Latest news with #McMeekin
Sunday World
10-07-2025
- Sunday World
Irishman (58) arrested for attempted murder of John George acquaintance in Spain
The victim was approached from behind while urinating next to an electrical transformer and stabbed in the neck with a box cutter A 58-year-old Irishman has been arrested in Spain for the attempted murder of another Irish national who had previously been named as having knowledge about the murder of John George. Dan McMeekin (29) was viciously attacked with a box-cutter knife in the Costa Orihuela area of the Costa Blanca last month. He had to undergo emergency surgery at Torrevieja University Hospital to save his life after he was stabbed in the neck with a box cutter while he was going to the toilet. McMeekin previously posted a video online in which he said he should have contacted the family of John George before the 37-year-old was murdered, A 58-year-old man, described as an Irish national, was arrested by the Civil Guard for attempted murder on June 30 and brought before a Spanish court this week. Spanish police have claimed the arrested man has previous convictions for 'homicide' and drug dealing. McMeekin was viciously attacked in the early hours of June 15 on a sealed-off street near a small shopping centre in La Zenia. The stabbing suspect is led away by Spanish police News in 90 Seconds - July 10th It is believed McMeekin was knifed after being approached from behind while urinating next to an electrical transformer. The attacker inflicted a deep cut on his neck with the box cutter blade. Having interviewed the victim, officers were able to identify the suspect, although he had left his home days earlier and his whereabouts were unknown. However, a police patrol from Orihuela Costa managed to locate the suspect in a local park on June 30. After confirming his identity with the support of the Pilar de la Horadada Judicial Police Team, he was arrested. According to the news site, as the suspect was not carrying any ID however, Spanish police sought the help of Irish authorities who provided a fingerprint check. This confirmed that he has a criminal record in Ireland for serious crimes, including homicide with a firearm and drug trafficking. Having been charged with attempted murder, he was brought before Orihuela Court of Instruction No 3 which ordered his provisional release with a restraining order against the victim. McMeekin, from West Belfast, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday, in La Zenia, near Torrevieja. Despite local news reports stating there were 'pools of blood' found at the scene of the early morning attack, McMeekin survived the shocking incident and has been recovering in hospital. It has also been reported in the press in Spain that the authorities have revealed McMeekin told them he knew who had stabbed him but that he would not be telling them. John George and Dan McMeekin They also revealed McMeekin has a criminal record and it's well known he has a series of convictions for domestic abuse against a former partner. McMeekin, who is known to be extremely vulnerable due to substance abuse issues, became a target of social media trolls and amateur investigators after the murder of John George. McMeekin knew John George well and was in a bar in Spain where it's claimed a plan was hatched to attack the Belfast man who was later found murdered. The father of two was shot and his body left in a rural area in the Alicante region around December 14 although it wasn't discovered for several weeks. Supporters of John George and his family believe Dan McMeekin has information relevant to the investigation. However, he has never been arrested or charged with anything. McMeekin posted a video to his Facebook page back in January where he was visibly upset and appeared to be high on drugs or drink. He was responding to wild speculation on social media and named one TikToker who he felt was not telling the truth about him and what he knew or didn't know about John George. Slurring his words, he says: 'I am doing my best to help in so many ways... I am guilty, guilty of not telling the family sooner. I am vulnerable, this is breaking me, I have a heart, I do. 'The truth will be told, what I know is fact. It's been a hard time, I have helped. There's a lot of yous who don't know about the good I have done so stop going by social media and stop jumping to conclusions. 'I know what the family is going through, please stop jumping to conclusions, I am helping.' In January Belfast lawyers acting for the family of John George named Dan McMeekin as being one of two men who was due to appear in court in Spain – not as suspects but to tell the court what they knew about the lead-up to the murder. Two weeks after John George's body was found, Belfast legal firm KRW Law said on January 31: 'We can confirm that summonses have issued for the attendance of two persons to answer enquiries in relation to the murder of Mr George. We have been in touch with the authorities in connection with this latest development. 'We understand that each person was originally due to appear at the designated Preliminary Court sitting in Torrevieja, Spain on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 9.30am but are now expected to appear on Friday, January 31 in the same court. 'We are advised the two specified persons are identified as Michael Maly and Daniel Anthony McMeekin. 'The family now face an anxious wait to learn what each individual has to say. They are calling upon them to take what they say as 'a final chance to come clean' on the lead-up to and the circumstances surrounding their son's murder before Christmas last year...' Czech national Michael Maly was later arrested and appeared in court as a murder suspect but was released on bail and has yet to be charged with any offence. Jonny Smyth and Madison Allen Meanwhile 27-year-old Newtownabbey man Jonny Smyth was eventually arrested in Portugal having gone on the run before being extradited back to Spain where he has also been named as a suspect and held on remand in prison – but like Maly has not yet been charged with any offence. Sources say Jonny Smyth had helped Dan McMeekin after finding him in Spain in a bad way on drugs. But Smyth turned on Dan and gave him a beating after it's claimed he found Dan doing cocaine in the apartment Smyth shared with his partner – now wife – Madison. McMeekin has been in jail back home in Northern Ireland several times and was convicted of a number of nasty domestic abuse offences.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-02-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Elephants Trumpet, Flap their Ears after their Complex Move Across Australian City
Elephants trumpeted, touched trunks and flapped their oversized ears upon reuniting with their herd after a complex, five-day move from an urban Australian zoo to a much larger enclosure. The nine Asian elephants were transported 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Melbourne Zoo in the heart of the city to an enclosure 10 times bigger at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, Zoos Victoria said on Thursday. Police escorts and synchronized traffic lights aided their journey in three convoys of trucks. The animals' reactions demonstrated they were happy with their move, the elephants' manager Erin Gardiner said, according to The Associated Press. 'The behaviors that we saw that indicated to us that they felt really comfortable and also excited to see each other were lots of ear flapping, trunk touching, lots of vocalizations,' Gardiner said. 'So, roaring, trumpeting, tweaks and squeaks. And so all those interactions helped us understand that they are happy to see each other and feeling comfortable. By the afternoon, those calves were playing together and interacting and I just couldn't believe how well they traveled,' Gardiner added. Planning the move began almost two years ago by training the elephants to enter and exit the transport crates, veterinarian Bonnie McMeekin said. 'Without that training and comfort, I think it would have been really hard to do it safely,' McMeekin said. The elephants weighing a combined 23 metric tons were given mild sedatives to reduce their stress during their 40-minute journeys. The adults were also tethered around their ankles to hold them steady on the road. The trucks mostly traveled around 60 kph (37 mph) but took turns cautiously, McMeekin said. The crates were air-conditioned and purpose built, three of them specifically for mothers and calves to travel together. The herd has one adult male, five adult females and three calves, all 2 years old. The adult male, who is the most solitary member of the herd, made the journey alone on Feb. 6 in a crate hoisted onto a truck by a crane. On Saturday, one truck carried an aunt and another carried a crate with a mother and calf. Two mothers with calves plus the herd matriarch followed in three crates on Monday, when the herd was reunited. McMeekin said two days was a long time for females in a herd to be separated. The herd on Wednesday was introduced into their new 21-hectare (52-acre) enclosure that has two 3.5-meter- (11-foot-) deep swimming pools. The enclosure is as big as the entire Melbourne Zoo where the herd had outgrown their 2-hectare (5-acre) habitat. Their new 88 million Australian dollar ($55 million) home has mud wallows, specially designed elephant barns and a communal sleeping area filled with 3,300 metric tons of sand. The herd will be given weeks to settle into their new home before the habitat is opened to the public.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elephants trumpet, squeak and flap their ears after their complex move across an Australian city
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Elephants trumpeted, touched trunks and flapped their oversized ears upon reuniting with their herd after a complex, five-day move from an urban Australian zoo to a much larger enclosure. The nine Asian elephants were transported 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Melbourne Zoo in the heart of the city to an enclosure 10 times bigger at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, Zoos Victoria said on Thursday. Police escorts and synchronized traffic lights aided their journey in three convoys of trucks. The animals' reactions demonstrated they were happy with their move, the elephants' manager Erin Gardiner said. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'The behaviors that we saw that indicated to us that they felt really comfortable and also excited to see each other were lots of ear flapping, trunk touching, lots of vocalizations,' Gardiner said. 'So, roaring, trumpeting, tweaks and squeaks. And so all those interactions helped us understand that they are happy to see each other and feeling comfortable. By the afternoon, those calves were playing together and interacting and I just couldn't believe how well they traveled,' Gardiner added. Planning the move began almost two years ago by training the elephants to enter and exit the transport crates, veterinarian Bonnie McMeekin said. 'Without that training and comfort, I think it would have been really hard to do it safely,' McMeekin said. The elephants weighing a combined 23 metric tons (25 U.S. tons) were given mild sedatives to reduce their stress during their 40-minute journeys. The adults were also tethered around their ankles to hold them steady on the road. The trucks mostly traveled around 60 kph (37 mph) but took turns cautiously, McMeekin said. The crates were air-conditioned and purpose built, three of them specifically for mothers and calves to travel together. The herd has one adult male, five adult females and three calves, all 2 years old. The adult male, who is the most solitary member of the herd, made the journey alone on Feb. 6 in a crate hoisted onto a truck by a crane. On Saturday, one truck carried an aunt and another carried a crate with a mother and calf. Two mothers with calves plus the herd matriarch followed in three crates on Monday, when the herd was reunited. McMeekin said two days was a long time for females in a herd to be separated. The herd on Wednesday was introduced into their new 21-hectare (52-acre) enclosure that has two 3.5-meter- (11-foot-) deep swimming pools. The enclosure is as big as the entire Melbourne Zoo where the herd had outgrown their 2-hectare (5-acre) habitat. Their new 88 million Australian dollar ($55 million) home has mud wallows, specially designed elephant barns and a communal sleeping area filled with 3,300 metric tons (3,600 U.S. tones) of sand. The herd will be given weeks to settle into their new home before the habitat is opened to the public. ___ This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Eric Gardiner's name from Gardner.
The Hill
13-02-2025
- General
- The Hill
Elephants trumpet, squeak and flap their ears after their complex move across an Australian city
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Elephants trumpeted, touched trunks and flapped their oversized ears upon reuniting with their herd after a complex, five-day move from an urban Australian zoo to a much larger enclosure. The nine Asian elephants were transported 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Melbourne Zoo in the heart of the city to an enclosure 10 times bigger at the Werribee Open Range Open Zoo, Zoos Victoria said on Thursday. Police escorts and synchronized traffic lights aided their journey in three convoys of trucks. The animals' reactions demonstrated they were happy with their move, the elephants' manager Erin Gardner said. 'The behaviors that we saw that indicated to us that they felt really comfortable and also excited to see each other were lots of ear flapping, trunk touching, lots of vocalizations,' Gardner told Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'So, roaring, trumpeting, tweaks and squeaks. And so all those interactions helped us understand that they are happy to see each other and feeling comfortable. By the afternoon, those calves were playing together and interacting and I just couldn't believe how well they traveled,' Gardner added. Planning the move began almost two years ago by training the elephants to enter and exit the transport crates, veterinarian Bonnie McMeekin said. 'Without that training and comfort, I think it would have been really hard to do it safely,' McMeekin said. The elephants weighing a combined 23 metric tons (25 U.S. tons) were given mild sedatives to reduce their stress during their 40-minute journeys. The adults were also tethered around their ankles to hold them steady on the road. The trucks mostly traveled around 60 kph (37 mph) but took turns cautiously, McMeekin said. The crates were air-conditioned and purpose built, three of them specifically for mothers and calves to travel together. The herd has one adult male, five adult females and three calves, all 2 years old. The adult male, who is the most solitary member of the herd, made the journey alone on Feb. 6 in a crate hoisted onto a truck by a crane. On Saturday, one truck carried an aunt and another carried a crate with a mother and calf. Two mothers with calves plus the herd matriarch followed in three crates on Monday, when the herd was reunited. McMeekin said two days was a long time for females in a herd to be separated. The herd on Wednesday was introduced into their new 21-hectare (52-acre) enclosure that has two 3.5-meter- (11-foot-) deep swimming pools. The enclosure is as big as the entire Melbourne Zoo where the herd had outgrown their 2-hectare (5-acre) habitat. Their new 88 million Australian dollar ($55 million) home has mud wallows, specially designed elephant barns and a communal sleeping area filled with 3,300 metric tons (3,600 U.S. tones) of sand.
Associated Press
13-02-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Elephants trumpet, squeak and flap their ears after their complex move across an Australian city
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Elephants trumpeted, touched trunks and flapped their oversized ears upon reuniting with their herd after a complex, five-day move from an urban Australian zoo to a much larger enclosure. The nine Asian elephants were transported 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Melbourne Zoo in the heart of the city to an enclosure 10 times bigger at the Werribee Open Range Open Zoo, Zoos Victoria said on Thursday. Police escorts and synchronized traffic lights aided their journey in three convoys of trucks. The animals' reactions demonstrated they were happy with their move, the elephants' manager Erin Gardner said. 'The behaviors that we saw that indicated to us that they felt really comfortable and also excited to see each other were lots of ear flapping, trunk touching, lots of vocalizations,' Gardner told Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'So, roaring, trumpeting, tweaks and squeaks. And so all those interactions helped us understand that they are happy to see each other and feeling comfortable. By the afternoon, those calves were playing together and interacting and I just couldn't believe how well they traveled,' Gardner added. Planning the move began almost two years ago by training the elephants to enter and exit the transport crates, veterinarian Bonnie McMeekin said. 'Without that training and comfort, I think it would have been really hard to do it safely,' McMeekin said. The elephants weighing a combined 23 metric tons (25 U.S. tons) were given mild sedatives to reduce their stress during their 40-minute journeys. The adults were also tethered around their ankles to hold them steady on the road. The trucks mostly traveled around 60 kph (37 mph) but took turns cautiously, McMeekin said. The crates were air-conditioned and purpose built, three of them specifically for mothers and calves to travel together. The herd has one adult male, five adult females and three calves, all 2 years old. The adult male, who is the most solitary member of the herd, made the journey alone on Feb. 6 in a crate hoisted onto a truck by a crane. On Saturday, one truck carried an aunt and another carried a crate with a mother and calf. Two mothers with calves plus the herd matriarch followed in three crates on Monday, when the herd was reunited. McMeekin said two days was a long time for females in a herd to be separated. The herd on Wednesday was introduced into their new 21-hectare (52-acre) enclosure that has two 3.5-meter- (11-foot-) deep swimming pools. The enclosure is as big as the entire Melbourne Zoo where the herd had outgrown their 2-hectare (5-acre) habitat. Their new 88 million Australian dollar ($55 million) home has mud wallows, specially designed elephant barns and a communal sleeping area filled with 3,300 metric tons (3,600 U.S. tones) of sand. The herd will have three weeks to settle into their new home before the habitat is opened to the public.
