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Dundee man faces trial for alleged cyber attacks on global institutions

Saturday, 3 May 2025 12:16AM UTC

Coray Tierney, 23, from Dundee, is set to stand trial in September accused of cyber attacks targeting organisations including the Bank of Israel, FBI, and Epic Games. The case highlights the seriousness of cyber offences involving foreign entities amid other local criminal proceedings.

A Dundee man, Coray Tierney, is facing trial later this year on charges related to cyber attacks against several high-profile organisations, including the Bank of Israel and the FBI. The 23-year-old from Yarrow Terrace has been accused of violating the Computer Misuse Act through denial of service attacks targeting entities such as HSBC, Malwarebytes, and Epic Games Inc, the creators of the popular game Fortnite. These alleged cyber incidents reportedly took place between December 2021 and March 2023.

At a recent hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court, it was announced that Tierney's trial is set to proceed on September 8, pending an outstanding cybercrime report. His solicitor, Jim Caird, expressed the significant personal impact of the case on Tierney, stating, “It’s been an enormous inconvenience for Mr Tierney,” who has appeared in court six times regarding the matter. Caird highlighted that the seizure of Tierney's computer by the police has prevented him from engaging in his interest in video gaming. Currently, Tierney is on disability benefit and has not been working.

Sheriff Grant McCulloch remarked on the seriousness of the allegations, particularly given the involvement of foreign states and institutions, indicating that such cases cannot be dismissed lightly.

In a separate case, Jay Dixon, also from Dundee, pled guilty to endangering the life of a newborn baby. The 23-year-old admitted to two incidents of domestic abuse towards partners, alongside charges of neglect and serious assault against the infant, who was less than a month old.

In another matter, Grant Young was sentenced on his 40th birthday to a maximum of 12 months in prison after being found guilty of assaulting a woman in her home in Fife. The assault, which involved multiple punches to the head, left the victim "bloodied." Sherif Kirsta Johnston noted Young’s previous record of violent behaviour, emphasising a disturbing pattern of domestic violence. The court also revealed Young's history of using offensive language and making derogatory comments towards other women.

In Dundee, a teenager known as Cody Chambers received a sentence for an assault that left another youth with a permanent scar after striking him with a hammer during a children’s football game.

David Tracey, aged 37, was sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting to breaking into a Co-op store in March. Along with an accomplice, he stole goods valued at £666.01. Tracey’s conduct escalated when he later confronted an employee at a Tesco Express, resulting in charges of violence and aggressive behaviour.

Russel Gray, a 47-year-old man, received a sentence of 25 months and two weeks for his involvement in a robbery in Montrose. The court heard that he, along with two accomplices, lured a man into a trap under the pretense of soliciting help. The group assaulted the victim and made off with personal belongings, including a mobile phone and cash.

In another court ruling, Patrick Jess, a former president of the St Andrews Rifle Club, was placed under supervision after being convicted of multiple sexual assaults on female students. He has also been mandated to complete unpaid work as a punishment instead of serving prison time.

Lastly, serial fraudster Christopher Menmuir, 27, has been ordered to pay compensation to three victims following his conviction for defrauding individuals out of nearly £3,000. Menmuir, who had been facing personal difficulties, failed to deliver promised services and merchandise to his victims, leading to a fine and compensation order from Forfar Sheriff Court.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-british-man-in-court-for-cyber-attack-on-uk-banks/ - This article discusses Daniel Kaye, a dual Israeli-British citizen, who appeared in court after being extradited from Germany for allegedly launching cyber attacks against two of Britain’s best-known high-street banks and attempting to blackmail them. The attacks are estimated to have cost Lloyds £190,000 and Barclays around £146,000.
https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/breach-roundup-fcc-proposes-cybersecurity-prog-for-schools-a-23602 - This article reports on a surge of data-wiping attacks in Israel, where hackers adapted the BiBi malware family to target both Linux and Windows systems. The attacks prompted the government's Cyber Emergency Response Team to issue identifiers for detection. The malware, linked by researchers at Palo Alto to an Iranian-backed APT group called Agonizing Serpens, erases data without encryption or ransom demands.
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https://www.shomrim.news/eng/irans-cyber-onslaught-from-data-heist-to-digital-warfare-in-israel - This article discusses the cyber attacks attributed to Iranian-affiliated hacker groups, which infiltrated and shared sensitive data on the dark web and hacker forums. The leaks included personal information of Israeli citizens and soldiers, highlighting the vulnerabilities in Israel's cyber defenses.
https://www.bankingriskandregulation.com/israels-cyber-iron-dome-protects-israeli-banks-from-cyberattack-onslaught/ - This article reports on Israel's 'Iron Dome' cyber defense system, which protected the country's banks from a significant onslaught of cyberattacks. Despite being the third most targeted sector since hostilities with Hamas began on October 7, the banking sector's resilience relied on a unique data-sharing collaboration between financial institutions and other sector-critical industries.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-751792 - This article discusses the persistent state of cyber warfare between the US, Israel, and adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Hezbollah. It highlights incidents like the false rocket-warning sirens activated in Jerusalem and Eilat on June 19, 2022, caused by a cyber attack attributed to Iran.
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/courts/5234503/friday-court-round-up-jailed-birthday/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 7

Notes: Narrative reports ongoing legal proceedings (e.g., Coray Tierney’s trial set for September 8) but lacks explicit dates for other convictions, suggesting some events may be recent. No direct evidence of recycled content found.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: Direct quotes from solicitor Jim Caird and Sheriff Grant McCulloch lack verifiable online sourcing. Original sources for quotes are likely court transcripts or press statements not yet published online, warranting moderate confidence.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: Narrative originates from The Courier, a regional UK outlet. While generally credible for court reporting, its reach and editorial rigour may not match national-tier publications like BBC or Reuters.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: Claims align with typical court reporting (e.g., charges under Computer Misuse Act, domestic violence convictions). No implausible assertions detected, though specific cyberattack allegations against high-profile entities like the Bank of Israel would benefit from corroborating evidence.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: Narrative appears plausible and aligned with court processes, but limited verification of quotes and regional source scope necessitate caution. Current content suggests accurate reporting pending further corroboration.

Cybercrime
Dundee
Court cases
Computer Misuse Act