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Sunday World
15 hours ago
- Business
- Sunday World
Man ran ‘Europe's cheapest car park' in scam on school grounds
Jason Walsh (36) was caught several times charging up to 150 vehicles to park in the school after breaking the locks and getting in An intruder broke into a Dublin secondary school and turned the grounds into an unauthorised paid car park in a money-making scam. Jason Walsh (36) was caught several times charging up to 150 vehicles to park in the school after breaking the locks and getting in. Judge John Hughes said it must have been the 'cheapest car park in Europe' when Walsh maintained he only made €200 himself after donating half the proceeds to charity. Dublin District Court heard students' events had to be scaled back or cancelled to pay for the €1,000 of damage Walsh caused, and the judge told him to repay this or face jail. Walsh, of The Willows, Finglas Road, Glasnevin, pleaded guilty to trespassing, criminal damage and deception by inducing the public to pay for car parking on private property without permission. The court heard the caretaker at St Vincent's Secondary School, Finglas Road, Glasnevin, called gardaí after the locks on the front gates were broken and two men were parking cars on the grounds in exchange for unknown sums of money. The same thing happened again on two other days. Walsh had 181 previous convictions for offences including burglary. The accused apologised and indicated he was going to pay for the damage, his solicitor said. Walsh was trying to 'make a few extra quid' when he got involved in the offence with two other people. Judge Hughes told Walsh he had a 'good oul run of it' and when asked how much he had got from it, Walsh replied €200. The judge said with 150 cars, it was 'the cheapest car park in Europe, I'd say'. The court heard to pay for the damage, the school had to redirect funds from student events. Walsh said he was a recovering drug addict, rebuilding his life. The court heard he had suffered a lot of personal trauma, including the loss of a partner who was murdered. 'There's kids who didn't get to go on school tours because yourself and your buddies were running a scam,' the judge said. 'You are going to have to pony up the cash or you're going to jail.' Jason Walsh said he made €200. Photo: Collins Courts News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Garda injured in hit-and-run involving e-bike in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
The e-bike then accelerated and struck the Garda who was taken to hospital A Garda has been injured in a hit-and-run involving an e-bike in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Gardai say that officers on a routine patrol had responded to a report of an e-bike 'causing a disturbance' in Porterstown Park. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - May 31st At approximately 2.30pm, a male Garda approached two males on the e-bike directing them to dismount. The e-bike then accelerated and struck the Garda who was taken to hospital. He was subsequently discharged following treatment for non life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the e-bike failed to remain at the scene. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the area at the time is asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on (01) 6667000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Sunday World
27-05-2025
- Sunday World
Innocent family who ‘lost everything' after criminals firebombed wrong house appeal for help
'This attack wasn't meant for us but we are now living with the devastating consequences' The family lost everything in the incident The aftermath of the attack on the house An innocent family who almost lost their lives after reckless criminals firebombed the wrong house as part of an escalating Dublin feud have appealed for help. It had been reported that two people were hospitalised and a family dog killed when the home was targeted in an early morning attack in Ballyfermot, causing extensive damage. According to a GoFundMe appeal set up to help the family 'rebuild after a devastating attack', the incident has 'devastating consequences'. 'In the early hours of last week, at about 2.20am, my family's home was destroyed in a horrific and senseless act of violence,' the appeal reads. 'A firebomb was thrown through the window in what has been confirmed as a case of mistaken identity. This attack wasn't meant for us but we are now living with the devastating consequences.' The organiser reveals that his dad was asleep on the couch when the firebomb came through the window. 'If he hadn't been there to wake up and raise the alarm, my mother and my brother would likely have died in the fire. That thought haunts us. The house was engulfed in flames. They lost everything. Most heartbreakingly, our beloved dog Zach perished in the fire,' they add. The aftermath of the attack on the house News in 90 Seconds - May 27th 'My dad is an artist, and the fire also destroyed many of his original paintings, materials, and years of creative work—gone in moments. And to make matters worse, the house was uninsured, leaving no safety net to recover from the devastation.' Now displaced, the family is trying to pick up the pieces, but 'financial burden of temporary housing, replacing essentials, and beginning the long process of rebuilding is immense'. I'm reaching out to our community—friends, neighbours, and anyone moved by this tragedy—for help. Every donation will go directly to helping Patrick, Breda, and Luke recover and rebuild their lives,' the appeal adds. 'If you can't donate, please consider sharing this page. Your support, in any form, means the world to us. Thank you so much.' Detectives believe the attacks was carried out as part of a worsening city feud involving a young drug dealer and junior associates of mobster Brian Rattigan. There has been a spate of assaults and petrol bombings in recent weeks while one property was also shot up last year. An investigation is under way into the latest incident which happened at around 2.30am last Wednesday. Emergency services including Dublin Fire Brigade, paramedics and gardaí were alerted and two people taken to hospital as a precaution. Extensive damage was caused by a suspected petrol bomb and the family dog was killed. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house The residents who live at the property have no involvement in criminality and gardaí are satisfied the perpetrators targeted the wrong home. A source said: 'This is a decent family who have absolutely no involvement in what has been going on. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house. The family lost everything in the incident 'It shows the calibre of people involved in this feuding and how easily completely innocent people can get caught up in this'. A Garda spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into the incident of criminal damage by fire is under way. The Sunday World previously revealed how a partner of one of the feuding criminals was also warned by her boyfriend's rivals that she would be burnt out of her home. A drug dealer in his 20s is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack Her partner, a drug dealer aged in his 20s, is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack in the city centre recently. He was beaten over the head with weapons and also stabbed while receiving a bad slash wound to his face. His family home was also shot at in May of last year while his home and car were smashed up days before the assault on him. Days after that attack a series of coordinated petrol bomb attacks linked to the dispute were carried out in Drimnagh and Kildare. Gardaí believe two brothers, who are in their early 20s and junior associates of convicted killer Rattigan, are leading the feud against the young drug dealer. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud They were previously part of the same drugs gang but last year fell out in a row over drugs as well as a personal dispute over a woman. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud which claimed more than a dozen lives in the 2000s. He has served lengthy jail terms for drug offences and manslaughter. The mobster is not suspected of playing any direct role in the feud but gardaí believe he still has a key role in criminality in the area.
Sunday World
27-05-2025
- Health
- Sunday World
Irishman left unable to walk after falling from seven-storey building in Lithuania
David (Daithí) Manley has a severed spinal chord and has no feeling from below his chest. An Irish man is lucky to be alive after falling from a seven-storey building in Lithuania on Sunday. Oulart, Co Wexford man David (Daithí) Manley suffered multiple broken bones in the fall, including a bone in his lower spine, resulting in the loss of all mobility and no feeling from the waist down. The accidental fall happened at approximately 11.00am local time on Sunday. Doctors in Lithuania will have to operate on his spine, but cannot proceed with this surgery yet as he is currently in an Intensive Care Unit with respiratory and cardiac issues. David Manley News in 90 Seconds - May 27th David's family hope he will be able to undergo surgery in due course, which might help release the pressure on his spinal cord and bring back mobility in his legs. His sister Aoife said their family have spoken to doctors and David's situation is currently not great. David has a severed spinal chord and has no feeling from below his chest. There are also concerns surrounding his heart, but this should be kept under control. He has been given more medicine to help with his breathing, as his lungs are currently struggling and he could develop pneumonia. The family said that fortunately, he suffered from no brain damage and his mind is in good condition. All broken bones will repair, they say. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by the family to assist with medical and travel costs over the next number of weeks. 'David has a long road ahead of him on this recovery path, and we really want to try bring him home,' the family say on the GoFundMe website. Doctors are hopeful he may be able to return to a hospital in Ireland in around a month if his recovery is going well and no infections occur. More than €20,000 has been raised so far on the GoFundMe page David's family set up which will go towards flights, accommodation, and the changes they'll make to their home to make it more accessible. The original target for the GoFundMe page was €3,000 which was quickly surpassed overnight with nearly 400 people contributing to the fund. You can donate to the GoFundMe campaign here.
Sunday World
23-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man who sexually assaulted woman who went to view rental room in his house is jailed
'I genuinely didn't know what was going to happen to me, and the 11 or so minutes in that house alone with him felt like an eternity' A man who sexually assaulted a young woman who went to view his house after he advertised that he had a room to rent has been jailed for two years. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that 36-year-old Leon O'Connor was suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness when he carried out the offending behaviour on December 29, 2021. Det Sgt Michelle O'Leary said that the injured party had responded to an advertisement for a room rental in a house. Mr O'Connor said that he was looking for a female tenant 'as they were easier to get on with' whilst he also indicated that he did not want a smoker or drinker. Dt Sgt O'Leary said that whilst setting up the viewing over the phone Mr O'Connor asked the woman if she was in a relationship. She thought that this was an 'unusual question.' She said that the woman was driven to the property by her brother. Mr O'Connor told the woman that he only wanted her to enter the property. He cited health concerns in relation to the pandemic for not allowing her brother in. Her brother waited in the car. The defendant invited her in to see the room for rent. She noticed a number of knives on the book case. Mr O'Connor closed the curtains and told her he was doing so to 'prevent a draft.' Dt Sgt O'Leary said the young woman 'felt uneasy.' Stock image News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd 'He touched her on a number of occasions going around the house. He touched her buttocks. She was afraid he had a weapon. He brushed his hand against her left breast. As they moved through the house she tried to remain calm. While showing her the room, he stood beside her. He caressed her vagina area. She was extremely frightened. She said she would need to speak to her brother before she decided (to rent the room). She went out and got in to the car and was shaking uncontrollably.' The young woman reported the matter to gardai. Dt Sgt O'Leary said that the injured party was frightened Mr O'Connor would 'lure other females to his house.' In a victim impact statement the young woman said that she lost her spark following the incident. 'I've been a shell of myself. As a result of what happened to me I lost my confidence, my mental health deteriorated massively, and subsequently my relationships failed, as I felt like I lost control of it. 'All this happened at my worst time. I was homeless, out of work, when people are supposed to be looking forward to a new year and new beginnings. 'What happened to me wasn't fair, and I didn't deserve to be put in that position. No one does. I didn't ask for it, and I didn't want it, but it did happen to me. I felt so scared that night. 'I genuinely didn't know what was going to happen to me, and the 11 or so minutes in that house alone with him felt like an eternity.' Judge Helen Boyle said that having read psychiatric reports it was accepted that there was 'ample evidence of a severe psychiatric illness'in the case. A jury previously found Mr O'Connor guilty of sexually assaulting the woman three times during the eleven minute visit. Judge Boyle said that there was no doubt that the woman was 'terrified' as she was being shown around the house. She described the young lady as a 'brave' person who was doing her best to get out of a bad situation in her own life when the offence occurred. 'I want to convey my admiration for her and wish her the best. I want to thank her.' Judge Boyle noted that Mr O'Connor, who has an address in Uam Var Drive, Bishopstown in Cork was a well educated man who had worked to a high level. She said that he had 'gone undiagnosed with psychiatric illness for a long time.' Judge Boyle said that the supportive family of the accused were doing their best to help him. Mr O'Connor was without previous convictions.
