Russia and Ukraine launch barrage of strikes as Kyiv signs deal to increase drone production
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The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Philip Dwyer loses appeal against trespass conviction at direct provision centre
CAMPAIGNER PHILIP DWYER trespassed at a direct provision centre for International Protection (IP) applicants at Inch in Co Clare where residents were being besieged by protesters outside the property, a court has heard. At Ennis Circuit Court this evening, Judge Francis Comerford upheld the trespass conviction imposed on Dwyer, an anti-immigrant activist, at Magowna House on 18 May 2023. Described in court by his counsel Anne Doyle BL as a 'Citizen Journalist', Dwyer (56) of Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was appealing the district court trespass conviction imposed in March and Judge Comerford also affirmed the district court fine of €500. Dwyer told the court that he was at Magowna House to ask questions in his role as a journalist. Judge Comerford said that Dwyer 'might be entitled to make enquiries and go to someone's door, but he went well beyond it here'. At the time, there were protests at Magowna House where 29 International Protection applicants were being accommodated and there were blockades on local roads which were attracting media attention. Judge Comerford said that a group of people here came to seek refuge 'and were brought by the State to a relatively isolated, rural location where they were alone and away from a lot of resources and facilities'. 'And in effect, they were besieged in the premises they were brought to,' the judge said. 'It was made absolutely clear to them that they weren't welcome and there were protesters outside the property and there were bales of hay blocking access to prevent others joining them.' He said that there were 30 or 40 protesters protesting against their presence. Judge Comerford said that the big difference between Dwyer and protesters outside was that he went inside the property, where the other protesters didn't. Advertisement Judge Comerford said that he accepted the evidence of the Manager of Magowna House at the time, Ahlam Salman who said that Dwyer's presence on the property made her feel 'afraid'. Video footage made by Dwyer was played to the court, where he can be heard saying that he had arrived at a 'people trafficking centre'. In the footage shown in court, Dwyer can be heard saying, 'these are all foreign people telling me what I can't do in my own country'. Dwyer can be seen addressing a Ukrainian man wearing a fluorescent jacket: 'Do you think Irish people are stupid? Do you think we are all idiots? I wouldn't blame you, to be honest with you.' He asks later: 'What is your problem? You are not in Ukraine, this is my country…What are you hiding? I am just asking questions on behalf of the people of Ireland. The people in this country are very concerned about this.' After seeing some men believed to be International Protection applicants staying at the centre, Mr Dwyer asks: 'Why are these people covering their faces….This is Ireland. This is my country.' Counsel for the State Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said to Dwyer that his words 'had a menacing undertone' to the people to whom he spoke on the property. In response, Dwyer said: 'I wasn't menacing to anybody.' He said: 'I 100% stand over those comments. We all have to respect one another. I tried to be respectful when I went in there.' He said: 'I was treated very badly. I was treated with hostility… I felt quite intimidated as well. That is part of the job.' He went on to tell the court: 'I have thousands of viewers, sometimes hundreds of thousands.' Counsel for Dwyer, Anne Doyle BL, said that she was not instructed by her client not to enter any mitigation concerning penalty 'as my client stands by his actions', Doyle said that 'he maintains that he was working in the course of his duties and does not accept the verdict'.
Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Russian minister found dead hours after being sacked by Putin in ‘apparent suicide'
Roman Starovoyt, who had served as transport minister since May 2024, was fired in a presidential decree earlier in the day Roman Starovoyt has been found dead (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Russia's former transport minister has been found dead, hours after being dismissed by president Vladimir Putin, in what officials called an apparent suicide. Roman Starovoyt, who had served as transport minister since May 2024, was fired in a presidential decree earlier in the day. Hours later, the body of Mr Starovoyt (53), was found in his car, according to Russia's Investigative Committee, the top criminal investigation agency. A criminal probe has been launched into Mr Starovoyt's death and investigators see suicide as the most likely cause, according to committee's spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko. Russian media have reported that Mr Starovoyt's dismissal could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in the Kursk region where he served as governor before being appointed transport minister. The alleged embezzlement has been named as one of the reasons behind deficiencies in Russia's defensive lines that failed to stem a Ukrainian incursion in the region that was launched in August 2024. Mr Starovoyt's successor as Kursk governor, Alexei Smirnov, stepped down in December and was arrested on embezzlement charges in April. Some in the Russian media have alleged that Mr Starovoyt also could have faced charges as part of the investigation. Mr Starovoyt's dismissal also followed a weekend of travel chaos as Russian airports were forced to ground hundreds of flights due to Ukrainian drone attacks. An official order releasing Mr Starovoyt from his post was published on the Kremlin's website on Monday morning. It did not give a reason for his dismissal. Shortly before the news about Mr Starovoyt's death broke, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the reasons behind his dismissal. Mr Peskov praised Mr Starovoyt's replacement, Andrei Nikitin, who was appointed deputy transport minister five months ago. Roman Starovoyt has been found dead (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 7th
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Controversial replica of Peter the Great flagship anchors off Dublin coast
A controversial sailing ship which is a replica of a vessel built by Russia's Peter the Great in the early eighteenth century is anchored off the Irish coast in Killiney Bay. The Shtandart is an exact copy of the ship built by the Russian Tsar in 1703. It was built in 1999 and describes itself as "an active sail training ship", under the flag of the Cook Islands. It has attracted controversy in recent years following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Campaigners claim it is a 'Russian' ship, operating under a 'convenience flag' to avoid EU sanctions. Ukrainian Action in Ireland, an Irish charity working with the Ukrainian community in Ireland, issued a letter to Irish maritime authorities requesting that they "deny entry to Irish ports to the Shtandart". "We don't want that ship to be welcomed here," explained Anatoliy Prymakov from Ukrainian Action in Ireland. "We want them to know that Ireland stands with Ukraine. We want them to know you can only parade your ship around Europe once Russia has ceased its war on Ukraine. The ship is a facade for a bloody regime." The Shtandart dropped anchor in Killiney Bay yesterday, in front of Dalkey's ÉIRE sign, which is one of more than 80 built along the Irish coastline during World War II to alert pilots to neutral territory. The ship's captain, Vladimir Martus, told RTÉ News that it was sailing from St Malo in France to Aberdeen in Scotland, with 22 people from 12 nations on board. He said criticism of the ship was "unjust and unfair". "We are against what Putin is doing and nobody on this ship has ever expressed support for Russia," he said. "The Shtandart is simply a replica vessel. We are not a Russian vessel. Shtandart is, and always has been, dedicated to education, heritage, and human connection. We are a homeless child in European waters, and we are fighting for survival," he added. Mr Martus said he expected the vessel to set sail again tomorrow afternoon, and they would need to make a further stopover "somewhere". The Department of Transport told RTÉ News that it is "aware of the movements of the vessel known as Shtandart". In a statement, it said the Shtandart "has not entered a pre-arrival notice for entry into an Irish port which is required under EU regulations" and "through third party sources it is understood that the vessel is registered under the Russian flag and would likely fall under the restrictive measures". The Department says it has been in contact with ports under its remit on the east coast "to ensure appropriate measures are taken".
