Latest news with #PPS
Irish Independent
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Extras sought for new Wicklow-based TV series
Filming will take place from July to November of this year and Bluetooth Productions are appealing to anyone with an interest in history, TV, film, the filming process, acting or, to those who simply want to meet new people and earn a few euro. An open casting day takes place at the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy on Monday, June 30, between 10am and 5pm, followed by a further casting call at the Depot at The Complex, 12 Mary's Abbey, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 XR70, on Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4. The extras being sought are mainly adult roles aged 16 and over. All ethnic and religious backgrounds will be considered and a wide range of specific skills and appearances are desired. The casting call advert said they were looking for fishermen, carpenters, craftspeople, farmworkers, axe men/women, skilled swords people, archers, rowers, sailors, ship hands, calligraphers, Latin speakers, Arab speakers, musicians, singers, midwives, nurses, animal handlers, hunters, blacksmiths, lumber jacks, magicians, jugglers, tree surgeons, whittlers, all sporty types, martial artists, boxers, no visible tattoos, and males with all types of haircuts especially, long hair and beards. They are also looking for women with all lengths of naturally-coloured hair and men prepared to grow their hair and beards. All attending any of the casting days will be asked to fill out an application form and have their photo taken. To apply you will need to be a full time resident in Ireland with a working visa and PPS number. Filming will mostly take place in Wicklow and Dublin, and notices can sometimes be very short so you need to be readily available. If selected as an extra, you may receive a call anytime between now and the end of filming. If you are called, discussions will take place over the filming dates and rates of pay and you will be asked to come to the studio for fittings before your first day of filming.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Sex charges against trampoline coach to be withdrawn after he takes his own life
Simon Flannery had been charged with possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children Sex charges against an award winning trampoline coach will likely be withdrawn in two weeks after he took his own life. Last month, Belfast Magistrates Court heard that 41-year-old Simon Flannery had been found dead in a Budapest hotel and today defence solicitor Adrian Harvey confirmed he had been sent a screenshot of the Hungarian death certificate. He told District Judge Steven Keown he ought to have a physical copy by next week 'and that will be provided to the court,' adding that he will also have to liaise with the Health Department in the Republic. Simon Flannery News in 90 Seconds - June 20th Flannery, originally from Co Mayo but who had been living on the Upper Lisburn Road in Belfast, had been charged with possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children. The 41-year-old, a former barber who was awarded the coach of the year accolade in 2019, was alleged to have committed the offences between 25 March 2020 and 29 November last year. Until his arrest, Flannery had been the head of the trampoline programme at NI's largest trampoline club and had been involved in training some of its best trampoline gymnasts, many of whom have competed all over the world. In court today the PPS said that in addition to the death certificate being lodged with the court, 'it has to go through the Assistant Director of the PPS' before the case can be marked was withdrawn. Judge Keown adjourned the case to 4 July.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Married man caught sending vile messages to ‘12-year-old' in paedo hunter sting
Michael Walker told the 'girl' that he 'wanted to see her on the toilet' and further that he wanted to see the girl defecate A Co Antrim man snared by a paedophile hunter group was handed a four month prison sentence today after he sent what he believed was a 12-year-old girl a series of vile messages. Jailing Michael Walker at Ballymena Magistrates Court, District Judge Nigel Broderick questioned why the PPS had opted to keep the case in the Petty Sessions where the maximum sentence was just six months. Lamenting that his surprise at the PPS opting not to elevate the case to the Crown Court, the judge highlighted that he had no powers to refuse jurisdiction in this particular case. 'In my view, especially given the facts of this particular case, it should really have been prosecuted in the Crown Court where sentencing powers are greatly enhanced,' said the judge. At an earlier hearing Walker, 60, from Clover Terrace in Larne, entered guilty pleas to two charges of attempted sexual communication with a child under 16 between 20-30 March last year. The charges disclose that 'for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification [he] intentionally attempted to communicate with a person under 16 years, the communication being sexual or intended to encourage the said person to make a communication that was sexual, and you did not reasonably believe that she was 16 years or over.' Opening the facts of the case today, a prosecuting lawyer outlined how members of an online paedophile hunter group alerted police to messages Walker had sent to their decoy. The court heard that believing he was messaging a 12-year-old girl, Walker sent her videos and images of his private parts as well as a video of him urinating. He also told the 'girl' that he 'wanted to see her on the toilet' and further that he wanted to see the girl defecate. 'He said that she could **** on his **** to turn him on,' said the lawyer, revealing that Walker also asked her whether she knew how to masturbate. When Walker was arrested and his phone seized, officers uncovered the messages and images he had sent to the decoy. The video of the sting operation is still available on line and during the hour long recording, Walker can be seen standing outside the door of his home. As the hunter remonstrates with him, his wife can be seen in the background demanding to know 'Michael what have you done…what have you done this for?' Revealing that he has been married for 36 years, Walker at one point sits down on a bench outside his home, leaning forward with his head in his hands, conceding that he is 'sorry' for his actions. Larne sex offender Michael Walker who was jailed today News in 90 Seconds - June 19th Explaining how he has been on multiple sting operations, the male hunter highlights that the messages Walker sent to the 'girl 'kept me awake at night - this is the worst I have come across; you are the worst paedophile that I have ever come across!' Lodging a plea in mitigation, defence counsel Stephen Law submitted that Walker has 'abject remorse' for his actions which have cause 'significant ramifications to his life.' Walker, the court heard, has lost his job and he is also 'gravely concerned about a period of immediate imprisonment.' Mr Law added that while the offending has had a 'profound effect on his marriage,' the barrister conceded 'there cannot be a lot if sympathy for this man.' 'He is devastated and can provide no logical rationale as to why he would have engaged in such conduct,' defence counsel conceded. Despite have less sentencing powers than the Crown Court, Judge Broderick warned that 'there must be a clear message that this behaviour will readily attract a custodial sentence.' 'It goes without saying this behaviour is totally despicable,' said the judge adding that while Walker was talking to a decoy rather than a child, 'that is of no material difference.' In addition to the four month prison sentence, Walker was also made the subject of a Sexual offences Prevention Order for five years and he will remain on the police sex offenders register for seven years. Following an application by Mr Law, Walker was freed on his own bail of £500 pending an appeal of the sentence.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Justice Minister slams ‘absolute nonsense' over claims she can quickly change Ombudsman removal laws
Naomi Long said there has been 'a lot of misinformation' surrounding the issue which would require extensive public consultations to achieve. It comes after Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman, Marie Anderson, announced she was taking a temporary leave of absence on Tuesday. Her leave follows the news that police investigating an alleged domestic incident at the Ombudsman's home have sent a file of evidence to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). Ms Anderson said that, despite planning to retire in December, she opted for temporary leave due to the 'current commentary' that was 'detracting from the focus' of her work with bereaved families. The probe, launched after the alleged incident at Ms Anderson's Co Down home in September 2023, was carried out by West Midlands Police at the request of the Chief Constable, and has now concluded. Think tank calls for new approach to save public services The PPS confirmed that the file reports 'one individual for potential offences of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office'. Mrs Long believes there has been 'too much speculation' regarding the alleged incident, as well as 'a lot of misinformation' in the capabilities of the Department of Justice's powers. She told the BBC's Nolan Show: 'I think that brings a legal risk. I also think that brings all sorts of damage to the individual.' Asked about the department's powers generally in relation to the Police Ombudsman, she said: 'There has been a lot of misinformation around this. First and foremost, for me, public confidence in the role of the office of the Police Ombudsman is crucial because it impacts on the confidence in policing. I want to acknowledge [her] decision to delegate her powers to the chief executive and senior staff. 'To be clear, the Ombudsman herself is not appointed by the Department of Justice or employed by the Department of Justice. She is a corporation sole, which means that the powers of the Ombudsman are vested in the individual, not in the office. 'It's not her office that has the powers, the office is there to facilitate her powers.' Mrs Long explained that the nature of accountability in the Ombudsman role was set up to ensure control was not 'abused' for political means. She added: 'It's something I am very conscious of and have been conscious of for some time. It would require a period of significant public consultation to ensure that any power to suspend or remove the Ombudsman could not be abused for political ends. 'That is the reason why when this office was set up originally there was no power of suspension or removal from office. The fear was that if politicians had the power to suspend the Ombudsman, they would use that power if they disagreed with their findings or their interventions.' The Justice Minister admitted there is 'a conversation to be had' surrounding the high thresholds, but slammed the notion that any action from her office could be taken swiftly. 'There are very clear rules set down in law about when the Ombudsman should be removed from office, in terms of when someone should retire, and those thresholds are high – there's no question about that.' 'There is a conversation to be had around this, but the idea that a piece of legislation, that either I or the Executive Office could bring at the drop of a hat without thorough consultation and legal advice is absolute nonsense. 'Some commentators have been suggesting we should just change the law, it is not that simple.'
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Miri MP urges comprehensive action six months after floods, landslide
Chiew (right) looks at the damages caused by a landslide during a visit to Hilltop Garden recently. MIRI (June 19): Nearly six months after severe floods and a deadly landslide struck Miri, MP Chiew Choon Man is calling for sustained recovery efforts and long-term mitigation planning to protect the city from future disasters. In a statement today, Chiew stressed that post-disaster work must continue beyond initial aid, highlighting the need for consistent follow-up nearly half a year after heavy rains triggered widespread flooding across Miri and surrounding divisions. The same weather event also caused a deadly landslide at the foot of Canada Hill in Kampung Lereng Bukit, claiming lives and destroying homes. 'This tragedy has tested the resilience of our community. It must serve as a powerful lesson for all of us in building a safer, more prepared Miri,' he said. Chiew thanked government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the thousands of volunteers who responded during the emergency. He also acknowledged the federal and Sarawak governments for their early support, including the RM1,000 Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) cash aid and initial allocations for repairs and recovery. However, he cautioned that meaningful recovery cannot end with first-response measures. 'It is our collective responsibility to ensure follow-up actions continue and are not just reactive measures when issues go viral,' Chiew said. Chiew urged authorities to ensure that BWI payments are completed fairly and promptly, regardless of whether victims stayed in official Temporary Relief Centres (PPS) or elsewhere. 'No one should be left behind in the recovery process.' He also called for the repair and restoration of flood-damaged homes and infrastructure to be expedited. He emphasised the need for these efforts to follow a clear implementation schedule, with consistent oversight to ensure timely completion. On mitigation, Chiew pressed for the urgent finalisation of a slope safety study for Canada Hill, especially in the affected Kampung Lereng Bukit area, and the immediate implementation of a long-term landslide prevention plan to safeguard surrounding communities. Equally pressing, he said, is the need to accelerate Miri's flood mitigation strategy. This includes drainage upgrades, construction of retention ponds, riverbank reinforcements, and sustainable urban development to reduce the city's exposure to future weather-related disasters. To push for concrete progress, Chiew said he will convene meetings with relevant agencies to obtain updates and intends to raise the matter in Parliament, including requesting additional allocations if current funds fall short. 'Recovery is not just about rebuilding; it's about preventing future disasters. Let this serve as a turning point for Miri to become a safer, more resilient, and inclusive city,' he said. Chiew Choon Man flood landslide miri mitigation planning mp
