Boy (16) dies following fall near Co Kerry lake
Despite the help of rescue teams that reached the site, the boy died at the scene.
The alarm was raised on Tuesday afternoon when Valentia Coast Guard and the Shannon-based Rescue 115 helicopter were scrambled to the area near a location known locally as Peddlers Lake.
Members of the Coast Guard Unit based in Daingean Uí Chúis, members of Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, gardaí, and National Ambulance Service crews were also involved in the recovery.
A post-mortem examination will take place in due course and a file prepared for the office of the Coroner.
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Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
MV Matthew crew were no mere cogs — they played a vital role in cocaine trafficking venture
Sailors sentenced to prison for their involvement in major international drug trafficking through Ireland were not mere cogs in the wheel but vital parts of the engine that drives international drug trafficking, a court has heard. Eight men have been sentenced to a combined 129 years in prison for their role in a drug trafficking operation that was intercepted and resulted in the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the State. Guilty pleas among mitigating factors Justice Melanie Greally initially set combined headline sentences for the men at 203 years at the Special Criminal Court on Friday. But she reduced each man's sentence due to multiple mitigating factors, including their guilty pleas. The MV Matthew, owned by a Dubai-based company, was raided at gunpoint by Ireland's elite Army Ranger Wing in rough seas off the Cork coast in September 2023. Eight men from the crew of 21 were ultimately charged with drug trafficking offences. Justice Greally sentenced the men according to their hierarchy and culpability in the operation. However, she accepted that none of the accused were operating in the higher echelons of the organised crime group which was directing the operation remotely. And the crew would not stand to profit from sales of the drugs. 'Committed to the success of the venture' However, all convicted men, apart from Jamie Harbron and Cumali Ozgen had high levels of seafaring expertise. And maritime drug trafficking cannot take place without that, Justice Greally said. They are not cogs in the wheel but vital parts of the engine that drives international drug trafficking, she said. They had proven competence and had a high level of trust within the operation, Justice Greally said. She added: We consider each man committed to the success of the venture. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Soheil Jelveh, 51, and Saeid Hassani, 39; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Mathew between 24 and 26 September 2023. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023. MV Honmon renamed to MV Matthew The 190m bulk cargo ship was initially called the MV Honmon but had its name changed to the MV Matthew before the drug trafficking operation, directed by a powerful cartel with unlimited resources and international reach. Its registered owner was a company based in the Marshall Islands but the company that ultimately owned it was a company called Symphony Marine based in Dubai, Justice Greally noted. It was designed to carry bulk cargo like grain, with five cargo holds. But it left the coast of Venezuela empty. Crew distracted with barbecue and alcohol Armed men loaded the ship with cocaine at night off the coast of Venezuela when most of the crew had been distracted with a barbecue on board and plied with alcohol. A small number of the MV Matthew crew were used to load the cocaine while at sea in September 2023. Despite the 2.2 tonne load, worth some €157m, only one of the five cargo holds was used to store it initially. The containers it was stored in looked like 'matchboxes in a car boot,' the court heard. The ship was moored in Venezuela in August, undergoing preparations for the voyage. It set sail in September 2023, with its stated destination as Gdansk in Poland. But it travelled around the northwest African coast, past the Canaries, the Bay of Biscay, and on to the Irish sea. Ship's true location was 'spoofed' Mr Jelveh was the captain, Vlasoi was second in command, Estoesta and Gavryk were second officers, and Hassani was the third officer. Ozgen, previously described in court as the eyes and ears of the cartel, was the lowest-ranking and not an officer but occupied the most important cabin by the bridge. This was due to his 'supervisory function' for the cartel, the court heard. For 15 days, the MV Matthew misrepresented its place at sea in an operation known as 'spoofing,' where a vessel's stated course differs from their real course. Drug traffickers often use this technique, Justice Greally noted. Crew members aware of the deception Crew involved in a number of WhatsApp and Signal groups used to communicate with those directing the operation from Dubai, were aware of this spoofing, referencing aborting the necessary navigation software, Justice Greally noted. When the ship claimed it was steaming past Trinidad and Tobago, it was actually still off Venezuela, she said. Gardaí monitored 'persons of interest' Meanwhile, retired fisherman Ukrainian Vitaliy Lapa had been monitored with two persons of interest to gardaí in Ireland. One of these persons of interest bought the fishing vessel the Castelmore from Castletownbere in West Cork, with more than €300,000 transferred from a company based in Dubai for the purchase. Mr Lapa and Jamie Harbron set sail on September 22, 2023. In communications about the operation, the MV Matthew was referred to as 'big bus'. A 'jumbo load' would be collected from the 'big bus' which may take some balancing. Its weight of 2.2T was specified. Encrypted messaging A Starlink satellite system installed on the fishing boat was to allow communications through encrypted messaging apps about the drug transfer from mother ship to daughter ship. But the Castlemore hit rough weather, suffered wifi failure and its engine failed. Lapa, an experienced fisherman from Ukraine, spoke little English and he and Harbron communicated with the help of online translation tools. Meanwhile, Captain Jelveh was complaining of unfavourable sea conditions to someone directing the operation from Dubai via WhatsApp and Signal communications. Unhappy about the choice of volatile Irish waters to transfer the cargo, he complained to his paymasters in Dubai. He was also concerned about the Matthew's straying from its stated course. In one message, he wrote: I'd rather go to prison but I won't stay in a storm. Meanwhile, with no wifi and a failing engine, the Castlemore was directed to hug the Irish coast and use its VHF radio for communications and turn on its vessel identification system (VIS) so it could meet the 'big bus'. A voice directing the operation from off the boat through encrypted messaging apps announced that he would take over as the captain remotely from Jelveh on September 24, 2023. Castlemore's distress call A distress call was made from the Castelmore to the coastguard after 11pm after it ran aground on a sandbank off Wexford in stormy seas. Lapa and Harbron were rescued by helicopter and were later arrested. A phone seized from Lapa when analysed showed the Castlemore intended meeting with MV Matthew. 'For some hours, the fate of the Castelmore was unknown to the crew on the MV Matthew,' Justice Greally said. But the level of emergency was clear from its communication with the coastguard, picked up by the MV Matthew via radio. Directing the operation from off the ship, a person, often referred to as 'captain Noah', announced that the plan was changing. The drugs were to be sent ashore in a lifeboat with Ozgen on September 25, 2023. "Cumali Ozgen will be the commander of the boat, teach him disengaging,' a message said. Ozgen was the only MV Matthew crew member with no real seafaring experience. Crew commented in messaging apps that he would never be able to manage the lifeboat, loaded with drugs on his own. 'Better for us, worse thing to have him on board,' one person commented. Another person said: 'He will go all bad demons will go.' Ozgen was feared on the boat as the direct operative for the cartel, crew said. The former captain, Jelveh, said he was put on the ship to murder him. The Dutchman of Turkish origin was never lowered onto rough seas at night in the life raft heavy with more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine. But he did receive the heaviest sentence of all the crew. Headline sentence reduced to 20 years His headline sentence of 30 years was reduced to 20 years partially because he pleaded guilty, saving the State time and resources, Justice Greally said. Former captain Jelveh called for a medical evacuation from the MV Matthew after the Castlemore ran aground, taking suitcases, three mobile phones, a satellite phone and more than $53,000 with him. But he was arrested and analysis of his phone proved useful for the investigation. MV Matthew monitored in Irish waters Meanwhile, the MV Matthew was being monitored by Irish authorities as it moved within Irish territorial waters and the contiguous zone, an area further from shore where Irish authorities still have some legal rights to board a vessel. The ship had dropped anchor, claiming it needed to carry out repairs as it stalled while trying to concoct a new plan to transfer the drugs. But the LÉ William Butler Yeats naval ship was monitoring the MV Matthew. It became apparent that the MV Matthew was not conducting engine repairs. The MV Matthew was trying to increase its distance from land, wrongly believing that Irish authorities then could not board the vessel. LÉ William Butler Yeats in 'hot pursuit' When the MV Matthew repeatedly failed to comply with Irish customs orders, the LÉ William Butler Yeats announced it was in 'hot pursuit' of the vessel. It announced it was a warship and fired shots when the Matthew continued to evade its orders. Estoesta radioed the ship, claiming they were just a commercial vessel, the crew was crying in fear, he said, they had families and they did not want trouble. But at the same time, he was taking direction from Dubai, being told to head with speed south out of Irish waters and to travel "with full speed" towards Sierra Leone. Incorrect information from Dubai "They have talked too much, show them some real action," the voice from Dubai said, encouraging the crew to ignore the Irish authorities. "Be confident, there is a law preventing them from boarding," the Dubai voice wrongly advised. He then wished them 'bon voyage'. Crew tried to burn the drugs as the Army Ranger Wing approached in a helicopter, using accelerants like paint thinner to intensify the flames. Army Rangers boarded the MV Matthew As the army rangers tried to board the vessel, abseiling from a helicopter on a rope, the MV Matthew swerved and manoeuvred at speed to try to evade them, further endangering the rangers' lives. But they boarded the vessel and extinguished the flames on the drugs, preserving the evidence, and took control of the ship. Phones seized from the men on board proved crucial to the investigation, giving second-by-second accounts of the drug trafficking plan, and its sudden unravelling at sea in high swells. The men denied knowing the ship was carrying drugs initially. But they admitted growing suspicious when armed men unloaded the cargo off the coast of Venezuela at night, and when they saw the cargo, which was clearly not 'spare parts' as they said they were told. All men said they flew to Dubai for interviews and later to Venezuela to board the MV Matthew on lucrative contracts. When they raised concerns about the cargo, they said they were told they'd be paid bonuses to stay quiet. 'Terrified and alone' Hassani said he was 'just following orders and was scared for his life." Financial necessity, caring for his daughter and sick and injured sisters in Iran had driven him to take the job, he said. Estoesta said he was 'terrified and alone at sea' and felt he had to do what was asked of him by the shadowy voices in Dubai once he was aboard. He said he was responsible for communications on board only because of his strong command of English. Letters were sent from loved ones about the accused's kindness, loyalty and academic achievements were sent to the court. Ozgen grew up in a socially deprived community in Holland where survival was the law of the street, one letter said. He was caring for his son who had multiple operations for brain tumours and made 'risky choices to provide a better future to his family." Gavryk was described by his former schools as a serious and motivated student, a detail-orientated specialist who was also an attentive friend. Vlasoi was a devoted father whose wife was now trying to care for their child alone. Estoesta had excelled academically and was from an educated, respected family, many of whom successfully served their country in the air force, law and medicine. Hassani was trying to provide for his family which had led to indebtedness. Harbron was the only crew with previous convictions, two of which were for drugs. But he came from a disadvantaged background, suffered violence in his family as a child and had drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues, the court heard. However, he was a caring father and partner, the court heard. Lapa's hometown in Ukraine was under occupation and he was forced out of retirement as a mariner in the fishing industry to work out of financial necessity. His family is at risk of losing their home, the court heard. Mitigating and aggravating factors Justice Greally took these accounts into consideration. But she said that in addition to mitigation, there were serious aggravating factors in their cases. One aggravating factor was the scale of criminal organisation they were working for. Another was the "vast quantity of drugs" involved and their considerable value. Another aggravating factor was the type of drug itself and the "widespread social harm" cocaine does. Ozgen was given the heaviest sentence as he was most deeply involved with the organised crime group, she said. He provided the crime organisation with progress reports every two to three days and was a "malign and intimidatory presence" on the ship. But Estoesta had the second heaviest sentence because he "persistently defied orders" from Irish Customs and naval officers. He was no longer 'alone at sea' but when faced with a binary choice of cooperating with authorities or taking orders from an organised crime group, he sided with the OCG and tried to escape with the drugs to Sierra Leone before a "last gasp effort" to destroy the evidence, Justice Greally said. Vlasoi had the third heaviest sentence as the de facto captain aboard at the time of the ship's interception, he was responsible for "vigorously moving the boat" while the army rangers tried to board, endangering their lives. Ozgen was given a headline sentence of 30 years, Estoesta received a headline sentence of 28 years; Jelveh was given 27 years; Vlasoi was given 26; Hassani received 24 years; Gavryk 23 years; Lapa 23 years and Harbron to 22 years. But guilty pleas and other mitigating factors saw these sentences reduced. Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, age 49, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, was sentenced to 18 years. The captain, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, was sentenced to 17.5 years. Ukrainian Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, was sentenced to 16.5 years. Iranian Saeid Hassani, 39, was sentenced to 15 years. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, was sentenced to 14.5 years. And UK national Jamie Harbron was sentenced to 13.5 years.
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I'm raging after catching my neighbour STEALING electricity & this was after they caused our water to be cut off too
A WOMAN was left shocked after discovering that her neighbour has been stealing her electricity. The 29-year-old revealed that she recently moved to a new city with her husband and one-year-old child - and problems started to arise with her neighbour. Advertisement 3 A woman was left shocked after discovering her neighbour was stealing electricity from her Credit: Reddit She explained that they live in a semi-detached building, and share a wall with their neighbour, who is in their late 40s or early 50s. The first issue they had with the neighbour is that she didn't pay her half of the water bill, and as they share one water metre, it was cut off. The US-based woman wrote on 'We've given a lot of grace considering she smokes weed and it seeps through that wall so you can smell it through our restroom and child's room.' Advertisement More on neighbours Things reached a head when they spotted she had been stealing electricity from them by plugging in a lead to go to her house. They immediately texted her asking what was going on, and her replies were rather emotional. She replied saying: 'I'll unplug asap, and I'll come right over to tell [sic] to you. 'It's been the worst week and I don't know how much more I can take.' Advertisement Most read in Fabulous She added in a later text: 'I'm at my wits end. 'Everything is falling apart and my daughter won't help me. Your kids are breaking law if they kick their ball over neighbour's fence, High Court rules after couple sued next door 'My electric bill is 2000 dollars because I went the whole year without paying everything myself. 'I'm paralyzed and I'll be sitting in the dark again in about 2 hours. Advertisement 'NOONE can help me. And I'm so tired, I can't ask anyone for anything else. I'll be homeless.' The woman whose electricity was being stolen said they were also going through a hardship. She texted back: 'I feel like we've been respectful neighbors to you and would appreciate to be treated the same way. 'If you could have simply asked us out of respect we would have worked some type of agreement with you. Advertisement 'I understand you're going through hardship but we are too. 3 The woman replied saying she felt like the neighbour had taken advantage of her Credit: Reddit 'And we feel like you plugging into our electricity without asking is taking advantage of us thinking we're just a dumb young couple who won't notice. 'I understand you have a child you're taking care of but we have a baby we're trying to better provide for.' Advertisement They explained that they would be now letting the property management handle the situation. 3 The neighbour offered to pay $100 for the electricity Credit: Reddit PAY BACK In response to this, the neighbour said she had been "embarrassed" to ask for help, and offered them $100 to pay them back for the electricity. Many people were shocked at the encounter, with one saying: 'She shamelessly plugged it in but too scared to admit fault. Instead of just owning up to her mistake, she's whining about how awful things have been for her. Coward.' Advertisement Another added: 'There was no mistake here. What she did was very deliberate and had her sob story ready to go to guilt the neighbor into letting her continue to leech.' I had a two-year bin war with my next door neighbour Gemma Smith and Sophie Wood were engaged in a weekly feud for a year over their wheelie bins. When Gemma, who is single and doesn't work due to stress, says: 'Sophie seemed nice and we'd stop and exchange pleasantries. 'But it all changed at the beginning of 2022, when Sophie's bin was full and she put her rubbish bag in mine. 'I took it out and put it on top of her bin. 'It fell off, gulls pecked at it and there was rubbish everywhere.' Both women refused to clear up the mess, claiming it was the other one's fault. Gemma says: 'I felt so angry. 'There was cat litter spread all over my drive — it was absolutely disgusting and we ended up shouting at each other. 'We were both as bad as each other — we'd walk past each other and I'd tell her she was a lazy cow and to clean up after herself. 'We'd scream insults at each other." Within six months Sophie had set up a CCTV camera and threatened to report Gemma to the council. In retaliation, Gemma set up the baby monitor — which can record video — to try to pin more wrongdoing on Sophie. Then last July Sophie spotted Gemma in tears on her doorstep following a burglary at her home. Gemma says: 'Sophie came straight round and asked if there was anything she could do. 'We are now the best of friends and help each other out all the time."
Extra.ie
21 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Marian Price sues Disney over Say Nothing series
Old Bailey bomber Marian Price has sued Disney over an allegation in its Say Nothing series that she shot dead Jean McConville. The veteran Republican, also known as Marian McGlinchey, has previously denied firing the shots that killed the mother of ten more than 50 years ago. Ms McGlinchey, a former member of the Provisional IRA, claimed through her lawyers that she had 'no alternative' but to sue The Walt Disney Company Ltd and Minim Productions Ltd. Marian Price. Pic: George Sweeney/REX/Shutterstock Say Nothing, a nine-part Disney+ series, focused on the life of her late sister, Dolours Price. The pair were convicted for their part in the IRA car-bomb attack on London's Old Bailey in 1973. A plenary summons in Ms McGlinchey's defamation case was filed at the High Court in Dublin on Wednesday, and yesterday her solicitors, Belfast-based Phoenix Law, confirmed that legal proceedings are under way. It said these followed 'the egregious and defamatory allegations levelled at our client in the Say Nothing series'. Jean McConville. Pic: REX/Shutterstock The legal firm continued: 'Both entities have failed to take steps to rectify their actions, causing continuing and untold damage and harm to our client. 'Our client has therefore been left with no alternative but to issue formal legal proceedings to establish the truth and to protect her reputation.' Solicitor Victoria Haddock stated: 'Our client should not be placed in the position of having to take formal legal action to vindicate her reputation. Marian Price. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire 'Despite multiple opportunities to address the defamatory content of the Say Nothing series, Disney and Minim Productions have failed to take any step to do so. 'There is no justification for making abhorrent accusations under the guise of entertainment and we will be seeking to hold all responsible parties to account.' Ms McConville was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972, after being accused by the IRA of passing information to British forces. Her body was found at Shelling Hill beach in Co. Louth, in 2003. In 1999, the IRA acknowledged it had killed Ms McConville and eight others of the Disappeared. A report by the Police Ombudsman found no evidence that she had ever been an informer. At the launch of the series last year, Disney described Say Nothing as 'a gripping story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles'. Say Nothing is based on the 2018 book of the same name by Patrick Radden Keefe, a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. In an interview last December, he said he was 'completely certain' Marian McGlinchey was the third member of an IRA team who killed Ms McConville. At the time the book was published, Ms McGlinchey released a statement through solicitor Peter Corrigan, also of Phoenix Law. He said: 'My client Marian Price vehemently denies any involvement in the murder of Jean McConville. No legal action followed the publication of the book.
