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GIBRALTAR
The only investigative local newspaper
olive press Vol. 1 Issue 8
www.gibraltarolivepress.com
December 23rd - January 5th
All we want for Christmas is...
Skiing supplement- Page 13
EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan A FORMER British soldier who ended up sleeping on the streets is battling to return to Gibraltar this Christmas. Gibraltarian Ronald Henry Lima, 65, was made homeless after he lost a job in the tourist industry and was left with no money. Living rough in Fuengirola for two years, the former Royal Engineer was forced to rely on charity and soup kitchens in order to survive. The war veteran, who spent four years in the army, had left Gibraltar for Fuengirola in 1989, to work as a hotel manager. However, despite a long and successful career, he lost everything in 2011 when the hotel folded after it was discovered the owner had been paying bribes to the authorities. A court case is currently pending.
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Let me come home Gibraltarian Army veteran who survived two years of hell on the streets wants to return to the Rock
With no family to turn to, Ronald was left with nothing and ended up sleeping rough. “It was terrible,” he says. “I lost my job, my home and all my belongings. I lived in a cash point lobby for two years. “It wasn’t safe at all, especially being over 60 years old and I was beaten up on a number of occasions by youngsters when
I was sleeping. They once stole my belongings and everything.” The ex-squaddie, who does have a small army pension, claimed it was his experiences in the military that helped him survive. “I am proud to have served my country and it somehow got me through,” said Ronald. “I never resorted to stealing or drugs, although I saw a hell of a
NAME-CHANGER: Corner was nivolved with gangs and (inset) missing Lisa
Wanted by police and gangs... the man with four aliases THE AWOL boyfriend of missing Lisa Brown is not just being hunted by police, but also criminal gangs from South America and the Campo de Gibraltar, it can be revealed. The Olive Press has also discovered that Simon Corner, 33, has been using up to four aliases in his shady business life in Southern Spain over the last decade. A source close to the investigation revealed that his real name could be Dean Tripp, while he also uses ‘Dean Woods’ and occasionally the first name ‘Damien’. In further revelations, the source, who is a friend of missing Lisa’s, claimed he is not actually in Thailand as reported, but is lying low in Portugal. “We understand a credit card has recently been used in the Lisbon area,” said the yacht worker, who has known Lisa and Corner for
EXCLUSIVE By
Tom Powell and Jon Clarke a year. “The police are the least of his trouble. He is hiding from two big criminal gangs who he is said to have crossed, owing up to €50,000. I think he would be safer in custody.” The source claims that the ‘wheeler dealer’ upset the gangs over a business deal in Ceuta, last month. “It is possible Lisa was caught up in the saga,” said the source. “I fear the worst for her now.” Another source backed up the claims, confirming that Corner had been involved in a ‘serious incident’ in Ceuta a month ago conTurn to Page 2
lot of that.” His salvation came when after two years of living hell, he overheard two people talking about La Linea homeless charity, Hogar Betania. He immediately contacted the charity and was put up for 751 days until they found him a flat in La Linea. “They did everything for me. They are my family. The family I never had,” added Ronald, who now volunteers at the centre. But his goal is to finally return to Gibraltar, where he was born and attended Bishop Fitzgerald’ school. However, despite applying for a council home on the Rock in April 2013, nothing has yet come to fruition and he lost touch with the authorities over six months ago. “It’s something that has always been in my mind. I want to go back home. It is surely my right,” he said.
SAVIOUR: Ronald with charity boss Begoña Alvarez This week, a government spokesman insisted the Housing Department would try its best to help him. “Mr Lima should make contact as quickly as possible and ensure we have all the correct details of his case.” The authorities also advise him
to contact the Royal Engineers’ Benevolent Fund and the British Legion.
Light in the dark. Pages 6-7 Opinion. Page 6