Latest news with #JackOBrien
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- RNZ News
Family of MH17 victim believes Russia is not close to accepting responsibility for downing of plane
Jack O'Brien was returning home from a holiday in Europe when his Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down. (Supplied) Photo: Supplied In the words of Jack O'Brien's mother, the 25-year-old was like a lot of young Australians - finishing up a seven-week rite of passage adventure to Europe with friends and flying home to embark on the next stage of early adulthood. The year was 2014. The Sydneysider was a passenger on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 (MH17). "He was on that flight because he was on his way home to us," said Meryn O'Brien. She said her son was looking forward to returning to football and planning to move out of home for the first time. "Then July 17th happened and that was all cut short." The wreckage of MH17 after it was shot down by a missile in July 2014. Photo: AFP MH17 had departed Amsterdam and was bound for Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down as it flew over Ukraine. Now, in a development overnight, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) unanimously ruled that Russia was responsible for the deaths of all 298 passengers and crew on board. Jack O'Brien was one of 38 Australian victims . Ms O'Brien said her son had emerged from the "ups and downs of the teenage years" to become a thoughtful, sensitive and intellectually strong young man. "A bit of an introvert, liked his own time but could go out and be gregarious with his mates as well. "We were a small family, just four of us, and now we are a family of three. We're still living in the same home and sometimes I have that feeling that he's here with us, and sometimes it's just his absence," she said, her voice breaking. Two Russians and a Ukrainian were convicted in November 2022 of shooting down the Boeing 777. They remain at large after being tried in absentia. The ECHR ruled that the Russian military supplied the surface-to-air missiles, and had failed to conduct an adequate investigation into the incident, cooperate with requests for information, or provide legal remedies for survivors. Australia and European nations have long blamed Russia. Russia has always denied responsibility. Meryn and John O'Brien lost their son Jack, 25, in the downing of MH17. Photo: ABC News Ms O'Brien said the overnight court finding was what the families of the victims , and the world, had already known. But she said it was another step in what she described as the "truth-telling" of the tragedy. She said she hoped that Russia would one day take responsibility, but she was not certain that would happen in her lifetime. "Many Russians know full well what happened and that the Russian state is responsible, and we've had expressions to us of Russian people who are sorry and ashamed of their country's actions, so I always want to distinguish between those people and the Russian federation." Russia continues to deny responsibility for the MH17 tragedy. Photo: AFP Ms O'Brien said she was deeply grateful for the support she had received from authorities in Australia. "From that day when our world was shattered and, all of a sudden, you're involved in forensic processes and an international incident of mass murder, the support from the Australian Federal Police and [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] has been fantastic and really, really helpful. "We still get updates or heads up if there's something happening." She said that as the families of victims continued to try to "adjust to that hole in our life", the war in Ukraine was adding to their distress. "The suffering caused by the Russian federation is compounded when we watch what is happening in Ukraine. We feel like we are part of that as well." - ABC
ABC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Family of MH17 victim believes Russia is not close to accepting responsibility for downing of plane
In the words of Jack O'Brien's mother, the 25-year-old was like a lot of young Australians — finishing up a seven-week right of passage adventure to Europe with friends and flying home to embark on the next stage of early adulthood. The year was 2014. The Sydneysider was a passenger on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 (MH17). "He was on that flight because he was on his way home to us," said Meryn O'Brien. She said her son was looking forward to returning to football and planning to move out of home for the first time. MH17 had departed Amsterdam and was bound for Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down as it flew over Ukraine. Now, in a development overnight, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) unanimously ruled that Russia was responsible for the deaths of all 298 passengers and crew on board. Jack O'Brien was one of 38 Australian victims. Ms O'Brien said her son had emerged from the "ups and downs of the teenage years" to become a thoughtful, sensitive and intellectually strong young man. "A bit of an introvert, liked his own time but could go out and be gregarious with his mates as well. "We were a small family, just four of us, and now we are a family of three. We're still living in the same home and sometimes I have that feeling that he's here with us, and sometimes it's just his absence," she said, her voice breaking. Two Russians and a Ukrainian were convicted in November 2022 of shooting down the Boeing 777. They remain at large after being tried in absentia. The ECHR ruled that the Russian military supplied the surface-to-air missiles, and had failed to conduct an adequate investigation into the incident, cooperate with requests for information, or provide legal remedies for survivors. Australia and European nations have long blamed Russia. Russia has always denied responsibility. Ms O'Brien said the overnight court finding was what the families of the victims, and the world, had already known. But she said it was another step in what she described as the "truth-telling" of the tragedy. She said she hoped that Russia would one day take responsibility, but she was not certain that would happen in her lifetime. "Many Russians know full well what happened and that the Russian state is responsible, and we've had expressions to us of Russian people who are sorry and ashamed of their country's actions, so I always want to distinguish between those people and the Russian federation." Ms O'Brien said she was deeply grateful for the support she had received from authorities in Australia. "From that day when our world was shattered and, all of a sudden, you're involved in forensic processes and an international incident of mass murder, the support from the Australian Federal Police and [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] has been fantastic and really, really helpful. "We still get updates or heads up if there's something happening." She said that as the families of victims continued to try to "adjust to that hole in our life", the war in Ukraine was adding to their distress. "The suffering caused by the Russian federation is compounded when we watch what is happening in Ukraine. We feel like we are part of that as well."
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Man jailed for killing Leigh neighbour in stabbing attack
A man who killed his neighbour in a stabbing attack and was arrested the next day when he returned to the house to get his trainers has been Draper, 55, stabbed Jack O'Brien several times at the house in Siddow Common, Leigh, on 3 December last year, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) 27-year-old managed to get out of the house but he died from his injuries. Draper was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter at Manchester Crown Court and was sentenced to 11 years. GMP said officers followed a trail of blood back to Draper's home. He was arrested the next day after going back for some claimed he acted in self-defence but he was convicted after a mother Tracy O'Brien said: "The drive home from the hospital was the longest drive ever. "I came back to an empty house and sat in Jack's bedroom."Even now, I haven't changed anything in that room, even his bedding."She said Draper had "viciously attacked" her son."I will never be able to touch, hear or hug my boy again, I just have memories, pictures and his ashes, Ms O'Brien added."I don't eat or sleep, and when I do sleep I don't want to wake up because the reality is Jack." Det Insp Matthew Hamer said the sentence reflected "the severity of Draper's actions and the tragic loss of Jack O'Brien".He added: "Our thoughts remain with Jack's family and friends during this difficult time. "We hope this outcome brings some measure of closure to those affected by Draper's actions." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Associated Press
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career
NEW YORK (AP) — Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O'Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it's his turn. 'Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, 'I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.' And I said, 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.' I said, 'I'd rather you wrote my speech,'' Fierstein says. Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind 'Torch Song Trilogy' and 'Kinky Boots,' will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. He connected by Zoom from his home in 'a small fictional town in Connecticut' to talk about his career and a Broadway season dominated by George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and Denzel Washington in 'Othello.' The conversation has been edited for clarity and Do you know what you're going to say on Tony night?FIERSTEIN: I never know what I'm going to say. But I have been trying to gather thoughts, which I guess is a good idea. And I watched at least five or six lifetime achievements speeches by others. AP: Has the honor triggered any personal thoughts?FIERSTEIN: I did write a line that may or may not end up in my speech, saying that the most humbling thing is to think that my life meant something to the community. It's one thing to be enjoyed, but to have the kind of meaning that they turn around and say, 'We want to give you a lifetime achievement'? That's a very heady Was a lifetime in the theater inevitable? FIERSTEIN: No, no, no. I guess there are theatrical types, but art was always inevitable. I was sort of artistic, but I thought I'd maybe be a Disney animator. I don't think I ever believed I was good enough to create the Disney characters, but there were people that took the creation and then did the other drawings. I thought I could do that. Something in the arts. I had my BA in painting from Pratt. That's what I thought was going to You arrived on Broadway just as AIDS was consuming the arts. What was Broadway like then?FIERSTEIN: There was no time to think about it. We had to go to war immediately. If you remember, Ronald Reagan never said the word 'AIDS' in eight years. There was no attack against the disease; there was only an attack against people. People wouldn't go to restaurants because there were gay waiters. There were people that wouldn't go to Broadway because there were gay people. They might be in the audience with gay You work has always been about compassion. Why didn't you want to burn it all down?FIERSTEIN: My writing is telling stories that mean something to me. And certainly there's hatred and there's anger in my stories — and truth — as far as I can tell them. But the horrible truth is that no matter how badly we act as human beings, there's still a humanity under it What are your thoughts about the current Broadway season?FIERSTEIN: Who would have guessed that we'd have a season where the plays were the big thing and the musicals are sort of ignored? Thanks to George and Denzel and these stars that return to Broadway — thankfully return to Broadway — and they've done these plays and it's wonderful. They're bringing an audience that maybe wouldn't go see a musical or a Just get them to experience it, right? FIERSTEIN: Once you go to the theater, once you get in there and if you have a good time, if it does something, you're going to come back. I don't care why you came in the first place. Come back and see what else we have and open your mind and heart — and What about the pipeline of playwrights — are you happy with it?FIERSTEIN: There are people that are in love with theater, certainly, but there are people that want to make a living. And those people seem to drift to television and movies. I have a nephew married to a wonderful woman who wants to be a writer, but what she wants to write is movies and TV. It wouldn't even interest her to write a play. I don't know why. It seems easier to write television. It seems easier to write a half-hour where you already are given the characters. AP: Congratulations again. You are beloved in this community and a lifetime achievement award seems I thought it was because they just wanted to give me something else to dust, because I ain't got enough stuff to dust here. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career
Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O'Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it's his turn. 'Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, 'I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.' And I said, 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.' I said, 'I'd rather you wrote my speech,'' Fierstein says. Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind 'Torch Song Trilogy' and 'Kinky Boots,' will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. He connected by Zoom from his home in 'a small fictional town in Connecticut' to talk about his career and a Broadway season dominated by George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and Denzel Washington in 'Othello.' The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Do you know what you're going to say on Tony night? FIERSTEIN: I never know what I'm going to say. But I have been trying to gather thoughts, which I guess is a good idea. And I watched at least five or six lifetime achievements speeches by others. AP: Has the honor triggered any personal thoughts? FIERSTEIN: I did write a line that may or may not end up in my speech, saying that the most humbling thing is to think that my life meant something to the community. It's one thing to be enjoyed, but to have the kind of meaning that they turn around and say, 'We want to give you a lifetime achievement'? That's a very heady idea. AP: Was a lifetime in the theater inevitable? FIERSTEIN: No, no, no. I guess there are theatrical types, but art was always inevitable. I was sort of artistic, but I thought I'd maybe be a Disney animator. I don't think I ever believed I was good enough to create the Disney characters, but there were people that took the creation and then did the other drawings. I thought I could do that. Something in the arts. I had my BA in painting from Pratt. That's what I thought was going to do. AP: You arrived on Broadway just as AIDS was consuming the arts. What was Broadway like then? FIERSTEIN: There was no time to think about it. We had to go to war immediately. If you remember, Ronald Reagan never said the word 'AIDS' in eight years. There was no attack against the disease; there was only an attack against people. People wouldn't go to restaurants because there were gay waiters. There were people that wouldn't go to Broadway because there were gay people. They might be in the audience with gay people. AP: You work has always been about compassion. Why didn't you want to burn it all down? FIERSTEIN: My writing is telling stories that mean something to me. And certainly there's hatred and there's anger in my stories — and truth — as far as I can tell them. But the horrible truth is that no matter how badly we act as human beings, there's still a humanity under it all. AP: What are your thoughts about the current Broadway season? FIERSTEIN: Who would have guessed that we'd have a season where the plays were the big thing and the musicals are sort of ignored? Thanks to George and Denzel and these stars that return to Broadway — thankfully return to Broadway — and they've done these plays and it's wonderful. They're bringing an audience that maybe wouldn't go see a musical or a play. AP: Just get them to experience it, right? FIERSTEIN: Once you go to the theater, once you get in there and if you have a good time, if it does something, you're going to come back. I don't care why you came in the first place. Come back and see what else we have and open your mind and heart — and wallets. AP: What about the pipeline of playwrights — are you happy with it? FIERSTEIN: There are people that are in love with theater, certainly, but there are people that want to make a living. And those people seem to drift to television and movies. I have a nephew married to a wonderful woman who wants to be a writer, but what she wants to write is movies and TV. It wouldn't even interest her to write a play. I don't know why. It seems easier to write television. It seems easier to write a half-hour where you already are given the characters. AP: Congratulations again. You are beloved in this community and a lifetime achievement award seems appropriate. FIERSTEIN: I thought it was because they just wanted to give me something else to dust, because I ain't got enough stuff to dust here. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit
