Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey charged for rape and sexual assault
The high-profile case has sparked significant criticism of the Premier League club, who continued to field Partey for nearly three years despite being aware of an ongoing investigation.
Partey, 32, was among Arsenal's highest-paid players and played a central role in the club's recent title challenges and their run to the Champions League semi-finals last season.
This is a breaking news story – more to follow
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Written by Andrew Walsh and posted on TheJournal.ie
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Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Joey O'Brien era begins with a win for Shelbourne but they need bizarre JJ Lunney goal to clinch points
The Joey O'Brien era started off for real in this tie at home to the league's bottom side, his first game in charge as the permanent successor to Damien Duff after two previous matches - both draws - as the Reds' interim head coach, and O'Brien certainly has food for thought over the weekend before Linfield come to town for the first leg of their Champions League battle. Shels were 2-0 up after six minutes and won by a two-goal margin but they did let the game get away from them for spells in the second half as Cork side, reduced to 10 men after a red card early in the second half for Charlie Lyons, recovered from an utterly dismal start to take the game to the champions. Shels needed a late - and bizarre - goal from JJ Lunney seven minutes from time to make sure. Shels are unlikely to have the gifts presented to them by Cork, in the form of soft goals and a red card, when they face the Blues in that European tie with a prize of €2m at the end. With just six minutes gone, it looked as if the game was already dead as far as City were concerned, with perhaps the temptation from some of the travelling support to make an early exit and beat the traffic. Cork were wide open, incredibly so, in that opening spell, both goals gifted to the champions. Only 90 seconds had elapsed when Shels were ahead. Lyons was far too lax in possession and he allowed Harry Wood to win the ball and Wood bounded forward to bundle the ball over the line. Cork barely had time to draw breath when they were 2-0 down. City as a unit were guilty of standing off and allowing Shels to play a series of passes across the field without a tackle to be seen, before Evan Caffrey picked out Wood. He played a short ball into the waiting Mipo Odubeko and he had time and space to fire past the unfortunate Conor Brann, making his debut in the City goal. It could have been 4-0 by the 20-minute mark, Brann saving from Ali Coote before Odubeko fired wide and there was a real concern for how much damage Shels could do. But City did find their feet, eventually, sparked on 36 minutes when Freddie Anderson got a header which was wide but still a threat. And on 42 minutes they were back in the game. Shels didn't deal with a corner from Alex Nolan, Anderson and Lyons combined to set up Kitt Nelson and came up with a nice finish, his third goal of the season. Cork boss Ger Nash made changes at the break, Seáni Maguire and veteran Seán Murray sacrificed as Evan McLaughlin and Malik Dijksteel came into the fray but they were then forced into a reshuffle five minutes after the restart when defender Lyons was dismissed, a straight red card for a challenge on Kerr McInroy. The arrival off the bench of another new face, defender Fiacre Kelleher, did add some steel and Cork will clearly benefit from the leadership of the vocal Kelleher in times ahead but this tie was always going to be a struggle. To their credit, Cork were a much better unit in the second half, even with that one-man deficit, as they frustrated the home side, without much of a threat of their own as front man Dijksteel was starved of any service. Shels looked unconvincing for long spells, coming close on 63 minutes when Wood - their best player on the night - fired wide before James Norris also went close. On 76 minutes Cork had Matthew Kiernan to thank for blocking a shot from Wood, a concern for home fans when Wood appeared to pull up with an injury in that goal attempt. Even though City did not look likely to score again, Shels still needed an insurance policy and Lunney delivered on 83 minutes as he whipped into the box a ball which was more of a cross than a shot and it caught Brann off guard, a third goal for the Reds and a first win in four games. Shelbourne: Kearns; Coyle, Ledwidge, Barrett; Caffrey (Boyd 60), Lunney, McInroy (Kelly 60), Norris, Coote (Chapman 60), Wood (O'Sullivan 77); Odubeko (Martin 71). Cork City: Brann; Mbeng, Crowley, Anderson (Lutz 76), Lyons, Kiernan; Bolger, Murray (McLaughlin 46); Nolan (Kelleher 53), Murray, Nelson (O'Sullivan 53); Maguire (Dijksteel 46).
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Harry Wood stars as Joey O'Brien seals winning start as Shelbourne boss against 10-man Cork City
JOEY O'BRIEN declared in his low key appointment as new Shelbourne boss he wanted the players to take all the focus. And Harry Wood would as he inspired Advertisement 2 Shelbourne and Joey O'Brien got off to a winning start after the departure of Damien Duff 2 Harry Wood starred for Shelbourne in a 3-1 triumph over Cork City Wood - the man who scored the title winner for the Reds last year - scored after two minutes and made one for Mipo Odubeko after six minutes as the O'Brien era started at speed. Damien Duff's former assistant only took charge full-time 24 hours earlier - he was in charge for two draws previously when Wood and Odubeko also scored - with a low key statement. There was no fanfare with just a statement realised on the Shelbourne website where O'Brien declared: 'It's not about me, it's all about the players. "This is a proud moment for me, but the focus is on them and what we do together from here.' Advertisement read more on football And that is what happened as Shelbourne started quickly, stayed cool when they wobbled midway through the game, and then won it late as JJ Lunney scored a fortuitous goal. It was far from a perfect win. Bottom club City were still let back in the game before half-time when Kitt Nelson scored and it may have been a different outcome had Charlie Lyons not been sent off after 50 minutes. But after a tough few weeks at Tolka following Duff's shock resignation, a win ahead of going into Champions League action against Linfield next week was a huge boost for confidence. Advertisement Most read in Football And the foundations were laid by Wood as Cork City debut goalkeeper Conor Brann was beaten twice inside the opening six minutes. City were the masters of their own downfall with the concession of the first goal after just 88 seconds being self-inflicted. Palestine GAA players watch camogie match on laptop They were in comfortable possession moving the ball around midfield and defence when centre half Lyons was closed down by Wood. He tried to pass the ball out to Matthew Kiernan but Wood intercepted and raced in to scoop over the advancing Brann into the empty net. Advertisement O'Brien punched the air in celebration, and was doing so again on six minutes with a goal that was all about Shelbourne's passing and movement. They moved the ball quickly through midfield before Wood and Evan Caffrey played a one-two on the right and crossed low for Odubeko to fire home from close range. Shels fans were in dreamland as their team produced the good expected of champions and it could have got even better for them. Brann did well to save a shot from Coote later on while Odubeko fizzed a shot narrowly wide when he took advantage of a loose Cork pass in defence on 20 minutes. Advertisement Yet Shels' bad old habits were still there too, and the visitors were never out of it as the mistakes totted up on both sides. Darragh Crowley was only inches away from turning in a Freddie Anderson looping header when the defender was unmarked from an Alex Nolan free kick a minute later. And two minutes from half-time, Shels' defensive lapses finally cost them when Kitt Nelson pulled a goal back that his side scarcely deserved. It came off a set-piece as Nolan swung it in from the right and it was returned across goal by Lyons to Anderson to teed up Nelson to fire through a thicket of legs into the net. Advertisement But whatever chance the visitors had was virtually extinguished three minutes later when Lyons was shown a straight red card for a challenge on McInroy. And Shelbourne kept getting chances with Dan Kelly, Wood and Norris all going close before Lunney settled in seven minutes from time. Again, it was a goal that City's defence will not want to see back as he chased an over hit corner from the left out to the right flank. And while there is not doubt that he was crossing the ball, no City man reacted as it bounced in the six yard box and into the net. Advertisement Shelbourne 3 (Wood 2, Odubeko 6, Lunney 83) Cork City 1 (Nelson 43) Sun Star Man - Harry Wood Shelbourne: Kearns 7; Coyle 7, Barrett 7, Ledwidge 7; Caffrey 7 (Boyd 60, 6), McInroy 7 (Kelly 60, 6), Lunney 7, Norris 7; Wood 9 (O'Sullivan 79, 6), Coote 7 (Chapman 60, 6); Odubeko 7 (Martin 71, 6). Cork City: Brann 5; Mbeng 5, Crowley 5, Anderson 5 (Lutz 76, 6), Lyons 4, Kiernan 5; Murray 5 (McLaughlin ht, 6), Bolger 6; Nelson 6 (O'Sullivan 56, 6), Nolan 6 (Kelleher 56, 6); Maguire 5 (Dijksteel ht, 6). Referee: R Harvey (Dublin) 6. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Arsenal aim to complete two signings by NEXT WEEK as summer transfer spree hots up
ARSENAL hope to sign Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard in time for their pre-season training camp in Spain next week. The Gunners' only summer signing so far saw them activate 3 Martin Zubimendi is on the verge of being announced as a new Gooner 3 Christian Norgaard is set to join from Brentford too Credit: Getty But Zubimendi's £51m arrival from Real Sociedad is on the verge of being announced. And If all goes smoothly, the midfield duo should be on the plane for warm-weather training in Spain ahead of a pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong from July 19. Defender READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS The Japanese star, who featured for just SIX minutes last term, is recovering from a long-term knee issue that will keep him out for most of 2025. Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres has rejected two more offers with the Sporting CP striker still determined to join Arsenal this summer . The Sweden international remains in a heated stand-off with his club and is desperate to secure a summer transfer away with North London his preferred destination. next season but he also turned down a move to Turin with the Bianconeri since signing Most read in Football Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates While he has his heart set on Arsenal , the Premier League giants are also exploring a move for Slovenia international. Al-Hilal and Al-Qadisiyah have made approaches which have been rejected by the Sporting star. Arsenal Plot Big Double Transfer For Eberechi Eze and Hugo Ekitike! | Transfers Exposed Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 appearances to lead Sporting to a domestic double last season but Meanwhile, That is the value of the winger's release clause and Palace are unwilling to negotiate for less than that fee. Arsenal are favourites to sign Eze this summer but there is also interest from Tottenham too. Gunners have made contact in their 3
