News
Brianna Ghey’s murderers will be named, judge rules
The pair will be sentenced in February next year
A judge has ruled that Brianna Ghey’s murderers, Girl X and Boy Y, are to be named when they are sentenced next year.
The 16-year-old, who was transgender, was found lying on a path with multiple stab wounds in Culcheth Linear Park, in Cheshire, on February 11th.
Brianna was stabbed 28 times in a ‘sustained and violent’ attack inflicted with ‘considerable force’ to her head, chest, back and neck.
Two teenagers, both now aged 16 and known as Girl X and Boy Y, were found guilty of Brianna’s murder on Wednesday (December 20th) in an 18-day trial held at Manchester Crown Court.
The trial’s judge, Mrs Justice Yip, heard arguments both for and against naming the teenagers after they were found guilty.
Legal restrictions currently in place prevent them both from being named due to their age.
A court order, made under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, means the media are not permitted to publish any details which could lead to the two defendants being identified.
Lawyers for both defendants, who are currently being held in secure youth accommodation, opposed a media application to name them citing the possible legal ramifications on their welfare.
They also raised concerns over the potential consequences for their families, including death threats received by Girl X’s family.
At a court hearing held on Thursday December 21st, Mrs Justice Yip said she was in favour of removing the restrictions, however, the order would only be lifted on the day of their sentencing.
Girl X and Boy Y are due to be sentenced on February 2nd, 2024, at Manchester Crown Court.
“The public will naturally wish to know the identities of the young people responsible as they seek to understand how children could do something so dreadful,” Mrs Justice Yip said.
“Continuing restrictions inhibits full and informed debate and restricts the full reporting of the case.”
She accepted that naming the two teenagers would ‘cause distress to their families’ but said that it was not the purpose of the order to protect the families of those convicted.
Coming to the decision, Mrs Justice Yip also said it was ‘inevitable’ the two teens would be named eventually as the order banning their identification would run out in 2025, when they turn 18.
“Continuing the reporting restrictions until the defendants turn 18 would, in my view, represent a substantial and unreasonable restriction on the freedom of the press,” she ruled.
Mrs Justice Yip added: “Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, expressly called for empathy and compassion to be extended to the parents of the defendants.
“That showed remarkable fortitude and humanity. Those who have seen the defendants’ parents in court over the last few weeks will recognise their suffering.
“Anyone who is tempted to direct vitriol or malice towards the defendants’ families would do well to recognise that they would be acting against the express wishes of Brianna’s bereaved mother.”
Anyone who names the teenagers before the sentencing hearing could be found in contempt of court and face being prosecuted.
Following the verdict, Brianna’s mother Esther said the pair had not shown an ‘ounce of remorse’ throughout the whole trial and that she had lost ‘all sympathy’ for them.
In a statement given outside the court house, she added: “To know how scared my usually fearless child must have been when she was alone in that park with someone that she called her friend, will haunt me forever.”
Brianna’s father, Peter Spooner, said: “My heart bleeds every day for Brianna, and this will never go away – and the amount of guilt I have can sometimes be unbearable.
“But I will ensure her memory lives on in my thoughts and dreams.”
We’re pleased to announce that Proper Manchester is rebranding as Finest City Guides.
As part of this change, the Proper Manchester brand, including its social media channels, will transition to the Finest City Guides name.
This is a rebrand of the existing platform rather than a new or unrelated business. The same team behind Proper Manchester will continue to operate Finest City Guides as we develop the platform under its new identity.
Previous name: Proper Manchester
New name: Finest City Guides
Our social channels and other brand assets will be updated to reflect the Finest City Guides name as part of this transition.
More from Finest City Guides coming soon.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
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