, waved Palestinian flags and held up banners with slogans including 'you can't culturewash genocide' and 'you need to boycott Israel now'. Organisers staged a mini-concert featuring short speeches as well as musical performances of anti-war and pro-Palestinian songs. Actor Stephen Rea attended the protest (Brian Lawless/PA) Those taking part were calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025, saying more than 70 former contestants have backed the campaign to see Israel's national broadcaster KAN banned. They note that the organisation behind the event, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), indefinitely suspended Russia and Belarus in 2022. The event featured artists, musicians and LGBT and human rights activists as well as the chairman of an RTE sub-branch of the NUJ Trevor Keegan. People attend a pro-Palestine protest outside RTE in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) News in 90 seconds - 10th May 2025 RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst said it would not pull its entry – Laika Party performed by singer Emmy – out of the competition. However, he said he had written to the EBU, chaired by Irishman and former RTE director general Noel Curran, to ask for a 'discussion' on Israel's inclusion in the contest in May. People attend a pro-Palestine protest outside RTE in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairwoman Zoe Lawlor accused Israel's national broadcaster of attempting to 'culturewash' an apartheid ideology at Eurovision. She said: 'It's vital to exclude the genocidal apartheid state of Israel from this global cultural platform now. 'Ireland showed the way in the 1980s, standing resolutely against the racist and murderous crimes of apartheid South Africa. 'RTE can help do the same now, by withdrawing its participation and standing on the side of humanity, equality and human rights.' A pro-Palestine demonstration outside BBC Blackstaff Studios in Belfast (David Young/PA) Earlier on Friday, several pro-Palestine demonstrators picketed outside a BBC studio in Belfast city centre. The activists banged dustbin lids on walls and shouted chants criticising the corporation's coverage of the conflict in Gaza. They also called for a boycott of Eurovision, to which the BBC is sending Remember Monday with the song What the Hell Just Happened? Eurovision, which is hosted by the EBU, will begin on May 13 in Switzerland with the final on May 17. Israel is set to be represented at the contest by Yuval Raphael, 24, a survivor of the October 7 2023 Hamas attack.
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Protesters call for RTÉ and BBC boycott of Eurovision
RTÉ has been called on to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's inclusion in the competition. Irish actor Stephen Rea read the poem If I Must Die by Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, as he joined scores of protesters gathered at the main entrance to RTÉ's campus in the Donnybrook area of Dublin on Friday evening. The demonstrators, some wearing keffiyehs, waved Palestinian flags and held up banners with slogans including 'you can't culturewash genocide' and 'you need to boycott Israel now'. Organisers staged a mini-concert featuring short speeches as well as musical performances of anti-war and pro-Palestinian songs. Actor Stephen Rea attended the protest (Brian Lawless/PA) Those taking part were calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025, saying more than 70 former contestants have backed the campaign to see Israel's national broadcaster KAN banned. They note that the organisation behind the event, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), indefinitely suspended Russia and Belarus in 2022. The event featured artists, musicians and LGBT and human rights activists as well as the chairman of an RTÉ sub-branch of the NUJ Trevor Keegan. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said it would not pull its entry – Laika Party performed by singer Emmy – out of the competition. However, he said he had written to the EBU, chaired by Irishman and former RTÉ director general Noel Curran, to ask for a 'discussion' on Israel's inclusion in the contest in May. People attend a pro-Palestine protest outside RTE in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign chairwoman Zoe Lawlor accused Israel's national broadcaster of attempting to 'culturewash' an apartheid ideology at Eurovision. She said: 'It's vital to exclude the genocidal apartheid state of Israel from this global cultural platform now. 'Ireland showed the way in the 1980s, standing resolutely against the racist and murderous crimes of apartheid South Africa. 'RTÉ can help do the same now, by withdrawing its participation and standing on the side of humanity, equality and human rights.' A pro-Palestine demonstration outside BBC Blackstaff Studios in Belfast (David Young/PA) Earlier on Friday, several pro-Palestine demonstrators picketed outside a BBC studio in Belfast city centre. The activists banged dustbin lids on walls and shouted chants criticising the corporation's coverage of the conflict in Gaza. They also called for a boycott of Eurovision, to which the BBC is sending Remember Monday with the song What the Hell Just Happened? Eurovision, which is hosted by the EBU, will begin on May 13 in Switzerland with the final on May 17. Israel is set to be represented at the contest by Yuval Raphael, 24, a survivor of the October 7 2023 Hamas attack.
