Latest news with #BangorUniversity
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
British tourist, 25, who fell from hotel balcony in Malta died from multiple injuries, coroner says
A British holidaymaker died from multiple injuries when he plunged from a hotel balcony in Malta, an inquest heard. Software engineer Kieran Hughes, 25, was on holiday with friends when he fell from the balcony in the ten-storey hotel. Tragedy struck at 4am local time at Cavalieri Art Hotel in St Julian's, on the east coast of the Mediterranean island, the hearing was told. His father described him as 'a special son and twin brother' - saying the family was 'living in a nightmare'. Opening the inquest, assistant coroner for North West Wales Sarah Riley said the case was likely 'to be an unnatural death'. Kieran travelled from the village of Nant Gwynant, near Caernarfon, Gwynedd, to the island for the holiday with friends on July 11. Mr Hughes worked as a software engineer at the M-Sparc Science Park in Gaerwen, Anglesey. He was a former pupil at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon, and studied engineering at Bangor University. His family said they wanted him to be remembered as 'happy, loving and full of life'. Ms Riley said the cause of death provided by the Maltese authorities to her was 'multiple blunt force injuries due to a fall from height'. She added that it is 'more likely than not to be an unnatural death'. Ms Riley said this cause is sufficient for her to hold an inquest which she opened and adjourned pending completion of further investigations. Medics were called to the scene in the town's Triq Spinola area at around 4.15am. It is understood Mr Hughes was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesman for the Foreign Office has previously confirmed they were in contact with local authorities regarding the death. Police inquiries are reported to be ongoing. Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd described Mr Thomas' death, at the time, as 'heartbreaking news'. 'My heart goes out to the young man's family at this extremely difficult time,' she added. Senedd member Sian Gwenllian said it was 'truly devastating'. 'The pain his family must be experiencing is unimaginable,' she said. 'My thoughts, and those of the people of Gwynedd, are with the family in their grief,' Ms Gwenllian added. Welsh MP Sian Gwenllian, who represents Arfon, previously described Mr Thomas' death as 'truly devastating'. She said: 'News of the death of a 25-year-old from Gwynedd in Malta is truly devastating. 'The pain his family must be experiencing is unimaginable. 'My thoughts, and those of the people of Gwynedd, are with them in their grief.' The tourist was rushed to the Costa del Sol Hospital in May in a 'critical condition' after the incident at the Hard Rock Hotel in Puerto Banus near Marbella. He was then transferred to the Regional University Hospital of Malaga after 5am on Sunday May 25, when the incident took place.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Gwyneed man in Malta fall died from multiple blunt force injuries
A 25-year-old who fell from a hotel balcony in Malta died from multiple blunt force injuries due to a fall from height, an inquest has Hughes, a software engineer from Nant Gwynant, near Caernarfon, Gwynedd, was on holiday with friends when he happened on 11 July at 04:00 local time at Cavalieri Art Hotel in St Julian's, on the east coast of the Mediterranean father described him as "a special son and twin brother", saying the family was "living in a nightmare". Opening the inquest, assistant coroner for North West Wales Sarah Riley said the case was likely "to be an unnatural death".She said the circumstances surrounding the death had yet to be established in Malta, adjourning the inquest pending further Hughes worked as a software engineer at the M-Sparc Science Park in Gaerwen, Anglesey. He was a former pupil at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon, and studied engineering at Bangor family said they wanted him to be remembered as "happy, loving and full of life".
Rhyl Journal
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
KT Tunstall performs at Llangollen International Eisteddfod
The Scottish singer-songwriter performed a one-off concert on Thursday, July 10, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Eye to the Telescope. She performed the album in full alongside her band and the Absolute Orchestra, conducted by Dave Danford, the Eisteddfod's musical director. Tunstall said: "It has been my long-standing dream to see this album played with an orchestra and I lucked out being able to do it here at the Eisteddfod. "This has turned my long-held dream into reality." The concert followed the album's tracklist and opened with Other Side of the World. The orchestral arrangements aimed to bring a new dimension to the music, with Andy Burrows, Razorlight drummer, joining Tunstall on stage. Tunstall praised Danford's arrangements during the show. She said: "What Dave has done with this song is absolutely exquisite." Universe and I was highlighted by the brass section, and throughout the night, Ms Tunstall alternated between acoustic and electric guitars and performed on a grand piano. She also shared personal stories, including her early connection to the Eisteddfod. Tunstall said: "This isn't the first time I have been to the Eisteddfod, I came down here in the 90s driving a white van to sell merchandise from my friend's shop." She revealed that her parents met at Bangor University, where her father was president of the climbing club and her mother took up climbing. Tunstall also spoke fondly of family holidays on the Welsh coast. She said: "It was always sunny." The singer revealed that a new version of the title track will be released later this year. She said: "It has taken me 20 years to finally finish the song and it will be released in October. "Three days ago, I received a very special string arrangement from Nashville for the finished song and an incredible flute solo. "We managed to get a PDF of them - and Dave Danford sorted it out this morning so we could present it to you tonight." The evening began with a set from Edie Bens, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Swansea who is now based in Brighton. Wearing traditional Welsh plaid, Bens performed songs inspired by personal experiences, including one about crashing her boyfriend's car on Christmas Eve and another about an ex-boyfriend that reportedly drew complaints from his father.
Leader Live
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
KT Tunstall performs at Llangollen International Eisteddfod
The Scottish singer-songwriter performed a one-off concert on Thursday, July 10, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Eye to the Telescope. She performed the album in full alongside her band and the Absolute Orchestra, conducted by Dave Danford, the Eisteddfod's musical director. Tunstall said: "It has been my long-standing dream to see this album played with an orchestra and I lucked out being able to do it here at the Eisteddfod. "This has turned my long-held dream into reality." The concert followed the album's tracklist and opened with Other Side of the World. The orchestral arrangements aimed to bring a new dimension to the music, with Andy Burrows, Razorlight drummer, joining Tunstall on stage. Tunstall praised Danford's arrangements during the show. She said: "What Dave has done with this song is absolutely exquisite." Universe and I was highlighted by the brass section, and throughout the night, Ms Tunstall alternated between acoustic and electric guitars and performed on a grand piano. She also shared personal stories, including her early connection to the Eisteddfod. Tunstall said: "This isn't the first time I have been to the Eisteddfod, I came down here in the 90s driving a white van to sell merchandise from my friend's shop." She revealed that her parents met at Bangor University, where her father was president of the climbing club and her mother took up climbing. Tunstall also spoke fondly of family holidays on the Welsh coast. She said: "It was always sunny." The singer revealed that a new version of the title track will be released later this year. She said: "It has taken me 20 years to finally finish the song and it will be released in October. "Three days ago, I received a very special string arrangement from Nashville for the finished song and an incredible flute solo. "We managed to get a PDF of them - and Dave Danford sorted it out this morning so we could present it to you tonight." The evening began with a set from Edie Bens, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Swansea who is now based in Brighton. Wearing traditional Welsh plaid, Bens performed songs inspired by personal experiences, including one about crashing her boyfriend's car on Christmas Eve and another about an ex-boyfriend that reportedly drew complaints from his father.
North Wales Live
13-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Woman's legal claim after ‘genocide' pillowcase protest in North Wales
A former Bangor University student is taking legal action following a dramatic protest she made at her graduation. Aishah AlBader claimed her right to freedom of expression was denied when she was dragged off stage for making a Palestine protest. The Kuwaiti national has taken the first step in civil proceedings against the Gwynedd university under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). She is alleging assault/battery, false imprisonment and violating freedom of expression. In a 20-page letter sent to Bangor University, Aishah claimed she was forcibly removed from the stage by security guards when she tried to peacefully protest. She refused to shake the Vice Chancellor's hand, handing him a leaflet about the university's investments, and walked across the stage with a pillowcase bearing the message ' Bangor University invests in Genocide'. Aishah said: 'As I walked up to graduate, I could only think of Gaza - of the students who will never get to graduate, whose lives, dreams, and hopes have been destroyed under Israel's ongoing genocide. Tens of thousands have been killed, entire families wiped out, and schools and universities reduced to rubble.' She undertook the protest as a gesture against Bangor University's investments in companies she claimed were 'complicit in human rights violations against Palestinians and the unlawful occupation of Palestine'. The university said it has an ethical approach to investments and is currently reviewing its policy. Aishah said she could not accept my degree 'in silence', adding: 'I knew I had to use that platform to centre those oppressed and dehumanised in Palestine. So, I held up a pillowcase reading 'Bangor University invests in genocide'. In response, I was dragged off stage, injured and humiliated." She continued: "I lost professional opportunities I had worked hard to earn and lived in fear and uncertainty of the future. My parents travelled thousands of miles to watch my graduation, and it should have been a moment of joy and pride. "I don't believe that holding a pillowcase should ever provoke violence and the pillowcase I held at my graduation revealed a truth that the university is desperate to hide. 'By bringing this case, I hope to affirm that no student should be punished for speaking out against injustices across the globe and in Palestine.' Aishah has hired London legal firm Gold Jennings to represent her. Her lawyers, Alexander Hogg and Jessica Harrison, said their client had intended to peacefully protest at the graduation ceremony. Her legal team said: 'Instead of facilitating Ms AlBader's non-disruptive and peaceful protest, around four university security officers forcibly dragged her from the stage before removing her from the building. She sustained physical injuries from the incident. 'Our client was part of the movement on Bangor University's campus to end the university's continued investments in companies on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions list. 'Her protest was intended to highlight the university's financial ties to firms complicit in what the International Court of Justice found in January 2024 is a plausible genocide in Gaza and the unlawful occupation of Palestine. 'Gold Jennings has been instructed by Ms AlBader to bring a civil claim for assault/battery, false imprisonment, and breach of her rights under Article 8 and 10 ECHR. As things stand, we have sent a letter of claim to Bangor University and are awaiting the university's response.' Alexander Hogg of Gold Jennings said: 'Safeguarding freedom of expression and the right to protest requires upholding them not only when it is convenient but when it is uncomfortable – such as during graduation ceremonies, when principled students draw much needed public attention to universities' unethical investments. 'Moreover, ensuring that universities are held to account when they violate students' right to protest and free speech, such as in the case of my client, not only protects the right to protest and speak out against what is happening in Palestine, it protects the right to protest and speak out on all issues of public importance for everyone. 'My client has taken a brave and first step in holding Bangor University accountable for preventing her from exercising her right to freedom of speech.' A Bangor University spokesperson said: 'We're aware of a claim. As this is an ongoing matter we are unable to comment.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Protest camps During the last academic year, protest groups staged encampments and occupations at universities across the UK, including Bangor and Cardiff. A Palestine protest camp was set up on university land outside the Pontio building in Bangor in May 2024. It lasted a year before the university issued an eviction notice in May this year, followed by a possession order in June. The 'notice to vacate' was handed to the protestors. But when the deadline to vacate passed without compliance, the university said it 'made the difficult decision' to seek a 'possession order' through the courts. This was granted on June 12. A Bangor University spokesperson said at the time: 'This legal action was a necessary step to bring an end to the ongoing disruption to university property and operations. Our priority remains towards ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of our community.' A statement on the university's website, posted in May 2024 and still there, sets out the institution's 'ethical and sustainable' investments policy. It says: 'The university does not choose individual investments itself but has a framework that our investment managers use to create our portfolio. 'Our policy stipulates that we expect a high level of environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) measures to be in place for any potential investment. The university also screens out potential investments in weapons, armaments, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, adult entertainment and fossil fuel companies. 'Bangor University is currently reviewing this investment policy, with initial discussions having already taken place at the investment committee of which the president of the Bangor University Students' Union is a member. 'The university expects that the policy review will be completed over the summer, and that the revised investment policy will be used as a framework by its investment managers to guide future decisions.' Action was also taken to end a Palestine protest camp at Cardiff University. Anyone picketing on Cardiff University property risks being jailed following a High Court injunction obtained in response to the now-disbanded Palestine camp outside the main building.
