Latest news with #JohnnyMorrissey
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Your verdict on Everton's hard men
We asked for your thoughts on BBC Sport's Phil McNulty's ranked list of Everton's hardest players. Here are some of your comments:Michael: Your choice is very good but Jimmy Gabriel could hold his own among Can't really argue with the list as there is an element of subjectivity, but Roger Kenyon, Mike Bernard, Mike Pejic, Mike Lyons, Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp all have claims to be on the list. Johnny Morrissey is almost certainly top though, just above Duncan I first saw Johnny Morrissey play for England schoolboys at Goodison Park, talking about hard men , what about Tony Kay?Dave: Bruce Rioch was pretty tasty - I remember Graeme Souness, Boro's hard man, being stretchered off after a clash with Brucie!Michael: Absolutely brilliant series - I always loved Jimmy Gabriel. All fabulous legends, cheers Nobody took liberties with Johnny Morrissey. Rumour has it that he never lost a five-a-side match in training because the rest were too scared to go near him. I suspect he wouldn't still be on the pitch at half-time if he was playing now. Nevertheless, he was a wonderful player especially in the 1969-70 Championship winning 'Psycho' Pat van den Hauwe must be up there. If I remember rightly Kendall said "we've signed him because he plays a hard game within the rules". Then he got a red and three yellow cards in his first five games!David: What about Sandy Brown? He was the tastiest of them all. He would challenge anybody. I once saw him offer the ball to a Liverpool fan on the Kop to come and take it off him. Brilliant.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Never take the ball off him in training' - is this Everton's hardest player?
Throughout Wednesday, BBC Sport's Phil McNulty has ranked the hardest men to play for in top MorrisseyMorrissey was signed by Everton from Liverpool in 1962 for £10,000. It was a deal done without Reds manager Bill Shankly's knowledge, and he was so enraged that he vowed never to let such an incident happen Shankly's admiration for this tough, but very talented, winger was confirmed in a decade at Everton in which he played in two title-winning figured in 1962-63, but more memorably and prominently when he stood out - even among the greats of Alan Ball, Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall - in the 1969-70 triumph, his crosses a rich source of supply for the young Joe was beloved among Everton fans, who worshipped both his great ability and his attitude. He still cut a sprightly figure at Goodison Park, at 85, when he was part of the parade of former players at the final men's game at the stadium in the wider game, Morrissey had a reputation as a hard-as-nails character who was not to be trifled with at any time - a winger happy to give any full-back taking liberties a taste of their own famous 'Anfield Iron' Tommy Smith admitted even he was wary of Morrissey, while former colleague Kendall said Ball's advice to him on his first day at Everton was: "Never take the ball off Johnny Morrissey in training."Leeds United were the template for the hard teams of that era, but Morrissey used to send a shudder through that battle-hardened Elland Road dressing room, his running battles with Jack Charlton the stuff of Giles, no shrinking violet in the physical exchanges, wrote in his book how he could look after himself "like Peter Osgood did, like Mike Summerbee did, like Johnny Morrissey did - well OK, maybe not quite like Johnny".Scroll down to 14:53 BST for Duncan Ferguson and Peter Reid in second and third, and 08:33 for Kevin Ratcliffe and Pat van den Hauwe in fourth and it's over to you. Do you agree with Phil's selections? Tell us who should be on the list
Sunday World
15-05-2025
- Sunday World
Spanish cops bust lucrative Hawala drug money laundering ring
Kinahan cartel money man Johnny Morrissey was arrested as part of an investigation into a €200 million Hawala ring in 2022 Cops in Madrid say they broke up a Chinese-Arab ring that laundered €21 million between June 2022 and September 2024, which was the proceeds of drug trafficking. The investigation began after the disruption of a migrant-trafficking gang, prompting a probe into their finances. The gang were mostly trafficking Syrian nationals between Algeria and Spain. A Chinese branch of the gang supplied cash in Spain in exchange for cryptocurrency, while an Arab branch 'took charge of the reception of money in any part of the world.' 17 suspects, who were mostly Chinese and Syrian were arrested in Spain, Austria and Belgium in January. Europol have said that a Belgium-based gang leader facilitated contacts within Spain. The suspect, who is Jordanian-Palestinian, is suspected of coordinating money laundering from the proceeds of trafficking humans and drugs, Police Chief Inspector Encarna Ortega told a press conference in Madrid. Investigators seized €205,000 in cash, €183,000 in cryptocurrency, shotguns, ammunition, and illegal cigars worth more than €600,000. Real estate property, luxury goods, and 18 vehicles were also seized. Previously, the Kinahans' alleged money man, Johnny Morrissey, was arrested as part of an investigation into a major money-laundering ring in Spain. The Manchester native, nicknamed 'Johnny Cash', was arrested at his villa on the Costa Del Sol in September 2022, and authorities say he may have used the Hawala money transfer system to launder €200 million of drug money in 18 months. Morrissey was taken into custody and spent almost two years behind bars in Alhaurin de la Torre prison, Malaga, before he was released on bail last June. Under the Spanish legal system, suspects do not face formal charges until their trial begins, but they can be held in custody as a person of interest. Described as a 'highly-dangerous and violent man',he is suspected of running the elaborate drugs-money laundering operation on behalf of the Kinahan Cartel, as well as for other gangs. Police say he was at the centre of 'the most important money laundering operation in Spain' and that €350,000 a day was washed through his organisation. The Kinahan organised crime group is alleged to have established ties with Hezbollah through the use of the Hawala system. The Lebanese group, who are classified as a terrorist organisation by the United States, have used the system in Europe to finance their activities and deal drugs. When the Kinahan cartel was sanctioned by US authorities in 2022, Johnny Morrissey was named as a key cartel enforcer who was laundering money through his alcohol company, Nero Vodka. EUROPOL News in 90 Seconds - May 15th The company, which was run by his wife Nicola, allowed him to present the image of a legitimate entrepreneur. The glamorous businesswoman was arrested alongside her husband in 2022 but was later released without charge. Hawala is an informal money transfer system that allows for funds to be moved through intermediaries known as 'hawaladars', without the money itself ever moving across jurisdictions. A hawaladar in one country can take receipt of the money from one payer before contacting a hawaladar in another country who will pay out the equivalent sum in cash or goods to the payee. No documentation is kept or recorded and the system works on trust between the hawaladars. The traditional method is popular in parts of Asia and Africa, particularly among migrant workers who send money to their families. However, the informal nature of the system, which is untraceable, has made it a popular way to exchange money linked to terrorism, drugs and money laundering.
Sunday World
22-04-2025
- Sunday World
Man (30s) killed in gangland shoot out at sports club on the Costa Del Sol
Well-placed sources close to the ongoing investigation described him last night as British and said they were working on the basis he was a 30-year-old man from Liverpool. Calahonda from the cliff in backlight. Calahonda in the municipality of Motril, province of Granada, Andalusia, Spain. Calahonda is in the central part of the region of the Costa Granadina. Calahonda in September 2024. A 'British' man has been killed in a Costa del Sol street shooting. Police were last night hunting the killer, believed to have fled the crime scene in a getaway car later found torched nearby. The murder happened around 8.15pm Monday evening in the popular British holiday resort of Calahonda between Marbella and Fuengirola. The victim was already dead by the time police and paramedics reached the scene. Locals told cops they had heard between eight and ten shots being fired. The incident has been described as a gunfight. A Cupra vehicle with foreign number plates was found burned out nearby shortly afterwards. Insiders said weapons had been found inside. Investigators are working on the theory it was the getaway car and was set on fire by the assassin and possible accomplices. Police have not yet officially confirmed the nationality of the victim, partly because the post-mortem has not taken place. But well-placed sources close to the ongoing investigation described him last night as British and said they were working on the basis he was a 30-year-old man from Liverpool. The murder is being investigated by the Guardia Civil police force. Last week a 34-year-old man was rushed to the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella after being shot outside a nightclub in the famous Costa del Sol resort. Read more Builders back at Spanish villa of gangster Johnny Morrissey 10 months after €60k prison bail The incident happened around 4.30am on Good Friday. Witnesses said the suspect fled the scene in a getaway vehicle. The victim was hospitalized after suffering a gunshot wound to the shoulder. No arrests are yet believed to have taken place. Well-placed sources close to the ongoing investigation said last night they believed the victim's killers waited for him to finish a game of football before targeting him. The murder happened in a street called Don Jose de Orbaneja Street, where there is a well-known tennis and padel tennis club called Club del Sol as well as a neighbouring holiday resort called Finca Naundrup which has sports facilities. Police put the area on lockdown after the shooting. A Brit expat wrote on social media shortly after it happened, assuming it occurred at Club del Sol although police have not said yet exactly where in the street it happened: "Anyone know what happened at Club del Sol? "Heard gunshot-like sounds then lots of police". Another Brit answered: "Apparently a guy was shot seven times. Police lockdown." A third Facebook user writing on a local expat site said: "It happened on the slip road down towards Finca Naundrup outside Club del Sol. "My son was at the football pitch from 8pm when I dropped him off and is finally home now." He added of the lockdown late yesterday evening: "No-one is allowed to leave there yet. Police still there." A Scottish expat added: "I was playing padel at Finca Naundrup earlier. Glad I missed it." The car believed to have been used as a getaway vehicle is currently being analysed by police forensic experts.
