Latest news with #Nugent
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Commonwealth prosecutors won't pursue charges against Dept of Defence over fatal Taipan crash which killed four soldiers
Commonwealth prosecutors will not lay charges against Defence after four soldiers died in a horrific army helicopter crash – even after a damning report identified serious issues related to night vision technology used by the soldiers and their fatigue. The bombshell update comes close to the two-year anniversary of the devastating incident, which claimed the lives of Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Phillip Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs. All four were on board a MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, with the call sign Bushman 83, when it plunged into the waters off Queensland's Hamilton Island on July 28, 2023. At the time, the aircraft was flying in formation with three other helicopters during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Captain Lyon was piloting Bushman 83 alongside co-pilot Lieutenant Nugent when the pair became 'disoriented' for 21 seconds, losing control of the aircraft. He managed to avoid a mid-air collision by rolling the aircraft to the right – diverting it from the path of another helicopter, callsigned Bushman 82. Bushman 83 hit the water at 259km/h, killing everyone on board. A 228-page report by the Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB) laid out the timeline of tragedy, attributing the primary cause of the crash to spatial disorientation. In late July 2023, Comcare – the national authority for work health and safety – began an investigation of potential health and safety offences relating to the crash. Their investigation focused on the Department of Defence's duties owed to workers 'under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011'. In a statement, a Comcare spokesman said investigators provided a brief of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP). But any potential prosecution of alleged workplace health and safety breaches will not take place, according to the CDPP's latest advice to Comcare. The Comcare spokesman said the CDPP had advised the regulator in July that 'it did not consider there was sufficient evidence to commence a prosecution.' NewsWire has contacted the CDPP for comment. The news has outraged family members of the deceased soldiers, with Lieutenant Nugent's father Daniel saying it was a 'disgrace'. 'It's given us no real opportunity to appeal the decision, or to lobby government ministers or anything like that,' he told the ABC. 'Is this how we treat people in our country?' The DFSB's report, released in May, outlined 196 findings, including indirect findings and observations, making 46 recommendation across the Defence Aviation Safety Program. It was one of the most complex investigations by the department in recent history. Cockpit audio of an exchange between Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent sharing a brief exchange before the crash as Captain Lyon tried to navigate rain showers, losing visual contact with Bushman 82. As they attempted to regain sight of the aircraft, neither pilot noticed a critical change in Bushman 83's pitch, from nose-up to nose-down, as their helicopter climbed above the formation. The report states Captain Lyon pitched further, inadvertently pushing their aircraft into a fatal nose-down position. Investigators have determined Captain Lyon's last-second evasive manoeuvre likely saved four other lives by avoiding a mid-air collision with Bushman 82. The DFSB report found Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent were fatigued at the time of flying, as they had been sleeping in tents at Proserpine Airport in the days prior and waited inside the aircraft for two hours before takeoff. The investigation also assessed whether the TopOwl 5.10 helmet, criticised in test reports for its inverted pitch and roll displays when pilots turn their heads, contributed to the crash. The helmet was described by Army test pilots as a 'substantial risk of multiple deaths', but the DFSB found it was 'very unlikely' to have caused the disorientation in this instance. 'While both AATES and Standards Section test and evaluation reports agreed that there were deficiencies relating to attitude presentation, the two agencies disagreed on the severity of the hazard,' the report states.
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Armagh All-Ireland winner Aidan Nugent ordered to stand trial facing eight charges of sexual assault
Armagh All-Ireland winner Aidan Nugent has been ordered to stand trial in the Crown Court, facing eight charges of sexual assault. Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, the 31-year-old confirmed he was aware of the charges against him, all of them alleged to have been committed 'in the United States of America,' on 17 November last year. Nugent, from the Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, faces seven charges of sexual assault and one of sexual assault involving penetration, alleged to have been committed against a single complainant. It is understood to be the Crown case that the offences were committed in America, when the Armagh GAA team travelled to Miami in Florida to celebrate the team's All-Ireland win - their first All-Ireland title in 22 years after they clinched victory over Galway at Croke Park in July. During a brief preliminary enquiry court on Tuesday, the legal step necessary for any case to be returned to the Crown Court, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there is a prima facie case against Nugent. Nugent's defence solicitor Patrick Higgins conceded the point but declared that Nugent 'strenuously denies the allegations.' The court clerk told Nugent he had the right to comment on the charges or to call evidence on his own behalf, but he declined. Returning the case to Newry Crown Court, District Judge Anne Marshall freed Nugent on £500 bail and ordered him to appear for his arraignment on October 2. Applying for legal aid to be extended in allow a senior barrister to be instructed, Mr Higgins told the judge that was on the basis that one of the charges carried a potential sentence of life imprisonment. He also contended that 'all of the people involved in this are in the public eye' and that if Nugent is convicted, there is not only a risk to his reputation 'but also a risk to his liberty and livelihood.' Judge Marshall told the solicitor she would rule on his application later on Tuesday.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
All-Ireland winner to face trial over sexual assault charges on team holiday
Aidan Nugent, who won an All-Ireland football title with Armagh last year, was ordered on Tuesday to stand trial in the Crown Court, facing eight charges of sexual assault. Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, the 31-year-old confirmed he was aware of the charges against him, all of them alleged to have been committed "in the United States of America," on 17 November last year. Nugent, from the Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, Armagh, faces seven charges of sexual assault and one of sexual assault involving penetration, alleged to have been committed against a single complainant, reports Belfast Live. It is understood to be the Crown case the offences were committed in America when the Armagh GAA team travelled to Miami in Florida to celebrate the team's All-Ireland win, their first All-Ireland title in 22 years, after they defeated Galway at Croke Park last July . Nugent's defence solicitor Patrick Higgins has emphasised that during formal police interviews, the defendant claimed that "any sexual activity was consensual". Mr Higgins has also revealed that when Nugent was charged with the offences, the All-Ireland winner replied: "I deny the allegations - it was consensual." During a brief preliminary enquiry court on Tuesday, the legal step necessary for any case to be returned to the Crown Court, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there is a prima facie case against Nugent. Mr Higgins conceded the point but declared that Nugent "strenuously denies the allegations". The court clerk told Nugent he had the right to comment on the charges or to call evidence on his own behalf, but he declined. Returning the case to Newry Crown Court, District Judge Anne Marshall freed Nugent on £500 (approximately €575) bail and ordered him to appear for his arraignment on October 2. Applying for legal aid to be extended in allow a senior barrister to be instructed, Mr Higgins told the judge that was on the basis that one of the charges carried a potential sentence of life imprisonment. He also contended that "all of the people involved in this are in the public eye" and that if Nugent is convicted, there is not only a risk to his reputation "but also a risk to his liberty and livelihood". Judge Marshall told the solicitor she would rule on his application later on Tuesday. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
All-Ireland winner faces eight charges of sexual assault in Crown Court trial
Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, the 31-year-old Aidan Nugent confirmed he was aware of the charges against him Armagh All-Ireland winner Aidan Nugent was today ordered to stand trial in the Crown Court, facing eight charges of sexual assault. Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, the 31-year-old confirmed he was aware of the charges against him, all of them alleged to have been committed 'in the United States of America,' on 17 November last year. Nugent, from the Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, faces seven charges of sexual assault and one of sexual assault involving penetration, alleged to have been committed against a single complainant. It is understood to be the Crown case the offences were committed in America when the Armagh GAA team travelled to Miami in Florida, to celebrate the team's All-Ireland win, their first All-Ireland title in 22 years after they clinched victory over Galway at Croke Park in July. Armagh's Aidan Nugent lifts the Sam Maguire Cup after winning the All-Ireland football final last July. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Nugent's defence solicitor Patrick Higgins has emphasised that during formal police interviews, the defendant claimed that 'any sexual activity was consensual.' Mr Higgins has also revealed that when Nugent was charged with the offences, the All-Ireland winner replied: 'I deny the allegations - it was consensual.' During a brief preliminary enquiry court today, the legal step necessary for any case to be returned to the Crown Court, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there is a prima facie case against Nugent. Mr Higgins conceded the point but declared that Nugent 'strenuously denies the allegations.' The court clerk told Nugent he had the right to comment on the charges or to call evidence on his own behalf, but he declined. Aidan Nugent arriving for a previous court hearing in May, 2025 Returning the case to Newry Crown Court, District Judge Anne Marshall freed Nugent on £500 bail and ordered him to appear for his arraignment on October 2. Applying for legal aid to be extended in allow a senior barrister to be instructed, Mr Higgins told the judge that was on the basis that one of the charges carried a potential sentence of life imprisonment. He also contended that 'all of the people involved in this are in the public eye' and that if Nugent is convicted, there is not only a risk to his reputation 'but also a risk to his liberty and livelihood.' Judge Marshall told the solicitor she would rule on his application later today.
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Irish Examiner
A Tipperary All-Ireland final day tradition like no other
Almost 102 years ago, Tipperary captain Johnny Leahy stepped off the train in Heuston Station and led his team to the GPO. They had the delayed 1922 All-Ireland senior hurling final against Kilkenny to play that September day in 1923 but it was a pilgrimage for other reasons too. On O'Connell Street, they paid their silent respects to the fallen of the Easter Rising before making the short stroll to Talbot Street. There, where their fellow countyman, GAA member and Tipperary IRA leader Seán Treacy perished two years earlier, they recited prayers before walking to Croke Park for the job in hand although Kilkenny won out. Ever since, Tipperary people have marked their appearance in an All-Ireland final with a commemoration of Treacy's death. Sunday is the 28th since Leahy commenced a tradition like no other. Without it, All-Ireland final day wouldn't be the same for many Tipperary supporters. 'I can tell you one thing, if it wasn't done, there would be an outcry,' says former county chairman and co-organiser Seán Nugent. 'It's a sort of an unofficial event but I received several phone-calls to know if it was going ahead. If it wasn't, some of us would be getting plenty of stick!' It's as much now a gathering to hold up a custom started by the county team and a poignant means of starting the build-up on the day as a remembrance of how intertwined the GAA was with the republican cause. Soloheadbeg man Treacy would have been known to many of the 1922 Tipperary team, especially Leahy. A protagonist in the first shots of the War of Independence at his homeplace in 1919, the 25-year-old was later a member of Michael Collins's 'Squad' with his great friend Dan Breen. He died on October 14 1920, a month before Bloody Sunday, killed by the British Secret Service while himself fatally shooting one of them. Two bystanders also died in that flurry of bullets outside Peadar Clancy's drapery shop at 94 Talbot Street. For Nugent, this will be his 19th commemoration. He's been attending since the 1961 All-Ireland final when Toomevara's Matt Hassett, who passed away earlier this year, was the winning captain. For many years, Nugent and Liam Ó Donnchú, who will be master of ceremonies at Sunday's event beginning at noon, had been assisting historian John Hassett who had been vital to keeping the flaming lit. After Hassett's passing in late 2019, the duty now falls to them. Songs including 'Tipperary So Far Away', which was composed by Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers in Treacy's honour, and 'Amhrán na bhFiann' will be sung. 'The Proclamation of the Irish Republic' will too be read. 'For many people, the oration sends them up the road to Croke Park in great spirits,' says Nugent. 'In 2016, Seamus Leahy (Johnny's nephew) led the commemoration. At the end of it, he said, 'And the very best of luck to both teams today. May the best team win and may that team be wearing blue and gold jerseys.'' This weekend's commemoration is significant for a few reasons: it is obviously the first since John Hassett passed away but his daughter Niamh will be giving a decade of The Rosary at it. GAA president Jarlath Burns will be part of the ceremony too along with Tipperary band Rebel Hearts. 'John took the whole thing fairly seriously,' Nugent says. 'And it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to organise either because you had to get a public address system set up there in Talbot Street. Parking cars and traffic can be difficult around there on that day. 'John had a huge grá for remembering our patriotic dead and not for him it may not have continued. We're following his example now and hopefully we can keep it going.' In a first-ever Tipperary-Cork All-Ireland final, the indelible connection between Treacy and Collins will not be lost either and a large Cork representation will be among the couple of thousand people expected to attend. Treacy's death also came 11 days before Lord Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney's following his hunger strike in Brixton Jail in London. Treacy now lies in the cemetry in Churchquarter, Kilfeacle between Golden and Tipperary town. The Kilcommon club in West Tipperary is named after him as is Arravale Rovers's grounds in Tipperary town. His memory is enshrined by those institutions but for many he is the start of a Tipperary All-Ireland final day.
