Man fights against prison stay bill after spending 11 years behind bars for crime he didn't commit
Michael O'Brien was a victim of one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice in Welsh history now finds himself beening billed for his time in prison.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
13 hours ago
- ITV News
Man fights against prison stay bill after spending 11 years behind bars for crime he didn't commit
Michael O'Brien was a victim of one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice in Welsh history now finds himself beening billed for his time in prison.
Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Daily Record
Killers slashed and stabbed vulnerable man before dumping him in Glasgow close
Joseph McGready was slashed and stabbed having been accused of stealing from one of his killers. Three killers are each facing a life sentence for the brutal murder of a vulnerable man. Amanda Welsh, 49, Conor Thomas, 29, and Laura McHugh, 32, have been convicted of a fatal attack on Joseph McGready at the latter's flat in Braid Square in Maryhill, Glasgow on September 29, 2023. The 30 year-old was slashed and stabbed having been accused of stealing from McHugh. The trio had denied murder during the trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Welsh and Thomas had effectively blamed McHugh while McHugh had pointed the finger at the other two. But, jurors today, June 27, returned unanimous verdicts against the trio. They were remanded in custody and are due to learn the minimum they will spend behind bars next month. Mr McGready had ended up in the company of the three on the day of the killing before going to McHugh's flat. The trial heard claims it was while there Mr McGeady was accused of theft. He was set upon before he was dumped badly injured in the communal close. The killers then fled the scene. Welsh and McHugh ended up spending the night in a hotel. Mr McGready was later found, but he tragically passed away days later in hospital. The trio were eventually held by police for the death. McHugh told detectives of a "free for all" at her flat, but denied being responsible. She stated Welsh initially slashed Mr McGready before Thomas struck him "five or six times". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. McHugh told the officers: "I shouted on Connor and he stopped. It was only a few seconds and it was over." She recalled "a lot of blood" and assumed the victim had a number of injuries. McHugh claimed she had been "terrified", but admitted helping lift Mr McGready from the flat and "put him in the landing". The victim was said to have pleaded: "Please stop, please stop." In her evidence, Welsh admitted slashing Mr McGready, but denied any further attack. She claimed the man had made a comment about her boyfriend. After she had dropped the blade, Welsh insisted she had then seen McHugh with a knife. Following the verdicts, prosecutor Kath Harper revealed all three had criminal records. This included both Welsh and Thomas having convictions for offensive weapons. Lord Matthews adjourned the case for reports.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Police investigate shocking attacks on swans that has left several birds dead and injured
Police investigate shocking attacks on swans that has left several birds dead and injured WARNING: There are some graphic images as volunteer describes just how violent these attacks are A female who was injured in an attack, pictured with a wound (Image: Swan Rescue Wales ) Several birds have been left dead or injured after a series of attacks along a Welsh canal. Police say they have been called to a number of incidents, mainly involving swans, in the past three to four years on the Neath Canal, which runs from Glynneath to Melincryddan. Animal protection charity RSPCA has described the incidents as "shocking". A volunteer with Swan Rescue Wales who has helped the swans in some of the incidents has described the graphic reality of the attacks on these birds. Vanessa Price, from Swan Rescue Wales has said these incidents go back to October 13, 2021, when a cygnet (a young swan) was brutally killed after a brick was thrown on it from a bridge, breaking its back and causing it to drown. A swan that was fatally shot through its head (Image: Swan Rescue Wales ) The cygnet that died after a brick was thrown at it from a bridge (Image: Swan Rescue Wales ) Vanessa said: 'We've had a slingshot ball bearing, two air rifle pellets, a brick on a cygnet, one of them had a stone thrown on the wing and then we had a male battered to death with two sticks.' The volunteer group has also seen other dead birds in the area but it is difficult to ascertain their cause of death. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Article continues below 'We've had a lot of pigeons shot on the Tennant canal, at canal side,' said Vannessa. 'We've had ducks dead, we have had moorhens dead, but obviously it's a lot more difficult to retrieve their bodies, so we can't actually say how they've been killed, but they are being killed in the same vicinity.' Vannessa recalls an incident at Neath Canal, where a stone was thrown at a female swan breaking its wing, and resulting in her being euthanised — leaving behind seven cygnets with a male. In a different incident on May 12, 2023, a female was fatally shot through its head with an air rifle, with seven eggs stolen that were two weeks from hatching – her male was also found battered but it survived. In a more recent incident that happened between 7pm on May 31 and 9am on June 1, in Swansea Vale at the Axis Court Pond, a male was battered death while while the female was also attacked. But what rescuers found later, shocked them even more. The male that was battered to death (Image: Swan Rescue Wales ) 'He was battered with two sticks to death and the female was bashed across the face as well and she was bleeding,' Vannessa said. "Now what happened was, after the attack on the female we noticed an odd behaviour where she was stretching her neck and she was chattering her beak a lot. 'We decided to rescue her just to have a further investigation and during that investigation we discovered a large piece of wood under her chin with a little hook in it embedded. 'So we decided to take her to the rescue to get her x-rayed and during the x-ray we found that she had actually been shot with a pellet that had lodged in the hyoid bone. 'The hyoid bone runs across the swan's skull around the back of its neck and under its beak, and supports the tongue. The pellet had wedged in there under her tongue. She's a very lucky swan to be alive.' In the most recent incident, the group found a swan that appeared to have been shot with a pellet sticking out, which Vanessa describes as the 'big black bauble" at the top of a swan's beak. The swan also has a female and six young cygnets. He is currently being monitored to evaluate if surgical intervention is needed. The swan that has a pellet stuck at the top of its beak (Image: Swan Rescue Wales ) 'It's heartbreaking because you get to know these swans,' Vanessa said. 'They've got quirky little characters and you get recognise them by their characters, they know you because they see you on a regular basis, and it's really heartbreaking to discover an animal has just been murdered or abused in some way. 'Leave them alone. These animals, nature is difficult enough for them to survive as it is without them having these extra struggles to contend with.' Vanessa has explained that the Giant's Grave along the Neath Canal and the Axis Court Pond are the hotsopts for such attacks. The volunteer group that Vanessa works with - Swan Rescue Wales - has has received 190 calls this year with 10% related to violent attacks on swans. In addition to their own patches, the group's volunteers have also been receiving calls from Somerset, Llandridnod Wells in Powys and even Penmaenmawr in Conwy County. A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: 'These incidents are shocking - and sadly they appear to be acts of intentional cruelty. It is always very distressing to think that people may be taking pleasure in targeting defenceless animals 'We share our space with wildlife and need to show respect and kindness. Animals feel pain, just as we do. It's disgusting to think that anyone could take pleasure in hurting a living creature. 'Anyone with information should contact us on our inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018 or please call South Wales Police on 101. 'All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is illegal - except under licence - to take, injure or kill wild birds or to take, damage or destroy their eggs or nest whilst it is in use or being built. The maximum penalty, if found guilty, is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.' A South Wales Police statement read: 'Over the past three to four years, we have seen several incidents involving swans along the Neath Canal with various locations from Briton Ferry to Neath with no suspects yet identified. 'These incidents cover a large area, and we have nothing to suggest the same person is responsible for all these attacks. 'We work in conjunction with our partners the RSPCA, Swansea Council and Neath Port Talbot Council to conduct investigations into these matters. We want to remind the public that it is an offence to injure or kill a swan and we will prosecute if we find that someone has.' Article continues below
