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Belfast Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
First Minister condemns Ballymena rioting as ‘pure racism – there's no other way to dress it up'
The disorder followed an allegation of a sex attack on a teenage girl in Ballymena at the weekend. Two 14 year old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, were arrested and have since been charged in relation to the allegations. First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that it's important to remember that violence against women in Northern Ireland and the recent violence in Ballymena are separate issues. 'We know there's a general societal problem here in terms of violence against women and girls. 'And it's male violence against women and girls. So we have to call it out and we have to work with our young boys about educating them as well, which is why a lot of the work we've done around campaigns like Power to Change, don't be a bystander whenever you see misogyny or you see attacks on young women. 'What I want is to separate out two things here. 'One is an attack on a young woman that needs to be investigated and fully dealt with in the criminal justice system. 'Separate to that is an issue of racism that we have now developed. And I would say, orchestrated by some of those people like Tommy Robinson to this point, orchestrating and trying to whip up fears and tensions, let's not allow that to take hold in our society,' she said. Ms O'Neill condemned the violent demonstrations as "pure racism – there's no other way to dress it up'. "We can't dress this up, this is racism in Ballymena, and we have to say that this is not tolerated in this society". "It's wrong – we have to say that it's wrong and all political leaders need to join together in calling for calm." Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the violence in Ballymena is "serving no purpose whatsoever, but risks criminal convictions of young people". Ms Pengelly added that the family of the victim of the alleged sexual assault in Ballymena had been "very clear" that they did not want violence to follow a peaceful demonstration held on Monday night to support them. "At the heart of this initial protest was a victim, a young girl,' she said. "But then of course that [demonstration] turned into something very, very different. The family have been clear, they don't want that violence." Ms O'Neill said the Executive was united in its condemnation of the attacks. News Catch Up - Wednesday 11th June 2025 'I think it is important that political leaders are very clear in terms of the language that they use and the words that they use so that they don't inflate issues. 'The racism that we see being carried out over the last few nights in Ballymena is wrong, we have to say that it is wrong. 'That's why it was important that all of the Executive parties have come together to say that what's happening needs to stop. We will continue to provide that political leadership, work with communities, we want to engage with the PSNI, and continue to work with them in terms of the response.'
Business Insider
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Azura Power commissions two pivotal community projects in Orior-Osemwende, Edo State
In yet another significant commitment to the socio-economic development of its host communities, Azura Power West Africa Limited (APWAL) on Wednesday, 28 May, 2025 inaugurated two pivotal projects in Orior-Osemwende Community, Benin City, Edo State: the reconstructed Orior Primary Health Centre and the 1.1km Orior Community Road, thereby scaling up access to qualitative healthcare and improved connectivity for the residents of the community. The two key projects executed through the "Power to Change" (PTC) initiative – the company's strategic Corporate & Social Responsibility vehicle – address the critical needs within the host community, the company stated. The Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who performed the formal commissioning of the projects, commended Azura Power West Africa Limited for its investment in initiatives that tangibly impact the lives and well-being of Nigerians, emphasising the benefits of partnership and collaboration between the government and the private sector toward accelerating the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The governor stated that Azura Power's sustained commitment to making a real difference in the lives of the residents of the Orior-Osemwende community was exemplary and worthy of emulation for other businesses. In his welcome speech, Managing Director, Azura Power West Africa Limited, Mr. Edu Okeke, disclosed that the two projects, culminating in a total cost of 1.66 billion Naira, were aimed to significantly enhance healthcare infrastructure by providing a modern and improved primary healthcare facility for the residents of its host communities - Orior-Osemwende, Ihovbor and Idunmwowina – and adjoining communities, as well as improve community connectivity by delivering vital road infrastructure to facilitate movement, access, and overall quality of life. 'For us at Azura Power West Africa Limited, the reconstructed Orior Primary Health Centre and the 1.1km Orior Community Road in Orior-Osemwende community not only exemplify APWAL's continued dedication to our host communities but also highlight the tangible impact of the 'Power to Change' programme in fostering sustainable development and empowering lives at the grassroots level,'' he stated. He said further that Azura Power's PTC programme was a positive example of how corporate entities can meaningfully contribute to the development of their host communities, showcasing a model of responsible corporate citizenship. Okeke expressed deep gratitude to Governor Okpebholo-led administration for providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, and noted that the governor's commitment to improved security, road and general infrastructure across the state would go a long way in attracting more investors into Edo State. 'The reconstructed primary health centre will directly improve healthcare access and outcomes for the residents of Orior-Osemwende. Similarly, the newly built community road will enhance connectivity, ease of movement, and overall quality of life for the community members, potentially impacting economic activities and social interactions. If we take our modest contribution to community development as examples of incentives to attract more investors, the impact will be more when it is done on a large scale,'' Okeke affirmed. He assured of Azura Power's long-term commitment to the socio-economic advancement of its host communities, stating, 'We will position the 'Power to Change' programme as a testament to this long-term vision of creating positive and lasting change, demonstrating that APWAL is a responsible and invested partner in the community's progress.''
The Journal
02-06-2025
- The Journal
Thousands of images of Irish women and girls uploaded to site containing sexual threats
GARDAÍ HAS BEEN urged to investigate an online forum where thousands of images of girls and women from across Ireland have been posted without their knowledge. The pictures appear to have been taken from both the public and private social media accounts of those targeted, with some posted alongside sexual threats. They appeared on content sharing site Reddit in an Irish subgroup which encourages its 3,200 plus members to 'trade' images of 'IRL (in real life) girls' for sexual gratification. Many of those images include teenagers in their school uniforms, alongside their names, ages and locations. Their schools are also easily identifiable. Other pictures were of women, some clearly taken without consent. Most of the content was published alongside misogynistic, sexist and explicit comments, most of which is too offensive to publish. One post included an image of a woman getting into a car, clearly taken without her knowledge. It was uploaded to the Irish subgroup, where one user encouraged others to share similar images. The group specifically targeted women and girls from the north and south of Ireland, with some posts listing victims by county. Requests were also made to upload images of females from specific towns and cities. After being made aware of the forum by The Journal Investigates , Clíona Saidléar, Executive Director of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland urged gardaí to investigate. She said that due to the seriousness of the content involved, she would be unable to provide further comment. 'This is a matter for gardaí and I would urge them to investigate,' Saidléar said. In a statement issued to The Journal Investigates , a Reddit spokesperson confirmed it had now taken down the group, which had been active since August 2024. 'Non-consensual intimate media has no place on Reddit,' a spokesperson said. 'We prohibit this content and have teams, tools, and processes dedicated to dedicating and removing it. In line with our policies, the community in question was banned.' PSNI 'will take action' The Journal Investigates also contacted gardaí about the activities of the online forum. However, at the time of publication, it had not responded to requests for comment. However, in a statement issued to The Journal Investigates , the PSNI said it will 'take action if images of women and girls of an explicit nature are shared online' and vowed to investigate 'any harmful threats made'. PSNI Detective Superintendent (DS) Lindsay Fisher said: 'We recently launched our Power to Change campaign which is aimed at placing a societal focus on those who objectify and disrespect women. Advertisement 'The main purpose of this campaign is a call to action, where boys and men are asked to speak out against misogynistic behaviour and talk to friends or family who may be engaging either in person or online in this way. DS Fisher added that 'all women and girls should be free and feel safe' to use social media without being 'the subject of abuse and objectification'. 'As a Police Service we will take action if images of women and girls of an explicit nature are shared online, and will investigate any harmful threats made.' Reddit, where users can create niche online communities called 'subreddits', allows users to share content, discuss topics and interact with others who share similar interests. Each subreddit has its own set of rules, and is moderated by self-appointed 'community members'. The subgroup in question was set up and moderated by one account since August last year. That account, under an anonymous username, claimed to be a male from Ireland who had just celebrated his 18th birthday. Some using the group also claimed to be still in school, with some organising 'trades' of images on other platforms. One disturbing post, named a school in the north of Ireland and requested 'stories' of girls aged '15 or 16'. In another, users were asked to upload pictures of their female relatives. File image of the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. In 2020, gardaí launched an investigation into the alleged uploading of images and videos of Irish women and girls, without their consent, to a number of online forums. It was after advocacy and lobbying group Victims Alliance claimed tens of thousands of images had been shared, many including minors. However, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris later said there have been no formal complaints made of image-based sexual abuse in relation to the images. He also confirmed that around 10,000 images had been assessed, but none contained 'images of child abuse within them'. — Patricia Devlin is an investigative reporter with The Journal Investigates . Our investigative unit is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. This takes time and it takes resources. Find out how you can help: Support The Journal Investigates Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Victim with 'hole in her face' says former partner blamed her
A woman who suffered a broken jaw and teeth after being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend said she was blamed by him for the attack. "I went to the mirror. My teeth were hanging on by threads from my gums...I could hardly speak; I could only just use my lips. I said to him, 'Do you realise you have ruined my life?' and he said, 'You can thank yourself'." Eva Komuves was speaking at the launch of a new campaign aimed at ending violence against women and girls (VAWG). The Power to Change campaign aims to address the attitudes of men and boys towards women and girls in Northern Ireland. The campaign is being backed by the PSNI, the Department of Justice (DoJ), and the Stormont executive. Warning: This content contains images and descriptions that some readers may find upsetting Ms Komuves is a survivor of physical and psychological violence at the hands of her former partner, who has pleaded guilty to a number of charges and will be sentenced in February. She said her abuse didn't start with violence; it began with words. "He was criticising my work, my hobbies, my daily routine, and my eating habits. He was controlling my circle of friends. He criticised the way I dressed." "When I raised it as an issue, he said I was attacking him. He made me feel guilty." Eva said her former partner would "raise his voice", and "when he didn't like what I said he started to punch a chair, a wall". She said when she confronted her partner about being on dating sites, he punched her for the first time. "He said he would never hit me again," she said, but added that he would raise his fist to her face during confrontation. "In a text message he said, 'I would never hit you again, but I enjoy watching you flinch.'" She recounted another attack when he punched her and she fell. "I had bruises on my legs and hip. I stood up...I felt I was bleeding...I felt that my mouth was full, that I had a hole in my face. The campaign has published a series of films and advertising, urging men and boys to reflect on their actions and language to promote a cultural change. One film shows a man harassing a woman in the gym and being challenged by another man. Another depicts two friends discussing online interactions with a girl and sending her unsolicited sexual images. Ms Komuves has had numerous treatments and dental surgeries due to the attack in which her jaw and some of her teeth were broken. But she told the audience at the launch of the campaign that when she looks in the mirror now she sees "a strong woman who stood up and broke the cycle". Speaking about the culture of abuse in Northern Ireland, she said "lad culture" is accepted and "it shouldn't be". "It has gone unchallenged for too long. "We assume that boys are educated on how to speak to women and not treat them as objects, but they are not," she added. Between January 2019 and December 2024, 32 women and girls across Northern Ireland were killed by men. PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher said there had been a blind spot in how policing dealt with domestic abuse in the past, but the force is now committed to ending VAWG. "This is about empowering men and boys, not isolating them. "It's time that we men reflected on our own behaviours and attitudes." Boutcher said: "Women are not responsible for preventing harassment or misogyny against not right." Justice Minister Naomi Long said "much work has been done" by the DoJ to "help make Northern Ireland a safer place for women and girls". She added that we need to change "attitudes that permit and enable unacceptable behaviours". First Minister Michelle O'Neill praised Eva for speaking out and said the campaign is "another important step forward in our collective effort to end violence against women and girls".
BBC News
29-01-2025
- BBC News
VAWG: Victim with 'hole in her face' says attacker blamed her
A woman who suffered a broken jaw and teeth after being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend said she was blamed by him for the attack."I went to the mirror. My teeth were hanging on by threads from my gums...I could hardly speak; I could only just use my lips. I said to him, 'Do you realise you have ruined my life?' and he said, 'You can thank yourself'."Eva Komuves was speaking at the launch of a new campaign aimed at ending violence against women and girls (VAWG). The Power to Change campaign aims to address the attitudes of men and boys towards women and girls in Northern campaign is being backed by the PSNI, the Department of Justice (DoJ), and the Stormont executive. Warning: This content contains images and descriptions that some readers may find upsetting Ms Komuves is a survivor of physical and psychological violence at the hands of her former partner, who has pleaded guilty to a number of charges and will be sentenced in February. She said her abuse didn't start with violence; it began with words."He was criticising my work, my hobbies, my daily routine, and my eating habits. He was controlling my circle of friends. He criticised the way I dressed.""When I raised it as an issue, he said I was attacking him. He made me feel guilty."Eva said her former partner would "raise his voice", and "when he didn't like what I said he started to punch a chair, a wall". 'I had a hole in my face' She said when she confronted her partner about being on dating sites, he punched her for the first time. "He said he would never hit me again," she said, but added that he would raise his fist to her face during confrontation. "In a text message he said, 'I would never hit you again, but I enjoy watching you flinch.'"She recounted another attack when he punched her and she fell. "I had bruises on my legs and hip. I stood up...I felt I was bleeding...I felt that my mouth was full, that I had a hole in my face. The campaign has published a series of films and advertising, urging men and boys to reflect on their actions and language to promote a cultural change. One film shows a man harassing a woman in the gym and being challenged by another depicts two friends discussing online interactions with a girl and sending her unsolicited sexual images. ' I broke the cycle' Ms Komuves has had numerous treatments and dental surgeries due to the attack in which her jaw and some of her teeth were she told the audience at the launch of the campaign that when she looks in the mirror now she sees "a strong woman who stood up and broke the cycle". Speaking about the culture of abuse in Northern Ireland, she said "lad culture" is accepted and "it shouldn't be"."It has gone unchallenged for too long. "We assume that boys are educated on how to speak to women and not treat them as objects, but they are not," she added. Between January 2019 and December 2024, 32 women and girls across Northern Ireland were killed by men. 'Men must reflect on behaviour' PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher said there had been a blind spot in how policing dealt with domestic abuse in the past, but the force is now committed to ending VAWG."This is about empowering men and boys, not isolating them."It's time that we men reflected on our own behaviours and attitudes."Boutcher said: "Women are not responsible for preventing harassment or misogyny against not right."Justice Minister Naomi Long said "much work has been done" by the DoJ to "help make Northern Ireland a safer place for women and girls".She added that we need to change "attitudes that permit and enable unacceptable behaviours". First Minister Michelle O'Neill praised Eva for speaking out and said the campaign is "another important step forward in our collective effort to end violence against women and girls".
