Latest news with #westernFrance
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Write a funny caption for this large gathering of Smurfs
A small town in western France – called Landerneau – set a world record by gathering more than 3,000 people dressed as Smurfs. These blue characters are from a popular Belgian comic franchise. In May, this town successfully beat a previous record by bringing together 3,076 people in blue costumes and white hats. Agence France-Presse If a passer-by saw these Smurfs, what would they think? Send us a funny caption by filling out this form. The deadline is at 12pm on June 4. We'll publish the best ones next week. Last week's top caption Beauval Zoo in France is the first zoo outside Asia to host golden snub-nosed monkeys. Photo: AFP Zoe Jing Ying-kwan (aged 9), Hong Kong International School: What's everyone staring at? Oh! It's my magnificent hair!
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Former French surgeon who abused children for decades sentenced to 20 years in jail
A French court on Wednesday found a retired surgeon guilty of the rape and sexual assault of patients, some of them whilst under anaesthetic, in a trial that has shaken France . Joël Le Scouarnec had told the court he committed 'despicable acts' over a 25-year period whilst he worked as doctor in western France, in a trial that has raised uncomfortable questions for the publicly run healthcare system. Le Scouarnec (74) was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Le Scouarnec's abuse of his patients, many them children at the time, is considered France's worst case of pedocriminality to go to trial. He stood accused of aggravated rape or sexual assault against 299 victims. READ MORE 'I'm aware that the harm I've caused is beyond repair,' Le Scouarnec told the opening of his trial in February. 'I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they've endured and will keep having to endure all their lives,' he added. The trial took place at a time of reckoning around sex crimes in France after the conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty in December of drugging his wife unconscious and inviting dozens of men to their home to rape her. Le Scouarnec is already serving jail time for earlier rape convictions. In 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of a child neighbour, as well as his two nieces and a four-year-old patient. Victims and their families have publicly asked why local and national health authorities failed to stop Le Scouarnec. In 2005, he was convicted of downloading images of child sexual abuse and received a suspended jail sentence, but managed to continue working in public hospitals. Several dozen victims and rights campaigners gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the verdict, holding a banner made of hundreds of pieces of white paper with black silhouettes, one for each victim. Some of the papers bore a first name and age, while others referred to the victim as 'Anonymous'. The extent of Le Scouarnec's abuse was revealed after his rearrest in 2017 on suspicion of raping his six-year-old neighbour. Police discovered electronic diaries that appeared to detail more than two decades of rapes and sexual assaults on young patients in hospitals across the region, as well as a cache of sex dolls, wigs and child pornography. The trial took place in Vannes, a small town in Brittany. The local prosecutor, whose office led the investigation into Le Scouarnec, has opened a separate investigation to ascertain if there was any criminal liability by agencies or individuals who could have prevented the abuse. – Reuters
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
France sentences retired surgeon to 20 years' jail for raping his patients
A French court on Wednesday found a retired surgeon guilty of the rape and sexual assault of patients, some of them whilst under anaesthetic, in a trial that has shaken France. Joel Le Scouarnec had told the court he committed 'despicable acts' over a 25-year period whilst he worked as doctor in western France , in a trial that has raised uncomfortable questions for the publicly run healthcare system. Le Scouarnec, 74, was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Le Scouarnec's abuse of his patients, many them children at the time, is considered France's worst case of pedocriminality to go to trial. He stood accused of aggravated rape or sexual assault against 299 victims. 'I'm aware that the harm I've caused is beyond repair,' Le Scouarnec told the opening of his trial in February. 'I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they've endured and will keep having to endure all their lives,' he added.
CNN
28-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
French court convicts retired surgeon of raping his patients, sentences him to 20 years
A French court on Wednesday found a retired surgeon guilty of the rape and sexual assault of patients, some of them whilst under anesthetic, in a trial that has shaken France. Joel Le Scouarnec had told the court he committed 'despicable acts' over a 25-year period whilst he worked as doctor in western France, in a trial that has raised uncomfortable questions for the publicly run healthcare system. Le Scouarnec, 74, was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Le Scouarnec's abuse of his patients, many them children at the time, is considered France's worst case of pedocriminality to go to trial. He stood accused of aggravated rape or sexual assault against 299 victims. 'I'm aware that the harm I've caused is beyond repair,' Le Scouarnec told the opening of his trial in February. 'I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they've endured and will keep having to endure all their lives,' he added. The trial took place at a time of reckoning around sex crimes in France after the conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty in December of drugging his wife unconscious and inviting dozens of men to their home to rape her. Le Scouarnec is already serving jail time for earlier rape convictions. In 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of a child neighbor, as well as his two nieces and a 4-year-old patient. Victims and their families have publicly asked why local and national health authorities failed to stop Le Scouarnec. In 2005, he was convicted of downloading images of child sexual abuse and received a suspended jail sentence, but managed to continue working in public hospitals. Several dozen victims and rights campaigners gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the verdict, holding a banner made of hundreds of pieces of white paper with black silhouettes, one for each victim. Some of the papers bore a first name and age, while others referred to the victim as 'Anonymous.' The extent of Le Scouarnec's abuse was revealed after his re-arrest in 2017 on suspicion of raping his 6-year-old neighbor. Police discovered electronic diaries that appeared to detail more than two decades of rapes and sexual assaults on young patients in hospitals across the region, as well as a cache of sex dolls, wigs and child pornography. The trial took place in Vannes, a small town in Brittany. The local prosecutor, whose office led the investigation into Le Scouarnec, has opened a separate investigation to ascertain if there was any criminal liability by agencies or individuals who could have prevented the abuse.
CNN
28-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
French court convicts retired surgeon of raping his patients, sentences him to 20 years
A French court on Wednesday found a retired surgeon guilty of the rape and sexual assault of patients, some of them whilst under anesthetic, in a trial that has shaken France. Joel Le Scouarnec had told the court he committed 'despicable acts' over a 25-year period whilst he worked as doctor in western France, in a trial that has raised uncomfortable questions for the publicly run healthcare system. Le Scouarnec, 74, was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Le Scouarnec's abuse of his patients, many them children at the time, is considered France's worst case of pedocriminality to go to trial. He stood accused of aggravated rape or sexual assault against 299 victims. 'I'm aware that the harm I've caused is beyond repair,' Le Scouarnec told the opening of his trial in February. 'I owe it to all these people and their loved ones to admit my actions and their consequences, which they've endured and will keep having to endure all their lives,' he added. The trial took place at a time of reckoning around sex crimes in France after the conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who was found guilty in December of drugging his wife unconscious and inviting dozens of men to their home to rape her. Le Scouarnec is already serving jail time for earlier rape convictions. In 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of a child neighbor, as well as his two nieces and a 4-year-old patient. Victims and their families have publicly asked why local and national health authorities failed to stop Le Scouarnec. In 2005, he was convicted of downloading images of child sexual abuse and received a suspended jail sentence, but managed to continue working in public hospitals. Several dozen victims and rights campaigners gathered outside the courthouse ahead of the verdict, holding a banner made of hundreds of pieces of white paper with black silhouettes, one for each victim. Some of the papers bore a first name and age, while others referred to the victim as 'Anonymous.' The extent of Le Scouarnec's abuse was revealed after his re-arrest in 2017 on suspicion of raping his 6-year-old neighbor. Police discovered electronic diaries that appeared to detail more than two decades of rapes and sexual assaults on young patients in hospitals across the region, as well as a cache of sex dolls, wigs and child pornography. The trial took place in Vannes, a small town in Brittany. The local prosecutor, whose office led the investigation into Le Scouarnec, has opened a separate investigation to ascertain if there was any criminal liability by agencies or individuals who could have prevented the abuse.
