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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sisters raise awareness for haemochromatosis after sudden death of father
Two sisters ran the VHI women's mini marathon on Sunday to raise awareness for haemochromatosis after their father suddenly passed away due to a late diagnosis. Tara Nolan, 27, was just 14 years old when her dad Arthur died in 2012 just weeks after being diagnosed with the disease. Also known as the 'Celtic Gene', as Ireland has the highest rates of haemochromatosis in the world, it's estimated that 20,000 people in this country are living undiagnosed. It is a genetic disorder where large amounts of iron are absorbed from the diet into vital organs. While it is incurable it is very treatable, however, if it goes undetected it can lead to fatal consequences. Speaking on World Haemochromatosis Awareness Week which kicked off on June 1, Tara encourages everyone to get tested after her father sadly passed due to late diagnosis. She told The Irish Mirror: "He was in the Philippines back in 2012 for about five or six weeks, and he got a bit sick over there, so they brought him to the hospital, and they didn't really know too much themselves. "They just knew there was something wrong. He came home two days later or something and then he went straight to the hospital here." Arthur's sisters mentioned that their mother had the haemochromatosis gene and after tests doctors discovered he had it. Despite previously suffering from gallstones and having numerous blood tests, it wasn't caught before this. Unfortunately, it was found that Arthur had liver cancer and it was too late to treat. Uncontrolled iron buildup in the body can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, and can potentially cause pancreatic cancer. Tara continued: "He just got really sick, it had gotten so bad they couldn't do the surgery or anything like that. So, he went in his own time about two weeks later. "I was only 14 at the time so I was quite young when this happened. It was very sudden and it was weird because that was the first time he was kind of away from us for that long." After their father passed, Tara and her three siblings got tested for haemochromatosis. While Tara is a carrier of the gene she hasn't developed the condition. Her sister Niamh, who she ran the mini marathon with, found out she does have it. However, she is being treated and is living a happy and healthy life. The Irish Haemochromatosis Association is trying to raise awareness for the condition, as once it is identified it is very treatable. Symptoms of haemochromatosis can range from chronic tiredness and joint pain to abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat and liver problems. Former Meath GAA player and chair of the Irish Irish Haemochromatosis Association David Beggy, who lives with the condition, encourages everyone to get checked. This can be done by consulting with a GP who can carry out a blood test alongside an iron panel to detect high levels of iron in the blood. He said: "Haemochromatosis is more common in Ireland than anywhere else in the world, that's why it is vital that no Irish person should go undiagnosed. "As someone living with the condition, I can personally vouch for how manageable it is when caught early and treated and it no longer troubles me. One in five people carry the gene, and one in 83 are at risk of developing it. "I'd strongly encourage anyone with a family history of haemochromatosis, or anyone experiencing related symptoms, to get checked."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Death row survivor wrongfully imprisoned for 17 years dies in horror house fire
A survivor of Florida's death row has tragically died in a house fire - Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs, who was wrongfully jailed for 17 years, died in a fire in Galway earlier this week A death row survivor who spent 17 years behind bars for a crime she didn't commit has tragically died in a house fire. Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs was killed in Galway in the Republic of Ireland earlier this week, along with a man in his 30s understood to be her carer. They were both pronounced dead at the scene of the fatal fire at a bungalow at Gleann Mac Muireann near Casla in Connemara on Tuesday morning. The two are understood to have been the only people in the house at the time of the blaze. Police and Fire Services were alerted to the fire at around 6:20am on Tuesday and brought it under control. The bodies of Ms Jacobs and the man in his 30s were recovered from inside the property. Sunny spent nearly two decades on Florida's death row after she and her then partner were wrongfully sentenced to death by the Florida courts for the murder of two police men. A mother of two, Sunny spent 17 years behind bars for a crime she did not commit. Her passing was confirmed by the founder of Death Penalty Action in America Abraham J. Bonowitz. He told The Irish Mirror that he met Sunny a few months after she was freed following 17 years of wrongful incarceration in The Sunshine State. "I first met Sunny in 1993, just months after she was freed from 17 years of wrongful incarceration in Florida, including five years as the only woman on Florida's death row, after evidence of her innocence vacated her conviction,' Mr Bonowitz said in the statement. 'In the wake of injustice, Sunny used the remainder of her life to work to keep others from enduring wrongful incarceration, to help those freed from wrongful incarceration to heal, and to work to abolish the death penalty in the United States and worldwide.' He continued: "It was a great privilege to know Sunny, not only in the work that we shared, but as a true friend. One of my greatest honours was to be the person to drive her to visit the memorial to the victims of Flight 759, which crashed near the airport in New Orleans in 1982. We were together at the 2024 Annual Conference of The Innocence Network in New Orleans. It was the first time she was able to visit the site where her parents of blessed memory, Bella and Herbert Jacobs, died. Even in her old age, Sunny was constantly working to help others.' Sunny's late husband was Irish death row survivor Peter Pringle. They set up 'The Sunny Centre' to support people who had been victims of wrongful incarceration. The story of Sunny's plight was also told in books, plays and film, with her being played by Susan Sarandon in the TV film 'The Exonerated' in 2005. Director Micki Dickoff also put her career on hold for the 1996 film 'In the Blink of an Eye', with Mimi Rogers portraying Sunny. The film also told the story of her husband Jesse Tafero. Tafero died in 1990 during a brutal botched execution by electric chair that saw flames shoot out of his head. Mr Bonowitz added: 'Our last conversations were about how we can better assist such individuals in their latter years - particularly those who, like Sunny, received no compensation or even an official acknowledgement of their innocence.' He continued: 'My heart and prayers go out to her daughter, Christina, her son, Eric, to all who knew her personally, all who had the chance to hear her speak or know her story, and all who have been inspired by the example she set in how she lived and used her life to help others.'
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- General
- Dublin Live
Carlow shooter facing serious criminal charges was 'terrified of going to prison'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The man who shot himself in front of shoppers in Carlow was facing serious criminal charges – and was terrified of going to jail, it has emerged. Sources have also told The Irish Mirror that Evan Fitzgerald, who took his own life after firing several shots inside the town's Fairgreen Centre on Sunday evening, was facing up to 14 years in jail over the charges – and was due up in court on them again on Wednesday. But we have learned he had told people he was afraid of going to prison over the 13 charges – relating to firearms and explosives charges. Sources say Fitzgerald, 22, took a legally-held shotgun that was registered to an associate on Sunday afternoon and then headed to the Carlow shopping centre – where he caused panic by firing several shots in the air. He then walked outside and, when challenged by armed gardai, turned the shotgun on himself. He died instantly in the horror shooting. We have learned that Mr Fitzgerald, of Portrushen Upper, Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow, was due at Naas District Court in Co Kildare this week, where he was to be served with the book of evidence in his case – which meant he was to stand trial in front of a judge and jury later this year. He was charged under anti-firearms and explosives legislation and was facing up to 14 years behind bars if he was convicted. But the case against him cannot now proceed. Mr Fitzgerald was 22 and had an address at Portrushen Upper, Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow, close to the border with Wicklow. It is about 27km from the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow Town, where he caused panic on Sunday evening. We have confirmed that Mr Fitzgerald was on bail on serious firearms and explosives charges when he went to Fairgreen and opened fire. Sources tell us gardai now believe he did not intend to target anyone else in the incident – which officers now think was a gruesome public suicide. "He did not shoot at anyone else and we believe he did not want to. The shots he fired were not aimed at anyone," a source told us. The steel worker – who a court previously heard had a fascination with guns – was charged over an incident at Straffan in Co Kildare last year. Detectives from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau charged Mr Fitzgerald over the incident in which officers seized a German-made Heckler and Koch G3 assault rifle and an America Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol. Gardai believe he bought the items on the dark web. A court heard the guns were seized following an intelligence-led operation into alleged firearms trafficking. Gardaí, including from DOCB and The Emergency Response Unit, conducted a controlled stop on a vehicle and seized the firearms and ammunition, the court heard. Mr Fitzgerald, who was on bail, last appeared in court on May 7 and was remanded to this coming Wednesday. He was facing 13 charges. Two were for allegedly possessing the firearms at Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan Road, Co. Kildare on March 2 last year. He also faced two separate charges of possessing 22 rounds of .45 ACP calibre ammunition and 20 rounds of .308 Winchester ammunition on the same date and location. Mr Fitzgerald was also facing a further nine charges, all also allegedly committed on March 2 last year – but this time it is alleged they were committed at Portrushen Upper, Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow. Mr Fitzgerald was alleged to have possessed: 23 rounds of Ammunition Suitable for use in Appropriately Chambered Rifles 69 shotgun cartridges Four rounds for pistol and revolvers One round of .450" Calibre Bullet suitable for use in Large Bore Centrefire Rifles One magazine suitable for use in 7.62x39mm Calibre AK-47 rifles One magazine suitable for use in Tokarev Calibre TT-33 Pistols One magazine suitable for use in Makarov Calibre PM Pistols The explosive substance of Potassium Nitrate, Sulphur and Charcoal (Black Powder) explosive mixture The explosive substance of Ammonium Perchlorate, Potassium Perchlorate, Sulphur and Magnalium He had not yet entered any plea in the case and no evidence was heard at the May 7 appearance. He is now understood to have taken a legally-held shotgun registered to an associate and used it to fire several shots in the air inside Fairgreen Shopping Centre at around 6.15pm on Sunday night. Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, who is in charge of policing in the eastern region that includes Carlow, visited the scene yesterday – and revealed further details of the horror incident. She said unarmed gardai responded to multiple reports of shooting – and when they got there were met by scores of people trying to escape. She said: "An unarmed uniform unit arriving at the scene observed the suspect exiting the shopping centre. The suspect discharged a firearm, a shotgun, into the air. "Another plainclothes armed Garda unit responding drew their official firearms and identified themselves as armed gardaí. "The suspect discharged the firearm again, self-inflicting a fatal wound." And she revealed: "No member of An Garda Síochána discharged a weapon. "An Garda Síochána now understands that the lone male had walked through the shopping centre and had discharged the firearm, into the air, on a number of occasions. "No person was injured by the shots discharged." She added that the nine-year-old girl injured in the incident suffered a slight leg wound as she escaped the scene with her parents. The Assistant Commissioner added: "This was meant to be a normal day out on a Bank Holiday weekend. This was a terrifying experience for every person that was present in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre yesterday evening. "An Garda Síochána implemented a cordon around the Fairgreen Shopping Centre and carpark. "A bottle containing an unknown substance was observed by Gardaí on the deceased. An Garda Síochána requested the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces EOD team to examine the unknown device. "An EOD team from Collins Barracks, Cork attended the scene late last night. Following examination, the EOD team declared the scene safe." The Defence Forces told us EOD officers were called to two locations – the shopping centre and a private residence. No explosives were found at either site. A spokesman said: "Yesterday, two Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams were deployed at the request for assistance from An Garda Síochána in relation to suspected devices at both Fairgreen Shopping Centre and a private residence. Following an assessment by the EOD Teams, no viable device was found at Fairgreen Shopping Centre and at the private residence, 2 rounds of ammunition were found, along with a barrel containing a mix of alcohol and energetic material. "The EOD Teams handed the scenes over to the AGS and returned to barracks, concluding the operation. The Fairgreen EOD Team deployed at 2040hrs and returned at 0420hrs and the private residence EOD Team deployed at 2126hrs and returned at 0616hrs." The area around Fairgreen was sealed off all day yesterday but in the late afternoon, gardai began allowing motorists entry to pick up their vehicles. Mr Fitzgerald's body was yesterday afternoon removed to the mortuary in Dublin where a post-mortem will take place today. Gardai have repeated their calls for witnesses to come forward. The force said: "Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to this incident. Anyone present at Fairgreen Shopping Centre between approximately 6:00pm and 6:30pm yesterday evening is asked to contact the incident room at Carlow Garda Station. Carlow. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059 9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111." Gardai have also referred the incident to Fiosru, the new name for the independent policing watchdog formerly known as GSOC, or the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Matt Carthy last night said he was deeply concerned that Fitzgerald was on bail for serious firearms offences when he went to the shopping centre armed with a shotgun. He said: "Our laws must ensure that the most dangerous criminals are behind bars. "The fact that the person who carried out the shooting at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow was on bail having been charged with offences associated with purchasing an assault rifle on the dark web raises many questions. "This weapon was seized along with a handgun and multiple types of ammunition and he was arrested by specialist gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau who were assisted by armed officers from the Emergency Response Unit. This tells us just how serious a matter this was. "We are extremely lucky that no one else was seriously injured or killed in this incident which has shocked the community in Carlow." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- General
- Dublin Live
Kinahan cartel associates hell-bent on revenge after Costa del Sol Irish pub shooting
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Associates of the Kinahan cartel are hell-bent on revenge after two senior members of their gang were shot dead in an Irish pub on the Costa del Sol, insiders fear. Underworld sources have told The Irish Mirror that they fear the deadly Lyons gang will now seek bloody revenge for the shock slaying of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr at a pub in Fuengirola near Malaga on Saturday night. The Lyons gang – one of Scotland's most deadly crime outfits – has been left reeling following the double murder as the pair watched the Champions League final at Monaghan's pub on Saturday night. Irish underworld sources say leaders of the gang are closely associated with mob boss Daniel Kinahan – and they will not let the killings go unanswered. "There will be hell to pay over this. The Lyons lads will not let this go," one source said. "They will be baying for blood and it is more likely to happen in Spain than anywhere else. That is the fear." Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were key members of the gang that worked with Kinahan, 47, on the massive cocaine shipment that was seized by the Army Ranger Wing off the south coast almost two years ago. Underworld sources told us the gang the men worked for teamed up with the Kinahan cartel to organise the huge, 2.5 tonnes shipment of cocaine - worth up to €450 million on the streets - seized by the ARW on the MV Matthew off the Wexford coast in September 2023. Eight men have pleaded guilty over the MV Matthew plot - and are due to be sentenced at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin later this week. Sources say gardai are satisfied the killing of the two Scottish criminals outside a bar in Fuengirola was not connected to the MV Matthew haul - or the Kinahan cartel itself. Instead, they are believed to have been targeted as part of an ongoing feud between Scottish gangs. Now there are real fears that the simmering Scottish feud will erupt into more violence in Scotland. The pair were shot dead after watching the Champions League final at Monaghan's Pub in Fuengirola. A masked gunman jumped out of a vehicle at 11.30pm, fired several rounds at the entrance of the bar, striking one of the men in the chest and the other in the chest and abdomen. The gunman then fled in the same vehicle which was driven by an accomplice - leaving tourists and expats in the bar terrified. The shootings are linked to Scotland's ongoing gangland war which has seen attacks on homes and properties linked to Glasgow's Daniel crime clan. Harrowing images from the scene show a man lying lifeless on his back in shorts and a T-shirt, next to a chalkboard on a terrace outside the Irish bar. In other images, police and paramedics can be seen surrounding the body of one of the victims, thought to be the same man, after he was covered under a blanket as shocked locals and holidaymakers looked on. Monaghan was previously cleared of the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll, who was shot dead in a gangland assassination in the Asda Robroyston carpark in 2010. He was tried for the killing, but was acquitted in May 2012. He was also cleared of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the two guns used in the shooting and torching the getaway car. In August 2017, Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were both cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs. The brutal ambush left one of the victim's ears hanging off. However, the case collapsed after prosecutors withdrew the charges against them following two days of evidence. Monaghan had also survived a previous murder attempt. In 2017, he was shot by a gunman disguised as a pram-pushing dad outside St George's Primary School in Glasgow. Eddie Lyons Jnr was a key figure in his family's crime clan with his brother Steven Lyons now living in Dubai - where he is said to be close to Daniel Kinahan, who is holed up there with his father Christy, 67, and brother Christopher, 44. The shock Costa Del Sol killings come amidst a violent gang war that has been raging in Scotland since March. The feud first erupted following a fallout between rival gangsters after a €600k stash of cocaine was reportedly swiped from under the nose of Dubai-based Mr Big, Ross McGill. The drugs were reportedly taken by caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson's foot soldiers sparking a series of violent attacks on homes and businesses. McGill has waged war on Richardson and his associates, including the Daniel crime clan in Glasgow. Mr Big's enforcers, a faceless and frightening group going by the name of Tamo Junto (TMJ), have carried out a series of fire bombings and other vicious attacks on homes, businesses and cars associated with Richardson and the Daniel clan. Last week, it emerged that McGill had agreed to end hostilities after being leaned on by cartel bosses in Dubai. However gangland enforcers Tamo Junto (TMJ) quickly quashed any talk of peace as they vowed to continue to carry out the turf war. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kinahan cartel associates hell-bent on revenge after Irish pub shooting in Spain
Associates of the Kinahan cartel are hell-bent on revenge after two senior members of their gang were shot dead in an Irish pub on the Costa del Sol, insiders fear. Underworld sources have told The Irish Mirror that they fear the deadly Lyons gang will now seek bloody revenge for the shock slaying of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr at a pub in Fuengirola near Malaga on Saturday night. The Lyons gang – one of Scotland's most deadly crime outfits – has been left reeling following the double murder as the pair watched the Champions League final at Monaghan's pub on Saturday night. Irish underworld sources say leaders of the gang are closely associated with mob boss Daniel Kinahan – and they will not let the killings go unanswered. "There will be hell to pay over this. The Lyons lads will not let this go," one source said. "They will be baying for blood and it is more likely to happen in Spain than anywhere else. That is the fear." We revealed yesterday that Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were key members of the gang that worked with Kinahan, 47, on the massive cocaine shipment that was seized by the Army Ranger Wing off the south coast almost two years ago. Underworld sources told us the gang the men worked for teamed up with the Kinahan cartel to organise the huge, 2.5 tonnes shipment of cocaine - worth up to €450 million on the streets - seized by the ARW on the MV Matthew off the Wexford coast in September 2023. Eight men have pleaded guilty over the MV Matthew plot - and are due to be sentenced at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin later this week. Sources say gardai are satisfied the killing of the two Scottish criminals outside a bar in Fuengirola was not connected to the MV Matthew haul - or the Kinahan cartel itself. Instead, they are believed to have been targeted as part of an ongoing feud between Scottish gangs. Now there are real fears that the simmering Scottish feud will erupt into more violence in Scotland. The pair were shot dead after watching the Champions League final at Monaghan's Pub in Fuengirola. A masked gunman jumped out of a vehicle at 11.30pm, fired several rounds at the entrance of the bar, striking one of the men in the chest and the other in the chest and abdomen. The gunman then fled in the same vehicle which was driven by an accomplice - leaving tourists and expats in the bar terrified. The shootings are linked to Scotland's ongoing gangland war which has seen attacks on homes and properties linked to Glasgow's Daniel crime clan. Harrowing images from the scene show a man lying lifeless on his back in shorts and a T-shirt, next to a chalkboard on a terrace outside the Irish bar. In other images, police and paramedics can be seen surrounding the body of one of the victims, thought to be the same man, after he was covered under a blanket as shocked locals and holidaymakers looked on. Monaghan was previously cleared of the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll, who was shot dead in a gangland assassination in the Asda Robroyston carpark in 2010. He was tried for the killing, but was acquitted in May 2012. He was also cleared of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the two guns used in the shooting and torching the getaway car. In August 2017, Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were both cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs. The brutal ambush left one of the victim's ears hanging off. However, the case collapsed after prosecutors withdrew the charges against them following two days of evidence. Monaghan had also survived a previous murder attempt. In 2017, he was shot by a gunman disguised as a pram-pushing dad outside St George's Primary School in Glasgow. Eddie Lyons Jnr was a key figure in his family's crime clan with his brother Steven Lyons now living in Dubai - where he is said to be close to Daniel Kinahan, who is holed up there with his father Christy, 67, and brother Christopher, 44. The shock Costa Del Sol killings come amidst a violent gang war that has been raging in Scotland since March. The feud first erupted following a fallout between rival gangsters after a €600k stash of cocaine was reportedly swiped from under the nose of Dubai-based Mr Big, Ross McGill. The drugs were reportedly taken by caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson's foot soldiers sparking a series of violent attacks on homes and businesses. McGill has waged war on Richardson and his associates, including the Daniel crime clan in Glasgow. Mr Big's enforcers, a faceless and frightening group going by the name of Tamo Junto (TMJ), have carried out a series of fire bombings and other vicious attacks on homes, businesses and cars associated with Richardson and the Daniel clan. Last week, it emerged that McGill had agreed to end hostilities after being leaned on by cartel bosses in Dubai. However gangland enforcers Tamo Junto (TMJ) quickly quashed any talk of peace as they vowed to continue to carry out the turf war.
