Latest news with #JamesByrne
BBC News
11-07-2025
- BBC News
Four men deny murder of Wirral grandmother, 53, shot at home
Four men have denied the murder of a grandmother who was shot in her Rutter, 53, was shot in the chest in in Moreton, Wirral, Merseyside, at about 01:00 GMT on 30 October Allen, 54, of no fixed address, James Byrne, 23, of no fixed address, Barrie Glynn, 46, of Westway in Heswall, and David Harrison, 58, of Old Meadow Road in Pensby, appeared at Liverpool Crown four, who appeared via videolink from three different prisons, denied murder. The defendants also denied possession of a 9mm pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and arson of a stolen Vauxhall McGinn, 26, of Frankby, Wirral, appeared in the dock and denied two counts of assisting an to the charges, she is alleged to have driven Byrne and a second man, Preston Connolly, from Heswall to their home addresses on 30 October David Aubrey KC adjourned the case until a pre-trial hearing on 8 September with the trial set for 6 October, the court heard. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- The Independent
Four men deny murder of grandmother
Four men have denied the murder of a grandmother who was shot in her home. Jacqueline Rutter, 53, was shot in the chest in in Moreton, Wirral Merseyside, at about 1am on October 30 2022. Simon Allen, 54, of no fixed address, James Byrne, 23, of no fixed address, Barrie Glynn, 46, of Westway in Heswall, and David Harrison, 58, of Old Meadow Road in Pensby, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday. All four, appearing over videolink from three different prisons, pleaded not guilty to murder. The defendants also denied possession of a nine millimetre pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life and the arson of a stolen Vauxhall Insignia. Anna McGinn, 26, of Frankby, Wirral, appeared in the dock and pleaded not guilty to two counts of assisting an offender. According to the charges, she is alleged to have driven Byrne and a second man, Preston Connolly, from Heswall to their home addresses on October 30 2022. Judge David Aubrey KC adjourned the case until a pre-trial hearing on September 8. A trial will take place on October 6, the court heard. Ms Rutter was one of four female victims of gun crime in Merseyside in 2022, with nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Ashley Dale, 28, and Elle Edwards, 26, who was shot outside a pub in Wirral on Christmas Eve.
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- General
- Irish Times
A ‘typical but unique teenager' - Darragh Byrne, who died at Conor's Pass in Kerry, remembered in service
A 16-year-old boy who died following a fall near a lake on the Conor Pass in Co Kerry was remembered at his requiem Mass as a warm, kind and talented youngster who was taken from this life 'far too soon'. Darragh Byrne of Ballysally in Charleville, Co Cork, was visiting the area with his parents when he fell from a height at Pedlar's Lake close to Daingean Uí Chúis on Tuesday afternoon. He was the only child of James Byrne and his schoolteacher wife Siobhan. Fr Pat Corkery told mourners at noon requiem Mass in the Holy Cross Church in Charleville on Sunday that Darragh made very good use of his life. READ MORE 'Ever since a very young age, Darragh had a great interest in computer and technologies,' he said. 'Many an old laptop he patched up. He enjoyed many outdoor pursuits including swimming, cycling and hiking.' He had a great love for music and took up drums at an early age, the Mass heard. He had also recently begun to teach himself the guitar and was a keen reader who loved history and the classics. 'He was a strong believer in wrongs and rights and was deeply concerned about current world affairs. He had a deep desire for peace.' Fr Corkery, who celebrated the Mass alongside two other priests, said classmates of Darragh had gathered at CBS Charleville earlier this week to remember their close friend. His friends were asked to write down memories they had of Darragh. Fr Corkery read out a sample of the notes, one of which said Darragh 'liked to get his point of view across' while also being 'fun in class.' Another boy said Darragh 'liked the craic and the joke'. 'Darragh always showed great loyalty to his family and friends. Family was very important to Darragh,' Fr Corkery said. 'Darragh will be so missed by all who loved him. In many ways Darragh was a typical teenager. But he was also completely unique. Darragh has gone ahead of you far too soon. But he is waiting for you in eternity.' Fr Corkery said the family had asked that he thank doctors, paramedics, gardaí, Dingle and Killarney Mountain Rescue, Shannon Rescue 115, CBS Charleville, family, neighbours and friends for their help since tragedy struck. Locals had formed long lines to sign the condolence book for Darragh in the church foyer. A picture of a smiling and happy Darragh had been placed next to it. A photograph of the youngster had also been put on his wicker coffin at the top of the church. Pupils of CBS Charleville, dressed in their school uniforms, were among the mourners. Darragh is survived by his parents, his grandfather George Fehilly, grandmother Marie Byrne, and extended family and friends. Following the Mass a cremation service took place at Shannon Crematorium. In a post on social media earlier this week management at CBS Charleville said Darragh was much liked teachers and classmates alike. 'Darragh was a bright and uplifting presence in our school community – a gentle, kind hearted and considerate young person who radiated warmth and positivity,' it said. 'Whether in the classroom, walking our corridors, or spending times with his friends, he left a meaningful and lasting impact. His generous nature, intelligence and talent inspired all who knew him. 'Darragh will be missed deeply by his friends, his classmates, and all the staff here at CBS Charleville. His absence leaves a space that cannot be filled, and we will remember him with great affection and sorrow.' A file on his death is to be prepared for the Coroner and an inquest will take place at a later date.
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
See photos as Wicklow families enjoy epic fun day
The family day took place on Saturday, June 7, from 11am to 4pm, and followed on from a 10k charity row led by staff member James Byrne. Families attending the latest event at Coral Leisure Wicklow enjoyed bouncy castles, games and face painting, while Volvo Bolands of Wexford had a range of cars available, which parents could test drive. Coral leisure front house manager Alana Miley said: 'We had amusement rides for the kids and plenty of games, such as life-sized Jenga and connect-4. Also present were Lorraine's ice-cream van and the crepe king Ireland. Parents were able to test drive some cars from Volvo Bolands and the new Volvo XC60 was on display and youngsters got the chance to draw pictures on the car, and they were then entered into a draw for a One4All voucher. 'As part of our partnership with Volvo Bolands, some proceeds from any cars they sell will go towards the Wicklow Child and Family Project, which is a great local charity we are delighted to be supporting this year. "We also have a bin at Coral Leisure which is a dedicated Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) bin where Coral members and visitors can place their discarded cans and bottles in, and the proceeds go to the Wicklow Child and Family Project as well. It has been receiving great support and people have been showing up with bags full of cans and bottles, which is great.' The next Coral Leisure fundraising event to take place will consist of a 50k walk headed-up by James Byrne and Johnny Hunt, who will be walking all the way from Coral Wicklow to Coral Arklow, and back, in support of Wicklow Child and Family Project. A GoFundMe titled 'Coral Leisure Wicklow & Wicklow Child & Family Project' has also been established, with a fundraising goal of €10,000.
Zawya
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
ITFFA spotlights how film tourism drives economic growth and destination appeal
As the film and tourism industries converge for the 7th annual International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA) in Sandton this week, the spotlight turns to the powerful role of film in driving destination tourism. Taking place from 3–6 June at Hotel Sky, the festival will explore how high-profile productions — many shot in South Africa, a global filming hotspot — contribute to job creation, infrastructure development and increased tourism arrivals. Co-founder of the festival together with Caroline Ungersbock, festival director James Byrne describes this unique event as ä pioneering platform celebrating tourism-focused films and video content. Honouring global tourism content "The ITFFA honours all video content related to the travel and tourism industries, including TV ads, promotional films, video content, campaigns, blogs and vlogs, documentaries, reports and magazine programmes. All film and video products that are related to the promotion of tourism destinations, products, or services are eligible to be entered into the film festival awards, and will be screened during the conference itself, the only one of its kind on the continent," comments Byrne. With a wealth of experience, passion, and innovation in the entertainment and hospitality sectors, he brings a unique perspective to his role at ITFFA. His deep understanding of the industry and his commitment to fostering creativity and collaboration have been instrumental in establishing ITFFA as the premier tourism film festival in Africa. Since co-founding ITFFA with Ungersbock in 2019, Byrne has been the driving force behind the festival's growth and success. Under his guidance, ITFFA has received more than 4,000 film entries from 94 countries, showcasing the best in tourism-related video content across various platforms. Empowering young African creatives "Our vision for the festival extends beyond simply recognising exceptional content; we are also dedicated to empowering young African creatives by providing them with access to tangible work opportunities and the ability to earn real-time income from their work." This is translated into the annual Young Creatives Student Challenge that runs alongside ITFFA, offering young film students mentorship, guidance and editing skills to create professional tourism content for clients, using their smartphones, which can be monetised. This year's challenge has seen five teams of two students each from Wits and UJ visiting the Joburg inner city in partnership with Nikon, Panavision, Jozi My Jozi and The Bannister Hotel, to film content around Maboneng, Newtown, Ponte, and Braamfontein. The winning team, announced during the festival, will receive a cash prize of R10,000 to go towards building their content creation careers. Driving Africa's creative and tourism economy A passion for connecting people, creating engaging experiences, and promoting Africa's rich cultural heritage lies at the heart of ITFFA's mission. The founding partners also have a firm belief in the power of film and tourism to drive economic growth, create jobs, and change the global narrative surrounding Africa. ITFFA is positioned as a catalyst for the development and growth of the African audio-visual industry, while also integrating the global creative community. Looking ahead, the vision for ITFFA in 2025 and into the future is to continue defining the inextricable linkages between film and tourism, making the potential low-lying yields accessible to all, while empowering young African creatives to establish sustainable careers in the industry. 'With our unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the celebration of exceptional content, the team is poised to lead ITFFA to new heights and shape the future of the tourism and travel industry. We invite everyone in the industry to join us for the ride!" concludes Byrne. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
