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Members of one of Scotland’s largest paedophile gangs – who ran a “monstrous” child sex abuse ring in a Glasgow drugs den – have each been sentenced to an order for lifelong restriction.

Warning: This story contains graphic content and details of sexual abuse

An order for lifelong restriction (OLR) is a life-long sentence usually reserved for the most serious court cases in Scotland that do not involve murder.

During a two-month trial, a court heard how three children were introduced to a world of Class A drugs and alcohol where they were regularly exposed to sexual abuse and violence.

A jury heard how there had been “rape nights” at the hands of the heroin addicts.

The youngsters, who referred to the location of their abuse as the “beastie house”, claimed money was exchanged after the heinous sex attacks while some of the attackers laughed.

Judge Lord Beckett described the trial at the High Court in Glasgow in 2023 as “unpleasant and shocking”.

He added: “It plunges to the depths of human depravity.”

Seven people – Iain Owens, Elaine Lannery, Lesley Williams, Paul Brannan, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson, and John Clark – were all found guilty of rape and sexual assault.

Lesley William, Paul Brannan and Elaine Lannery
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Lesley Williams, Paul Brannan and Elaine Lannery

Owens, Lannery, Williams and Brannan were also found guilty of attempting to murder a child by trapping them in various places including a microwave and a cupboard.

In addition, Owens, Williams and Brannan were convicted of drugs offences.

All seven were handed an OLR and placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely when they appeared back in the dock on Monday.

Owens was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years behind bars; Lannery 17 years; Williams 14 years; Brannan 15 years; Forbes eight years; Watson nine-and-a-half years; and Clark 10 years.

If ever paroled from jail following the “punishment part” of their sentence, they will be subject to risk management for the rest of their life.

If they go on to commit another crime once released back into the community, they will face being recalled back to prison.

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‘You may never be released’

Sentencing them, Lord Beckett warned: “What you – and the community – should understand is that you may never be released.”

The judge added: “This court is used to hearing about some of the worst examples of human behaviour but such depravity as you displayed against young children is beyond my experience.

“As was said in the aftermath of the trial, this is not typical behaviour. Such extreme abuse of children seems to be rare.

“In contrast to your awful abuse, the trial also heard evidence demonstrating the best of human qualities.

“[The] children showed extraordinary fortitude, strength and stamina undergoing months and years of interviews as investigators struggled to discover and comprehend the full extent of what you had done to them.”

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November 2023: Victims faced ‘unimaginable abuse’

‘No remorse’

An eighth person, Marianne Gallagher, was convicted of assault but was cleared of all other charges.

The 40-year-old, who hit and kicked a child, had her sentence deferred for a year for good behaviour and was released on bail.

Returning to the dock earlier in January 2025, it was noted by Lord Beckett that Gallagher had shown “no remorse”.

The judge told Gallagher, who gave birth to a son last year and continues to struggle with addiction: “If you offend further, you will find yourself in pretty severe trouble.”

A further three people – Mark Carr, Richard Gachagan, and Leona Laing – were acquitted by the jury.

Marianne Gallagher leaves the High Court in Glasgow after having her sentence deferred for a year, she was found guilty of assaulting a child due to her involvement in a child abuse ring. Iain Owens, Elaine Lannery, Lesley Williams, Paul Brannan, Scott Forbes, Barry Watson and John Clark were convicted of sexually abusing children in a Glasgow drug den where heroin and crack cocaine were used. Picture date: Thursday January 4, 2024.
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Marianne Gallagher leaving the High Court in Glasgow last year. Pic: PA

‘Off the scale devious’ argument dismissed

The offences, involving the children, happened between 2012 and 2019.

Defence lawyers had argued the children may not have been telling the truth, but prosecutors said it would be “off the scale devious” to make up crimes of the “most monstrous kind”.

Charges related to causing the children to take part in seances and witchcraft were dropped by the prosecution, and all 11 of those who stood trial were acquitted of killing dogs.

Following the gang’s conviction in November 2023, the NSPCC’s development director Matt Forde told Sky News it was a “truly shocking” case.

Mr Forde added: “You can only imagine the terror and miserable existence that these children had.”

Police Scotland said more than 1,000 lines of inquiry were progressed by the investigation team.

Detective Inspector Lesley-Ann McGee said: “I hope today’s outcome can help the young victims in moving forward.

“This was a long, complex and challenging investigation for a team of officers and staff who had to work through the most harrowing evidence to bring those responsible for these despicable crimes to justice.”

Read more from Sky News:
Father guilty of murdering daughter after ‘play-fight’
E-fit released after woman ‘pushed into car and raped’

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) commended the bravery of the young victims.

Katrina Parkes, Scotland’s procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences, added: “Their strength has resulted in the conviction and sentence of their abusers for these heinous crimes.

“Prosecuting this case has been complex and a challenging task for our experienced prosecutors.

“Consideration of the trauma these children suffered was utmost while working to secure these convictions.”

Colin Anderson, independent chair of Glasgow’s Child Protection Committee, said he has initiated the process of undertaking a case learning review.

The overall purpose of a learning review is to improve and develop systems to better protect children and young people.

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Teen arrested after Kayden Moy dies following ‘disturbance’ at beach in Ayrshire

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Teen arrested after Kayden Moy dies following 'disturbance' at beach in Ayrshire

A teenager has been arrested after a 16-year-old boy died following reports of a “disturbance” at a beach in Ayrshire.

Kayden Moy was found seriously injured by officers at Irvine Beach at around 6.45pm on Saturday.

The teenager, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, was taken to hospital but died in the early hours.

Police Scotland said on Sunday evening that a 17-year-old boy had been arrested and enquires were continuing.

Officers believe the incident may have been filmed and have urged witnesses and anyone with information to come forward.

Kayden Moy. Pic: Facebook
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Kayden. Pic: Facebook

Pic: iStock
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The incident happened at Irvine Beach in Ayrshire, Scotland. File pic: iStock

Detective Chief Inspector Campbell Jackson said: “An extensive investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding this death.

“Our officers are supporting the boy’s family at this very difficult and heartbreaking time.

“From our investigation so far, we know there were a number of people on the beach around the time of the disturbance.

“We believe several of them were filming at the time and may have footage of what happened.

“I would urge people to review the footage they have and contact police if they think the footage captured could be of significance to our investigation.”

This can be submitted anonymously, the force said.

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Superintendent Jim McMillan added: “We understand this death will be of great concern for the local community, but please be assured that we are doing everything we can to identify those involved.

“There will be additional patrols in the area as we carry out our enquiries and anyone with any concerns can approach these officers.”

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Post-Brexit EU reset negotiations ‘going to the wire’, says minister

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Post-Brexit EU reset negotiations 'going to the wire', says minister

Negotiations to reset the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU are going “to the wire”, a Cabinet Office minister has said.

“There is no final deal as yet. We are in the very final hours,” the UK’s lead negotiator Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

On the possibility of a youth mobility scheme with the EU, he insisted “nothing is agreed until everything is”.

“We would be open to a smart, controlled youth mobility scheme,” he said. “But I should set out, we will not return to freedom of movement.”

Politics latest: PM outlines ‘benefits’ for UK from closer EU ties

The government is set to host EU leaders in London on Monday.

Put to the minister that the government could not guarantee there will be a deal by tomorrow afternoon, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “Nobody can guarantee anything when you have two parties in a negotiation.”

But the minister said he remained “confident” a deal could be reached “that makes our borders more secure, is good for jobs and growth, and brings people’s household bills down”.

“That is what is in our national interest and that’s what we will continue to do over these final hours,” he said.

“We have certainly been taking what I have called a ruthlessly pragmatic approach.”

On agricultural products, food and drink, Mr Thomas-Symonds said supermarkets were crying out for a deal because the status quo “isn’t working”, with “lorries stuck for 16 hours and food rotting” and producers and farmers unable to export goods because of the amount of “red tape”.

Asked how much people could expect to save on shopping as a result of the deal the government was hoping to negotiate, the minister was unable to give a figure.

Read more:
What could a UK-EU reset look like?
Starmer’s stance on immigration criticised

On the issue of fishing, asked if a deal would mean allowing French boats into British waters, the minister said the Brexit deal which reduced EU fishing in UK waters by a quarter over five years comes to an end next year.

He said the objectives now included “an overall deal in the interest of our fishers, easier access to markets to sell our fish and looking after our oceans”.

Turning to borders, the minister was asked if people would be able to move through queues at airports faster.

Again, he could not give a definitive answer, but said it was “certainly something we have been pushing with the EU… we want British people who are going on holiday to be able to go and enjoy their holiday, and not be stuck in queues”.

PM opens door to EU youth mobility scheme

A deal granting the UK access to a major EU defence fund could be on the table, according to reports – and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appeared to signal a youth mobility deal could be possible, telling The Times that while freedom of movement is a “red line”, youth mobility does not come under this.

The European Commission has proposed opening negotiations with the UK on an agreement to facilitate youth mobility between the EU and the UK. The scheme would allow both UK and EU citizens aged between 18 and 30 years old to stay for up to four years in a country of their choosing.

Earlier this month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Phillips a youth mobility scheme was not the approach the government wanted to take to bring net migration down.

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Lack of UK training ‘big driver of net migration’

When this was put to him, Mr Thomas-Symonds insisted any deal on a youth mobility scheme with Europe will have to be “smart” and “controlled” and will be “consistent” with the government’s immigration policy.

Asked what the government had got in return for a youth mobility scheme – now there had been a change in approach – the minister said: “It is about an overall balanced package that works for Britain. The government is 100% behind the objective of getting net migration down.”

Phillips said more than a million young people came to the country between 2004 and 2015. “If there isn’t a cap – that’s what we are talking about,” he said.

The minister insisted such a scheme would be “controlled” – but refused to say whether there would be a cap.

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‘It’s going to be a bad deal’

Shadow cabinet office minister Alex Burghart told Phillips an uncapped youth mobility scheme with the EU would lead to “much higher immigration”, adding: “It sounds very much as though it’s going to be a bad deal.”

Asked if the Conservatives would scrap any EU deal, he said: “It depends what the deal is, Trevor. And we still, even at this late stage, we don’t know.

“The government can’t tell us whether everyone will be able to come. They can’t tell us how old the young person is. They can’t tell us what benefits they would get.

“So I think when people hear about a youth mobility scheme, they think about an 18-year-old coming over working at a bar. But actually we may well be looking at a scheme which allows 30-year-olds to come over and have access to the NHS on day one, to claim benefits on day one, to bring their extended families.”

He added: “So there are obviously very considerable disadvantages to the UK if this deal is done in the wrong way.”

Jose Manuel Barroso, former EU Commission president, told Phillips it “makes sense” for a stronger relationship to exist between the European Union and the UK, adding: “We are stronger together.”

He said he understood fishing and youth mobility are the key sticking points for a UK-EU deal.

“Frankly, what is at stake… is much more important than those specific issues,” he said.

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Teenager living in ‘continuous pain’ after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out ‘inappropriate’ operations

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Teenager living in 'continuous pain' after surgeon Dr Yaser Jabbar carried out 'inappropriate' operations

A 15-year-old boy who was operated on twice by a now unlicensed Great Ormond Street surgeon is living with “continuous” pain.

Finias Sandu has been told by an independent review the procedures he underwent on both his legs were “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” for his age.

The teenager from Essex was born with a condition that causes curved bones in his legs.

Aged seven, a reconstructive procedure was carried out on Finias’s left leg, lengthening the limb by 3.5cm.

A few years later, the same operation was carried out on his right leg which involved wearing an invasive and heavy metal frame for months.

He has now been told by independent experts these procedures should not have taken place and concerns have been raised over a lack of imaging being taken prior to the operations.

Dr Yasser Jabbar. Pic: Linkedin
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Yaser Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence last year. Pic: LinkedIn

His doctor at London’s prestigious Great Ormond Street Hospital was former consultant orthopaedic surgeon Yaser Jabbar. Sky News has spoken to others he treated.

Mr Jabbar also did not arrange for updated scans or for relevant X-rays to be conducted ahead of the procedures.

The surgeries have been found to have caused Finias “harm” and left him in constant pain.

“The pain is there every day, every day I’m continuously in pain,” he told Sky News.

“It’s not something really sharp, although it does get to a certain point where it hurts quite a lot, but it’s always there. It just doesn’t leave, it’s a companion to me, just always there.”

Read more:
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Hospital accused of ‘covering up’ concerns about suspended surgeon

Finias Sandu's surgery pictures
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Finias’s surgery pictures

Care of over 700 patients being assessed

Mr Jabbar rescinded his UK medical licence in January last year after working at Great Ormond Street between 2017 and 2022.

The care of his 700-plus patients is being assessed, with some facing corrective surgery, among them Finias.

Finias Sandu in hospital

“Trusting somebody is hard to do, knowing what they have done to me physically and emotionally, you know, it’s just too much to comprehend for me,” he said.

“It wasn’t something just physically, like my leg pain and everything else. It was emotionally, because I put my trust in that specific doctor. My parents and I don’t really understand the more scientific terms, we just went by what he said.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Doctors refused to treat Finias because of his surgeries

Finias and his family relocated to their native Romania soon after the reconstructive frame was removed from his right leg in the summer of 2021.

The pain worsened and they sought advice from doctors in Romania, who refused to treat Finias because of the impact of his surgeries.

Finias Sandu in hospital

Dozens of families seeking legal claims

His mother Cornelia Sandu is “furious” and feels her trust in the hospital has been shattered. They are now among dozens of families seeking legal claims.

Cyrus Plaza from Hudgell Solicitors is representing the family. He said: “In cases where it has been identified that harm was caused, we want to see Great Ormond Street Hospital agreeing to pay interim payments of compensation for the children, so that if they need therapy or treatment now, they can access it.”

Finias Sandu in hospital

Finias is accessing therapy and mental health support as he prepares for corrective surgery later in the year.

A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital told Sky News: “We are deeply sorry to Finias and his family, and all the patients and families who have been impacted.

“We want every patient and family who comes to our hospital to feel safe and cared for. We will always discuss concerns families may have and, where they submit claims, we will work to ensure the legal process can be resolved as quickly as possible.”

Finias Sandu with his mother and sister
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Finias with his mother and sister

Service not ‘safe for patients’

Sky News has attempted to contact Mr Jabbar.

An external review into the wider orthopaedic department at the hospital began in September 2022.

It was commissioned after the Royal College of Surgeons warned the hospital’s lower limb reconstruction service was not “safe for patients or adequate to meet demand”.

The investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

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