Latest news with #O'Sullivan's
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Assets linked to alleged Kinahan associate deemed proceeds of crime by High Court
Assets belonging to an alleged Kinahan organised crime group associate who once resided in an affluent South Dublin suburb have been deemed by the High Court to be the proceeds of crime. The Criminal Assets Bureau claim Ciaran O'Sullivan, aged 50, who previously resided on Adelaide Road in Glenageary, is known to multiple law enforcement agencies as a transnational drug trafficker for over 20 years, and has lived a lavish lifestyle despite having no legitimate source of income. The bureau cites Mr O'Sullivan's daughters' attendance at an exclusive Swiss finishing school, Surval Montreux, as an indicator of this lifestyle. Assets On Wednesday, barrister Jim Benson, for the bureau, sought orders related to assets linked to Mr O'Sullivan, which were seized during searches of properties connected to him in June 2020. Among the assets seized were various devices recovered at his Glenageary address, including iPhones, Google Pixel phones and Samsung tablets. It is the bureau's case that Mr O'Sullivan was involved in the supply of EncroChat devices, and that these devices were held by Mr O'Sullivan to this end. EncroChat is a now-defunct encrypted messaging service favoured by those involved in organised crime. Other items seized included luxury watches, a Louis Vuitton briefcase, €3,060 cash and a gold bullion coin. Mr Justice Alexander Owens said he was satisfied these assets were the proceeds of crime, granting the orders sought by the bureau under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996. The judge refused to make the order sought in relation to €16,350 held in a bank account held under Mr O'Sullivan's aunt's name. The court heard evidence that this account was used to pay for Mr O'Sullivan's daughter's Swiss school fees. Mr Justice Owens said the net effect of granting orders sought relating to the bank account would be to take money from the pension of an elderly woman, and that this would be 'unfair'. Crime group connections In making his orders, Mr Justice Owens noted evidence submitted on Mr O'Sullivan's connections to a Chinese money laundering gang, who have provided services to the Kinahan organised crime group. In the 2000s, Mr O'Sullivan was targeted and arrested in joint Irish and Dutch police operations focusing on the activities of the Kinahan organised crime group, the bureau allege. Mr O'Sullivan has not lived in Ireland for some time, the court heard. He has no criminal convictions in Ireland, but was convicted of two separate drug-related offences in Spain and the Netherlands.
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'He has that Corkness in him. It's not arrogance' - The brilliance of Cathal O'Sullivan
AT THE END of his very first training session in charge of Cork City, Tim Clancy sidled over to teenager Cathal O'Sullivan and asked him where he wanted to be in 18 months' time, at which point he would be 18. 'England,' replied O'Sullivan, without missing a beat. Six months later, Clancy asked him the same question and received the same, instant answer. By England, O'Sullivan means the Premier League. That move looks likely to come to fruition this summer, with Crystal Palace among the top-flight English clubs interested. 'He can be whatever he wants', says O'Sullivan's team-mate Seani Maguire. 'He's one of the best young fellas I've probably played with, and that includes in England.' O'Sullivan has been on a three-year professional deal with Cork City, but that expires at the end of this year. Had he been tied longer-term to the kind of deal St Pat's struck with Mason Melia, O'Sullivan's transfer fee would likely have exceeded €1 million. City must therefore decide whether to lose him at the end of the season for nothing but a mandated compensation fee of approximately €290,000, or sell him this summer and negotiate a sell-on clause and performance-related add-ons. Advertisement The latter is the likeliest to come to pass, though it would mean City will have to stave off relegation this season without a key attacking player, given O'Sullivan has played in all but 21 minutes of their last 13 games. O'Sullivan has been playing off the right side of Cork's attack under new manager Ger Nash, but is viewed as being most effective in central areas, if not as a number 10, then as an attacking player drifting inside on to his left foot to create from the half-spaces. O'Sullivan's raw talent is easily discerned, and was obvious to Cork City's academy when he first arrived, playing in an U13 team that featured Matthew Moore, now at German club Hoffenheim. He was rich in game intelligence: O'Sullivan knew when to carry the ball and when to pass, and knew the right time and weight to put on that pass. He also had the innate intelligence to understand how to use his small frame. He effortlessly took the ball on the half-turn, knew how to angle himself to shield possession and then push away from pressure, and developed the kind of craft needed to help him beat his opponent. Watch how O'Sullivan will sometimes skip by his marker and then run under his arm, knowing the opponent then has only two options: let him go, or foul him with such blatant cynicism they are likely to be booked. The City academy quickly realised their work with O'Sullivan was mainly about coaching off-ball work, as they were determined not to coach the natural talent out of him. O'Sullivan in action against James Norris of Shelbourne in a recent Premier Division tie. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO Modern academy dogma teaches players to take two to three touches and then pass, to the point their dribbling abilities can be hammered out of them. City academy head Liam Kearney had his own experience like this, signed by Nottingham Forest as a winger and then told to pass more often and dribble less. O'Sullivan has continued to express himself at first-team level, as anyone who has take a trip to Turner's cross of late will attest. 'He just loves playing football,' says Kearney. 'When I look at Cathal, he has that Corkness in him. It's not arrogance, it's, 'I believe I am very good and I am here to show people that.'' But talent alone is never enough. 'You can see as clear as day how good he is on the ball, I think it's just his attitude towards everything', says Maguire. 'I think that's what teams in England will look for first.' That attitude has already been tested. The O'Sullivan secret was long out by the time he was 16, and thus was subject of interest from clubs in England and across Europe. Then, in a training session with the Irish U16s, he leapt to attack a back post header and landed awkwardly on his knee, suffering a serious ACL injury. A lonely, isolated rehabilitation followed, during which the overseas clamour to sign O'Sullivan was somewhat stalled. He recovered, however, with figures at the club remarking at the physical shape in which he returned. Consider his recovery as part of that above mantra. I believe I am very good and I am here to show people that. He has some areas in which to improve, with seven goals and seven assists across 43 league games in both tiers for City a return with some room for improvement, though O'Sullivan is widely seen as a profile of player who will flourish in a team stocked with better players. And while Maguire is among those to attest to O'Sullivan's toughness, an elite-end Premier League academy will also have the staff and resources to do a little more work on his upper body strength and his explosiveness. 'He'll definitely play for Ireland, he's that good', says Maguire, 'and he'll definitely go and play at the highest level in football in England.'
West Australian
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
The West Australian Pulse: Taylor O'Sullivan reflects on the duality of life and death
Taylor O'Sullivan's artwork hanging from the walls of The Art Gallery of Western Australia reminds people of the fragility of life. The piece, First Dance, encourages art lovers to reflect on the eternal nature of death. 'The meaning behind the artwork is about the duality of both life and death, and that living isn't necessarily the last part of living,' he said. 'So it explores the idea of life after death, and that the way we live right now isn't the final destination. 'Life is a bit fragile it's very, very easy to come and go, as I've had multiple friends pass away, but yeah, life is fragile, and you've got to live it to the extent, and then we'll all be living beyond life together.' The unique piece was inspired by Mr O'Sullivan's personal experience and religious influences. Set in the Garden of Eden, First Dance depicts skeletons dancing. 'The skeletons dancing is that kind of duality of not there being in the physical form, but in the secondary form of living, where it all started, but also after,' he said. The Seton Catholic College graduate used a wood-burning technique to highlight the fragility of life within a space of innocence. Mr O'Sullivan said the work is up for interpretation, but he hopes it encourages reflection. 'Be grateful for everything you have. Live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment,' he said. The free exhibition is open from May 3 until August 31 at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ronnie O'Sullivan's rival says one decision led to 'certain defeat' against Zhao Xintong
Ronnie O'Sullivan made drastic changes to his cue during his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Zhao Xintong but went on to lose with a session to spare Neil Robertson says Ronnie O'Sullivan's emergency cue surgery was always going to lead to 'certain defeat'. Despite sharing the first eight frames of his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Zhao Xintong, the Rocket wasn't happy with his equipment, making an unscheduled visit to the cue shop in Sheffield for modifications. O'Sullivan had the tip and ferrule (the metal sleeve that sits below the tip) changed ahead of Friday's play, which saw him tumble to a heavy 17-7 defeat with a session to spare. The seven-time world champion lost all eight frames of the second session, with Zhao seizing on virtually all of his opponent's many errors. Understandably, the cue shop wanted to show off its high-profile customer. Chesworth Cues took to Instagram to address rumours of O'Sullivan's visit, posting: 'Well, we can't pull the wool over your eyes, yes it was Ronnie's cue. That late night express retip and changing his ferrule from titanium to brass, was for Ronnie O'Sullivan. Book your retip in today.' O'Sullivan's decision to make such a big change mid-match was met with widespread amazement across snooker, even despite his long-running equipment issues, including snapping his cue in a rage at the Championship League in January. Robertson, the 2010 world champion, has voiced his opinion on O'Sullivan's drastic move and hopes his rival was warned about of consequences. The Australian, who lost in the first round to Chris Wakelin, posted on X: 'I hope who ever changed Ronnie's tip AND ferrule made it very clear to him that doing so would result in an almost certain heavy defeat before posting anything on social media. Switching from titanium to brass or vice versa mid match unless something was damage is crazy.' Coming into the tournament, O'Sullivan had not played on the tour since his cue-breaking incident. However, he didn't pin his heavy defeat to Zhao on his equipment problems. 'I don't even know if it was the cue, the ferrule or me,' he said after the match. 'There were three things. I just don't even know where the white ball's going. I'm at a loss, to be honest with you. I don't even know what to say. 'Sometimes you've got to try something different, you know? It didn't feel great before so I tried to go back to the old brass ferrule. 'I'm not making the cue as an excuse or anything like that but if I hadn't snapped my old cue maybe I'd have been able to give him a better game but really my performances have not been good enough.' The other semi-final is set for an exciting finale with Mark Williams leading world No. 1 Judd Trump 13-11 ahead of the final session on Saturday.
The Independent
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals he's leaving UK for a ‘new life'
Ronnie O'Sullivan is planning 'a new life somewhere else' after a crushing semi-final defeat at the World Snooker Championship. He has revealed he is moving to the Middle East, admitting 'I don't know what the future looks like for me really'. O'Sullivan's quest for an eighth Crucible title ended abruptly with a 17-7loss to Zhao Xintong. The Chinese star dominated the match, winning all eight frames in the morning session and sealing O'Sullivan's fate in the evening. O'Sullivan's preparation for the championship was unconventional. He had been absent from the tour since January, withdrawing mid-tournament from the Championship League after snapping his cue in frustration. This followed a string of poor results, losing four out of five matches. Throughout the World Championship, O'Sullivan struggled to find consistency with his new cue, going through three tips and changing both the tip and ferrule after the first session of the semi-final. The 49-year-old admitted uncertainty about his future in the sport. He said: 'I think I'm going to be moving out of the UK this year. A new life somewhere else. 'I'll still try and play snooker but I don't know what the future looks like for me really. 'I'm moving away soon so I'll just see how it goes. There's a lot of more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker. 'For me, it's a big part of my life but I've got to try and figure out what my future looks like, whether it's playing or not.' O'Sullivan said he would be moving 'away to the Middle East', but might be back in six months' time. 'Who knows,' he said. 'There are going to be a few changes in my life so we'll see how that goes.' When asked whether he'd like to throw his cue a long distance following his exit, O'Sullivan added: 'I won't throw it. 'The merchandise people want it so it'll be up for sale. But I won't be throwing it.'
