Annette Belcher

One of five teenagers killed when a car drove the wrong way on the M9 in County Kildare was in Tusla’s care, while two others were known to the child and family agency. Tusla is supporting relatives, cooperating with An Garda Síochána and will report information to the National Review Panel. The report also details TikTok’s refusal to appear publicly before an Oireachtas committee investigating online videos glorifying dangerous driving; the company offered a private briefing and said it had removed flagged content and banned violating accounts. Minister Peter Burke criticized platforms for allowing extreme material to remain online, while Meta’s content restrictions and a fundraising campaign for the seriously injured family members are also noted.

A 48-year-old woman died after a fire at a property on Berkeley Avenue in Hounslow, London, and eight other people were taken to hospital. A 40-year-old woman remains in life-threatening condition, while six men and one woman were discharged with minor injuries. The Metropolitan Police has launched a murder investigation because the fire may have been started deliberately; no arrests have been made, and police describe the incident as isolated.

Three people, reported as two adults and a child from the same family, died after falling from the Harz Tower observation platform in Altenau, Germany. Emergency responders were unable to save the victims, and police have cordoned off the area while investigating the cause. Authorities say there is currently no indication of third‑party negligence or structural fault. The tower’s operator has closed the site, and condolences have been shared on social media.

A 46-year-old man from Newtown was arrested minutes after a 10-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulted at a Birmingham pub and was later linked to a previous indecent exposure case on a city bus. He pleaded guilty to both offences and received a six-year, five-month prison sentence at Birmingham Crown Court, with lifetime placement on the sex offender register. West Midlands Police credited a rapid response and thorough investigation for securing the conviction while reaffirming their commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.

A 28-year-old mother, Courtney Gartshore, was convicted of culpable homicide for the death of her three-month-old daughter, Dahlia-Rose, who suffered fatal burns from exposure to a hairdryer. Emergency services found the child dead in Peterhead in September 2023, leading to a police investigation and Gartshore’s arrest two months later. A former friend condemned Gartshore, while Detective Inspector James Callander highlighted the disturbing nature of the case and thanked the community and partner agencies for their cooperation. Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2026.