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A 17-YEAR-old surfer was killed by a shark off Australia’s south coast today, police said.
The teenage girl was surfing with her father when she was attacked off Esperance in Western Australia state this afternoon, a police statement said.
She was taken in critical condition to Esperance Hospital, where she died. Police have not said what type of shark was responsible.
Australia has averaged fewer than two deadly shark attacks per year in recent decades.
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With this story, Whitey Bolger and the Dundon convictions all in the space of a few days I’d say the Sunday World are creaming themselves.
tv3 is temporarily off air, all the staff are having an orgasm.
why is this getting so much news? you can see this on sky Atlantic everyday on those border patrol or whatever it is with some pig ignorant Aussie shoving some poor lad with a pound of coke up his hoop into an X-ray machine. I’m glad Amy Winehouse is alive and well and back in business though, albeit the drug trafficking trade….stoopid b*tches
I told my brother who was buying hash off a local dealer that over the previous 12 months he paid for the handgun that was used to kill Shane Geoghean.
He laughed it off and said I was out of my mind comparing the little bit of hash he was buying to the murder of an innocent man.
We had a major row over it, I have called him a murderer a dozen times over the last year, he is getting pretty pissed off with this but I am right and he is wrong.
He now won’t smoke the stuff or discuss it in front of me, I am delighted he is uncomfortable with my comments.
Paul – so you’ve badgered your brother into just not smoking hash in front of you? Eh, ok.
Result! Tool.
I’m sure he’s delighted you told the journal also.
@paul im uncomfortable with your simplistic outlook ..
So where did the money come from to buy the gun if it wasn’t from people like Paul’s brother?
Perhaps the Dundon’s were pulling pints at the local bar to earn a few quid? Nah, probably not….
Its simplistic on one level, but also hard to dispute.
Paul you are absolutely right. It doesn’t make any difference if they were set up or not. They are very young girls in an awful situation. They are also victims of the drug trade convinced that this was the cool thing to do & getting caught wont happen to them. I bet most of the people on here either snort coke or know plenty who do. Who do they think they are supporting why they pay for it? Same for hash, and illegal cigarettes. I feel very sorry for these girls & their families.
Just burst out laughing at that! Thanks!!
How are they victims?? If they are guilty which im havin a very hard time believing they are not, they got caught smuggling nearly 12kgs of cocaine…i have never once read an article or saw a documentary where the “victims” were kidnapped in europe forced to fly over to SA, collect the gear and then fly back with it.especially when the place theyre flyin from knocks out more pharmaceuticals than Boots!!would your opinion be the same if it was one of your family members who was badly hooked on coke?
Yes, it would. I know tonnes of people on coke. Not kids either. I know plenty who smoke hash, pop pills etc. if these girls where related to you would your opinion be the same?
How are they victims, Aoife? Unless they have some kind of mental deficiency, how could they not think there was something dodgy going on and simply refuse to be involved?
And if you believe their story about being kidnapped, why didn’t they go up to the first police officer they saw and report to them?
Grainne, I don’t believe their story about being kidnapped. I believe they were using drugs in Ibiza & met some sc umbag they thought was a friend and that they were convinced that this was a big adventure. They were told they won’t get caught & if they did this was the story to tell & it would all be over soon. Just because they did it doesn’t mean they are less victims of a drug culture then someone’s kid who snorts a line & dies. They are young, stupid, naive and I know plenty like that. It’s the reason they were selected to do this. They are victims. The bast srds making all the money, using them as decoys, telling them everything will be ok while not risking anything themselves, they are the ones who should be locked up.
Are you asking me would I support my family if they were in a similar situation? Are you as thick as the two girls?!Of course I would but I would have the moral awareness to realise that they were 100% in the wrong! It would be virtually impossible to remain impartial when your family is involved and i have the greatest of sympathys for their families!And by way theres a huge difference between people who are just ‘poppin’ a few pills and smokin weed to someone who is badly hooked on a substance! And if they are hooked on something aren’t they lucky to have a friend like you who appears content to do nothin….
Scarr, where do you think the money comes from to buy guns and bullets?
Wally, No difference between popping a few pills or smoking weed compared to an addiction?? How do you think an addiction starts? Where do you think that weed has come from?? An organic farm managed by Angels in heaven I suppose!! You quiet clearly enjoy pills yourself. You support the same drug trade these girls support and therefore have no right to act all offended that they got caught with drugs.
Ammm…for the record I do not use any drugs myself and when I use the term ‘poppin pills’ i’m referring to the language you used in your previous comment.Its a bit of a leap to accuse me of being a drug user simply based on my repitition of your own words.#getbackinyourbox
Wallyballs, Well in that case I have an IQ of 148. Don’t accuse me if being thick because you don’t like my opinion. Get back in your own box.
Well done paul. Now hand back your computer because it was likely created in conditions that killed people too, and your phone, and your clothes, and some of your food. Plonker.
Aoife, get a grip! No matter if they’re young, naive, thought they were special or fell in love with a certain someone while abroad, the fact remains, THAT THEY WERE CAUGHT WITH OVER 11KGs OF COCAINE, NOT CRISPS OR CIGARETTES OR FAKE HANDBAGS!
now, one day he may buy but the gun that finishes you off
@ Aoife. If they are victims, is anyone guilty in your eyes? Why are you giving these girls the benefit of the doubt? Were they not looking to profit from the drug trade? Why are they not skumb4gs as you term some faceless “other people”? Why is it someone else’s fault and are these fictitious “others” not as innocent as these two dumb girls?
I never said they were innocent. I never said they didn’t do it or aren’t guilty. The point I’m trying to make is that they are no more guilty or innocent than any other kid who thinks drugs are harmless or fun or cool. So many bleeding hearts on here for people who end up addicted. Are the addicts not as stupid as this pair? Are the social users not supporting the same drug trade ? They should be punished. But I hope that’s not going to be 10 years in a 3rd world jail. That’s all.
If everybody visiting the Phoenix park took a bucket of soil home there would be no soul left in a few years, everybody would deny responsibility saying I only took a small amount.
It all adds up, same as drugs, every small deal adds into the pot contributing to criminals funds. If you took drugs 4 or 5 years ago in limerick you gave money to the dundon mc carthy gang to buy firearms and contributed to the killing of an innocent man.
FACT NOT FICTION.
@paul this is the reason my cannabis/hash in Ireland should be legalised and regulated,people we always smoke legal or illegal!! it take the money off the dealers kills their business and the revenue would be massive help get country back on track
I agree with you that that’s what probably happened, Aoife, but I don’t agree that they are victims in any way. Unless they are mentally deficient or have been living under a rock all their lives, they would be well aware of what was being asked and what the consequences were. They were stupid and naïve and GREEDY.
Those who use them as mules should certainly be locked up, but that doesn’t let them off the hook.
No, Aoife, addicts are not stupid. Addicts are hooked, physically and mentally. This pair made a choice, and now they are paying for their choice.
Grainne, Addicts make choices too. So do non addicted social coke users and there are plenty of them who are supporting the demand for drug mules to help import their weekend fix. Do you honestly think these girls werent using drugs when they made the decision to get on a plane to Peru? They are very young, they look like two clueless school girls in front of a school teacher in the first video, the 2nd video they are stuffing donuts into their faces like its the first thing they have had to eat in a long time. They have clearly been groomed and manipulated into doing this. Drug use makes you arrogant and gives you a sense of superiority. Add that to an under developed prefrontal cortex and it is very easy to manipulate a young drug user into doing something this stupid. They were probably told not to tell their parents about the holiday to Peru because the parent would talk sense to them. I get it that you are anti-drugs – so am I. I get it that you dont have sympathy for drug criminals. But I think that these girls have found themselves in the sort of trouble that a lot of young people could find themselves in given the right set of circumstances. They are not criminal masterminds. Maybe its because I know a lot of young people that Im looking at this differently. I dread to think what lies ahead for them. I feel awful for them and their families. And before some plonker asks would I feel awful for the person who dies taking the drugs, yes I would.
Once you’re an addict, the option of choices are gone. The definition of addiction is that you can’t help following your impulses. I agree with you about non-addicted drug takers, and as you say, no doubt those girls were doing plenty of it on Ibiza.
Sure they are immature and sure they were easily manipulated, but that doesn’t excuse them. I know a lot of young people too, I work with young people of that age every day. I know how stupid they can be. But they are also adults and capable of taking responsible decisions, which they will be quick enough to tell you when it suits.
They may not be criminal masterminds. I doubt if they’d ever be any kind of masterminds. But they are criminals and they have to face the consequences of their actions.
Grainne, the consequences in this case may be violent attacks, starvation, rape, tuberculosis, Hiv, lice, other parasites, rats, lack of medical care, long term isolation from their families, long term mental health issues, corrupt prison guards. These silly, stupid girls dont deserve that, neither do their families. Think about that next time you say they deserve what they get.
hahahaha funniest comment i heard all year,its pure tv3 news allright !!!!
At first I honestly felt a bit sorry for them , maybe that was naive of me. After seeing the latest video of them eating donuts and chatting , walking around as if they are some sort of celebrity’s , are these girls seriously that stupid? They don’t realise how much trouble there in and expect mammy and daddy to just get them out of it. Won’t happen this time.
Their actions are what’s commonly referred to as shock/nervousness.
Stress is going to bite them in the ass soon. Guilty or not they need support, let the courts decide their innocence or guilt.
I know that they are 20 but they are teens in their heads, pray for them, meditate on them, send positivity their way.
Tell that to anyone who’s lost a loved one to drugs.
Nobody has great judgement at that age, but most of us avoid getting into this level of trouble. I do feel for their families though.
When I’m nervous/guilty I don’t be chatting , laughing, stuffing my face with cakes and have time to braid my hair like one of them has done. They don’t seem to be showing any signs of guilt , they think it’s all a big joke. If you were innocent you would be in bits!
chloe
“When I’m nervous/guilty I don’t be chatting , laughing, stuffing my face with cakes and have time to braid my hair like one of them has done”
I do all them when i’m nervous, except the hair bit, I just don’t have any.
lauren,
They haven’t been tried yet, they have a defence, a good one.
When I’m nervous I laugh and giggle and it could be totally inappropriate
Your 100% right
Chloe, what are you on. If that’s your idea of calm and relaxed you seriously need to examine your cognitive abilities.
@duke
Again I ask what you’re basing your opinions on? Why would you think they have a good defence?
It’s well known in the industry that Peruvian customs are crooked. They’ll be informed by dealers about a small shipment of cocaine like this and then turn a blind eye to a big one worth hundreds of millions. That way they look like they’re doing their jobs and everyone’s a winner. On another note, how are comments open on journal about this when its an open case. Aren’t proper media supposed to suspend anything which may affect the court case?
How do you know it’s shock or nervousness, Duke? Their body language looks very relaxed, it doesn’t seem to me that they are too worried. Maybe the enormity of their situation hasn’t quite sunk in.
You call that a small shipment, Tony?
I don’t think that there are too many readers of The Journal in Peru..
Tony , there’s different rules and laws in different places regarding media covering court cases and its all clear as mud really , for example the video released by the police of them in the airport would be prejudicial in this country and wouldn’t be released before hearings and court cases ,but the laws in Peru obviously allow that , media like the journal are not prevented from reporting the facts like the court dates etc , and really why should there be censorship of reporting its not going o have any material effect on how the case plays out over in Peru.
@Chloe
Chloe you watched that video and never read the full article! Those girls were in a cell for over a week,They havent washed in over a week They were brought up to the Daily Mirror reporter handcuffed, He had biscuits and sandwiches for them, That’s what they were eating
The girls have cried themselves to sleep for the last week, They are putting a brave face on for the media, They have no choice now awaiting a trial.
Excuse me there doesn’t say anywhere in that article about them being handcuffed or not having washed for over a week. I read the whole thing. I don’t know what one you were reading.
@grainne, yes thats a tiny shipment compared to the type of shipments that they would normally send, they would be worth 100′s of millions
You call claiming to have been kidnapped and brought to Morocco, and somehow to have got from Morocco to Peru, although there are no direct flights, and then been handed bags at the airport in Peru a “good defence”, Duke?
They might have had a defence if they had gone up to a police or customs officer at the airport, once they were inside security and out of reach of someone who might want to harm them, and told them their story.
“The girls have cried themselves to sleep”.
How do you know that? Michaela didn’t look too upset in that video.
It might be tiny compared to other shipments, but eleven kilos is still a lot of cocaine, and can do a lot of damage. You can’t be seriously suggesting they ignore the small shipments or be less severe on them?
@Chloe
Chloe here is a quote from the Chris Bucktins FULL report.
“I sat on a broken chair as the two, chained in handcuffs, were brought to me.”
His full report is here:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/peru-drugs-arrests-pictures-video-2162880
“”Armed with Ritz cheese biscuits, ham and cheese sandwiches, lemonade and a bag full of chocolate I began the process of trying to get to see the girls.
Confronted by an armed captain I was asked for my details and handed over my British driving licence”"
Yes, Dave is right. If you watch Peruvian TV, google, R.R.P. Noticas. You will see footage of car accidents, and people who have just been arrested by Peruvian police, being booked.
A secret unannounced & surprising trip to South America via Spain & back again? Enough said I think..
A lad from Lucan I know was caught smuggling drugs out of South America years ago, he got 15 years sentence, out after about 10.
Some of his pals tried to gather support in Lucan and do a fundraiser for him, got very little support and righty so – drug dealers or mules deserve to be treated like crap.
If you are going to screw up people’s lives by doing this then you deserve everything you get.
If guilty I hope they rot in jail and serve as a notice to other idiots.
“Drug mules” in Peru are usually sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and are eligible for payroll after 2 years. The severity of sentence depends on the weight, Luckily the girls are on the small end of the scale.
Payroll?
Eh actually your incorrect there mate 11kg is not the small end of the scale for (alleged) possession of cocaine in any airport in the world …..with estimated street value of well over a million dollars it’s a quantity not for personal use and obviously for distribution …the small end of the scale is having a few grams of coke which is illegal but you can plead it for personal use and try expect some leniency , the system there (as all banged up abroad viewers will have seen ) are probably unlikely to view this quantity as small end of any scale I’m afraid.
A trial will take 2-3 years to happen.
It’s a large amount but the point i’m making is, its not big enough to lock them up for 25 years.
If they can stick by their story or make some sincere confessions,The best they can hope for is a reduced prison sentence. possibly out after two years.
Eligible for the payroll of the drug dealer…
I’d be the first to condemn what they’ve done, I had no sympathy for being so naive and stupid but what’s done is done, I’m sure they wont be smuggling drugs ever again, They’ll learn the hard way.
I’m not going to wish them bad though, I hope they can get the best outcome possible.
their will be no bail here for the girls and years of waiting for the case to be heard. its Peru not Ireland and I don’t think they realize the consequences.
Mac Dara I totally agree, I think they are now trying to convince themselves they were set up because the taught of what maybe ahead of them is at this point in time inconceivable. Many years I jail, silly girls!
They were definitely set up, they hardly bought all the coke themselves.
No its called being a mule for a prise,if they were forced why did they not tell a policeman at the airport what was happening ,sounds a bit good to me but I could be wrong.
Doubtful they bought it themselves, shy would the be forced into it if they bought it themselves. They are paid mules, given cash for carrying bags….they got caught. Delighted.
“They were definitely set up, they hardly bought all the coke themselves”
Just because someone supplied them with the coke doesn’t mean they were set up. Being set up means they didn’t know what they were doing. That they went all the way to Peru, were given bags to carry and didn’t know what was going on.
They could well have been set up to pay off a debt, but that doesn’t make them any less guilty.
Cop on! Set up, are you having a laugh? The drug dealers bought the cocaine! They were simply the drug mules! They were going to get a tiny fraction for being their drug couriers! It was all about the money! No consideration for communities scourged by drugs! GREED PURE AND SIMPLE!
This story should be called ” when Good Hookers Go Bad”
What do you mean “simply” drug mules? Every part of the chain of the drug trade is crucial, from the barons to the drug mules. You can’t dismiss the mules because they are stupid or greedy or whatever. Without them, very little drugs would get through. An example has to be made of people like that.
Gráinne, In no way did I ever, or would I dismiss drug mules in anyway of being anything less than significant players in the transportation, distribution etc…. within the so called drug trade! Read my previous posts on this and other threads ‘ I THOROUGHLY DESPISE ANYBODY AND ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH DRUGS, REGARDLESS OF SIGNIFICANCE! If you’ve anything got to do with ‘DRUGS’ and I mean those looking to make a quick buck or living from it, you deserve everything you get, and more! My use of the term ‘simply’ was in the context of them being the actual drug mules and not the money men or organisers! Hope this clears it up for you! ;)
I was caught being a drug mule one time, I felt like a right Ass.
Thanks, Niall. It does…
Luckily they didn’t check her hair too, there looks like there is another two kilos tucked into her hair do!
Innocent I think not, however I have a feeling they’ll be home just in time for the first Late Late Show where we’ll see tears followed by the obligatory “celeb” interviews. Me…..a cynic……never!
If it were a trace of “coke” in their luggage, I’d be inclined to agree with you.However it was 11kg serious amounts in money and human misery.
On the upside their Spanish will be fluent by the time they get out.
Looks like thier families are being flown to Peru by the national papers ( daily mirror ) for the “exclusive” inside story and then set up several more interviews when they are released in 2019. Of course there will also be the obligitary documentary or as is nowadays a ” docu- drama “. I can see Lindsey Lohan as Michaella and Helen Flanagan as the Scottish girl.( thick as ) if they decide to go down the movie route. Wait , why not go the whole way and do a musical..with a soundtrack of this years top tunes from Ibiza. Sorted. Singing ,dancing, guns ,drugs, model,gangsters,bishop,you could ‘nt make it up. Nobody would believe it. Any suggestions for a title anybody ? How about ” Just Lima Alone “
I’d say a couple more days wont make much difference in the grand scheme of things
She has another pack in her hair !
Neither of these two are Irish republic nationals. Why are front page of our papers.
Coz their gorgeous !!
The girl from the North is an Irish passport holder.
Smelly yokes
She was born in Monaghan apparently.
Either is david beckham.. His balls have made front page news.. whats your point ?
Why does everyone keep saying their gorgeous their only average looking
I was being funny ?? Can’t speak for the rest
Token banged up abroad reference
Orange is the new black.
Token “they should have checked her hair for more drugs” joke.
2 young innocent girls are asked by bad men to go to Peru to get a couple of boxes of Quaker Porridge and we’ll even pay for your return flights.
Wouldn’t you think the airport police would have spotted the guys with guns to their heads at the check in desk!! Seriously, they are drug mules, they get jailed all the time. They all do it for different reasons but its drug importation at the end of the day. If they can prove they were kidnapped and forced to do it, then it needs to be taken into consideration. But that’s a big “if”
If they come clean and protesting their innocence they might get a bit more respect out of people. Their story is getting more ridiculous by the minute.
But it’s such a pretty story. I just wish they’d hurry up and get to the part where the giant pigeon swoops down and plants the suspicious bags in the lining of their suitcase.
the priest said they have been set-up, case closed I believe.
How exactly were they supposedly “forced” to take the packages with them? They had airline tickets to Madrid. They obviously knew there were drugs in their cases. They could easily have dumped the drugs before going through airport security at Lima, taken the flights to Madrid and when they arrived there flown directly home.
Exactly, how many times have people been warned about this sort of thing. If alarm bells don’t go off in your head when someone offers to pay for a 9 day stay in a country known to be a major drugs “producer” and asks you to bring something back with you.. Then stupidity doesn’t cover it. Hopefully they will get treated as carrying the smaller amounts and so only get 7!and still be able to have a life.
Pity the parents who may well end up wrecking their lives financially.
Not sure they could have dumped the drugs before airport security – they were probably being watched right up to that point, but they could certainly have alerted airport security to what was going on if they had been ‘forced’.
Would this story have gotten half as much attention If it were two UK lads. Although it can’t be classed as pretty white girl syndrome.
Every time I hear about them on the news, it’s a completely different story. I was half inclined to believe them at first, but not anymore. They weighed up the odds, and decided the chances of getting away with it were worth the risk. It’s their families who deserve the sympathy.
@Eoin, according to reports, she travels on an Irish Passport and was born on the Island of Ireland. You should try telling my family they’re not Irish.
Of course she’s Irish, Eoin. Anyone born on the island of Ireland is Irish.
Born in monaghan, grew up in the north
I genuinely believe they were setup. I wish them luck with their case.
Why do you believe this Stephen? I’m still waiting for an explanation as to why they were in Peru in the first place.
Just a quick 9 day holiday in Peru and not telling anyone where/when you’re going…they’ve set themselves up and will pay the price now.
I’m sure the drug dealers were wishing them luck with their “case” as well.
Stephen,
Too many armchair judges here.
They allege that they were kidnapped, I believe them.
What do you base your belief on duke?
The photo makes them look so dense that it could possibly be true.
Garry,
you’re spot on, the vids make them sound/look like they are 16 yr old naïve gullible girls. I hope that they are innocent. I really do.
Duke – if they’re innocent then they should get off. But I think some are sympathetic because its a relatively pretty Irish lass involved and not some fat man. Would people still be as sympathetic if those same drugs were on there way to Ireland? If the trip to Peru was innocent, why tell no one? If they were coerced why not tell an official at check-in, on the flight, at customs, in either airport?
It’s a good job they didn’t use Ryanair. 11 kilo and all that.
Bad
Sure the flight attendants and the crew would have helped them out.
Spot on.
It’s strange, I can’t remember the same out-pouring of sympathy and understanding when those 3 English fellas were found with all their coke getting washed up in Cork. Weird.
Okay picture the scene.
You have these girls. They meet some outstanding good looking guy from Peru while on holidays. This guy is promising them a great time if they go to Peru.
he sets them up and before you know it, they are caught smuggling drugs unknown. By the time they realise the danger, it’s too late.
They had absolutely nothing to gain from this. I think they are stupid but I do feel for them
Nothing to gain? What about “easy” money?! They had the same thing to gain as every other drug dealer has! “I didn’t know” is not a defence.
Okay picture another scene.
They are in Ibiza, they are young, impressionable. They are in party mode, and there are drugs aplenty. They meet the wrong people, they get into debt with the wrong people, and to pay it off they agree to be drug mules. They get caught.
There are many possible reasons, many or none of which are partially true.
Okay, picture the scene! Girls grow up from being innocent little children and grow into young women! Being old enough to travel without family and work abroad, they get use to hot countries that certainly are not Scotland or Ireland! For whatever reason they end up with 11kgs of Cocaine in a foreign country (not Scotland or Ireland) and are adamant they’ve being set up, forced to bring parcels onto flight, innocent of all incoming charges! PLEASE!
Unfortunately for michaela I think the whole “missing” campaign will ruin her in this case…feel sorry for her family!
If they were kidnapped, why didn’t they go to the police when they got to the airport and report their situation?
Where abouts in cork?
If that was the case why would not tell her family she was goin to Peru for holiday if she kept in contact every couple of days….suppose you never know why may have happened its just looks really dodgy for the girls…un fortunately!
And why are we all on a first-name basis with them??
Get a grip Stephen they could easily of went to Police in the airport before they checked in. This is the excuse everyone of them couriers use when they were caught
Scarr, I’m not sure what “innocent” means in this case. They clearly travelled to Peru knowing something was up. If they owed money for drugs and were working off their debt, if they just wanted to make a quick buck, or even if they were held at gunpoint at some stage, they had the coke in their bags. If it was the third scenario, once they got to the airport, all they had to do was dump the bags, or go to the police.
One way or the other, they are certainly not casual travellers who just happened to have stuff planted on them. And they have to be made an example of. Otherwise every mule will come up with a sob story and the authorities might as well give up altogether and wave them all through.
Gis a lend of 20 grand stephen. Ill pay ye back next week, promise
How was the wedding les.
There was an Irish guy jailed for the same thing in Peru a few years back. Anyone remember him? Nope. He was automatically guilty. He got 4.5 years for it. Any reporter bring him sandwiches and chocolates? Nope. Archbishop pop in to visit him and protest his innocence? Nope. Joe Duffy run a show on it for a few days?Nope. Did mainstream media run it front page or centre stage in their prospective publications for days? Nope. Anyway care. Nope.
Set up? Set up in what way?
There’s been some talk here of how drug traffickers will set people up as mules, then tell the authorities on them, to create a diversion while they smuggle much more.
I’m actually fine with this concept, but I just don’t see why they gave them 11kilos for the setup. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to set them up with 5 kilos? How about a kilo each? Wouldn’t that be enough to set them up and create the diversion? Then I could get my real mules to carry the other 9kilos through while the diversion was created, that’s an extra 90k or whatever I can make. Logical, no?
Set up me arse
They may or may not be innocent, but proving innocence will be pretty difficult unless they can produce backup – which is unlikely. I agree with the rest of your sentiment!
They don’t have to prove their innocence Sheila. The state has to prove their guilt
best comment yet!
I do find the circumstances of the story intriguing. First they said they didn’t know the drugs were there, but then they said they were ‘forced at gunpoint’ (source: TodayFM) to put these packages into their cases. Then I heard that their family as well as themselves were threatened? (is this true)
I’d be interested to know how they found themselves in this precarious position, but it is doubtful they are entirely the innocent party. You don’t just get on a flight to Lima that you haven’t paid for and suspect nothing. And also, where are these men with guns, they hardly got them through security in an airport, so first thing I’d have done is dump the bag, go to a member of security and report it. If they were smuggling drugs from Lima to Madrid, similarly, did they have drugs on them when the flew from Madrid, why didn’t they notify someone in Madrid.
So many questions still.
And family didnt hear from her in days leading to the social media blitz but the priest above says Michella phoned her mother everday. Was that from Spain or in Peru? Yet trip to SA is being touted as a secret?? Truth will out I guess.
I agree with you… There are too many unanswered questions.
I’m not saying that the girls are completely innocent, because no one is…. However, I truly believe a person is innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, I pray they get decent legal and translation representation.
I know of several cases where people have been found guilty because of cases built on circumstantial, limited, corrupt or incomplete evidence. Luckily, a few of these people were freed from prison after their cases were reviewed… Regardless of their new freedom…. Their lives, dreams and hopes were dashed.
In the US, all job applicants must disclose criminal convictions. If they do not… They can be fired for given false information on a legal document. And if they do disclose information…. Most employers will not consider the job candidate a good fit for the role.
Exactly, so much misreporting by different sources.
Regardless of the back story, unfortunately a crime was committed. The Authorities don’t care who they catch, whether it is mules, or drug cartels.
There was a story from NZ, where a former MP was duped into picking up a package in Argentina on the way to meet her internet boyfriend. Sadly she was caught with drugs and was jailed.
The Courts are not in these girls favour, irrespective of the circumstances of how they got into this mess.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8605906/Honey-trap-victims-release-from-prison-on-hold
Now that I’m older, wiser and seasoned traveller….. I still cringe when I recall… As a naïve young American…. When I took a trip to Stockholm, Sweden. At a party I ran into a guy who knew I guy from back home…. He asked me to bring a package back to the US and deliver it to his friend.
I said yes…. Without a thought….
It wasn’t until several years ago that I realized how stupid, dangerous and naïve my actions were. If the package contain illegal contraband and US Customs would of found it….. Considering the US Federal Prison System…. My life would be over.
I tell ya…. My guardian angel was watching over me during that stupid episode.
Oh yeah, it’s dangerous travelling, and it’s not even when you are given packages either. You hear horror stories of your bags being tampered with and stuff ending up in it. Spent a few months travelling around before as well, and we were nervous of anything happening. Luckily it didn’t.
“Regardless of the back story, unfortunately a crime was committed. The Authorities don’t care who they catch, whether it is mules, or drug cartels. ”
Exactly. If you start listening to sob stories, everyone caught will come up with one. You have to come down hard on anyone who tries this, no matter what the circumstances.
Nice to see comments left alone on this thread. None disappearing.
This was my thinking. While none of us know what happened, I would have an easier time believing their story if they had been in Peru or anywhere in South America to begin with. You do read/see stories of people being snatched in countries and being forced to carry something and are then caught in the airport (as others have said, possibly being used as a decoy for larger shipments to go through) but the idea that they were kidnapped in Spain, possibly forced somewhere and then on a plane to Peru (or several if there were no direct flights) is just a little too far fetched, even for the decoy story, when they could just use someone local. Unless they were escorted onto the plane by someone in each case, they had plenty of opportunity to raise the alarm and if they were escorted, there should be footage of that person(s) with them which I would have thought would be released by now, or at least mentioned. A gang can threaten but unless they were with them 100% of the time from the moment they were “kidnapped” then I just can’t see how this makes sense.
Both the priest and the former consulate don’t seem to have answers to these questions either despite speaking to the girls.
They MUST be innocent!
After all, they are young attractive WHITE women…and white women can’t be guilty cause white women don’t lie about anything cause you know they’re young, attractive and white
#get the hint
All bullshit aside, I’m broken hearted for their dads, that’s a tough pill for them to swallow
“she is finding it difficult to cope” is a bit of an understatement I’d say the girl is a total wreck
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/video-new-footage-of-michaella-mccollum-connolly-in-peruvian-jail-29496471.html watch that and tell me she looks like a wreck.
Michaella may be innocent, but that top-knot on her head is guilty of at least one crime.
One reason I do not believe the kidnap shit which is pretty much the go to card in these cases…
I grew up with a lot of friends, some ended up in drugs , some didn’t but the first rule of drug trafficking is this
“Less people involved, less risk taken”
Which leads to rule no 2
“Minimise risk, maximise profit”
Highly unlikely they were kidnapped
O sure lock her up so Chloe
Looking at this video which I would say it was made been made and released without there permission,
Media and so called concerned people such as Michael Russell are doing them no favors by giving out details of private conversations they have had with them .
These kids are in the height of trouble and I don’t think they understand how bad the situation is for them
She certainly doesn’t look like a total wreck if you look at the footage of her stuffing her face with a doughnut…
Aw musha the poor girls!
Don’t go smuggling drugs and you won’t be in prison simple as. I have not one ounce of pity for them. May they have a long and unpleasant time in Peru.
The only reason they are so eager on the donuts is because apparently they never ate for the first few days after their arrest
“O sure lock her up so Chloe”
And what do YOU suggest should happen to someone caught with 11k of cocaine, Mary?
Always wear your “la vie est belle” tshirt when being held at gunpoint.
Soon to be “la vie est sh1te”!
*merde
There’s something about the irish girl that makes me feel really sorry for her which I didn’t when story first broke…..the Scottish girl seems way more confidant.
Irish girl seems ‘lost’ almost. I think the smile is total nerves.
Yeah they have done wrong & they know it but I hope they get proper support during this. Gonna be tough time for their families.
good man doodles,
Maybe it isn’t first time for Scottish girl
Hmm maybe it’s because she’s “Irish”?
There’s something about the Irish and Scottish girls that make me….. have NO SYMPATHY for them whatsoever! I’ll reserve all my sympathy for the families throughout our country devastated by drugs! Two very, very stupid, naive, young girls, call it what you will, are about to learn a very, very big lesson!
Hopefully someone’s life has been saved and the happiness of their families secured by these two being caught.
One thing they didn’t find on either of them.
A brain cell. Fancy turning up in a Minnie Mouse disguise. HELLO!
I would have used the Giant Panda story myself. Far more credible than “my family were threatened” rubbish. It works a treat almost anywhere. Everyone knows those Giant Pandas are constantly up to no good and have incredible hypnotic powers. The Peruvians would have let them go straight away. I suppose this means another episode of Banged Up Abroad is on the cards from RTE. (Really Tedious Entertainment) . Why don’t they ever have any program’s about Pandas. I love Pandas.
I posted yesterday that they would claim to be victims of bad men that forced them to do bad things, and I was accused of sexism, and yet here they are today doing exactly that. The leopard doesn’t change it’s spots.
I love watching banged up Abroad. Can’t wait for this one.
Strange that the Peruvian police have let the two girls stay together? Surely the first thing you would do is separate them to prevent them coming up with the same ‘story’.
Whatever about the crime, punishment who is at fault, these videos that are surfacing are very odd.
The closest thing to a video you would normally see is a bloke in handcuff’s with his jumper pulled
over his head.
The videos are definitely swaying public opinion, its very odd to see videos like this and i am pretty
sure they had no idea they were being recorded in the last video. The even stated they did not
want to see any press. This video is now world news
I do agree that the videos coming out like this are very odd. They certainly aren’t doing the girls any favours.
I had thought in the first one they may have taken something/been given something by whoever they were working for (or forced by) to relax them so as not to raise suspicion in the airport which is why they seemed quite calm. This one I believe is a few days later so not sure what to think.
I hope nobody on here who is been snide and sneering at these kids have ever done a line or shared a spliff because if you have count yourself as a contributing factor to all this mess
I have no doubt that they are innocent. If I was in peru I would go down and see them.
Any Journal readers in Peru? Go visit the girls, wish them well.
I heard there is some people who are more than happy to cover your expenses to travel to Peru and back, if your willing to do them a favour.
I know a guy who gets great prices on flights from Peru to Ibiza if your interested??
While you’re in Peru will you take back some of the local food for me, my mate will give it to you. Can’t get it here and I really miss it. Thanks
You’re not in Peru but there are plenty of dealers and mules in your own town.
So f##k off down to the prison and visit them instead, there’s a good chap.
ye’re all hilarious.
You could go as goofy
If they where set up why didn’t one off the approach the police when they got into the airport to tell them ??they both knew what they were doing they thought it was easy money and they were caught…lock them both up..
If they were not there to mule drugs what were they there for and why did they not tell anyone they were going to Peru.
If these girls are guilty our government should just cut them off and not waste our taxes looking after them and let them serve their sentence in full.
No sympathy for them. Prison is full of people who do ‘stupid things’. Plus she looks like Mickey Mouse.
Be fair. Minnie Mouse
I notice that she doesn’t even use the double-barrelled version of her name herself, and many media have also dropped it.
Two misguided souls who will suffer at the hands of drug dealers, who do you feel sorry for?
U do hope they are innocent and the real perpetrators are caught until then, i remain sceptical.
None of the above! SIMPLE!
The ‘real perpetrators’?
Yes, there are no doubt bigger fish involved, but does that mean all the small fish should be let off?
What do you mean, the “real perpetrators”? They ARE the real perpetrators.
Anyone who thinks these were set up are delusional its well known when ur working on the island that you can have access to easy money if u bring stuff over on a flight these just got caught many dont .. Not such easy money now was it girls
Lots of sad people on here making what they think are funny comments at others people expense. But surely with so much surveillance at airports they can identify individuals who they claim are accompanying them
Susanna i dont think peruvian security cameras can identify imaginary people
I’d say this was somebody just trying to use them to smuggle the stuff through the airport, they likely knew what they were doing and who they were doing it for and were most definitely going to get a good few quid for it when they got back to Spain. Its the classic banged up abroad story.
My god “anything” could be in that “bun”!!
Whitey Bolger will be out before them
Something about the irish girl makes me feel very sorry for her.
It’s the bad hair!
Is Michaella hiding another KG in that bun on top of her head
This case from beginning to end should be into 4th year curriculum so others will see thier mistakes and learn from it.
Wow! Folks ye have some Sympathy in ye! I believe these girls a totally innocent, if anything a fund should be set up to free the Peru two. They didn’t even know each other. They were picked up individually probably while under the influence of a few scoops, more than likely by some good looking guy who charmed them. Promised them a great night at a party in a nearby town, after all they were in Ibiza, If you’ve been there you’ll know it’s one long party. Then, when they got there, these guys turned violent and held them at gun point( sure the Irish girl was on the missing person’s list) and their life’s were threatened and that of their families. Next thing they are forced to do a drug run. What would you do at that age, they are only 19 and 21. I think they need all the help they can get!
martin,
I agree….totally.
And they didnt see one policeman or woman to tell them in this time? They couldnt of alerted anyone on the flight over to get in contact with thier families and tell them?
Major drug dealers would not risk doing it like this as the chances of losing the drugs are greater.
I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion of totally innocent with no evidence, and a largely inconsistent story.
Firstly, if I was either of the girls parents, with the MANY many shows “documenting” what goes on in Ibiza, I wouldn’t have let my impressionable daughters go there in the first place.
People make poor life decisions, yet strangers are asked to bail them out. I would rather give my money to those who had no choice in their circumstances actually.
I’m selling some “Born Yesterday”
t-shirts. I’d say a lot of you guys on here would look good in them. Nice quality like.
I have a speeding ticket, aka broke the law too. Will you set me up a fund please?
Wow, Martin, that’s a great story. You should take up writing crime fiction for a living. You make it sound SO believable…
“in a nearby town”, yeah, Peru is nearby alright.
@Martin Mickey: would you have this same opinion if these girls were Black African and were telling the same story?
Yes Victor I would, no one could make all that up and go missing not even text home for weeks and stress their family out!
Hey Martin! Now that I think about it…..! WOULD YOU EVER COP ON! THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, WHY THE COMEDY!
If you can see the comedy in that, ya must be on something!
Sorry Marty! You’ve entirely missed my point, the comedy was in your comment! By the way, the strongest thing I’d be on is tea! God only knows what you’re on yourself Marty? After reading your heartwarming defence of the two drug mules, and your inreserved support of their innocence, you’ve solidified my conclusion from all the available facts that they are indeed guilty! Have you even read what’s been written, or are you just a bleeding heart? GOODNIGHT MARTY!
People weren’t as sympathetic when this occurred. While I do feel for the families of the two girls, I struggle to accept they didn’t know what they were at.
If they were forced to smuggle the drugs after being brought to Morocco surely at some point over the next nine or so days could they not have gone to the police? If they had the freedom to walk around the airport could they not have sought help before being stopped.
I appreciate that I’ll never know what fear or threats were forcing them to do what they done.
what happened to innocent until proven guilty, Judge, Jury & exacuter all of you’s
Probaly the same as whatever happened to knowing “right from wrong”?
11kg of cocaine wasn’t put into their luggage by the “Drug Fairy”.
Innocent until the parents can get enough money together to buy off a judge. Read ‘confidence in getting acquittal’ in the media. Why would the trail be placed back?
You have eleven kilos of coke in your luggage, and you might possibly be innocent? How do you work that out, Teresa?
If she hid it in her hair she would have gotten away with it, its huge.
Very easy to play the victim when your caught red handed, I’m sure they would of been well rewarded if they weren’t caught, only victims I can see are there unfortunate family’s and of course the innocent locals of Peru that are caught up in the blood shed over this drug
Two girls that probably ran outta money in Ibiza, meet someone that promises them loads of money for a “simple” delivery. They don’t realize how much trouble they are in at the minute. Probably looking at 15 years in prison in Peru. Silly girls. Do they not watch banged up abroad?
She can claim she was in Disney Land with that hairstyle.
Was there ever a case where a drug smuggler did not swear that they were innocent and did not know that there was a pile of drugs in their bags etc etc etc?
Minney Mouse.
Silly girls! It’s a shame what were they thinking
The normal tactic to get mules by the cartels is to threaten to kill family and friends. That goes for when they get caught and let it be known to the authorities and media. There’s more to this story than we’re allowed to know at this point. You can’t judge them on the current information.
They took a flight to Peru. No one could force the them to do that. Armed police in Spain at all airports, all they have to say is “I need help” and they would be safe. They knew what they were doing. They got caught and now we hear the fairy tales from them. The drugs they were smuggling could have killed someones children, maybe even yours!
So they thought that some Spanish or Peruvian guys were going to go all the way to Scotland and Northern Ireland, track down their families and kill them…sure.
It never dawned on them to go to the police at any point along this epic journey?
“Michaella and Melissa’s court appearance delayed in Peru”. It would have been like saying “John’s trial to begin as he is hospitalised following prison hunger strike” in reference to Dungdon a few weeks ago.
When they are found guilty of their despicable crime, will they be referred to as “Connolly and Reid” or will they still be Michaella and Melissa?
They’re looking at 10 years each, easy.
Feel sorry for these two girls. Their lives will be changed forever whatever the outcome. Really want to believe they were forced to do it. I find it really hard to believe that anyone would be so dumb as to carry so much contraband on a flight anyway. Good luck to them both.
maybe they should have watched “banged up abroad” before going on hols…lol
they will learn their lesson the hard way unfortunately but maybe the media publicity will serve as a warning for others not to do such a stupid thing.
I’d love to see the comments on here if the two girls were Black African, telling the EXACT same stories as these two girls and trying to get into Ireland with these drugs in their bags. Will there be the same outpouring of emotion ans support?
Theres a unclear line between legal and illegal. If you take Sudafed your using meth and btw Sudafed is illegal in Asia.
No it’s not
Firstly, we’re not in Asia. And Sudafed is still legal here.
Though i never knew taking sudafed made me a meth user? Or by getting Sudafed for kids made them a meth user? Or did you mean to say that if someone wanted to make Meth they can use Sudafed as an ingredient if they so wished.
And when you say an unclear line between legal and illegal, in what regard to you mean? In relation to drugs? Sex? Murder? Show me where this line is unclear, because in this case the law is clear, if you are caught smuggling drugs, you go to jail.
I only know the headlines to this story but I honestly believe that the only crime that these two girls can be convicted of is being naïve and even with that I don’t believe that they would have been stupid enough to try and attempt something like this from such a prominent country for drugs like Peru. For those of you in the ‘let them rot in prison’ brigade please spare a thought for their parents, brothers, sisters and pals. If it was your daughter, sister or best friend that had been stitched up how would you feel? Pass judgement only when the truth is heard but until then just maybe say a prayer or thought for them and their family and also for the countless souls who’s lives are destroyed by the true criminals in this affair, the ones who set these girls up
Better call Saul!
How do people even try to support two drug mules? Let them rot in prison. It’s what is good for them.
They were taken to a nearby town,for a pretend party. Then some days later forced to go to Puru! via Spain. Dah! WHo’s who’s your man anyway, I think if people want to be smart they should at least have the cahoonas to use their own name!
I hope they have loads of makeup to keep them going for the next few years. That hair do suggests to me they are really stupid and should be let go, although a few months behind bars might make them change there attitude to drugs, supplying them and making peoples lives a misery.
Reminds me of Underbelly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underbelly_(TV_series)
Off course they were set up,the promise of quick easy money was too much to turn down,but they did have a choice,it was the wrong choice,but a tough lesson to learn nonetheless for a naive pair who thought they could pull it off.
have your say