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HOMEGROWN JIHADI HASHEM Abedi is expected to die in jail after being handed 24 life sentences for organising the Manchester Arena bomb plot which killed 22 people and injured hundreds of others.
The 23-year-old again refused come up from his cell at the Old Bailey to be in courtroom two as the judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, told him he would spend at least 55 years in prison before he could even be considered for parole.
Abedi, born and raised in Manchester, was accused of showing “contempt” to the families of those he and his suicide bomber brother Salman Abedi killed more than three years earlier by not coming into the dock.
Sentencing him this afternoon, the judge said: “Although Salman Abedi was directly responsible, it was clear the defendant took an integral part in the planning.”
“The motivation for them was to advance the ideology of Islamism, a matter distinct to and abhorrent to the vast majority for those who follow the Islamic faith,” he said.
“The defendant and his brother were equally culpable for the deaths and injuries caused.
“The stark reality is that these were atrocious crimes, large in their scale, deadly in their intent, and appalling in their consequences.
“The despair and desolation of the bereaved families has been palpable.”
‘He may never be released’
Abedi, of Fallowfield in south Manchester, was found guilty by a jury in March of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
Some families in court gasped as the sentence was passed.
The judge – who put on record his tribute to “the tremendous dignity and courage” of the families who attended court – said the 1,024 days Abedi spent remanded in custody will count towards the overall sentence.
He added: “He may never be released.”
It was Abedi’s older brother, 22-year-old Salman, who detonated the suicide bomb in the foyer of Manchester Arena at 10.31pm on 22 May 2017, as thousands of men, women and children left a concert by pop star Ariana Grande.
Together, the Abedis spent months ordering, stockpiling and transporting the deadly materials required for their murderous act, using multiple mobile phones, addresses and runaround vehicles to craft their bomb.
The brothers joined their parents in Libya the month before the blast amid concerns the siblings were becoming radicalised.
However, Salman returned to the UK on 18 May. He bought the final components needed for the bomb, rented a flat in the city centre in which to build it, and carried out reconnaissance on the arena before finally executing the plot – the chilling final moments of which were caught on CCTV.
Ian Hopkins, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, described the brothers as “cowardly” and “calculating murderers” who tried to divide society.
He said: “He (Hashem Abedi) showed that in his contempt for the court proceedings and by the end just not turning up.
“But they failed to do that because actually what that atrocity did do, as painful as it was for those that lost their loved ones and those injured, it brought everybody together.
“And it showed, it showed the world that we stood together here in Manchester in our darkest hour.
“And the fact that we’ve had this sentence and him brought to justice shows terrorists around the world, if you commit an atrocity in the UK we will do absolutely everything to make sure you stand trial here and are brought to justice.”
Hopkins said he and his colleagues would have liked to have seen him receive a whole-life tariff – to remain in prison forever – but the judge was prevented from doing so because of the defendant’s age at the time of the blast.
He added: “Others, at some stage many decades from now, may have to make a decision as to whether he ever gets released on licence.”
But asked whether he expected Abedi to spend the rest of his life in prison as a result, Hopkins replied: “I would suspect in all likelihood, yes.”
‘We are destroyed’
The two-day sentencing heard powerful testimony from the families of the victims, many of whom fought back tears as they described their devastating loss, their endless grief, and the gaping voids left by the massacre.
The mothers of teenage sweethearts Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, were among those to explain devastation to the hushed courtroom, with Lisa Rutherford saying: “As a family we need answers, we are destroyed.”
Rutherford, who was supporting herself on crutches as she read her statement, said her “heart snapped” when she received a telephone call with the news that her daughter had died.
Caroline Curry held up a photo of her son and directed some of her comments to the absent Abedi, who sacked his legal team on 12 March and effectively withdrew from the process having not been present in court for several days prior.
Addressing an empty dock on Wednesday, Curry said: “I want you to look at Liam and remember the beautiful boy that was snatched away.
“Your actions have caused this heartbreak. I just feel cheated.
“You took his future, my future, my family’s future. All we have now is heartbreak and dreams of what if.”
Samantha Leczkowski, mother of Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, from Leeds, said her daughter’s bedroom had been kept “untouched” since she died.
“Losing one of my children has killed me,” she said. “I may as well be dead.”
Survivors also recalled feeling guilty – for escaping the blast with their lives when others did not, and for instantly thinking the worst when they saw people wearing backpacks on public transport.
Harriet Taylor, in a tribute to her mother, Jane Tweddle, a 51-year-old school receptionist from Blackpool, said evil would not triumph.
“We simply will not let evil win,” she said. “Evil is invisible, it has no face, no heart, no race.
“But what we have that evil never will have is love.”
A public inquiry into the bombing is scheduled to start next month.
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People with houses and wealth (quite alot inherited and not worked for) vote for FG to try and keep the peasants at bay. Problem with that tactic is there will eventually be more angry peasants around than people who own anything. That day is getting closer and closer.
@Dan The Man: So we should build a moat? Great idea. Jesus if anyone from FG/FF called ye peasants ye would explode in rage
@Dan The Man: first, houses are not wealth, they’re homes. Long after you retire you’ll still need a place to live, and the State pension would not cover rent. So we must continue to aspire to owning your own home : lifetime renting is not sustainable.
And speaking of those who ‘inherit’, they are worked for by whichever parent bought & paid for it. Its also taxed upon inheritance often to the point a child can’t afford to keep it because inheritance tax is 20 years out of date, and so it’s gets sold. Speaking of inheritance, by your logic you should apply that to social housing too : it should not automatically pass down to (anyone). Eligibility to keep it should be periodically reviewed.
@Dan The Man: I understand your reasoning and sentiment. But please don’t play into the government’s hands.
This is what they want – divide voters.
Home owners also have children who can’t rent and can’t buy, one or even two houses can only stretch so far.
Look at what the banks seem to propose in an article by RTE online yesterday:
Lower percent mortgages for “green” properties.
If this escalated, owners of older homes may find it harder to sell if mortgages for potential buyers of their homes are charged higher rates.
These home owners, possibly elderly/ not in the high income brackets can’t afford to upgrade to “green”, can’t sell because of potentially higher interest rates on mortgages.
Ergo fewer homes come on the market unless the owners decide to sell at much reduced prices.
@John Moylan: I’m not sure a social or council house is passed down to other family members at least I have been led to believe this is the case, but unless children move out which is of course our big problem these days I can’t see them being turfed out onto the street if mum and dad pass.
I wont be voting green thats for sure, not until the party clears the decks of the current breed like eamo, martin and especially o’gorman cos they arent good for the country, the planet or the taxpayers wallet
Isn’t it a sad state of affairs when FFG’s manifesto and push for votes is based on what they perceive Sinn Féin can’t do, as opposed to what they can or should do.
When politicians from the parties in goverment publish criticism online of other parties alleged lack of plans, rather than putting forward their own realistic plans and solutions to address the ongoing issues around the lack of housing, you know the country is in trouble.
The current government should be putting forward a plan of their own that at its core has a system of phased delivery of houses to set deadlines to chart their progress or lack thereof, and heads rolling if they are not met.
Rather than the exercise in spoofery that promises 50,000 houses and no plan to deliver them.
Simon Harris and Michael Martin are acting like the just heard about the housing crisis that their parties and they themselves have failed to resolve while being in government over the last 30 years..
@Dvsespaña: Govt has delivered over 100k new homes, with over 33k last year, a third of which were social
@Dvsespaña: think your of track there , so houses are only going to be built from now on according to u
@Pat Hazzard: that’s grand , now just add another 20,000 per year on top of that and we might actually build the amount of houses needed every year to get us out of this 20+year housing crisis. Jesus wept.
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey):
You are right, way more houses being built is necessary but who is going to build them?
I have yet to see any realistic solution from any party to the chronic labour shortage in construction.
@Pat Hazzard: how exactly has the gov delivered over 100k new homes? Surely a more accurate description of this would be “100k homes built”. What has private 1 off builds got to do with the government which are included in these numbers? Surely the government could hire out a contractor to build x amount of houses on state land that covers both social and affordable. These could be built at a scale that suits the area they are in and suits the available or planned services for same.
@Pat Hazzard: Unless the government is delivering social housing, then “the government” isn’t delivering a single thing.
The government trying to claim credit for private housing development, is like a football supporter trying to claim credit for their team scoring goals..
Despite what Dan the Man says, nobody votes to “keep the peasants at bay”. People vote based on heir own circumstances. Some have made a decent life for themselves under the same governmental circumstances as everybody else whilst others have not been able to get where they want to just yet. There are those who vote for stability and those who will vote for the parties that pander to them.
@Sun Rise: Tell us the story again about how you sacrificed your Friday night takeaway and wore the same pair of runners for a few years so you could save up to buy a house.
@David Corrigan: That’s what ya gotta do. 4 jobs between myself and my husband and no life for 2 years, still though waking up in my 4 bed house sure does make it all worth it! No bank of Dad either.
@Sun Rise: Sorry to burst your bubble there lad but Irelands continued problem is that many dont vote for parties who pander or vote for their own circumstances, its actually a very disgusting disease many generations in Ireland have called parish pump politics. This is basically voting for Mary or Michaels offspring or relative cos ah sure they were grand childern growing up and come from a nice family and thats all we need to know….its why we had and continue to sadly have family political seats being left warm when one passes away. Case in point the justice minister who literally hopped into her uncles seat when he died and literally hasnt a clue about politics or reality and look at how thats worked out for the country and gardai especially
@Fiona Wyse: I know Fiona but I like the way Sun Rise tells it. It’s riveting stuff indeed.
@Tom Newell: Don’t forget the GAA Tom. The GAA is always used to guage a persons value in Ireland.
Helen probably won a medal at U13 football back in the day and shur that’s might stuff altogether.
Its actually embarrassing at this stage how we rate people here.
@David Corrigan:
Cheers up David, we could always pick them American style, any choices for the Irish version of Trump??
@Tom Newell: It was her father’s seat.
@Fiona Wyse: Jesus must have been drinking a lot of lattes to build a deposit for a 4 bed house, in 2 years, I know people renting years can’t save a penny and don’t go out.
@colette byrne: I don’t buy coffee never did really, I drink it at home and have a jar in the office. Pure muck Tesco Gold blend. Always bring in my lunch too. I love poverty ha!
I own my own house and I’m voting Green. But overall that poll just mostly supports the common views. Moat people if they’re OK vote for stability and if doing badly vote for the most radical alternative. SF losing support badly to the right imho
@FoxyBoiiYT: How anyone can vote green is beyond me. Yes we need to save the planet but taxing us to the hilt for living our lives without giving us alternatives is not the solution. They are a pathetic party and hopefully will be decimated in the upcoming elections.
@Steve: How anyone can vote SF is beyond me. Populist policies that change routinely if the person at the top decides it’s politically expedient. But each to their own. And as a father of two I actually care about the future, God forbid.
@FoxyBoiiYT: I still dont know why voting green is good for your kids?. Climate change is real and fighting it is something we all need to do, but literally a party whos leader has been caught sleeping on the job, has told people to car pool and reduce their flight time while himself flying business class to places like china for a paddys week knees up, and thats before you bring the names martin and o’gorman in and the carnage they have caused as ministers…..ya the green party arent exactly a crowd who I would think are good for anyone including kids or the planet
@FoxyBoiiYT: Time to kick over the table.
@FoxyBoiiYT: eamonn Ryan is a buffer. How the greens have such sway in this government is beyond me.
@FoxyBoiiYT: a turkey voting for Christmas.
@FoxyBoiiYT: I don’t get why anyone would vote for a party that hasn’t a clue about climate change, as already said, flying to China one of the biggest polluters in the world…the Chinese government must of pi*#ed themselves when he left to go home, we ate a small insignificant island in a big ocean. Don’t get me wrong, I do my bit when I can, but taxing me to the hilt wreaks of putting a plaster a decapitated body to try and save it..as for the new Instagram posts by Ffg, this hums of desperation, the fat little piggies feeding their little snout off on tax payers hard earn cash while laughing at us know their time is up. I don’t know which way I’m voting, but I definitely know which way I’m not.
@FoxyBoiiYT: List one green policy that actually had a viable impact on the environment. Was it the VRT regime they introduced to get everybody to buy diesel cars? That was a great, well-researched, and well-thought-out idea that worked out well for the environment, wasn’t it? Name one tax or measure implemented that actually made a measurable difference and improved people’s lives and the environment?
The Green Party is a party of self-indulgent hippies raised with a silver spoon and peddling cultish ideals because Daddy sent them to boarding school. Green party politics harms average citizens by forcing guilt and blame on them for issues created outside of their control. Eamon ryan wants us all to walk and cycle and cut out foreign travel. Yet he happily travels the globe and country via car, plane, train, et cetera. He opposes nuclear power, which is a proven clean energy, because of his misinformed Cold War-era views on it. He has no rational idea of how life operates outside of south Dublin, and his supporters are the same selfish, deluded, smug hippies who think love, happiness, and flowers are all the world needs to survive because they don’t live in reality. Green party politics just follows the latest green trends without any question or rationale behind it, like the time we were all told to drive big diesels.
The government likes to do the right thing for refugees, and that is fair. On the other hand, the manic greed that has emerged in Irish society where many landlords jumped into the mindset of vulture funds is not fair to the young generation and the older population.
A conversation with a landlord for rent review was once a predictable task with a normal outcome but after many years, the task was given to a real estate agent who used all the familiar excuses about housing stock, comparable rises in rent and so on for what is just a few walls and a roof. Faced with a sudden 62% rise, the option for overseas is now appealing despite the sadness of leaving the country.
It isn’t the Earth’s atmosphere that should concern society but the atmosphere provided by having a roof over our heads
@Gerald Kelleher: I see these misguided people lamenting the state of the Earth’s atmosphere, but maybe their kids someday will struggle to keep that atmosphere out overnight because of the affordability of a roof let alone heating.
Nobody is going to rush in and call me a ‘bot’ because human and family survival is more immediate than the science fantasy of controlling the weather.
Politicians can limit the greed of landlords who believe they are being swindled when offered a 20% rise in rent over the current rent.
It is , therefore, not an issue between homeowners and renters but between landlords and renters. It comes down to fairness or greed and that politicians can control.
@Gerald Kelleher: Agree completely but you mentioned ” politicians can limit the greed of land lords”, but what’s the answer when nearly 50% of politicians are themselves the landlords? They’re never going to vote to supply affordable housing when it hits their pockets.
A very well known Kerry politician who is known for his cap and accent is the owner of over a dozen houses and companies.
@Bat Collins: A lot of my comments on the opportunity to get rid of prejudice as invalid biological research (natural selection) have been removed in another article and that is more important to me than having to move out of this country.
I was in a position to work for society without any financial advantage and that suited me until it was no longer possible to remain here because of a manic greed over a roof. I know homeowners feel their property is worth so much more, however, that illusion comes with a price. A neighbour boasts that he rents his house at a huge price to a family so he downsized and drove up the rent of a small apartment in the process.
When Irish people stop being considerate, then the negative side shows up elsewhere.
You spin me right ’round, baby, right ’round
Like a record, baby, right ’round, ’round, ’round
Under SF not only will you have no house but no job either when investment and multi nationals exit and the economy tanks…be careful what you vote for..
@NotGreta: Can you elaborate more on how that will happen? Or are you just throwing about random, unsubstantiated accusations due to your dislike for SF based on buzz words you overheard at mass last Sunday?
@NotGreta: TRY bots are at it again, I’m surprised you didn’t bring in the “immigrants”
@NotGreta: Are these the same multinationals that were leaving en mass when the increase in corporation tax was announced?
The deposit is the killer along the greed and the unjustified price of rents and homes.
Tax for landlords only unfair to private landlords. No real justice to both sides and no real enforcement either.
SF won’t make a difference but at least is an alternative to try, but not at the cost of ffg alliance. Pierce should be in command, not some leader preying at the mosque, and speak of Ireland union when no one care and real problem are playing us.
@Dominic Leleu: I presume you mean Pearse. While he is much competent than Mary Lou and has longer service as a TD he was not eligible to lead ultra woke SF because he is male.
@Nodon: The moment I see the word “woke” in a comment I don’t waste my time reading further. as “woke” is a call word for conspiracy theorists who follow FOX “NEWS” and are unable to finish a sentence without the “woke” word being used even though they don’t even know the definition of this overused word
@Bat Collins: woke is also a term used to describe people who buy into every piece of PC tat the internet throws out just to try to feel morally superior to the realists. The woke are ironically the ones who are asleep, distracted by mundane, irrelevant bullshit like, is Tommy a boy or a girl. No sane person actually cares, btw. While arguing over the irrational, they are distracted from reality and have no clue of what’s really going on. People like you then try to liken rational, anti-woke realists to some jump-up American news organization or politician that actually has no relevance to what’s going on here in a vain attempt to shut down counter discussion. Go back to sleep, Mr. wokey.
Every party except SINN FEIN has had 100 years to house the people. Every one of them have decided not to bother with housing but to shift the blame to “the immigrants”
Almost three quarters of the Rail are landlords and have also allowed vulture funds and other friendly institutions to but bulk housing thereby keeping affordable housing off the market.
If people listen to government propaganda there will be no change
Its long last the time for the millionaire politicians to be kicked out of the seats they’ve had in their families for over a century.
Enough is enough VOTE SINN FEIN FOR HOUSING.
@Bat Collins: @Bat Collins: SF have made it very clear that landlords are evil and they will be going after them, hence the mass exit of smaller landlords from the market, leaving the market to the vulture landlords. They also made it clear they are going to go after the high earners in the large multi-nationals, hence the big earners decided to relocate and pay their tax in other countries. I’m not sure how SF plan to pay for all the promises they have made; increasing social welfare, increase the pension, houses for everyone, etc, etc
Own mortgage has SF higher there so wtf are ye an about
@Brian Mc Donald: The Journal spinning for FFG again?
Just because some people won their own home and have paid for in full. It doesn’t end at that, there’s the upkeep, ie painting, new bathrooms, kitchens, new water cylinders doors and windows. Roofing and gutters. People in rented property don’t have to worry about that added costs. In saying that I have owned my own home for sometime now. And I have supported SF for over 50 years and started paying for my home 40 years ago. This poll doesn’t make sense I think its designed to put a wedge between those with and without.
Interview SF This week and the answer will be No Go back thr Following week and ask the Same Question The Answer will be YES IT depends on Which way the Wind is blowing
@Bat Collins: You are aware Pearse Doherty is a landlord I assume?
No one can solve the housing crisis , even Sinn Fein unless the Referendum on Housing is passed.
First proposed in 1974.
Sign the Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/referendum-on-housing
Results as you would expect them to be most likely. The government are trying to get more housing built with ever increasing prices by implementing various schemes like help to buy, shared equity and a number of others to shove more money at people to chase those prices. Home owners who make the bulk of FF/FG support don’t want to see their property values fall. There is a bit of a problem with this. Chasing higher prices can only go on for so long. Eventually if supply does start to catch up with demand this will happen anyway or if there is some unforeseen economic downturn it will happen anyway. Property always follows a cycle. Really prices have to come down. They are way out of whack with average earnings and make no sense. SF will probably make hay on this in the end come general election time.
have your say