Latest news with #EmmaFarrell
BreakingNews.ie
26-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Alleged murder victim was physically abusive when drunk, wife tells court
A woman has told the trial of the man accused of murdering her husband that her partner was an alcoholic who was physically abusive when drunk and that she had lived "in a constant state of fear" of being killed by him. Witness Emma Farrell on Thursday told the Central Criminal Court jury that her husband's violence could "erupt spontaneously without any provocation" on her part and the deceased was "the type of guy who had no fear". Advertisement Ryan Kearney (39), with an address at Loughnamona Drive, Leixlip, Co Kildare has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jeffrey Jackson (50) at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare on February 8th, 2024. Mr Jackson's partner, Breda Kearney, has given evidence that when she returned home after a brief trip to the shop she was met by her bloodied nephew Ryan Kearney, who told her he had stabbed her partner in the neck and thought he was dead. In his Garda interviews, Mr Kearney said that he took a knife off his aunt's enraged partner after a scuffle and gave him "a few jabs with it", telling detectives that he had no intention to kill and was in fear for his life. "It was either going to be me sitting here today or him sitting here today," the accused told officers. Advertisement Ms Farrell, who on Thursday gave evidence via video-link from Sheffield in the UK, told Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, that she had known Mr Jackson since 2010 and they got married in 2019. Asked in what circumstances had they moved from Ireland to Sheffield, the witness said her father had died and Mr Jackson "was free of cancer but it was probably going to come back". She said Mr Jackson had been receiving treatment for metastasized malignant melanoma, which was life-threatening. She said they decided to move back to her mother in Sheffield and with the "free treatment in the NHS". Ms Farrell said her husband had always been a drinker since they met and agreed it was a problem. She said Mr Jackson was an alcoholic and would use his illness benefit to fund his drinking. The witness said she had worked full time in a manager's position and supported him. Advertisement Asked about what Mr Jackson was like when he drank excessively, Ms Farrell said sometimes he could be "OK" but at other times he could be aggressive, depending on the alcohol he drank and his mood prior to drinking. She said her husband had been aggressive towards her and eventually their relationship had broken down. She said she had decided to end the relationship and Mr Jackson later moved back to Ireland. Under cross-examination, Ms Farrell agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending, that Mr Jackson's drinking had reached a stage in 2015 where he was drinking "whatever money" he was getting as well as what she was earning. She said he effectively viewed alcohol as medicine for his illness. Ms Farrell told the jury that her husband was physically abusive to her when he was drunk but the emotional and verbal abuse would happen regardless. Advertisement She agreed she had told gardai in a statement in February 2024 in relation to this case that her husband would have his hands up around her throat, throttling her. "It could be up against a wall or a couch but it appeared to be consistent and ongoing?" asked Mr Bowman, which the witness agreed with. Mr Bowman put it to Ms Farrell that she had recalled a particular incident in her statement in 2015 involving Mr Jackson wanting a curry when she was in bed and she had ordered it. "It was too spicy, he dragged you out of the bed, pulled you down the stairs, he said 'you did that you fat bastard' and made you sit in the corner for two hours and you didn't move out of fear for what would happen otherwise?" asked counsel. The witness agreed that this had been the case. Advertisement Mr Bowman put it to the witness that her husband had her hands up around her throat in 2020 and she had looked into his eyes and that this was the end of the relationship. Ms Farrell agreed, saying she had "walked out the same day". The witness also agreed she had "grave concerns" for her safety and life at this stage. She further agreed that if Mr Jackson was drunk he could be violent and in her view was "the type of guy" who had no fear. The witness agreed with the lawyer that despite loving her husband she lived in "a constant state of fear". She said she found it difficult to balance affection for him against an honest fear that she could be killed by him. She said she reached out to police in 2020 and made a formal statement but at this stage Mr Jackson had moved back to Ireland. She agreed she had made it known to her husband that she had spoken to the police. She agreed with Mr Bowman that she only "countenanced any period of re-engagement" with Mr Jackson on account he could remain sober for six months and get help for his mental health issues but she had no expectations he would meet those conditions. Ireland Court throws out damages case brought over wheelba... Read More Ms Farrell also agreed her husband's violence could "erupt spontaneously without any provocation" on her part at all. In re-examination, Ms Farrell told the prosecutor that she and the deceased had separated but never got divorced. She said Mr Jackson was still her husband at the time of his death and that she had never sought medical treatment for any of "those incidents". She told the jury she was now getting counselling for complex post-traumatic stress disorder. In his opening speech, Mr Grehan told the jury that evidence of 16 separate knife injuries suffered by Mr Jackson during what the prosecution say was a "ferocious attack" in the apartment did not fit with Mr Kearney's account of having stabbed the deceased in self defence. The trial continues on Friday before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women.
Scotsman
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Ireland's leading customer service and sales outsourcing partner, Uniquely announces £7million Scottish investment
A leading business process outsourcer in the field of sales and customer services is delighted to officially announce a £7 million investment in Glasgow as part of a wider £20 million investment across the UK, including the West Midlands, the Northwest and Scotland, creating 300 UK jobs. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The investment in Scotland was officially unveiled at a recent Enterprise Ireland Business Leaders Dinner in Glasgow, and attended by Irish Minister Niamh Smyth TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, marking a significant milestone in Irish-Scottish trade relations. As part of this investment, Irish-owned Uniquely announced a new Glasgow office and the creation of 100 new jobswithin 12 months, contributing to economic growth and innovation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Renowned for delivering outstanding sales and service solutions across diverse industries, Uniquely is opening offices in Solihull near Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow and will employ 300 staff by the end of 2025 across the three regions. Photographed at the Enterprise Ireland Business Leaders Dinner in Glasgow are (L to R) Emma Farrell, Senior Market Advisor UK CreaTech Sector, Enterprise Ireland; Pat Stack, Head of Business Development & Marketing at Uniquely; Minister Niamh Smyth TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation; and Joe Healy, Head of Global Markets, Enterprise Ireland. Commenting on the Scottish investment, Founder and CEO of Uniquely, Gerard Teahon, said: 'People are at the heart of everything we do at Uniquely, and we are delighted to be growing our presence and supporting local economies through new employment opportunities. This significant investment in Glasgow is both the realisation of an important milestone in our journey towards innovation, transformation and growth and a testament to the exceptional talent and innovative offering we provide our increasingly international customer base.' Despite the challenges in trade posed by Brexit, the UK remains Ireland's biggest trading partner in Europe. Commenting on the UK investment, Ireland's Prime Minister, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, said: 'I congratulate Uniquely on their plans to create new jobs and invest in its ongoing expansion in the UK, providing solutions for banking, energy and telecoms. Uniquely is one of several Irish businesses continuing to play a significant role in the UK economy, while delivering export growth for Ireland.' Deirdre McPartlin, Regional Director UK, Nordics and New Exporters, Enterprise Ireland,said: 'Enterprise Ireland supports Irish companies to grow and succeed in global markets. Expanding our client companies' investment in the UK is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland, with the UK being our largest export market. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Supporting this commitment, we have announced the opening of our third office in the UK, in Glasgow, which builds on our existing strong presence in London and Manchester. Uniquely's £7 million investment and plans to create 100 jobs in Scotland highlight the growth in trade and collaboration between Scotland and Ireland, and are a clear signal of the confidence Irish companies have in Scotland's business landscape as a location for international growth. "The new job opportunities will drive economic growth, strengthen Glasgow's relationship with Ireland, and also benefit the Irish economy.' Head of Business Development & Marketing at Uniquely, Pat Stack, said: 'Establishing our presence in Glasgow was made possible through the assistance of Enterprise Ireland. The team's support has been instrumental in our successful expansion into the city.' Earlier this month, Uniquely won two awards at the Guaranteed Irish Business Awards 2025. Uniquely was honoured in the Professional Services category and claimed the prestigious Guaranteed Irish Business of the Year award for its commitment to excellence and innovation, local jobs and communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Also in April, and alongside some of Europe's most recognisable corporate brands and leading global agencies, the company's rebrand last year (from SalesSense International to Uniquely) was awarded two silver accolades for Best Naming Strategy and Best Visual Identity in the Professional Services sector at the Transform Europe Awards hosted in London. Its accolades don't end there; in November 2024, Uniquely became Ireland's first outsourcer to win the Customer Services Centre of the Year award at the CCMA Irish Customer Contact & Shared Services Awards. Uniquely was also awarded 'Best Managed Companies' Platinum Standard by Deloitte Ireland* for superior business performance for the past nine years, and it was officially recognised as one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland™ in 2025, based on direct feedback from employees. Established in 2006, Uniquely boasts a wealth of experience in diverse markets, collaborating with various organisations to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. Its expertise spans service solutions in sectors such as Financial Services, Energy, Medical Technology, Telecoms, Media and Retail.
