Latest news with #intimidation
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Micheal Martin's constituency office in Co Cork vandalised
The Irish premier's constituency office in Co Cork has been vandalised with red paint. It is the third such incident in recent weeks. Pictures showed red paint sprayed across the walls of the property in Turner's Cross, with black writing also scrawled across the window of the office. A spokesperson for Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed the latest attack, adding that personal threats have also been sent to the office. 'I can confirm there was an act of vandalism on the constituency office last night, this is the third such attack,' they said. 'Personal threats have also previously been sent to the office, warning the Taoiseach it will be made impossible for him to navigate in public spaces. 'This is a working office with constituency staff acting on a daily basis to support the community on various issues. 'Those responsible for these criminal acts and intimidatory and abusive threats are fundamentally anti-democratic. 'We believe the vast majority of people who are appalled by the situation in Gaza would have nothing to do with such actions.'
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach's Cork office vandalised and personal threats made
The Cork office of Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that there was an act of vandalism onsite overnight with personal threats also being made. The window of the office in Turner's Cross in Cork was daubed with the words 'Zionist pawn". The words were etched in red paint. Advertisement A spokesperson for the Taoiseach confirmed that this is the third such attack on the office on the southside of Cork city. 'I can confirm there was an act of vandalism on the constituency office last night, this is the third such attack. The window of the office in Turner's Cross in Cork was daubed with the words 'Zionist pawn". "Personal threats have also previously been sent to the office, warning the Taoiseach it will be made impossible for him to navigate in public spaces. "This is a working office with constituency staff acting on a daily basis to support the community on various issues.' The spokesperson added that those responsible for the 'criminal acts' and 'intimidatory and abusive threats are fundamentally anti-democratic". "We believe the vast majority of people who are appalled by the situation in Gaza would have nothing to do with such actions.'
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council members reject board's proposed governance review
One of the largest local Aboriginal land councils in New South Wales has initiated a review of its governance as it battles allegations of nepotism and intimidation. But members of the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council (OLALC) have slammed the proposed probe, telling regulators it lacks transparency and sidelines them in their own complaints process. The review's rejection is the latest escalation between the OLALC's executive and its membership, and comes as the council's treatment of its members is under increasing scrutiny. It was announced last month at a heated extraordinary council meeting which culminated in an alleged verbal stoush between former OLALC board member Danielle Annesley and council chair Jamie Newman. Police have confirmed three people lodged reports against Mr Newman after the May 15 meeting, including Ms Annesley. The alleged confrontation occurred when Ms Annesley, an Aboriginal client community support officer on the OLALC board for 16 months, handed in her resignation as the meeting ended. She told the ABC she had become increasingly anxious about her role on the board. "I didn't think I'd get off so soon but I just feel it's a losing battle," she said. Ms Annesley said she had received a legal letter accusing her of "allegations without basis" after she raised concerns about nepotism at a February board meeting. "I found that really intimidating so I didn't attend the last two [board] meetings in person," she said. "I [attended] on Teams." Ms Annesley said she felt she had to report to police Mr Newman's alleged comments to her at the meeting. "He said, 'I know where you live,'" she said. Asked about the meeting, Mr Newman denied making the remark, although he said that given the chance he would do things differently. "I did not say those things," he said. "It might have got out of hand, I'd agree with that. It was a very emotional moment." CCTV footage of the venue appears to show a verbal confrontation between the pair before others intervene. Mr Newman said the CCTV showed he was defending himself. "I don't believe what I did was unsafe," he said. The OLALC has been grappling with a crisis after a petition by members flagging serious conduct concerns was lodged with the board and the NSW Office of the Registrar in April. Mr Newman said the registrar, who oversees land council complaints, had informed him the members' petition lodged in April was "invalid" because the registrar did not have the power to stand down executive staff. He said representatives of peak body, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), explained that to members at the meeting which he believed was when it went off the rails. "The state body made it quite clear that their claims of the vote of no confidence, of the removal of the chairperson, the CEO and one of our positions within the organisation, were invalid," Mr Newman said "NSWALC made it quite clear on the night … and people didn't like it. "When people are upset and people are not happy with what's going on, then you're going to find a lot of emotion in the room." But petition organiser Jason French said he had had no communication from the registrar or NSWALC, other than a direction to lodge it with the board. "We'd followed the process correctly." He said the lack of regulatory action had shaken the trust members placed in adjudicators NSWALC and the Office of the Registrar given the nature of their allegations. "There's been no accountability by any peak body in terms of addressing these concerns," Mr French said. "They just don't seem to be taking it seriously." The review, led by Reay McGuiness of law firm Webb Henderson, is expected to take six to 12 weeks, with the final report going to OLALC's board before copies are made available for NSWALC, the registrar and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Mr French said he had concerns about the review's independence since OLALC executive staff at the centre of the original complaint had also selected the reviewer. "They're just appointing who they want, asking what questions they want to get the response they need to justify what they're doing," Mr French said. "It's not being accountable to the members." Mr Newman disagreed. "We're the only land council in this country — or any Aboriginal organisation — that's initiated an internal review of our operations. "[It will] air all those concerns of the members and recommendations to us about how we move forward." However, the members' rejection of the review in a letter to the board and regulator casts doubt on the future of the process. "The independent governance review team is working for the OLALC board to get the best possible result for them against the OLALC members," the letter stated. "Moving forward, the members request an independent forensic audit and to be part of the decision-making process." NSWALC and the registrar declined to comment.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Self-styled 'Lord ' guilty of stalking former lover and pelting her home with eggs and rocks in campaign of harassment
A jilted partner who conducted a campaign of intimidation against his former lover when she refused to take him back has been convicted of stalking. Peter Sorrell, 65, threw rocks, eggs and other items at Julie Metcalfe's home when their four-year affair ended. He also daubed words such as 'slapper', and 'sex for sale' on her house during late night raids. Ms Metcalfe also received 'bizarre' letters and messages, falsely sent under the names of other people including Sorrell's ex-wife, warning she was causing 'suffering' to a 'good man'. Others threatened her, with comments such as 'bitch is going to burn'. The claims were denied by Sorrell – who told the court he wanted to be referred to as Lord Peter Sorrell. He also carried a copy of the 1215 Magna Carta throughout the six-day trial and argued about the court's legal jurisdiction – prompting Judge Anthony Bate to slap the defendant down at one point and say: 'This is my courtroom. I will prevail in this courtroom.' But the jury took just two-and-a-half hours to find Sorrell guilty of putting a person in fear of violence by stalking between December 22, 2019 and November 19, 2020, and four breaches of a non-molestation order made by the Family Court in November 2019 and committed between March and November 2020. Sorrell, 65, continued his lone protests against the court's jurisdiction as the verdicts were read out, stating: 'I do not recognise the authority of this court.' The father-of-three, who represented himself during the trial, said he would be appealing the conviction and wanted the relevant forms to do so. Judge Bate told him that was a separate matter that he would have to take up directly with the Court of Appeal in London. He also gave 'strong advice' to Sorrell appoint to a legal representative for his sentencing next month, adding it would be 'extremely helpful' to have his medical records. Judge Bate thanks prosecutor John Fairhead and the jurors for their 'patience' during the 'unusual case'. The defendant, a retired lorry driver who lives in a modest two-bedroom newbuild house in Bradwell, went out with his 64-year-old victim between 2014 and 2018. When she told him the relationship was over, he couldn't 'accept' the break-up and 'begged her to take him back', Norwich Crown Court heard. When this failed, he started on the course of action that led to his alleged victim to 'fear violence would be used against her'. Mr Fairhead said that other items thrown at Ms Metcalfe's house in Great Yarmouth included bricks and paint. Paint was also used to write the graffiti on the front and back of her home, including 'whore' and 'RIP, RIP'. The defendant 'sent her a number of letters', some handwritten and others on Facebook, claiming to be from his ex-wife, friends and well-wishers, jurors heard. These were 'lengthy, rambling and, the Crown would say, frankly bizarre' as they outlined how he was a 'good man', Mr Fairhead said. He added: 'But apart from this frankly blatant emotional blackmail, the letters became increasingly abusive and menacing. They included a Valentine's card with the message: 'Happy Valentine's Day you black widow… when I play games, I play to the end.' Messages from the Facebook accounts of several women were also composed by the defendant, the court heard. These had comments such as 'you stupid bitch', 'you killed him, you're responsible' and 'bitch is going to burn'. One warned that Sorrell would 'not see this year out if he doesn't stop hurting himself'. The defendant was also seen 'wearing a wig to disguise himself' during late night visits to his victim's home. Giving evidence from behind a screen, Ms Metcalfe said the messages had become 'more and more threatening and aggressive'. 'I began to worry for my life. It made me feel scared to be in my own home,' she told the court. 'My home was my safe place. It was my daughter's safe place. But it made me realise it was no longer a place I could feel safe.' The mother-of-three also claimed Sorrell had been sending gifts and 'turning up at my neighbour's door asking to send me gifts' because he 'refused to accept' they were no longer together. Referring to the letters, she said she recognised the handwriting and said of the comments they contained: 'It's a pattern he had been following for about a year-and-a-half. 'He's been trying to portray himself as a good guy and a victim in this.' Finding the words 'RIP, RIP' scrawled on her house had 'made me fear eventually he would kill me'. Ms Metcalfe added: 'It came to the point [where] I didn't want to leave the house because I didn't know what was going to happen.' Sorrell tried to 'paint himself as the victim' when he was arrested and blamed his former wife for the graffiti. He was initially released without charge but was later arrested for breaching the non-molestation order by being within 50m of his victim's home, the court heard. He had gone to a launderette that was 36m from the house, claiming it was the only one open in the area at the time. Short, grey-haired Sorrell, who has missing teeth, wore a smart suit in court with a blue shirt and tie. He was not in the dock as he was representing himself. At times, while addressing a witness, he threw down his pen in apparent frustration. He also referred to the Magna Carta, leading to Judge Anthony Bate to tell him: 'This is not an opportunity for speeches from ancient documents.' Sorrell also claimed at one point that 'legislation has no place in this court… this is a court on the law of the land'. Judge Bate said: 'This is my courtroom. I will prevail in this courtroom. My authority comes from legislation. Let's move on.' The defendant examined prosecution witness PC Natalie Smith and questioned why she had not worn a bodycam when he was arrested. She explained the requirement to use the equipment did not come into use until several years after he was detained. Sorrell also referred to himself in the third person to claim his ex-wife, Rachel, had committed 'domestic violence and abuse against Mr Sorrell'. He asked the officer: 'Why did you refuse to help Mr Sorrell? Do you hate men or something?' The judge told her: 'You do not need to answer that.' The court heard that the defendant complained in a police interview: 'My life has been completely destroyed already. I do not give a toss if I live or die. 'Your officers are all aware of how I feel at the moment. The police are fully aware that I have been hacked many times.' Cross-examined by Mr Fairhead, he was asked: 'How would you like to be called? Lord Sorrelll?' He replied: 'I have been advised to be sociable, so call me Peter.' Sorrell told the prosecutor he had not sent letters and messages to Ms Metcalfe. Asked about one incident where she received a letter warning that broken glass on her tarmac roof could cause a fire, he again denied any involvement. 'I do not think it was Rachel. I know it was Rachel,' he said. Mr Fairhead told the jury the defendant had 'pursued a course of conduct' that caused his victim to 'fear violence would be used against her'. He added: 'The Crown say all the evidence points to one person – the defendant, 'Lord Peter Sorrell'.' The Magna Carta, signed by King John at Runnymede in 1215, was a landmark document in English democracy that established that no one is above the law. Sorrell was released on conditional bail and will be sentenced on July 25.
Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
American Bar Association sues to block Trump's attacks on law firms
The American Bar Association (ABA) has sued the administration of US President Donald Trump, seeking an order that would prevent the White House from pursuing what it called a campaign of intimidation against major law firms. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in a federal court in Washington, DC, alleged that the administration violated the United States Constitution by issuing a series of executive orders targeting law firms over their past clients and employees. According to the complaint, those executive orders were used to 'to coerce lawyers and law firms to abandon clients, causes, and policy positions the President does not like'. Dozens of executive agencies and US officials are named in the suit, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In a statement, the ABA — the country's largest voluntary association for lawyers — called Trump's attacks on law firms 'uniquely destructive'. 'Without skilled lawyers to bring and argue cases, the judiciary cannot function as a meaningful check on the executive branch,' the association wrote. Four law firms have separately sued the administration over President Trump's orders, which stripped their lawyers of security clearances and restricted their access to government officials and federal contracting work. Four different judges in Washington have sided with the firms and temporarily or permanently barred Trump's orders against them. One of the firms that sued and won a preliminary victory, Susman Godfrey, is representing the ABA in Monday's lawsuit. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields responded to Monday's lawsuit with a statement calling it 'clearly frivolous'. He added that the ABA has no power over the president's discretion to award government contracts and security clearances to law firms. 'The Administration looks forward to ultimate victory on this issue,' Fields said. Despite Trump's court losses, nine law firms have struck deals with the president, pledging to offer nearly $1bn in free legal services to stave off similar executive orders. Monday's lawsuit escalates a clash between the ABA and the Trump administration, which has cut some government funding to the group and has moved to restrict its role in vetting federal judicial nominees. In March, Bondi — the chief law enforcement officer in the US — warned the group that it could lose its role in accrediting law schools unless it cancels a requirement related to student diversity.
