theirishtimes--2020-11-28--State settles on Covid strategy after pivotal meeting

Perhaps unavoidably , much of the Government ’ s crunch Covid-19 summit on Thursday was conducted over Zoom .
Outwardly , it was billed as a Cabinet subcommittee meeting , but in reality every key player in the State ’ s response to the pandemic was beamed in from the buildings that have been ground zero of Ireland ’ s response to the pandemic .
“ It was all very Star Wars , ” recalls a source in the room .
From the Department of Health in Miesan Plaza , chief medical officer Tony Holohan , his deputy Ronan Glynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in .
Coming from the Health Service Executive ’ s headquarters at Dr Steevens ’ Hospital was its chief executive Paul Reid , while the team in Government buildings was so large it was split between two rooms .
In one were the Taoiseach , Tánaiste , Eamon Ryan , Stephen Donnelly , Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath – standing members of the Cabinet Covid subcommittee .
They were joined by Simon Coveney and Helen McEntee , and each party leader ’ s chief of staff .
Upstairs , in room 301 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key advisers and civil servants dialled in .
Broadly , the meeting was split in two parts – the first , the much-vaunted “ Battle of the Spreadsheets ” , which marked the National Public Health Emergency Team ’ s ( Nphet ) arguments for a tighter period of restrictions pitched against Government-commissioned data .
This was drawn up “ to make sure Nphet was not the only voice in the room ” , said one source .
This was followed by a purely political meeting , which shaped the memorandum that went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Finance Paschal Donohoe presented on the cost of pandemic interventions , estimated at more than €1 billion in the last five weeks .
Nphet members followed , outlining the rationale for recommendations made to Government earlier that day .
This said that hospitality should remain effectively closed ; or if opened , household visits should be curtailed .
An extensive question and answer session followed and one source described it as “ fair and honest ” .
The Nphet members were pressed on the impact of measures they had recommended and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Level 5 had been worth it .
They were also asked how Ireland compared with other European countries in terms of restrictions , and why hospitalisation and mortality figures differed from the first wave .
The argument from the public health officials boiled down to the need to create a “ cushion ” in advance of “ natural socialisation ” around the Christmas period .
They argued that the all important R number had to be kept close to 1 “ on the way in and way out ” of Christmas .
Opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December could create a baseline that could then push case numbers over the edge when households are allowed to mix , they warned .
Politicians also asked what should be done if case numbers began to spiral out of control during December .
The Nphet officials said that if exponential growth occurred , the most important thing would be to act quickly and decisively – not necessarily that any particular set of measures should be implemented , but that a solution be identified and acted upon .
A key milestone mentioned was if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the figure was rising quickly , sources said .
Pádraig Dalton , head of the Central Statistics Office , made a presentation outlining the serious mental health and wellness impact of the pandemic , while Liz Canavan , a senior Department of the Taoiseach official , presented data compiled by consultancy firm EY .
This focused on what seemed to have driven outbreaks , including the finding that townlands which had success in county GAA championships tended to have higher levels of disease , as well as the impact of wet pubs opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth in the disease was driven by restaurants or pubs .
It is understood that the possibility of opening wet pubs and resuming team sports for children was discussed during both parts of the meeting , with politicians told that opening pubs in particular could be expected to add 0.3 to the R number , accelerating dramatically the spread of coronavirus .
A key consideration during the political meeting , said sources present , was figuring out how to balance the twin objectives of opening hospitality and allowing households to mix .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen , but not the other .
Given such a binary choice , the Government was faced with trying to please two masters – keeping with the heavily trailed political promise to reopen the economy , while facilitating the longed-for mixing of families over the festive period .
It decided to keep household restrictions in place until December 18th – a harsher measure than Nphet had recommended – but then to allow both hospitality and household visits for two weeks .
The importance of December for the hospitality trade , which can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual revenue , was a key factor in this decision .
The discussion also focused on the experience of “ holiday ” counties during the summer , such as Galway , Mayo and Kerry , which experienced considerable socialisation and eating out but did not record meaningful spikes in infection .
The politicians also discussed antigen testing and the need to improve testing and tracing capacity .
They also looked forward to the new year , discussing the possibility of a rise in liquidations and redundancies as hard-pressed companies folded .
The politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly expressing concerns about travel-related cases and how he believed the system for preventing cases being seeded from international travel was not robust enough .
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar raised the issue of cases stemming from cross-Border travel , arguing there is insufficient data on this .
He is understood to have written to a HSE body seeking more information .
The Government has now played its hand and the State is about to enter into perhaps the most precarious phase of its struggle with Covid-19 : attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns , while also keeping a battle-weary public onside .
Facing such a complex set of problems , the risk of a misstep is considerable and the penalties for failure when the stakes are so high will be severe .

Dr Tony Holohan flanked by members of the National Public Health Emergency Team which outlined the rationale for recommendations made to Government. File photograph: Collins
Perhaps unavoidably, much of the Government’s crunch Covid-19 summit on Thursday was conducted over Zoom.
Outwardly, it was billed as a Cabinet subcommittee meeting, but in reality every key player in the State’s response to the pandemic was beamed in from the buildings that have been ground zero of Ireland’s response to the pandemic.
[ here. ]
Hospital Report
“It was all very Star Wars,” recalls a source in the room.
From the Department of Health in Miesan Plaza, chief medical officer Tony Holohan, his deputy Ronan Glynn, and chief modeller Philip Nolan dialled in.
READ MORE
Coming from the Health Service Executive's headquarters at Dr Steevens' Hospital was its chief executive Paul Reid, while the team in Government buildings was so large it was split between two rooms.
In one were the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Eamon Ryan, Stephen Donnelly, Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath – standing members of the Cabinet Covid subcommittee. They were joined by Simon Coveney and Helen McEntee, and each party leader's chief of staff. Upstairs, in room 301 of Government Buildings, a large team of key advisers and civil servants dialled in.
Broadly, the meeting was split in two parts – the first, the much-vaunted “Battle of the Spreadsheets”, which marked the National Public Health Emergency Team’s (Nphet) arguments for a tighter period of restrictions pitched against Government-commissioned data. This was drawn up “to make sure Nphet was not the only voice in the room”, said one source.
Pressing the experts
This was followed by a purely political meeting, which shaped the memorandum that went to Cabinet yesterday.
First, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe presented on the cost of pandemic interventions, estimated at more than €1 billion in the last five weeks.
Nphet members followed, outlining the rationale for recommendations made to Government earlier that day. This said that hospitality should remain effectively closed; or if opened, household visits should be curtailed.
An extensive question and answer session followed and one source described it as "fair and honest". The Nphet members were pressed on the impact of measures they had recommended and how they could be sure six weeks at Level 5 had been worth it. They were also asked how Ireland compared with other European countries in terms of restrictions, and why hospitalisation and mortality figures differed from the first wave.
The argument from the public health officials boiled down to the need to create a “cushion” in advance of “natural socialisation” around the Christmas period.
They argued that the all important R number had to be kept close to 1 “on the way in and way out” of Christmas. Opening restaurants for the first three weeks of December could create a baseline that could then push case numbers over the edge when households are allowed to mix, they warned.
Politicians also asked what should be done if case numbers began to spiral out of control during December. The Nphet officials said that if exponential growth occurred, the most important thing would be to act quickly and decisively – not necessarily that any particular set of measures should be implemented, but that a solution be identified and acted upon.
A key milestone mentioned was if there were 400 cases per day and the figure was rising quickly, sources said.
Pádraig Dalton, head of the Central Statistics Office, made a presentation outlining the serious mental health and wellness impact of the pandemic, while Liz Canavan, a senior Department of the Taoiseach official, presented data compiled by consultancy firm EY. This focused on what seemed to have driven outbreaks, including the finding that townlands which had success in county GAA championships tended to have higher levels of disease, as well as the impact of wet pubs opening outside of Dublin, and examining whether growth in the disease was driven by restaurants or pubs.
It is understood that the possibility of opening wet pubs and resuming team sports for children was discussed during both parts of the meeting, with politicians told that opening pubs in particular could be expected to add 0.3 to the R number, accelerating dramatically the spread of coronavirus.
A key consideration during the political meeting, said sources present, was figuring out how to balance the twin objectives of opening hospitality and allowing households to mix.
The Nphet advice was clear: one could happen, but not the other. Given such a binary choice, the Government was faced with trying to please two masters – keeping with the heavily trailed political promise to reopen the economy, while facilitating the longed-for mixing of families over the festive period.
It decided to keep household restrictions in place until December 18th – a harsher measure than Nphet had recommended – but then to allow both hospitality and household visits for two weeks. The importance of December for the hospitality trade, which can do up to 30 per cent of its annual revenue, was a key factor in this decision.
Spikes in infection
The discussion also focused on the experience of "holiday" counties during the summer, such as Galway, Mayo and Kerry, which experienced considerable socialisation and eating out but did not record meaningful spikes in infection.
The politicians also discussed antigen testing and the need to improve testing and tracing capacity. They also looked forward to the new year, discussing the possibility of a rise in liquidations and redundancies as hard-pressed companies folded.
The politicians also discussed travel and the Border, with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly expressing concerns about travel-related cases and how he believed the system for preventing cases being seeded from international travel was not robust enough.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar raised the issue of cases stemming from cross-Border travel, arguing there is insufficient data on this. He is understood to have written to a HSE body seeking more information.
The Government has now played its hand and the State is about to enter into perhaps the most precarious phase of its struggle with Covid-19: attempting to balance public health, wellbeing and economic concerns, while also keeping a battle-weary public onside.
Facing such a complex set of problems, the risk of a misstep is considerable and the penalties for failure when the stakes are so high will be severe.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Leaving lockdown: Palpable achievements but little sense of celebration

As Ireland gets ready to reopen for business next week , there is little reason to think a third surge of Covid-19 can be avoided next year .
This is the reality of “ living with the virus ” , when transmission has not been reduced to manageable levels and where the finer techniques for hunting it down have not been mastered .
Perhaps the best we can hope for is that the next surge in cases will not occur until February , near the end of the winter .
Six weeks of Level 5 restrictions have left us with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been cut by 75 per cent , from a peak of about 1,200 to under 300 by early next week .
This is well short of the 50-100 a day targeted by public health officials .
The number of Covid-19 cases in hospital and intensive care has barely changed , neither taking off as in the first surge nor properly ebbing away .
The rate at which patients have been hospitalised in this surge is one-quarter of what it was in the spring .
Because we moved early and relatively hard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only Finland and Cyprus have a lower incidence of the virus .
Over the last fortnight , for every Covid-19 patient that died in Ireland , more than two died in Sweden relative to population .
In Germany , that figure is three ; in the UK , almost seven ; in Italy , 11 .
So we have saved lives and slashed our case numbers , thereby allowing the health service to get on with normal business , while keeping our schools open .
These are palpable achievements , but there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be balanced by the ill-effects of restrictions on people ’ s health and the economy .
The immense cost of lockdown only emerges in snippets .
Three examples from Thursday alone : Level 5 has cost the exchequer at least €1.5 billion in State supports and lost taxes ; up to 2,000 cancers may have been “ lost ” this year due to patients not presenting ; and one GP told me that for the first time in his career he has been treating patients with fractures because they were too afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Varadkar has admitted another lockdown may be needed in the New Year to offset the freedoms being granted over Christmas .
He vowed it would be short , but we ’ ve heard that one before .
There is the promise of a vaccine arriving on the horizon like the cavalry swooping down to save a distressed populace , but many hurdles have to be overcome first .
Planning a strategy because there may be a vaccine is little better than saying society should be opened up because there may be herd immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety of the most advanced vaccines under development have been measured in days , when their performance over many months needs to be assessed .
Some say lockdowns don ’ t work ; others believe that they save us from worse outcomes .
Our second lockdown failed in one central objective , by not getting case numbers down to a level that would facilitate rapid contact tracing .
Despite recruitment , public health units will be hard pressed to effectively follow up each of the 300 files landing on their desk every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation , and that we ’ ve been through this before , the system moves agonisingly slowly .
Retrospective tracing of contacts was called for months ago , yet all we ’ ve got so far is a pilot study .
Antigen testing is cheap and fast but no role has been found for it in our system .
We order review after review , often repeating the work of experts in other countries .
The big ship of State turns around slowly , when what ’ s needed is nimbleness and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move on quickly from mistakes .
Living with the virus also means improving people ’ s fitness and immunity levels , and dialling down fear levels in society .
It means providing extra supports to the most vulnerable and removing the psychological and economic issues that might stop a person getting tested , or lead them to turn up for work when they have symptoms .
With no excess deaths in Ireland since May , a sense of proportion is needed .
Seasonal factors are helping to drive up cases at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down again .
The second wave was nowhere near as bad as the first , and the next one should be more manageable still .

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly arrives at Government Buidings on Friday afternoon for the Cabinet meeting to discuss easing Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions ahead of the Christmas period. Photograph: Laura Hutton
As Ireland gets ready to reopen for business next week, there is little reason to think a third surge of Covid-19 can be avoided next year.
This is the reality of “living with the virus”, when transmission has not been reduced to manageable levels and where the finer techniques for hunting it down have not been mastered.
Perhaps the best we can hope for is that the next surge in cases will not occur until February, near the end of the winter.
Hospital Report
Six weeks of Level 5 restrictions have left us with a mixed picture. Daily case numbers have been cut by 75 per cent, from a peak of about 1,200 to under 300 by early next week. This is well short of the 50-100 a day targeted by public health officials.
READ MORE
The number of Covid-19 cases in hospital and intensive care has barely changed, neither taking off as in the first surge nor properly ebbing away. The rate at which patients have been hospitalised in this surge is one-quarter of what it was in the spring.
Planning a strategy because there may be a vaccine is little better than saying society should be opened up because there may be herd immunity
Because we moved early and relatively hard, Ireland is currently best-in-class in Europe. Only Finland and Cyprus have a lower incidence of the virus. Over the last fortnight, for every Covid-19 patient that died in Ireland, more than two died in Sweden relative to population. In Germany, that figure is three; in the UK, almost seven; in Italy, 11.
So we have saved lives and slashed our case numbers, thereby allowing the health service to get on with normal business, while keeping our schools open.
Balanced
These are palpable achievements, but there is little sense of celebration. They have to be balanced by the ill-effects of restrictions on people’s health and the economy.
The immense cost of lockdown only emerges in snippets. Three examples from Thursday alone: Level 5 has cost the exchequer at least €1.5 billion in State supports and lost taxes; up to 2,000 cancers may have been “lost” this year due to patients not presenting; and one GP told me that for the first time in his career he has been treating patients with fractures because they were too afraid to go to hospital.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has admitted another lockdown may be needed in the New Year to offset the freedoms being granted over Christmas. He vowed it would be short, but we've heard that one before.
There is the promise of a vaccine arriving on the horizon like the cavalry swooping down to save a distressed populace, but many hurdles have to be overcome first. Planning a strategy because there may be a vaccine is little better than saying society should be opened up because there may be herd immunity.
So far, the effectiveness and safety of the most advanced vaccines under development have been measured in days, when their performance over many months needs to be assessed.
Worse outcomes
Some say lockdowns don’t work; others believe that they save us from worse outcomes. Our second lockdown failed in one central objective, by not getting case numbers down to a level that would facilitate rapid contact tracing. Despite recruitment, public health units will be hard pressed to effectively follow up each of the 300 files landing on their desk every day.
Living with the virus also means improving people's fitness and immunity levels, and dialling down fear levels in society
And despite the urgency of the situation, and that we’ve been through this before, the system moves agonisingly slowly. Retrospective tracing of contacts was called for months ago, yet all we’ve got so far is a pilot study. Antigen testing is cheap and fast but no role has been found for it in our system.
We order review after review, often repeating the work of experts in other countries. The big ship of State turns around slowly, when what’s needed is nimbleness and an ability to adapt and innovate, and to move on quickly from mistakes.
Living with the virus also means improving people’s fitness and immunity levels, and dialling down fear levels in society. It means providing extra supports to the most vulnerable and removing the psychological and economic issues that might stop a person getting tested, or lead them to turn up for work when they have symptoms.
With no excess deaths in Ireland since May, a sense of proportion is needed. Seasonal factors are helping to drive up cases at the moment, and will ultimately push them down again. The second wave was nowhere near as bad as the first, and the next one should be more manageable still.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Ex-barrister Patrick Russell conned people out of more than €12m, gardaí say

Jailed former barrister Patrick Russell ( 57 ) conned people out of more than €12 million in a litany of frauds that began in his early 20s , senior Garda officers believe .
Dubliner Russell was jailed for three years earlier this month for the theft of €215,000 from a businessman , for whom he was acting as an agent in the purchase of a Co Kildare warehouse in 2015 .
Russell , who featured in an expose by RTÉ Investigates , on Wednesday , took the businessman ’ s money and gave him documents to prove the building had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it later emerged the documents were forgeries and Russell had kept the man ’ s money .
The investigation into that theft was carried out by gardaí at Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin ’ s south inner city as the money was given to Russell in an office in Temple Bar in the area .
However , Russell ’ s many activities were investigated by gardaí under Operation Poach over a seven-year period , though the DPP directed he not face criminal charges .
Garda sources familiar with Russell say evidence uncovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defrauded his victims of €12 million .
During many of his crimes he took large sums of money , in some cases close to €1 million , from people who he was acting for as a barrister or tax consultant .
He then forged documents purporting to show the clients he had acted as an agent for them in settling with Revenue or buying assets for them .
In reality , he had kept their money .
Russell ( 57 ) , a former member of Sinn Féin with an address at Teach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin , also owned a Channel Islands company , Universal Management Consultants Ltd , with former taoiseach Albert Reynolds , and they tried to buy lands in north Dublin between 1997 and 2001 .
Details of the failed transaction emerged at the planning tribunal in 2006 , at which Russell represented Liam Lawlor , the former Fianna Fáil politician .
Russell was also previously involved in an attempted $ 30 million land deal in Antigua in the Caribbean with Tom McFeely , the former IRA man turned property developer , for which Russell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fee .
The convicted murderer Catherine Nevin tried to appeal her conviction on the basis that Russell , who gave evidence in the case , was a paid Garda informer and/or linked to the Provisional IRA .
The allegation was dismissed by the court .
She made the same allegation , dismissed by the courts , about three other witnesses who gave evidence for the State against her during her trial .
In 2010 Nevin tried to secure Garda documents relating to terrorism and paid informants and alleged they would show four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Russell , were paid Garda informers and/or linked to serious terrorist offences .
She was appealing her 2000 conviction for the murder of her husband Tom Nevin ( 54 ) , at Jack White ’ s Inn , near Brittas Bay , Co Wicklow , on March 19th , 1996 .
She was also convicted on three counts of soliciting three different men to kill her husband in 1989 and 1990 , six years before his murder .
During her appeal in 2010 she claimed she had received new information about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her and that the new facts made her conviction unsafe .
However , the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed the attempt to have her conviction declared a miscarriage of justice , saying the allegations she had put forward were “ vague ” and what she claimed were newly discovered facts were all collateral matters .
During the murder trial Russell was presented as a “ financial consultant ” and said that he had ceased being a member of Sinn Féin in early 1989 , but had begun to detach himself from the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known Tom and Catherine Nevin since 1984 , when he was introduced to them when they ran a pub in Finglas and , as a university student , he ran a Sinn Féin advice centre there .
Russell told the trial Catherine Nevin , now deceased , contacted him to seek advice on tax matters in early 1996 when he “ quasi-specialised ” in tax settlements , having done many under the tax amnesty .
According to Russell , Catherine Nevin then told him “ in the most strident terms ” whenever he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no message or only to do so under the false name of John Ferguson , which he did .

Patrick Russell was jailed for three years earlier this month for the theft of €215,000 from a businessman whom he was acting as an agent for in the purchase of a Co Kildare warehouse in 2015. Photograph: Collins Courts
Jailed former barrister Patrick Russell (57) conned people out of more than €12 million in a litany of frauds that began in his early 20s, senior Garda officers believe.
Dubliner Russell was jailed for three years earlier this month for the theft of €215,000 from a businessman, for whom he was acting as an agent in the purchase of a Co Kildare warehouse in 2015.
Russell, who featured in an expose by RTÉ Investigates, on Wednesday, took the businessman's money and gave him documents to prove the building had been purchased for him. However, it later emerged the documents were forgeries and Russell had kept the man's money.
The investigation into that theft was carried out by gardaí at Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin's south inner city as the money was given to Russell in an office in Temple Bar in the area.
READ MORE
Russell was also previously involved in an attempted $30 million land deal in Antigua in the Caribbean with Tom McFeely, the former IRA man turned property developer
However, Russell’s many activities were investigated by gardaí under Operation Poach over a seven-year period, though the DPP directed he not face criminal charges. Garda sources familiar with Russell say evidence uncovered by gardaí over the years suggested he defrauded his victims of €12 million.
During many of his crimes he took large sums of money, in some cases close to €1 million, from people who he was acting for as a barrister or tax consultant. He then forged documents purporting to show the clients he had acted as an agent for them in settling with Revenue or buying assets for them. In reality, he had kept their money.
Russell (57), a former member of Sinn Féin with an address at Teach Daingain, Steelstown, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, also owned a Channel Islands company, Universal Management Consultants Ltd, with former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, and they tried to buy lands in north Dublin between 1997 and 2001.
Details of the failed transaction emerged at the planning tribunal in 2006, at which Russell represented Liam Lawlor, the former Fianna Fáil politician.
Russell was also previously involved in an attempted $30 million land deal in Antigua in the Caribbean with Tom McFeely, the former IRA man turned property developer, for which Russell planned to charge an €850,000 broker’s fee.
The convicted murderer Catherine Nevin tried to appeal her conviction on the basis that Russell, who gave evidence in the case, was a paid Garda informer and/or linked to the Provisional IRA. The allegation was dismissed by the court. She made the same allegation, dismissed by the courts, about three other witnesses who gave evidence for the State against her during her trial.
In 2010 Nevin tried to secure Garda documents relating to terrorism and paid informants and alleged they would show four men who gave evidence against her, including Russell, were paid Garda informers and/or linked to serious terrorist offences.
Catherine Nevin told him whenever he rang the pub he was to leave no message or only to do so under the false name of John Ferguson, which he did
She was appealing her 2000 conviction for the murder of her husband Tom Nevin (54), at Jack White's Inn, near Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, on March 19th, 1996. She was also convicted on three counts of soliciting three different men to kill her husband in 1989 and 1990, six years before his murder.
During her appeal in 2010 she claimed she had received new information about the men since they had given evidence against her and that the new facts made her conviction unsafe.
However, the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed the attempt to have her conviction declared a miscarriage of justice, saying the allegations she had put forward were “vague” and what she claimed were newly discovered facts were all collateral matters.
During the murder trial Russell was presented as a "financial consultant" and said that he had ceased being a member of Sinn Féin in early 1989, but had begun to detach himself from the party in 1987. He explained he had known Tom and Catherine Nevin since 1984, when he was introduced to them when they ran a pub in Finglas and, as a university student, he ran a Sinn Féin advice centre there.
Russell told the trial Catherine Nevin, now deceased, contacted him to seek advice on tax matters in early 1996 when he “quasi-specialised” in tax settlements, having done many under the tax amnesty.
According to Russell, Catherine Nevin then told him "in the most strident terms" whenever he rang the pub he was to leave no message or only to do so under the false name of John Ferguson, which he did.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Shot, bayoneted and clubbed: the ruthless lengths the IRA went to at Kilmichael

Long-forgotten files in the UK National Archives in London show that the Kilmichael ambush was “ a fight to the finish ” .
Sixteen members of the much-hated RIC Auxiliary division were killed on a lonely road between Macroom and Dunmanway in Co Cork 100 years ago this Saturday evening .
One escaped , only to be beaten to death later .
Just one badly wounded Auxiliary survived .
Up to November 1921 , the British Cabinet had dismissed the IRA as the “ murder gang ” .
Bloody Sunday and Kilmichael a week later convinced them , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and determined guerrilla army .
Now , autopsy records collated in the UK National Archives in Kew have been accessed in their entirety by Jim Herlihy , a former Garda and a member of the Historical and Reconciliation Police ( Harp ) Society .
His book on the Black and Tans will be published in the New Year .
The autopsies were carried out by Dr Jeremiah Kelleher , the coroner for Macroom .
His son , RIC District Inspector Philip Kelleher , had been shot dead by the IRA outside the Greville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four weeks prior to Kilmichael .
In his own account published in one of the best-selling books dealing with the War of Independence , Guerrilla Days in Ireland , Tom Barry said he exhorted his men to keep on firing , but he was coy about the details of what happened next .
All of those killed at Kilmichael were shot multiple times .
There is evidence , too , of hand-to-hand combat , and wounds inflicted at close range on dead or dying men .
Arthur Poole ’ s skull was fractured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Pallister ’ s skull was fractured , too , “ caused probably by an axe or some fully sharp metal object ” , while three others , Christopher Wainright , William Barnes and Leonard Bradshaw were shot at close range .
The Kilmichael ambush was mastermind was Barry , the son of a Royal Irish Constabulary ( RIC ) officer , who had served in modern-day Iraq with the British Army Royal Field Artillery in the first World War , including at the Siege of Kut during Easter Week 1916 .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revelled in it .
On the night before Kilmichael he told his men that it was them or the Auxiliaries .
It was kill , or be killed .
By definition , a Flying Column had to be mobile and could not take prisoners .
The post-mortem results found in Kew do not shed any light on the thorny issue which has surrounded Kilmichael for decades – the notion that some of the Auxiliaries had engaged in a “ false surrender ” leading to the deaths of two IRA volunteers , Jim O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late historian Peter Hart – in an argument that still provokes sharp feelings – alleged that Barry ’ s claims of a false surrender were a fabrication used to justify the killing of men after they had surrendered .
Writing in The Irish Examiner this week , historian Meda Ryan records that General Frank Crozier , who investigated Kilmichael on behalf of the Chief Secretary to Ireland , Hamar Greenwood , concluded that there had been a false surrender .
One Auxiliary , Henry Forde escaped .
Hit with a rifle butt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead .
He had a fractured skull and never served again .
He was unable to give an account of what had happened in the immediate aftermath of the ambush .
The Auxiliary who escaped was Cecil Guthrie .
He was captured by the IRA a day later .
He was beaten to death and his body buried in a bog .
Following a tip-off , his body was exhumed in 1926 and he was reinterred in the Church of Ireland graveyard in Inchigeelagh .
His wife , Irene was heavily pregnant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she believed he would return .
She placed an advertisement in The Irish Independent on January 27th , 1921 : “ Cecil .
Little Dorothy arrived safely .
Irene ” .
Dorothy died in 2011 .
Mr Herlihy believes Guthrie was doomed once he was caught .
“ They couldn ’ t let any guy escape at that stage .
He hadn ’ t a prayer , ” he said .
Besides O ’ Sullivan and McCarthy , the other IRA loss was 16-year-old , Patrick Deasy , who died of injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The autopsy reports show , says Herlihy , that the Kilmichael ambush was a “ fight to the finish ” and that the IRA exhibited “ utter ruthlessness ” in endeavouring to ensure that all the Auxiliaries were killed .
“ They made sure they were dead .
It was that simple .
The backlash would have been made [ British reprisal ] in Balbriggan or Rineen ( in Co Clare ) when there were huge retaliations .
.
.
It was a huge victory for the IRA .
“ It would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but there was nothing for the authorities to even start on .
It is also clear from the post mortems that the ambush party went around from man to man shooting and bayoneting those they thought were still alive , ” he says .

Tom Barry addressing former IRA colleagues at an annual commemoration of the Kilmichael ambush which took place 100 years ago on November 28th, 1920.
Long-forgotten files in the UK National Archives in London show that the Kilmichael ambush was “a fight to the finish”.
Sixteen members of the much-hated RIC Auxiliary division were killed on a lonely road between Macroom and Dunmanway in Co Cork 100 years ago this Saturday evening. One escaped, only to be beaten to death later. Just one badly wounded Auxiliary survived.
Up to November 1921, the British Cabinet had dismissed the IRA as the “murder gang”. Bloody Sunday and Kilmichael a week later convinced them, however, that they were operating against a well-disciplined and determined guerrilla army.
Now, autopsy records collated in the UK National Archives in Kew have been accessed in their entirety by Jim Herlihy, a former Garda and a member of the Historical and Reconciliation Police (Harp) Society. His book on the Black and Tans will be published in the New Year.
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The autopsies were carried out by Dr Jeremiah Kelleher, the coroner for Macroom. His son, RIC District Inspector Philip Kelleher, had been shot dead by the IRA outside the Greville Arms Hotel in Granard, Co Longford four weeks prior to Kilmichael.
In his own account published in one of the best-selling books dealing with the War of Independence, Guerrilla Days in Ireland, Tom Barry said he exhorted his men to keep on firing, but he was coy about the details of what happened next.
All of those killed at Kilmichael were shot multiple times. There is evidence, too, of hand-to-hand combat, and wounds inflicted at close range on dead or dying men. Arthur Poole’s skull was fractured, possibly by a rifle butt.
William Pallister's skull was fractured, too, "caused probably by an axe or some fully sharp metal object", while three others, Christopher Wainright, William Barnes and Leonard Bradshaw were shot at close range.
The Kilmichael ambush was mastermind was Barry, the son of a Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) officer, who had served in modern-day Iraq with the British Army Royal Field Artillery in the first World War, including at the Siege of Kut during Easter Week 1916.
Some people recoiled from the bloodshed, Barry revelled in it. On the night before Kilmichael he told his men that it was them or the Auxiliaries. It was kill, or be killed. By definition, a Flying Column had to be mobile and could not take prisoners.
The post-mortem results found in Kew do not shed any light on the thorny issue which has surrounded Kilmichael for decades – the notion that some of the Auxiliaries had engaged in a “false surrender” leading to the deaths of two IRA volunteers, Jim O’Sullivan and Mike McCarthy.
The autopsy reports show, says Herlihy, that the Kilmichael ambush was a 'fight to the finish' and that the IRA exhibited 'utter ruthlessness'
The late historian Peter Hart – in an argument that still provokes sharp feelings – alleged that Barry's claims of a false surrender were a fabrication used to justify the killing of men after they had surrendered.
Writing in The Irish Examiner this week, historian Meda Ryan records that General Frank Crozier, who investigated Kilmichael on behalf of the Chief Secretary to Ireland, Hamar Greenwood, concluded that there had been a false surrender.
One Auxiliary, Henry Forde escaped. Hit with a rifle butt to the head, he was left for dead. He had a fractured skull and never served again. He was unable to give an account of what had happened in the immediate aftermath of the ambush.
The Auxiliary who escaped was Cecil Guthrie. He was captured by the IRA a day later. He was beaten to death and his body buried in a bog. Following a tip-off, his body was exhumed in 1926 and he was reinterred in the Church of Ireland graveyard in Inchigeelagh.
His wife, Irene was heavily pregnant. Suspecting that he had been taken prisoner, she believed he would return. She placed an advertisement in The Irish Independent on January 27th, 1921: “Cecil. Little Dorothy arrived safely. Irene”. Dorothy died in 2011.
Mr Herlihy believes Guthrie was doomed once he was caught.
"They couldn't let any guy escape at that stage. He hadn't a prayer," he said. Besides O'Sullivan and McCarthy, the other IRA loss was 16-year-old, Patrick Deasy, who died of injuries in a farmhouse later that night.
The autopsy reports show, says Herlihy, that the Kilmichael ambush was a “fight to the finish” and that the IRA exhibited “utter ruthlessness” in endeavouring to ensure that all the Auxiliaries were killed.
“They made sure they were dead. It was that simple. The backlash would have been made [British reprisal] in Balbriggan or Rineen (in Co Clare) when there were huge retaliations . . . It was a huge victory for the IRA.
“It would have justified another retaliation on the men involved, but there was nothing for the authorities to even start on. It is also clear from the post mortems that the ambush party went around from man to man shooting and bayoneting those they thought were still alive,” he says.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--More than €5.2 million raised during RTÉ Late Late Toy Show

More than €5.2 million was raised for children ’ s charities during the RTÉ Late Late Toy show on Friday night .
The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal , which replaced the usual Toy Show competition , will donate all funds raised on Friday night to Irish children ’ s charities including Children ’ s Health Foundation , Barnardos and Children ’ s Books Ireland .
By midnight on Friday more than €5.2 million had been raised for children ’ s charities with donations still flooding in into the early hours of Saturday morning .
Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday ’ s Toy Show with 8-year-old Saoirse Ruane who lost her leg this year following a cancer diagnosis .
Tubridy announced that the children of Ireland had inspired RTÉ to follow their lead by setting up the first Toy Show appeal , with the support of the Irish Community Foundation .
The high volume of donations which immediately followed the RTÉ callout resulted in the Stripe online payments platform temporarily failing to processing all the money coming in .
Members of the public posted on Twitter that they were struggling to process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Stripe to increase its donations rate .
Limerick-born Stripe founder Patrick Collison quickly reassured Toy Show viewers via Twitter that the system was working and ready to accept more donations .
Collison , tweeting at RTÉ , shortly after 11pm on Friday said that the Stripe team had “ just 5x ’ d the capacity for the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal .
We aren ’ t seeing any issues right now.
” Shortly before midnight , Collison added that he and his younger brother John would “ personally donate ” €100,000 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Show was watched by an audience across 110 countries worldwide .
All funds donated during the show will be distributed by The Community Foundation for Ireland 2021 , said RTÉ .
Half the donations will be shared between Barnardos , Children ’ s Health Foundation and Children ’ s Books Ireland , while the remaining 50 per cent will be distributed as grants by Community Foundation for Ireland to charities supporting children across Ireland , said the national broadcaster shortly after midnight on Friday .
The RTÉ Toy Show appeal will remain open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Isabella Douglas with Ryan Tubridy on the set of the Late Late Toy Show. Photograph: Andres Poveda
More than €6 million was raised for children's charities during the RTÉ Late Late Toy show on Friday night.
The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, which replaced the usual Toy Show competition, will donate all funds raised on Friday night to Irish children's charities including Children's Health Foundation, Barnardos and Children's Books Ireland.
By midnight on Friday more than €5.2 million had been raised for children’s charities with donations still flooding in into the early hours of Saturday morning. However, by 6pm on Saturday, this had climbed to €6 million, RTÉ said.
Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy announced the appeal following an interview on Friday’s Toy Show with 8-year-old Saoirse Ruane who lost her leg this year following a cancer diagnosis.
READ MORE
Tubridy announced that the children of Ireland had inspired RTÉ to follow their lead by setting up the first Toy Show appeal, with the support of the Irish Community Foundation.
The high volume of donations which immediately followed the RTÉ callout resulted in the Stripe online payments platform temporarily failing to processing all the money coming in. Members of the public posted on Twitter that they were struggling to process their donations to the appeal and called on Stripe to increase its donations rate.
Limerick-born Stripe founder Patrick Collison quickly reassured Toy Show viewers via Twitter that the system was working and ready to accept more donations.
Collison, tweeting at RTÉ, shortly after 11pm on Friday said that the Stripe team had “just 5x’d the capacity for the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal. We aren’t seeing any issues right now.”
Shortly before midnight, Collison added that he and his younger brother John would “personally donate” €100,000 to the appeal.
Friday's Toy Show was watched by an audience across 110 countries worldwide. All funds donated during the show will be distributed by The Community Foundation for Ireland 2021, said RTÉ.
Half the donations will be shared between Barnardos, Children’s Health Foundation and Children’s Books Ireland, while the remaining 50 per cent will be distributed as grants by Community Foundation for Ireland to charities supporting children across Ireland, said the national broadcaster shortly after midnight on Friday.
The RTÉ Toy Show appeal will remain open for donations for the next two weeks.


theirishtimes--2020-11-28--Thinking Anew – The light of Christ will not be dimmed

We live in challenging times .
The uncertainties hanging over our hopes and expectations for Christmas are difficult for many to manage .
However , it is one thing to be disappointed about a postponed family gathering ; it is another matter for those who have lost loved ones or who are seriously ill or jobless because of Covid-19 .
A time to think beyond self .
For decades we have , for the most part , enjoyed orderly lives and we don ’ t find it easy to cope with disruption .
My parents ’ generation lived through two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the War of Independence , Civil War and the Wall Street crash .
They had no illusions about “ the changes and chances of this fleeting world ” .
Uncertainty , which was their norm , is the theme of tomorrow ’ s readings for Advent Sunday .
The prophet Isaiah ( Ch .
64 ) speaks of a world of uncertainty in which people suffer .
Appeals to God to intervene fail because , we are told , humankind has brought the suffering on itself ; we live with the consequences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That often unrecognised connection between conduct and consequence is a blind spot in human nature and when they collide , as for example in the politicisation of the Covid-19 disease in the US , innocent people suffer and die .
The reading from St Mark ’ s Gospel ( Ch 13 ) is also about uncertainty .
The disciples are warned in language no one wants to hear of the possibility of the end of the world as they know it : “ But in those days , after that suffering , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moon will not give its light , and the stars will be falling from heaven , and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
” They had previously been told not to cling to the temple and its traditions because the future will not be found in the past or the familiar , a lesson for all of us .
Yet they are encouraged , despite current difficulties , to look to the future with hope , believing the future is in God ’ s hands .
That is precisely what a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1944 .
Basil Spence had landed on D-Day and as his unit advanced through France he was appalled at the destruction of people ’ s homes and villages .
A fellow soldier asked him what he would do when peace came .
Standing among the ruins , Spence , a qualified architect , said he planned to build a cathedral .
He had a vision which , said Jonathan Swift , is the art of seeing things invisible .
The city of Coventry and its 14th-century cathedral had been destroyed by bombs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the provost directed that the words of Jesus “ Father forgive them ” should be engraved in the ruined sanctuary but then changed his mind and said that it should read simply “ Father forgive ” , an acknowledgement that responsibility did not lie solely with the German people .
In 1962 a new Coventry cathedral was consecrated .
The architect was Basil Spence , the D-Day veteran with a vision .
A window in the cathedral portrays Jesus as light breaking into the world .
While the periphery of the stained-glass window @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus , is portrayed in clear , dazzling stained glass while the darkness around the edges remains .
It is the message of Advent ; that even in the darkest and most uncertain of times , the light of Christ will not be dimmed .
That is the message of Christianity to the world .
Advent prepares us to come to terms with the uncertainties of life for uncertainty is buried deep in what we call the incarnation , the reality of God in human flesh .
While the incarnation is a concrete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are within it uncertainties that have to be faced : life and death , joy and sorrow , heaven and earth ; these inseparable realities are part of life .
God did not enter the human experience in a sealed vacuum but rather in the web of human relationships where we are assured that love is for real , even when we are apart .

We live in challenging times. The uncertainties hanging over our hopes and expectations for Christmas are difficult for many to manage. However, it is one thing to be disappointed about a postponed family gathering; it is another matter for those who have lost loved ones or who are seriously ill or jobless because of Covid-19. A time to think beyond self.
For decades we have, for the most part, enjoyed orderly lives and we don’t find it easy to cope with disruption.
My parents’ generation lived through two world wars, the flu pandemic, the War of Independence, Civil War and the Wall Street crash. They had no illusions about “the changes and chances of this fleeting world”.
Uncertainty, which was their norm, is the theme of tomorrow’s readings for Advent Sunday.
READ MORE
The prophet Isaiah (Ch. 64) speaks of a world of uncertainty in which people suffer. Appeals to God to intervene fail because, we are told, humankind has brought the suffering on itself; we live with the consequences of our collective moral and political failures.
That often unrecognised connection between conduct and consequence is a blind spot in human nature and when they collide, as for example in the politicisation of the Covid-19 disease in the US, innocent people suffer and die.
The reading from St Mark’s Gospel (Ch 13) is also about uncertainty.
The disciples are warned in language no one wants to hear of the possibility of the end of the world as they know it: “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”
They had previously been told not to cling to the temple and its traditions because the future will not be found in the past or the familiar, a lesson for all of us. Yet they are encouraged, despite current difficulties, to look to the future with hope, believing the future is in God’s hands.
That is precisely what a young soldier thought in the summer of 1944.
Basil Spence had landed on D-Day and as his unit advanced through France he was appalled at the destruction of people's homes and villages. A fellow soldier asked him what he would do when peace came. Standing among the ruins, Spence, a qualified architect, said he planned to build a cathedral. He had a vision which, said Jonathan Swift, is the art of seeing things invisible.
The city of Coventry and its 14th-century cathedral had been destroyed by bombs in November 1940.
When it happened, the provost directed that the words of Jesus “Father forgive them” should be engraved in the ruined sanctuary but then changed his mind and said that it should read simply “Father forgive”, an acknowledgement that responsibility did not lie solely with the German people. In 1962 a new Coventry cathedral was consecrated. The architect was Basil Spence, the D-Day veteran with a vision.
A window in the cathedral portrays Jesus as light breaking into the world.
While the periphery of the stained-glass window is dark, the central figure, Jesus, is portrayed in clear, dazzling stained glass while the darkness around the edges remains.
It is the message of Advent; that even in the darkest and most uncertain of times, the light of Christ will not be dimmed. That is the message of Christianity to the world.
Advent prepares us to come to terms with the uncertainties of life for uncertainty is buried deep in what we call the incarnation, the reality of God in human flesh. While the incarnation is a concrete event (the birth of Jesus), there are within it uncertainties that have to be faced: life and death, joy and sorrow, heaven and earth; these inseparable realities are part of life. God did not enter the human experience in a sealed vacuum but rather in the web of human relationships where we are assured that love is for real, even when we are apart.


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Gardaí investigating after assault on woman on Dublin Bus

Gardaí are investigating after a woman was assaulted by a number of people on a Dublin Bus on Thursday .
It is understood the woman was punched in the head and the back .
A Garda spokesman said they were responding to a public order incident which took place on a Dublin Bus on Priorwood Road in Coolock on Thursday at around 9.45pm .
“ No arrests have been made to date and gardaí at Coolock are appealing for witnesses , ” he said .
Garda investigations into the incident are ongoing .
Dublin Bus said in statement that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident .
It noted that all employees were “ fully trained on the comprehensive procedures for dealing with incidents such as this ” .
“ Each vehicle is equipped with a radio which allows immediate contact to our central control centre , ” said the statement .
“ This means that the driver has immediate contact to a team of Dublin Bus inspectors should assistance be required in any given situation .
During this incident , the driver followed this procedure , ” it said .
Fianna Fáil councillor Racheal Batten told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News that increased security and police presence was needed on buses in the Coolock area .
“ There have been a number of these incidents across Dublin city in the recent past .
Areas like ourselves here really need more support from Garda resources.
” Dublin Bus has handed over CCTV footage of the incident to gardaí .

Dublin Bus has handed over CCTV footage of the incident to gardaí. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Gardaí are investigating after a woman was assaulted by a number of people on a Dublin Bus on Thursday.
It is understood the woman was punched in the head and the back.
A Garda spokesman said they were responding to a public order incident which took place on a Dublin Bus on Priorwood Road in Coolock on Thursday at around 9.45pm.
“No arrests have been made to date and gardaí at Coolock are appealing for witnesses,” he said.
READ MORE
Garda investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Dublin Bus said in statement that the bus driver had followed official procedures during the incident. It noted that all employees were “fully trained on the comprehensive procedures for dealing with incidents such as this”.
“Each vehicle is equipped with a radio which allows immediate contact to our central control centre,” said the statement. “This means that the driver has immediate contact to a team of Dublin Bus inspectors should assistance be required in any given situation. During this incident, the driver followed this procedure,” it said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Racheal Batten told RTÉ's Nine O'Clock News that increased security and police presence was needed on buses in the Coolock area. "There have been a number of these incidents across Dublin city in the recent past. Areas like ourselves here really need more support from Garda resources."
Dublin Bus has handed over CCTV footage of the incident to gardaí.


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--System being planned to allow vaccinated airline passengers avoid restrictions

Planning is underway to establish a system allowing airline passengers avoid restrictions if they have received a Covid-19 vaccination .
It is expected to apply particularly to travellers arriving in Ireland from “ orange ” countries based on the EU traffic light system for air travel .
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the Government is working on the plan “ and the more we can do together , across the EU , the more effective it can be ” .
Executive director of the European Medicines Agency Emer Cooke said this week that “ all going well ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to approve new Covid-19 vaccines before Christmas .
The Minister said they will be taking public health advice on the matter but “ my expectation is that if people are vaccinated , they will be able to avoid the restrictions that currently apply to international travel , particularly those arriving from orange locations.
” However he warned that “ Ireland needs to protect its citizens against the potential threat of a reseeding of the virus through international travel .
We must be careful.
” Proof of vaccination will not be stamped on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to be made to include the information on the passenger locator form .
Mr Coveney said his department “ currently has no plans ” for a passport vaccination stamp .
The passenger locator form is currently being amended to include proof of PCR negative tests for the virus and it is likely to be further adjusted to include vaccination data when the vaccine becomes available .
That would provide “ further reassurance with regard to international travel ” , he said .
Independent TD Marian Harkin called for a vaccination stamp for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identification to show a person had been vaccinated .
In a parliamentary question she asked what preparations the Government is making when the vaccine becomes widely used .
“ More people will travel and unless we want to restrict that travel , we need to find a way to make it work , ” she said .
Mr Coveney acknowledged that Ireland has been one of the most restrictive countries in the EU for international travel , despite relying more on air travel than any other EU country apart from Malta and Cyprus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to change our approach while making sure that we are continuing to be compliant with public health advice .
“ We do not want , following enormous efforts and sacrifices from people , to reintroduce the virus again through international travel , which is a danger if it is not managed right .
This is a difficult balance to get right .
”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the Government is working on the plan ‘and the more we can do together, across the EU, the more effective it can be’. Photograph: iStock
Planning is underway to establish a system allowing airline passengers avoid restrictions if they have received a Covid-19 vaccination.
It is expected to apply particularly to travellers arriving in Ireland from “orange” countries based on the EU traffic light system for air travel.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the Government is working on the plan "and the more we can do together, across the EU, the more effective it can be".
Executive director of the European Medicines Agency Emer Cooke said this week that “all going well” the agency could be in a position to approve new Covid-19 vaccines before Christmas.
READ MORE
The Minister said they will be taking public health advice on the matter but “my expectation is that if people are vaccinated, they will be able to avoid the restrictions that currently apply to international travel, particularly those arriving from orange locations.”
However he warned that “Ireland needs to protect its citizens against the potential threat of a reseeding of the virus through international travel. We must be careful.”
Proof of vaccination will not be stamped on a passenger’s passport but arrangements are expected to be made to include the information on the passenger locator form.
Mr Coveney said his department “currently has no plans” for a passport vaccination stamp. The passenger locator form is currently being amended to include proof of PCR negative tests for the virus and it is likely to be further adjusted to include vaccination data when the vaccine becomes available.
That would provide “further reassurance with regard to international travel”, he said.
Changing approach
Independent TD Marian Harkin called for a vaccination stamp for passports or a digital app or digital identification to show a person had been vaccinated.
In a parliamentary question she asked what preparations the Government is making when the vaccine becomes widely used.
“More people will travel and unless we want to restrict that travel, we need to find a way to make it work,” she said.
Mr Coveney acknowledged that Ireland has been one of the most restrictive countries in the EU for international travel, despite relying more on air travel than any other EU country apart from Malta and Cyprus.
But he said “we are trying to change our approach while making sure that we are continuing to be compliant with public health advice.
“We do not want, following enormous efforts and sacrifices from people, to reintroduce the virus again through international travel, which is a danger if it is not managed right. This is a difficult balance to get right.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Ireland in precarious position as third Covid-19 wave could be more deadly, Nphet warns

The State ’ s public health team has warned the Government that Ireland is in a “ precarious position ” and a looming third wave of Covid-19 could be more deadly than the last one .
The chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has written to Government warning that even in optimistic scenarios , the probable level of the virus in January 2021 will “ present a real and substantial threat to the ongoing protection of public health and of the most vulnerable , the protection of health and social scare services and the protection of our schools and education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Team ( Nphet ) modelled a number of scenarios that would see at least 400 cases a day in January and possibly sooner .
“ If we start with higher case numbers in early December , this threshold will be breached sooner.
” The letter was sent on Thursday following a meeting this week of Nphet and ahead of a decision by the Government on Friday evening to move the country from Level 5 coronavirus restrictions next week to Level 3 restrictions with some modifications .
The team warned Government that “ if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent but more rapidly than in the summer , from a higher baseline force of infection , in winter and over the Christmas period a third wave of disease will ensue much more quickly and with greater mortality than the second.
” They said the situation remained “ fragile ” .
“ The Nphet is concerned that the disease trajectory could once again turn quite quickly.
” The Government was also told there is “ persistent and delayed incidence in healthcare workers and notifications of healthcare setting outbreaks and the number of confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Covid-19 deaths are not decreasing which gives rise to significant concern.
” They also said the incidence in older people remains high .
The team also expressed “ considerable concern that international travel over the coming period will undermine the progress achieved by the country in recent weeks.
” As previously reported , the Nphet also recommended against the hospitality sector reopening in December citing the higher risk of such indoor settings .
If cases rise again , the team said that “ it will be important to intervene early to bring @ @ @ @ @ @

Things are set to change on a practically deserted Henry Street in Dublin city centre when the national lockdown ends. File photograph: Getty
The State's public health team has warned the Government that Ireland is in a "precarious position" and a looming third wave of Covid-19 could be more deadly than the last one.
The chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has written to Government warning that even in optimistic scenarios, the probable level of the virus in January 2021 will "present a real and substantial threat to the ongoing protection of public health and of the most vulnerable, the protection of health and social scare services and the protection of our schools and education system."
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) modelled a number of scenarios that would see at least 400 cases a day in January and possibly sooner.
“If we start with higher case numbers in early December, this threshold will be breached sooner.”
READ MORE
The letter was sent on Thursday following a meeting this week of Nphet and ahead of a decision by the Government on Friday evening to move the country from Level 5 coronavirus restrictions next week to Level 3 restrictions with some modifications.
Turn quickly
The team warned Government that “if restrictions are eased now to a similar extent but more rapidly than in the summer, from a higher baseline force of infection, in winter and over the Christmas period a third wave of disease will ensue much more quickly and with greater mortality than the second.”
They said the situation remained “fragile”.
“The Nphet is concerned that the disease trajectory could once again turn quite quickly.”
The Government was also told there is “persistent and delayed incidence in healthcare workers and notifications of healthcare setting outbreaks and the number of confirmed cases in hospital, critical care, and Covid-19 deaths are not decreasing which gives rise to significant concern.”
They also said the incidence in older people remains high.
The team also expressed “considerable concern that international travel over the coming period will undermine the progress achieved by the country in recent weeks.”
As previously reported, the Nphet also recommended against the hospitality sector reopening in December citing the higher risk of such indoor settings.
If cases rise again, the team said that “it will be important to intervene early to bring transmission back under control.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Demand for older peoples’ charity services triples due to Covid-19

Older peoples ’ charity Alone has received 37,000 calls to its national support line since the Covid-19 pandemic reached the State .
The organisation supports around 5,000 people in a normal year but has seen that figure grow to 15,000 over the last 12 months , which its chief executive Seán Moynihan said was due to the impact of the virus on older people .
In the first 12 weeks of the pandemic , people over the age of 70 were asked to cocoon and many found the social isolation difficult .
Some are still cocooning as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Christmas campaign which encourages members of the public to give a helping hand to older friends , neighbours and relatives , which it says is of great need due to Covid-19 .
TV presenter Kathryn Thomas is the face of this year ’ s launch , alongside an older person who uses Alone ’ s services , Don Johnson .
Ms Thomas said : “ I admire the work that they do with older people and I ’ m so happy to be a part of such a positive message .
Alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ valuable services to older people in need all over the country.
” Alone has reached fundraising targets set for 2020 , ( based on figures in 2019 and estimated growth for 2020 ) , but the demand for its services means that it needs more funding .
Mr Moynihan added : “ Many older people are often embarrassed to reach out , and think that by asking for help and support they are bothering people .
“ Alone want them to know that they deserve the support they require and should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Earlier this month Alone began its Gratitude Campaign thanking older people , volunteers , supporters and staff for their assistance and support since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland .
The Gratitude Campaign features images of older people who have all been supported through an array of different services from the charity alongside images of volunteers , staff and donors .

Left to right: Service user Don Johnson with Alone Christmas ambassador Kathryn Thomas and Sean Moynihan CEO of Alone at the launch of service’s Christmas Campaign in Dublin on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Older peoples’ charity Alone has received 37,000 calls to its national support line since the Covid-19 pandemic reached the State.
The organisation supports around 5,000 people in a normal year but has seen that figure grow to 15,000 over the last 12 months, which its chief executive Seán Moynihan said was due to the impact of the virus on older people.
In the first 12 weeks of the pandemic, people over the age of 70 were asked to cocoon and many found the social isolation difficult. Some are still cocooning as a result of Level 5 restrictions.
Alone has launched its Christmas campaign which encourages members of the public to give a helping hand to older friends, neighbours and relatives, which it says is of great need due to Covid-19.
READ MORE
TV presenter Kathryn Thomas is the face of this year's launch, alongside an older person who uses Alone's services, Don Johnson.
Ms Thomas said: “I admire the work that they do with older people and I’m so happy to be a part of such a positive message. Alone needs public support to continue providing its valuable services to older people in need all over the country.”
Targets
Alone has reached fundraising targets set for 2020, (based on figures in 2019 and estimated growth for 2020), but the demand for its services means that it needs more funding.
Mr Moynihan added: “Many older people are often embarrassed to reach out, and think that by asking for help and support they are bothering people.
“Alone want them to know that they deserve the support they require and should not be afraid to ask for help if needed.”
Earlier this month Alone began its Gratitude Campaign thanking older people, volunteers, supporters and staff for their assistance and support since the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland.
The Gratitude Campaign features images of older people who have all been supported through an array of different services from the charity alongside images of volunteers, staff and donors.


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Covid 19: Transmission within schools stays low despite outbreaks

The risk of transmission of Covid-19 virus within schools remains low despite a number of high-profile clusters of cases in schools , according to public health experts .
Latest data show that of the 2,284 tests carried out among the close contacts of staff and students with Covid-19 last week , a total of 31 tested positive .
This amounts to a positivity rate of about 1.3 per cent , down from more than twice that rate in the weeks before the mid-term break .
The figures are contained in the HSE ’ s weekly Covid-19 schools mass testing report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 15th and November 21st .
Of the 31 positive cases , 23 were detected in primary schools and eight were in secondary schools .
The vast majority ( 88 per cent ) of cases were among children .
HSE officials have said latest figures show transmission within schools is low , while family settings continue to be the main driver of cases .
However , the number of outbreaks or clusters or cases in schools is on the rise A report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre found there were 19 outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 the previous week .
An outbreak is defined as the detection of two or more cases in a setting .
This brings the total number of outbreaks recorded in schools since they reopen to 202 .
The weekly report says transmission of Covid-19 within the school has not necessarily been established in these outbreaks .
Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the detection of 17 coronavirus cases in a school in Co Cork earlier this week .
Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire , Co Cork closed earlier this week after Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The school said it was first alerted to a positive case on November 15th last , followed by other cases over subsequent days .
However , it has since emerged that another case had been detected within the school community several days previously , which the school was unaware of .
It is understood that public health authorities may have been provided with inaccurate information at the time about whether this first case was on the school premises while infectious .
The school ’ s board of management believes the outbreak could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over sharing data at an earlier stage .
Dr Seán Ó Conaill , chair of the school ’ s board of management , said staff and students had done an “ amazing job ” in taking all necessary precautions since it reopened .
However , he said the fact that the school was not alerted to the first positive case for several days meant it was unaware of a heightened risk that the virus may have been circulating in the school .
“ Perhaps the HSE needs to look at how they communicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to weigh up the right to privacy versus the general public health .
At a national level , that needs to be looked at , ” he said .
A number of other schools across the country have also recorded outbreaks of Covid-19 cases this week , but not on the scale of Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil .
Adamstown Castle Education Together National School in Dublin has been alerted to at least three cases , while St Luke ’ s National School in Tyrellstown has told parents of two confirmed cases .
Coláiste Mhuire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has alerted parents of several confirmed cases .
A separate report by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Covid-19 examining cases across the country indicates that children of school-going age now account for a greater proportion of cases than before .
The “ weekly epidemiology ” report – which also covers the November 15th and November 21st period – shows a total of 486 positive cases were recorded among children of school-going age .
These school-going age cases account for more than 18 per cent of the total Covid-19 cases recorded during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 per cent in September and 16 per cent in October .

The figures are contained in the HSE’s weekly Covid-19 schools mass testing report based on figures collected last week between November 15th and November 21st. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA Wire
The risk of transmission of Covid-19 virus within schools remains low despite a number of high-profile clusters of cases in schools, according to public health experts.
Latest data show that of the 2,284 tests carried out among the close contacts of staff and students with Covid-19 last week, a total of 31 tested positive.
This amounts to a positivity rate of about 1.3 per cent, down from more than twice that rate in the weeks before the mid-term break.
The figures are contained in the HSE’s weekly Covid-19 schools mass testing report based on figures collected last week between November 15th and November 21st.
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Of the 31 positive cases, 23 were detected in primary schools and eight were in secondary schools. The vast majority (88 per cent) of cases were among children.
HSE officials have said latest figures show transmission within schools is low, while family settings continue to be the main driver of cases.
However, the number of outbreaks or clusters or cases in schools is on the rise
A report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre found there were 19 outbreaks in schools last week, up from 10 the previous week.
An outbreak is defined as the detection of two or more cases in a setting.
This brings the total number of outbreaks recorded in schools since they reopen to 202.
The weekly report says transmission of Covid-19 within the school has not necessarily been established in these outbreaks.
Ongoing investigations
Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the detection of 17 coronavirus cases in a school in Co Cork earlier this week.
Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil in Glanmire, Co Cork closed earlier this week after Covid-19 cases were detected across several classes.
The school said it was first alerted to a positive case on November 15th last, followed by other cases over subsequent days.
However, it has since emerged that another case had been detected within the school community several days previously, which the school was unaware of.
It is understood that public health authorities may have been provided with inaccurate information at the time about whether this first case was on the school premises while infectious.
The school’s board of management believes the outbreak could have been contained if there was greater transparency over sharing data at an earlier stage.
Dr Seán Ó Conaill, chair of the school’s board of management, said staff and students had done an “amazing job” in taking all necessary precautions since it reopened.
However, he said the fact that the school was not alerted to the first positive case for several days meant it was unaware of a heightened risk that the virus may have been circulating in the school.
“Perhaps the HSE needs to look at how they communicate these cases to schools. We need to weigh up the right to privacy versus the general public health. At a national level, that needs to be looked at,” he said.
A number of other schools across the country have also recorded outbreaks of Covid-19 cases this week, but not on the scale of Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil.
Increase
Adamstown Castle Education Together National School in Dublin has been alerted to at least three cases, while St Luke's National School in Tyrellstown has told parents of two confirmed cases. Coláiste Mhuire secondary school in Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, has alerted parents of several confirmed cases.
A separate report by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Covid-19 examining cases across the country indicates that children of school-going age now account for a greater proportion of cases than before.
The “weekly epidemiology” report – which also covers the November 15th and November 21st period – shows a total of 486 positive cases were recorded among children of school-going age.
These school-going age cases account for more than 18 per cent of the total Covid-19 cases recorded during the week. This is up from 15 per cent in September and 16 per cent in October.


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Man charged with people-trafficking at Rosslare Port

A Bulgarian man has been charged with two people-trafficking offences after two people were found hidden in a truck at Rosslare Port on Thursday evening .
They are now being looked after by immigration authorities .
Dimitar Dichev ( 45 ) , who has no fixed address in Ireland , was remanded in custody until next Tuesday .
He was charged at Wexford Garda station before appearing in court on Friday evening .
Giving evidence before a late sitting of Gorey District Court , Garda Darin Sane of Rosslare Harbour Garda station said Mr Dichev , who had been furnished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when charged .
Speaking from the body of the court , Mr Dichev ’ s appointed solicitor Aideen Lawlor said the man was a father , and had been working on and off .
He has not been working recently .
Judge Kevin Staunton granted legal aid .
Mr Dichev is due to appear again before Wexford District Court on Tuesday and will reside at Cloverhill prison , and the solicitor told the court in Gorey that the position of Mr Dichev would be reserved until that date .
Meanwhile the two people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed to be known to each other , have been offered accommodation and welfare services by the Reception and Integration Agency ( RIA ) .

A Bulgarian man has been charged with two people-trafficking offences after two people were found hidden in a truck at Rosslare Port on Thursday evening. They are now being looked after by immigration authorities.
Dimitar Dichev (45), who has no fixed address in Ireland, was remanded in custody until next Tuesday. He was charged at Wexford Garda station before appearing in court on Friday evening.
Giving evidence before a late sitting of Gorey District Court, Garda Darin Sane of Rosslare Harbour Garda station said Mr Dichev, who had been furnished with a translator, made no reply when charged.
Legal aid
Speaking from the body of the court, Mr Dichev's appointed solicitor Aideen Lawlor said the man was a father, and had been working on and off. He has not been working recently. Judge Kevin Staunton granted legal aid.
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Mr Dichev is due to appear again before Wexford District Court on Tuesday and will reside at Cloverhill prison, and the solicitor told the court in Gorey that the position of Mr Dichev would be reserved until that date.
Meanwhile the two people found in the truck, who are believed to be known to each other, have been offered accommodation and welfare services by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA).


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Northern Ireland Civil Service gets new interim head

Northern Ireland ’ s recently retired Utility Regulator chief executive Jenny Pyper has been appointed interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service ( NICS ) , it was announced on Friday .
Three other senior appointments are also understood to be imminent of people who will have key roles in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic .
Ms Pyper , whose appointment was approved by First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill , will be in the post for eight months .
Her appointment comes shortly after the North ’ s auditor general Kieran Donnelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil service was at a “ crossroads ” and struggling to provide “ business as usual services ” .
The NICS has been without a head since its former chief David Sterling stood down at the end of August after announcing his intention to retire last December .
In September three candidates made it through a competition for the position but Ms Foster and Ms O ’ Neill did not deem any of them suitable to take on the job .
Instead they decided to appoint an interim head of the civil service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a workforce of 22,000 .
She stood down as chief executive of the Utility Regulator after seven years in the job .
She announced her decision in February but stayed on until the autumn .
Bill Emery , chairman of the Utility Regulator board said in February that Ms Pyper was an “ outstanding chief executive ” who had “ transformed the organisation into a more outward looking and collaborative regulator while robustly protecting Northern Ireland ’ s energy and water consumers ” .
One of Ms Pyper ’ s initial key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task force to deal with Covid-19 announced by Ms Foster and Ms O ’ Neill on Thursday .
To assist her in that work Ms Foster and Ms O ’ Neill are soon expected to announce the appointment of what have been described as three “ czars ” , one to look after Covid-19 testing , one to run the vaccination campaign , and one to ensure greater compliance of the coronavirus regulations .
“ The appointments are all part of a plan to bring badly needed structure to the civil service and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northern Executive , ” said one senior source .
Ms Pyper also will be in charge as Brexit is due to completed .
“ She will take up post at a critical time as the Executive continues to manage its response to , and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and prepares for the end of the EU exit transition period , ” said Ms Foster and Ms O ’ Neill in a statement .
“ This includes addressing immediate health , societal and economic challenges as well as planning for the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place to rebuild our economy , rejuvenate our society and transform our public services , ” they added .
Ms Pyper , who previously worked in the civil service for 28 years , said she was “ delighted and honoured ” to be selected .
“ I am confident that the resilience and dedication of the workforce will endure through and beyond these unprecedented times , ” she said .

Ms Jenny Pyper will be in charge as Brexit is due to completed.
Northern Ireland's recently retired Utility Regulator chief executive Jenny Pyper has been appointed interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS), it was announced on Friday.
Three other senior appointments are also understood to be imminent of people who will have key roles in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms Pyper, whose appointment was approved by First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, will be in the post for eight months.
Her appointment comes shortly after the North’s auditor general Kieran Donnelly in a critical report said that the civil service was at a “crossroads” and struggling to provide “business as usual services”.
READ MORE
The NICS has been without a head since its former chief David Sterling stood down at the end of August after announcing his intention to retire last December.
In September three candidates made it through a competition for the position but Ms Foster and Ms O’Neill did not deem any of them suitable to take on the job.
Instead they decided to appoint an interim head of the civil service. Ms Pyper will be in charge of a workforce of 22,000.
She stood down as chief executive of the Utility Regulator after seven years in the job. She announced her decision in February but stayed on until the autumn.
Bill Emery, chairman of the Utility Regulator board said in February that Ms Pyper was an “outstanding chief executive” who had “transformed the organisation into a more outward looking and collaborative regulator while robustly protecting Northern Ireland’s energy and water consumers”.
One of Ms Pyper’s initial key duties will be taking charge of the task force to deal with Covid-19 announced by Ms Foster and Ms O’Neill on Thursday.
To assist her in that work Ms Foster and Ms O’Neill are soon expected to announce the appointment of what have been described as three “czars”, one to look after Covid-19 testing, one to run the vaccination campaign, and one to ensure greater compliance of the coronavirus regulations.
“The appointments are all part of a plan to bring badly needed structure to the civil service and to the operation of the departments of the Northern Executive,” said one senior source.
Ms Pyper also will be in charge as Brexit is due to completed.
“She will take up post at a critical time as the Executive continues to manage its response to, and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and prepares for the end of the EU exit transition period,” said Ms Foster and Ms O’Neill in a statement.
“This includes addressing immediate health, societal and economic challenges as well as planning for the future and putting us in the best possible place to rebuild our economy, rejuvenate our society and transform our public services,” they added.
Ms Pyper, who previously worked in the civil service for 28 years, said she was “delighted and honoured” to be selected. “I am confident that the resilience and dedication of the workforce will endure through and beyond these unprecedented times,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Government may ring-fence proceeds of crime for youth programmes

The Government may ring-fence the proceeds of crime for youth diversion programmes in a departure from established financial practice after a “ bonanza ” year of €16 million in cash seized by gardaí .
Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath acknowledged that “ it has always been the case that the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform resist any efforts to ring-fence proceeds for any particular purpose ” .
But “ that doesn ’ t mean it necessarily has to apply indefinitely into the future ” , he said .
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond appealed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diversion and other related programmes in a bid to cut crime rates after bumper Garda cash seizures in 2020 .
Mr Richmond said the €16 million confiscated was more than the previous two years put together with just over €7 million in each of 2018 and 2019 .
It was he said , “ an additional €9 million in cash ” .
He pointed to work by Cllr and Olympic boxing medallist Kenneth Egan , coach at Neilstown Boxing Club in Dublin and an addiction counsellor , who works with youngsters in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s losing a percentage of those kids to crime and he has parents coming to him worried about their kids leaving school early and getting in with the wrong crowd.
” Rather than just ploughing the seized cash back into the Exchequer “ to have it scattered around departments ” he said the could be effectively used to “ tackle the sources of crime ” and introduce youth diversion programmes , new education and work experience projects , and pay for addiction counsellors and social workers .
Mr Richmond pointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s model and established its own form of Criminal Assets Bureau ( Cab ) with seized funds and goods going to crime prevention and New Zealand has been doing the same .
He said on the Garda Twitter account nearly every day there are stories of “ €10,000 being seized here and €1 million seized there ” or 10 motorbikes or 17 Rolex watches .
“ Let ’ s invest in the communities that are absolutely devastated by the criminals and gangsters.
” The Minister acknowledged that Cab investigations had resulted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exchequer between 1996 and 2019 , an average of just over €8 million a year .
Last year €4 million went back to the exchequer and €5.6 million in 2018 .
Mr McGrath said the re-allocation of such funds for a specific purpose was contrary to normal practice on the basis that it would “ tend to constrain the Government in the implementation of its overall expenditure policy ” .
But he said the idea “ is a good one in principle ” and the question was “ how it can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He gave a commitment to examine the issue and said he would contact the Minister for Justice about the matter .
Mr Richmond , who raised the issue in the Dáil , said on Friday said a meeting was being arranged with the two Ministers to progress the matter , which he hopes will take place within the next fortnight with Cllr Egan also present .

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath acknowledged that ‘it has always been the case that the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform resist any efforts to ring-fence proceeds for any particular purpose’. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The Government may ring-fence the proceeds of crime for youth diversion programmes in a departure from established financial practice after a “bonanza” year of €16 million in cash seized by gardaí.
Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath acknowledged that “it has always been the case that the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform resist any efforts to ring-fence proceeds for any particular purpose”.
But “that doesn’t mean it necessarily has to apply indefinitely into the future”, he said.
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond appealed for the confiscated funds to be designated for youth diversion and other related programmes in a bid to cut crime rates after bumper Garda cash seizures in 2020.
READ MORE
Mr Richmond said the €16 million confiscated was more than the previous two years put together with just over €7 million in each of 2018 and 2019. It was he said, “an additional €9 million in cash”.
He pointed to work by Cllr and Olympic boxing medallist Kenneth Egan, coach at Neilstown Boxing Club in Dublin and an addiction counsellor, who works with youngsters in a socially deprived community.
“Every year he’s losing a percentage of those kids to crime and he has parents coming to him worried about their kids leaving school early and getting in with the wrong crowd.”
Rather than just ploughing the seized cash back into the Exchequer “to have it scattered around departments” he said the could be effectively used to “tackle the sources of crime” and introduce youth diversion programmes, new education and work experience projects, and pay for addiction counsellors and social workers.
French example
Mr Richmond pointed to France which he said had followed Ireland's model and established its own form of Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) with seized funds and goods going to crime prevention and New Zealand has been doing the same.
He said on the Garda Twitter account nearly every day there are stories of “€10,000 being seized here and €1 million seized there” or 10 motorbikes or 17 Rolex watches. “Let’s invest in the communities that are absolutely devastated by the criminals and gangsters.”
The Minister acknowledged that Cab investigations had resulted in more than €194 million being returned to the exchequer between 1996 and 2019, an average of just over €8 million a year. Last year €4 million went back to the exchequer and €5.6 million in 2018.
Mr McGrath said the re-allocation of such funds for a specific purpose was contrary to normal practice on the basis that it would “tend to constrain the Government in the implementation of its overall expenditure policy”.
But he said the idea “is a good one in principle” and the question was “how it can be made to work in practice”. He gave a commitment to examine the issue and said he would contact the Minister for Justice about the matter.
Mr Richmond, who raised the issue in the Dáil, said on Friday said a meeting was being arranged with the two Ministers to progress the matter, which he hopes will take place within the next fortnight with Cllr Egan also present.


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--PSNI seek help tracing pet tortoise stolen during burglary

The PSNI has appealed for help locating a pet tortoise which was taken in an aggravated burglary at a house at Strangford , Co Down .
The male occupant of a house in Elliots Place , Strangford was awoken at around midnight last night to find a male masked intruder in his property .
When he confronted the intruder , who is believed to have been armed with a knife , the intruder made off on foot .
Believed to be a man , he fled with a number of items from the house , including medals which are of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupant ’ s pet , a Horsfield ’ s tortoise .
Detectives are concerned for the tortoise ’ s welfare as tortoises require a hot temperature of 32 degrees .
This is usually achieved by using clear spot bulbs at one end of the tortoise ’ s vivarium ( enclosure ) or over a table .
At night tortoises require a drop in temperature and darkness .
A PSNI detective said a number of items stolen were recovered a short distance away from the property .
“ However , the medals and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The victim is understandably upset and concerned that the tortoise , which requires specialist knowledge and care , may come to harm.
” “ I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious to get in touch with us .
I would also ask that anyone who comes across the tortoise , or the medals reported stolen , to call us on 101.
” Information can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via psni.police.uk or crimestoppers-uk.org .

Detectives are concerned for the tortoise’s welfare as tortoises require a hot temperature of 32 degrees. Photograph: PSNI
The PSNI has appealed for help locating a pet tortoise which was taken in an aggravated burglary at a house at Strangford, Co Down.
The male occupant of a house in Elliots Place, Strangford was awoken at around midnight last night to find a male masked intruder in his property.
When he confronted the intruder, who is believed to have been armed with a knife, the intruder made off on foot.
Believed to be a man, he fled with a number of items from the house, including medals which are of sentimental value, and he snatched the occupant’s pet, a Horsfield’s tortoise.
READ MORE
Detectives are concerned for the tortoise’s welfare as tortoises require a hot temperature of 32 degrees. This is usually achieved by using clear spot bulbs at one end of the tortoise’s vivarium (enclosure) or over a table.
At night tortoises require a drop in temperature and darkness.
A PSNI detective said a number of items stolen were recovered a short distance away from the property. “However, the medals and the householder’s pet tortoise remain missing. The victim is understandably upset and concerned that the tortoise, which requires specialist knowledge and care, may come to harm.”
“I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious to get in touch with us. I would also ask that anyone who comes across the tortoise, or the medals reported stolen, to call us on 101.”
Information can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via psni.police.uk or crimestoppers-uk.org.