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BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Clare man punched retired judge outside café saying 'you put me in jail for nothing'
A 44-year-old Co Clare man told a retired district court judge, 'You put me in jail for nothing' before allegedly punching him outside an Ennis café, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Jamie O'Connor of Laurel Lodge, Clare Road, Ennis has appeared in connection with the alleged assault of retired district court judge, Joseph Mangan last Saturday afternoon. Advertisement The retired judge, now in his early 80s, served as a judge for 27 years and was the assigned district court judge for Clare from 2001 to October 2011 when he retired at the age of 67. In the case, Mr O'Connor is charged with the assault causing harm to Joseph Mangan at Barrack Court, Ennis contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on June 14th. Judge Alec Gabbett said: 'This is an extremely serious alleged offence where a retired district court judge, now into his 80s, was allegedly assaulted for carrying out a public duty when he was a judge.' Judge Gabbett said: 'There is a possibility of other charges to follow here.' Advertisement In a contested bail application for Mr O'Connor, Sgt John Burke told the court that at 2.25pm on June 14th, Mr Mangan was sitting outside the Gourmet Store on Barrack Court in Ennis, having a coffee. Sgt Burke said that it will be alleged that Mr O'Connor approached Mr Mangan 'and told him aggressively 'you put me in jail for nothing'. Sgt Burke said: 'Following a brief interaction, it is alleged that Mr O'Connor stood up and punched Mr Mangan.' Sgt Burke said that Mr O'Connor then fled the scene in the direction of O'Connell Street. Advertisement He said that Mr Mangan went to the local injuries unit in Ennis, where he was treated fora possible concussion and dizziness. Sgt Burke said that Mr Mangan made a statement to local Gardai. Sgt Burke said that there was no medical evidence yet to hand and said that Mr O'Connor was later arrested, where he made no admissions, 'and blamed alcohol for his memory loss'. Sgt Burke confirmed to the court that there is an independent witness to what occurred. Advertisement Sgt Burke confirmed that Gardai were opposing bail and said that the original Garda position of consenting to bail for Mr O'Connor on stringent conditions was based on the length of time the case will take before the court. Judge Gabbett said that he was refusing bail based on the seriousness of the charge before the court. He said: "The allegation here is that a retired member of the judiciary was punched on the street". He said that 'the facts of the case are very straightforward'. Judge Gabbett granted legal aid to solicitor Stiofan Fitzpatrick to represent Mr O'Connor. Mr Fitzpatrick asked that bail be granted as it will take a number of months for directions to be made in the case. Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O'Connor in custody to appear via video-link from Limerick prison in court next Wednesday, June 25th.
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- Washington Post
Tennessee judge to hear arguments about releasing Kilmar Abrego Garcia from pretrial detention
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday about whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia can be released from jail pending the outcome of a trial on human smuggling charges. In a motion asking U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes to order Abrego Garcia detained, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Rob McGuire described him as both a danger to the community and a flight risk. Abrego Garcia's attorneys disagree. They point out that he was already wrongly detained in a notorious Salvadoran prison thanks to government error, and argue that due process and 'basic fairness' require him to be set free.
NHK
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- NHK
Mini car boom a mixed blessing for China
Mini cars are gaining popularity in China, but the nation's legal system has not kept up with demand for these unregistered vehicles that don't require a license to operate.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
The baby names that are banned in different countries - including 'Nutella', 'King' and the one place you can't be called Tom
The name a child is given can determine a lot about their future experience - from relentless bullying in school to being considered for jobs when they get older. And given there are many subtle biases at play when we hear someone's name for the first time, it's not surprising that there are laws in place to prevent babies from being marked for life. While the US is the least strict as far as freedom to choose wacky and wonderful baby names, other jurisdictions have cracked down on certain titles, banning them by law. Some names are rejected in order to protect newborns from a lifetime of embarrassment, but others are struck off the list for being offensive, misleading or even unpatriotic. France France has come down hard on names that could be alienating for children, both in adolescence and adulthood. But the law was set in stone when a French family tried to name their child Nutella - after the popular hazelnut chocolate spread. In 2015, the state intervened and a judge in the northern French commune of Valenciennes refused to allow the child to be named after the pantry item, according to BBC Bitesize. There was concern over the legal ability to use a trademarked name, but the final decision came down to the risk of humiliation for the child. It was argued the name would make the baby girl 'the target of derision' throughout her life. But when the parents declined to attend the hearing, the judge named the child Ella instead - a perceived compromise on the original name. Other countries have banned similar attempts to use a brand as a name - with the names Mercedes and Chanel not allowed in Switzerland. Also banned in the land of baguettes and frogs' legs is the name Fraise - the French word for strawberry. When a determined couple tried naming their daughter after the summer fruit, a court disallowed it, arguing it could be mistaken as the slang word for a bottom, the Telegraph reported. Instead, the parents opted for Fraisine - an elegant and classic 19th century name. Technically, French parents can name their children as they please, but the onus is on the registrar to seek to ban monikers they feel are inappropriate or against the child's interests. In another such example, a French family was told in 2009 that they could not name their child after the cartoon character Titeuf. And in 2015, French parents tried to give their son the first name Prince William, which was rejected because it would lead to 'a lifetime of mockery', according to The Local. Sweden Sweden has strict rules for the naming of children, with the primary aim of preventing embarrassment for the child. But in 1996, a defiant couple opted for the name Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116, to be pronounced simply 'Albin'. They did this to protest the fine issued to them for failing to register their son's name before his fifth birthday. Unsurprisingly, the 43-character moniker was not approved. When it was rejected, the still-determined pair tried to name their son simply 'A' to be pronounced 'Albin' as before. This was also turned down and, finally, they gave in and went for Albin. The names Superman, Ikea and Veranda have also been turned down in Sweden over the years, having been deemed unacceptable. But in 2008, Swedish parents won a legal battle, earning the right to name their child Lego - after the colourful building block toys. New Zealand In the home of Kiwis, names that resemble official titles or ranks are strictly banned. One of the most common among this list is the name Justice, according to the BBC, being that it's a formal title belonging to a judge. Also on the list of banned names are Saint, Knight, Mr. and Bishop - as well as any other variations along those lines. New Zealand also has rules around the length of names - having ruled that they must not be unreasonably long. An infamous case came to the fore in 2008, after it was discovered that a then nine-year-old girl had been named 'Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii' without any pushback from authorities. It emerged that the young girl detested her name so much, she had never told anyone what she was really called. The judge allowed her to legally change her name, and sternly reprimanded her parents for the ill-informed decision. In 2018, a New Zealand court ruled against naming a child the Roman numeral name III. The country has rules around calling children 'anything unpronounceable', like dashes and punctuation marks. Indeed, one set of parents who tried to name their child '.' - which they would have pronounced 'full stop' - were prevented from doing so. At the time, Jeff Montgomery, the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages said: 'There's no problem if you want to give your child a spelled-out number or even a silly name, but remember your child has to live with it!' Among the most commonly rejected names in the country in 2018 were any regal monikers, such as Prince, King and Royal. In the same year, the names Allah, Heaven-Princezz-Star, Queen, Roil, Royale-Bubz and Sire were also flatly rejected. Japan A 1994 attempt to name a child was so controversial that a member of the Prime Minister's cabinet stepped in and issued a statement advising against it. A family decided to name their newborn son Akuma - which translates literally to Devil. The father said he settled on the name because he wanted his son to stand out with an unforgettable moniker selected by no one else. Bizarrely, the name was initially approved, but officials later intervened on the basis that allowing the name would lead the child to be discriminated against. The case prompted a nationwide debate on whether the state should have a say in the naming of children. But the parents eventually conceded after a lengthy court battle. Also banned in Japan was a name combining the Chinese characters for 'child' and 'water'. In 2014, the parents voluntarily changed the name after being alerted by a government employee about its sinister meaning. The word, read as chishi/mizuko, means a baby that has died in the womb either by abortion or miscarriage, Japan Today writes. The grateful parents were happy to have been informed of the double meaning, which was unfamiliar to many young people in Japan at the time. Portugal One of the most popular boys' names with many language variations globally, the name Tom is banned in Portugal. This is because official names in Portugal are required by law to take traditional Portuguese spellings. So, instead of Tom, a baby boy must be named Tomás, much to the dismay of Tom Holland, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. In fact, the Portuguese government has a list of pre-approved baby names that all expectant parents must select from. Where one of the parents is not Portuguese, or if they hold dual citizenship, the rules are bent slightly. Perhaps one of the strictest countries when it comes to names, Portugal has an 82-page list of banned monikers. The list includes the names Paris, Nirvana and Thor. Also forbidden are any non-Portuguese names. Malaysia In 2006, Malaysia's government tightened the rules on which names would be allowed in the country. On the list of banned names are 007, Hitler, the Chinese word for snake and a word meaning 'hunchback'. Parents are also banned from naming their kids after animals, insects, fruits, vegetables or colours. The names Chow Tow, meaning 'smelly head', and Sor Chai, meaning 'insane', were also forbidden. Although it's a trend that's hugely popular in the US, Malaysia frowns upon natural names that come from plants or flowers - Gwyeth Paltrow's 'Apple', for example, would be banned. By the same logic, Jennifer Garner's daughter Violet would need to be renamed. Unfortunately for some creative parents, but luckily for their children, courts globally are more or less united in their desire to spare children awful names. Italy has vetoed the name Venderdi, meaning Friday, as a 'ridiculous or shameful' name. In Denmark, parents choose from a list of 7,000 pre-approved names. They have previously rejected 'Molli' because of its unusual spelling and the animal name 'Monkey', according to Good Housekeeping. Germany rejected the first name Schmitz, on the basis that it is a common last name and therefore not appropriate. The country also turned down Pfefferminze, meaning peppermint, and the name Stone. And in Wales, a mother decided on the name Cynaide for her daughter, arguing it was a positive choice as the poison that killed Hitler. In a very unusual ruling, the court decided that the baby girl and her twin brother would get to be named by their older half siblings. For those who have names they feel are outdated or that they've always despised, perhaps now they will consider themselves lucky.
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's justice minister urges new senior counsel to defend rule of law
Hong Kong's top judge has called for the newly minted senior counsel to defend the rule of law when it is under threat and ensure 'unimpeded' access to the city's courts for every individual, to safeguard public trust in the legal system. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, who spoke separately at the senior counsel admission ceremony on Saturday, urged the new silks to tackle three challenges facing the profession in the use of artificial intelligence, synergy with mainland China's legal system, and maintaining the city's image of its rule of law. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung laid down his expectations at the ceremony on Saturday that saw the admission of three senior counsel, namely Catrina Lam Ting-wan, Priscilia Lam Tsz-ying and Timothy Edward David Parker. 'You are expected to speak with courage and conviction where the rule of law is threatened, to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and integrity, both inside and outside the courtroom,' he said. The judge also urged senior counsel to be 'vigilant' in ensuring 'unimpeded access' to the courts for all individuals, saying such access would affect public trust in the city's legal system. 'These are not abstract ideals, but living principles that underpin the public's trust in our legal system, both within Hong Kong and beyond,' Cheung said.
