theirishtimes--2020-02-28--The who’s who in the Patricia O’Connor murder case

Four people have now been found guilty in connection with the death of Patricia O ’ Connor almost three years ago .
Kieran Greene was convicted of Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s murder , while Louise O ’ Connor , Stephanie O ’ Connor and Keith Johnston were found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene , knowing or believing him to have murdered the 61-year-old on May 29th , 2017 .
The trial heard that Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s husband , Augustine ‘ Gus ’ O ’ Connor previously pleaded guilty to reporting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was already dead .
Father-of-three Kieran Greene ( 35 ) was earlier this week found guilty of murdering Mrs O ’ Connor , a retired hospital worker , by inflicting “ catastrophic injuries ” on her in a sustained attack , which lasted up to 20 minutes and took place in the bathroom of her home .
In an interview with gardaí in June 2017 , he said he was in the bathroom and Mrs O ’ Connor walked in and hit him with a hurl , saying “ Get out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grabbed the hurl from her , hit her and did not know want happened next as when he woke up there was blood everywhere and he panicked .
Greene maintained in that account that he had disarmed Mrs O ’ Connor and acted in self-defence by hitting her and as a result of that she may have died .
He then admitted to putting the body into Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s car and driving the corpse to Co Wexford , where he buried it in a shallow grave before returning there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The seven-week trial heard that her body parts were found scattered at nine locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th , 2017 .
Former deputy state pathologist Michael Curtis told the trial that Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head .
The trial heard that six months after he was charged with Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s murder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismembering his then partner ’ s mother .
While on remand in Cloverhill Prison in December 2017 , Greene told gardaí that he had taken “ the rap ” and felt he was being set-up , as his partner Louise O ’ Connor had started going out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston again .
Greene also told detectives then that Mrs O ’ Connor attacked him with a hurley .
However , he said her husband came into the bathroom after he fell to the ground and admonished his wife saying : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Greene told detectives that Gus O ’ Connor had killed his wife using a crowbar but that he had taken the blame .
The deceased ’ s granddaughter Stephanie O ’ Connor was found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene , knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O ’ Connor .
The jury accepted the State ’ s case that , in order to cover up the murder , Stephanie O ’ Connor dressed up as her grandmother as “ a ruse ” to pretend she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night of the murder .
She had pleaded not guilty .
In her closing speech , prosecution counsel Róisín Lacey SC said Stephanie had entered into “ a charade ” by disguising herself as Mrs O ’ Connor to create “ an indelible record ” on CCTV footage that Mrs O ’ Connor was actually “ alive and well ” and had walked out of the house at 9.34pm .
This was done in case it was needed to bolster any statements to anyone who was legitimately looking for Mrs O ’ Connor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing person down the line , Ms Lacey said .
The trial heard Stephanie O ’ Connor had firmly placed herself inside the house at 9.34pm that night but CCTV footage covering the rear of the property showed this to be a lie .
Evidence was given that a woman could be seen leaving the front of the house in CCTV footage at 9.34pm and walking quickly down the drive with a suitcase in her hand .
At 10.05pm that night , a woman with a suitcase appeared at the left-hand side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door .
Ms Lacey said this woman had walked in a “ sprightly ” manner which was very different to the deportment of Mrs O ’ Connor and was wearing a hooded jacket for the purpose of disguising her hair and facial features .
Patricia O ’ Connor ’ s son , Richard O ’ Connor , confirmed at the trial that this figure going in the rear of the house was Stephanie .
Mother-of-five Louise O ’ Connor was found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene , knowing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The jury accepted the State ’ s case that the 41-year-old had agreed to or acquiesced in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as Mrs O ’ Connor in order to conceal the fact that she was dead .
She pleaded not guilty .
During the trial , Det Garda David Connolly told the prosecution that he interviewed Louise O ’ Connor at Bray Garda station on September 3rd , 2017 , and showed her CCTV footage of people entering and leaving the house at Mountainview Park on May 29th and 30th , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous day on suspicion of murdering her mother .
In that interview , Louise O ’ Connor told gardaí the person seen closing the back door on May 29th at 10.06pm could have been her or Stephanie O ’ Connor or Greene .
“ I ’ m guessing it was one of us as we were the only ones in the house , ” she said , adding that all she could see in the CCTV footage was a white blur .
“ It ’ s Houdini or someone , I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
Asked by interviewing detectives why Greene , then her partner , was seen on CCTV footage closing the curtains at 6.52pm , when she and her children left the house to go to the park , the mother-of-five replied : “ Why you asking me ?
Maybe he is dancing around naked after the shower ” .
“ Is closing curtains against the law ?
” she asked gardaí .
Detectives told her that it was “ not the norm ” .
“ If you are saying we left so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re sadly mistaken , ” she said .
Detectives put it to her that they believed Mrs O ’ Connor was dead when she and the children got back from a visit to a park and a Tesco store .
“ How could she be ?
She walked out , ” she replied .
Gardaí also put it to Louise O ’ Connor that it was her daughter Stephanie walking out of the house at 9.34pm carrying the suitcase .
“ That ’ s my ma walking out , ” she replied , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead when she got home , she would have “ punched Kieran ’ s lights out ” .
The jury found Keith Johnston guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene , knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O ’ Connor .
Johnston , of Avonbeg Gardens , Tallaght , Dublin 24 , pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie ’ s , Mr Price , B & Q and Shoe Zone , Tallaght , Dublin 24 , on June 9th 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concealment of the remains of Mrs O ’ Connor .
In his interviews , Johnston said he went on a “ shopping spree ” with Greene the day before the remains were found but he said he did not know why he wanted these items .
Greene claimed that after buying the various tools and items , he and Johnston drove to Wexford and dug up the body .
He alleged that Johnston then spent three to four hours dismembering the body with a saw before they disposed of the parts in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disposed of the tools in Dodder Valley Park in Tallaght and burnt the clothes they had worn .
The trial heard evidence that Johnston ’ s mobile phone “ tallied ” with CCTV footage and had pinged off a mast near his house in Tallaght on the night of June 9th , when Greene alleged the dismemberment took place .
The trial heard the handyman , an ex-partner of Louise O ’ Connor and father of two of her children including Stephanie O ’ Connor , started redecorating the bathroom where Mrs O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event .
Greene said Johnston came to the house and scraped the grout off the tiles in the bathroom and painted walls .
Gardaí put it to Johnston that the bathroom had “ been the same ” for 10 or 11 years and then Mrs O ’ Connor got killed “ and there he was ” fixing a shower step and re-grouting floor tiles .
Johnston told gardaí that he knew “ it looks bad but that ’ s just the way it is ” and that he was trying to do a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the work .
He agreed he had said in a statement that he could have been clearing up a crime scene when he was doing the grouting but regretted saying this .
Mr Justice Paul McDermott during the trial withdrew a charge against Johnston , of engaging in the refurbishment of a bathroom at Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s home between May 31st , 2017 and June 9th , 2017 , in order to destroy or conceal any evidence relating to the murder .
Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s husband Augustine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty to reporting her as a missing person , knowing she was already dead , thereby impeding the apprehension of an offender .
The Central Criminal Court heard that the 75-year-old , of Mill Close , Glasheen , Stamullen , Co Meath was charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender in October 2018 .
Det Insp Brian O ’ Keeffe said gardaí spoke to Gus O ’ Connor on June 14th , 2017 because of the missing person report he had provided at Rathfarnham station on June 1st , 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involvement in his wife ’ s murder on September 2nd , 2017 , and was questioned by gardaí and subsequently released .
Greene claimed to detectives that Gus O ’ Connor had killed his wife using a crowbar and that he had taken the blame .

Louise O’Connor (left), Keith Johnston (centre), and Stephanie O’Connor outside the Criminal Courts of Justice during their trial. Photograph: Collins.
Four people have now been found guilty in connection with the death of Patricia O’Connor almost three years ago.
Kieran Greene was convicted of Mrs O’Connor’s murder, while Louise O’Connor, Stephanie O’Connor and Keith Johnston were found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing him to have murdered the 61-year-old on May 29th, 2017.
The trial heard that Mrs O’Connor’s husband, Augustine ‘Gus’ O’Connor previously pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as a missing person, knowing she was already dead.
Kieran Greene:
Father-of-three Kieran Greene (35) was earlier this week found guilty of murdering Mrs O'Connor, a retired hospital worker,by inflicting "catastrophic injuries" on her in a sustained attack, which lasted up to 20 minutes and took place in the bathroom of her home.
READ MORE
Kieran Greene was convicted of murdering Patricia O’Connor. File photograph.
Greene gave two accounts of Mrs O’Connor’s death.
In an interview with gardaí in June 2017, he said he was in the bathroom and Mrs O’Connor walked in and hit him with a hurl, saying “Get out, Get out”.
He said he grabbed the hurl from her, hit her and did not know want happened next as when he woke up there was blood everywhere and he panicked.
Greene maintained in that account that he had disarmed Mrs O’Connor and acted in self-defence by hitting her and as a result of that she may have died.
He then admitted to putting the body into Mrs O’Connor’s car and driving the corpse to Co Wexford, where he buried it in a shallow grave before returning there days later when the body was dismembered.
The seven-week trial heard that her body parts were found scattered at nine locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th, 2017.
Former deputy state pathologist Michael Curtis told the trial that Mrs O’Connor’s head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
The trial heard that six months after he was charged with Mrs O’Connor’s murder, Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his then partner’s mother.
While on remand in Cloverhill Prison in December 2017, Greene told gardaí that he had taken “the rap” and felt he was being set-up, as his partner Louise O’Connor had started going out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston again.
Greene also told detectives then that Mrs O’Connor attacked him with a hurley. However, he said her husband came into the bathroom after he fell to the ground and admonished his wife saying: “What the f*** are you doing?”
Greene told detectives that Gus O’Connor had killed his wife using a crowbar but that he had taken the blame.
Stephanie O’Connor:
The deceased's granddaughter Stephanie O'Connor was found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O'Connor.
Stephanie O’Connor outside court during her trial. Photograph: Collins
The jury accepted the State’s case that, in order to cover up the murder, Stephanie O’Connor dressed up as her grandmother as “a ruse” to pretend she had stormed out of the house on the night of the murder. She had pleaded not guilty.
In her closing speech, prosecution counsel Róisín Lacey SC said Stephanie had entered into “a charade” by disguising herself as Mrs O’Connor to create “an indelible record” on CCTV footage that Mrs O’Connor was actually “alive and well” and had walked out of the house at 9.34pm.
This was done in case it was needed to bolster any statements to anyone who was legitimately looking for Mrs O’Connor or if she was reported as a missing person down the line, Ms Lacey said.
The trial heard Stephanie O’Connor had firmly placed herself inside the house at 9.34pm that night but CCTV footage covering the rear of the property showed this to be a lie.
Evidence was given that a woman could be seen leaving the front of the house in CCTV footage at 9.34pm and walking quickly down the drive with a suitcase in her hand. At 10.05pm that night, a woman with a suitcase appeared at the left-hand side of the house and went in the back door.
Ms Lacey said this woman had walked in a “sprightly” manner which was very different to the deportment of Mrs O’Connor and was wearing a hooded jacket for the purpose of disguising her hair and facial features.
Patricia O’Connor’s son, Richard O’Connor, confirmed at the trial that this figure going in the rear of the house was Stephanie.
Louise O’Connor:
Mother-of-five Louise O'Connor was found guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene , knowing or believing him to have murdered her mother.
Louise O’Connor (41), of Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14, is pictured outside the Central Criminal Court. Photograph: Collins Courts.
The jury accepted the State’s case that the 41-year-old had agreed to or acquiesced in her daughter Stephanie disguising herself as Mrs O’Connor in order to conceal the fact that she was dead. She pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, Det Garda David Connolly told the prosecution that he interviewed Louise O’Connor at Bray Garda station on September 3rd, 2017, and showed her CCTV footage of people entering and leaving the house at Mountainview Park on May 29th and 30th, 2017. She had been arrested the previous day on suspicion of murdering her mother.
In that interview, Louise O’Connor told gardaí the person seen closing the back door on May 29th at 10.06pm could have been her or Stephanie O’Connor or Greene.
“I’m guessing it was one of us as we were the only ones in the house,” she said, adding that all she could see in the CCTV footage was a white blur.
“It’s Houdini or someone, I don’t know who it is,” she added.
Asked by interviewing detectives why Greene, then her partner, was seen on CCTV footage closing the curtains at 6.52pm, when she and her children left the house to go to the park, the mother-of-five replied: “Why you asking me? Maybe he is dancing around naked after the shower”.
“Is closing curtains against the law?” she asked gardaí.
Detectives told her that it was “not the norm”.
“If you are saying we left so he could do something, you’re sadly mistaken,” she said.
Detectives put it to her that they believed Mrs O’Connor was dead when she and the children got back from a visit to a park and a Tesco store.
“How could she be? She walked out,” she replied.
Gardaí also put it to Louise O’Connor that it was her daughter Stephanie walking out of the house at 9.34pm carrying the suitcase.
“That’s my ma walking out,” she replied, adding that if her mother had been dead when she got home, she would have “punched Kieran’s lights out”.
Keith Johnston
Keith Johnston (43), of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin, is pictured leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) during his trial. Photograph: Collins Courts.
The jury found Keith Johnston guilty of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O'Connor.
Johnston, of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded not guilty to assisting Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie’s, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on June 9th 2017, which were to be deployed in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O’Connor.
In his interviews, Johnston said he went on a “shopping spree” with Greene the day before the remains were found but he said he did not know why he wanted these items.
Greene claimed that after buying the various tools and items, he and Johnston drove to Wexford and dug up the body. He alleged that Johnston then spent three to four hours dismembering the body with a saw before they disposed of the parts in the Wicklow mountains. He said Johnston later disposed of the tools in Dodder Valley Park in Tallaght and burnt the clothes they had worn.
The trial heard evidence that Johnston’s mobile phone “tallied” with CCTV footage and had pinged off a mast near his house in Tallaght on the night of June 9th, when Greene alleged the dismemberment took place.
The trial heard the handyman, an ex-partner of Louise O’Connor and father of two of her children including Stephanie O’Connor, started redecorating the bathroom where Mrs O’Connor was murdered soon after the event.
Greene said Johnston came to the house and scraped the grout off the tiles in the bathroom and painted walls.
Gardaí put it to Johnston that the bathroom had “been the same” for 10 or 11 years and then Mrs O’Connor got killed “and there he was” fixing a shower step and re-grouting floor tiles.
Johnston told gardaí that he knew “it looks bad but that’s just the way it is” and that he was trying to do a good thing for the family by doing the work. He agreed he had said in a statement that he could have been clearing up a crime scene when he was doing the grouting but regretted saying this.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott during the trial withdrew a charge against Johnston, of engaging in the refurbishment of a bathroom at Mrs O’Connor’s home between May 31st, 2017 and June 9th, 2017, in order to destroy or conceal any evidence relating to the murder.
Augustine ‘Gus’ O’Connor, husband of Patricia O’Connor, pleaded guilty to reporting her missing to gardaí when he knew she was already dead. Photograph: Collins Courts
Augustine 'Gus' O’Connor:
Mrs O'Connor's husband Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor pleaded guilty to reporting her as a missing person, knowing she was already dead, thereby impeding the apprehension of an offender.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the 75-year-old, of Mill Close, Glasheen, Stamullen, Co Meath was charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender in October 2018.
Det Insp Brian O’Keeffe said gardaí spoke to Gus O’Connor on June 14th, 2017 because of the missing person report he had provided at Rathfarnham station on June 1st, 2017.
He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in his wife’s murder on September 2nd, 2017, and was questioned by gardaí and subsequently released.
Greene claimed to detectives that Gus O’Connor had killed his wife using a crowbar and that he had taken the blame.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Man (21) jailed for inflicting ‘catastrophic’ injuries on baby girl

A 21-year-old man who assaulted a 10-week-old baby leaving her with catastrophic and life-changing injuries has been jailed for 11½ years .
The man , who can not be named for legal reasons , was minding the infant when he assaulted her at an address in Co Louth in 2017 .
He pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm .
He told gardaí that the baby had been screaming and crying .
He changed her and fed her but she continued crying .
The defendant told gardaí “ something in me just snapped ” , Dundalk Circuit Criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punched her in the leg , held her by the arm and shaken her and had thrown her at a sofa .
Kevin Segrave , for the prosecution , outlined a series of injuries that were subsequently found .
She had a number of skull fractures , rib fractures , a displaced femur fracture and a fracture to the front of her pelvis .
Due to a prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain , she had suffered a brain injury .
She is also blind .
She needs a wheelchair and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , the court heard .
In a victim impact statement , her mother said that her perfect daughter had been taken from her .
“ She will never feed herself , never wash herself , never go to school and make friends .
She will never walk up the aisle , ” her mother said .
Referencing her loss of sight , she said that her daughter ’ s last sight was the accused assaulting her .
“ I grieve for the child she was , ” she said .
Seamus Clarke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychological report on the defendant and said his client told gardaí that he was very ashamed of what he had done and was sorry for what he had done .
He had , the court heard , suffered developmental trauma as a young child .
Because of his background he could be impulsive and had difficulty regulating his emotions .
Passing sentence Judge James McCourt said it was “ an appalling attack by a grown man on a defenceless infant ” .
He said the baby had suffered “ catastrophic and life-changing injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In determining the sentence the judge took into account the man ’ s guilty plea , his remorse , his age at the time and his traumatic early years .
He imposed a sentence of 12½ and suspended the final 12 months on his entering into a good behaviour bond for 10 years .
Speaking afterwards , the most senior investigating garda involved in the case said , “ This is the most horrific assault case that I have ever investigated.
” He also acknowledged , “ the work of the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professional manner in what is a very distressing case ” .

The most senior investigating garda involved in the case said ‘this is the most horrific assault case that I have ever investigated’. Photograph: Frank Miller
A 21-year-old man who assaulted a 10-week-old baby leaving her with catastrophic and life-changing injuries has been jailed for 11½ years.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was minding the infant when he assaulted her at an address in Co Louth in 2017.
He pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm.
He told gardaí that the baby had been screaming and crying. He changed her and fed her but she continued crying.
READ MORE
The defendant told gardaí “something in me just snapped”, Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court heard. He said he had punched her in the leg, held her by the arm and shaken her and had thrown her at a sofa.
Kevin Segrave, for the prosecution, outlined a series of injuries that were subsequently found. She had a number of skull fractures, rib fractures, a displaced femur fracture and a fracture to the front of her pelvis.
Due to a prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain, she had suffered a brain injury. She is also blind. She needs a wheelchair and will have a high level of disability for life, the court heard.
Impact statement
In a victim impact statement, her mother said that her perfect daughter had been taken from her.
“She will never feed herself, never wash herself, never go to school and make friends. She will never walk up the aisle,” her mother said.
Referencing her loss of sight, she said that her daughter’s last sight was the accused assaulting her. “I grieve for the child she was,” she said.
Seamus Clarke, defending, handed in a detailed psychological report on the defendant and said his client told gardaí that he was very ashamed of what he had done and was sorry for what he had done.
He had, the court heard, suffered developmental trauma as a young child. Because of his background he could be impulsive and had difficulty regulating his emotions.
Passing sentence Judge James McCourt said it was “an appalling attack by a grown man on a defenceless infant”. He said the baby had suffered “catastrophic and life-changing injuries” at the hands of the man.
In determining the sentence the judge took into account the man’s guilty plea, his remorse, his age at the time and his traumatic early years.
He imposed a sentence of 12½ and suspended the final 12 months on his entering into a good behaviour bond for 10 years.
Speaking afterwards, the most senior investigating garda involved in the case said, “This is the most horrific assault case that I have ever investigated.”
He also acknowledged, “the work of the investigation team who have dealt with this in a professional manner in what is a very distressing case”.


theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Life imitates art as actor in plague movie ends up in Covid-19 lockdown

An Irish actor who has just finished filming a short film in Veneto , Italy , set during the plague in medieval times , has said she and the crew intend to get medical checks when they return home .
Rachel Browne , from Terenure , Dublin , but now living in London , spent the past week working in a part of Italy where some towns have been put on lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of Covid 19 , or coronavirus .
“ We were staying in a town called Malo , which didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but all the towns around us were getting locked down because of the coronavirus.
” Veneto and Lombardy are the two areas of Italy where the outbreak of the disease is most heavily located .
The crew from London were filming a story , loosely based on the 14th-century Decameron , about a group of people at a party in a villa who are hoping to avoid the plague in nearby Florence .
“ We were kind of self-quarantined , so it was kind of like life mirroring art , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time either in the house they ’ d rented in Malo , or in the villa Godi Malinverni , a Unesco world heritage site , where the film was being shot .
At one stage , “ not quite because of panic ” , they went to the local supermarket and stocked up on food .
“ There was so much talk in the press about will we get shut down that we did run out to the shop and grab supplies we would need for the rest of the week.
” When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was an issue but decided to go anyway .
“ But then things escalated fast , in that part of Italy , and it became more of a presence for us as a crew every day.
” The situation was never like Apocalypse Now , though they were checked for fever on their way through Venice Marco Polo airport upon arrival on Italy , by staff wearing body suits and face masks .
Because of the way they were living and working , they did not have a huge amount of exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the movie , which is entitled The Heptameron , the guests at the party begin to get ill. Ms Browne plays the main character , Fiametta , who survives , but many of the others die .
Speaking by phone from Marco Polo airport while waiting for her flight to London , she said there was not much evidence of panic apart from a few people wearing face masks .
When they get back to London , the crew intend to get checked out at special coronavirus checking booths that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals .
A fashion designer working for Vivienne Westwood , Ms Browne said she intended going back to work unless the tests showed cause for concern .
“ I ’ m going to get myself checked when I get home , and then find out the results and go back to work .
I ’ m not going to go into quarantine if it ’ s not needed.
” The week in Italy , she said , had been “ kind of surreal ” .

In the movie, The Heptameron, the guests at the party start to get ill. Rachel Browne (above) plays the main character, Fiametta, who survives, but many of the others die.
An Irish actor who has just finished filming a short film in Veneto, Italy, set during the plague in medieval times, has said she and the crew intend to get medical checks when they return home.
Rachel Browne, from Terenure, Dublin, but now living in London, spent the past week working in a part of Italy where some towns have been put on lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of Covid 19, or coronavirus.
“We were staying in a town called Malo, which didn’t get locked down in the end, but all the towns around us were getting locked down because of the coronavirus.”
Veneto and Lombardy are the two areas of Italy where the outbreak of the disease is most heavily located.
READ MORE
The crew from London were filming a story, loosely based on the 14th-century Decameron, about a group of people at a party in a villa who are hoping to avoid the plague in nearby Florence.
“We were kind of self-quarantined, so it was kind of like life mirroring art,” she said.
The crew spent almost all their time either in the house they’d rented in Malo, or in the villa Godi Malinverni, a Unesco world heritage site, where the film was being shot.
At one stage, “not quite because of panic”, they went to the local supermarket and stocked up on food.
“There was so much talk in the press about will we get shut down that we did run out to the shop and grab supplies we would need for the rest of the week.”
When going to Italy from London they knew there was an issue but decided to go anyway. “But then things escalated fast, in that part of Italy, and it became more of a presence for us as a crew every day.”
The situation was never like Apocalypse Now, though they were checked for fever on their way through Venice Marco Polo airport upon arrival on Italy, by staff wearing body suits and face masks.
Because of the way they were living and working, they did not have a huge amount of exposure to local people, she said.
In the movie, which is entitled The Heptameron, the guests at the party begin to get ill. Ms Browne plays the main character, Fiametta, who survives, but many of the others die.
Speaking by phone from Marco Polo airport while waiting for her flight to London, she said there was not much evidence of panic apart from a few people wearing face masks.
When they get back to London, the crew intend to get checked out at special coronavirus checking booths that have been set up outside the city’s hospitals.
A fashion designer working for Vivienne Westwood, Ms Browne said she intended going back to work unless the tests showed cause for concern.
“I’m going to get myself checked when I get home, and then find out the results and go back to work. I’m not going to go into quarantine if it’s not needed.”
The week in Italy, she said, had been “kind of surreal”.


theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Coast Guard rescues surfers who went out to sea during Storm Jorge weather warning

The Irish Coast Guard rescued two surfers went out to sea on Saturday during Storm Jorge .
The Rescue helicopter II8 was scrambled at 10.30am on Saturday after receiving a call from a member of the public that somebody in the water off the coast of Co Sligo was in trouble .
Another surfer who was on the shoreline went out to rescue the man who had lost his surfboard and was struggling in the water .
Both of them clung to the remaining surfboard .
The incident happened in west Sligo in an area popular with surfers .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own way ashore .
They seemed to be making slow progress and they indicated they needed assistance , ” a Coast Guard spokesman said .
The two surfers were winched on board the helicopter and they were brought to Sligo Airport .
They were met at the airport by an ambulance which took them to Sligo General Hospital .
“ They were stable , but they had to be checked up , ” the spokesman said .
The surfers ventured out despite their being an orange wind warning in place at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red wind warning in place for counties Galway and Clare .
An orange level warning is issued by Met Éireann for wind speeds with the capacity to produce dangerous , stormy conditions which may constitute a risk to life and property .
People are advised to stay away from exposed coastal areas during that period .
The Coast Guard also reiterated its warning that people should avoid coastal activities during storm conditions .
The rescue provoked a great deal of anger on the Irish Coast Guard ’ s Facebook and Twitter pages .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who ignore weather warnings should be made pay the costs of their rescue .
Rebecca Shannon wrote on Twitter : “ Such selfish carry on .
Total disregard for anyone but their own wants .
If people don ’ t heed the warnings and choose to take the risk they should absolutely be handed the bill .
That would soon put a stop to this nonsense.
” Another David McCarthy stated : “ How is it that the Fire Brigade and Ambulance service can send you out a bill but the Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How much must it cost to launch a life boat or have a chopper take off.
” Others believed that they should face criminal prosecution for ignoring the warnings .
In October 2017 five windsurfers had to be rescued off the coast of Co Louth during Storm Ophelia when a red weather alert was in place for the whole country .
At the time Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the idea of making it a criminal offence to ignore weather warnings was “ something that merits consideration ” .
To date no law has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The two surfers were winched on board the helicopter and were brought to Sligo Airport by the Irish Coast Guard. File photograph: Collins
The Irish Coast Guard rescued two surfers went out to sea on Saturday during Storm Jorge.
The Rescue helicopter II8 was scrambled at 10.30am on Saturday after receiving a call from a member of the public that somebody in the water off the coast of Co Sligo was in trouble.
Another surfer who was on the shoreline went out to rescue the man who had lost his surfboard and was struggling in the water.
Both of them clung to the remaining surfboard. The incident happened in west Sligo in an area popular with surfers.
READ MORE
“We initially thought the surfers were making their own way ashore. They seemed to be making slow progress and they indicated they needed assistance,” a Coast Guard spokesman said.
The two surfers were winched on board the helicopter and they were brought to Sligo Airport.
They were met at the airport by an ambulance which took them to Sligo General Hospital.
“They were stable, but they had to be checked up,” the spokesman said.
The surfers ventured out despite their being an orange wind warning in place at the time for the whole country with a red wind warning in place for counties Galway and Clare.
An orange level warning is issued by Met Éireann for wind speeds with the capacity to produce dangerous, stormy conditions which may constitute a risk to life and property.
People are advised to stay away from exposed coastal areas during that period.
The Coast Guard also reiterated its warning that people should avoid coastal activities during storm conditions.
The rescue provoked a great deal of anger on the Irish Coast Guard's Facebook and Twitter pages. Many members of the public stated that those who ignore weather warnings should be made pay the costs of their rescue.
Rebecca Shannon wrote on Twitter: "Such selfish carry on. Total disregard for anyone but their own wants. If people don't heed the warnings and choose to take the risk they should absolutely be handed the bill. That would soon put a stop to this nonsense."
Another David McCarthy stated: "How is it that the Fire Brigade and Ambulance service can send you out a bill but the Coast guard don't??? How much must it cost to launch a life boat or have a chopper take off."
Others believed that they should face criminal prosecution for ignoring the warnings.
In October 2017 five windsurfers had to be rescued off the coast of Co Louth during Storm Ophelia when a red weather alert was in place for the whole country. At the time Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the idea of making it a criminal offence to ignore weather warnings was "something that merits consideration".
To date no law has been introduced to deal with the situation.


theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Victims of Louth crash were mother, son and young man from Newry

A mother and son and a young soccer player from Northern Ireland who were killed in a two-car crash in Co Louth early on Saturday morning have been named .
Mary Faxton , who was in her 80s , and her son Kevin Faxton , in his 50s , were from Bessbrook near Newry .
They were travelling in one of the vehicles when the crash happened at about 2.15am on the N1 at Carrickarnan , south of Junction 20 on the main Dublin to Belfast road .
Bryan Magill , who was travelling in the second car , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20s and from Newry .
All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene .
Another man in his 20s who was also in the second car was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda .
His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening .
Archview United FC in Newry paid tribute to Mr Magill on social media .
“ All at the club are heartbroken by the untimely death of one of our top men Bryan ( Bru ) Magill .
“ Bru will always be remembered by all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our kid !
Shout at us from above !
” Newry Celtic FC said everyone at the club was “ deeply saddened by the tragic death of our former player and friend Bryan Bru Magill .
“ The club would like to extend their deepest sympathies to his family at this devastating loss.
” The remains of the deceased were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and postmortems are expected to take place on Sunday .
Gardaí said on Sunday afternoon a man in his 20s had been arrested in relation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Dundalk Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act .
Officers have appealed for people who were on the road between 2am and 2.30am to contact Dundalk Garda station .
A total of seven people have died on Ireland ’ s roads this weekend following incidents in Co Louth , Co Monaghan , Co Cavan and Co Galway .
A total of 29 people have died on Ireland ’ s roads so far this year .

Bryan Magill was one of three victims of the Co Louth crash early on Saturday morning. Photograph: Archview United FC Facebook page
Gardaí investigating a road traffic crash in Co Louth in which three people were killed believe the driver of one of the vehicles left the scene.
A suspect has since been arrested and was being questioned in Dundalk Garda station where the investigation into the collision is based.
The arrested man went to the Garda station early on Sunday afternoon and presented himself for questioning, leading to his arrest on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death.
The crash happened at about 2.15am on Saturday on the N1 at Carrickarnan, south of Junction 20 on the main Dublin to Belfast road.
READ MORE
An elderly woman and her son were in one vehicle and both died. They have been named as Mary Faxton (88) and Kevin Faxton (58), from Bessbrook near Newry.
The other vehicle was carrying at least three men in their 20s; one of whom, Bryan Magill (25), was killed, another injured and the third, believed to be the driver, who left the scene. The injured man was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
The third man in the second car with Mr Magill and the man who was injured was not at the scene when gardaí arrived.
It appears both cars were being driven northwards when one caught the other on the road and the crash occurred.
All three of the deceased were pronounced dead at the scene and all of the people in the two cars are from Northern Ireland. The Irish Times understands the suspect arrested is from south Armagh.
The investigation was now focussed on the car Mr Magill was in and how it was being driven at the time, including what speed it was travelling at compared to the Faxton’s car when it hit the back of their car.
Gardaí said on Sunday afternoon a man in his 20s had been arrested in relation to the Louth crash and was being held in Dundalk Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Seven people in total died on Ireland’s roads at the weekend.
A teenage girl, a passenger, died following a fatal single vehicle road collision which occurred at about 1.15am Sunday morning in Porridgetown, Oughterard, Co Galway on Sunday morning. The driver of the car, a 21-year-old man was uninjured.
A male pedestrian in his 20s died following a crash involving a lorry at about 11.15am Saturday morning in Monaghan. The crash happened on the N54 between Monaghan town and Clones in the townland of Bandrum. The lorry driver was uninjured.
On Friday night, the driver and passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed in a road crash. Both of the vehicle’s occupants were aged in their 60s. They were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision in Ballinagh shortly after emergency services arrived.
Road Safety Authority chairwoman Liz O'Donnell said road deaths had fallen significantly since the State agency was set up in 2006 but that it intended to target the "killer behaviours" of speed, drink- and drug-driving and mobile phone use to reduce fatalities further.
“We were doing well. We were down on last year and then to have an event like this where you have multiple fatalities, which is terrible,” said the former junior minister.
“It is a tragedy for the individual families and communities. We just have to keep at it and not be complacent about our success so far in reducing fatalities.”
Deaths could be reduced further by people driving just 10 kilometres per hour slower, said Ms O’Donnell. It was a case of “going back to basics” in trying to reduce road deaths further by raising public awareness around the most serious causes of road traffic accidents, she said.
“Speed and drink are the main killers and distracted driving with mobile phone use,” she said.
A growing number of road deaths involving drink-driving are also showing drug use, she added.
The majority of road deaths were from “recreational” road use and took place between the hours of 10pm and 6am over weekends with Sundays being the worst day for road accidents.
There were 148 deaths on Irish roads in 2019, a 4 per cent increase on the 142 people killed the previous year, the safest year on record.


theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Teenage girl dies in single vehicle crash in Co Galway

A teenage girl has died following a fatal single vehicle road collision in Co Galway on Sunday morning .
The girl , who was a passenger , was fatally injured in the crash which occurred at about 1.15am Sunday morning in Porridgetown , Oughterard .
Her body has been removed to the Mortuary in University Hospital Galway where a postmortem will take place .
The driver of the car , a 21-year-old man was uninjured .
Gardaí are appealing to any road users who may have travelled the road and can assist them or drivers who may have dash cam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 091 - 514720 , the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station .
Sunday ’ s death bring to 29 the number of road fatalities so far this year with seven people dying since Friday .
Three people died following a two-car crash in the early hours of Saturday near Dundalk , Co Louth .
The occupants of one car , a man ( 50s ) and woman ( 80s ) were pronounced dead at the scene .
A man in his 20s , travelling in the second car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda .
His injuries are not thought to be life threatening .
A second male in the car ( 20s ) was pronounced dead at the scene .
A male pedestrian in his 20s died following a crash involving a lorry in Monaghan at about 11.15am Saturday morning .
On Friday night , the driver and passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed in a road crash .

A teenage girl has died following a fatal single vehicle road collision in Co Galway on Sunday morning.
The girl, who was a passenger, was fatally injured in the crash which occurred at about 1.15am Sunday morning in Porridgetown, Oughterard.
Her body has been removed to the Mortuary in University Hospital Galway where a postmortem will take place. The driver of the car, a 21-year-old man was uninjured. Gardaí are appealing to any road users who may have travelled the road and can assist them or drivers who may have dash cam to contact them in Salthill Garda station on 091 - 514720, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Sunday's death bring to 29 the number of road fatalities so far this year with seven people dying since Friday.
Three people died following a two-car crash in the early hours of Saturday near Dundalk, Co Louth. The occupants of one car, a man (50s) and woman (80s) were pronounced dead at the scene. A man in his 20s, travelling in the second car, was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening. A second male in the car (20s) was pronounced dead at the scene. A male pedestrian in his 20s died following a crash involving a lorry in Monaghan at about 11.15am Saturday morning. On Friday night, the driver and passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed in a road crash.


theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Storm Jorge: Flooding danger in coming week as rainfall filters into rivers

The consequences of Storm Jorge will be felt in the coming week as the heavy rain fall over the weekend result in an increased flood risk in areas close to rivers .
The stormy weather brought with it severe winds and heavy rain on Friday and Saturday , particularly in the West of the country .
A status red wind warning was in place for Galway and Clare on Saturday morning and afternoon .
Orange and yellow alerts were put in place in place for much of the country until midnight .
Approximately 20 to 30mm of rain fell over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to filter down into the rivers , making flood risks high , said Met Éireann forecaster Joan Blackburn .
“ It wouldn ’ t be considered high rainfall but we have the discretion to issue them [ WARNINGS ] when it could be impactful i.e .
the rivers were high , ” she said .
“ This is another 20 or 30mm flowing into the rivers from all of the lands , so that ’ s quite a quantity of water .
The flooding is often after the event.
” She added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the rainfall to sort of filter down and actually flood .
Basically , rivers in Connaught , in the Midlands and Clare , they ’ re still at danger levels .
And that rainfall still has to filter down through.
” Pádraig Cunniffe , a farmer in Newtownflood , near the River Shannon , said the water on his lands had risen by about a foot over the past week .
“ We can ’ t even get down the road to the lands in our car anymore , we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Cunniffe said .
“ It ’ s putting extra hardship on everyone and we just don ’ t know when it will stop.
” “ My neighbour had to move his cattle because his shed is flooded .
All his timber and turf is floating in the water now .
My shed is ok at the minute but if the rain continues , it will be flooded too.
” The stormy conditions also left thousands of properties without power but most of of these were restored before Sunday morning .
A number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later cleared and gardaí said nobody was injured when a truck overturned in high winds in Co Galway on Saturday afternoon .
The Irish Coastguard Sligo helicopter rescued two surfers that go into difficulties in on Saturday afternoon .
The early days of next week are forecasted to be unsettled and rainfall is forecasted to be above average across most of the country .
“ Rainfall accumulations may be as much as one-and-a-half to twice the normal except along eastern coastal areas , which will see below average rainfall , ” the forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels remain elevated and soils waterlogged any further rainfalls this week will add to the risk of flooding.
” Ms Blackburn also said it is going to be a very cold week .
“ The precipitation is going to be in the form of showers , hail and rain showers and some sleet and snow showers at times as well , ” Ms Blackburn said .
“ The overall amount of rain you could get covering a province would be less than if it ’ s a band of rain .
You could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t have the quantity of rain coming through feeding into the rivers.
” The weather will turn wetter on Friday , when an Atlantic frontal system moves in , bringing less cold air , but heavier rain .
A number of roads that were flooded last week remained closed on Sunday .
In Tipperary the Nenagh/Terryglass Road ( R493 ) is closed at Ballinderry due to flooding while the N65 is closed between Portumna in Galway and Borrisokane near the turn-off for Terryglass ( R493 ) in Tipperary due to flooding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roadwatch said flooding had also caused the Borrisokane/Cloghan Road ( R438 ) to close between the Portumna turn-off at Walsh Park Cross and the Banagher turn-off at Taylor ’ s Cross .

Sea foam spills on shore as Storm Jorge hits Clogher Strand in Co Kerry in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. Photograph: Ruth Uí Ógáin via Reuters.
The consequences of Storm Jorge will be felt in the coming week as the heavy rain fall over the weekend result in an increased flood risk in areas close to rivers.
The stormy weather brought with it severe winds and heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, particularly in the West of the country. The weather is turning cold on Sunday night with a status yellow snow/ice warning in place for the entire country until 8am on Monday.
A swimmer at Blackrock in Galway braves the elements as Storm Jorge hits Ireland. Photograph: Damien Storan
As Storm Jorge approached on Saturday, a status red wind warning was in place for Galway and Clare on Saturday morning and afternoon. Orange and yellow alerts were put in place in place for much of the country until midnight.
Approximately 20 to 30mm of rain fell over the two days, which still has to filter down into the rivers, making flood risks high, said Met Éireann forecaster Joan Blackburn.
READ MORE
“It wouldn’t be considered high rainfall but we have the discretion to issue them [WARNINGS]when it could be impactful i.e. the rivers were high,” she said.
“This is another 20 or 30mm flowing into the rivers from all of the lands, so that’s quite a quantity of water. The flooding is often after the event.”
She added: “A lot of rivers take awhile for the rainfall to sort of filter down and actually flood. Basically, rivers in Connaught, in the Midlands and Clare, they’re still at danger levels. And that rainfall still has to filter down through.”
Pádraig Cunniffe, a farmer in Newtownflood, near the River Shannon, said the water on his lands had risen by about a foot over the past week.
“We can’t even get down the road to the lands in our car anymore, we have to try and use a tractor,” Mr Cunniffe said. “It’s putting extra hardship on everyone and we just don’t know when it will stop.”
“My neighbour had to move his cattle because his shed is flooded. All his timber and turf is floating in the water now. My shed is ok at the minute but if the rain continues, it will be flooded too.”
The stormy conditions also left thousands of properties without power but most of of these were restored before Sunday morning.
A number of trees fell on roads which were later cleared and gardaí said nobody was injured when a truck overturned in high winds in Co Galway on Saturday afternoon. The Irish Coastguard Sligo helicopter rescued two surfers that go into difficulties in on Saturday afternoon.
The early days of next week are forecasted to be unsettled and rainfall is forecasted to be above average across most of the country.
A video of the truck overturning has circulated on social media
“Rainfall accumulations may be as much as one-and-a-half to twice the normal except along eastern coastal areas, which will see below average rainfall,” the forecast says.
“However, as river levels remain elevated and soils waterlogged any further rainfalls this week will add to the risk of flooding.” Ms Blackburn also said it is going to be a very cold week.
“The precipitation is going to be in the form of showers, hail and rain showers and some sleet and snow showers at times as well,” Ms Blackburn said.
“The overall amount of rain you could get covering a province would be less than if it’s a band of rain. You could get very heavy showers but you still won’t have the quantity of rain coming through feeding into the rivers.”
The weather will turn wetter on Friday, when an Atlantic frontal system moves in, bringing less cold air, but heavier rain.
A number of roads that were flooded last week remained closed on Sunday. In Tipperary the Nenagh/Terryglass Road (R493) is closed at Ballinderry due to flooding while the N65 is closed between Portumna in Galway and Borrisokane near the turn-off for Terryglass (R493) in Tipperary due to flooding and diversions are in place. AA Roadwatch said flooding had also caused the Borrisokane/Cloghan Road (R438)to close between the Portumna turn-off at Walsh Park Cross and the Banagher turn-off at Taylor's Cross.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Four arrested after drugs worth €455,000 seized in Dublin

Four people have been arrested after gardaí seized an estimated €455,000 worth of cocaine and heroin in Dublin .
On @ @ @ @ @ car in the Ballyfermot area .
During a search of the car , gardaí found @ @ @ @ @ – pending analysis – with estimated values of €175,000 and €70,000 respectively .
The occupants @ @ @ @ @ women ( aged 18 and 22 ) and a boy ( 17 ) – were @ @ @ @ @ released without charge and the two women remain in custody at Ballyfermot Garda station under @ @ @ @ @ Justice ( Drug Trafficking Act ) 1996 .
In a follow-up operation in the early @ @ @ @ @ seized further quantities of heroin ( €140,000 ) and cocaine ( €70,000 ) during a @ @ @ @ @ Dublin 7 .
An 18-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and is being held @ @ @ @ @

Four people have been arrested following drugs seizures on Friday night and early on Saturday morning
Four people have been arrested after gardaí seized an estimated €455,000 worth of cocaine and heroin in Dublin.
On Friday, gardaí intercepted a car in the Ballyfermot area. During a search of the car, gardaí found quntities of heroin and cocaine – pending analysis – with estimated values of €175,000 and €70,000 respectively.
The occupants of the car – two women (aged 18 and 22) and a boy (17) – were arrested. The boy was released without charge and the two women remain in custody at Ballyfermot Garda station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996.
In a follow-up operation in the early hours of Saturday, gardaí seized further quantities of heroin (€140,000) and cocaine (€70,000) during a search of a residence in Dublin 7.
READ MORE
An 18-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and is being held in Bridewell Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Coronavirus: Man treated in Dublin hospital as officials trace contacts

A man who had travelled from an affected area of Northern Italy was being treated in a Dublin hospital on Sunday after he was diagnosed with coronavirus on Saturday .
The man had returned from Italy and , after feeling unwell , it is understood he presented himself at a Dublin hospital where he was met by healthcare staff who were wearing hazmat type clothing .
He was taken to the isolation unit of the hospital where treatment started immediately .
His condition or the severity of his symptoms are not known .
He became the first confirmed case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confirmation of a occurrence of the illness in Northern Ireland earlier this week .
Public health officials are trying to trace anybody who came into contact with the man since his return from Italy .
This search will initially focus on people who were in close contact with the man .
This is defined as being within two metres of the man for more than 15 minutes .
They will also attempt to establish where the man has been in Ireland while he was ill to help in the contact-tracing effort .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ though they will be fully gowned while doing so , are considered to be casual contacts requiring monitoring over the coming two weeks .
Coronavirus or Covid-19 has spread rapidly around the world since its outbreak in China .
Thousands of people have died from the virus , mostly in China .
It has lead to international concern and has sparked travel restrictions , the cancellation of public events and stock markets to plunge .
The Department of Health announced the Republic ’ s first case on Saturday night .
“ The patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established protocols for the investigation of suspect cases of Covid-19 , ” the department said in a statement shortly before 9pm .
“ The case is associated with travel from an affected area in northern Italy , rather than contact with another confirmed case.
” Speaking at a press briefing in Dublin on Saturday night , officials said the process of getting in touch with people who were in contact with the man started immediately .
“ This process will take some time , but the people who need to be contacted will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuddihy , director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre .
The person who had contracted the disease followed the advice of public health authorities and identified himself , enabling the diagnosis to be made , chief medical officer at the Department of Health , Dr Tony Holohan said .
“ We are confident the systems we have in place , and that we ’ ve worked on for months , will work well , ” he said .
Officials declined to specify the nationality of the person , whether he travelled on public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he travelled alone and whether this case is connected to the case reported in the North several days ago .
Dr Holohan said officials had to be careful about the amount of information provided .
The reason for not providing more information was to protect the identity of the person affected and to avoid the person being identified publicly .
This would lead to a feeling among the public that their privacy would not be protected in the event that they contacted the disease .
Dr Holohan , said the case was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the view of officials about containing the disease .
“ There is still a high likelihood of containing the spread of this disease .
We still have a high degree of confidence .
The change of developing the disease in this country is extremely low ” .
On Sunday morning the HSE said in a tweet that “ the risk to the general public is still low .
This risk may change .
People may continue to go to work , school , as usual.
” Up to last Friday , 115 tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus , but all proved negative up to that point .
The Department of health said Minister for Health Simon Harris had been informed of the case and has notified Taoiseach Leo Varadkar .
Speaking on Saturday , Mr Harris said : “ This is not unexpected .
We have been preparing for this since January .
“ I would strongly encourage people to follow the guidance and advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team , led by the chief medical officer.
” Mr Varadkar and Mr Harris earlier held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland on Saturday as the unidentified woman in Northern Ireland who recently came home from Italy and was suspected of being infected with the Covid-19 or new coronavirus , had her case confirmed .
Mr Varadkar and Mr Harris were joined on the call by Ireland ’ s deputy chief medical officer , Northern Ireland ’ s First Minister Arlene Foster , Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill , health minister Robin Swann , and the Northern Ireland chief medical officer , the Government said in a statement .
They discussed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island of Ireland , and also internationally , and noted the good co-operation in place between authorities north and south of the Border .
All agreed to continue the close co-operation and to remain in close contact in the period ahead , the statement said .
On Saturday the NI Public Health Agency ( PHA ) said it had received notification from its counterparts in England that the one presumptive case of coronavirus in Northern Ireland had been confirmed by the reference laboratory it was sent to .
The family at the centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy is respected given the personal impact of this issue , a PHA statement said .
The public in Northern Ireland have been advised that they have full access to the National Health Service ’ s 111 helpline , though the British service is only being made available for people from Northern Ireland in relation to coronavirus guidance and not for other conditions .
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomed the high-level meeting .
The party health spokesman said : “ It is essential that public health authorities north and south work closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to deal with this health emergency .
“ Infections don ’ t recognise barriers or borders and neither should our approach .
”

A man who had travelled from an affected area of Northern Italy was being treated in a Dublin hospital on Sunday after he was diagnosed with coronavirus on Saturday.
The man had returned from Italy and, after feeling unwell, it is understood he presented himself at a Dublin hospital where he was met by healthcare staff who were wearing hazmat type clothing.
He was taken to the isolation unit of the hospital where treatment started immediately. His condition or the severity of his symptoms are not known.
Those in contact with the case are being identified and will be contacted by Public Health doctors in line with best international practice. — HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 1, 2020
He became the first confirmed case of the virus in the Republic, following the confirmation of a occurrence of the illness in Northern Ireland earlier this week.
READ MORE
Public health officials are trying to trace anybody who came into contact with the man since his return from Italy. This search will initially focus on people who were in close contact with the man. This is defined as being within two metres of the man for more than 15 minutes.
They will also attempt to establish where the man has been in Ireland while he was ill to help in the contact-tracing effort.
Healthcare staff treating the man, even though they will be fully gowned while doing so, are considered to be casual contacts requiring monitoring over the coming two weeks.
Coronavirus or Covid-19 has spread rapidly around the world since its outbreak in China. Thousands of people have died from the virus, mostly in China. It has lead to international concern and has sparked travel restrictions, the cancellation of public events and stock markets to plunge.
First case
The Department of Health announced the Republic’s first case on Saturday night. “The patient was identified and tested in line with established protocols for the investigation of suspect cases of Covid-19,” the department said in a statement shortly before 9pm.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health during a press briefing on Friday. Photograph: Collins
“The case is associated with travel from an affected area in northern Italy, rather than contact with another confirmed case.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Dublin on Saturday night, officials said the process of getting in touch with people who were in contact with the man started immediately. “This process will take some time, but the people who need to be contacted will be contacted,” said Dr John Cuddihy, director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
The person who had contracted the disease followed the advice of public health authorities and identified himself, enabling the diagnosis to be made, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan said.
“We are confident the systems we have in place, and that we’ve worked on for months, will work well,” he said.
Officials declined to specify the nationality of the person, whether he travelled on public transport, what airport he used, whether he travelled alone and whether this case is connected to the case reported in the North several days ago.
Dr Holohan said officials had to be careful about the amount of information provided. The reason for not providing more information was to protect the identity of the person affected and to avoid the person being identified publicly. This would lead to a feeling among the public that their privacy would not be protected in the event that they contacted the disease.
Dr Holohan, said the case was not a surprise and had not changed the view of officials about containing the disease. “There is still a high likelihood of containing the spread of this disease. We still have a high degree of confidence. The change of developing the disease in this country is extremely low”.
On Sunday morning the HSE said in a tweet that “the risk to the general public is still low. This risk may change. People may continue to go to work, school, as usual.”
Up to last Friday, 115 tests had been carried out on suspected cases of the coronavirus, but all proved negative up to that point.
The Department of health said Minister for Health Simon Harris had been informed of the case and has notified Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Harris said: “This is not unexpected. We have been preparing for this since January.
“I would strongly encourage people to follow the guidance and advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team, led by the chief medical officer.”
Conference call
Mr Varadkar and Mr Harris earlier held a conference call with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on Saturday as the unidentified woman in Northern Ireland who recently came home from Italy and was suspected of being infected with the Covid-19 or new coronavirus, had her case confirmed.
Mr Varadkar and Mr Harris were joined on the call by Ireland's deputy chief medical officer, Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, health minister Robin Swann, and the Northern Ireland chief medical officer, the Government said in a statement.
They discussed the situation regarding the virus on the island of Ireland, and also internationally, and noted the good co-operation in place between authorities north and south of the Border.
All agreed to continue the close co-operation and to remain in close contact in the period ahead, the statement said.
On Saturday the NI Public Health Agency (PHA) said it had received notification from its counterparts in England that the one presumptive case of coronavirus in Northern Ireland had been confirmed by the reference laboratory it was sent to.
The family at the centre of the case has asked that their privacy is respected given the personal impact of this issue, a PHA statement said.
The public in Northern Ireland have been advised that they have full access to the National Health Service’s 111 helpline, though the British service is only being made available for people from Northern Ireland in relation to coronavirus guidance and not for other conditions.
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew welcomed the high-level meeting. The party health spokesman said: “It is essential that public health authorities north and south work closely together and co-operate and community effectively in order to deal with this health emergency.
“Infections don’t recognise barriers or borders and neither should our approach.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Ireland’s first leap year baby born just after midnight in Dublin

The first leap year baby of 2020 was born in the National Maternity Hospital early on Saturday .
Baby Jenson was born seven minutes after midnight , to Nicole Elizabeth McKeown and Philip Murphy from Ringsend in Dublin .
The hospital said Baby Jenson and Ms McKeown are both doing “ really well ” .
“ We feel such happiness and gratefulness to have Jenson here three weeks early and for him to be the first leap year 2020 baby at the National Maternity Hospital is extra special , a memory we ’ ll cherish forever , ” Ms McKeown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank all the staff at the National Maternity Hospital , who have just been incredible .
“ A special mention to trainee ambulance crew member , Mark who was in the ambulance with us here .
He took off his two lapels , which had Ambulance Service on them and wrote his name and a gorgeous message on the back of them for us to put in Jenson ’ s memory box .
We couldn ’ t be happier today.
” Baby Jenson also has an older sister , Morvem , who will @ @ @ @ @ @

Nicole Elizabeth McKeown and Philip Murphy from Ringsend in Dublin with their baby Jenson. who was born seven minutes after midnight on Saturday.
The first leap year baby of 2020 was born in the National Maternity Hospital early on Saturday.
Baby Jenson was born seven minutes after midnight, to Nicole Elizabeth McKeown and Philip Murphy from Ringsend in Dublin. The hospital said Baby Jenson and Ms McKeown are both doing "really well".
“We feel such happiness and gratefulness to have Jenson here three weeks early and for him to be the first leap year 2020 baby at the National Maternity Hospital is extra special, a memory we’ll cherish forever,” Ms McKeown said.
“We would like to thank all the staff at the National Maternity Hospital, who have just been incredible.
READ MORE
“A special mention to trainee ambulance crew member, Mark who was in the ambulance with us here. He took off his two lapels, which had Ambulance Service on them and wrote his name and a gorgeous message on the back of them for us to put in Jenson’s memory box. We couldn’t be happier today.”
Baby Jenson also has an older sister, Morvem, who will be five-years-old in two weeks.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Tullamore direct provision centre protest attracts about 25 people

A small group gathered in Tullamore on Saturday morning to protest against a direct provision centre .
The protest , which was organised on social media , attracted about 25 people to High Street in the Co Offaly town , where up to 168 asylum seekers will be accommodated in four buildings .
The Marian Hostel , which until 2015 was a residence for single working women run by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament , will provide most of the accommodation .
Protesters stood at its main gate .
While some of the protestors were from Offaly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
Daithí Ó Fallamháin , an Irish Freedom Party candidate for Mayo who received 246 first preference votes in the general election , said he had come from Westport to support local people who he believed were opposed to the centre .
“ They weren ’ t happy that they weren ’ t consulted .
And of course the Government never consults because they ’ re afraid of what the answers might be , ” he said .
“ I know some people say only local people should be allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t local and the people they ’ re bringing in won ’ t be local and once they ’ re here , they ’ re here for ever .
“ Even the ones who fail the asylum process stay , they don ’ t deport them .
It ’ s a national issue , I ’ m here to support Irish people wanting to support their own destinies here.
” Mr Ó Fallamháin , who is an Irish citizen and has Irish parents but was born in the US , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement and his party ’ s primary goal was to leave the EU .
Directly across the street from the protestors , a number of local people gathered and voiced their support for the direct provision centre , including two sisters from Tullamore , Mary Evans and Stephanie McDermott .
“ I don ’ t recognise anyone from Tullamore here and the ones here are giving Tullamore a bad name .
It ’ ll be seen all over the country and people may think that Tullamore is racist and unwelcoming , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tullamore .
Tullamore is a friendly place , a great place to live.
” Ms McDermott said she was “ appalled ” at the protest and was angry when she saw one of the protestors with the national tricolour .
“ That ’ s a total abuse of the Irish flag .
How dare they fly the Irish flag in the name of hate , ” she said .
Ms McDermott said she supported the establishment of a “ welcome group ” in the town for the asylum seekers .

A small group gathered in Tullamore on Saturday morning to protest against a direct provision centre.
The protest, which was organised on social media, attracted about 25 people to High Street in the Co Offaly town, where up to 168 asylum seekers will be accommodated in four buildings.
The Marian Hostel, which until 2015 was a residence for single working women run by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, will provide most of the accommodation. Protesters stood at its main gate.
While some of the protestors were from Offaly, the majority had travelled from other parts of the country.
READ MORE
Daithí Ó Fallamháin, an Irish Freedom Party candidate for Mayo who received 246 first preference votes in the general election, said he had come from Westport to support local people who he believed were opposed to the centre.
“They weren’t happy that they weren’t consulted. And of course the Government never consults because they’re afraid of what the answers might be,” he said.
“I know some people say only local people should be allowed to speak on this. But the politicians aren’t local and the people they’re bringing in won’t be local and once they’re here, they’re here for ever.
“Even the ones who fail the asylum process stay, they don’t deport them. It’s a national issue, I’m here to support Irish people wanting to support their own destinies here.”
Mr Ó Fallamháin, who is an Irish citizen and has Irish parents but was born in the US, said he did not believe in freedom of movement and his party’s primary goal was to leave the EU.
Directly across the street from the protestors, a number of local people gathered and voiced their support for the direct provision centre, including two sisters from Tullamore, Mary Evans and Stephanie McDermott.
“I don’t recognise anyone from Tullamore here and the ones here are giving Tullamore a bad name. It’ll be seen all over the country and people may think that Tullamore is racist and unwelcoming,” said Ms Evans. “That is not Tullamore. Tullamore is a friendly place, a great place to live.”
Ms McDermott said she was “appalled” at the protest and was angry when she saw one of the protestors with the national tricolour.
“That’s a total abuse of the Irish flag. How dare they fly the Irish flag in the name of hate,” she said.
Ms McDermott said she supported the establishment of a “welcome group” in the town for the asylum seekers.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Truck overturns on Co Galway road during Storm Jorge

Gardaí have said nobody was injured when a truck overturned in high winds in Co Galway on Saturday .
The @ @ @ @ @ the Maam Cross area of Connemara .
Gardaí said the driver of the truck was @ @ @ @ @ remained at the scene on Saturday afternoon .
Video footage of a truck overturning has @ @ @ @ @ Gardaí said they couldn ’ t officially confirm the footage relates to the same incident @ @ @ @ @ , it is understood the footage is of the Maam Cross incident .
A status @ @ @ @ @ place for Galway and Clare until 3pm on Saturday , as Storm Jorge passed over @ @ @ @ @ gusts of 133km/h were recorded earlier on Saturday in the west of the country .

Truck overturns on Co Galway road during Storm Jorge
Gardaí have said nobody was injured when a truck overturned in high winds in Co Galway on Saturday.
The incident happened at 1pm in the Maam Cross area of Connemara. Gardaí said the driver of the truck was not injured and the truck remained at the scene on Saturday afternoon.
Video footage of a truck overturning has appeared on social media. Gardaí said they couldn’t officially confirm the footage relates to the same incident they were investigating. However, it is understood the footage is of the Maam Cross incident.
A status red wind alert was in place for Galway and Clare until 3pm on Saturday, as Storm Jorge passed over Ireland. Met Éireann said gusts of 133km/h were recorded earlier on Saturday in the west of the country.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Boy missing from Dublin home since yesterday found safe and well

A 15-year-old boy missing his home in south Dublin was found safe and well on Saturday , gardaí said .
@ @ @ @ @ was last seen when he left his home in Bushy Park House , Terenure , @ @ @ @ @ said on Saturday afternoon he had been located following a public appeal .

A 15-year-old boy missing his home in south Dublin was found safe and well on Saturday, gardaí said.
Daniel Grainger (15) was last seen when he left his home in Bushy Park House, Terenure, Dublin 6w yesterday.
Gardaí said on Saturday afternoon he had been located following a public appeal.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Omega 3 supplements do not protect against cancer, researchers find

Omega 3 supplements do not protect against cancer , scientists have said .
Researchers performed two systematic reviews using data from more than 100,000 participants to get the clearest possible view of the risks and benefits associated with the food supplement .
They found omega 3 supplements may slightly reduce the risk of heart disease while marginally increasing the risk of prostate cancer , with the overall beneficial and harmful effects to be quite small .
The researchers said the findings contradict the widely-held belief that taking omega 3 in liquid or tablet form will protect against diseases such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lead author Dr Lee Hooper , from the University of East Anglia ’ s Norwich Medical School , said : “ These large systematic reviews included information from many thousands of people over long periods .
“ This large amount of information has clarified that if we take omega 3 supplements for several years we may very slightly reduce our risk of heart disease , but balance this with very slightly increasing our risk of some cancers .
“ The overall effects on our health are minimal.
” Omega 3 fatty acids , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and oily fish such as salmon and tuna , are known to benefit health when consumed in small amounts in food .
But controversy surrounds the hype over omega 3 supplements and their alleged health benefits .
The research team looked at 47 trials involving adults who did not have cancer , who were at increased risk of cancer , or had a previous cancer diagnosis , along with 86 trials which included people who had coronary events such as a heart attack .
More than 100,000 participants involved in these trials were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or maintain their usual intake , for at least a year for each of the reviews .
According to the researchers , the results suggest that if 1,000 people took omega 3 supplements for around four years , three people would avoid dying from heart disease , six people would avoid a coronary event , and three extra people would develop prostate cancer .
Dr Hooper said : “ We found that there is no demonstrable value in people taking omega 3 oil supplements for the prevention or treatment of cancer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may very slightly increase cancer risk , particularly for prostate cancer .
“ However this risk is offset by a small protective effect on cardiovascular disease .
“ Considering the environmental concerns about industrial fishing and the impact it is having on fish stocks and plastic pollution in the oceans , it seems unhelpful to continue to take fish oil tablets that give little or no benefit.
” The two studies , published in the journals British Journal of Cancer and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , were funded by the @ @ @

Controversy surrounds the hype over omega 3 supplements and their alleged health benefits. Photograph: iStock
Omega 3 supplements do not protect against cancer, scientists have said.
Researchers performed two systematic reviews using data from more than 100,000 participants to get the clearest possible view of the risks and benefits associated with the food supplement.
They found omega 3 supplements may slightly reduce the risk of heart disease while marginally increasing the risk of prostate cancer, with the overall beneficial and harmful effects to be quite small.
The researchers said the findings contradict the widely-held belief that taking omega 3 in liquid or tablet form will protect against diseases such as cancer, heart attacks and stroke.
READ MORE
Lead author Dr Lee Hooper, from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, said: “These large systematic reviews included information from many thousands of people over long periods.
“This large amount of information has clarified that if we take omega 3 supplements for several years we may very slightly reduce our risk of heart disease, but balance this with very slightly increasing our risk of some cancers.
“The overall effects on our health are minimal.”
Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in nuts, seeds and oily fish such as salmon and tuna, are known to benefit health when consumed in small amounts in food.
But controversy surrounds the hype over omega 3 supplements and their alleged health benefits.
The research team looked at 47 trials involving adults who did not have cancer, who were at increased risk of cancer, or had a previous cancer diagnosis, along with 86 trials which included people who had coronary events such as a heart attack.
More than 100,000 participants involved in these trials were asked to take more omega 3 supplements, or maintain their usual intake, for at least a year for each of the reviews.
According to the researchers, the results suggest that if 1,000 people took omega 3 supplements for around four years, three people would avoid dying from heart disease, six people would avoid a coronary event, and three extra people would develop prostate cancer.
Dr Hooper said: “We found that there is no demonstrable value in people taking omega 3 oil supplements for the prevention or treatment of cancer.
“In fact, we found that they may very slightly increase cancer risk, particularly for prostate cancer.
“However this risk is offset by a small protective effect on cardiovascular disease.
“Considering the environmental concerns about industrial fishing and the impact it is having on fish stocks and plastic pollution in the oceans, it seems unhelpful to continue to take fish oil tablets that give little or no benefit.”
The two studies, published in the journals British Journal of Cancer and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, were funded by the World Health Organisation.–PA


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Man (50s) arrested following ammunition seizure in Dublin

A man ( 50s ) has been arrested following the search and seizure of ammmunitino in a house in Coolock @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí obtained a Section 29 warrant under Offences Against the State Act , 1939 @ @ @ @ @ 11pm on Friday night .
Ammunition was seized during the search of the house in @ @ @ @ @ ( early 50s ) was arrested and is currently detained under Section 30 , Offences @ @ @ @ @ 1939 at Ballymun Garda station .

A man (50s) has been arrested following the search and seizure of ammmunitino in a house in Coolock in Dublin on Friday night.
Gardaí obtained a Section 29 warrant under Offences Against the State Act, 1939 and executed it at about 11pm on Friday night.
Ammunition was seized during the search of the house in Collock Village and tge man (early 50s) was arrested and is currently detained under Section 30, Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at Ballymun Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Seven people dead in crashes on Irish roads over weekend

Seven people have died on Ireland ’ s roads this weekend following car crashes in Co Louth , Co Monaghan , Co Cavan and Galway .
A teenage girl died following a fatal single vehicle road collision in Co Galway on Sunday morning .
The girl , who was a passenger , was fatally injured in the crash which occurred at about 1.15am Sunday morning in Porridgetown , Oughterard .
Her body has been removed to the Mortuary in University Hospital Galway where a postmortem will take place .
The driver of the car , a 21-year-old man was uninjured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users who may have travelled the road and can assist them or drivers who may have dash cam to contact them in Salthill Garda station on 091 - 514720 , the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station .
Three people died following a two-car crash in the early hours of Saturday near Dundalk , Co Louth .
The crash occurred at about 2.15am on the N1 at Carrickarnan , south of Junction 20 on the main Dublin to Belfast road .
The occupants of one car , a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) were pronounced dead at the scene .
A man in his 20s , travelling in the second car , was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda .
His injuries are not thought to be life threatening .
A second male in the car ( 20s ) was pronounced dead at the scene .
The remains of the deceased have been removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and postmortems are expected to take place on Sunday .
Gardaí have appealed for people who were on the road between 2am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí are investigating a possible connection between one of the cars and another incident in Dundalk earlier in the night .
A male pedestrian in his 20s died following a crash involving a lorry at about 11.15am Saturday morning in Monaghan.The pedestrian had been taken to Tallaght University Hospital after the crash .
The lorry driver was uninjured .
The crash happened on the N54 between Monaghan town and Clones in the townland of Bandrum .
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to that incident to contact them at Monaghan Garda Station on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any Garda Station .
On Friday night , the driver and passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed in a road crash .
Both of the vehicle ’ s occupants were aged in their 60s .
They were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision in Ballinagh shortly after emergency services arrived .
It occurred at about 7pm when their car collided with an jeep on the N55 road .
The deceased were a male driver and a female passenger .
Gardaí said the male driver of the jeep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a precaution .
Sunday ’ s death brings to 29 the number of road fatalities so far this year .

Gardaí at the scene of the crash on the N1 at Carrickarnan, Co Louth. Photograph: Arthur Carron.
Seven people have died on Ireland’s roads this weekend following car crashes in Co Louth, Co Monaghan, Co Cavan and Galway.
A teenage girl died following a fatal single vehicle road collision in Co Galway on Sunday morning.
The girl, who was a passenger, was fatally injured in the crash which occurred at about 1.15am Sunday morning in Porridgetown, Oughterard. Her body has been removed to the Mortuary in University Hospital Galway where a postmortem will take place.
The driver of the car, a 21-year-old man was uninjured. Gardaí are appealing to any road users who may have travelled the road and can assist them or drivers who may have dash cam to contact them in Salthill Garda station on 091 - 514720, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
READ MORE
Louth
Three people died following a two-car crash in the early hours of Saturday near Dundalk, Co Louth. The crash occurred at about 2.15am on the N1 at Carrickarnan, south of Junction 20 on the main Dublin to Belfast road.
The occupants of one car, a man (50s) and woman (80s) were pronounced dead at the scene.
A man in his 20s, travelling in the second car, was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening. A second male in the car (20s) was pronounced dead at the scene.
The remains of the deceased have been removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and postmortems are expected to take place on Sunday.
Gardaí have appealed for people who were on the road between 2am and 2.30am to contact Dundalk Garda station.
Gardaí are investigating a possible connection between one of the cars and another incident in Dundalk earlier in the night.
Monaghan and Cavan
A male pedestrian in his 20s died following a crash involving a lorry at about 11.15am Saturday morning in Monaghan.The pedestrian had been taken to Tallaght University Hospital after the crash. The lorry driver was uninjured.
The crash happened on the N54 between Monaghan town and Clones in the townland of Bandrum. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to that incident to contact them at Monaghan Garda Station on 04777240, the Garda Confidential Line or any Garda Station.
On Friday night, the driver and passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed in a road crash.
Both of the vehicle’s occupants were aged in their 60s. They were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision in Ballinagh shortly after emergency services arrived.
It occurred at about 7pm when their car collided with an jeep on the N55 road. The deceased were a male driver and a female passenger. Gardaí said the male driver of the jeep was taken to Cavan General Hospital as a precaution.
Sunday’s death brings to 29 the number of road fatalities so far this year.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Bogged down: Bleak outlook for the west’s blanket peatlands

Looking out at blackface ewes caught in the squalls , tails to the wind , hailstones sequinned on their fleeces , it has been hard to grudge them their share of the western landscape .
How fair would it be to call the high , bare slopes of the hills “ sheepwrecked ” ?
This was a coinage from George Monbiot , radical columnist on ecological issues for the Guardian newspaper .
It headed a chapter in Feral , his book that urged “ rewilding ” of the upland ecosystems .
Monbiot lived until recently at Machynlleth in Wales , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and the source of both the Severn and Wye rivers .
After previous Welsh floods , he dared to put the blame on the hill sheep .
His comments on Countryfile raised a storm .
This came to mind as I watched , appalled , the latest flooding of western UK .
Both these islands share “ extreme events ” of unconscionable rainfall .
An avalanche of soil unfurling on one Welsh hillside was so like the one that still scars the mountain round the corner in Killary harbour , opposite Leenane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more damaging , and the Geological Survey has even mapped more potential sites .
It has been three decades since I had to describe the severe overgrazing of western hills caused by the EU ’ s headage subsidies on unsustainable peatland .
A great deal has changed since then , in reduction of sheep numbers , environmental grant schemes and enlightened local initiatives .
The fabric of the hills has been slow to repair , as Nardus and Molinia grasses hold their grasp .
Whole communities of mosses and liverworts have gone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
but rarely to the height or luxuriance that once soaked up the rain and sheltered coveys of red grouse .
For that , one has to visit , say , the protected slopes of Connemara National Park .
A different but equally profound change is the current exodus from hill farming .
The toll of ageing aside , this is blamed on falling incomes .
A study for the Irish Uplands Forum has found these well below the average industrial wage and almost wholly composed of basic EU farm payments .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still held on the western seaboard and on uplands in the south and east .
More than 800,000 head are mountain ewes .
As ageing farmers drop out , their land is often annexed into neighbouring “ ranches ” .
A concern expressed by Teagasc researchers is that “ vast tracts of commonage will become .
.
.
completely abandoned ” because their condition is seen as agriculturally worthless .
Neither the EU nor Teagasc can bear the thought of uplands smothered ungrazably with unmanaged heather , gorse , willow scrub or trees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold back the rain .
For many ecological enthusiasts , leaving “ vast tracts ” of Irish hills to nature , or restoring them with native trees , would be ideal .
New woodlands of Scots pine , birch and sessile oak flourish in their dreams .
Before the postglacial climate change , many centuries ago , brought its own relentless rains , Scots pine was the dominant tree of the uplands , but there ’ s no chance of its unaided regeneration .
One man in Co Wicklow carries a bunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and plants them where he can , protected inside little barricades of rocks .
Some of the growing legion of hillwalkers might , perhaps , be moved to read The Man Who Planted Trees , Jean Giono ’ s enduring fantasy , and carry a pocketful of sprouted acorns of the native sessile oak .
Prodded deep into any likely crevice of mineral soil , who knows ?
Until , I fear , the first snip from a passing sheep .
Meanwhile , treeless blanket peat has absorbent values of its own , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his book Feral , Monbiot was irked to find the EU opposing upland tree planting on the grounds that it would release too much carbon from the soil .
One of many objectives in a new “ Wild Atlantic Nature ” project , backed by the EU Life programme , is “ removal of encroaching trees and shrubs ” from blanket peatland in protected areas along the Wild Atlantic Way .
These , no doubt , would include rhododendron and the lodgepole pines self-sown from ageing Coillte forestry .
“ Restoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wild Atlantic Way faces a pessimistic description from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and a lack of any national conservation plan for blanket bogs , even in protected areas .
The project lists the causes of damage : “ Centuries of peat cutting , reclamation , burning , drainage and invasive species .
In more recent decades afforestation , over- or under-grazing , recreation and infrastructural developments .
.
.
” Add in “ low levels of public appreciation ” of how peatland matters to climate change , or why communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local bog , and you might wonder where to start .

Looking out at blackface ewes caught in the squalls, tails to the wind, hailstones sequinned on their fleeces, it has been hard to grudge them their share of the western landscape. How fair would it be to call the high, bare slopes of the hills “sheepwrecked”?
This was a coinage from George Monbiot, radical columnist on ecological issues for the Guardian newspaper. It headed a chapter in Feral, his book that urged "rewilding" of the upland ecosystems.
Monbiot lived until recently at Machynlleth in Wales, below Cambrian mountains “grazed to destruction” and the source of both the Severn and Wye rivers. After previous Welsh floods, he dared to put the blame on the hill sheep. His comments on Countryfile raised a storm.
This came to mind as I watched, appalled, the latest flooding of western UK. Both these islands share “extreme events” of unconscionable rainfall. An avalanche of soil unfurling on one Welsh hillside was so like the one that still scars the mountain round the corner in Killary harbour, opposite Leenane. Other Irish landslides have been far more damaging, and the Geological Survey has even mapped more potential sites.
READ MORE
It has been three decades since I had to describe the severe overgrazing of western hills caused by the EU’s headage subsidies on unsustainable peatland. A great deal has changed since then, in reduction of sheep numbers, environmental grant schemes and enlightened local initiatives.
The fabric of the hills has been slow to repair, as Nardus and Molinia grasses hold their grasp. Whole communities of mosses and liverworts have gone. Heather creeps back on the drier ground. but rarely to the height or luxuriance that once soaked up the rain and sheltered coveys of red grouse. For that, one has to visit, say, the protected slopes of Connemara National Park.
Profound change
A different but equally profound change is the current exodus from hill farming. The toll of ageing aside, this is blamed on falling incomes. A study for the Irish Uplands Forum has found these well below the average industrial wage and almost wholly composed of basic EU farm payments.
The bulk of sheep, however, are still held on the western seaboard and on uplands in the south and east. More than 800,000 head are mountain ewes. As ageing farmers drop out, their land is often annexed into neighbouring “ranches”.
A concern expressed by Teagasc researchers is that "vast tracts of commonage will become . . . completely abandoned" because their condition is seen as agriculturally worthless. Neither the EU nor Teagasc can bear the thought of uplands smothered ungrazably with unmanaged heather, gorse, willow scrub or trees – all vegetation that might be expected to hold back the rain.
For many ecological enthusiasts, leaving “vast tracts” of Irish hills to nature, or restoring them with native trees, would be ideal. New woodlands of Scots pine, birch and sessile oak flourish in their dreams.
Before the postglacial climate change, many centuries ago, brought its own relentless rains, Scots pine was the dominant tree of the uplands, but there’s no chance of its unaided regeneration. One man in Co Wicklow carries a bunch of pine seedlings on his hill walks and plants them where he can, protected inside little barricades of rocks.
Enduring fantasy
Some of the growing legion of hillwalkers might, perhaps, be moved to read The Man Who Planted Trees, Jean Giono’s enduring fantasy, and carry a pocketful of sprouted acorns of the native sessile oak. Prodded deep into any likely crevice of mineral soil, who knows? Until, I fear, the first snip from a passing sheep. Meanwhile, treeless blanket peat has absorbent values of its own, soaking up both water and atmospheric carbon.
In his book Feral, Monbiot was irked to find the EU opposing upland tree planting on the grounds that it would release too much carbon from the soil.
One of many objectives in a new "Wild Atlantic Nature" project, backed by the EU Life programme, is "removal of encroaching trees and shrubs" from blanket peatland in protected areas along the Wild Atlantic Way. These, no doubt, would include rhododendron and the lodgepole pines self-sown from ageing Coillte forestry.
“Restoring” the bogs in 24 SACs along the Wild Atlantic Way faces a pessimistic description from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and a lack of any national conservation plan for blanket bogs, even in protected areas.
The project lists the causes of damage: “Centuries of peat cutting, reclamation, burning, drainage and invasive species. In more recent decades afforestation, over- or under-grazing, recreation and infrastructural developments . . . ”
Add in “low levels of public appreciation” of how peatland matters to climate change, or why communities should feel a caring ownership for the local bog, and you might wonder where to start.