Latest news with #Summerhill
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Gangland killer argues court was wrong to dismiss eyewitness evidence of gunman height
A gangland gunman convicted of murdering dissident Republican Michael Barr in a Dublin pub in 2016 has argued that the trial court was wrong to dismiss the evidence of a witness concerning the height of the man who pulled the trigger. Counsel for David Hunter (46) also argued that Hunter's privacy rights had been breached by the introduction of mobile phone evidence during his trial, in which he was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in September 2020. Advertisement Liverpool native Hunter, with an address at Du Cane Road, White City, London, had denied the Kinahan Cartel murder of 35-year-old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on the night of April 25th, 2016. At his trial before the non-jury, three-judge Special Criminal Court, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, presiding, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh, said that the evidence had been heard in a "compelling way" that Hunter was one of the two gunmen who entered the Summerhill pub and murdered Mr Barr by shooting him. Hunter's involvement in the murder had been "fully proved" and the court was "sure of his guilt", remarked Mr Justice Owens. The judge noted that the murderers had failed to burn out the getaway car, which had been abandoned at Walsh Road in Drumcondra a few minutes after the killing, and they had also dropped a burner phone at the getaway scene. Advertisement He said the major part of a DNA profile taken from a ski mask recovered from the car during the investigation into the shooting of Mr Barr matched the profile of Hunter. In a voluntary statement to gardaí, Hunter said that the ski mask was his but that he had dropped it in a car driven by another man when he visited Ireland two months before the murder on a car-stealing exercise. Hunter also claimed he had used the mask on various ski trips with his children to Norway, France, Spain, Scotland, Austria and Switzerland. Mr Justice Owens said that the circumstantial evidence in the case "pointed inextricably" to Hunter's guilt and the facts taken together had established the father-of-five's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and no other rational explanation could be drawn. At the Court of Appeal on Thursday, Hunter's legal team argued that the trial court erred in rejecting the evidence of witnesses present in the Sunset House that said there was a difference in height between the two assailants who entered the pub and killed Mr Barr. Advertisement Michael Bowman SC said that the trial court had set out that Hunter was being convicted because someone dropped a mobile phone at the scene and the car used by the gunmen failed to burn out, meaning that latex masks were not destroyed by the fire. Counsel said that a witness in the pub was very clear in the physical description he gave, identifying a distinction in height between the two men. This witness had said the gunman was wearing a ski mask under a latex mask, but Mr Bowman said the trial court had refused to acknowledge what the witness had seen. He said that this witness identified the gunman as being six feet one or two, while Hunter is five feet ten. Concerning the ski mask from which a DNA profile of Hunter was obtained, Mr Bowman said that in February 2016, Hunter 'on the spur of the moment' came to Ireland for a two-day period to steal cars, bringing the ski mask with him for this purpose. 'It's a very careless criminal who would leave his ski mask behind in a car that was stolen,' remarked Mr Justice John Edwards. Advertisement Mr Bowman said that the ski mask was correctly observed by the witness in the pub, adding that Hunter does not conform with the height of the assailant given, which meant that there was potentially another individual who wore that mask. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy remarked that this would make Hunter 'a victim of coincidence' if he had left the mask in a car six weeks before, only for it then to turn up in a car used in a murder. 'Life is a series of unfortunate coincidences,' said Mr Bowman. Hunter's legal team also raised a ground of appeal concerning the mobile phones in the case, arguing that even if the appellant accepted or refused ownership of one of the phones, he was entitled to challenge the phone evidence on the basis of a breach of his privacy rights. Advertisement It was submitted that the trial court erred in finding that the mere fact that the material in question may pertain to criminal activity meant it could not attract privacy rights. On behalf of the State, Dominic McGinn SC said that at the time of the trial, only two of those involved in the shooting were apprehended, while a third man had not been identified. He said that Hunter and co-accused Eamonn Cumberton were of the same height. Mr McGinn said that of the latex masks found in the car, each had a dominant DNA profile, with one that matched Hunter, one that matched Cumberton, and the last that matched the third man involved, Christopher Slator. He said that each DNA profile from these masks was paired to different items in the car, with Hunter's profile also found on the ski mask. Ireland Dentist given lifetime ban on owning animals in 'a... Read More 'The possibility that perhaps someone else picked it up and put it on, that would have required them to leave none of their profile on it,' said Mr McGinn. Concerning the admissibility of the phone evidence, Mr McGinn said there had been a vast change in the legal position concerning mobile phone data since then, but the investigation team could not be faulted for using the legislation at the time to get the information required. Mr Justice Edwards said the court would reserve judgement in the case. Hunter is one of three men to be found guilty of murdering dissident republican Michael Barr. In January 2018, Eamonn Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, was convicted of murdering the Tyrone native, while in July 2022, Christopher Slator, of Carnlough Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, was also convicted.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 MLB Draft: Six prospects to watch in NCAA baseball tournament regionals
Hear this story While Major League Baseball's draft remains on the horizon, the number of players under the microscope narrows significantly as high school playoffs wrap up and the collegiate postseason gets underway. Beginning Friday, 64 teams will launch their journeys toward Omaha, as NCAA regional play commences. With a draft board that remains largely unsettled as the July 13 selection party draws nearer, the next three weeks could add clarity to the pecking order as evaluators get their last looks at the very best, particularly a stable of playoff-bound No. 1 starters. USA TODAY Sports examines six players who will be in action during the NCAA regionals: JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg Regional) He's been on the fringes of the first round based on prospect rankings and mock drafts and could benefit from an up-close eye test if the Golden Eagles advance out of Hattiesburg. Middleton, at 6-foot, 178 pounds, does not bring the physical presence of many top pitching prospects but will be attractive to clubs that prioritize strike-throwing. His 0.83 WHIP is tied with North Carolina ace Jake Knapp for second in the nation and first among postseason pitchers. Middleton's 114-24 strikeout-walk ratio in 98 ⅓ innings is elite, and while his fastball sits around 95 mph, it's just his first year as a starter. With Ivy League champion Columbia the No. 4 seed, it will be interesting to see if Southern Miss saves Middleton for the Miami-Alabama winner or unleashes him in a perceived overmatch against the Lions. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (Chapel Hill Regional) Catch him while you can: The Sooners are in a dogfight of a regional, opening with Big Ten tournament champion Nebraska with No. 5 overall North Carolina looming in the winners' bracket. The question for Witherspoon is whether he can lock in a spot in the draft's top 10. The 20-year-old blew away batters in the Sooners' first SEC season, striking out 120 in 91 innings with a 0.91 WHIP. His fastball nears triple digits and his slider is his next-best pitch, with a four-pitch offering that will intrigue clubs seeking a quick mover. Oklahoma's survival may depend as much upon the performance of Kyson's twin brother, Malachi, who will likely get a starting nod sometime this weekend. Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona (Eugene Regional) An enticing prospect given he could likely man all three outfield spots as a pro, Summerhill could use an extended look after a broken hand and hamstring injury limited him to just 168 plate appearances this season. He posted a cartoonish .512 OBP in that span and 19 of his 51 hits went for extra bases. The Wildcats will likely need to prevail in an old school Pac-12 matchup against the host Ducks, though they'll have the momentum of a Big 12 tournament title on their side in their first year in the new league. Summerhill will be bidding for the Wildcats' third first-round selection in four years. Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest (Knoxville Regional) With five prep shortstops slated to go in the draft's top 15, Houston has a chance to show evaluators a more pro-ready skill set in the postseason. He had a decent platform year – a .351/.460/.572 line, with 12 homers and 19 steals – but defensive steadiness might be his calling card. Still, the postseason can provide Houston a spotlight his prep competition will lack. Houston is a consensus top 20 pick but if he can flash more offensive upside to pair with his glove-first profile, he may edge past some of his younger counterparts on draft day. Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State (Athens Regional) Schubart comes in on a heater, with nine of his 17 home runs in the past 17 games for a Cowboys team that's just 28-23 but boasts the pitching and power that make them a live dog to put a scare into host Georgia. At 6-foot-5, 223 pounds, Schubart figures to only get bigger and stronger as a pro, where his primary position will surely be 'hitter.' He's generated a top exit velocity of 116 mph and made modest strides in his strikeout percentage, cutting it from 27.4% his sophomore year to 25.1. That swing-and-miss will keep him out of the first round, but a big postseason could power Schubart into a first-day selection. James Ellwanger, RHP, Dallas Baptist (Baton Rouge regional) The Patriots' pitching factory has a decent chance to produce four picks in the top three rounds over the past two years; 2024 second-rounder Ryan Johnson has already reached the majors with the Angels. Ellwanger, at 6-4, 205 pounds, touches the upper 90s with his fastball but has struggled with control, walking 36 in 59 innings this season. Still, Ellwanger and fellow projected top-round right-hander Micah Bucknam give Dallas Baptist the sort of pitching profile one needs to survive a regional; perhaps one of them will get matched up with LSU lefty Kade Anderson, a likely top 10 overall pick. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eoin McElholm's jawdropping scoring stats as Tyrone end Louth All-Ireland dream
With three All-Ireland under-20 football titles in four years the Tyrone conveyor belt is rolling at a serious pace again - and the others better watch out. More Sam Maguires seem certain to follow. The last time Tyrone had a run of underage success like this - 1997-2001 - landing two All-Ireland under-21 titles and two minor All-Irelands - we all know what happened. Stephen O'Neill happened. Sean Cavanagh happened. Conor Gormley happened. Philip Jordan happened. Kevin Hughes happened. Enda McGinley happened. Owen Mulligan happened. And we could go on Their talismanic leader from those sides, the late Cormac McAnallen, who passed away in 2004, captained Tyrone to win that 2000 All-Ireland under-21 title, just over 25 years ago. It's hard to believe the Tyrone captain passed away a quarter of a century ago, but his spirit was alive and well in Armagh City this evening. In Eoin McElholm Tyrone have an absolute gem. The Loughmacrory club man added another 2-4 from play in an All-Ireland Final to go with 0-7 from play in last year's under-20 final victory over Kerry and 2-5 in Omagh CBS' 2023 Hogan Cup Final win over Summerhill (Sligo). That's 4-16 from play in three All-Ireland finals, averaging out at just over nine points per final. Let that sink in. Talk about star quality and doing it on the big day. Tyrone fans will be praying they AFL snipers, who have already been in touch, don't come to pick off their prime assassin. McElholm had a Robin to his Batman at the Athletic Grounds this evening as Tyrone ran out 5-16 to 0-17 victors, or maybe McElholm was the Robin to Noah Grimes Batman. Grimes hit an unbelievable 2-6 from play as the dynamic duo shot 4-10 from play between them. Louth struggled to get a hand on the quicksilver pair to even foul them. And what an achievement for former Tyrone All-Ireland finalist and Ulster Championship winning player, Paul Devlin, to surpass Mickey Harte and Danny Ball's two All-Ireland under-21 triumphs and do it three times. Devlin said afterwards: 'The last three finals we've turned up in the final.' That was exactly it. Tyrone looked entirely at home with the occasion where Louth looked jittery, and it wasn't that they played poorly. Their midfield pair James Maguire and Sean Callaghan dominated the skys and scored some sublime points, but it was what happened on the ground that counted most. As soon as Tyrone got any measure of parity on the kickouts they made hay to run out 14 points victors. They were utterly ruthless. When Louth snatched at goal chances, Darragh Dorian blazing one gilt edge opportunity off the crossbar and Tyrone skipper Joey Clarke taking another off the line, Tyrone went straight up the other end and scored points. Those two incidents, both early in the second half, amounted to an eight point swing. Had Louth hit the net with both of them they would have been 2-13 to 2-9 ahead after 41 minutes. There can be no arguing with the winners though, and you'd fancy Tyrone would have mustered a response, so composed and well drilled were they, but that would have tested them. McElholm twice steadied himself, showing that rare poise that marks a player out, and rolled low to the corner of the net for goals. Grimes' finishes for his two goals were also coolness personified. Tyrone are doing some line in slippery as an eel inside forward man. For McElholm and Grimes see Darragh and Ruairi Canavan, or Darren McCurry. The small inside man is certainly back again with the three-up rule. And Tyrone made hay here with some outstanding defending and lightning quick breaks off turnovers that created acres of space for McElholm and Grimes to do their thing. The amount of Tyrone players who could use both hands and both feet to jink and weave in tight areas was notable too, as was their pace and athleticism. McElholm is a star in the making and plenty of others will follow the likes of 2022 All-Ireland winning under-20 captain Niall Devlin, Seanie O'Donnell and Ciaran Daly into the senior starting line-up soon enough. Devlin, Daly, O'Connell, and last year's All-Ireland under-20 winner Cormac Devlin, all started in last weekend's All-Ireland round robin victory over Donegal at Ballybofey. Louth weren't without their chances, with goalie Tiernan Markey having a couple of two point frees in the first half that tailed left and wide and those goal efforts. But Tyrone were operating on a different level and one that should have the others worried going forward.
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Hope in action: Summerhill invites community to get involved
Hope in action: Summerhill invites community to get involved Join Summerhill House's open day this Saturday in Etete and help create lasting change for vulnerable children through volunteering and vital donations. With the theme 'Be the Hope, Be the Change,' the event invites the community to support the children's home through hands-on activities and meaningful engagement. Taking place from 9am to 3pm, volunteers will have the opportunity to meet the Summerhill team and learn more about getting involved in long-term initiatives. The non-profit organisation is also appealing for donations of essential items. Items needed include: Compost Seedlings such as cabbage, carrots, spinach and lettuce Gardening tools (hoes, spades, pruning shears) Toolbox essentials (screwdrivers, hammers, tape measures) The home creates a vibrant, family-oriented community that provides an environment where children who have been orphaned or abandoned can grow up with the security and guidance they deserve. Unlike traditional orphanages, Summerhill House operates as a 'village of families,' placing each child in a family unit with a dedicated 'Mom' and siblings. Those interested in attending the open day or donating items can RSVP by emailing community@ Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
NZ Herald
27-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Summerhill Charitable Trust to open new community facility in Pāpāmoa
'Absolutely thrilled' Summerhill Charitable Trust trustee Gabrielle Walton told the Bay of Plenty Times the trust had a 60-year-old woolshed next door to the new 'community base'. 'We had been using that a little bit, but it's really not fit for purpose. And we need it for farm use and we're getting more and more event use.' Walton said the woolshed was 'very cold and draughty'. She said the trust had an 'ongoing' relationship with the University of Auckland's architecture school. Masters students had designed structures around the farm and the university had helped it build a forest shelter. Students submitted designs to the trust for the project. Walton said the trust liked Macfarlane's simple, functional and elegant design. 'It worked really well alongside the old existing woolshed that we still need and use.' Walton said wool and timber from the farm was used for the build. She said the trust was 'absolutely thrilled' with the final build, which would also be used for mountain biking and running events. 'It's huge - it's something we, I suppose, have dreamt about for a long time. 'This is such a growing peri urban area, and we have so many more people visiting us these days, mainly for recreation but also education ... to be able to give them a covered, dry, clean, exciting facility made from our own products, it's a huge step forward for us. 'It just reinforces what we're here for which is to serve the community with our land and our forests.' Designing the community base Macfarlane said she did a design paper in her third year of her bachelor's degree in 2022. With the help and guidance of University of Auckland professional teaching fellow Matt Liggins, Macfarlane said she developed the design and oversaw the build which started mid-last year. She said four design principles were adopted - retaining the trust's heritage and reimagining traditional woolshed elements, exhibiting locally grown Summerhill timber, catering to a wide variety of functions and groups, and accessibility and warmth. Macfarlane said the design features included large, cross-braced cassette walls which were 'stuffed with wool' - some of which was from sheep shorn 'next door'. The kitchen reinterpreted the shearing stage in the original shed and took influence from 'traditional' Kiwi tuck shops, with half swing doors and pop out windows. 'Generous' contributions Trust administrator Nadine Bailey said nearly two-thirds of the construction and fit-out costs were contributed through grant funding, sponsorship and donations from local organisations. 'The build would not have been possible without the generous support of many, with special thanks to TECT for their contribution of over $300,000.' Bailey said the trust's founders Cloie and David Blackley, Grassroots Trust, The Lion Foundation, Lottery Grants Fund, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Summerhill Timbers, One Foundation, PGG Wrightson and Legacy Funerals also gave 'generous' contributions.
