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STV News
24 minutes ago
- STV News
Brother of woman killed by speeding driver reveals family's 'devastation'
The brother of a nursing student killed by a speeding driver in Glasgow has spoken of the family's 'devastation' and how the tragedy will always 'remain in our hearts and minds'. Chinenye Okonkwo died after being hit by an Audi A4 that mounted the pavement as she waited to cross a road in Glasgow city centre in February 2023. The 33-year-old, who was studying Public Health at Glasgow Caledonian University, was crushed between railings and the front of the car. The driver, Akbar Razaq, who was going at double the 30mph speed limit, was jailed for more than three years last week. Speaking to STV News, Chinenye's brother, Henry, revealed how the incident impacted their family. He said, 'Her dreams being cut short by this unfortunate incident will always remain in our hearts and minds because she truly had a very big dream. Being a nurse, getting a house, and getting that degree was something that she wanted at all costs. 'When you see a young girl with such dreams, you need to support her and help her achieve them, but unfortunately, this happened.' Nigerian-born Chinenye had moved to the UK in 2022 to study in Glasgow, and had recently started a part-time job at a nursing home in the city's east end. She was walking on her way to start a shift when she was hit in the fatal crash. Henry continued: 'We were so happy with her achievements in such a short time, then not even two months later, we lost her. 'It broke my parents, my mum fell ill, my dad, who is in his 70s, also fell ill, and he was so weak. When this news broke to them, they just broke down; everyone was devastated. 'All we could do was try to keep ourselves strong.' Razaq was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday having earlier admitted to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Lord Mulholland jailed him for three years and four months and banned him from the road for eight years and two months. Henry believes his sister got the justice she deserved as the family now begin a healing process. He said: 'After the hearing, I spoke with my parents and told them the outcome, and I explained it to them, which was really emotional. 'I believe that we have given Chinenye the justice that she deserved. 'Families don't want to remember certain things for a long time, they just want to move away from it and get better, so there is a long way to go but I do believe we can get better.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
an hour ago
- Politics
- STV News
Swinney: Farage has brought ‘racism and hatred' to Hamilton by-election
Nigel Farage has been accused of 'racism and hatred' by John Swinney in the last weekend of campaigning before polls open in the Hamilton by-election. The Scottish First Minster hit out at the Reform UK leader, claiming he was a 'real threat' ahead of voting in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday. Criticism has been levelled at Farage's party after a Facebook ad claimed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was prioritising Pakistani people over Scots and included a section of a speech in which he encouraged more people from South Asian backgrounds to enter politics. Addressing activists – including a number of MSPs, former MPs and candidates for the 2026 Holyrood election – in Hamilton on Saturday, Swinney contrasted Reform UK with former minister Christina McKelvie, whose death prompted the by-election. 'This is a by-election that none of us wanted to be fighting, because it meant that we'd lost somebody we loved, Christina McKelvie, who was an individual that represented generosity, tolerance and inclusion,' he said. 'That was how she went about her work in this constituency and in Parliament, and that's the antithesis of what's been brought into this by-election campaign by the politics of Nigel Farage, who's brought racism and hatred right into the heart of this community, and it is repugnant. 'We are going to stand up to it in every way we can.' In response to journalists, the First Minister said he was not concerned about defamation claims stemming from his allegations of racism against Farage. When the by-election was called, it was widely seen as a two-horse race between the SNP's Katy Loudon and Labour's Davy Russell, but recent weeks have seen a surge in fortune for Farage's party. Speaking to the PA news agency after his speech, the First Minister said it is 'very clear' that Labour is 'out of this contest' and it is now 'between the SNP and Farage'. 'I want to make sure that Farage's politics don't get any hold in Scotland, they are damaging,' he said. In his speech, the First Minister repeatedly referenced Farage, but when asked if he was increasing the chance of Reform gaining a foothold by paying the party's leader so much attention, Swinney said: 'I've just got to make sure that people in this constituency are aware of the threat that Farage poses in this election. 'If Farage gets in here, then you know the agenda of NHS privatisation is what will follow, the agenda of undermining the Scottish Parliament will follow, because that's what he believes in.' Elsewhere in Hamilton on Saturday, Reform UK's candidate Ross Lambie gathered activists ahead of a canvassing session, including some bussed into the constituency from the north of England. Speaking to journalists, Lambie was asked why the parties believed to be the frontrunners at the beginning of the campaign were spending so much time on Reform. 'They're doing their canvassing and they're getting the same results as we are, that's why,' he said. He added: 'We are super proud that we're not being pigeon-holed with any particular voter and we're not being boxed into certain aspects of the community. 'We're getting votes from across the area. 'If you were to chat to these volunteers, you'll find some of them were SNP voters in the past, many of them were Labour voters, Conservative voters. 'So that's the thing we're most proud of, that we're breaking down those old barriers in Scottish politics.' Sarwar said Labour is still in the race for the seat in Thursday's vote. 'It's between ourselves and the SNP, every single vote is going to count,' he told PA on Saturday. 'That's why, if you want to beat the SNP, if you want a local champion, if you want to start that pathway to a new direction, the best way of doing that is to vote for one of your own – vote for Davy Russell.' The Labour leader also accused the First Minister of 'talking up Reform for a very, very long time', an assertion Swinney rejects, while saying he would 'call out Nigel Farage's poison'. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Andreatta says debut Scotland defeat gives her ‘baseline' to work from
Melissa Andreatta's debut defeat as Scotland Women's head coach gave her a 'baseline' from which to work going forward. A 1-0 loss to Austria in the Nations League Group A1 clash at Hampden Park confirmed relegation from the top flight of the competition for the Scots. The visitors scored the winner in the 62nd minute when attacker Julia Hickelsberger glanced in a header at the near post from a corner. Although the home side finished the game stronger, Andreatta's new charges ended the match still at the bottom of the table without a point in five games and will be playing in League B in the next Nations League campaign. The former Matildas assistant has another chance to put her stamp on the squad when they face the Netherlands away on Tuesday night in their final fixture before they start preparing for the World Cup qualifiers later in the year. Andreatta said: 'What I've taken is a baseline. 'There's one thing to be training and doing what we're doing and players executing what we're asking of them in a training session and it's another to do it in a match and in a match with that context behind it. 'So I think I have a good baseline now to understand where we're at, in order for us to progress to where we want to be. 'I think you could tell by the fans (second half), there was a frustration, but I think the key part that I take from that is that we had players that took on the information at half-time and made some adjustments to what we were doing and trying to do – and they did that well. 'And then, together with the subs, who were a combination of experienced players and emerging players, they brought on the energy and had a real impact. 'So while it was frustrating not to get some reward from that impact and those changes, I know where we are now, and it's given me some ideas, moving forward.' Rachel Corsie, 35, who is retiring from football at the end of the game against Netherlands on Tuesday, started on the bench and came on at the beginning of the second half to win her 155th cap and play at Hampden Park for the last time. Andreatta added: 'I'm sure for her, there would have been a lot of emotion and having friends and family there for sure. 'But what I know about Rachel is she's a real team person and she'll be more hurt for the team that we didn't get the result that we all want. 'But she'll quickly refocus as a leader and professional that she is and help the team to bounce back because that's what we need to do now.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Hearts confirm signing of Oisin McEntee from Walsall on three-year deal
Republic of Ireland youth international Oisin McEntee is set to join Hearts on a three-year deal this summer when his contract with League Two side Walsall expires. The 24-year-old midfielder and Newcastle academy product spent five years with the Magpies, captaining the under-18 and under-23 sides. McEntee had his first taste of Scottish football on loan at Morton in 2021-22 before joining Walsall, where he made 79 appearances across three campaigns. Hearts head coach Derek McInnes said: 'It's great that we've been able to get this deal done, and we can now welcome Oisin to the club. 'It became clear in our conversations that Oisin is hungry, he wants to learn and improve, and he wants to be part of what we're trying to do here at Hearts. 'He's a ball player whilst being physically imposing, and an extremely versatile player. He's played in defence and midfield, so to have options around his positioning is a big plus. 'Oisin's gained a lot of experience down south and he has knowledge of Scottish football too, which is a bonus, and I'm sure he'll fit in well to the squad we're building.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
4 hours ago
- STV News
Pride decorations pulled down in overnight hate crime ahead of parade
Pride decorations have been pulled down overnight ahead of a parade in an apparent hate crime on the Isle of Arran. LGBTQ banners and flags were removed from Main Street, Brodrick, at some point between 2am and 7am on Saturday. Police are now appealing for information on the incident that officers are treating as a hate crime. Sergeant Clare Neilson, Arran Police Office, said: 'We are taking this very seriously and are following positive lines of enquiry. 'If anyone has any information or saw people acting suspiciously, get in touch. 'Anyone with private CCTV or dash-cam footage should check to see if they captured anything. 'Call 101, quoting reference 0975 of May 31, 2025 if you have any information that can help our investigation.' Arran Pride parade started at Brodick Port Carpark at 12.30pm on Saturday. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
