Wirral In It Together

https://worldcouncilforhealth.substack.com/p/official-complaint-alleges-german?publication_id=1135210&utm_campaign=email-post-title&r=b9xiw&utm_medium=email

Guys, I was booted off Facebook for the third time yesterday, 18th October 2025.

I’m not that bothered. It’s just annoying that I’d been running the Wirral Residents Association for over a year, a group with 433 members, I was the only admin, and it’s now going to be virtually impossible for me to rescue that. Apologies to all members.

Anyway, my account was disabled without prior warning and without any suspensions.

Upon doing some research, I discovered that this kind of treatment is reserved for paedos, child traffickers and other nasties.

So why they’ve done it to me, I really don’t know. I can’t fathom it, and they’re ‘courageously’ and deliberately not telling me what I’ve done wrong.

Worse still, I can’t find ANY way of appealing against this. Okay, they send you to pages where you’re told you’ve been naughty and breached their guidelines, but nowhere is there a button for you to press in order to lodge an appeal.

They said they would email me with further information.

I’ve received nothing four days later.

So when I tried logging in and starting a new account under another name, they asked me to provide video footage of my face, asking me to turn this way and that so they can get the full profile.

Cheeky bastard, Zuckerberg.

So I sent this in……………………..

https://videopress.com/v/y3kN8wGf?resizeToParent=1&cover=1&autoPlay=0&controls=1&loop=0&muted=0&persistVolume=1&playsinline=0&preloadContent=metadata&sbc&sbpc&sblc&useAverageColor=1

I received this in response.

I didn’t lodge an appeal, did I….?!

Watch this space…

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20th October 2025 UPDATE

So that’s it. I really can’t be arsed going to court against Zuckerberg. Money talks 💰 and he’s got the justice system in his pocket.

What’s the use?! 😇😂

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Return to Bomb Alley 1982 – The Falklands Deception, by Paul Cardin

Amazon link

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I’ve been very busy … I’ve needed to be. Below are 101 examples of Wirral Labour / Tory / LibDem scandals, abuse of disabled people, corruption, lies, cover-ups, distortions, conflicts of interest, whitewash investigations, kickbacks, cronyism, control of the local media, gags, bumper pay-offs and clean bills of health to the guilty … and much more … all gathered over the last 10 years.

http://paulcardin.substack.com

https://derrickbroze.substack.com/p/release-the-epstein-files-no-matter?publication_id=1295549&utm_campaign=email-post-title&r=b9xiw&utm_medium=email

https://videopress.com/v/vzhLhvxI?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwirralinittogether.wordpress.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F12%2Fscreenshot_20210824-075650_chrome_optimized_optimized_optimized_optimized.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

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I’ve been very busy … I’ve needed to be. Below are 101 examples of Wirral Labour / Tory / LibDem scandals, abuse of disabled people, corruption, lies, cover-ups, distortions, conflicts of interest, whitewash investigations, kickbacks, cronyism, control of the local media, gags, bumper pay-offs and clean bills of health to the guilty … and much more … all gathered over the last 10 years.

http://paulcardin.substack.com

https://rumble.com/v70gv2c-warning-first-u.s.-state-announces-they-are-working-to-get-approval-for-a-s.html

https://aches.substack.com/p/aches-weekly-picks-e62/comments

https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/new-study-pfizers-birth-control-shot

20th October UPDATE

Look at the REAMS of positive public comments here. Fearful of exposure, this is why cowardly Liam Thorp stopped the public from commenting on his woeful, printed bilge:

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1158650319694576&id=100066488558064&post_id=100066488558064_1158650319694576&rdid=ZiaP5EmfCks9ecPM#

My personal favourite of all these great comments is:

“I identify as a conspiracy theorist, my pronouns are Told You So…”

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/news-opinion/asked-people-sharing-conspiracy-theories-32697596

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YOU’LL NOTICE HOW PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE BEEN DISABLED.

We too are on Merseyside, but reply came there none …

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The chequered history of Trinity Mirror (Mirror Group Newspapers or MGN), now known as Reach PLC, which is the Liverpool Echo and political editor Liam Thorp’s parent body.

Yes, the UK’s Daily Mirror was involved in the phone-hacking scandal. Trinity Mirror Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, admitted in 2018 that senior employees, including editors and executives, had “condoned, encouraged or actively turned a blind eye” to widespread phone hacking across its newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People, over many years.
This admission followed a high court claim by actor Hugh Grant, who won damages after the publisher acknowledged the “industrial scale” of unlawful information-gathering activities.

Further evidence emerged in a 2023 High Court case involving Prince Harry, where Judge Timothy Fancourt ruled that editors, including former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan, knew about phone hacking and other unlawful information-gathering activities within the newsroom.

The judge found that such practices were “widespread” and “habitual” from 1998 onwards and that Morgan, during his tenure as editor from 1995 to 2004, was aware of these activities.
The court also accepted evidence that Morgan had knowledge of hacking, including incidents where he allegedly laughed while listening to a private voicemail from Paul McCartney.

MGN / Trinity Mirror has since settled hundreds of claims related to phone hacking, including those by Prince Harry, who was awarded damages after the court found he had been targeted.
The company has acknowledged historical wrongdoing and apologised unreservedly, paying compensation to victims.
As of November 2024, MGN / Trinity Mirror was facing 101 additional phone-hacking lawsuits, indicating the ongoing legal fallout from the scandal.

You raise a valid point. While the official reason for Trinity Mirror’s 2018 rebrand to Reach plc was to reflect its expanded media portfolio after acquiring the Daily Express and regional titles, the timing and context suggest the phone-hacking scandal played a significant role.

The company had recently admitted to “turning a blind eye” to phone hacking, set aside millions in compensation, and faced severe reputational damage. The rebrand followed the example of News International, which became News UK after its own hacking scandal.

Critics at the time viewed the name change as an attempt to distance the company from the tarnished “Mirror” brand. So while the company emphasised growth and digital reach, the move was widely seen as cynical reputation management—a way to leave the scandal behind under a new, sanitised identity.

Trinity Mirror (now Reach plc) admitted to widespread phone hacking, and numerous individuals have received compensation. While a complete list of all victims has not been publicly disclosed, the confirmed victims include:

Sadie Frost (actress) – awarded £260,250

Paul Gascoigne (former footballer) – awarded £188,250

Shane Richie (actor) – awarded £155,000

Shobna Gulati (actress) – awarded £117,500

Lucy Benjamin (actress)

Alan Yentob (BBC executive) – awarded £85,000

Lauren Alcorn (flight attendant, linked to Rio Ferdinand) – awarded £78,500

Robert Ashworth (TV producer) – awarded £201,250

Cilla Black (singer)

Darren Day (actor)

Jessie Wallace (actress)

Peter Andre (singer)

Sven-Göran Eriksson (former England football manager)

Christopher Eccleston (actor)

Abbie Gibson (Beckhams’ former nanny)

Over 70 additional high-profile individuals have filed claims, and Trinity Mirror set aside £28 million for legal costs and compensation. The full list remains partially confidential due to out-of-court settlements.

“Why did it change its name after being caught out as a criminal enterprise?”

Trinity Mirror changed its name to Reach plc in 2018, officially citing its evolution into a multi-platform media company and the acquisition of the Daily Express and Star newspapers as reasons for the rebrand. The new name was said to reflect its broader digital and regional reach.

However, the timing followed admissions of widespread phone hacking and mounting legal payouts—with over £70 million set aside for hacking-related claims. While the company did not state that the scandal directly prompted the name change, the rebrand occurred amid efforts to distance itself from a tarnished reputation and signal a new chapter.

This mirrors actions taken by News International, which rebranded as News UK after the News of the World hacking scandal.

Trinity Mirror’s leadership, particularly under Sly Bailey and legal director Paul Vickers, faced widespread criticism for denying phone hacking allegations for years, despite mounting evidence. They dismissed claims as “unsubstantiated rumours” and conducted a widely mocked internal review—sending letters to 44 senior editors asking if they knew of any wrongdoing, all of whom replied with “no issues.”

This was later exposed as a whitewash. When evidence emerged—particularly from whistleblower Dan Evans—the company was forced to admit liability. The public and media, including journalist Roy Greenslade, condemned the denial as cowardly and negligent, allowing a culture of illegal behaviour to persist unchecked.

In 2018, the High Court confirmed that editors and executives had condoned, encouraged, or turned a blind eye to phone hacking, with Piers Morgan found to have known about the practice. The company, by then renamed Reach plc, issued apologies and paid substantial damages, but the damage to its credibility remained.

WIIT comment: So, to put all this into a nutshell, Liverpool Echo political editor Liam Thorp’s employers were criminally depraved.

Liam Thorp has worked at Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror, since 2017. 

He joined the Liverpool Echo in 2017 after previously serving as chief reporter at The Bolton News. Since then, he has been part of the Reach plc group, which rebranded from Trinity Mirror in 2018. Therefore, he has been with the organisation for 9 years as of January 2026.

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Tina Weaver and Richard Wallace, former senior editors at the Sunday Mirror, were directly involved in phone hacking operations, with evidence showing they instructed and were aware of the activities. 
Dan Evans, a journalist at the Sunday Mirror, was the primary phone hacker, responsible for hacking hundreds of voicemails and later admitting to two counts of phone hacking. 
Sly Bailey, Trinity Mirror’s chief executive from 2003 to 2012, was found by a judge to have known about or turned a blind eye to the hacking. 
Mark Thomas, former deputy editor of the Sunday Mirror and later editor of the People, was also implicated in the unlawful activities. 
James Scott, former Sunday Mirror deputy editor, and Nick Buckley, former deputy People editor, were arrested and linked to the hacking. 
Richard Spearman, acting for the Mirror, argued that executives could not have stopped the hacking, but the court found that the company’s leadership failed to act despite knowing of widespread misconduct.

What happened to the phone hackers?

Dan Evans was found guilty of phone hacking, making illegal payments to officials, and perverting the course of justice.  He received a 10-month suspended sentence, meaning he did not serve active prison time. 

Graham Johnson, a former Sunday Mirror investigations editor, became the first Mirror Group Newspapers journalist to admit to phone hacking when he pleaded guilty in 2014.  However, the provided results do not specify whether he was sentenced to prison.

Among the individuals listed in the original query:

Tina Weaver, Richard Wallace, Sly Bailey, Mark Thomas, James Scott, Nick Buckley, and Richard Spearman were not found guilty or sent to prison based on the available information. 

Weaver, Thomas, Scott, and Buckley were arrested in 2013 but not charged.

Tina Weaver: Appointed Chief Executive of the charity Wellbeing of Women from 2016 to 2018.  No recent public role is documented after that.

Richard Wallace: As of 2023, he is the head of TV at News UK and boss of Piers Morgan at TalkTV, overseeing Morgan’s broadcasting operations. 

Dan Evans: Former Sunday Mirror reporter; no current role is publicly known. He gave evidence in a 2023 lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers but has not held a public editorial position recently. 

Sly Bailey: Former CEO of Trinity Mirror (now Reach PLC) until 2012. She later served as CEO of Birmingham Zoo and held roles in media and publishing, but no current executive role is widely reported. 

Mark Thomas: Former deputy editor of the Sunday Mirror and editor of The People. No recent public role is documented. 

James Scott: Former editor of The People. No current public position is known after his involvement in the 2013 phone-hacking investigation. 

Nick Buckley: Former deputy editor of The People and head of content at the Sunday Mirror. No recent public role is available. 

Richard Spearman: No information found linking him to any current or past role at Reach PLC or in the media industry.

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Return to Bomb Alley 1982 – The Falklands Deception, by Paul Cardin

Amazon link

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I’ve been very busy … I’ve needed to be. Below are 101 examples of Wirral Labour / Tory / LibDem scandals, abuse of disabled people, corruption, lies, cover-ups, distortions, conflicts of interest, whitewash investigations, kickbacks, cronyism, control of the local media, gags, bumper pay-offs and clean bills of health to the guilty … and much more … all gathered over the last 10 years.

http://paulcardin.substack.com

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Overview of the Allegations

The claim refers to a serious scandal involving Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (in Merseyside, England) and the alleged financial abuse of learning disabled adults in supported housing. Over approximately nine years (roughly 2004–2013), council employees are accused of systematically withdrawing or “raiding” funds from the personal bank accounts of vulnerable tenants—many of whom had learning disabilities and relied on the council for care and housing management. The total amount cited in whistleblower reports and investigations is exactly £736,756.97. This was not a one-off raid but a pattern of exploitation, where staff allegedly used tenants’ debit cards, PINs, and ATM access to siphon money for personal gain, often under the guise of “managing” their finances.The case highlights broader issues of safeguarding failures, whistleblower retaliation, and lack of accountability in local government social services. It came to light primarily through the efforts of social worker Martin Morton, who faced severe professional backlash for raising concerns. While the council acknowledged the abuse and commissioned investigations, critics argue the response was inadequate, with no criminal prosecutions and implicated staff receiving payouts and new jobs.Key Details of the Abuse

• Victims: Around 20–30 learning disabled adults living in council-managed supported housing (e.g., hostels or group homes). These individuals often had limited capacity to manage finances independently, making them easy targets. Funds stolen included personal savings, benefits, and small allowances—sometimes leaving tenants unable to afford basics like food or transport.
• Methods: Staff allegedly:
  • Obtained tenants’ bank details and PINs under false pretenses (e.g., “helping with shopping”).
  • Withdrew cash via ATMs or direct transfers.
  • Used the money for personal expenses, such as holidays, gambling, or luxury goods.
• Scale and Duration: The £736,756.97 figure covers multiple perpetrators over nine years. Individual thefts ranged from hundreds to thousands of pounds per victim, totaling a “sustained abuse” that went undetected due to poor oversight.
• Discovery: Morton noticed irregularities in 2009–2010 while working in adult social care. He reported suspicions internally, but claims he was ignored or dismissed as a “troublemaker.”

Investigations and Council Response

• Internal and External Probes:
  • 2011–2012: Morton escalated to the Audit Commission (predecessor to the National Audit Office’s local oversight role), which launched a full investigation and sided with him, confirming financial irregularities.
  • 2012–2014: Wirral Council commissioned Anna Klonowski Associates for an independent review (“Refresh and Renew” report). It verified the abuse, estimating the £736k loss, and criticized systemic failures in financial oversight and staff training. However, the report was accused of being a “whitewash” for not naming perpetrators or recommending sackings.
• Council Actions:
  • Acknowledged the issue publicly in 2012, promising improved safeguarding.
  • Recovered some funds (exact amount unclear, but partial reimbursements to victims).
  • No criminal charges were filed; Merseyside Police deemed it “too complicated” for prosecution.
• Outcomes for Victims: Some received compensation, but many suffered lasting harm, including loss of trust in services and financial hardship. The council’s adult safeguarding board was later reformed (re-established in 2021 under the Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board).

Whistleblower Retaliation and Accountability Gaps

Morton’s story is central to the scandal’s notoriety:

• He was suspended, subjected to disciplinary proceedings, and forced out of his job in 2012.
• Despite winning support from the Audit Commission, he faced a “campaign of harassment,” including vexatious complaints.
• Morton later won an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal and whistleblower victimization, receiving compensation.

Implicated staff (e.g., senior figures like Maura Noone, former Head of Targeted Support Services, and Mike Fowler) allegedly received compromise agreements (settlements with gagging clauses) totaling around £110,000 each in public funds. Noone later became Director of Adult Social Services at Reading Borough Council (and then Somerset), while Fowler took a finance role at the Brook Charity—moves criticized for bypassing the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.Broader criticisms:

• The Local Government Association (councils’ “trade body”) was accused of covering up the scandal.
• Auditors like Grant Thornton faced complaints over LOBO loans (controversial bank deals adding to Wirral’s debt burden, indirectly linked to tax hikes that hurt vulnerable residents).
• Freedom of Information (FOI) requests about the case were delayed or stonewalled, leading to a First-Tier Tribunal ruling against the council in 2013.

Broader Context and LegacyThis incident fits into Wirral Council’s troubled history of governance issues, including a 2014 government intervention for “serious failings” in decision-making and finances. The £736k theft exacerbated distrust in social services, especially for disabled people. Nationally, it underscored gaps in financial abuse protections under the Care Act 2014, which now mandates better bank account oversight for vulnerable adults.As of 2025, no new prosecutions have emerged, but the case is occasionally referenced in discussions of local authority abuse (e.g., in blogs like Wirral In It Together). Campaigners, including Morton (now retired), continue advocating via groups like the Freedom Alliance Party.

Aspect	Details	Sources
Total Stolen	£736,756.97 over 9 years	Klonowski Report (2014); FOI disclosures
Key Whistleblower	Martin Morton (sacked 2012, won tribunal)	Audit Commission findings; tribunal records
Implicated Staff	~5–7, including Maura Noone & Mike Fowler (received settlements)	WhatDoTheyKnow FOI; Navy Net thread
Investigations	Audit Commission (2011: confirmed); Klonowski (2014: systemic failures)	Council reports; Private Eye mentions
Victim Impact	Financial loss, emotional trauma; partial reimbursements	Safeguarding reviews
Council Reforms	Improved DBS checks, financial training; 2021 board restructure	Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board

If you’re affected or seeking support, contact Wirral’s Safeguarding Adults team (0151 691 8484) or national helplines like Action Fraud. For more docs, check WhatDoTheyKnow for FOIs or the Klonowski report excerpts online. What specific angle interests you—victim stories, legal fallout?

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I’ve been very busy … I’ve needed to be. Below are 101 examples of Wirral Labour / Tory / LibDem scandals, abuse of disabled people, corruption, lies, cover-ups, distortions, conflicts of interest, whitewash investigations, kickbacks, cronyism, control of the local media, gags, bumper pay-offs and clean bills of health to the guilty … and much more … all gathered over the last 10 years.

http://paulcardin.substack.com