theirishtimes--2020-10-24--Some 161 ‘unaddressed’ allegations of child abuse to Tusla uncovered

Some 161 reports of alleged child abuse were left “ unaddressed ” in the Co Kerry area by Tusla , including a number of cases where children were at potential risk .
The cases all involved adults reporting alleged abuse that had occurred when they were children , known as retrospective disclosures .
Only a small number had work undertaken on the cases , or to follow up on potential risks to children now .
The issue was uncovered by Tusla earlier this year during a review of separate matters in the Co Kerry area .
An internal briefing note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the review had revealed that “ a large number of retrospective referrals may have been unaddressed ” .
In a statement this week , a spokeswoman for Tusla said the 161 unaddressed cases had been uncovered by the agency ’ s “ own processes of audit and investigations ” .
The spokeswoman said all the cases had been reviewed , with a number now closed and those that remained open allocated to social workers .
Nearly a third of the cases were deemed to be “ high risk ” , including a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a continuing potential risk of abuse to children .
Of the 46 high-risk cases , nine involved named children who were identified as at potential risk .
In a further 23 high-risk cases , the alleged abusers reported to Tusla were believed to have contact with children .
The remaining high-risk files including some cases where social workers needed to establish if convicted sex offenders had contact with children .
There were also 44 medium-risk , and 71 low-risk cases among the uncovered files .
Previously The Irish Times reported that Tusla had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse to Garda in the Co Kerry area , which included the 161 unaddressed files .
The internal briefing note reveals that not only were the 161 cases not referred to gardaí , but no work had been undertaken by Tusla on the majority of cases .
“ There was no evidence of uniformity of practice on the small number of files where work had taken place , ” the note said .
“ In cases where some action had taken place , the rationale for the decisions taken was not recorded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed a limited understanding of the process of dealing with retrospective cases , ” it said , and there was no evidence of supervision of the cases .
The 46 high-risk cases required “ immediate follow-up ” , it warned .
The internal briefing and other correspondence was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act .
The Health and Information Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) sought assurances in May that all children identified as being at risk “ due to the uncovering of 161 retrospective cases have an appropriate safety plan in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 15th update , Tusla informed the watchdog that cases where children were believed to be at risk had all been allocated social workers , with safety plans in place .
Tusla chief executive Bernard Gloster wrote to Hiqa on August 24th to state “ substantial progress ” had been made to address the “ significant challenges ” in the Kerry area .
Mr Gloster said Tusla had also reviewed 60 open child protection and welfare cases in the area , which gave rise to wider “ practice challenges and concerns ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly two-thirds of the 60 cases had safeguarding concerns .
“ That is to say safeguarding matters either had not been adequately responded to or were outstanding in terms of the evidence reviewed , ” he told Hiqa .

Some 161 reports of alleged child abuse were left "unaddressed" in the Co Kerry area by Tusla, including a number of cases where children were at potential risk.
The cases all involved adults reporting alleged abuse that had occurred when they were children, known as retrospective disclosures. Only a small number had work undertaken on the cases, or to follow up on potential risks to children now.
The issue was uncovered by Tusla earlier this year during a review of separate matters in the Co Kerry area. An internal briefing note dated May 8th, 2020, outlined the review had revealed that “a large number of retrospective referrals may have been unaddressed”.
In a statement this week, a spokeswoman for Tusla said the 161 unaddressed cases had been uncovered by the agency’s “own processes of audit and investigations”.
READ MORE
The spokeswoman said all the cases had been reviewed, with a number now closed and those that remained open allocated to social workers.
Nearly a third of the cases were deemed to be “high risk”, including a small number where there was deemed to be a continuing potential risk of abuse to children.
Of the 46 high-risk cases, nine involved named children who were identified as at potential risk. In a further 23 high-risk cases, the alleged abusers reported to Tusla were believed to have contact with children.
The remaining high-risk files including some cases where social workers needed to establish if convicted sex offenders had contact with children. There were also 44 medium-risk, and 71 low-risk cases among the uncovered files.
Suspected abuse
Previously The Irish Times reported that Tusla had failed to refer 365 cases of suspected abuse to Garda in the Co Kerry area, which included the 161 unaddressed files.
The internal briefing note reveals that not only were the 161 cases not referred to gardaí, but no work had been undertaken by Tusla on the majority of cases.
“There was no evidence of uniformity of practice on the small number of files where work had taken place,” the note said. “In cases where some action had taken place, the rationale for the decisions taken was not recorded,” it said.
“The files showed a limited understanding of the process of dealing with retrospective cases,” it said, and there was no evidence of supervision of the cases. The 46 high-risk cases required “immediate follow-up”, it warned.
The internal briefing and other correspondence was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Health and Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) sought assurances in May that all children identified as being at risk "due to the uncovering of 161 retrospective cases have an appropriate safety plan in place", correspondence shows.
In a June 15th update, Tusla informed the watchdog that cases where children were believed to be at risk had all been allocated social workers, with safety plans in place.
Safeguarding concerns
Tusla chief executive Bernard Gloster wrote to Hiqa on August 24th to state "substantial progress" had been made to address the "significant challenges" in the Kerry area.
Mr Gloster said Tusla had also reviewed 60 open child protection and welfare cases in the area, which gave rise to wider “practice challenges and concerns”, he said.
That review had found nearly two-thirds of the 60 cases had safeguarding concerns. “That is to say safeguarding matters either had not been adequately responded to or were outstanding in terms of the evidence reviewed,” he told Hiqa.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Thinking Anew – Strength for what lies ahead

A few weeks ago a local care home asked me to take Holy Communion to one of their residents , Edith , who was receiving palliative care .
I arrived at the home , was ushered through the back gate so I did not have to walk through the main gathering areas , wore a mask , and sanitised my hands at least three times while I was there .
I remained two metres away from Edith , apart from the moment that I actually placed the host on her tongue .
Her hands were too trembly to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her own mouth .
As I was leaving , I asked the manager of the home if I could come and visit Edith again .
She replied that unfortunately this would not be possible .
I had only been allowed in as a special dispensation because she was nearing the end of her life and she had requested a priest .
Yet Edith had told me that her own daughter had not been allowed to visit for months .
I hope her daughter was allowed to be there at the very end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was – but certainly for the last precious stretch of Edith ’ s life , they were separated .
Yesterday morning I heard that Edith had died .
I have another old friend whose wife had advanced dementia and was cared for in a nursing home .
He would visit her faithfully every day until lockdown happened , and then he was no longer allowed in .
His wife died within a few weeks and he never saw her again .
I don ’ t think he will ever recover from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beloved , bewildered wife in the last days of her life .
I remain heartbroken at stories like this .
We have all encountered them over the last six months .
I am not going to share any others , because it ’ s all too painful .
The saddest situations that I have known are not directly due to Covid itself , but because of the measures we have had to take to contain the spread of the virus .
So I am viscerally relieved to hear that there are plans here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ essential worker ” status – access to regular Covid tests and full protective equipment – so that they can continue to be part of their loved one ’ s life despite the restrictions .
Surely , surely we need to recognise that the company of beloved people in our final years is an essential , as essential as food and water and shelter .
As we face yet another season of having to separate from one another in the name of public health , it is vital that we find ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our old and our frail from the deadly health risk that is loneliness and isolation .
If we fail in this , we can find ourselves jettisoning life in order to preserve life .
As Christians we believe that death is by no means the worst thing that can happen to us .
A good death is the most precious gift of all , both to the person who is dying and to those who are left behind to mourn .
Due honour has to be given to this most significant transition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the last hours of life but in the final weeks , months , and even years .
I am hopeful that this next season of restrictions will regard this end-of-life journey as essential , and not to be compromised ; any more than we would dream of compromising the way we welcome babies into the world with warmth and cuddles and milk and loving protection .
Of course we are all just doing our best , because what else can we do ?
In all this , too , Jesus has gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have a “ good death ” , but a death filled with suffering and shame and a profound sense of abandonment .
He waits for us now beyond our darkest fears .
He will carry us when it ’ s all too much .
He will strengthen us for whatever lies ahead .

“We need to recognise that the company of beloved people in our final years is an essential, as essential as food and water and shelter.” Photograph: Getty Images
A few weeks ago a local care home asked me to take Holy Communion to one of their residents, Edith, who was receiving palliative care. I arrived at the home, was ushered through the back gate so I did not have to walk through the main gathering areas, wore a mask, and sanitised my hands at least three times while I was there.
I remained two metres away from Edith, apart from the moment that I actually placed the host on her tongue. Her hands were too trembly to be able to receive the wafer and put it in her own mouth.
As I was leaving, I asked the manager of the home if I could come and visit Edith again. She replied that unfortunately this would not be possible. I had only been allowed in as a special dispensation because she was nearing the end of her life and she had requested a priest.
Yet Edith had told me that her own daughter had not been allowed to visit for months. I hope her daughter was allowed to be there at the very end – I don’t know if she was – but certainly for the last precious stretch of Edith’s life, they were separated. Yesterday morning I heard that Edith had died.
READ MORE
I have another old friend whose wife had advanced dementia and was cared for in a nursing home. He would visit her faithfully every day until lockdown happened, and then he was no longer allowed in.
His wife died within a few weeks and he never saw her again. I don’t think he will ever recover from the bleakness of the enforced separation from his beloved, bewildered wife in the last days of her life.
I remain heartbroken at stories like this. We have all encountered them over the last six months.
I am not going to share any others, because it’s all too painful.
The saddest situations that I have known are not directly due to Covid itself, but because of the measures we have had to take to contain the spread of the virus.
So I am viscerally relieved to hear that there are plans here in the UK to give close relatives “essential worker” status – access to regular Covid tests and full protective equipment – so that they can continue to be part of their loved one’s life despite the restrictions.
Surely, surely we need to recognise that the company of beloved people in our final years is an essential, as essential as food and water and shelter.
As we face yet another season of having to separate from one another in the name of public health, it is vital that we find ways to safely adjust the boundaries to truly protect our old and our frail from the deadly health risk that is loneliness and isolation.
If we fail in this, we can find ourselves jettisoning life in order to preserve life.
As Christians we believe that death is by no means the worst thing that can happen to us.
A good death is the most precious gift of all, both to the person who is dying and to those who are left behind to mourn. Due honour has to be given to this most significant transition, a transition which does not just happen in the last hours of life but in the final weeks, months, and even years.
I am hopeful that this next season of restrictions will regard this end-of-life journey as essential, and not to be compromised; any more than we would dream of compromising the way we welcome babies into the world with warmth and cuddles and milk and loving protection.
Of course we are all just doing our best, because what else can we do? In all this, too, Jesus has gone ahead of us. He himself did not have a “good death”, but a death filled with suffering and shame and a profound sense of abandonment.
He waits for us now beyond our darkest fears. He will carry us when it’s all too much. He will strengthen us for whatever lies ahead.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Almost €160,000 worth of drugs seized in Meath grow house by gardaí

Almost €160,000 worth of drugs were seized in a cannabis grow house by gardaí in Co Meath .
Officers attached @ @ @ @ @ unit , the Eastern Region Armed Support unit and detective from Navan carried out a @ @ @ @ @ Deanhill , Navan on Friday afternoon .
They found a large growing facility which was @ @ @ @ @ cannabis .
A total of 143 plants with an estimated street value of €114,400 , @ @ @ @ @ with an estimated street value of €45,000 were seized along with €9,000 in cash .
@ @ @ @ @ at the scene and taken to Ashbourne Garda station for questioning .

Officers attached to the Meath Divisional Drug unit, the Eastern Region Armed Support unit and detective from Navan carried out a search of a house in Deanhill, Navan on Friday afternoon. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Almost €160,000 worth of drugs were seized in a cannabis grow house by gardaí in Co Meath.
Officers attached to the Meath Divisional Drug unit, the Eastern Region Armed Support unit and detective from Navan carried out a search of a house in Deanhill, Navan on Friday afternoon.
They found a large growing facility which was ventilated and insulated to grow cannabis.
A total of 143 plants with an estimated street value of €114,400, along with loose cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €45,000 were seized along with €9,000 in cash.
READ MORE
A 51-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Ashbourne Garda station for questioning.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Government warned by pastors of ‘severe’ consequences if churches are not opened up

A group of 70 pastors attached to evangelical Christian denominations in Ireland have written to the Government warning of “ severe ” consequences if their churches are not opened up .
The letter , which has been sent to Taoiseach Micheál Martin and all TDs , says the continuing closure of places of worship is “ counterproductive during a season when people desperately need the hope and community that so many find in church life and public worship ” .
Pointing out that churches in the State are the only ones in Europe to remain closed , the pastors said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the steps these churches have taken to ensure the safety of their congregations amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
The letter warned of “ severe , unintended consequences [ from the closures ] , particularly with regards to .
.
.
[ the ] mental health ” of people who attend these churches .
“ Unfortunately on a wider scale in the local communities in which we serve , we are seeing domestic violence , self-harm , and even suicide .
As we enter the darker winter season , we believe that these issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastors state .
“ If ever there was a time that churches in Ireland needed to be open it is now .
When people are losing their jobs , fearful about the future and struggling to make ends meet , they need the comfort , hope and solace that is found in the community of faith.
” Pastor John Ahern of the All Nations Church in Dublin said he is aware of seven suicides in the last week among friends and acquaintances .
He said the “ obsessive focus on simply Covid numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are seeing with society in terms of our mental health ” .
He said the churches represented by the pastors represent more than 70 nationalities in Ireland , and include Iranian , Chinese , Romanian , Russian and Indian churches , along with congregations from parts of Africa .
Many of the congregates are immigrants who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic .
“ In many instances , church is their only social outlet and , for many non-nationals , their only family in this nation .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who cares about them , ” he said .
“ I have dear friends with children who have lost their income , some on the brink of bankruptcy , and yet we have politicians who continue to be paid no matter what happens .
“ I believe that churches need to be open to offer comfort and solace to those who need it .
I think right now , we all need the hope and good news that is found in the Gospel of Christ and the gathering of God ’ s people.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of churchgoing is vital to immigrants in Ireland , and that going online is no substitute .
“ It is very easy to come out with dismissive lines to go online .
It is not the same .
We broadcast online , but it is no substitute to doing what Christians have done for the last 2,000 years , which is to meet and worship .
”

A group of 70 pastors attached to evangelical Christian denominations have written to the Government warning of ‘severe’ consequences if their churches are not opened up. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
A group of 70 pastors attached to evangelical Christian denominations in Ireland have written to the Government warning of "severe" consequences if their churches are not opened up.
The letter, which has been sent to Taoiseach Micheál Martin and all TDs, says the continuing closure of places of worship is “counterproductive during a season when people desperately need the hope and community that so many find in church life and public worship”.
Pointing out that churches in the State are the only ones in Europe to remain closed, the pastors said the closures are "unwarranted" given the steps these churches have taken to ensure the safety of their congregations amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The letter warned of “severe, unintended consequences [from the closures], particularly with regards to . . . [the] mental health” of people who attend these churches.
READ MORE
“Unfortunately on a wider scale in the local communities in which we serve, we are seeing domestic violence, self-harm, and even suicide. As we enter the darker winter season, we believe that these issues will only grow worse,” the pastors state.
“If ever there was a time that churches in Ireland needed to be open it is now. When people are losing their jobs, fearful about the future and struggling to make ends meet, they need the comfort, hope and solace that is found in the community of faith.”
‘Obsessive focus’
Pastor John Ahern of the All Nations Church in Dublin said he is aware of seven suicides in the last week among friends and acquaintances.
He said the “obsessive focus on simply Covid numbers is not dealing with the collateral damage we are seeing with society in terms of our mental health”.
He said the churches represented by the pastors represent more than 70 nationalities in Ireland, and include Iranian, Chinese, Romanian, Russian and Indian churches, along with congregations from parts of Africa.
Many of the congregates are immigrants who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.
“In many instances, church is their only social outlet and, for many non-nationals, their only family in this nation. It is not like they have anybody else who cares about them,” he said.
“I have dear friends with children who have lost their income, some on the brink of bankruptcy, and yet we have politicians who continue to be paid no matter what happens.
“I believe that churches need to be open to offer comfort and solace to those who need it. I think right now, we all need the hope and good news that is found in the Gospel of Christ and the gathering of God’s people.”
Pastor Ahern said the social aspect of churchgoing is vital to immigrants in Ireland, and that going online is no substitute.
“It is very easy to come out with dismissive lines to go online. It is not the same. We broadcast online, but it is no substitute to doing what Christians have done for the last 2,000 years, which is to meet and worship.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Dropping Covid-19 positivity rates give grounds for hope, says HSE boss

HSE chief executive Paul Reid has said a decline in the positivity rate of those infected by Covid-19 gives hope for the future .
In the last seven days the rate of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 has dropped from 8.9 per cent of those who have been tested to 5.8 per cent , a fall of more than a third .
The positivity rate is regarded as a key indicator of the spread of Covid-19 within the community and it is also an indicator for the prevalence of asymptomatic cases .
Mr Reid tweeted on Friday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trend .
But for the last 7 days we ’ ve seen the positivity rate from testing reducing marginally each day .
From 8.9 per cent to 5.8 per cent .
One way or another , I hope it gives everyone some encouragement and hope.
” At the same time Tánaiste Leo Varadkar retweeted a Twitter thread from the anonymous account Danny Boy ( @ care2much18 ) who tweets regularly on the progress of the pandemic in Ireland Danny Boy suggested that the Level 3 restrictions which were brought in on October 6th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions this week had started to work .
He tweeted : “ The early impact of October 6th ’ s Level 3 restrictions is potentially on display because the positivity rate was quickly heading north of 8 % and has dropped off this week .
It ’ s 5.8 % in the last 24 hours.
” Danny Boy contrasted Ireland ’ s falling positivity rate with rates in Belgium and the Czech Republic which are 18.7 per cent and 34 per cent respectively , and still rising .
“ So whether it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people staying on their couch more a few weeks ago , there ’ s a demarcation or divergence happening , ” he wrote .
“ That we have managed to turn on to a different course , for the moment , is very good - but we can still arrive at the same destination as Belgium or the Czech ’ s , taking the low road.
” Mr Varadkar retweeted the thread and added the comments : “ Too early to know for sure but this is encouraging.
” Speaking at the MacGill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horgan , a consultant at Cork University Hospital , said numbers entering the hospital system have levelled off as a result of the previous Level 3 restrictions .
The situation is very different to how it was in the spring , she stressed , as doctors know better how to treat the virus .
She is now back treating Covid-19 patients on the wards in Cork University Hospital which had to put on extra ICU capacity last week .
Prof Horgan , who is the first female president of the Royal College of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not all “ doom and gloom ” .
“ What has changed ?
My ability to treat patients is better .
The use of steroid has made a huge difference in getting patients better .
My hope is that the Level 3 restrictions have had an impact already .
”

Chief executive of the HSE Paul Reid tweeted about the marginal reduction on Covid-19 positivity rates. Photograph: Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland
HSE chief executive Paul Reid has said a decline in the positivity rate of those infected by Covid-19 gives hope for the future.
In the last seven days the rate of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 has dropped from 8.9 per cent of those who have been tested to 5.8 per cent, a fall of more than a third.
The positivity rate is regarded as a key indicator of the spread of Covid-19 within the community and it is also an indicator for the prevalence of asymptomatic cases.
Mr Reid tweeted on Friday evening: “Always reluctant to declare a trend. But for the last 7 days we’ve seen the positivity rate from testing reducing marginally each day. From 8.9 per cent to 5.8 per cent. One way or another, I hope it gives everyone some encouragement and hope.”
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At the same time Tánaiste Leo Varadkar retweeted a Twitter thread from the anonymous account Danny Boy (@care2much18) who tweets regularly on the progress of the pandemic in Ireland
Danny Boy suggested that the Level 3 restrictions which were brought in on October 6th only to be supplanted by Level 5 restrictions this week had started to work.
He tweeted: “The early impact of October 6th’s Level 3 restrictions is potentially on display because the positivity rate was quickly heading north of 8% and has dropped off this week. It’s 5.8% in the last 24 hours.”
Belgium
Danny Boy contrasted Ireland's falling positivity rate with rates in Belgium and the Czech Republic which are 18.7 per cent and 34 per cent respectively, and still rising.
“So whether it’s the Level 3 impact or simply people staying on their couch more a few weeks ago, there’s a demarcation or divergence happening,” he wrote.
“That we have managed to turn on to a different course, for the moment, is very good - but we can still arrive at the same destination as Belgium or the Czech’s, taking the low road.”
Mr Varadkar retweeted the thread and added the comments: “Too early to know for sure but this is encouraging.”
Speaking at the MacGill Summer School on Thursday, Professor Mary Horgan, a consultant at Cork University Hospital, said numbers entering the hospital system have levelled off as a result of the previous Level 3 restrictions.
The situation is very different to how it was in the spring, she stressed, as doctors know better how to treat the virus.
She is now back treating Covid-19 patients on the wards in Cork University Hospital which had to put on extra ICU capacity last week.
Prof Horgan, who is the first female president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said the picture is not all "doom and gloom".
“What has changed? My ability to treat patients is better. The use of steroid has made a huge difference in getting patients better. My hope is that the Level 3 restrictions have had an impact already.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--No voluntary redundancy programme for the HSE at this time, health chief tells staff

There is to be no voluntary redundancy scheme for staff in the HSE at this time , the head of the organisation , Paul Reid , as said .
In a bulletin to staff on Friday he signalled there would be changes to management structures in the health service as part of an on-going reform plan .
However Mr Reid said : “ We will need more rather than less people in the medium term , therefore it isn ’ t intended to have a voluntary leaving scheme available at this time.
” The Government announced in the Budget that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increase by about 16,000 over the number in place at the end of 2019 .
Mr Reid told staff that he had “ commissioned a review of the HSE corporate centre earlier this year in order to put in place more effective structures at the centre to support our services across the country ” .
“ I wanted to ensure that our resources were invested wisely and , as far as possible , in frontline health services .
We also wanted to be ready for the changes planned under Sláintecare ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ In the short time since then , our world has changed , and we are all working in ways we could never have predicted.
” “ Our experience in dealing with Covid-19 has given us huge insight into better ways of working together and has convinced me more than ever that we need to streamline our management processes to allow more decisions to be made by the right people at hospital and community level , ” he said .
Mr Reid said under new reforms to the HSE ’ s corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be established .
He said this would involve an eHealth and disruptive technology function “ to drive our data and analytics capability and ensure system integration ” and a population health and prevention function which would include test and trace capability .
Mr Reid said there would also be changes in some corporate activities at the HSE centre .
He said , for example , within its operations area it would be moving “ away from a management structure that has a tendency to reinforce the hospital/community divide ” .
Mr Reid told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HSE they would not see any change in structure , or ways of working together , until next year .
He said implementation will be towards the end of the first quarter in 2021 .
“ Since the onset of Covid-19 , we ’ ve seen an increased requirement for us to strengthen and resource new functions , such as procurement , testing and tracing and public health .
As a result , we have significant recruitment plans approved in Budget 2021 by Government.
” “ We will need more rather than less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it isn ’ t intended to have a voluntary leaving scheme available at this time .
”

HSE chief executive Paul Reid said under new reforms to the HSE’s corporate centre, two new senior management functions would be established. Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland
There is to be no voluntary redundancy scheme for staff in the HSE at this time, the head of the organisation, Paul Reid, as said.
In a bulletin to staff on Friday he signalled there would be changes to management structures in the health service as part of an on-going reform plan.
However Mr Reid said: “We will need more rather than less people in the medium term, therefore it isn’t intended to have a voluntary leaving scheme available at this time.”
The Government announced in the Budget that staffing levels in the health service are to increase by about 16,000 over the number in place at the end of 2019.
READ MORE
Mr Reid told staff that he had “commissioned a review of the HSE corporate centre earlier this year in order to put in place more effective structures at the centre to support our services across the country”.
“I wanted to ensure that our resources were invested wisely and, as far as possible, in frontline health services. We also wanted to be ready for the changes planned under Sláintecare (the overall Government health reform plan).”
“In the short time since then, our world has changed, and we are all working in ways we could never have predicted.”
“Our experience in dealing with Covid-19 has given us huge insight into better ways of working together and has convinced me more than ever that we need to streamline our management processes to allow more decisions to be made by the right people at hospital and community level,” he said.
Mr Reid said under new reforms to the HSE’s corporate centre two new senior management functions would be established. He said this would involve an eHealth and disruptive technology function “to drive our data and analytics capability and ensure system integration” and a population health and prevention function which would include test and trace capability.
Mr Reid said there would also be changes in some corporate activities at the HSE centre. He said, for example, within its operations area it would be moving “away from a management structure that has a tendency to reinforce the hospital/community divide”.
Mr Reid told staff that in many parts of the HSE they would not see any change in structure, or ways of working together, until next year. He said implementation will be towards the end of the first quarter in 2021.
“Since the onset of Covid-19, we’ve seen an increased requirement for us to strengthen and resource new functions, such as procurement, testing and tracing and public health. As a result, we have significant recruitment plans approved in Budget 2021 by Government.”
“We will need more rather than less people in the medium term, therefore it isn’t intended to have a voluntary leaving scheme available at this time.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Man charged after allegedly trying to stop gardaí taking scrambler from 10-year-old

A 30-year-old man has been charged by gardaí after allegedly trying to obstruct gardaí from confiscating a mini-scrambler bike which was being driven by a 10-year-old boy in an erratic fashion in a public park in Cork .
Officers from Gurranabraher Garda station responded to a complaint from a member of the public that a mini-scrambler bike was being driven around a park off Sunvalley Drive in Fairhill at about 5.30pm on Thursday .
The mini-scrambler was being driven in an erratic fashion in the park , which is a popular walking spot for locals , and when gardaí stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a 10-year-old , with another juvenile as a passenger .
It is an offence to drive a scrambler bike in a public place , and neither of the boys on the bike were wearing a helmet as required under law , so gardaí moved to confiscate the bike .
A man then attempted to intervene and stop gardaí from taking the bike , and he then tried to set the bike on fire .
A suspect was subsequently arrested in relation to this incident for a public order offence .
Gardaí conveyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he was questioned for several hours before being charged and released on station bail to appear in court later .
Officers also confiscated the mini-scrambler bike .

A 30-year-old man has been charged by gardaí after allegedly trying to obstruct gardaí from confiscating a mini-scrambler bike. File photograph: iStock
A 30-year-old man has been charged by gardaí after allegedly trying to obstruct gardaí from confiscating a mini-scrambler bike which was being driven by a 10-year-old boy in an erratic fashion in a public park in Cork.
Officers from Gurranabraher Garda station responded to a complaint from a member of the public that a mini-scrambler bike was being driven around a park off Sunvalley Drive in Fairhill at about 5.30pm on Thursday.
The mini-scrambler was being driven in an erratic fashion in the park, which is a popular walking spot for locals, and when gardaí stopped the bike, they discovered the driver was a 10-year-old, with another juvenile as a passenger.
It is an offence to drive a scrambler bike in a public place, and neither of the boys on the bike were wearing a helmet as required under law, so gardaí moved to confiscate the bike.
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A man then attempted to intervene and stop gardaí from taking the bike, and he then tried to set the bike on fire. A suspect was subsequently arrested in relation to this incident for a public order offence.
Gardaí conveyed the suspect to Gurranabraher Garda station, where he was questioned for several hours before being charged and released on station bail to appear in court later. Officers also confiscated the mini-scrambler bike.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Pint lovers may be spinning at the notion: Conor Pope tries alcohol-free Guinness

As if 2020 couldn ’ t get any worse , could it now be going down in history as the year they ruined Guinness ?
A version of the national stout stripped of alcohol is about to go on sale and it ’ s not a big stretch to imagine Flann O ’ Brien , Patrick Kavanagh , Brendan Behan and generations of lesser known lovers of the pint spinning in their graves at the mere thought .
But before anyone storms the gate at St James ’ s in protest , they might want to try a can of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that not only does it look , smell and surge like the real thing , it also tastes very much like it too .
The company says that at a corporate event in St James ’ s Gate earlier this year , when such events were still allowed , guests were mistakenly served from a secret keg of the non-alcoholic version rather than the real thing for the guts of an hour .
There were dozens of pints downed and not one single person noticed the difference .
And there are probably some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear-headed they felt after their night on the lash in Dublin 8 .
Aisling Ryan is the innovation brewer at St James ’ s Gate and has spent the last four years on the project working closely with Padraig Fox , the general manager at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery , where all such products are born .
The pair joined The Irish Times for a Zoom tasting session ahead of the roll out and even before the cans were opened at the soberest drinking session of all time both seemed confident in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this writer and long-time fan of the black stuff .
“ So , you ’ re the woman who ruined Guinness , ” we started , making sure to lay our cards quickly on the table so everyone was clear where we stood .
An unflappable Ryan was insistent that far from ruining Guinness , she and her team had developed a stout that has the look , taste and feel as the real deal .
She said that when they were starting out they realised they had two options .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or to take an already brewed product and remove the alcohol after the fact .
They went for option two .
She said the most common way for alcohol to be taken out of a beer is with heat but accepted that simply trying to boil off the alcohol would have resulted in a disgusting beer that would have brought shame upon the name .
“ We wanted to find a gentle way of removing the alcohol that did not put the beer under thermal stress , ” she said .
They went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she felt the burden of a history spanning more than 200 years on her shoulders as she set about the task .
“ It is such an iconic product and so distinct .
“ We wanted to make sure it had the same look and feel and the same aromas and the same surge and settling .
Everyone wanted it to be the best version possible.
” “ We are not taking Guinness away , ” Fox stressed .
“ A lot of people who don ’ t want to drink in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe don ’ t want to spend the night drinking soft drinks.
” When asked what the literary alcoholics of times past might make of the development he laughed and said simply .
“ I would love to give them a pint in a blind taste test to see what they ’ d make of it.
” With none of them available to taste the product , The Irish Times stepped into the breach .
The blue-tinged can opened in exactly the same fashion as a regular can might and the widget worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
The pour was the same as it ever was and the creamy head settled just the same too .
Holding a pint of it , it looked for all the world like a proper pint .
And then the first sip .
My goodness my Guinness tasted like it always does out of a can .
Was it the best pint ever poured or sipped ?
No , no it was not .
But it was very , very close to a regular can of Guinness with the only real different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us or at least not quite so bad for our liver .
It will be available in the Home Counties of Britain from next week and before you can say cultural misappropriation tá siad ag teacht to its home place and a supermarket or off licence near you early in November .

As if 2020 couldn’t get any worse, could it now be going down in history as the year they ruined Guinness?
A version of the national stout stripped of alcohol is about to go on sale and it’s not a big stretch to imagine Flann O’Brien, Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan and generations of lesser known lovers of the pint spinning in their graves at the mere thought.
But before anyone storms the gate at St James’s in protest, they might want to try a can of the new Guinness 0.0. as Diageo claims that not only does it look, smell and surge like the real thing, it also tastes very much like it too.
The company says that at a corporate event in St James’s Gate earlier this year, when such events were still allowed, guests were mistakenly served from a secret keg of the non-alcoholic version rather than the real thing for the guts of an hour. There were dozens of pints downed and not one single person noticed the difference. And there are probably some people out there still marvelling at how clear-headed they felt after their night on the lash in Dublin 8.
READ MORE
Innovation
Aisling Ryan is the innovation brewer at St James’s Gate and has spent the last four years on the project working closely with Padraig Fox, the general manager at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, where all such products are born.
The pair joined The Irish Times for a Zoom tasting session ahead of the roll out and even before the cans were opened at the soberest drinking session of all time both seemed confident in their product, despite the evident scepticism of this writer and long-time fan of the black stuff.
“So, you’re the woman who ruined Guinness,” we started, making sure to lay our cards quickly on the table so everyone was clear where we stood.
An unflappable Ryan was insistent that far from ruining Guinness, she and her team had developed a stout that has the look, taste and feel as the real deal.
She said that when they were starting out they realised they had two options. They could brew the the beer without alcohol or to take an already brewed product and remove the alcohol after the fact.
Cold filtration
They went for option two. She said the most common way for alcohol to be taken out of a beer is with heat but accepted that simply trying to boil off the alcohol would have resulted in a disgusting beer that would have brought shame upon the name.
“We wanted to find a gentle way of removing the alcohol that did not put the beer under thermal stress,” she said.
They went for cold filtration. Ryan admitted that she felt the burden of a history spanning more than 200 years on her shoulders as she set about the task.
“It is such an iconic product and so distinct.
“We wanted to make sure it had the same look and feel and the same aromas and the same surge and settling. Everyone wanted it to be the best version possible.”
“We are not taking Guinness away,” Fox stressed. “A lot of people who don’t want to drink in a pub are not well catered for and maybe don’t want to spend the night drinking soft drinks.”
When asked what the literary alcoholics of times past might make of the development he laughed and said simply.
“I would love to give them a pint in a blind taste test to see what they’d make of it.”
With none of them available to taste the product, The Irish Times stepped into the breach.
First sip
The blue-tinged can opened in exactly the same fashion as a regular can might and the widget worked its magic in an identical fashion as well. The pour was the same as it ever was and the creamy head settled just the same too.
Holding a pint of it, it looked for all the world like a proper pint.
And then the first sip. My goodness my Guinness tasted like it always does out of a can.
Was it the best pint ever poured or sipped? No, no it was not. But it was very, very close to a regular can of Guinness with the only real different being it might actually be good for us or at least not quite so bad for our liver.
It will be available in the Home Counties of Britain from next week and before you can say cultural misappropriation tá siad ag teacht to its home place and a supermarket or off licence near you early in November.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Three arrested as cannabis worth €7m is seized at Dublin Port

Revenue customs officers have seized cannabis with an estimated street value worth €7 million at Dublin Port as part of @ @ @ @ @ .
The illegal drugs arrived in a container from Spain and amounted to 352kg of @ @ @ @ @ made with the assistance of Revenue ’ s mobile X-ray scanner and detector dog Kelly @ @ @ @ @ of a joint operation conducted by Revenue ’ s customs service and members of An @ @ @ @ @ National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau .
International police were also involved in the operation @ @ @ @ @ , 47 and 49 were arrested by gardaí following the seizure and they are currently @ @ @ @ @ of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act , 1996 , at Garda stations @ @ @ @ @ operation was part of ongoing joint investigations targeting the illegal activities of organised crime groups @

Revenue customs officers have seized cannabis with an estimated street value worth €7 million at Dublin Port as part of an investigation into criminal gangs.
The illegal drugs arrived in a container from Spain and amounted to 352kg of cannabis.
The seizure was made with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile X-ray scanner and detector dog Kelly.
It was a result of a joint operation conducted by Revenue's customs service and members of An Garda Síochána through the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
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International police were also involved in the operation.
Three men aged 31, 47 and 49 were arrested by gardaí following the seizure and they are currently being detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Garda stations in Dublin.
This latest operation was part of ongoing joint investigations targeting the illegal activities of organised crime groups.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Public service union leaders warn time is running short to negotiate new pay deal

Public service trade unions have warned that “ time is running short ” to negotiate a new pay agreement for about 340,000 State employees .
At a meeting on Friday public service trade union leaders maintained that any new deal “ must be sufficiently robust to last until the worst of the Covid crisis has passed ” .
They also said that any new accord must be capable of addressing a wide variety of concerns among different sectors and groups in the public service .
The current public serviced pay agreement expires at the end of the year and union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new talks to determine whether there is a basis for negotiating a successor agreement .
In a statement on Friday the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions expressed concerns “ that the time available to negotiate , draft and ratify a successor public service pay agreement , ahead of the expiration of the current PSSA ( Public Service Stability Agreement ) on 31st December , is running short ” .
The meeting was scheduled to discuss progress to date on the contacts which have been underway since the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reform about the potential for reaching a new agreement .
The Irish Times reported on Thursday that Kevin Callinan , general secretary of Fórsa and chair of the public services committee had advised senior figures in his union that there currently was “ no basis for a negotiation with the Government on a new public service pay agreement ” .
He expressed disappointment at the lack of progress made in recent months with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform despite discussions with the Minister Michael McGrath in July .
Mr Callinan told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a scheduled meeting with the Department of Public Expenditure this week had been postponed “ because officials had yet to consult with the Minister to establish the basis for any negotiations ” .
Mr Callinan said : “ The delay sends a signal that should be a cause of concern to all parties , including the Government .
There is now a real possibility that we will find ourselves , perhaps unintentionally , without an agreement at the end of the year.
” “ The absence of an agreement would make for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which would itself be complicated further by the lingering Covid crisis .
I don ’ t believe that ’ s in anybody ’ s best interests , ” he said .
In its statement the public services committee of Ictu said representatives at the meeting on Friday had “ shared their concerns about the very short time available to complete a new agreement , and about ensuring any new deal was capable of addressing a wide variety of sectoral concerns ” .
It said union leaders “ also said that any agreement must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst of the Covid crisis has passed ” .
Mr Callinan said the basis of negotiations for a new public service agreement would need to address specific austerity measures , include an acceptable approach to pay , and provide a clear path to resolving particular long-standing issues within public service grades , groups and categories , ensuring an ultimate resolution in each case .
He said these priorities had been outlined to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform officials as the basic requirements of any negotiation .
The Department of Public Expenditure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussions between the parties to the current public service agreement were ongoing .
It said it did not “ intend to comment on the specifics relating to those discussions which are confidential to the parties ” .

Kevin Callinan, general secretary of Fórsa and chair of the public services committee said the basis of negotiations for a new public service agreement would need to address specific austerity measures. File photograph: Laura Hutton
Public service trade unions have warned that “time is running short” to negotiate a new pay agreement for about 340,000 State employees.
At a meeting on Friday public service trade union leaders maintained that any new deal “ must be sufficiently robust to last until the worst of the Covid crisis has passed”.
They also said that any new accord must be capable of addressing a wide variety of concerns among different sectors and groups in the public service.
The current public serviced pay agreement expires at the end of the year and union leaders are worried about delays in convening new talks to determine whether there is a basis for negotiating a successor agreement.
READ MORE
In a statement on Friday the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions expressed concerns "that the time available to negotiate, draft and ratify a successor public service pay agreement, ahead of the expiration of the current PSSA (Public Service Stability Agreement) on 31st December, is running short".
The meeting was scheduled to discuss progress to date on the contacts which have been underway since the summer with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform about the potential for reaching a new agreement.
The Irish Times reported on Thursday that Kevin Callinan, general secretary of Fórsa and chair of the public services committee had advised senior figures in his union that there currently was "no basis for a negotiation with the Government on a new public service pay agreement".
He expressed disappointment at the lack of progress made in recent months with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform despite discussions with the Minister Michael McGrath in July.
Meeting postponed
Mr Callinan told the public service committee meeting on Friday that a scheduled meeting with the Department of Public Expenditure this week had been postponed “because officials had yet to consult with the Minister to establish the basis for any negotiations”.
Mr Callinan said: “The delay sends a signal that should be a cause of concern to all parties, including the Government. There is now a real possibility that we will find ourselves, perhaps unintentionally, without an agreement at the end of the year.”
“The absence of an agreement would make for a very difficult industrial relations environment, which would itself be complicated further by the lingering Covid crisis. I don’t believe that’s in anybody’s best interests,” he said.
In its statement the public services committee of Ictu said representatives at the meeting on Friday had “shared their concerns about the very short time available to complete a new agreement, and about ensuring any new deal was capable of addressing a wide variety of sectoral concerns”.
It said union leaders “also said that any agreement must be sufficiently robust to last until the worst of the Covid crisis has passed”.
Mr Callinan said the basis of negotiations for a new public service agreement would need to address specific austerity measures, include an acceptable approach to pay, and provide a clear path to resolving particular long-standing issues within public service grades, groups and categories, ensuring an ultimate resolution in each case. He said these priorities had been outlined to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform officials as the basic requirements of any negotiation.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform said on Thursday that exploratory discussions between the parties to the current public service agreement were ongoing . It said it did not “ intend to comment on the specifics relating to those discussions which are confidential to the parties”.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Ben Gilroy in court charged with failing to make returns on election expenses

Unsuccessful Independent European election candidate Ben Gilroy ( 52 ) appeared at Navan District Court on Friday charged with failing @ @ @ @ @ election expenses .
Mr Gilroy , with an address at Riverview , Athlumney , Navan @ @ @ @ @ last year ’ s election to the European Parliament .
In a prosecution taken by @ @ @ @ @ ( Sipo ) Commission , Mr Gilroy was charged that on July 18th last year @ @ @ @ @ election agent and being unsuccessful in the election , he failed to furnish to Sipo @ @ @ @ @ days of polling day giving details of all expenses incurred by him , in breach @ @ @ @ @ , along with any vouchers .
He was also charged with failing to fill in @ @ @ @ @ under the same legislation .
No plea was entered .
Sipo was represented in court @ @ @ @ @ Liam Keane .
Judge Cormac Dunne adjourned the case to January 22nd next .

Ben Gilroy stood as candidate in last year’s election to the European Parliament. File photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
Unsuccessful Independent European election candidate Ben Gilroy (52) appeared at Navan District Court on Friday charged with failing to make returns on his election expenses.
Mr Gilroy, with an address at Riverview, Athlumney, Navan, stood as candidate in last year’s election to the European Parliament.
In a prosecution taken by the Standards in Public Office (Sipo) Commission, Mr Gilroy was charged that on July 18th last year, having been his own election agent and being unsuccessful in the election, he failed to furnish to Sipo a written statement within 56 days of polling day giving details of all expenses incurred by him, in breach of the Electoral Act 1997, along with any vouchers.
He was also charged with failing to fill in a form required by Sipo under the same legislation. No plea was entered.
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Sipo was represented in court by State Solicitor for Meath Liam Keane.
Judge Cormac Dunne adjourned the case to January 22nd next.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--‘Faith restored in people’, says director of nursing at Galway home after public appeal

The director of a Galway nursing home where the majority of staff and 26 out of 28 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus has said her faith in people has been restored after many across the country contacted her to offer assistance .
Patricia MacGabhann , director of nursing at the Nightingale Nursing Home , Ahascragh , said nurses , carers and GPs from across Ireland have contacted her trying to help .
Ms MacGabhann made a plea for assistance on Joe Duffy ’ s Liveline programme on RTÉ Radio 1 .
Ms MacGabhann had said a resident of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe with Covid-19 .
Subsequently the entire nursing home was tested and 25 of the 27 patients were found to be positive .
All but four staff were positive , too .
As a result one nurse and one care worker had been working 13-hour shifts to care for patients .
One resident died from the virus and two have been hospitalised .
Speaking to The Irish Times , Ms MacGabhann said a nurse formerly employed at the Nightingale who is now based in Australia has been in touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help ” .
On Friday a lorry arrived at the home with dietary supplements for the residents , she said .
“ People have shown themselves to be so kind and we are so , so grateful , ” Ms MacGabhann said .
Ms MacGabhann , who is isolating at home with Covid-19 , said her decision to speak publicly had nothing to do with “ bashing the HSE ” but was about “ advocating on behalf of my residents and staff ” .
After she and Dr Martin Daly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centre ’ s residents , spoke out on Thursday the HSE provided additional staff .
HSE officials have said that staff are rostered to support the care home for the coming days .
Ms MacGabhann said : “ I guess my faith in people has been restored hugely.
” She paid tribute to nurse Mari and carer Paula , both of whom have worked 13-hour shifts every day .

Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms MacGabhann said a nurse formerly employed at the Nightingale nursing home who is now based in Australia got in touch to try to offer help. Photograph: Joe Shaughnessy
The director of a Galway nursing home where the majority of staff and 26 out of 28 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus has said her faith in people has been restored after many across the country contacted her to offer assistance.
Patricia MacGabhann, director of nursing at the Nightingale Nursing Home, Ahascragh, said nurses, carers and GPs from across Ireland have contacted her trying to help. Ms MacGabhann made a plea for assistance on Joe Duffy’s Liveline programme on RTÉ Radio 1.
Ms MacGabhann had said a resident of the home had been admitted on Monday to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe with Covid-19. Subsequently the entire nursing home was tested and 25 of the 27 patients were found to be positive. All but four staff were positive, too. As a result one nurse and one care worker had been working 13-hour shifts to care for patients. One resident died from the virus and two have been hospitalised.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms MacGabhann said a nurse formerly employed at the Nightingale who is now based in Australia has been in touch “trying desperately to find a way to help”.
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On Friday a lorry arrived at the home with dietary supplements for the residents, she said.
“People have shown themselves to be so kind and we are so, so grateful,” Ms MacGabhann said.
Ms MacGabhann, who is isolating at home with Covid-19, said her decision to speak publicly had nothing to do with “bashing the HSE” but was about “advocating on behalf of my residents and staff”.
After she and Dr Martin Daly, the general practitioner to a third of the centre’s residents, spoke out on Thursday the HSE provided additional staff. HSE officials have said that staff are rostered to support the care home for the coming days.
Ms MacGabhann said: “I guess my faith in people has been restored hugely.” She paid tribute to nurse Mari and carer Paula, both of whom have worked 13-hour shifts every day.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Siblings released following arrest for failure to leave Co Roscommon farm

Three siblings have been released from Garda custody after they gave sworn undertakings before the High Court to stay away from and vacate their Co Roscommon home .
Michael Anthony , David and Geraldine McGann appeared before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Friday evening to answer allegations they were in contempt of court orders by refusing to leave a property at Falsk , near Strokestown , Co Roscommon .
The judge , following an application by KBC bank which obtained a possession order for the property some years ago , made orders in March requiring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday evening the three were released , pending the outcome of a full hearing of proceedings brought by KBC bank seeking their attachment and committal to prison for alleged contempt , after they agreed to vacate the property pending further order of the court .
They also said that they would remove animals from the property , some 10 cattle , 14 cats and a dog in the coming days .
And they agreed that they would not ask anyone else to occupy the property and direct any others in attendance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a controversial eviction , and re-entry by the McGanns in December 2018 .
On Friday Rossa Fanning SC for KBC told the court that his client did not want to see the McGanns jailed , but in this case , there had been a very clear breach of orders made by the court last year .
Counsel said the matter had been put on hold by KBC arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Counsel also told the court that while it was happy to accept undertakings offered by the McGanns his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the farm following the McGann ’ s arrest at the property on Friday afternoon .
A number of vehicles , including vans with northern Irish registrations had been seen at the farm and unknown number of persons were believed to be present , counsel said .
Lawyers for the siblings said they needed time to prepare for the substantial hearing of the contempt proceedings as the lawyers had only been asked to represent the three at short notice .
McGanns said they did not know anything about persons gathered at the house , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the gardaí following their arrest .
Ms Justice Reynolds agreed that the McGanns could be released on being informed they were prepared to give undertakings to leave the property , remove their animals and tell others to stay away from the farm .
The judge , who reminded the McGanns of the “ very serious consequences ” of breaching the undertakings , adjourned the matter to next Wednesday ’ s sitting of the court .
The judge , after being told the siblings had no way of getting back to Strokestown on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to the property .
The gardaíwould also supervise the McGanns ’ removal of their personal items from the farm and the removal of the animals , the judge added .
In October 2019 , the court ruled that KBC , on foot of a possession order , was entitled to an injunction requiring the McGanns to leave their home .
KBC had obtained and executed a valid possession order over the property , and that the McGanns are trespassers on the property , it held .
KBC sought the injunction after it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the possession order over the property .
The McGanns opposed the application .
In March KBC returned to court alleging that order had not been obeyed and brought motions seeking the McGanns attachment and committal to prison .
In December 2018 , the McGanns were evicted from the farm on foot of a repossession order KBC obtained for the property several years ago .
Following their eviction private security operatives were forced from the property by a group of masked men .
Several security men required medical treatment , several vehicles were burnt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down due to injuries it sustained .
Gardai subsequently launched an investigation after the attack on the security personnel .
The McGanns , who were not involved in those incidents , subsequently returned to the property where they have remained ever since .
The property was the subject of a loan agreement between KBC and the farm ’ s registered owner Michael Anthony McGann .
He fell into arrears on repayments and owed the bank some €431,000 .
KBC obtained a possession order in respect of the property in 2012 , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the loan was made by the borrower in 2014 , KBC claims .

Geraldine McGann of Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon pictured at the Four Courts on Friday. Photograph: Collins Courts
Three siblings have been released from Garda custody after they gave sworn undertakings before the High Court to stay away from and vacate their Co Roscommon home.
Michael Anthony, David and Geraldine McGann appeared before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Friday evening to answer allegations they were in contempt of court orders by refusing to leave a property at Falsk, near Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
The judge, following an application by KBC bank which obtained a possession order for the property some years ago, made orders in March requiring the family to leave the farm.
Late on Friday evening the three were released, pending the outcome of a full hearing of proceedings brought by KBC bank seeking their attachment and committal to prison for alleged contempt, after they agreed to vacate the property pending further order of the court.
READ MORE
They also said that they would remove animals from the property, some 10 cattle, 14 cats and a dog in the coming days. And they agreed that they would not ask anyone else to occupy the property and direct any others in attendance to leave.
The farm was the scene of a controversial eviction, and re-entry by the McGanns in December 2018.
On Friday Rossa Fanning SC for KBC told the court that his client did not want to see the McGanns jailed, but in this case, there had been a very clear breach of orders made by the court last year.
Counsel said the matter had been put on hold by KBC arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Undertakings
Counsel also told the court that while it was happy to accept undertakings offered by the McGanns his client was concerned over persons attending at the farm following the McGann’s arrest at the property on Friday afternoon.
A number of vehicles, including vans with northern Irish registrations had been seen at the farm and unknown number of persons were believed to be present, counsel said.
Lawyers for the siblings said they needed time to prepare for the substantial hearing of the contempt proceedings as the lawyers had only been asked to represent the three at short notice.
McGanns said they did not know anything about persons gathered at the house, and said their phones had been taken by the gardaí following their arrest.
Ms Justice Reynolds agreed that the McGanns could be released on being informed they were prepared to give undertakings to leave the property, remove their animals and tell others to stay away from the farm.
The judge, who reminded the McGanns of the “very serious consequences” of breaching the undertakings, adjourned the matter to next Wednesday’s sitting of the court.
The judge, after being told the siblings had no way of getting back to Strokestown on Friday, directed the gardaí to return them to the property.
The gardaíwould also supervise the McGanns’ removal of their personal items from the farm and the removal of the animals, the judge added.
Possession order
In October 2019, the court ruled that KBC, on foot of a possession order, was entitled to an injunction requiring the McGanns to leave their home.
KBC had obtained and executed a valid possession order over the property, and that the McGanns are trespassers on the property, it held.
KBC sought the injunction after it obtained an order allowing it to execute the possession order over the property. The McGanns opposed the application.
In March KBC returned to court alleging that order had not been obeyed and brought motions seeking the McGanns attachment and committal to prison.
In December 2018, the McGanns were evicted from the farm on foot of a repossession order KBC obtained for the property several years ago.
Following their eviction private security operatives were forced from the property by a group of masked men.
Several security men required medical treatment, several vehicles were burnt and a dog had to be put down due to injuries it sustained.
Gardai subsequently launched an investigation after the attack on the security personnel.
The McGanns, who were not involved in those incidents, subsequently returned to the property where they have remained ever since.
The property was the subject of a loan agreement between KBC and the farm's registered owner Michael Anthony McGann.
He fell into arrears on repayments and owed the bank some €431,000. KBC obtained a possession order in respect of the property in 2012, which was not appealed.
The last repayment on the loan was made by the borrower in 2014, KBC claims.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Love in a time of Covid: John and Mary marry over 40 years after first meeting

Love will conquer all .
Even Covid-19 and the Level 5 lockdown restrictions could not stop one Offaly couple from getting married more than 40 years after they first met .
Farmer John Bermingham ( 86 ) , from the village of Rhode , and his long-time love Mary Long ( 83 ) , exchanged vows in the civil marriage registration room in Tullamore health centre on Friday afternoon .
It is the second time for both to tie the knot , and asked why they decided to get married at this stage of their lives , Mary , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replied : “ We want to be buried together.
” The marriage was witnessed by Mr Bermingham ’ s daughter , Carolyn and her husband John Fitzgerald , who travelled from their home in Holycross , Co Tipperary for the ceremony .
The only other people to attend the intimate wedding were Carolyn and John ’ s twin daughters , Robbyn and Alison .
John Bermingham grew up in Terenure , Dublin and his father Jack , an Offaly native , was capped for Ireland in the 1921 Five Nations championship .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and became well known locally as an expert horseman .
Mary , originally from Turner ’ s Cross , Cork , was a Dublin-based beauty consultant and keen swimmer in her younger days .
Carolyn Bermingham said it had been the pair ’ s wish for a long time to get married , but they had difficulty with the paperwork , especially in relation to recognition in this State of her father ’ s American divorce .
“ They ’ re old and I knew they wanted to do this , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on the internet and they just couldn ’ t manage it .
They were overwhelmed by the whole bureaucracy of it and they found it very impersonal.
” She was very grateful for the help of the HSE staff dealing with marriage registrations in Tullamore .
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions , the ceremony went well .
For their part , the newly married couple shrugged off the Covid-19 restrictions , but John did quip afterwards : “ It ’ s a pity we all can ’ t go for a drink .
@

John Bermingham, (86), and Mary Long (83), who were married on Friday in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Love will conquer all. Even Covid-19 and the Level 5 lockdown restrictions could not stop one Offaly couple from getting married more than 40 years after they first met.
Farmer John Bermingham (86), from the village of Rhode, and his long-time love Mary Long (83), exchanged vows in the civil marriage registration room in Tullamore health centre on Friday afternoon.
It is the second time for both to tie the knot, and asked why they decided to get married at this stage of their lives, Mary, whose first marriage was annulled, laughed and replied: “We want to be buried together.”
John Bermingham and Mary Long who were married on Friday in Tullamore, joined by John’s daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, John and their twin daughters, Robbyn and Alison.
The marriage was witnessed by Mr Bermingham's daughter, Carolyn and her husband John Fitzgerald, who travelled from their home in Holycross, Co Tipperary for the ceremony.
READ MORE
The only other people to attend the intimate wedding were Carolyn and John’s twin daughters, Robbyn and Alison.
John Bermingham grew up in Terenure, Dublin and his father Jack, an Offaly native, was capped for Ireland in the 1921 Five Nations championship.
The groom later moved to Ballybryan, Rhode and became well known locally as an expert horseman.
Mary, originally from Turner’s Cross, Cork, was a Dublin-based beauty consultant and keen swimmer in her younger days.
Carolyn Bermingham said it had been the pair's wish for a long time to get married, but they had difficulty with the paperwork, especially in relation to recognition in this State of her father's American divorce.
“They’re old and I knew they wanted to do this,” she said. “Nowadays everything is online and on the internet and they just couldn’t manage it. They were overwhelmed by the whole bureaucracy of it and they found it very impersonal.”
She was very grateful for the help of the HSE staff dealing with marriage registrations in Tullamore.
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, the ceremony went well. For their part, the newly married couple shrugged off the Covid-19 restrictions, but John did quip afterwards: “It’s a pity we all can’t go for a drink.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Ireland to be hit by remnants of Hurricane Epsilon

It never rains but it pours .
Along with Level 5 restrictions and the clocks going back , a wet and windy weekend in Ireland over the next few days will be followed by the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon .
The storm , which passed near to the Bahamas on Thursday , will make its way across the Atlantic , generating strong winds and rain .
It is expected to cross the country on Tuesday night , bringing strong winds and rain , but the full force of it will hit the country on Wednesday .
Met Éireann forecaster Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast of Nova Scotia .
As it crosses the Atlantic , it will turn into an ex-tropical system .
He cautioned that it was too soon to issue weather warnings in relation to it as the track of such weather systems can be hard to follow .
He said that there will certainly be gale-force winds along the west coast , but the extent of the rain will be hard to forecast until closer to the event .
Status yellow rainfall warnings are in place for Galway and Mayo from Friday night into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 and 40mm expected there , with higher accumulations in mountainous areas .
This will bring a risk of localised flooding and heightened risk of flash flooding .
There is also a status yellow wind warning in place for Galway , Mayo , Donegal , Clare and Kerry for roughly the same time period , between 10pm on Friday and 7am on Saturday , with gusts of between 90 and 110km/h expected in exposed places in these counties .
A separate status yellow wind warning is in place for Wexford , Cork and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday .
“ It ’ s going to be an active week , ” Mr Downes said .
“ A lot of the energy from that system [ Hurricane Epsilon ] is ramping the weather up over the next few days and the jet stream is getting stronger.
” If that wasn ’ t bad enough , the clocks go back by an hour on Sunday morning at 2am .

A photo of Hurricane Epsilon. Photograph: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via The New York Times
It never rains but it pours. Along with Level 5 restrictions and the clocks going back, a wet and windy weekend in Ireland over the next few days will be followed by the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon.
The storm, which passed near to the Bahamas on Thursday, will make its way across the Atlantic, generating strong winds and rain.
It is expected to cross the country on Tuesday night, bringing strong winds and rain, but the full force of it will hit the country on Wednesday.
Met Éireann forecaster Paul Downes said Epsilon is currently off the coast of Nova Scotia. As it crosses the Atlantic, it will turn into an ex-tropical system.
READ MORE
He cautioned that it was too soon to issue weather warnings in relation to it as the track of such weather systems can be hard to follow.
He said that there will certainly be gale-force winds along the west coast, but the extent of the rain will be hard to forecast until closer to the event.
Status yellow rainfall warnings are in place for Galway and Mayo from Friday night into Saturday morning, with accumulations of between 20 and 40mm expected there, with higher accumulations in mountainous areas.
This will bring a risk of localised flooding and heightened risk of flash flooding.
There is also a status yellow wind warning in place for Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Clare and Kerry for roughly the same time period, between 10pm on Friday and 7am on Saturday, with gusts of between 90 and 110km/h expected in exposed places in these counties.
A separate status yellow wind warning is in place for Wexford, Cork and Waterford from 11pm on Friday to 10am on Saturday.
“It’s going to be an active week,” Mr Downes said. “A lot of the energy from that system [Hurricane Epsilon] is ramping the weather up over the next few days and the jet stream is getting stronger.”
If that wasn’t bad enough, the clocks go back by an hour on Sunday morning at 2am.


theirishtimes--2020-10-23--Universities face stronger governance and accountability requirements

Stronger governance and accountability measures for third-level institutions will be contained in new legislation to be published next year , Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said .
Speaking at a conference organised by the Irish Universities Association ( IUA ) , he said the agility and flexibility of colleges were key strengths , and this required an appropriate level of autonomy .
But , he added : “ Hand in hand with such autonomy must go strong governance and accountability mechanisms at the institutional level.
” Gaps in legislation for the sector have limited the power of oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( HEA ) to investigate examples of misconduct in the past in a sector where up to €2 billion of public money is spent .
Among some of the sweeping changes being considered include giving the HEA stronger powers to carry out reviews into the performance of third-level colleges .
This includes allowing for the appointment of an “ observer ” to sit on the governing body of colleges where there are concerns .
In addition , it could withhold or request a refund of State grants in cases where they have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be important to achieve “ clarity and complementarity ” of roles between the department and its agencies , particularly the HEA and Quality and Qualifications Ireland .
In a speech which examined the future direction of higher education , Mr Harris said universities of the future would place a much bigger emphasis on delivering short courses in flexible formats and tailored courses to meet the needs of enterprise and life-long learning .
“ Our society and the world of work are changing rapidly , and if anything this will be accelerated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important role in equipping us to manage this change .
This will entail agility and innovation in how universities operate , ” he said .
“ I see this in your recent work on micro-credentials and the delivery of certified qualifications in short courses in flexible formats .
“ This is exactly the kind of initiative we need to increase Irish university capacity to extract and adapt high-demand modules from existing programmes , and develop tailored courses to suit the needs of enterprise and lifelong learning.
” He also paid tribute to Taoiseach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including further , higher education and innovation , first aired in a speech at the IUA a year ago .
“ I don ’ t wish to be accused of sucking up to the boss but I have to see my speech today as the sequel to his address to you just a little over a year ago , ” he said .
“ There are probably few truly visionary speeches but there are surely very few that became a reality so shortly after .
“ On that day Micheál urged a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renewed focus on research and innovation , strategic consideration for the role of higher education , and an enhanced policy direction for the sector at large .
“ That event developed the concept of creating a separate Department of Further and Higher Education , Research , Innovation and Science , and today I lead that department.
” Mr Harris said he saw his role as being a “ Minister for talent ” and using his department to unlock the potential of the Irish population .
“ Ultimately we are just under five million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We represent just over 0.06 per cent of the world ’ s population .
“ We shouldn ’ t kid ourselves that the world owes us a living .
How we develop the talent of our people will determine if we can punch above our numbers , and prosper at home and internationally.
” Mr Harris said that developing “ an appropriate funding model ” to underpin the sector will be a pre-requisite .
“ Detailed research is under way to inform the decisions required on this funding model next year .
@

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris: “Our society and the world of work are changing rapidly, and if anything this will be accelerated by the pandemic. Universities will have an important role in equipping us to manage this change.” Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Stronger governance and accountability measures for third-level institutions will be contained in new legislation to be published next year, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), he said the agility and flexibility of colleges were key strengths, and this required an appropriate level of autonomy.
But, he added: “Hand in hand with such autonomy must go strong governance and accountability mechanisms at the institutional level.”
Gaps in legislation for the sector have limited the power of oversight bodies such as the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to investigate examples of misconduct in the past in a sector where up to €2 billion of public money is spent.
READ MORE
Among some of the sweeping changes being considered include giving the HEA stronger powers to carry out reviews into the performance of third-level colleges.
This includes allowing for the appointment of an “observer” to sit on the governing body of colleges where there are concerns. In addition, it could withhold or request a refund of State grants in cases where they have been misused.
Mr Harris also said it would be important to achieve "clarity and complementarity" of roles between the department and its agencies, particularly the HEA and Quality and Qualifications Ireland.
In a speech which examined the future direction of higher education, Mr Harris said universities of the future would place a much bigger emphasis on delivering short courses in flexible formats and tailored courses to meet the needs of enterprise and life-long learning.
“Our society and the world of work are changing rapidly, and if anything this will be accelerated by the pandemic. Universities will have an important role in equipping us to manage this change. This will entail agility and innovation in how universities operate,” he said.
“I see this in your recent work on micro-credentials and the delivery of certified qualifications in short courses in flexible formats.
“This is exactly the kind of initiative we need to increase Irish university capacity to extract and adapt high-demand modules from existing programmes, and develop tailored courses to suit the needs of enterprise and lifelong learning.”
New department
He also paid tribute to Taoiseach Micheál Martin for establishing a new department including further, higher education and innovation, first aired in a speech at the IUA a year ago.
“I don’t wish to be accused of sucking up to the boss but I have to see my speech today as the sequel to his address to you just a little over a year ago,” he said.
“There are probably few truly visionary speeches but there are surely very few that became a reality so shortly after.
“On that day Micheál urged a new agenda for higher education based on a renewed focus on research and innovation, strategic consideration for the role of higher education, and an enhanced policy direction for the sector at large.
“That event developed the concept of creating a separate Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and today I lead that department.”
Mr Harris said he saw his role as being a “Minister for talent” and using his department to unlock the potential of the Irish population.
“Ultimately we are just under five million people in a world of 7.8 billion. We represent just over 0.06 per cent of the world’s population.
“We shouldn’t kid ourselves that the world owes us a living. How we develop the talent of our people will determine if we can punch above our numbers, and prosper at home and internationally.”
Mr Harris said that developing “an appropriate funding model” to underpin the sector will be a pre-requisite.
“Detailed research is under way to inform the decisions required on this funding model next year.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-24--How Terence MacSwiney’s death led to estrangement between his wife and daughter

Terence MacSwiney , the Republican martyr , became an enduring symbol of self-sacrifice and stoicism even before he died on hunger strike 100 years ago .
His most famous utterance – that it is not those who inflict the most suffering , but those who endure the most who will triumph – became axiomatic for freedom struggles around the world .
His death on hunger strike in London ’ s Brixton Prison on October 25th , 1920 did more to raise the conscience of the world about what was happening in Ireland than any other act during the War of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Muriel , and a two-year-old daughter , Máire .
His death would profoundly effect both women for the rest of their lives and lead to an irrevocable falling out , which lasted for half-a-century .
Muriel Murphy was born into the Cork brewing dynasty of the same name .
MacSwiney was 13 years her senior .
He opined that he would never marry given his myriad commitments to the cause of Irish republicanism yet he was smitten by her and she with him .
She shared his passion for the national movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objected to the match .
She married him a few days after her 25th birthday when she had received her inheritance .
Máire , their only child , was born in 1918 while her father was in jail in Belfast .
In January 1920 , before he became Lord Mayor of Cork , MacSwiney made his sister Mary joint guardian of Máire along with his wife .
Muriel MacSwiney was plagued with depression all her life .
She “ suffered from her nerves ” and “ took to the bed ” to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had moments of great tenderness and also inexplicable cruelty .
When Máire was four , her mother warned her that if she did not eat an egg , she would leave her .
“ I thought this was unlikely to happen , so I refused to obey her , ” Máire MacSwiney wrote in her memoir History ’ s Child .
“ But , sure enough , she was gone next day .
It was two weeks after my fourth birthday when she left , and I didn ’ t see her again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon to learn not to be upset by her frequent disappearances.
” As a woman of some means , Muriel MacSwiney could afford to seek out the best treatments and left Ireland in 1924 to live in Germany , bringing Máire with her .
She placed her daughter in a boarding school and moved to Paris where she became a communist as a reaction to her privileged upbringing , like many did at the time .
Mother and daughter only met during the school holidays and the MacSwiney family in Ireland became concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they visited her in Germany in 1931 , Máire fled the foster family she was staying with and returned to Ireland with Terence MacSwiney ’ s sister , Mary MacSwiney .
In the subsequent court case , Máire sided with her aunt against her mother and opted to live with the MacSwineys in Cork .
Muriel MacSwiney disowned her daughter and never spoke to her again .
In 1945 , Máire MacSwiney married Ruairi Brugha , the son of Cathal Brugha .
The couple had lost their fathers at a young age during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the first fatalities of the Civil War .
He was shot dead in July 1922 by Treaty forces .
Ruairi Brugha came to resent how his father had died , stating in a 2003 documentary entitled “ When Ruairi Met Máire ” that it was a waste .
Máire MacSwiney said in the documentary of her own father ’ s sacrifice : “ It didn ’ t seem right to leave a child , but that attitude was common back then .
It was the same for those who died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t think of women or children .
They were doing their duty.
” Ruairi and Máire had four children .
Their youngest , Prof Ruairi Brugha , says he does not recall his mother ever questioning , despite the impact of her father ’ s death on her , the correctness of Terence MacSwiney ’ s decision .
“ My mother and father were both of a generation , no doubt influenced greatly by their own parents , who believed in patriotism , and self-sacrifice for the wellbeing of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know if there is an objective perspective on such a decision .
I think a reading of the biographies and source material on Terence would show that he weighed up the competing duties and responsibilities of being a father and husband , vis-á-vis the potential of his action to advance the cause of the freedom of Ireland , and made his decision ; but that he worried greatly about the consequences of that decision , partly because of the mental fragility of Muriel and the potential impact on his daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister a guardianship role.
” Prof Brugha says he still gets emotional thinking about the circumstances of his mother ’ s escape from Germany .
His mother was sympathetic to her own mother , he believes , as both suffered from depression .
Prof Brugha reckons Muriel MacSwiney would nowadays be diagnosed with bipolar disorder , which would go a long way to explaining her behaviour .
“ Muriel lost her husband to Ireland .
Unfortunately Muriel was putting her own convictions first and the interests of a young and vulnerable girl , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Prof Brugha .
“ When my mother was finally given the option , the first time , of having a normal family she grasped that option .
“ In terms of our upbringing , both my mother and father protected us from being over-romanticised , thinking of ourselves as special because of who our grandfathers were.
” Prof Brugha is a retired emeritus professor of public health and epidemiology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ( RCSI ) .
At the beginning of the pandemic he was a prominent voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has since moved to Ethiopia where his wife , Sonja Hyland , has taken up the role of Irish ambassador .
He says he has been thinking a lot of what lessons can be drawn from Terence MacSwiney ’ s life that might be applicable to the current situation that the country finds itself in .
The circumstances of his death have overshadowed the work Terence MacSwiney did in his life to better the fortunes of others , he believes .
In the nine months he was mayor , he established a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork , removed all public appointments from patronage and initiated grant support for child welfare .
“ He wasn ’ t looking to die .
He was looking to make people ’ s lives better , ” Prof Brugha said .
“ None of us are going to be called to go on hunger strike , none of us are being called to die for the people around us .
He was willing as a patriot to put other people first .
The only way we will control Covid-19 is if we get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things we all need to do .
“ Covid does call on us all to make sacrifices in the interests of others and I think that is the connection with Terence MacSwiney .
”

Terence MacSwiney, the Republican martyr, became an enduring symbol of self-sacrifice and stoicism even before he died on hunger strike 100 years ago.
Terence MacSwiney, the Republican martyr, became an enduring symbol of self-sacrifice and stoicism even before he died on hunger strike 100 years ago.
His most famous utterance – that it is not those who inflict the most suffering, but those who endure the most who will triumph – became axiomatic for freedom struggles around the world.
His death on hunger strike in London's Brixton Prison on October 25th, 1920 did more to raise the conscience of the world about what was happening in Ireland than any other act during the War of Independence.
A file image of Máire McSwiney with then taoiseach with Bertie Ahern at the launch of her memoir History’s Daughter. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times.
MacSwiney left a 28-year-old widow, Muriel, and a two-year-old daughter, Máire. His death would profoundly effect both women for the rest of their lives and lead to an irrevocable falling out, which lasted for half-a-century.
READ MORE
Muriel Murphy was born into the Cork brewing dynasty of the same name. MacSwiney was 13 years her senior. He opined that he would never marry given his myriad commitments to the cause of Irish republicanism yet he was smitten by her and she with him.
She shared his passion for the national movement to the consternation of her family who objected to the match. She married him a few days after her 25th birthday when she had received her inheritance.
Máire, their only child, was born in 1918 while her father was in jail in Belfast. In January 1920, before he became Lord Mayor of Cork, MacSwiney made his sister Mary joint guardian of Máire along with his wife.
Muriel MacSwiney was plagued with depression all her life. She “suffered from her nerves” and “took to the bed” to use the parlance of the time. She had moments of great tenderness and also inexplicable cruelty.
When Máire was four, her mother warned her that if she did not eat an egg, she would leave her.
“I thought this was unlikely to happen, so I refused to obey her,” Máire MacSwiney wrote in her memoir History’s Child. “But, sure enough, she was gone next day. It was two weeks after my fourth birthday when she left, and I didn’t see her again for about 18 months. I was soon to learn not to be upset by her frequent disappearances.”
As a woman of some means, Muriel MacSwiney could afford to seek out the best treatments and left Ireland in 1924 to live in Germany, bringing Máire with her. She placed her daughter in a boarding school and moved to Paris where she became a communist as a reaction to her privileged upbringing, like many did at the time.
Mother and daughter only met during the school holidays and the MacSwiney family in Ireland became concerned about Máire’s welfare. When they visited her in Germany in 1931, Máire fled the foster family she was staying with and returned to Ireland with Terence MacSwiney’s sister, Mary MacSwiney.
In the subsequent court case, Máire sided with her aunt against her mother and opted to live with the MacSwineys in Cork. Muriel MacSwiney disowned her daughter and never spoke to her again.
In 1945, Máire MacSwiney married Ruairi Brugha, the son of Cathal Brugha. The couple had lost their fathers at a young age during the revolutionary period. Cathal Brugha was one of the first fatalities of the Civil War. He was shot dead in July 1922 by Treaty forces.
Ruairi Brugha came to resent how his father had died, stating in a 2003 documentary entitled “When Ruairi Met Máire” that it was a waste.
Máire MacSwiney said in the documentary of her own father's sacrifice: "It didn't seem right to leave a child, but that attitude was common back then. It was the same for those who died in Flanders for king and country. They didn't think of women or children. They were doing their duty."
Ruairi and Máire had four children. Their youngest, Prof Ruairi Brugha, says he does not recall his mother ever questioning, despite the impact of her father’s death on her, the correctness of Terence MacSwiney’s decision.
“My mother and father were both of a generation, no doubt influenced greatly by their own parents, who believed in patriotism, and self-sacrifice for the wellbeing of the country,” he said.
“I don’t know if there is an objective perspective on such a decision. I think a reading of the biographies and source material on Terence would show that he weighed up the competing duties and responsibilities of being a father and husband, vis-á-vis the potential of his action to advance the cause of the freedom of Ireland, and made his decision; but that he worried greatly about the consequences of that decision, partly because of the mental fragility of Muriel and the potential impact on his daughter. Hence his decision to give his sister a guardianship role.”
Prof Brugha says he still gets emotional thinking about the circumstances of his mother’s escape from Germany.
His mother was sympathetic to her own mother, he believes, as both suffered from depression. Prof Brugha reckons Muriel MacSwiney would nowadays be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which would go a long way to explaining her behaviour.
“Muriel lost her husband to Ireland. Unfortunately Muriel was putting her own convictions first and the interests of a young and vulnerable girl, her daughter, came second,” said Prof Brugha.
“When my mother was finally given the option, the first time, of having a normal family she grasped that option.
“In terms of our upbringing, both my mother and father protected us from being over-romanticised, thinking of ourselves as special because of who our grandfathers were.”
Prof Brugha is a retired emeritus professor of public health and epidemiology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
At the beginning of the pandemic he was a prominent voice on Irish airwaves talking about Covid-19. He says he has been thinking a lot of what lessons can be drawn from Terence MacSwiney’s life that might be applicable to the current situation that the country finds itself in.
The circumstances of his death have overshadowed the work Terence MacSwiney did in his life to better the fortunes of others, he believes.
In the nine months he was mayor, he established a commission to implement a minimum wage in Cork, removed all public appointments from patronage and initiated grant support for child welfare.
“He wasn’t looking to die. He was looking to make people’s lives better,” Prof Brugha said.
“None of us are going to be called to go on hunger strike, none of us are being called to die for the people around us. He was willing as a patriot to put other people first. The only way we will control Covid-19 is if we get a high level of compliance doing the things we all need to do.
“Covid does call on us all to make sacrifices in the interests of others and I think that is the connection with Terence MacSwiney.”