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Belfast man allegedly drugged and raped women suffering from addiction, court told

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Belfast Live

Prosecutors also claimed examination of his phone indicated he may have been in contact with up to 30 women

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A Belfast man allegedly drugged and raped young women suffering from addiction as part of a campaign of sexual exploitation, the High Court heard on Thursday.

Trevor Donaghy, 45, is accused of attacking two vulnerable victims injected with substances and luring a third into prostitution.

Prosecutors also claimed examination of his phone indicated he may have been in contact with up to 30 women.

Details emerged as Donaghy, of Ainsworth Drive in the city, was refused bail on a total of 20 new charges involving three complainants.

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He faces multiple counts of rape, supplying cocaine and administering a substance with sexual intent, along with further offences of aiding and abetting rape and controlling prostitution for gain.

Donaghy is already facing prosecution over separate allegations of trafficking another young woman with reading and writing difficulties.

He allegedly gave her drugs in return for sex and arranged to have other men pay him to sleep with her back in 2021.

Donaghy has denied those claims and described their relationship as being “friends with benefits”, the court heard.

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While previously on bail for those charges, detectives pursued an investigation into separate complaints from three other women in connection with alleged incidents during 2021 and 2023.

Crown counsel said they were among 30 females identified following analysis of the defendant’s phone.

The others were either unwilling to engage with police, accepted being willing sex workers or denied a relationship with Donaghy.

Some have also been assessed as too mentally unwell to co-operate.

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However, one of the three alleged victims claimed she met Donaghy as a teenager in the grip of a worsening drug addiction.

He initially provided cocaine, cannabis and pregabalin before insisting she had to “earn” her supply by having sex with him, according to her account.

The defendant also allegedly encouraged her into prostitution, posting photos on a sex worker website and lending his car to meet punters.

During police interviews Donaghy admitted supplying drugs and having consensual sex with her, but denied all other accusations.

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A second woman claimed she was raped by him on three separate occasions.

In one incident she passed out after smoking crack at his home, the court heard, waking up the next morning naked from the waist down and in pain.

On another occasion she allegedly let him inject her with what was believed to be liquid cocaine, expecting it would give her a high.

“Instead, she became sick, dizzy and remembers asking him not to inject any more, but he continued to do so,” the prosecution barrister said.

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“She remembers him on top of her but couldn’t fight him off and she then lost consciousness.”

The third complainant told police Donaghy attacked and raped her after she went to his house to buy drugs.

She claimed in a separate incident he provided a white bodysuit and injected her with a substance which made her drowsy.

Counsel added: “She remembered going into a bedroom and four or five men coming in one by one, unzipping the body suit and raping her.

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“She saw the men giving Donaghy money (and) afterwards he gave her more drugs.”

Opposing bail, the prosecutor contended: “Any woman that is involved with him intimately is at risk. It is an insidious and dangerous risk.”

Defence barrister Paul Burns stressed Donaghy provided full accounts to police in which he denied allegations made against him.

Suggesting possible issues around the credibility of the complaints, Mr Burns went on: “He described a lifestyle with various women at that stage of sharing drugs and having consensual sexual relationships.”

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Refusing to release Donaghy on bail again, Judge Patrick Lynch KC cited the risks of re-offending and interference with witnesses.

The judge also stated: “Even on his own case he is guilty of supplying drugs as a man in his forties to teenage girls.”

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Martin O’Neill had to change phone number after abusive calls and messages following Celtic win

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Belfast Live

Martin O’Neill has been on the receiving end of abusive calls and messages

Martin O’Neill has disclosed that he was compelled to change his mobile phone number following a torrent of abusive messages during the end-of-season chaos in Scotland.

The Hoops manager also responded to Tony Bloom’s assertions that Hearts players were attacked during the Parkhead pitch invasion last week – describing the Jambos chief’s comments as ‘irresponsible’. O’Neill is preparing for Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final clash with Dunfermline.

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However, he finds himself dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s Premiership decider, having faced criticism from a Hearts statement for appearing to minimise the pitch incursion and the abrupt conclusion to the dramatic encounter.

O’Neill has also endured a personal bombardment following the contentious win at Motherwell which led to the final day showdown, reports the Daily Record.

He said: “I’ve changed my telephone number because it was circulated around. You want to hear some of the comments on those.

“That was from the Wednesday night. I had to change it.

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“It’s not a problem but I’ve had it for 35 years and it was kind of part of me at the end of the day.

“It got circulated somewhere, but they are on tape. It was messages, texts, everything.

“That was before the game. I decided on Friday I needed to change it to concentrate on the game on Saturday.

“I might put it back again just to listen to the messages.

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“I haven’t contact the police yet but I may do.

“There were only about 250 calls!”

O’Neill hit back at Hearts following Bloom’s assertion on national radio that one or two Jambos players had been subjected to attacks.

The Celtic manager stated: “I heard Tony Bloom saying that there were two players assaulted.

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“It’s not true – if it is, it hasn’t been proven yet.

“I’ve watched the pictures back, and I think one of their players actually snaps a phone away from a lad and stamps on it.

“But that’s besides the point, I can understand that.

“What was remarkable about it was, pitch invasion or not, do you know how took to clear the pitch invasion? Two minutes and 50 seconds.

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“For someone to say, without proof at this moment, that the players were assaulted, I think that’s irresponsible.

“If it is proved that those players had been assaulted, that’s not on.

“That’s an offence at the end of the day. I think if it’s the case, and it is proved that they’ve been hit, it would be more than an apology from us.

“If that’s the case, it’s not on. It’s not on at all.”

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The Scottish FA released audio evidence on Thursday confirming Hearts manager Derek McInnes consented to ending the match.

O’Neill believes there has been heightened criticism directed at Celtic due to the club destroying Hearts’ romantic title aspirations.

He commented: “What has happened is that people have taken out the emotion of the game.

“I didn’t know what Hearts’ argument was at the end of the day.

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“Because the pitch invasion had taken place? Had the game finished or not? Were we going to go back and play the last 15 seconds if that was the case?

“I also didn’t know it was the rules that the referee, Don Robertson, doesn’t have to blow a whistle to finish the game, as was proved at Leverkusen. Because Leverkusen scored another goal to put it beyond them and to win the game.

“There have been pitch invasions here in this country. There was one at Kilmarnock when Derek (McInnes) was on the pitch at the time.

“If pitch invasions are going to be universally blocked, fine. And if it’s a criminal offence to go onto the pitch, that’s something else. I’m not sure in the euphoria.

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“I don’t know this for certain, but if the situation had been reversed and happened at Hearts, I think there wouldn’t have been the clamour that there has been here.

“I do agree with the football club in apologising for the Hearts players not getting the opportunity to acknowledge their own fans and for their fans to show their appreciation for their efforts.

“Regardless of all of this, Hearts’ participation has made it a season to remember.”

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a brief fashion history, from messy rebellion to mainstream revival

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a brief fashion history, from messy rebellion to mainstream revival

Indie sleaze is back, but not as you remember it. The 00s scene’s revival taps into a growing backlash against hyper-polished influencer culture, offering a messier, more authentic alternative that feels both nostalgic and deliberately staged.

The original indie sleaze look of the 2000s was an intentionally unrefined way of dressing, driven by a desire to stand apart from mainstream fashion, with a carefully constructed sense of effortless cool.

The look was built from a recognisable set of clothing and styling details.

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It girl Alexa Chung and then boyfriend, frontman of The Arctic Monkeys Alex Turner in 2009. The pair were known for their indie style.
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Black or acid-wash skinny jeans were central, paired with vintage T-shirts featuring band logos or bold graphics. Leather biker jackets reflected indie and punk influences, while sheer tights, often with rips or ladders, were styled with body-con dresses and oversized knits worn over mini-skirts. Footwear reinforced the relaxed, undone feel with worn-in Dr Martens, Converse and ballet flats completing the look.

Culturally, the trend was rooted in the indie music scenes and nightlife cultures of cities like London and New York. Bands like The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines and Yeah Yeah Yeahs influenced the style by popularising a deliberately dishevelled, off-duty look that blurred the line between stage wear and everyday dress.

The style was also worn by well known models such as Kate Moss and it girl Alexa Chung. These women brought the look to a wider audience, as they captured its mix of nonchalance and effortless styling in front of the camera and across early digital media.


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The origin of indie sleaze

Indie sleaze emerged just before social media became fully embedded in everyday life. While early platforms like Tumblr played a role in circulating party photography and candid, flash-heavy imagery, the moment still felt more spontaneous and less controlled. It was a time before style was divided into “aesthetics” and “cores”, when young people dressed a certain way because they were part of a scene, not because they had discovered a neatly packaged, shoppable trend online.

As such, the original indie sleaze sat at a transitional moment, where subculture, style and digital self-presentation began to merge, but had not yet become fully commodified.

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A fashion analysis of indie sleaze.

The indie sleaze revival taps into a desire for something that feels raw, imperfect and less controlled, in contrast to today’s hyper-curated digital environment. What makes indie sleaze appealing to a new generation is perhaps not simply how it looked, but what it allowed – messiness, excess, emotional openness and a rejection of constant self-improvement.

But there’s a contradiction. The original indie sleaze was socially driven, shaped by nightlife and real-world scenes, whereas the 2026 version exists within a culture that is far more curated. In many ways, the “sleaze” is missing. What remains is a stylised version of messiness.

The current revival grows out of the Y2K trend (a revival of early 2000s fashion and aesthetics), but it’s best understood as a reaction or mutation of it rather than a continuation. The initial Y2K revival (late 2010s into early 2020s) was glossy and hyper-feminine, reintroducing early‑2000s silhouettes like low‑rise jeans, micro bags, butterflies, neon and logo culture.

Indie sleaze draws on a similar era, but strips away the polish. Where Y2K is shiny, indie sleaze is grimy. Where Y2K is cute and curated-for-pretty, indie sleaze is curated-for-attitude. This is where the looks overlap. Neon carries over but is used abrasively rather than playfully. Ballet flats reappear but styled with sheer tights and dark makeup rather than the sweet and girly aesthetic from before. The low-effort silhouettes remain but are framed as emotional and anti-glam rather than flirty.

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Lightspeed Champion playing guitar in a blue shirt and furry trapper hat.
Lightspeed Champion (now recording as Blood Orange) inspired many indie sleaze trends, including furry trapper hats.
Daniel L. Locke/Shutterstock

Culturally, there remains a strong link to both a musical and digitally social narrative. Take for example the song Messy, by Lola Young. Not only does the artist herself confirm to the semiotic iconography of the look with her unprettified dark, smudged makeup, heavy boots, leather, denim and oversized silhouettes, but the song itself communicates a message of messiness. Not in a chaotic party sense, but in its emotional exposure.

Lyrically the song explores themes of rejecting polite femininity; she’s too loud, too emotional, too much and she’s not interested in fixing that. That attitude translates into what indie sleaze represents today. The refusal of optimisation, acceptance of visible flaws and leaning into excess rather than managing it away.

The resurgence also reflects how we now engage with the past through platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where cultural moments are converted into digestible visual codes. Indie sleaze is no longer a subculture but an archive of recognisable signs: smudged makeup, flash photography, slip dresses, battered leather. These reference points are easy to remix and circulate, making the trend especially suited to algorithmic spaces and inseparable from digital culture, even as it romanticises pre-digital freedoms.

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When is the England World Cup squad announced – and who will be in it? | Football

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New CCTV footage shows man wanted in connection with attack and robbery

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Cambridgeshire Live

Three teenage boys were assaulted by three men back in April

Two teenagers robbed in Peterborough (Credit: Cambridgeshire Police)

Police have released new CCTV footage of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a robbery. Three teenage boys were assaulted by three men at around 5pm on April 18 in Peterborough.

The incident took place on the railway footbridge between Maskew Avenue and Ivatt Way, linking New England and Ravensthorpe. A bike was stolen and one of the victims suffered minor injuries, but he didn’t require hospital treatment.

Detective Constable George Corney said: “I would like to thank the members of the public who contacted us to identify one of the men from an earlier appeal. We are now releasing the video footage of another man we would like to speak to in connection with the incident.”

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Anyone who recognises the man in the footage or has any other information should call police on 101 or report it online and quote reference 35/28529/26.

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England World Cup squad LIVE: Thomas Tuchel’s final list announced today after brutal axes

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Daily Mirror

Former England centre-back Rio Ferdinand has described the leaking of Thomas Tuchel’s squad before the official announcement later as “madness” on X.

We know that Harry Maguire, Adam Wharton, Jarrod Bowen, Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer, Luke Shaw, Phil Foden and Lewis Hall are among those to miss out.

Manchester United star Maguire posted a heartfelt message on social media yesterday, but both his mum and brother were less careful, describing the call as “disgusting” and “possibly be the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my life” respectively.

Could be some more fallout to come, so stay tuned.

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(Image: Rio Ferdinand Presents)

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Yellow heat health alerts issued as UK braces for bank holiday heatwave

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Boy, 15, arrested for attempted murder after armed attack on school teacher

Heat health alerts are to come into force across parts of the UK on Friday as the country braces for a heatwave over the bank holiday weekend.

Temperatures are expected to soar as high as 30C in London, which is hotter than holiday destinations including Mykonos, Santorini, and Ibiza.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow warnings across London, the South East, the East and the Midlands starting from 9am.

The warnings mean there is likely to be a minor impact on health and social services, and a “greater risk to life of vulnerable people”, according to the UKHSA.

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Airport workers back strike action during World Cup and peak holiday season

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Airport workers back strike action during World Cup and peak holiday season

Hundreds of airport staff in Edinburgh and Glasgow are set to strike during the peak summer holiday season, threatening significant disruption during the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Unite, the union, announced on Thursday that precise strike dates would be revealed in the coming days, with industrial action expected to coincide with these major events.

Around 370 workers at Edinburgh Airport Limited and approximately 320 employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation in Glasgow have backed the walkout over ongoing pay disputes. Unite emphasised that ICTS staff are crucial for passenger security screening and processing flights, highlighting the potential impact on airport operations.

“Workers across Scotland’s largest airports have overwhelmingly backed summer strike action.

“This is a direct result of their very profitable employers’ refusal to make a fair pay offer,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.

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“The workers have no other option and the blame for this situation lies entirely with wealthy companies choosing to boost profits before people.”

A spokesperson from Menzies Aviation said: “We are disappointed the union has progressed industrial action in an attempt to disrupt flights at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports this summer.

“We have engaged constructively throughout and put forward a fair and workable offer for all parties that recognises the challenging operating environment caused by the Middle East conflict.

“Pay at both locations has consistently increased above inflation since the Covid pandemic, and our current proposal again exceeds inflation and aligns with agreements the union has reached with other ground handlers at Edinburgh and Glasgow. We hope an amicable resolution can be reached soon.

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“Should industrial action take place, we have robust and proven contingency plans to minimise any potential disruption to our airline customers and their passengers, ensuring flights can operate as scheduled.”

Workers at Edinburgh Airport have threatened to take industrial action this summer (Alamy/PA)
Workers at Edinburgh Airport have threatened to take industrial action this summer (Alamy/PA) (Local Library)

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “Constructive talks on pay were held today with Acas between Edinburgh Airport and its unions, including Unite.  

“Further talks are planned for early next week.”

A spokesperson for AGS Airports said: “We are aware of the regrettable developments involving Unite, Menzies and ICTS including threats to disrupt passengers’ holiday plans.

“Both Menzies and ICTS continue to engage in discussions with the trade Union as they work to find a resolution on the pay awards.”

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North East funding helps people switch to electric vehicles

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North East funding helps people switch to electric vehicles

In the North East, a £1.2 million scheme will support on-street charging for drivers without driveways, allowing them to power up at lower domestic electricity rates.

The funding comes from the Government’s electric vehicle (EV) pavement channels grant and will benefit more than a thousand families across the region.

Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: “I am determined the North East leads the way in the transition to electric vehicles, and this funding will make EV ownership more accessible for more than a thousand families who don’t have a driveway.

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“Where you live should not make a difference in whether you can choose an electric vehicle.

“This fund means families can charge at home, at cheaper residential rates, just like those with off-street parking already do – putting money back in people’s pockets and making electric vehicles a realistic option for far more people.”

The funding will allow local councils to install pavement charging channels – covered gullies that run beneath the pavement and allow a charging cable to safely connect from a home charge point to a vehicle parked at the kerb.

This discreet solution removes trip hazards while enabling convenient, low-cost charging.

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The move supports the region’s goal to lead in clean transport and builds on the already UK-leading pace at which new EV charge points are being rolled out across the region.

Keir Mather, aviation, maritime and decarbonisation minister, said: “We’re investing £1.2m in the North East to make charging cheaper and more accessible, giving drivers the confidence to go electric.

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“This support is targeted at residents without private driveways so they can tap into domestic electricity rates and charge up for as little as 2p per mile.”

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Residents will be able to take part in the pilot by applying through their local council, though application dates and criteria may differ depending on the area.

For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-electric-vehicle-ev-pavement-channels-grant

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Hiding in bedrooms and turning off phones – football fandom is anything but fun. | Football

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GSC Grays gifts computers to East Durham Veterans Trust

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GSC Grays gifts computers to East Durham Veterans Trust

GSC Grays gifted 16 computers to the East Durham Veterans Trust, based in Seaham, following an IT systems upgrade.

David Gray, chairman of GSC Grays, said: “We are delighted to be able to support this fantastic charity with the gift of the computers.

“The East Durham Veterans Trust delivers vital support for military personnel who have left the forces and helps them adjust to life outside the military along with their families.

Olivia Richardson, Central Operations Manager from GSC Grays handing over the computers to Andrew Cammiss The East Durham Veterans Trust (Image: Supplied)

“It’s an organisation that makes a real difference in the local community and GSC Grays are proud to play a small part in helping them continue their important work.”

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Founded by Andrew Cammiss, the Trust is located at the Dawdon Youth and Community Centre.

Since 2021, it has supported more than 1,300 veterans and family members by providing early intervention, casework support, wellbeing programmes, and pathways into specialist services.

Their work has been recognised nationally with the trust becoming a Valour Recognised Centre, part of the government’s Veterans Strategy, delivering a nationwide network of support centres to help the 1.8 million veterans across the UK.

GSC Grays is an independent firm of Chartered Surveyors, Land and Estate Agents operating throughout the UK but principally within the North of England and the Scottish Borders.

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