theirishtimes--2020-06-12--Daniel Kinahan’s role in major boxing match draws ire

A retired senior garda has called on the Government to pressure the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) to eject criminal boss Daniel Kinahan from the country .
Brian Sherry , a former detective inspector who investigated organised crime in Dublin , joined several politicians in calling on the Government to exert diplomatic pressure on the UAE following the announcement that Kinahan has helped broker the highly anticipated bout between heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua , a fight which will net hundreds of millions in profits for those involved .
“ This Government is inept and that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely hammering on the door of the Arabs , telling them throw [ Kinahan ] out and eject them back to Ireland where he can face trial for the crimes he has committed against the people of Ireland .
It ’ s ludicrous , ” said Mr Sherry .
On Thursday , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil “ there has been contact ” with the UAE about the matter .
A Garda spokeswoman declined to say if the force had informed UAE police about Kinahan ’ s role as head of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father , Christy .
The Garda said it did not comment on named individuals but added that it was a matter of public record that senior officers had “ given sworn evidence before a variety of courts in this jurisdiction in relation to the activities of known criminal organisations ” .
In 2018 , a High Court judge stated Kinahan , who has no previous convictions , controlled an organisation involved in drug and weapons smuggling on a global scale .
A month earlier , a Spanish police officer told a court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder of gang rival Gary Hutch on the Costa del Sol in 2015 .
Kinahan helped set up the MTK management company in Marbella before he moved to Dubai .
Several other Irish courts have heard evidence of the sophisticated nature of the Kinahan gang and its role in a feud which has claimed 18 lives to date .
Kinahan ’ s role in the Tyson/Fury fight is “ an insult of the communities he ’ s poisoned , not only in Ireland but all over the world ” , said Mr Sherry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who acts as the boxer ’ s adviser , for setting up the bout .
The announcement marks the culmination of a months-long campaign by Kinahan to whitewash his reputation on the world stage .
News of Kinahan ’ s role in the fight was met with excitement overseas but dismay among gardaí and youth workers in inner city Dublin where many families have been devastated by his gang ’ s activities .
“ This legitimises gang activity , ” said Eddie Darcy who heads the Solas Project which works with children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve always tried tell the kids most people in the drugs trade are dead or in prison by 30 .
But youngsters are very quick out with ‘ Well look at Daniel Kinahan , he ’ s got millions and he ’ s never done a day in prison ’ .
And that ’ s all true.
” On Wednesday , graffiti appeared near the UAE ’ s Dublin embassy stating “ Dubai staff in danger ” and “ Get cancer out of Dubai ” .
Similar graffiti recently appeared near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcast several fights involving Kinahan associated boxers .
Many Irish media outlets reacted angrily to Kinahan ’ s involvement in the fight , with the Irish Daily Star promising in an editorial not to cover the bout .
In the UK coverage was much more muted , with the Daily Telegraph referring to him as a “ sometimes controversial figure during his time as a Dublin businessman ” .
“ It ’ s fair to say the UK media has perhaps been slow to realise exactly who this guy is , ” chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matt Lawton said .
“ We ’ re very quickly having to do our homework on this guy , much of which we ’ re having to learn from our colleagues in Ireland.
” Kinahan ’ s involvement in the fight has also been publicly defended by many in the boxing world .
Promoter Spencer Fearon , who heads MTK ’ s charitable arm , told The Irish Times he was not “ one bit worried ” Kinahan ’ s past would impact the fight .
“ Daniel Kinahan is a powerbroker in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a super heavyweight move around heavyweights of the game .
”

Daniel Kinahan: role in the Tyson/Fury fight is “an insult of the communities he’s poisoned, not only in Ireland but all over the world”.
A retired senior garda has called on the Government to pressure the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to eject criminal boss Daniel Kinahan from the country.
Brian Sherry, a former detective inspector who investigated organised crime in Dublin, joined several politicians in calling on the Government to exert diplomatic pressure on the UAE following the announcement that Kinahan has helped broker the highly anticipated bout between heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, a fight which will net hundreds of millions in profits for those involved.
"This Government is inept and that's putting it mildly. They should be absolutely hammering on the door of the Arabs, telling them throw [Kinahan] out and eject them back to Ireland where he can face trial for the crimes he has committed against the people of Ireland. It's ludicrous," said Mr Sherry.
On Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil "there has been contact" with the UAE about the matter.
READ MORE
A Garda spokeswoman declined to say if the force had informed UAE police about Kinahan’s role as head of the organised crime group which he inherited from his father, Christy. The Garda said it did not comment on named individuals but added that it was a matter of public record that senior officers had “given sworn evidence before a variety of courts in this jurisdiction in relation to the activities of known criminal organisations”.
Drugs and weapons
In 2018, a High Court judge stated Kinahan, who has no previous convictions, controlled an organisation involved in drug and weapons smuggling on a global scale. A month earlier, a Spanish police officer told a court in Marbella that Kinahan had ordered the murder of gang rival Gary Hutch on the Costa del Sol in 2015. Kinahan helped set up the MTK management company in Marbella before he moved to Dubai.
Several other Irish courts have heard evidence of the sophisticated nature of the Kinahan gang and its role in a feud which has claimed 18 lives to date.
Kinahan’s role in the Tyson/Fury fight is “an insult of the communities he’s poisoned, not only in Ireland but all over the world”, said Mr Sherry.
On Wednesday Fury effusively praised Kinahan, who acts as the boxer’s adviser, for setting up the bout. The announcement marks the culmination of a months-long campaign by Kinahan to whitewash his reputation on the world stage.
News of Kinahan’s role in the fight was met with excitement overseas but dismay among gardaí and youth workers in inner city Dublin where many families have been devastated by his gang’s activities.
"This legitimises gang activity," said Eddie Darcy who heads the Solas Project which works with children from inner city communities.
Embassy graffiti
“We’ve always tried tell the kids most people in the drugs trade are dead or in prison by 30. But youngsters are very quick out with ‘Well look at Daniel Kinahan, he’s got millions and he’s never done a day in prison’. And that’s all true.”
On Wednesday, graffiti appeared near the UAE’s Dublin embassy stating “Dubai staff in danger” and “Get cancer out of Dubai”. Similar graffiti recently appeared near the Irish offices of Sky, which has broadcast several fights involving Kinahan associated boxers.
Many Irish media outlets reacted angrily to Kinahan’s involvement in the fight, with the Irish Daily Star promising in an editorial not to cover the bout. In the UK coverage was much more muted, with the Daily Telegraph referring to him as a “sometimes controversial figure during his time as a Dublin businessman”.
"It's fair to say the UK media has perhaps been slow to realise exactly who this guy is," chief sports correspondent with the Times of London Matt Lawton said. "We're very quickly having to do our homework on this guy, much of which we're having to learn from our colleagues in Ireland."
Kinahan's involvement in the fight has also been publicly defended by many in the boxing world. Promoter Spencer Fearon, who heads MTK's charitable arm, told The Irish Times he was not "one bit worried" Kinahan's past would impact the fight.
“Daniel Kinahan is a powerbroker in boxing. What he has just done is a super heavyweight move around heavyweights of the game.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Ireland now recording ‘almost zero’ new cases of Covid-19

Ireland has “ almost zero ” new cases of Covid-19 and all indicators of the disease are either stable or declining , three weeks into the easing of restrictions , public-health officials have said .
Vowing to “ go as low as we possibly can ” towards eliminating the disease , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he did not believe there were hidden clusters “ out there ” , separate from the small number of daily cases now being reported .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) at its meeting on Thursday considered a call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controls and other tough measures to be introduced short-term with the aim of “ crushing the curve ” .
The group was satisfied additional measures were not needed , according to Dr Holohan .
“ The absolutist notion of elimination [ of the disease ] from the island with no possibility of recurrence or re-emergence is an attractive-sounding strategy but is not practical or implementable , ” Prof Philip Nolan , chair of the NPHET Irish epidemiological modelling advisory group , said .
“ We have almost zero cases occurring day by day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrates well with other countries in Europe with whom we want to increase our level of exchange and not decrease it.
” All indicators of the disease are stable or declining at present , Prof Nolan said .
The reproduction number , a measure of how many people a confirmed case goes on to infect , stands at between 0.4 and 0.8 .
“ The next two weeks are now critical in limiting transmission , keeping the R-number low and suppressing the virus , ” he said .
Meanwhile , the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 , from 50 the previous week .
With the situation stable in residential care facilities and other at-risk settings , private houses are the new front line of the battle against Covid-19 , officials indicated .
They decided against changing existing recommendations on face coverings , though a communications campaign is to start next week encouraging the public to following the advice to use face coverings in indoor settings where social distancing is not possible .
“ Perhaps what we think is consistent advice hasn ’ t been heard as a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted , while restating NPHET ’ s opposition to the mandatory wearing of face masks .
The group will meet next Thursday to finalise advice to Government on the “ rephasing ” of the easing of restrictions .
Its recommendations are expected to provide further clarity on a variety of issues , including a possible easing of the two-metre social-distancing rule , the reopening of hairdressers , rules around weddings and the reopening of the offshore islands .
Asked what would be done in the event of a resurgence of cases , Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures ” would not be used .
“ We don ’ t need to do exactly the same things in the same way .
”

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health has said that compliance by the public in relation to use of face coverings is not where the HSE would like it to be. Video: RTE News Now
Ireland has “almost zero” new cases of Covid-19 and all indicators of the disease are either stable or declining, three weeks into the easing of restrictions, public-health officials have said.
Vowing to “go as low as we possibly can” towards eliminating the disease, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he did not believe there were hidden clusters “out there”, separate from the small number of daily cases now being reported.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at its meeting on Thursday considered a call by a group of scientists for travel controls and other tough measures to be introduced short-term with the aim of “crushing the curve”.
The group was satisfied additional measures were not needed, according to Dr Holohan.
READ MORE
“The absolutist notion of elimination [of the disease] from the island with no possibility of recurrence or re-emergence is an attractive-sounding strategy but is not practical or implementable,” Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET Irish epidemiological modelling advisory group, said.
“We have almost zero cases occurring day by day. This is an effective strategy and integrates well with other countries in Europe with whom we want to increase our level of exchange and not decrease it.”
Indicators
All indicators of the disease are stable or declining at present, Prof Nolan said.
The reproduction number, a measure of how many people a confirmed case goes on to infect, stands at between 0.4 and 0.8.
“The next two weeks are now critical in limiting transmission, keeping the R-number low and suppressing the virus,” he said.
Meanwhile, the number of new cases per day has fallen to 14, from 50 the previous week.
With the situation stable in residential care facilities and other at-risk settings, private houses are the new front line of the battle against Covid-19, officials indicated.
They decided against changing existing recommendations on face coverings, though a communications campaign is to start next week encouraging the public to following the advice to use face coverings in indoor settings where social distancing is not possible.
“Perhaps what we think is consistent advice hasn’t been heard as a clear and consistent message,” Dr Holohan admitted, while restating NPHET’s opposition to the mandatory wearing of face masks.
The group will meet next Thursday to finalise advice to Government on the “rephasing” of the easing of restrictions. Its recommendations are expected to provide further clarity on a variety of issues, including a possible easing of the two-metre social-distancing rule, the reopening of hairdressers, rules around weddings and the reopening of the offshore islands.
Asked what would be done in the event of a resurgence of cases, Dr Holohan said the same “blend of measures” would not be used. “We don’t need to do exactly the same things in the same way.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Pensioners feel forced out of Cork neighbourhood by student parties

Pensioners living near University College Cork have complained their lives are being put at risk by hundreds of students who have descended on the area for “ Covid parties ” .
Rose O ’ Sullivan , who has lived on Magazine Road for more than 60 years , said students started arriving in the area after they realised their traditional summer trips to the United States or Canada were no longer an option due to the coronavirus .
“ They arrived in their hundreds in the middle of a pandemic , ” said O ’ Sullivan .
“ Covid sends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are saying the words ‘ Covid ’ and ‘ party ’ together .
There is no respect for us.
” As the Garda reported an increase in house parties across the country in recent weeks , public health experts have warned that they are a “ disaster ” in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus .
O ’ Sullivan said people in the area , at least five of whom are over 90 , started to emerge from the homes where they were cocooning as restrictions eased .
“ Then all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the roaring and the thumping music .
The [ pensioners ] had to go back in to their houses again .
“ One person living alone said to me that the music went into their very heart , ” she said .
“ The vibrations are strong as we are terraced houses .
You are talking parties 24 hours a day .
Thirty to 50 in different gardens competing with each other shouting at the top of their lungs oblivious to everyone.
” Ms O ’ Sullivan claimed many of the students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all over Ireland to move in to the houses in large groups .
She said they had money saved for going abroad or were in receipt of Covid-19 payments so had plenty of money for drink and drugs .
“ There is no social distancing .
They are from all over Ireland as far as Donegal sharing houses , ” she said .
“ One of the students said that he is here because it ’ s safer than possibly bringing Covid back to his family .
What about us ?
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students around.
” Resident Jo O ’ Halloran said it feels like a “ swarm of locusts ” has descended on Glasheen .
“ They have taken our peace .
They have taken our joy .
They have taken our neighbourhood .
These young people do not give a damn .
They abuse us if we approach them .
“ If you see them at 2pm they are drunk .
If you see them at 2am they are drunk .
They are going around like wild animals .
It is as if this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our community has been sacrificed for landlord profit.
” Locals claim the students are behaving as if they they above the law , with one resident saying the areas has become like “ Magaluf without regulations ” .
Former lord mayor of Cork Catherine Clancy , who has lived locally for 35 years , said some landlords who closed up their houses on March 12th have now reopened them for easy money .
“ They opened them up to people who want to party , ” she said .
“ If there isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this it shows the weakness around legislation .
There is little or no regulations on how landlords run their property.
” She commended community gardaí who liaise with the young people .
“ They go to the students and talk to them and they promise to behave.
” Pensioner Aidan Cahill said the residents ’ association website was tipped off about the arrival of students in mid-April by concerned parents .
“ Within two weeks it was pandemonium .
The stress of this is consuming all our waking hours , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right thing through Covid .
It feels like our efforts were worthless.
” He noted that the State ’ s chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned about the dangers of clusters of Covid-19 developing from house parties .
“ Look what is happening here , ” said Cahill .
Fellow resident Aisling Sisk called on Cork City Council to take some responsibility for what is going on in the area .
“ This is a perfect storm that has been brewing for years .
Cork City Council completely neglected the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is a vast amount of rubbish .
They are kids so they couldn ’ t be bothered sorting it .
It blows all over the place .
They lob it over the wall when they are drunk.
” Residents say they are also concerned about the welfare of young people in the houses , particularly in the wake of the murder of 20-year-old Cameron Blair , a student at Cork Institute of Technology ( CIT ) , at a house party at nearby Bandon Road earlier this year .
Ultimately , residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Residents have met gardaí and officials from UCC , Cork City Council and the Health Service Executive about antisocial behaviour .
Gardaí have confirmed they have attended various incidents in the area .
Gardaí currently do not have the powers to issue on-the-spot fines for breach of Covid-19 regulations and can bring a prosecution only following the submission of a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions .
In a statement , the council said landlords have a legal obligation to ensure their rented properties comply with certain minimum physical standards .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility of the local authority who carries out inspections to ensure that properties comply with these minimum standards .
These inspections don ’ t include behaviour of tenants in private properties.
” The council said it has increased the litter warden presence in Magazine Road and surrounding areas .
It is also identifying properties which have breached the waste presentation bylaws and will be following up on a number of houses .
A bulky goods collection scheme is also being organised for the area , it said .
Meanwhile , both UCC and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national health guidelines and to act responsibly .
They say that both colleges are working with the local authority on this issue .

Pensioners living near University College Cork have complained their lives are being put at risk by hundreds of students who have descended on the area for "Covid parties".
Rose O’Sullivan, who has lived on Magazine Road for more than 60 years, said students started arriving in the area after they realised their traditional summer trips to the United States or Canada were no longer an option due to the coronavirus.
“They arrived in their hundreds in the middle of a pandemic,” said O’Sullivan. “Covid sends a chill up my spine and they are saying the words ‘Covid’ and ‘party’ together. There is no respect for us.”
As the Garda reported an increase in house parties across the country in recent weeks, public health experts have warned that they are a “disaster” in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.
READ MORE
O’Sullivan said people in the area, at least five of whom are over 90, started to emerge from the homes where they were cocooning as restrictions eased.
“Then all these people came in with the screaming, the roaring and the thumping music. The [pensioners] had to go back in to their houses again.
“One person living alone said to me that the music went into their very heart,” she said. “The vibrations are strong as we are terraced houses. You are talking parties 24 hours a day. Thirty to 50 in different gardens competing with each other shouting at the top of their lungs oblivious to everyone.”
Travel restrictions
Ms O’Sullivan claimed many of the students broke travel restriction rules by coming from all over Ireland to move in to the houses in large groups. She said they had money saved for going abroad or were in receipt of Covid-19 payments so had plenty of money for drink and drugs.
“There is no social distancing. They are from all over Ireland as far as Donegal sharing houses,” she said.
“One of the students said that he is here because it’s safer than possibly bringing Covid back to his family. What about us? We are like sitting ducks for Covid with these students around.”
Resident Jo O'Halloran said it feels like a "swarm of locusts" has descended on Glasheen.
“They have taken our peace. They have taken our joy. They have taken our neighbourhood. These young people do not give a damn. They abuse us if we approach them.
“If you see them at 2pm they are drunk. If you see them at 2am they are drunk. They are going around like wild animals. It is as if this place has no law and order. Our community has been sacrificed for landlord profit.”
Locals claim the students are behaving as if they they above the law, with one resident saying the areas has become like “Magaluf without regulations”.
Former lord mayor of Cork Catherine Clancy, who has lived locally for 35 years, said some landlords who closed up their houses on March 12th have now reopened them for easy money.
“They opened them up to people who want to party,” she said. “If there isn’t legislation strong enough to prevent this it shows the weakness around legislation. There is little or no regulations on how landlords run their property.”
She commended community gardaí who liaise with the young people. “They go to the students and talk to them and they promise to behave.”
Pensioner Aidan Cahill said the residents’ association website was tipped off about the arrival of students in mid-April by concerned parents.
“Within two weeks it was pandemonium. The stress of this is consuming all our waking hours,” he said. “Everyone stayed in and did the right thing through Covid. It feels like our efforts were worthless.”
He noted that the State's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned about the dangers of clusters of Covid-19 developing from house parties. "Look what is happening here," said Cahill.
‘Perfect storm’
Fellow resident Aisling Sisk called on Cork City Council to take some responsibility for what is going on in the area.
“This is a perfect storm that has been brewing for years. Cork City Council completely neglected the area,” she said. “There is a vast amount of rubbish. They are kids so they couldn’t be bothered sorting it. It blows all over the place. They lob it over the wall when they are drunk.”
Residents say they are also concerned about the welfare of young people in the houses, particularly in the wake of the murder of 20-year-old Cameron Blair, a student at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), at a house party at nearby Bandon Road earlier this year.
Ultimately, residents long for some return to normality.
Residents have met gardaí and officials from UCC, Cork City Council and the Health Service Executive about antisocial behaviour. Gardaí have confirmed they have attended various incidents in the area.
Gardaí currently do not have the powers to issue on-the-spot fines for breach of Covid-19 regulations and can bring a prosecution only following the submission of a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a statement, the council said landlords have a legal obligation to ensure their rented properties comply with certain minimum physical standards.
“Enforcement of these minimum standards is the responsibility of the local authority who carries out inspections to ensure that properties comply with these minimum standards. These inspections don’t include behaviour of tenants in private properties.”
The council said it has increased the litter warden presence in Magazine Road and surrounding areas.
It is also identifying properties which have breached the waste presentation bylaws and will be following up on a number of houses. A bulky goods collection scheme is also being organised for the area, it said.
Meanwhile, both UCC and CIT have urged students to adhere to national health guidelines and to act responsibly. They say that both colleges are working with the local authority on this issue.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--‘He needs to be allowed to come home’ – Irish man detained in China for 15 months

The wife of a Dublin businessman barred from leaving China for 15 months has made a direct appeal to the Irish Government to intervene and push for his release .
Tara O ’ Halloran said her husband Richard has been largely confined to a hotel since an exit ban was imposed on him , the first of its kind in China against an Irish citizen .
Speaking publicly about her husband ’ s detention for the first time , Ms O ’ Halloran said he has been caught up in complicated events that pre-date his time in the aviation leasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his physical and mental health , and the risks he faces during the coronavirus pandemic given that he suffers from a lung condition .
Mr O ’ Halloran has been blocked from leaving the country over an investigation into Chinese businessman Min Jiedong , owner of Dublin-based China International Aviation Leasing Service ( CIALS ) , the firm the Irish man works for , concerning peer-to-peer lending and crowd-funding .
The authorities have accused Mr Min of illegally collecting money from the Chinese public in a crowd-funding scheme and using it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an airline in Europe .
Mr O ’ Halloran , who joined the company a year after the events under investigation , travelled to China in February 2019 to meet investors and assess the problems facing the firm .
After a week of meetings in Shanghai , he was detained at passport control at the airport as he tried to board his flight back to Dublin .
He was later issued with an exit ban .
The businessman , a relative of former Fine Gael taoiseach Garret FitzGerald , has testified as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Min .
However , he has not been permitted to leave China despite both the prosecutor and Mr Min telling the court he should be .
The Chinese authorities argue that Mr O ’ Halloran promised to transfer the aircraft and leasing revenues connected to the plane back to the Irish company ’ s Chinese parent but has not done so .
“ Under this circumstance , Mr O ’ Halloran is restricted from leaving China by law , ” the Chinese embassy in Dublin said in a statement .
The embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ actively investigating and handling the case of CIALS in order to protect the property rights and interests of the victims involved in the case .
“ It is hoped that Mr O ’ Halloran co-operates positively with the local authorities in Shanghai to bring this case to a successful conclusion at an early date , ” it said .
Ms O ’ Halloran says her husband is being asked to do something he can not do under Irish law .
“ It is not possible .
.
.
it is entirely out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Halloran says he has co-operated with the authorities in China and that it was “ a matter for the authorities to bring matters to a speedy conclusion and to allow Richard to return home to his family ” .
After an initial meeting with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and contacts with his department , Ms O ’ Halloran says the family have had no further feedback .
“ So far they have just paid lip service .
My children want their dad back , ” she says .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring others home .
“ With the Covid-19 pandemic , I see them repatriating everybody else from all over the world to come back to Ireland to be safe , yet they can ’ t get Richard home .
He needs their help.
” A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said : “ We are aware of the case and are providing consular assistance .
We do not comment on the details of individual consular cases.
” Ms O ’ Halloran said her husband missed the death of her mother in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birthdays ” and other important family occasions .
His long absence has badly affected their four children , Ben ( 13 ) , Amber ( 11 ) , Isabella ( eight ) and Scarlett ( six ) who sleeps with a framed photo of her father .
“ It is very difficult for them to understand because we don ’ t know when he is coming home or even if , at this stage , ” she says .
Ms O ’ Halloran says her husband is permitted to leave his hotel but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him ” if he contracted it .
He largely confines himself to his hotel room .
“ It has definitely taken a huge toll mentally and emotionally .
It is horrific .
”

The wife of the Irish businessman who is barred from leaving China met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney but says she has had no further feedback since the initial meeting. Photograph: Pavel Golovkin/AP
The wife of a Dublin businessman barred from leaving China for 15 months has made a direct appeal to the Irish Government to intervene and push for his release.
Tara O’Halloran said her husband Richard has been largely confined to a hotel since an exit ban was imposed on him, the first of its kind in China against an Irish citizen.
Speaking publicly about her husband’s detention for the first time, Ms O’Halloran said he has been caught up in complicated events that pre-date his time in the aviation leasing company he works for. She fears for his physical and mental health, and the risks he faces during the coronavirus pandemic given that he suffers from a lung condition.
Accused
Mr O'Halloran has been blocked from leaving the country over an investigation into Chinese businessman Min Jiedong, owner of Dublin-based China International Aviation Leasing Service (CIALS), the firm the Irish man works for, concerning peer-to-peer lending and crowd-funding.
READ MORE
The authorities have accused Mr Min of illegally collecting money from the Chinese public in a crowd-funding scheme and using it to buy an aircraft, currently leased to an airline in Europe.
Mr O'Halloran, who joined the company a year after the events under investigation, travelled to China in February 2019 to meet investors and assess the problems facing the firm. After a week of meetings in Shanghai, he was detained at passport control at the airport as he tried to board his flight back to Dublin. He was later issued with an exit ban.
The businessman, a relative of former Fine Gael taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, has testified as a witness four times in the prosecution of Mr Min. However, he has not been permitted to leave China despite both the prosecutor and Mr Min telling the court he should be.
The Chinese authorities argue that Mr O’Halloran promised to transfer the aircraft and leasing revenues connected to the plane back to the Irish company’s Chinese parent but has not done so.
“Under this circumstance, Mr O’Halloran is restricted from leaving China by law,” the Chinese embassy in Dublin said in a statement.
The embassy said the Chinese police and court are “actively investigating and handling the case of CIALS in order to protect the property rights and interests of the victims involved in the case.
“It is hoped that Mr O’Halloran co-operates positively with the local authorities in Shanghai to bring this case to a successful conclusion at an early date,” it said.
Ms O’Halloran says her husband is being asked to do something he cannot do under Irish law. “It is not possible . . . it is entirely out of his hands.”
Ms O’Halloran says he has co-operated with the authorities in China and that it was “a matter for the authorities to bring matters to a speedy conclusion and to allow Richard to return home to his family”.
Frustrated
After an initial meeting with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and contacts with his department, Ms O'Halloran says the family have had no further feedback.
“So far they have just paid lip service. My children want their dad back,” she says.
She has been frustrated seeing the department helping bring others home.
"With the Covid-19 pandemic, I see them repatriating everybody else from all over the world to come back to Ireland to be safe, yet they can't get Richard home. He needs their help."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “We are aware of the case and are providing consular assistance. We do not comment on the details of individual consular cases.”
Ms O’Halloran said her husband missed the death of her mother in January, “nearly two lots of birthdays” and other important family occasions.
His long absence has badly affected their four children, Ben (13), Amber (11), Isabella (eight) and Scarlett (six) who sleeps with a framed photo of her father.
“It is very difficult for them to understand because we don’t know when he is coming home or even if, at this stage,” she says.
Ms O’Halloran says her husband is permitted to leave his hotel but she fears the virus would “kill him” if he contracted it. He largely confines himself to his hotel room.
“It has definitely taken a huge toll mentally and emotionally. It is horrific.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Garda injured after accidental discharge of weapon at embassy

A garda is being treated in hospital after an accident shooting while on protection duties at the Israeli Embassy in @ @ @ @ @ a member of the Special Detective Unit ( SDU ) assigned to protection of embassies @ @ @ @ @ was an accidental discharge of the garda ’ s weapon and the garda was hit @ @ @ @ @ bullet .
The incident occurred at 4.30pm on Thursday .
An Garda Síochána has launched @ @ @ @ @ incident has also been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission ( Gsoc ) in @ @ @ @ @ the discharge of a garda firearm .
“ An Garda Síochána have commenced an investigation @ @ @ @ @ an official firearm , ” a Garda spokesman said .
“ The incident occurred at @ @ @ @ @ June , 2020 in the Dublin area .
A Garda member is receiving treatment in @ @ @ @ @ injuries .
”

An Garda Síochána has launched an investigation, and the incident has also been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. File image: Cyril Byrne
A garda is being treated in hospital after an accident shooting while on protection duties at the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.
The garda is a member of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) assigned to protection of embassies.
It is understood there was an accidental discharge of the garda’s weapon and the garda was hit in the leg by a bullet. The incident occurred at 4.30pm on Thursday.
A spokesman said the garda suffered minor injuries.
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An Garda Síochána has launched an investigation, and the incident has also been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) in line with standard procedures following the discharge of a garda firearm.
“An Garda Síochána have commenced an investigation following the accidental discharge of an official firearm,” a Garda spokesman said.
“The incident occurred at approximately 4.30pm on Thursday 11th June, 2020 in the Dublin area. A Garda member is receiving treatment in a Dublin hospital for minor injuries.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Cork: Pensioner knocked over in alleged attempted cycle-by mugging

Gardaí have appealed to the public for assistance after an elderly woman was knocked to the ground during an alleged @ @ @ @ @ centre .
The woman , who is in her early 80s , had travelled by @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
She was walking along Merchants Quay in the city centre just after midday @ @ @ @ @ to snatch her handbag as he cycled past her .
The woman was shaken by @ @ @ @ @ Cork University Hospital where she was treated for an injury to her shoulder before she @ @ @ @ @ the man on the bicylce was wearing a grey hoodie and they have begun checking @ @ @ @ @ as well as around the city centre generally in a bid to try and identify @ @ @ @ @ to anyone who witnessed the attempted robbery or was in the Merchants Quay area at @ @ @ @ @ footage , including dash-cam footage , to contact them at Anglesea Street Garda Station on @ @

The woman was walking in the Merchants Quay area of Cork city centre. File photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Gardaí have appealed to the public for assistance after an elderly woman was knocked to the ground during an alleged attempted mugging in Cork city centre.
The woman, who is in her early 80s, had travelled by bus to Cork city on Wednesday.
She was walking along Merchants Quay in the city centre just after midday when a man allegedly tried to snatch her handbag as he cycled past her.
The woman was shaken by the incident and taken to Cork University Hospital where she was treated for an injury to her shoulder before she was discharged.
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Gardaí say the man on the bicylce was wearing a grey hoodie and they have begun checking CCTV footage from the area as well as around the city centre generally in a bid to try and identify him.
They have appealed to anyone who witnessed the attempted robbery or was in the Merchants Quay area at the time and has camera footage, including dash-cam footage, to contact them at Anglesea Street Garda Station on 021-4522000.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Gardaí investigate shooting of man in his 40s in Limerick

A man in his 40s has been shot and injured in Limerick city .
Gardaí were called to the scene @ @ @ @ @ Street shortly after 7pm where they discovered the man in a car with apparent gunshot @ @ @ @ @ from the scene by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick .
His condition is described as @ @ @ @ @ been preserved for forensic and technical examination .
No arrests have been made and investigations @ @ @ @ @ appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them at Henry Street Garda @ @

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them at Henry Street Garda Station. File image: Niall Carson/PA Wire
A man in his 40s has been shot and injured in Limerick city.
Gardaí were called to the scene of an incident in Castle Street shortly after 7pm where they discovered the man in a car with apparent gunshot wounds.
He was removed from the scene by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick.
His condition is described as stable.
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The scene has been preserved for forensic and technical examination.
No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them at Henry Street Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--MPs accuse Sinn Féin of delaying pension scheme for Troubles victims

A British MP has written to Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill describing the failure to begin paying out a pension to those badly injured during the Troubles as cruelly playing “ with the lives and hopes of victims ” .
Simon Hoare , chairman of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee referred to reports that one of the reasons for the delay in implementing the pension was a Sinn Féin refusal to nominate a Stormont department to operate the pension .
Writing on behalf of the committee Mr Hoare told Ms O ’ Neill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prolonging their wait for recognition and redress , which is already long overdue ” .
“ The Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government have a moral duty to those victims , and to delay the opening of the scheme over a political and administrative dispute is a failure of that duty that plays with the lives and hopes of victims , ” the Conservative Party MP said .
“ At a time when the public ’ s faith in the political process is not as high as we would all like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would be keen to make progress with a scheme designed to help those in need , ” added Mr Hoare .
The practical effect of delaying the opening of the scheme “ is that victims and their families will be cruelly denied the compensation that they have campaigned for many years to secure.
” The scheme which offers annual pensions of between £2,000 and £10,000 for people who suffered physical and mental injury during the Troubles was due to open for applications on May 29th .
However , Sinn Féin and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of the scheme could be used to block people from a republican background who were injured during the conflict getting pensions .
Responding to Mr Hoare , a Sinn Féin spokesperson said there “ should be no further delays in providing a pension for all victims of the conflict who were seriously injured ” .
“ The British government proposals on a victims ’ pension are unfair and discriminatory and do not reflect the Stormont House Agreement , ” added the spokesperson .
“ We want to see a pension that meets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement .
”

Sinn Féin deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill. Her party and some victims’ groups have argued that the terms of the scheme could be used to block people from a republican background who were injured during the conflict getting pensions. Photograph: Kelvin Boyes/PA Wire
A British MP has written to Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill describing the failure to begin paying out a pension to those badly injured during the Troubles as cruelly playing “with the lives and hopes of victims”.
Simon Hoare, chairman of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee referred to reports that one of the reasons for the delay in implementing the pension was a Sinn Féin refusal to nominate a Stormont department to operate the pension.
Writing on behalf of the committee Mr Hoare told Ms O’Neill that for victims “this is only prolonging their wait for recognition and redress, which is already long overdue”.
“The Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government have a moral duty to those victims, and to delay the opening of the scheme over a political and administrative dispute is a failure of that duty that plays with the lives and hopes of victims,” the Conservative Party MP said.
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“At a time when the public’s faith in the political process is not as high as we would all like to see, I would have hoped that you would be keen to make progress with a scheme designed to help those in need,” added Mr Hoare.
The practical effect of delaying the opening of the scheme “is that victims and their families will be cruelly denied the compensation that they have campaigned for many years to secure.”
The scheme which offers annual pensions of between £2,000 and £10,000 for people who suffered physical and mental injury during the Troubles was due to open for applications on May 29th.
However, Sinn Féin and some victims’ groups have argued that the terms of the scheme could be used to block people from a republican background who were injured during the conflict getting pensions.
Responding to Mr Hoare, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said there “should be no further delays in providing a pension for all victims of the conflict who were seriously injured”.
“The British government proposals on a victims’ pension are unfair and discriminatory and do not reflect the Stormont House Agreement,” added the spokesperson.
“We want to see a pension that meets the needs of all victims and the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Drop in road incidents at level crossings due to Covid-19 travel restrictions

Incidents at Irish Rail level crossings this year are down dramatically because of the Covid-19 pandemic .
To date there have been 35 incidents , mostly where cars have struck level crossings either while they were lowering or when they were down .
This compares to 155 incidents in 2019 in the Republic at 948 level crossings operated by Irish Rail .
Almost 300 people die at level crossings across Europe every year and level-crossing accidents account for 1 per cent of road deaths in Europe , but 31 per cent of all rail fatalities .
However , there has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
Irish Rail chief executive Jim Meade asked motorists not to be complacent about the figures as the fall-off in the number of incidents is due to the lockdown over the last three months .
He said : “ As we start to move around again more , I am appealing to all road users , be they motorists , pedestrians or cyclists to use level crossings safely.
” Thursday has been designated as International Level Crossing Awareness Day ( ILCAD ) .
It is a UIC ( International Railway Union ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be vigilant when using level crossings .
During 2020 , Iarnród Éireann is installing an additional train-detection warning system at a number of user-operated level crossings around the country .
The new detection system includes a traffic light system – red if it is not safe to cross and an orange light if it is permitted to cross with caution .

There have been 35 incidents at level crossings in the Republic to date this year. File photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Incidents at Irish Rail level crossings this year are down dramatically because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To date there have been 35 incidents, mostly where cars have struck level crossings either while they were lowering or when they were down.
This compares to 155 incidents in 2019 in the Republic at 948 level crossings operated by Irish Rail.
Almost 300 people die at level crossings across Europe every year and level-crossing accidents account for 1 per cent of road deaths in Europe, but 31 per cent of all rail fatalities.
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However, there has been no level-crossing fatalities since 2010 in Ireland.
Irish Rail chief executive Jim Meade asked motorists not to be complacent about the figures as the fall-off in the number of incidents is due to the lockdown over the last three months.
He said: “As we start to move around again more, I am appealing to all road users, be they motorists, pedestrians or cyclists to use level crossings safely.”
Thursday has been designated as International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD).
It is a UIC (International Railway Union) initiative to encourage members of the public to be vigilant when using level crossings.
During 2020, Iarnród Éireann is installing an additional train-detection warning system at a number of user-operated level crossings around the country. The new detection system includes a traffic light system – red if it is not safe to cross and an orange light if it is permitted to cross with caution.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Man proclaiming to be ‘not of your society’ jailed for contempt

A man has been jailed after being found in contempt of High Court orders not to interfere with lands designated as a National Heritage Area ( NHA ) .
Daragh Coyne was committed to Mountjoy prison by Mr Justice Anthony Barr over “ flagrant breach ” of court orders obtained against him by the National Parks and Wildlife Service .
Despite being given an opportunity by the judge to purge his contempt , Mr Coyne , who denies any wrongdoing , challenged the court several times to prove it had jurisdiction over “ I the man , created by God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your society ” .
The judge jailed Mr Coyne until he purges his contempt and said he would review the case in four weeks .
The service claimed Mr Coyne , of Coralstown , Mullingar , Co Westmeath , has engaged in activities that have damaged Milltownpass Bog , in Co Westmeath , a designated NHA for several years .
The Minister for Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht , who is responsible for the service , previously obtained injunctions preventing Mr Coyne carrying out any unauthorised works on or interfering with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not complied with either that order , made last April , or a subsequent order requiring him to remove a gate erected by him on an old turf cutters track located on the Minister ’ s lands .
The lands where the activities are alleged to have occurred are owned by the Minister and by a member of Mr Coyne ’ s family .
Mr Coyne , who was not legally represented , was arrested by gardaí on foot of an order granted by the court last week and brought before the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 24 hours to allow Mr Coyne produce documents responding to the allegations .
When the case resumed on Thursday , Mr Coyne demanded several times that the judge outline what jurisdiction the court had over him .
At one point , Mr Coyne said his business here was done and attempted to leave the courtroom but was prevented from doing so by gardaí , at the direction of the judge .
Mr Coyne repeatedly told the judge he objected to being called Mr Coyne and asked to be called “ Daragh ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address him by his formal title of “ Mr Coyne , ” or the “ defendant ” .
After finding Mr Coyne was in contempt , the judge offered him an opportunity to give a sworn undertaking to comply with the orders or face being committed to prison .
Mr Coyne continued to question the court ’ s jurisdiction over him .
Mr Justice Barr , citing the jurisdiction given to the court under the Constitution to deal with motions of contempt , committed Mr Coyne to Mountjoy prison until he is prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously heard waste material including scrap metal and fuel have been dumped , and turf had been illegally cut , on the lands at the centre of the dispute .
In sworn statements , two park rangers said , following an inspection of lands within the NHA , they found piles containing material including gardening waste containing “ cherry laurel ” , a highly invasive species , and scrap metal .
They also found several large unsealed heavy duty plastic oil tanks on the lands .
The rangers also said they were concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they had seen turf cutting equipment stored close to where the material had been dumped .
Peat extraction from the bog was banned in 2017 , the court heard .

The National Parks and Wildlife Service claimed Daragh Coyne, of Coralstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, has engaged in activities that have damaged Milltownpass Bog, in Co Westmeath, a designated National Heritage Area for several years. Photograph: Collins Courts
A man has been jailed after being found in contempt of High Court orders not to interfere with lands designated as a National Heritage Area (NHA).
Daragh Coyne was committed to Mountjoy prison by Mr Justice Anthony Barr over “flagrant breach” of court orders obtained against him by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Despite being given an opportunity by the judge to purge his contempt, Mr Coyne, who denies any wrongdoing, challenged the court several times to prove it had jurisdiction over “I the man, created by God”, adding he was “not of your society”.
The judge jailed Mr Coyne until he purges his contempt and said he would review the case in four weeks.
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The service claimed Mr Coyne, of Coralstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, has engaged in activities that have damaged Milltownpass Bog, in Co Westmeath, a designated NHA for several years.
The Minister for Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, who is responsible for the service, previously obtained injunctions preventing Mr Coyne carrying out any unauthorised works on or interfering with the NHA. It claimed Mr Coyne has not complied with either that order, made last April, or a subsequent order requiring him to remove a gate erected by him on an old turf cutters track located on the Minister’s lands.
The lands where the activities are alleged to have occurred are owned by the Minister and by a member of Mr Coyne’s family.
Mr Coyne, who was not legally represented, was arrested by gardaí on foot of an order granted by the court last week and brought before the court on Wednesday. The matter was adjourned for 24 hours to allow Mr Coyne produce documents responding to the allegations.
When the case resumed on Thursday, Mr Coyne demanded several times that the judge outline what jurisdiction the court had over him.
At one point, Mr Coyne said his business here was done and attempted to leave the courtroom but was prevented from doing so by gardaí, at the direction of the judge.
Mr Coyne repeatedly told the judge he objected to being called Mr Coyne and asked to be called “Daragh”.
Mr Justice Barr said he would address him by his formal title of “Mr Coyne,” or the “defendant”. After finding Mr Coyne was in contempt, the judge offered him an opportunity to give a sworn undertaking to comply with the orders or face being committed to prison.
Mr Coyne continued to question the court’s jurisdiction over him.
Mr Justice Barr, citing the jurisdiction given to the court under the Constitution to deal with motions of contempt, committed Mr Coyne to Mountjoy prison until he is prepared to purge his contempt.
The court previously heard waste material including scrap metal and fuel have been dumped, and turf had been illegally cut, on the lands at the centre of the dispute.
In sworn statements, two park rangers said, following an inspection of lands within the NHA, they found piles containing material including gardening waste containing “cherry laurel”, a highly invasive species, and scrap metal.
They also found several large unsealed heavy duty plastic oil tanks on the lands. The rangers also said they were concerned turf would be extracted from the NHA, as they had seen turf cutting equipment stored close to where the material had been dumped. Peat extraction from the bog was banned in 2017, the court heard.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Ireland second best in EU for road safety as number of fatalities falls in decade

Ireland was the second best-performing country in the EU in 2019 in terms of road safety , according to preliminary figures published today by the European Commission .
The number of road fatalities in the Republic has fallen one third over the last decade with the lowest point recorded in 2018 when 140 people lost their lives as a result of fatal incidents involving vehicles on public roads .
That number increased slightly to 141 in 2019 according to adjusted figures from the Road Safety Authority .
From the start of this year to June 10th , there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatal crashes on Irish roads .
A total of 64 fatalities were also recorded from January 1st , to June 10th 2019 .
However this year there were five extra fatal crashes – up from 55 in the similar period in 2019 to 60 fatal crashes .
The figures for road deaths in 2020 show no reduction due to Covid-19 travel restrictions .
The Road safety Authority said this was likely due to more pedestrians and cyclists being on the roads .
Overall , the State recorded 29 road fatalities per million inhabitants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which studied road safety across the Union .
Ireland was surpassed only by Sweden where 22 per million people died on the roads .
Throughout the EU an estimated 22 , 800 people died in road crashes last year , almost 7,000 fewer fatalities than in 2010 , or a decrease of 23 percent .
Compared with 2018 , the number fell by 2 per cent .
With an average of 51 road deaths per one million inhabitants , Europe remains the safest region in the world when it comes to road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said the goal was to have “ no deaths and serious injuries on European roads by 2050 ” .
“ This is our goal ” she said .
An interim target of 50 per cent fewer deaths , and 50per cent fewer serious injuries has been set for 2030 , “ and we know our target is achievable ” , she said .
A previous EU target of halving the number of road deaths between 2010 and the end of 2020 will not be met .
The EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatalities in the past , but stagnating figures in recent years .
In addition , disparities among countries remain huge .
“ We will reach our goal only through a combination of legislative measures , adequate funding , standards for vehicles and infrastructure , digitalization , and best practices exchange , ” said Ms Valean .
In 2019 eight member states registered their lowest fatality numbers on record in 2019 : Croatia , Finland France , Germany , Greece , Latvia , Luxembourg and Sweden .

The number of road fatalities in the Republic has fallen one third over the last decade. File photograph: Frank Miller
Ireland was the second best-performing country in the EU in 2019 in terms of road safety, according to preliminary figures published today by the European Commission.
The number of road fatalities in the Republic has fallen one third over the last decade with the lowest point recorded in 2018 when 140 people lost their lives as a result of fatal incidents involving vehicles on public roads.
That number increased slightly to 141 in 2019 according to adjusted figures from the Road Safety Authority.
From the start of this year to June 10th, there have been 64 fatalities as a result of 60 fatal crashes on Irish roads.
READ MORE
A total of 64 fatalities were also recorded from January 1st, to June 10th 2019. However this year there were five extra fatal crashes – up from 55 in the similar period in 2019 to 60 fatal crashes.
The figures for road deaths in 2020 show no reduction due to Covid-19 travel restrictions .
The Road safety Authority said this was likely due to more pedestrians and cyclists being on the roads.
Overall, the State recorded 29 road fatalities per million inhabitants in 2019, according to the EU, which studied road safety across the Union.
Ireland was surpassed only by Sweden where 22 per million people died on the roads.
Throughout the EU an estimated 22, 800 people died in road crashes last year, almost 7,000 fewer fatalities than in 2010, or a decrease of 23 percent. Compared with 2018, the number fell by 2 per cent.
With an average of 51 road deaths per one million inhabitants, Europe remains the safest region in the world when it comes to road safety, the EU said.
EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said the goal was to have “no deaths and serious injuries on European roads by 2050”.
“This is our goal” she said. An interim target of 50 per cent fewer deaths, and 50per cent fewer serious injuries has been set for 2030, “and we know our target is achievable”, she said.
A previous EU target of halving the number of road deaths between 2010 and the end of 2020 will not be met.
The EU has seen a substantial decrease in road fatalities in the past, but stagnating figures in recent years. In addition, disparities among countries remain huge.
“We will reach our goal only through a combination of legislative measures, adequate funding, standards for vehicles and infrastructure, digitalization, and best practices exchange,” said Ms Valean.
In 2019 eight member states registered their lowest fatality numbers on record in 2019: Croatia, Finland France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Russia’s low Covid-19 death rate is accurate, says ambassador

Russia ’ s ambassador to Ireland has defended the accuracy of the country ’ s low Covid-19 death rate saying there has been no attempt to manipulate it downwards .
Diplomat Yuriy Filatov said the reporting of deaths was “ a complex procedure ” and there was a legal obligation on doctors in Russia to report the exact cause of death which may not be coronavirus itself but an underlying health condition .
Moscow ’ s official mortality rate - the number of deaths relative to infections - has drawn scrutiny because it is relatively low to countries who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaking to Irish media on the eve of Russia ’ s national day , Mr Filatov said that it would be “ mortally and absolutely unacceptable ” to under-count Covid-19 deaths .
It would not be “ practical ” either because “ we have to have a realistic picture of where we are and where we are going , ” the diplomat told reporters on a video-link press conference .
Russia reported 8,779 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday , bringing its national total to 502,436 - the third highest in the world after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a relatively low official death toll of 6,532 .
New figures from Moscow ’ s health department reveal a higher general mortality rate , showing a 58 per cent increase in deaths in May compared with average figures for 2017 to 2019 .
The Russian capital - the worst-affected area of the country with a population of 12 million people - reported that 15,713 people died in the city last month , which is significantly higher than the 9,914 average death toll for the previous three years .
The difference amounts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have said that 92 per cent of these deaths could be attributed to coronavirus and 2,757 of deaths were primarily caused by Covid-19 .
Russia ’ s ambassador in Dublin said that Moscow has run “ an immense testing campaign ” with more than 13 million people tested which has “ made it easier to contain the virus at a very stage.
” More than 250,000 patients had recovered from the disease , he said .
Mr Filatov cited comments by Irishman Mike Ryan , the executive director of the World Health Organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Russia ’ s low coronavirus death toll was difficult to understand and that the low mortality rate was “ unusual ” .
The ambassador rejected claims by the European Commission this week that Russia was running false and misleading online information about Covid-19 during the pandemic .
“ For what purposes ?
” Mr Filatov asked when the commission ’ s allegations were put to him .
“ We are fighting the same enemy , ” he said .
He questioned the motives of European Commission vice president Vera Jourová who produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not provided any evidence to support their claims .

Russian ambassador to Ireland, Yury Filatov, said it would be ‘mortally and absolutely unacceptable’ to under-count Covid-19 deaths. File image: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
Russia’s ambassador to Ireland has defended the accuracy of the country’s low Covid-19 death rate saying there has been no attempt to manipulate it downwards.
Diplomat Yuriy Filatov said the reporting of deaths was "a complex procedure" and there was a legal obligation on doctors in Russia to report the exact cause of death which may not be coronavirus itself but an underlying health condition.
Moscow’s official mortality rate - the number of deaths relative to infections - has drawn scrutiny because it is relatively low to countries who are battling large outbreaks of the disease.
Speaking to Irish media on the eve of Russia’s national day, Mr Filatov said that it would be “mortally and absolutely unacceptable” to under-count Covid-19 deaths.
READ MORE
It would not be “practical” either because “we have to have a realistic picture of where we are and where we are going,” the diplomat told reporters on a video-link press conference.
Russia reported 8,779 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing its national total to 502,436 - the third highest in the world after Brazil and the US - but it has a relatively low official death toll of 6,532.
New figures from Moscow’s health department reveal a higher general mortality rate, showing a 58 per cent increase in deaths in May compared with average figures for 2017 to 2019.
The Russian capital - the worst-affected area of the country with a population of 12 million people - reported that 15,713 people died in the city last month, which is significantly higher than the 9,914 average death toll for the previous three years.
The difference amounts to an excess of 5,799 deaths. Officials have said that 92 per cent of these deaths could be attributed to coronavirus and 2,757 of deaths were primarily caused by Covid-19.
Russia’s ambassador in Dublin said that Moscow has run “an immense testing campaign” with more than 13 million people tested which has “made it easier to contain the virus at a very stage.”
More than 250,000 patients had recovered from the disease, he said.
Mr Filatov cited comments by Irishman Mike Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organisation's emergencies programme, on Wednesday that Russia's low coronavirus death toll was difficult to understand and that the low mortality rate was "unusual".
The ambassador rejected claims by the European Commission this week that Russia was running false and misleading online information about Covid-19 during the pandemic.
“For what purposes?” Mr Filatov asked when the commission’s allegations were put to him.
“We are fighting the same enemy,” he said.
He questioned the motives of European Commission vice president Vera Jourová who produced the report and said that Brussels had not provided any evidence to support their claims.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--When hair salons reopen: Clients must wear masks and single-use gowns

Hairdressers intend to work longer hours , remove indoor waiting rooms , use personal protective equipment , and stick to strict time schedules when they reopen this summer , in order to ensure staff and clients are protected from coronavirus .
Hair salons and barbers are expected to be allowed reopen sooner than planned on June 29th , having previously been told they could reopen on July 20th .
Government sources on Wednesday night said that a decision to bring the reopening of barbers and hairdressers forward to June 29th is being worked towards as the plan to reopen Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , the Irish Hairdressers ’ Federation has said that visits to salons and barbers will be different when they reopen , with various changes being implemented to ensure the safety of clients and employees .
Lisa Eccles , from the federation , who owns Zinc Hair and Beauty Salon in Kilmainham in Dublin , said salons are currently in the process of marking out two metres between where clients will be .
“ We ’ ll have reduced staff on shift .
We ’ re hoping to work for longer hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , but just over a longer period of time , so that at any one time there are less people in the salon , ” Ms Eccles said .
“ They ’ ll send you an email 24 hours before your appointment or they ’ ll call you and ask you questions like have you experienced any symptoms of Covid-19 , have you come into contact with anyone who has a positive case of Covid .
Just to really give both our clients and our staff that little bit of reassurance.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the time of their appointment , and a staff member will then come to the door and take them in for their appointment .
They will then be required to wash and sanitise their hands before putting on a mask and single-use gown .
“ Some people will use maybe a disposable one , but we ’ re going to use our normal ones and then once that client wears it , we ’ ll take it off and put it in a 60 degree wash , ” Ms Eccles added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that time schedules are kept to , in order to prevent any overlap of clients or delays .
“ We will be very strict when it comes to anybody who shows up late for an appointment .
We simply wouldn ’ t be able to accommodate them because it will impact then that appointments for the rest of the day , ” Ms Eccles said .
The Federation said that demand for hair services has been “ extremely high ” with many people being unable to get their hair cut since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-March .
Ms Eccles said she had “ dozens of messages ” when news broke that the reopening of the sector is likely to be brought forward .
“ First of all , we ’ re going to go back to those people who missed appointments in the first few weeks of closure and they will be the first people that we will offer to get booked in , ” she said .
“ From there then we have a waiting list and we ’ ll start working through the people just so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the numbers so everything will be very organised .
”

Hairdressers intend to work longer hours, remove indoor waiting rooms, use personal protective equipment, and stick to strict time schedules when they reopen this summer, in order to ensure staff and clients are protected from coronavirus.
Hair salons and barbers are expected to be allowed reopen sooner than planned on June 29th, having previously been told they could reopen on July 20th.
Government sources on Wednesday night said that a decision to bring the reopening of barbers and hairdressers forward to June 29th is being worked towards as the plan to reopen Ireland after coronavirus restrictions is accelerated and changed.
However, the Irish Hairdressers’ Federation has said that visits to salons and barbers will be different when they reopen, with various changes being implemented to ensure the safety of clients and employees.
READ MORE
Lisa Eccles, from the federation, who owns Zinc Hair and Beauty Salon in Kilmainham in Dublin, said salons are currently in the process of marking out two metres between where clients will be.
“We’ll have reduced staff on shift. We’re hoping to work for longer hours to fit in a similar number of people, but just over a longer period of time, so that at any one time there are less people in the salon,” Ms Eccles said.
“They’ll send you an email 24 hours before your appointment or they’ll call you and ask you questions like have you experienced any symptoms of Covid-19, have you come into contact with anyone who has a positive case of Covid. Just to really give both our clients and our staff that little bit of reassurance.”
Clients will also have to wait outside until the time of their appointment, and a staff member will then come to the door and take them in for their appointment.
They will then be required to wash and sanitise their hands before putting on a mask and single-use gown.
“Some people will use maybe a disposable one, but we’re going to use our normal ones and then once that client wears it, we’ll take it off and put it in a 60 degree wash,” Ms Eccles added.
The Federation has also urged its members to ensure that time schedules are kept to, in order to prevent any overlap of clients or delays.
“We will be very strict when it comes to anybody who shows up late for an appointment. We simply wouldn’t be able to accommodate them because it will impact then that appointments for the rest of the day,” Ms Eccles said.
The Federation said that demand for hair services has been “extremely high” with many people being unable to get their hair cut since the coronavirus restrictions came into place in mid-March.
Ms Eccles said she had “dozens of messages” when news broke that the reopening of the sector is likely to be brought forward.
“First of all, we’re going to go back to those people who missed appointments in the first few weeks of closure and they will be the first people that we will offer to get booked in,” she said.
“From there then we have a waiting list and we’ll start working through the people just so we can keep control of the appointments and the numbers so everything will be very organised.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Summer scheme to bridge education gap for special-needs children

Thousands of children with special needs or at high risk of disadvantage will be able to apply for a summer education programme under proposals to be brought to Cabinet on Friday .
The scheme comes amid rising concern over the impact of long-term school closures on vulnerable children .
Support groups say many children have regressed and lost key skills , while disadvantaged schools report that significant numbers of at-risk pupils have not engaged with any form of schooling since mid-March .
Government sources say the programme , modelled along the lines of the traditional July provision scheme , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with autism , Down syndrome , learning disabilities and behaviour disorders .
The scheme will be delivered in schools or home settings by teachers , special-needs assistants and , in some cases , therapists .
In addition , all disadvantaged – or Deis – primary and secondary schools will be invited to express interest in providing programmes for children who have disengaged from education .
A Department of Education document seen by The Irish Times acknowledges there is likely to be “ significant learning loss ” among many at-risk students who have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March .
Under the planned programme , classes in wellbeing , literacy and numeracy will take place for at-risk students in August to act as a bridge to the start of the new school year .
Deis schools will be invited to identify at-risk pupils who would benefit from the intervention .
Minister for Education Joe McHugh signalled recently that a plan for reopening all schools in the new academic year would be ready on Friday .
However , informed sources said he would simply update Cabinet on work to reopen schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued .
It is understood that much work with stakeholders to date has focused on return-to-work protocols , checklists and templates around the work required to take place in advance of reopening .
Formal guidance on what social-distancing requirements may be in place is unlikely to be issued soon , according to sources .
Some sources have indicated that social distancing may not be possible in schools and that other approaches may be required .
For example , latest advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team is that schools should adopt “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in the same group in circumstances where social distancing is not possible .
Opposition parties , meanwhile , have expressed doubt over whether enough schools and staff will be available to roll out the Government ’ s planned summer education programme .
Adam Harris , chief executive of the autism charity AsIAm , has urged special schools as well as mainstream schools with special classes to take part in the scheme , once it is formally announced .
“ As someone who participated in the July provision programme myself , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential of this support and it is needed now more than ever , ” he said .
Mr Harris said school-based settings will be particularly important this year in supporting students to refamiliarise themselves with school ahead of September .
“ Special schools and classes provide indispensable support to some of the most vulnerable children within the education system , ” he said , “ Many of these children , due to fear , stress and complex medical needs , have not left their homes since schools closed in early March .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tomorrow , we are urging every special school and class to seriously consider opening .
”

Disability support groups say they have recorded a marked increase in families contacting their organisation and reporting significant difficulties. Photograph: iStock
Thousands of children with special needs or at high risk of disadvantage will be able to apply for a summer education programme under proposals to be brought to Cabinet on Friday.
The scheme comes amid rising concern over the impact of long-term school closures on vulnerable children.
Support groups say many children have regressed and lost key skills, while disadvantaged schools report that significant numbers of at-risk pupils have not engaged with any form of schooling since mid-March.
Government sources say the programme, modelled along the lines of the traditional July provision scheme, will be expanded to provide support for children with autism, Down syndrome, learning disabilities and behaviour disorders.
READ MORE
The scheme will be delivered in schools or home settings by teachers, special-needs assistants and, in some cases, therapists.
In addition, all disadvantaged – or Deis – primary and secondary schools will be invited to express interest in providing programmes for children who have disengaged from education.
A Department of Education document seen by The Irish Times acknowledges there is likely to be “significant learning loss” among many at-risk students who have not engaged with their schools since they closed in March.
Under the planned programme, classes in wellbeing, literacy and numeracy will take place for at-risk students in August to act as a bridge to the start of the new school year. Deis schools will be invited to identify at-risk pupils who would benefit from the intervention.
No formal document
Minister for Education Joe McHugh signalled recently that a plan for reopening all schools in the new academic year would be ready on Friday.
However, informed sources said he would simply update Cabinet on work to reopen schools and a formal document may not be issued.
It is understood that much work with stakeholders to date has focused on return-to-work protocols, checklists and templates around the work required to take place in advance of reopening.
Formal guidance on what social-distancing requirements may be in place is unlikely to be issued soon, according to sources.
Some sources have indicated that social distancing may not be possible in schools and that other approaches may be required.
For example, latest advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team is that schools should adopt “micro-communities”, where staff and children remain in the same group in circumstances where social distancing is not possible.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, have expressed doubt over whether enough schools and staff will be available to roll out the Government’s planned summer education programme.
Special schools
Adam Harris, chief executive of the autism charity AsIAm, has urged special schools as well as mainstream schools with special classes to take part in the scheme, once it is formally announced.
“As someone who participated in the July provision programme myself, in a special school setting, I know the potential of this support and it is needed now more than ever,” he said.
Mr Harris said school-based settings will be particularly important this year in supporting students to refamiliarise themselves with school ahead of September.
“Special schools and classes provide indispensable support to some of the most vulnerable children within the education system,” he said,
“Many of these children, due to fear, stress and complex medical needs, have not left their homes since schools closed in early March. When the guidelines for the scheme are announced tomorrow, we are urging every special school and class to seriously consider opening.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--More freedom for those living alone in North as restrictions lift

People living alone will be permitted to visit each other ’ s households in Northern Ireland from this Saturday , June 13th , First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill said on Thursday .
Ms Foster said that adults living on their own could spend the night at another specified house by forming a “ small support unit or support bubble ” .
“ We want to minimise the impact of loneliness and isolation on people by enabling people to meet in a controlled and straightforward way , ” she said .
With the R @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 0.9 , Ms Foster and Ms O ’ Neill announced further relaxations of the Northern Ireland lockdown .
These also include the opening of all non-essential retail outlets , including shopping centres , from June 12th while groups of six to 10 people who do not live together can meet outdoors .
Elite athletes also can train outdoors from Monday .
Church halls and community centres can provide day childcare from this Friday .
Ms Foster said the Northern Ireland housing market was the worst-hit in the UK and that from Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed .
After four consecutive days of zero deaths recorded , the North ’ s Department of Health on Thursday reported one more death in Northern Ireland from coronavirus , taking the death toll to 538 .
The department also reported that four more people had tested positive for Covid-19 , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,822 .
So far 62,703 people in the North have been tested for the virus .
Meanwhile , the North ’ s Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds spoke on Thursday of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland .
She offered her sympathy to the 600 workers set to lose their jobs at the Bombardier aerospace plant in Belfast .
These include 400 core staff and more than 200 contractors .
These redundancies follow Thompson Aero Seating in Portadown , Co Armagh , announcing it was due to cut up to 500 jobs .
Ms Dodds said there was an urgent need to devise a UK “ national strategy ” to support the aviation industry .
“ I fear this will not be the last day we have bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Northern Assembly ’ s ad-hoc Covid-19 committee .
The Minister referred to how , prior to the virus , unemployment was at a low rate in Northern Ireland .
“ Each month of lockdown has been akin to a large recession , ” she said .
She added , “ The claimants count rose by almost 90 per cent in April and unemployment increased by over 26,000 to 56,200 .
Six years of labour market progress was lost in one single month.
” She said it was important a debate was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule to a one-metre rule as recommended by the World Health Organisation .
Ms Dodds also urged people to consider taking their holidays in Northern Ireland this year “ when the time is right ” .

North’s Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds: offered sympathy to the 600 workers about to lose their jobs at the Bombardier aerospace plant in Belfast. Photograph: Jonathan Porter/PressEye
People living alone will be permitted to visit each other's households in Northern Ireland from this Saturday, June 13th, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said on Thursday.
Ms Foster said that adults living on their own could spend the night at another specified house by forming a “small support unit or support bubble”.
“We want to minimise the impact of loneliness and isolation on people by enabling people to meet in a controlled and straightforward way,” she said.
With the R number rate of infection now between 0.5 and 0.9, Ms Foster and Ms O’Neill announced further relaxations of the Northern Ireland lockdown.
READ MORE
These also include the opening of all non-essential retail outlets, including shopping centres, from June 12th while groups of six to 10 people who do not live together can meet outdoors. Elite athletes also can train outdoors from Monday.
Church halls and community centres can provide day childcare from this Friday.
Housing market
Ms Foster said the Northern Ireland housing market was the worst-hit in the UK and that from Monday house moves and sale of homes will be allowed.
After four consecutive days of zero deaths recorded, the North's Department of Health on Thursday reported one more death in Northern Ireland from coronavirus, taking the death toll to 538.
The department also reported that four more people had tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,822. So far 62,703 people in the North have been tested for the virus.
Meanwhile, the North's Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds spoke on Thursday of how coronavirus has been damaging for jobs in Northern Ireland.
She offered her sympathy to the 600 workers set to lose their jobs at the Bombardier aerospace plant in Belfast. These include 400 core staff and more than 200 contractors.
Aviation industry
These redundancies follow Thompson Aero Seating in Portadown, Co Armagh, announcing it was due to cut up to 500 jobs.
Ms Dodds said there was an urgent need to devise a UK “national strategy” to support the aviation industry.
“I fear this will not be the last day we have bad news on the economy,” she told the Northern Assembly’s ad-hoc Covid-19 committee.
The Minister referred to how, prior to the virus, unemployment was at a low rate in Northern Ireland. “Each month of lockdown has been akin to a large recession,” she said.
She added, “The claimants count rose by almost 90 per cent in April and unemployment increased by over 26,000 to 56,200. Six years of labour market progress was lost in one single month.”
She said it was important a debate was held on relaxing the two-metre social distancing rule to a one-metre rule as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Ms Dodds also urged people to consider taking their holidays in Northern Ireland this year "when the time is right".


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--Medics confirm first case of baby born in Ireland with a congenital Zika infection

Medics at a Dublin maternity hospital have confirmed the first documented case of a baby born in Ireland with a congenital Zika virus infection .
In 2016 , the World Health Organisation declared a public health emergency due to concerns of severe postnatal neurological complications following babies born with the congenital Zika virus .
The Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes .
Most people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms .
Now , in the June edition of the Irish Medical Journal ( IMJ ) , medics at the National Maternity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a baby of a Brazilian mother has been born in Ireland with a congenital Zika virus infection .
The health impact of contracting the virus disease varies greatly from asymptomatic infection to disabling neurological impairment and death .
The medics state at 14 months the baby born in Ireland had developed epilepsy , quadriplegic cerebral palsy , visual impairment and showed severe global developmental delay .
The authors of the journal paper state the baby girl “ requires multidisciplinary healthcare team care ” .
The paper revealed the baby ’ s mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first trimester of pregnancy where she suffered from fever and myalgia .
The Zika virus was detected in the mother ’ s blood at 11 weeks into her pregnancy but was no longer detected at 31 weeks gestation .
At birth , the baby was diagnosed with severe microcephaly , where the head is smaller than normal , but the examination was otherwise normal .
A urine test the day after birth was negative for the Zika virus but the placenta tested positive for the virus .
The paper states though the infant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the clinical features consistent with congenital Zika and maternal Zika during pregnancy .
The medics say the case highlights the deficiencies in the current laboratory criteria here for congenital Zika virus “ and the need for expert consultation whilst investigating possible cases ” .

A health technician looks at the cultivated Aedes aegyti mosquito larvae at a laboratory in Costa Rica in 2016. Photograph: Juan Carlos Ulate/Reuters
Medics at a Dublin maternity hospital have confirmed the first documented case of a baby born in Ireland with a congenital Zika virus infection.
In 2016, the World Health Organisation declared a public health emergency due to concerns of severe postnatal neurological complications following babies born with the congenital Zika virus.
The Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. Most people with Zika virus infection do not develop symptoms.
Now, in the June edition of the Irish Medical Journal (IMJ), medics at the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street in Dublin confirm that a baby of a Brazilian mother has been born in Ireland with a congenital Zika virus infection.
READ MORE
The health impact of contracting the virus disease varies greatly from asymptomatic infection to disabling neurological impairment and death.
The medics state at 14 months the baby born in Ireland had developed epilepsy, quadriplegic cerebral palsy, visual impairment and showed severe global developmental delay.
The authors of the journal paper state the baby girl “requires multidisciplinary healthcare team care”.
The paper revealed the baby’s mother was in her native Brazil during the first trimester of pregnancy where she suffered from fever and myalgia.
The Zika virus was detected in the mother’s blood at 11 weeks into her pregnancy but was no longer detected at 31 weeks gestation.
At birth, the baby was diagnosed with severe microcephaly, where the head is smaller than normal, but the examination was otherwise normal.
A urine test the day after birth was negative for the Zika virus but the placenta tested positive for the virus.
The paper states though the infant was negative for Zika, she had many of the clinical features consistent with congenital Zika and maternal Zika during pregnancy.
The medics say the case highlights the deficiencies in the current laboratory criteria here for congenital Zika virus “and the need for expert consultation whilst investigating possible cases”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-11--More support needed domestic violence victims, says Rape Crisis Centre

The next government must increase financial support for “ under-resourced ” groups working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence , a webinar has heard .
The online discussion on violence against women , hosted by the National Women ’ s Council of Ireland , also heard calls for a minister to be appointed to ensure gender equality across Irish society .
Noeline Blackwell , chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre , also urged the Government to complete and publish the review it announced over two years ago into the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of complainants have gone through the criminal justice system since then , ” Ms Blackwell told Thursday ’ s webinar , warning that complainants were being sent into the system without adequate legal support and advice .
The current legal system is “ perfectly adequate to deal with the theft of a car but not fit for purpose for intimate violence ” , she said .
“ We need to allow victims to have access to justice .
There is no excuse for the length of time we ’ ve been waiting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Women ’ s Aid , said a “ whole of government response ” was needed in response to gender based violence .
“ We need to ensure that education for prevention , communication for online harassment , health for children and families , access to justice – that all those departments have a clear mandate for going forward .
“ Our resources were very diminished before this crisis started and it has really shown the cracks in our system like never before .
We ’ re moving out of the initial crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and say this has been under-resourced for far too long .
It ’ s clear now how many in our society are suffering.
” Covid-19 has created the “ perfect storm ” and “ worst nightmare ” for people who do not feel safe in their homes , said Ms Benson .
Calls to Women ’ s Aid rose by nearly 40 per cent between March and May when compared to the same period last year with many calls being made in the middle of the night from garden sheds and cars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fearful for those who have not been able to reach out at all.
” Having spent months in lockdown , the general public now has a small appreciation for how the lives of victims of domestic abuse are controlled , said Ms Benson .
“ We ’ ve all been told to stay home… we have been curtailed and constrained .
Perhaps there is a level of empathy that we can hold on to and people can recognise what is happening in abusive situations more than before.
” Ms Benson underlined the shortfalls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal system which is based on “ patriarchal systems and structures which are centuries old which were never predicated on an even playing field ” .
Mary-Louise Lynch , founder of the Sisi survivor participation project , said the family law courts ’ focus on ‘ shared parenting ’ actually “ facilitates the continued abuse of survivors long after they ’ ve left a relationship ” and called for “ informed legislation ” around abuse cases .
“ You could see someone granted a protection order but the women is still expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids .
Her every instinct to protect herself and her children from further abuse is destroyed by the family law system.
” Ms Lynch also flagged the “ racial element ” for women going through the Irish family law system and claimed outcomes for women who had sought protection was often harsher .
“ A white middle class woman , she will be more likely to have a better outcome for her and her children… that really needs to be looked at.
” Dubravka Šimonovic , UN special rapporteur on violence against women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to implement all measures introduced during the pandemic to combat gender-based violence as lockdown restrictions are eased .
Ms Šimonovic also highlighted the “ insufficient response ” from criminal justice systems worldwide in relation to cases of sexual violence and rape , warning that many laws “ foster impunity for perpetrators ” .

Noeline Blackwell, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, also urged the Government to complete and publish the review it announced over two years ago into the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences. Photograph:James Forde
The next government must increase financial support for “under-resourced” groups working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence , a webinar has heard.
The online discussion on violence against women, hosted by the National Women’s Council of Ireland, also heard calls for a minister to be appointed to ensure gender equality across Irish society.
Noeline Blackwell, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, also urged the Government to complete and publish the review it announced over two years ago into the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences.
“Two years have gone by and hundreds of complainants have gone through the criminal justice system since then,” Ms Blackwell told Thursday’s webinar, warning that complainants were being sent into the system without adequate legal support and advice.
READ MORE
The current legal system is “perfectly adequate to deal with the theft of a car but not fit for purpose for intimate violence”, she said. “We need to allow victims to have access to justice. There is no excuse for the length of time we’ve been waiting for that review.”
Sarah Benson, head of Women’s Aid, said a “whole of government response” was needed in response to gender based violence. “We need to ensure that education for prevention, communication for online harassment, health for children and families, access to justice – that all those departments have a clear mandate for going forward.
“Our resources were very diminished before this crisis started and it has really shown the cracks in our system like never before. We’re moving out of the initial crisis phase but we need to stand up and say this has been under-resourced for far too long. It’s clear now how many in our society are suffering.”
Covid-19 has created the “perfect storm” and “worst nightmare” for people who do not feel safe in their homes, said Ms Benson
. Calls to Women’s Aid rose by nearly 40 per cent between March and May when compared to the same period last year with many calls being made in the middle of the night from garden sheds and cars, she added. “We still remain fearful for those who have not been able to reach out at all.”
Having spent months in lockdown, the general public now has a small appreciation for how the lives of victims of domestic abuse are controlled, said Ms Benson. “We’ve all been told to stay home… we have been curtailed and constrained. Perhaps there is a level of empathy that we can hold on to and people can recognise what is happening in abusive situations more than before.”
Ms Benson underlined the shortfalls of the current “gender neutral” legal system which is based on “patriarchal systems and structures which are centuries old which were never predicated on an even playing field”.
Mary-Louise Lynch, founder of the Sisi survivor participation project, said the family law courts’ focus on ‘shared parenting’ actually “facilitates the continued abuse of survivors long after they’ve left a relationship” and called for “informed legislation” around abuse cases.
“You could see someone granted a protection order but the women is still expected to travel to meet her abuser with the kids. Her every instinct to protect herself and her children from further abuse is destroyed by the family law system.”
Ms Lynch also flagged the “racial element” for women going through the Irish family law system and claimed outcomes for women who had sought protection was often harsher. “A white middle class woman, she will be more likely to have a better outcome for her and her children… that really needs to be looked at.”
Dubravka Šimonovic, UN special rapporteur on violence against women, told the webinar that governments must continue to implement all measures introduced during the pandemic to combat gender-based violence as lockdown restrictions are eased.
Ms Šimonovic also highlighted the “insufficient response” from criminal justice systems worldwide in relation to cases of sexual violence and rape, warning that many laws “foster impunity for perpetrators”.