Latest news with #Smyth
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
MSP demands action as Ayrshire suspected drugs death figures raise
Between January and March this year, 36 deaths were recorded in Ayrshire where drugs are suspected to have been involved. A MSP has demanded action after new statistics revealed an increase to the number of suspected drug -related deaths in Ayrshire. Figures published by the Scottish Government revealed that, between January and March this year, there were 36 deaths in the county where drugs are suspected to have been involved. It is the second-highest figure recorded in Ayrshire for any quarter since Police Scotland began compiling the figures in 2017. South Scotland MSP, Colin Smyth, has called for action to bolster support for drug rehabilitation and treatment following the release of the statistics. Across Scotland, 308 suspected drugs deaths were recorded in the first quarter of the year - a decrease of 12 on the same period in 2024. The quarterly figures are compiled by Police Scotland and are different to the annually complied figures by the National Records of Scotland. Police Scotland management information is used in the report to provide an indication of current trends in suspected drug deaths across the country. Commenting, Mr Smyth said: 'These tragic statistics show the human cost of over a decade of government failure to tackle Scotland's drugs crisis. 'For the first three months of the year, Ayrshire has recorded 36 drug deaths – and that is 36 too many. It is also the highest figure for three month period that we've seen in years. We must not forget that these numbers represent real people, with real families and friends who are mourning their loss. 'The fact is that there is no silver bullet to bring down drugs deaths – what we need is a joined up approach that includes properly supported rehabilitation and treatment services. 'Delaying action to tackle drug deaths has fatal consequences – it is time for the government to wake up to the tragedy continuing to unfold on its watch and act to save lives.' Health Secretary Neil Gray said: 'Every death is a tragedy and through our £250 million National Mission we are determined to continue our efforts to reduce harm and deaths. My condolences go to anyone who has lost a loved one. 'While these figures show a quarter-on-quarter rise in suspected drug deaths, they also note a year-on-year fall. We want every person experiencing harm to be able to access the support they need. 'We are taking a wide range of evidence-based measures including opening the UK's first Safer Drug Consumption Facility pilot, working towards drug-checking facilities and widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Abuse scandals throw Church of England into staffing crisis
The organisation that manages a large part of the Church of England's assets is bracing itself for a recruitment crisis in the wake of its latest abuse scandal, a report suggests. The Church Commissioners of England has described its reputational risk as 'at an elevated level' after the Anglican Church apologised for more historic safeguarding failures and a review into one prolific abuser prompted the Archbishop of Canterbury's resignation. It comes as the body that manages the Church's endowment fund – its largest source of revenue – announced a 10.3 per cent return last year, taking the value of the fund to £11.1 billion at the end of last year. In November, the extent of abuse carried out by barrister John Smyth, who abused up to 130 boys and young men over several decades, was revealed in a damning report. Smyth, who died aged 77 in 2018, used his role at Christian summer camps to meet victims, yet his crimes were not reported until 2013, decades after many were carried out. The 2024 Makin review, found that the 'abhorrent abuse' by Smyth could have been exposed four years earlier if Justin Welby, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, had contacted the authorities and done more to follow up on reports. Mr Welby announced his resignation days after the report, and formally ended his tenure earlier this year. A replacement for the highest position in the Church of England is yet to be decided, with the selection process not set to conclude until later this year. A section of the 2024 Church Commissioners for England annual report suggested there were concerns about the effects on its own recruitment. The report said: 'Reputation is important for any charity, and the Church Commissioners considers its reputational risk currently to be at an elevated level. 'Members of the public, whether they consider themselves part of the Church of England or not, can quickly form opinions about the Church as an institution based on what they see/hear/read in various forms of media, which understandably impacts their perception and view of the Church Commissioners.' Referring to the Smyth case and Mr Welby's resignation, the authors wrote: 'This case and other safeguarding failures undermine public confidence in the assertions made by the Church, including the Church Commissioners, about the importance of, and priority given to, safeguarding. 'The potential reputational impacts could be far reaching; for example they may in turn make it more difficult for us to attract and retain staff.' The same part of the report also referred to controversial slavery reparations, which were set to total £100 million over a nine-year period. It named the Fund for Healing Repair and Justice, an investment fund that will aim to raise £1 billion for members of communities affected by slavery, following criticism that the £100 million sum was not enough. Acknowledging the reparations issue, the report read: 'The highly significant and contested nature of the Church Commissioners' work researching and responding to historical links with African chattel enslavement also attracted significant attention, comment and, in some cases, criticism. 'Further reaction (including negative comment) to this programme of work is expected when the intended new Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice is launched, making investments and issuing grants.' Meanwhile, it was revealed that clergy would receive a pay rise of nearly 11 per cent next year as their stipends continue to catch up with salaries. The two key measures for clergy pay, the National Minimum Stipend and the National Stipend Benchmark, will both rise by 10.7 per cent next year, to £33,350 and £34,950 respectively. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Murder suspect 'marries teen girlfriend in secret wedding' while on the run
Jonny Smyth, who is being held in a Spanish prison as a suspect in the murder of John George, married 19-year-old Madison Allen while on the run from police, his new wife claims A man accused of a brutal murder in Spain is alleged to have secretly married his teenage partner while on the run from police. Jonny Smyth, a murder suspect now being held in a Spanish prison, tied the knot with 19-year-old Madison Allen during his time on the run, Allen has claimed. Smyth is suspected of involvement in the killing of 36-year-old Belfast man John George, whose body was discovered in a remote orchard in southern Spain earlier this year. Mr George disappeared in December 2024 while visiting Spain for what was reportedly a short holiday. His body was found on January 7, dumped in an isolated orchard near the town of Rojales, close to Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca. He had been stabbed and shot multiple times, including wounds to his chest and face. Soon after Mr George's disappearance, Smyth left Spain along with Allen, a model from Newtownabbey, County Antrim. They were traced to an Airbnb in Portugal, booked under Allen's name, where Smyth had been living for about a month. He was arrested there in March 2025 under a European Arrest Warrant and subsequently extradited back to Spain. Despite being the subject of an active Interpol red notice, Smyth was somehow able to travel to Gibraltar in February with Allen, where the couple were married in a civil ceremony, she said. According to Allen, the wedding took place at The Convent, the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar - a venue often used for high-profile ceremonies, including royal receptions. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Allen confirmed the marriage but defended their decision to keep it quiet. '[No-one] public needs to know anything about me, hence why it wasn't uploaded in February,' she said. 'And my partner's case or a murder has nothing to do with a marriage. "I've already done my bit in court. I was the one who suggested getting married.' Though she claims to have kept the wedding private, Allen has shared glimpses of her married life on TikTok, including photos of her wedding ring and a screenshot of a virtual prison visit with Smyth. She continues to post regularly from Spain. Allen is not a suspect in the murder investigation and is not being sought by Spanish authorities. However, the fact that the reported marriage occurred during an international manhunt has raised questions about how Smyth was able to legally marry without alerting authorities - particularly given that he was named in international arrest warrants at the time. Under Spanish law, marriage between a suspect and their partner could potentially offer legal benefits. Spousal privilege protects certain communications between married couples from being used as evidence in court. However, such privileges are limited and not absolute. Following his arrest, Smyth was returned to Spain in March and is currently being held in a remand facility in Badajoz, a city in the Extremadura region near the Portuguese border. Court proceedings remain closed to the public in accordance with Spanish judicial norms, and details of the case remain limited. A second man, Michal Maly, a Czech national, was also arrested in connection with the killing. He was taken into custody on January 10, shortly after Mr George's body was found, and remains on bail while under investigation for being an alleged accomplice. Mr George's family had reported him missing after he failed to board a scheduled flight back to Belfast on December 18, four days after he was last seen. His disappearance prompted increasing concern until the grim discovery was made weeks later. The investigation remains ongoing.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Looking for some behind-the-scenes stories? These two Eagle interns hope to have them
When a lot of Wichitans were hunkered down during Tuesday's rain deluge, Allison Campbell was trudging through Highland Cemetery, snapping photos for a Wichita Eagle article. The intrepid Campbell is one of two interns who are working for the publication this summer. Ainsley Smyth, who said she spent Tuesday 'safe in the office calling school board candidates,' is the other. Both live in Kansas and have attended Wichita State University, where Campbell just graduated and Smyth will be a senior. Campbell said she was a military brat who was born in Germany and spent a substantial amount of time in South Africa, where her mother was born, before her family eventually landed in Holton, Kan. That's where she graduated high school and her where her parents still live. 'My teenage angst was lived out there.' However, it was when she was visiting South Africa at around age 8 when the power of what journalism can do struck her. Campbell saw a copy of Time with a photo of a highway she knew in Johannesburg with an accompanying story on some of the most unequal places in the world. On one side of the road were dilapidated houses. On the other were more were beautiful homes with pools. 'That picture really, really stuck with me,' said Campbell, who had been born following apartheid. 'It opened my eyes in a way that I think was discomforting but was a much-needed discomfort.' An incredible high school journalism teacher further inspired her, as did getting to know the staff at the Sunflower at WSU. 'Their work was astounding.' Campbell's work came to be as well. She was named the Kansas Collegiate Media Journalist of the Year. 'It gives me goosebumps to be able to give back to people,' she said. Just like the Time photo did for her, Campbell said she likes that she can show diversity in communities so people 'can really transform how they live and conduct their lives.' Smyth, who is from Lenexa, wasn't interested in journalism until high school when she joined the newspaper staff where some friends were. That's when she found something else that journalism offers. 'I liked knowing sort of the behind the scenes of my school.' Smyth said she enjoyed having a different way to interact with teachers through her work, too. Last summer, Smyth interned at local NPR affiliate KMUW. This summer, she said she's likely going to cover a range of topics for The Eagle. So far, that includes an entertainment and environmental story and a look at improvements at Clapp Park. Smyth, who plans to make a career of journalism, said she hopes to do local government stories, too, for that same behind-the-scenes knowledge she sought in high school. 'That kind of interests me.'
Belfast Telegraph
07-06-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Teen partner of John George murder suspect Jonny Smyth says he married her on the run
Only Fans model reveals they tied knot at palatial Gibraltar venue Murder suspect Jonny Smyth married his teenage partner while on the run from Spanish police, she has said. Smyth is currently being held on remand in Spain on suspicion of involvement in the killing of Belfast man John George.
