Latest news with #GeorgeMurray
Irish Examiner
23-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Cork man avoids jail for delivering drugs all over the city and county
A 48-year-old man in full-time employment was operating by night 'as a vital cog in a very organised activity of drug distribution' where he would make at least 10 drops a night all over Cork City and county. George Murray of Ard Na Greinne, Station Road, Blarney, County Cork, pleaded guilty to having cannabis for sale or supply and having cash, the proceeds of crime. Judge Sinead Behan said: 'What is worrying is that you were doing this on a regular, organised basis around Cork City and county.' The defendant spoke up at Cork Circuit Criminal Court during his sentencing hearing: 'I was addicted at the time. I got used to having money. Part of it was paying off what I was smoking.' Judge Behan said: 'These drugs are not available unless someone goes around supplying them. He was going around in an organised fashion doing at least 10 drops a night. 'He does strike me as genuinely remorseful. He co-operated with gardaí. This was quite a sophisticated operation, delivering drugs all around Cork City and count for payment. 'I don't want this man to lose his job. I think he can contribute more to society by doing his job. He is a family man and he supports his family. 'Obviously, drug-dealing is a scourge to society. He enabled the consumption of drugs to occur in a wide area of Cork.' Sentencing The judge imposed a sentence of two-and-a-half years which she suspended in respect of the charge of having cannabis for sale or supply. A 180-hour community service order was imposed for the money-laundering in respect of the cash with which he was found, being the proceeds of crime. Emmet Boyle barrister said: 'His admissions against his own interests are very much part of the case against him. The reason he was stopped driving that day was because of a fault with an indicator (rather than information about drug-dealing).' The 48-year-old man had no previous convictions, he is in gainful employment, he suffered a head injury prior to this which resulted in him taking drugs to relieve pain and he ended up in debt, Mr Boyle said in mitigation at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Detective Garda Colin O'Mahony said the value of the cannabis that was seized from him was €3,600 and he had €3,800 in cash when he was stopped by gardaí on August 23, 2024, at Oak Wood, Macroom, County Cork. The search of his vehicle was carried out on the side of the road because the accused appeared to be nervous when stopped. He admitted delivering drugs all over West Cork that night – Timoleague, Lissarda, Macroom, Bandon and Clonakilty – and that he had started out with €6,000 worth of cannabis in the package that night. 'Interviewed at Bandon garda station, he admitted delivering drugs after work at night, charging €20 per delivery and €15 if the delivery was in Cork City. He would never do less than 10 drops a day. He was involved in this for more than one year.'
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Permission sought to retain Lord Nelson statue in Chichester
Permission is being sought to keep a statue featuring Lord Nelson in place in a West Sussex city for another statue of the famous naval commander alongside his friend Sir George Murray was erected in 2020 outside Murray's former home in North Street in Chichester. Planning permission was given for five years and an extension is being sought from Chichester District Council while "allowing time to decide on, and arrange, a permanent placement for it".The statue, by sculptor Vincent Gray, was awarded a Public and Community Award by Sussex Heritage Trust in 2022. George Murray was born in Chichester in 1759 and joined the Royal Navy when he was 11, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. A plaque next to the sculpture reads: "He rose swiftly through the ranks and first served under Admiral Nelson in 1801 when the two men became close friends. Murray was Nelson's Captain of the Fleet but had to miss the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 as he was sorting out the estate of his late father-in-law."Had he been there, it was likely that he would have been at Nelson's side when he died, rather than Hardy," the plaque reads. George Murray became Mayor of Chichester in 1815, the year he was knighted, and died in the city in Nelson led the Royal Navy to one of its most famous victories at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October was killed during the battle aged 47 after being shot by a French sniper.
