theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Police Ombudsman ‘overstepped mark’ in Loughinisland report

A former Police Ombudsman “ overstepped the mark ” in finding RUC officers committed criminal acts of collusion with loyalists who massacred six Catholic men , the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland ruled on Thursday .
But judges rejected a bid by two retired senior policemen to quash the watchdog ’ s entire public statement on the Loughinisland atrocity .
They accepted it had been appropriate for the ombudsman to acknowledge what he had uncovered was in line with the views of the victims ’ families on corrupt relationships between security force personnel and the paramilitary killers .
Lord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sections in the disputed report where the then ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire went beyond his powers in reaching emphatic conclusions .
“ The determinations he made in the three offending paragraphs .
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overstepped the mark by amounting to findings of criminal offences by members of the police force , ” the judge said .
The verdict was delivered on the 26th anniversary of the atrocity .
UVF gunmen opened fire at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland , Co Down , as their victims watched a World Cup football match in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adrian Rogan ( 34 ) , Malcolm Jenkinson ( 53 ) , Barney Green ( 87 ) , Daniel McCreanor ( 59 ) , Patrick O ’ Hare ( 35 ) , and Eamon Byrne ( 39 ) .
Five others were also wounded in a sectarian attack for which no one has been brought to justice .
In June 2016 , Dr Maguire said collusion between some officers and the loyalists was a significant feature in the murders .
He found no evidence police had prior knowledge , but identified “ catastrophic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White , representing the Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers ’ Association , and Ronald Hawthorne , a former sub-divisional police commander , have been involved in a long-running legal challenge to the published findings .
A first hearing resulted in a ruling in 2017 that the report was procedurally unfair and had failed to make clear it conclusions did not apply to Mr Hawthorne .
At that time the watchdog agreed to remove any references to him to ensure he is not connected to any alleged wrongdoing .
In November 2018 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ case that Dr Maguire had exceeded his legal remit and refused to quash the report .
Mr White and Mr Hawthorne mounted an appeal against that ruling .
Ruling on the appeal on Thursday , the judge said the dispute centred on comments in a summary chapter of the report .
“ We consider that the emphatic conclusions reached by the ombudsman in the three offending paragraphs go beyond mere modes of expression and exceed his powers .
We do , nevertheless , uphold the decision of the judge at first instance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of what was written therein.
” In a statement issued through their solicitors , the Loughinisland families said they were relieved the report had not been quashed .

UVF gunmen killed six men at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland, Co Down, in June 1994. File photograph: PA Images via Getty Images
A former Police Ombudsman “overstepped the mark” in finding RUC officers committed criminal acts of collusion with loyalists who massacred six Catholic men, the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland ruled on Thursday.
But judges rejected a bid by two retired senior policemen to quash the watchdog’s entire public statement on the Loughinisland atrocity.
They accepted it had been appropriate for the ombudsman to acknowledge what he had uncovered was in line with the views of the victims’ families on corrupt relationships between security force personnel and the paramilitary killers.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan identified three sections in the disputed report where the then ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire went beyond his powers in reaching emphatic conclusions.
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“The determinations he made in the three offending paragraphs . . . overstepped the mark by amounting to findings of criminal offences by members of the police force,” the judge said.
The verdict was delivered on the 26th anniversary of the atrocity.
UVF gunmen opened fire at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland, Co Down, as their victims watched a World Cup football match in June 1994.
The men killed were: Adrian Rogan (34), Malcolm Jenkinson (53), Barney Green (87), Daniel McCreanor (59), Patrick O’Hare (35), and Eamon Byrne (39). Five others were also wounded in a sectarian attack for which no one has been brought to justice.
In June 2016, Dr Maguire said collusion between some officers and the loyalists was a significant feature in the murders. He found no evidence police had prior knowledge, but identified “catastrophic failings” in the investigation.
Raymond White, representing the Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers’ Association, and Ronald Hawthorne, a former sub-divisional police commander, have been involved in a long-running legal challenge to the published findings. A first hearing resulted in a ruling in 2017 that the report was procedurally unfair and had failed to make clear it conclusions did not apply to Mr Hawthorne.
At that time the watchdog agreed to remove any references to him to ensure he is not connected to any alleged wrongdoing.
In November 2018, a high court judge rejected the retired officers’ case that Dr Maguire had exceeded his legal remit and refused to quash the report. Mr White and Mr Hawthorne mounted an appeal against that ruling.
Ruling on the appeal on Thursday, the judge said the dispute centred on comments in a summary chapter of the report. “We consider that the emphatic conclusions reached by the ombudsman in the three offending paragraphs go beyond mere modes of expression and exceed his powers. We do, nevertheless, uphold the decision of the judge at first instance not to strike down the public statement because of what was written therein.”
In a statement issued through their solicitors, the Loughinisland families said they were relieved the report had not been quashed.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Man dies after climbing accident on Co Antrim cliffs

A man in his 60s has died after a climbing accident on Fair Head cliff near Ballycastle , Co Antrim @ @ @ @ @ from the bottom of the cliffs on Thursday .
He was declared dead at the @ @ @ @ @ Coast Guard was alerted to the incident on Northern Ireland ’ s north coast .
@ @ @ @ @ the scene from Ballycastle and Coleraine while a Coast Guard helicopter was sent from Prestwick @ @ @ @ @ and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended .
North Antrim Sinn Féin Assembly member @ @ @ @ @ community was shocked and saddened by the death .
SDLP councillor for the Glens , @ @ @ @ @ expressed her shock and sympathies over the death .
“ I would urge everyone to @ @ @ @ @ caution around the coastal areas at all times , ” she said .

The man fell from the cliffs at Fair Head near Ballycastle, Co Antrim
A man in his 60s has died after a climbing accident on Fair Head cliff near Ballycastle, Co Antrim.
The man was recovered from the bottom of the cliffs on Thursday. He was declared dead at the scene.
Around 1pm the Coast Guard was alerted to the incident on Northern Ireland's north coast. Rescue teams were despatched to the scene from Ballycastle and Coleraine while a Coast Guard helicopter was sent from Prestwick in Scotland.
The PSNI and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended.
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North Antrim Sinn Féin Assembly member Philip McGuigan said the local community was shocked and saddened by the death.
SDLP councillor for the Glens, Margaret Anne McKillop, also expressed her shock and sympathies over the death.
“I would urge everyone to take extra care and show caution around the coastal areas at all times,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Hairdressers and barbers to reopen at end of the month

Hairdressers and barbers should reopen at the end of the month , the National Public Health Emergency team has recommended .
At a meeting on Thursday Nphet finalised details of the remaining two stages of the plan to reopen the economy following restrictions put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus .
The Cabinet is due to make a final decision on foot of Nphet ’ s decision tomorrow ( Friday ) but it is understood that the reopening of hairdressers and barbers will be brought forward to June 29th from July 20th .
Earlier this month Taoiseach Leo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy was contingent on the virus being kept under control .
He said hairdressers could be allowed to reopen earlier than previously planned and he described as “ too slow ” the Government ’ s initial five phase roadmap to reopen the country from the coronavirus lockdown by August .
At a briefing on Thursday afternoon following a meeting of Nphet , Prof Philip Nolan , chair of the group ’ s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group , said that Covid-19 is at a very low level in the State and very @ @

A hairdresser at work in New Delhi, India. Hair and beauty salons were due to reopen on July 20th but that date is now being brought forward. File photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images
Hairdressers and barbers should reopen at the end of the month, the National Public Health Emergency team has recommended.
At a meeting on Thursday Nphet finalised details of the remaining two stages of the plan to reopen the economy following restrictions put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Cabinet is due to make a final decision on foot of Nphet’s decision tomorrow (Friday) but it is understood that the reopening of hairdressers and barbers will be brought forward to June 29th from July 20th.
Earlier this month Taoiseach Leo Varadkar cautioned that the plan to reopen the economy was contingent on the virus being kept under control. He said hairdressers could be allowed to reopen earlier than previously planned and he described as “too slow” the Government’s initial five phase roadmap to reopen the country from the coronavirus lockdown by August.
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At a briefing on Thursday afternoon following a meeting of Nphet, Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the group’s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said that Covid-19 is at a very low level in the State and very stable.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--High Court asked to determine if documents seized from FAI are privileged

Progress has been made in proceedings by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement concerning materials seized earlier this year from the Football Association of Ireland ’ s offices on foot of a search warrant , the High Court has been told .
Former FAI chief executive John Delaney is a notice party to the proceedings as the court has heard some of the documents may raise issues that are private to him .
He left the FAI in September 2019 .
As part of its ongoing investigation into certain matters concerning the FAI , the ODCE brought an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the seized documents and material are legally privileged .
If the court finds information in the documents is legally privileged , it can not be used by the ODCE in its investigation .
The application was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Thursday .
Kerida Naidoo SC , with barrister Elva Duffy , for the ODCE , said progress has been made since the matter was previously before the court .
It had been agreed issues concerning how some of the documents seized are to be inspected can be heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
It was also agreed that an application to see if the documents are legally privileged will be considered in July .
Jack Tchrakian , for Mr Delaney , and Brian Gageby , for the FAI , both consented to the proposed directions .
The ODCE ’ s applications , under the 2014 Companies Act , were brought after documents were seized from the FAI ’ s offices at Abbottstown on foot of a search warrant issued on February 14th .
The ODCE has made a number of similar applications since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the court ruled extracts of documents the FAI has given to the ODCE are covered by professional legal privilege and can not be used as part of the investigation .
That application concerned parts of documents provided to the ODCE by the FAI and its auditors , Deloitte Ireland LLP .

Progress has been made in proceedings by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement concerning materials seized earlier this year from the Football Association of Ireland’s offices on foot of a search warrant, the High Court has been told.
Former FAI chief executive John Delaney is a notice party to the proceedings as the court has heard some of the documents may raise issues that are private to him. He left the FAI in September 2019.
As part of its ongoing investigation into certain matters concerning the FAI, the ODCE brought an application asking the High Court to determine if the seized documents and material are legally privileged. If the court finds information in the documents is legally privileged, it cannot be used by the ODCE in its investigation.
The application was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on Thursday. Kerida Naidoo SC, with barrister Elva Duffy, for the ODCE, said progress has been made since the matter was previously before the court. It had been agreed issues concerning how some of the documents seized are to be inspected can be heard by the court later this month, he said.
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It was also agreed that an application to see if the documents are legally privileged will be considered in July.
Jack Tchrakian, for Mr Delaney, and Brian Gageby, for the FAI, both consented to the proposed directions.
The ODCE’s applications, under the 2014 Companies Act, were brought after documents were seized from the FAI’s offices at Abbottstown on foot of a search warrant issued on February 14th.
The ODCE has made a number of similar applications since it commenced its investigation. Last year, the court ruled extracts of documents the FAI has given to the ODCE are covered by professional legal privilege and cannot be used as part of the investigation. That application concerned parts of documents provided to the ODCE by the FAI and its auditors, Deloitte Ireland LLP.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Lotto winner sued by stepson eyes action against National Lottery

A woman who was taken to court by her stepson for a share in a 2011 €3.3 million Lotto win wants to sue the former operator of the National Lottery for alleged negligence .
Mary Walsh claims she was given negligent advice following the win by the then operators of the Lotto , An Post National Lottery Company ( APNLC ) , which went into voluntary liquidation in 2014 .
She alleges she was given certain advice by a representative of the National Lottery when she went to collect what she claims were her winnings in 2011 .
She claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make gifts to anyone , those persons should sign the winning ticket if those gifts were to be exempted from taxation .
As a result , she claims she and five others , including her stepson David Walsh , signed the winning ticket .
That resulted in proceedings being brought against her by Mr Walsh – proceedings which were ultimately settled .
The court also heard she is subject of separate but related proceedings from another signatory of the wining ticket , Kevin Black , her late husband ’ s nephew .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she claims certain advice given by the operator was negligent , the full implications of that advice were never explained to her , and she is entitled to damages .
The company went into liquidation after another entity was awarded the licence to operate the National Lottery .
Represented by John Shortt SC , with Martin Durack , Mrs Walsh wants permission from the High Court to sue the former operator , which she requires because it is in liquidation .
Opposing the application , Garret Byrne , for the company , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company should have been brought when the proceedings were initiated in 2016 and Mrs Walsh can not retrospectively seek to bring her claim against the company .
In light of the High Court judgment in David Walsh ’ s proceedings , which went against Mrs Walsh and was highly critical of her , she can not seek to bring this claim against the company and it was also “ bound to fail ” , counsel argued .
In reply , Mr Shortt said his client had changed solicitors from the time the claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and should be allowed bring her claim .
Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington said she hoped to give her decision as soon as possible .
In 2017 , the High Court ’ s Mr Justice Richard Humphreys ruled Mrs Walsh had to pay David Walsh €560,000 plus his legal costs after finding he was a part owner of and entitled to a one-sixth share of a winning ticket purchased in Ballinasloe , Co Galway , in January 2011 .
Mrs Walsh appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal which was told in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As part of the settlement , her appeal was allowed .
Promise of being looked after Mr Walsh , of Knocknagreena , Ballinasloe , had sued Mrs Walsh , of Monksland , Athlone Co Roscommon arguing he was entitled to his share , approximately €560,000 , of the win on the grounds his signature was among six written on the back of the winning ticket .
He claimed his late father had told him , shortly after the win , he would be looked after and would not have to worry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not get his share .
Mrs Walsh , who was married to David ’ s father , Peter Walsh , who died in December 2011 , denied this and argued the winning ticket was her ’ s .
She claimed that David Walsh was offered and accepted her and her late husband ’ s house in lieu of €200,000 from the win.David Walsh denied that .
Following a seven-day hearing in 2017 , Mr Justice Humphreys rejected Mrs Walsh ’ s arguments and found in favour of David Walsh .
He said Mrs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not credible ” , contained “ self-contradiction ” and was “ unreliable ” .

A woman who was taken to court by her stepson for a share in a 2011 €3.3 million Lotto win wants to sue the former operator of the National Lottery for alleged negligence.
Mary Walsh claims she was given negligent advice following the win by the then operators of the Lotto, An Post National Lottery Company (APNLC), which went into voluntary liquidation in 2014.
She alleges she was given certain advice by a representative of the National Lottery when she went to collect what she claims were her winnings in 2011.
She claims the advice was, if she wished to make gifts to anyone, those persons should sign the winning ticket if those gifts were to be exempted from taxation. As a result, she claims she and five others, including her stepson David Walsh, signed the winning ticket.
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That resulted in proceedings being brought against her by Mr Walsh – proceedings which were ultimately settled.
The court also heard she is subject of separate but related proceedings from another signatory of the winning ticket, Kevin Black, her late husband’s nephew.
In her proposed action against APNLC, she claims certain advice given by the operator was negligent, the full implications of that advice were never explained to her, and she is entitled to damages .
The company went into liquidation after another entity was awarded the licence to operate the National Lottery.
Represented by John Shortt SC, with Martin Durack, Mrs Walsh wants permission from the High Court to sue the former operator, which she requires because it is in liquidation.
Opposing the application, Garret Byrne, for the company, said the application for permission to sue the company should have been brought when the proceedings were initiated in 2016 and Mrs Walsh cannot retrospectively seek to bring her claim against the company.
In light of the High Court judgment in David Walsh’s proceedings, which went against Mrs Walsh and was highly critical of her, she cannot seek to bring this claim against the company and it was also “bound to fail”, counsel argued.
In reply, Mr Shortt said his client had changed solicitors from the time the claim against the lottery operator was first lodged and should be allowed bring her claim. Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington said she hoped to give her decision as soon as possible.
In 2017, the High Court’s Mr Justice Richard Humphreys ruled Mrs Walsh had to pay David Walsh €560,000 plus his legal costs after finding he was a part owner of and entitled to a one-sixth share of a winning ticket purchased in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, in January 2011.
Mrs Walsh appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal which was told in 2018 the action was “resolved entirely”. As part of the settlement, her appeal was allowed.
Promise of being looked after
Mr Walsh, of Knocknagreena, Ballinasloe, had sued Mrs Walsh, of Monksland, Athlone Co Roscommon arguing he was entitled to his share, approximately €560,000, of the win on the grounds his signature was among six written on the back of the winning ticket.
He claimed his late father had told him, shortly after the win, he would be looked after and would not have to worry about money again. He claimed he did not get his share.
Mrs Walsh, who was married to David’s father, Peter Walsh, who died in December 2011, denied this and argued the winning ticket was her’s. She claimed that David Walsh was offered and accepted her and her late husband’s house in lieu of €200,000 from the win.David Walsh denied that.
Following a seven-day hearing in 2017, Mr Justice Humphreys rejected Mrs Walsh’s arguments and found in favour of David Walsh.
He said Mrs Walsh’s evidence was inconsistent, “not credible”, contained “self-contradiction” and was “unreliable”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Sinn Féin outspent rivals in 2019 Westminster election

Sinn Féin had the highest campaign spending of any political party in Northern Ireland in the December 2019 Westminster election while the Greens had the lowest – a spend of just 75 pence .
Figures from the Electoral Commission published on Thursday show that Sinn Féin party expenditure on the election was £36,684 ( €40,640 ) .
It won seven of the 18 seats .
The ten political parties that contested the general election reported spending a combined total of £120,996 during the regulated period that ran from December 13th , 2018 , to polling day on December 12th last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of party spending was the Conservative party .
It paid out £22,017 for a return of 5,433 votes .
And while the DUP won most seats – 8 – it was fifth on the table of spending with an outlay of £16,064 .
Alliance was third on the list , spending £21,778 and winning one seat in North Down .
The SDLP spent £19,612 , winning two seats .
The Ulster Unionist Party spent £6,032 but failed to take a seat .
Of the other unsuccessful parties Aontu spent £678 , People Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , £1 .
The United Kingdom Independence Party spent nothing and won 1,687 votes .
The Green Party in Northern Ireland , who will have a major say in whether the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Green coalition will get off the ground , ran three candidates , winning just under 2,000 votes .
The party spent 75 pence with a printing and graphics firm but this was rounded up to £1 , the commission explained .
This , however , did not include the individual spending of each candidate , which is additional to party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend up to £30,000 but even here the Greens were thrifty .
Candidate Susan Glass spent £1,140 in West Tyrone , Maurice McCartney spent £124 in Strangford , and Philip Randle spent £78 in East Antrim .
Cahir Hughes , head of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland , said it was “ vital that voters are able to see clearly and accurately how money is spent on influencing them at elections ” .
He added : “ For future elections , we have recommended that the law be changed so that parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more detail about how they spend their money at elections .
“ This sits alongside other recommended changes to improve transparency and to address public concerns about who has produced and paid for the political campaign material they see online .
”

Sinn Féin’s John Finucane was elected as the MP for North Belfast in the 2019 election. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
Sinn Féin had the highest campaign spending of any political party in Northern Ireland in the December 2019 Westminster election while the Greens had the lowest – a spend of just 75 pence.
Figures from the Electoral Commission published on Thursday show that Sinn Féin party expenditure on the election was £36,684 (€40,640). It won seven of the 18 seats.
The ten political parties that contested the general election reported spending a combined total of £120,996 during the regulated period that ran from December 13th, 2018, to polling day on December 12th last year.
The next highest in terms of party spending was the Conservative party. It paid out £22,017 for a return of 5,433 votes.
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And while the DUP won most seats – 8 – it was fifth on the table of spending with an outlay of £16,064.
Alliance was third on the list, spending £21,778 and winning one seat in North Down.
The SDLP spent £19,612, winning two seats. The Ulster Unionist Party spent £6,032 but failed to take a seat.
Of the other unsuccessful parties Aontu spent £678, People Before Profit spent £130, and the Greens, £1. The United Kingdom Independence Party spent nothing and won 1,687 votes.
Thrifty
The Green Party in Northern Ireland, who will have a major say in whether the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Green coalition will get off the ground, ran three candidates, winning just under 2,000 votes.
The party spent 75 pence with a printing and graphics firm but this was rounded up to £1, the commission explained.
This, however, did not include the individual spending of each candidate, which is additional to party spending.
Candidates each were entitled to spend up to £30,000 but even here the Greens were thrifty. Candidate Susan Glass spent £1,140 in West Tyrone, Maurice McCartney spent £124 in Strangford, and Philip Randle spent £78 in East Antrim.
Cahir Hughes, head of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland, said it was “vital that voters are able to see clearly and accurately how money is spent on influencing them at elections”.
He added: “For future elections, we have recommended that the law be changed so that parties and campaigners have to provide voters with more detail about how they spend their money at elections.
“This sits alongside other recommended changes to improve transparency and to address public concerns about who has produced and paid for the political campaign material they see online.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Resurgence in new travel-related Covid-19 cases concerns health officials

A resurgence in the number of new Covid-19 infections in the State as a result of foreign travel , including from Britain and Sweden , has raised concerns among public health officials .
Fewer than 10 new cases of the coronavirus disease relating to travel outside the country were reported over the past fortnight after several weeks with no confirmed cases associated with travel .
“ Over the last two weeks we have begun to see a small number of travel-related cases - it is a cause for concern nonetheless , ” said Professor Philip Nolan , a health adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group to the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) , said that many of these cases were still being investigated .
The Department of Health reported four additional Covid-19 fatalities and 16 new confirmed cases on Thursday , bringing the death toll to 1,714 and the total number of cases to 23,355 .
Nursing homes account for 962 deaths or 56 per cent of all fatalities from the disease .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the greater the progress made on suppressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important the risk of importing cases from abroad would become .
“ We wouldn ’ t like to see any cases being imported if we can avoid that , ” he said .
He advised people to continue to avoid all non-essential and holiday travel to and from Ireland .
Prof Nolan said that the figures on the low number of new cases and admissions to hospitals and intensive care units showed that the disease was “ at a very low level and very stable.
” He told Thursday ’ s Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place twice-weekly - that public health officials were managing to suppress existing outbreaks and eliminate any new outbreaks .
As a consequence , the greatest proportion of new confirmed Covid-19 cases - almost 60 per cent - were occurring in isolated cases connected to clusters in households or family settings .
He estimated that the reproduction number - the key metric to assess whether the virus was spreading - was “ somewhere between 0.5 and 0.7 , probably close to 0.7.
” This means that if 10 people became infected , they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Prof Nolan sounded “ a note of caution ” that health officials “ would only just now ” be seeing the effect of changes made in the second reopening phase on June 8th .
“ It remains very early in terms of any thinking about can we accelerate things , ” he said .
Dr Holohan said there was “ nothing untoward ” in the behaviour of the virus but that it would be the end of next week before NPHET would advise on the third reopening phase on June 29th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see pubs reopening in the same phase as restaurants from the end of the month but that if pubs planned to operate as restaurants from this date he hoped publicans would be “ responsible ” in applying public health advice and guidance “ in good faith ” .
“ We know the difference between a pub and a restaurant , ” he said .
Asked about Northern Ireland ’ s plans to reopen schools , Dr Holohan sounded a warning that some countries have been “ stepping back ” and reimposing restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reminder to all of us that the risk of transmission with this diseases is still there and transmission can occur in any of these settings .
We have to take all of these things into account in setting out the advice and guidance we will give , ” he said .
The State ’ s deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that a second wave of the virus was “ certainly a risk ” but it was “ too early to say ” whether it would happen .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to follow public health guidance , he said .
“ We are not out of the first wave ; we are still dealing with this , ” he said .

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group has said that there are strong indications that in Ireland the Covid-19 disease is now at ‘a very low level and very stable’. Video RTE News Now
A resurgence in the number of new Covid-19 infections in the State as a result of foreign travel, including from Britain and Sweden, has raised concerns among public health officials.
Fewer than 10 new cases of the coronavirus disease relating to travel outside the country were reported over the past fortnight after several weeks with no confirmed cases associated with travel.
“Over the last two weeks we have begun to see a small number of travel-related cases - it is a cause for concern nonetheless,” said Professor Philip Nolan, a health adviser to the Government.
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the Nphet Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, told a press briefing at the Department of Health that Covid-19 is at a very low level in the State and very stable.
Prof Nolan, chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), said that many of these cases were still being investigated.
READ MORE
The Department of Health reported four additional Covid-19 fatalities and 16 new confirmed cases on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 1,714 and the total number of cases to 23,355.
Nursing homes account for 962 deaths or 56 per cent of all fatalities from the disease.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the greater the progress made on suppressing the virus at home, the more important the risk of importing cases from abroad would become.
“We wouldn’t like to see any cases being imported if we can avoid that,” he said.
He advised people to continue to avoid all non-essential and holiday travel to and from Ireland.
Prof Nolan said that the figures on the low number of new cases and admissions to hospitals and intensive care units showed that the disease was “at a very low level and very stable.”
He told Thursday’s Department of Health Covid-19 media briefing - now taking place twice-weekly - that public health officials were managing to suppress existing outbreaks and eliminate any new outbreaks.
As a consequence, the greatest proportion of new confirmed Covid-19 cases - almost 60 per cent - were occurring in isolated cases connected to clusters in households or family settings.
He estimated that the reproduction number - the key metric to assess whether the virus was spreading - was “somewhere between 0.5 and 0.7, probably close to 0.7.” This means that if 10 people became infected, they will pass it on to seven others between them.
Prof Nolan sounded “a note of caution” that health officials “would only just now” be seeing the effect of changes made in the second reopening phase on June 8th.
“It remains very early in terms of any thinking about can we accelerate things,” he said.
Dr Holohan said there was “nothing untoward” in the behaviour of the virus but that it would be the end of next week before NPHET would advise on the third reopening phase on June 29th.
He said the team did not see pubs reopening in the same phase as restaurants from the end of the month but that if pubs planned to operate as restaurants from this date he hoped publicans would be “responsible” in applying public health advice and guidance “in good faith”.
“We know the difference between a pub and a restaurant,” he said.
Asked about Northern Ireland’s plans to reopen schools, Dr Holohan sounded a warning that some countries have been “stepping back” and reimposing restrictions on schools.
“It only serves as a reminder to all of us that the risk of transmission with this diseases is still there and transmission can occur in any of these settings. We have to take all of these things into account in setting out the advice and guidance we will give,” he said.
The State’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that a second wave of the virus was “certainly a risk” but it was “too early to say” whether it would happen. It was not necessarily inevitable if people and businesses continued to follow public health guidance, he said.
“We are not out of the first wave; we are still dealing with this,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Votes of Northern Greens could impact on whether party enters coalition

The votes of Northern Greens could be important in determining whether or not a government will be formed in the Republic , in the event of a close contest , as the party needs to get approval from two-thirds of its members if it is to enter coalition .
The party in Northern Ireland has been remarkably silent – all the more surprising given the Greens ’ usually vocal stance on other issues .
Indeed , that none of its two MLAs and eight councillors in the North has publicly endorsed the programme for government must inevitably raise questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Border .
The Green Party in Northern Ireland has about 800 members , approximately a fifth of the total membership on the island .
About two-thirds of the Greens ’ membership in the Republic have registered to vote on coalition , but just 195 Northern members have registered .
In a brief statement following the agreement of a draft programme for government between the Greens , Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on Monday , the Northern Greens noted the “ welcome development ” but said that “ as always , the devil will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s Northern leader , South Belfast MLA Clare Bailey , abstained from the parliamentary party ’ s vote on the programme for government on Monday , on the basis that she had not had the opportunity to read the document in its entirety .
Declining an interview request from The Irish Times on Wednesday , a party press officer explained the document was still being considered , and the focus was on internal discussions with members .
The Irish Times contacted Ms Bailey , her fellow MLA , Rachel Woods , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ councillors by phone .
Ms Bailey , Ms Woods and six councillors – deputy leader Malachai O ’ Hara , Stephen Dunlop , Anthony Flynn , Áine Groogan , Barry McKee and Kathryn McNickle – did not respond , while Belfast councillor Brian Smyth suggested contacting the press office .
Only one councillor , Simon Lee – who represents Lisburn and Castlereagh – was willing to answer questions , saying he was keeping an “ open mind ” and wanted to “ listen to both sides of the argument ” at Thursday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , on how the rest of the Northern membership might vote .
He put his colleagues ’ reticence down to a “ different culture ” in the North .
In the Republic there was more of a tendency to “ play things out in public ” , he said .
“ It ’ s an internal matter , so we ’ ll discuss it internally.
” The so-called “ Green Wave ” , which was the talk of the council elections south of the Border in 2019 , was less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , the party still enjoyed its best ever showing at council level , doubling its share of first preferences to 2.1 per cent , and going from four to eight council seats .
These are all in the east , in Belfast and in the adjoining areas of Ards and North Down and Lisburn and Castlereagh .
The party has always attracted a mixed membership .
That , in the Northern context , means Catholic and Protestant .
It has walked this tightrope by “ assiduously ” avoiding constitutional issues and focusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Feeney .
Accepting the programme for government would put the Northern Greens firmly on one side of that constitutional argument , argues Mr Feeney .
He puts their official silence down to a reluctance to get into the “ difficult position ” of having to defend commitments on a “ shared island ” and controversial legacy matters .
David McCann , deputy editor of political website Slugger O ’ Toole , says the party is “ sensitive ” to the potential charge that it could be the Northerners who stop the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One grassroots source sums it up : “ There ’ s not a lot to be gained from a Northern perspective in being very publicly supportive or otherwise .
“ It never looks good to be going against your colleagues in the South , and being supportive could have negative consequences , so I can see why they ’ re keeping their heads down.
” Nevertheless , their votes could be decisive , and it is currently far from clear if they will back the programme for government .
The Greens in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how another party source put it .
“ A wee bit more left wing.
” The former party leader in the North and former councillor , John Barry , has no qualms about speaking out .
He is “ resolutely against ” the programme for government , and has used social media to campaign for a no vote .
“ I think it ’ s achieved quite a bit , ” he says of the draft programme , “ but I think we could do better ” .
His “ big fear ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on austerity as part of the package ” .
Mr Barry concludes : “ This is a division that isn ’ t between North and South , it ’ s a genuine strategic and ideological division within the party .
”

The Green Party’s Northern leader, South Belfast MLA Clare Bailey, abstained from the parliamentary party’s vote on the programme for government. Photograph: Arthur Allison
The votes of Northern Greens could be important in determining whether or not a government will be formed in the Republic, in the event of a close contest, as the party needs to get approval from two-thirds of its members if it is to enter coalition.
The party in Northern Ireland has been remarkably silent – all the more surprising given the Greens' usually vocal stance on other issues.
Indeed, that none of its two MLAs and eight councillors in the North has publicly endorsed the programme for government must inevitably raise questions about the extent of enthusiasm north of the Border.
The Green Party in Northern Ireland has about 800 members, approximately a fifth of the total membership on the island.
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About two-thirds of the Greens’ membership in the Republic have registered to vote on coalition, but just 195 Northern members have registered.
Abstained
In a brief statement following the agreement of a draft programme for government between the Greens, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on Monday, the Northern Greens noted the "welcome development" but said that "as always, the devil will be in the detail".
The party's Northern leader, South Belfast MLA Clare Bailey, abstained from the parliamentary party's vote on the programme for government on Monday, on the basis that she had not had the opportunity to read the document in its entirety.
Declining an interview request from The Irish Times on Wednesday, a party press officer explained the document was still being considered, and the focus was on internal discussions with members.
The Irish Times contacted Ms Bailey, her fellow MLA, Rachel Woods, and the party's eight Northern councillors by phone. Ms Bailey, Ms Woods and six councillors – deputy leader Malachai O'Hara, Stephen Dunlop, Anthony Flynn, Áine Groogan, Barry McKee and Kathryn McNickle – did not respond, while Belfast councillor Brian Smyth suggested contacting the press office.
Only one councillor, Simon Lee – who represents Lisburn and Castlereagh – was willing to answer questions, saying he was keeping an "open mind" and wanted to "listen to both sides of the argument" at Thursday's convention. He could not comment, he said, on how the rest of the Northern membership might vote.
He put his colleagues’ reticence down to a “different culture” in the North. In the Republic there was more of a tendency to “play things out in public”, he said. “It’s an internal matter, so we’ll discuss it internally.”
The so-called “Green Wave”, which was the talk of the council elections south of the Border in 2019, was less in evidence in the North. That said, the party still enjoyed its best ever showing at council level, doubling its share of first preferences to 2.1 per cent, and going from four to eight council seats. These are all in the east, in Belfast and in the adjoining areas of Ards and North Down and Lisburn and Castlereagh.
The party has always attracted a mixed membership. That, in the Northern context, means Catholic and Protestant. It has walked this tightrope by "assiduously" avoiding constitutional issues and focusing on environmental ones, says political commentator Brian Feeney.
Accepting the programme for government would put the Northern Greens firmly on one side of that constitutional argument, argues Mr Feeney. He puts their official silence down to a reluctance to get into the “difficult position” of having to defend commitments on a “shared island” and controversial legacy matters.
Sensitive
David McCann, deputy editor of political website Slugger O’Toole, says the party is “sensitive” to the potential charge that it could be the Northerners who stop the party going into government in the Republic.
One grassroots source sums it up: “There’s not a lot to be gained from a Northern perspective in being very publicly supportive or otherwise.
“It never looks good to be going against your colleagues in the South, and being supportive could have negative consequences, so I can see why they’re keeping their heads down.”
Nevertheless, their votes could be decisive, and it is currently far from clear if they will back the programme for government.
The Greens in the North are “different”, is how another party source put it. “A wee bit more left wing.”
The former party leader in the North and former councillor, John Barry, has no qualms about speaking out. He is “resolutely against” the programme for government, and has used social media to campaign for a no vote.
“I think it’s achieved quite a bit,” he says of the draft programme, “but I think we could do better”. His “big fear” is that “Fine Gael will insist on austerity as part of the package”.
Mr Barry concludes: “This is a division that isn’t between North and South, it’s a genuine strategic and ideological division within the party.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-19--Coronavirus: Fewer than 10 new cases in 11 counties for five weeks in a row

Eleven counties have had fewer than ten new coronavirus cases for five weeks in a row , according to new figures published by the Central Statistics Office ( CSO ) on Friday .
Dublin continues to be the county most severely hit by Covid-19 with nine deaths from the virus in the last week .
The capital is the only county to record more than five fatalities a week for the last five weeks , and report over 20 new cases in the last fortnight .
Both Sligo and Waterford have had fewer than 10 new coronavirus cases for seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laois , and Kerry have reported fewer than 10 cases for the last six weeks .
Clare , Leitrim , Longford , Tipperary , Wexford and Wicklow have had fewer than 10 confirmed cases for five weeks in a row .
Women and people aged between 25 and 44 were the most likely to be diagnosed with Covid-19 , according to the CSO figures .
Ten people were hospitalised with the virus last week , down from a peak of 660 in the last week of March .
For the third week in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required admission into an intensive care unit .
The statistics are based on figures from the Health Service Executive ’ s internal disease reporting system .
There have been 25,355 confirmed coronavirus cases in the State , and 1,714 fatalities from the disease .
Around 40 per cent ( 10,417 ) of confirmed cases related to an outbreak , which is defined as two or more cases together .
People aged 80 and above accounted for 28 per cent of confirmed cases from outbreaks , with the virus having a major impact on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those who contracted the virus in an outbreak is 43 .
During the last week of April , when the virus had been spreading rapidly through many nursing homes , the median age was 73 .
Nursing homes accounted for 57 per cent of all cases linked to outbreaks in late April .
Women account for 59 per cent of cases linked to an outbreak , the figures outlined .
While travel accounted for 30 per cent of outbreaks in early March , the figure has now fallen to just one per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of cases from outbreaks in workplaces has increased from four to 12 per cent , as various sectors of the economy reopen .
In Monaghan , Longford and Kilkenny over 65 per cent of confirmed cases were associated with outbreaks .
Six counties have reported fewer than 10 deaths in recent weeks , these are Galway , Kerry , Leitrim , Longford , Sligo and Waterford .
Some 65 per cent of all confirmed Covid-19 deaths have been among people aged 80 and above , with 83 the median age .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in the Republic , last week was the second in a row where the county reported fewer than 100 cases since early March .
Dublin reported 59 new cases last week , down from a high point of 1,870 cases in the last week of March .

Eleven counties have had fewer than ten new coronavirus cases for five weeks in a row, according to new figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Friday. Photograph: The Irish Times
Two more people have died from the coronavirus and 13 further cases have been confirmed in the State, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported on Friday.
This brings the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in the State to 1,714, as two deaths previously reported as coronavirus fatalities have been denotified, following a validation process by the Health Service Executive.
There are now 25,368 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the State, as the Government prepares to announce details of further easing of restrictions on Friday evening.
In a statement, the State’s chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, said the importance of people taking “personal responsibility” in guarding against the virus “cannot be overstated at this crucial point in the pandemic.”
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“Hand washing, physical distancing, cough/sneeze etiquette, face coverings and knowing the symptoms of Covid-19 - and what to immediately when experiencing symptoms - is how every individual can equip themselves to live safely as restrictions are eased,” he said.
Earlier, it was reported that 11 counties have had fewer than ten new coronavirus cases for five weeks in a row, according to new figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Friday.
Dublin continues to be the county most severely hit by Covid-19 with nine deaths from the virus in the last week. The capital is the only county to record more than five fatalities a week for the last five weeks, and report over 20 new cases in the last fortnight.
Both Sligo and Waterford have had fewer than 10 new coronavirus cases for seven weeks in a row. Donegal, Laois, and Kerry have reported fewer than 10 cases for the last six weeks.
Clare, Leitrim, Longford, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow have had fewer than 10 confirmed cases for five weeks in a row.
Women and people aged between 25 and 44 were the most likely to be diagnosed with Covid-19, according to the CSO figures.
Peak
Ten people were hospitalised with the virus last week, down from a peak of 660 in the last week of March. For the third week in a row fewer than five Covid-19 patients required admission into an intensive care unit.
The statistics are based on figures from the Health Service Executive’s internal disease reporting system.
There have been 25,355 confirmed coronavirus cases in the State, and 1,714 fatalities from the disease.
Around 40 per cent (10,417) of confirmed cases related to an outbreak, which is defined as two or more cases together.
People aged 80 and above accounted for 28 per cent of confirmed cases from outbreaks, with the virus having a major impact on nursing homes.
The current median age of those who contracted the virus in an outbreak is 43. During the last week of April, when the virus had been spreading rapidly through many nursing homes, the median age was 73. Nursing homes accounted for 57 per cent of all cases linked to outbreaks in late April.
Women account for 59 per cent of cases linked to an outbreak, the figures outlined.
While travel accounted for 30 per cent of outbreaks in early March, the figure has now fallen to just one per cent of cases.
Workplaces
In recent weeks the number of cases from outbreaks in workplaces has increased from four to 12 per cent, as various sectors of the economy reopen.
In Monaghan, Longford and Kilkenny over 65 per cent of confirmed cases were associated with outbreaks.
Six counties have reported fewer than 10 deaths in recent weeks, these are Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Longford, Sligo and Waterford. Some 65 per cent of all confirmed Covid-19 deaths have been among people aged 80 and above, with 83 the median age.
While Dublin remains the epicentre of the virus in the Republic, last week was the second in a row where the county reported fewer than 100 cases since early March. Dublin reported 59 new cases last week, down from a high point of 1,870 cases in the last week of March.


theirishtimes--2020-06-19--Man who raped sleeping woman jailed for six and a half years

A man who raped a sleeping woman and told her “ she wanted it ” has been jailed for six and a half years .
The 38-year-old man , who can not be named to protect the identity of the victim , pleaded not guilty to an offence of rape at an address in Co Kildare on March 12th , 2017 .
He has one previous conviction for an assault .
In February 2020 , a jury returned a majority verdict of guilty on the single count following a trial in the Central Criminal Court .
Passing sentence on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offence was aggravated by the great harm it has caused and the fact that the woman was raped while she was asleep in her dwelling for the night .
Mr Justice Hunt noted that while the man now accepts the verdict of the jury and has offered an apology , the woman does not accept this apology .
He said this was understandable due to its timing and that were he in the woman ’ s position he would be of the same mindset .
He sentenced the man to eight years imprisonment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the sentence on strict conditions including that the man keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years post release and that he not directly or indirectly contact the victim .
At a previous sentencing hearing , a local garda told Patrick Hanahoe BL , prosecuting , that on the date in question , the woman was staying in the house of her friend , who was the former partner of the accused man .
The garda said that in the early hours of the morning , the woman woke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
The woman was startled , asked what he was doing and the man replied with words to the effect of saying “ she wanted it ” .
At one point during the offence , the man put his fingers over the woman ’ s lip , telling her to be quiet or the children sleeping in the house might hear .
Afterwards the man immediately left the house .
The court heard that during the trial , it was put to the woman that she had had a consensual sexual encounter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident and that the incident itself was also consensual .
The woman denied both propositions .
In her victim impact statement , which she read before the Central Criminal Court , the woman said that the past three or four years of her life have been “ hell ” .
“ I blame myself for not being strong enough for my children , ” the woman said .
She said she had felt and still feels like she has failed as a mother “ for being in such a dark place ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though she has been robbed of everything and does not feel like a woman anymore .
She said she can not watch TV shows or films that have “ so much as a kiss in them ” .
She said she wishes that one day she will be free of pain .
She said she will “ never be able to move on ” and that she has to learn how to live every day .
“ I know I will be alone for the rest of my life , ” the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crowe SC , defending , that her client had written a letter of apology to the victim .
The court heard that the woman does not accept this apology .
Ms Crowe said her client accepted the verdict of the jury .
She said her client was “ truly very sorry ” and that he threw himself at the mercy of the court .

A man who raped a sleeping woman and told her “she wanted it” has been jailed for six and a half years.
The 38-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded not guilty to an offence of rape at an address in Co Kildare on March 12th, 2017. He has one previous conviction for an assault.
In February 2020, a jury returned a majority verdict of guilty on the single count following a trial in the Central Criminal Court.
Passing sentence on Friday, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the offence was aggravated by the great harm it has caused and the fact that the woman was raped while she was asleep in her dwelling for the night.
READ MORE
Mr Justice Hunt noted that while the man now accepts the verdict of the jury and has offered an apology, the woman does not accept this apology. He said this was understandable due to its timing and that were he in the woman’s position he would be of the same mindset.
He sentenced the man to eight years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions including that the man keep the peace and be of good behaviour for five years post release and that he not directly or indirectly contact the victim.
At a previous sentencing hearing, a local garda told Patrick Hanahoe BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question, the woman was staying in the house of her friend, who was the former partner of the accused man.
The garda said that in the early hours of the morning, the woman woke up to find the accused man raping her. The woman was startled, asked what he was doing and the man replied with words to the effect of saying “she wanted it”.
At one point during the offence, the man put his fingers over the woman’s lip, telling her to be quiet or the children sleeping in the house might hear. Afterwards the man immediately left the house.
The court heard that during the trial, it was put to the woman that she had had a consensual sexual encounter with the man a month prior to the incident and that the incident itself was also consensual. The woman denied both propositions.
In her victim impact statement, which she read before the Central Criminal Court, the woman said that the past three or four years of her life have been “hell”.
“I blame myself for not being strong enough for my children,” the woman said. She said she had felt and still feels like she has failed as a mother “for being in such a dark place”.
The woman said she feels as though she has been robbed of everything and does not feel like a woman anymore. She said she cannot watch TV shows or films that have “so much as a kiss in them”.
She said she wishes that one day she will be free of pain. She said she will “never be able to move on” and that she has to learn how to live every day.
“I know I will be alone for the rest of my life,” the woman said.
The garda agreed with Orla Crowe SC, defending, that her client had written a letter of apology to the victim. The court heard that the woman does not accept this apology.
Ms Crowe said her client accepted the verdict of the jury. She said her client was “truly very sorry” and that he threw himself at the mercy of the court.


theirishtimes--2020-06-19--Cromwell statue at Westminister should stay, says Irish vice-chancellor of Oxford

Oxford ’ s vice-chancellor has invoked the name of Oliver Cromwell in an attempt to retain the controversial Cecil Rhodes statue at the college .
Prof Louise Richardson – who is originally from Tramore , Co Waterford – said memorials were part of our understanding of history .
Campaigners have sought for years to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes from outside Oriel College .
Rhodes was an imperialist and diamond magnate based in modern-day South Africa who left a huge amount of money to Oxford in his will .
Rhodesia , now Zimbabwe , was named after him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Prof Richardson told the Daily Telegraph : “ The question is , how do we judge people ?
How do you judge Cecil Rhodes ?
Do we judge him by our values today or do we judge him by the context of his time ?
“ I grew up in Ireland where Oliver Cromwell to me was what Voldemort [ the Harry Potter villain ] is to my children .
And yet a statue of Cromwell stands outside Westminster .
Does that mean it should be taken down ?
No .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the stuff of universities .
This is what education is all about .
I don ’ t think we can pretend our history is different from what it was.
” However , Prof Richardson ’ s attempts to invoke the name of Nelson Mandela in the statue row has angered many of the university ’ s academics .
Asked whether Mandela would have opposed the Rhodes Must Fall campaign , Prof Richardson said : “ I think he was a man of deep nuance who recognised complex problems for what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think he sought simplistic solutions to complex problems.
” In a response published in the Daily Telegraph , the academics accused Prof Richardson of “ inappropriate ventriloquising ” of the late South African leader .
“ It is especially so now , when universities need to listen to , not presume to speak for , black students and people of colour .
“ Secondly , she claims that the campaign amounts to ’ hiding our history ’ .
The opposite is true .
What is being demanded is a full and frank accounting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place of the selective commemoration of ’ great men ’ whose wealth was made through white supremacy.
” Prof Richardson ’ s intervention has not stopped the governing body of Oriel College voting to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes .
The college said it had “ expressed their wish to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes and the King Edward Street Plaque ” .
It will need the permission of the city authorities to do so .
British prime minister Boris Johnson has indicated the statue of Cromwell at the Palaces of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a post on his Facebook page , Mr Johnson said statues were a reminder of the nuances of history and that we should not judge historical characters by contemporary standards .
“ Where will it end ?
Are we supposed to haul down Cromwell who killed so many thousands of people in Ireland ?
” The town of Cromwell in New Zealand is also engaged in a debate over its name .
Cromwell resident Ben Deegan , who has Irish roots , told local media that places like Cromwell should be renamed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ monument to someone responsible for thousands of deaths , with no bearing on anything here in New Zealand .
We are all living on indigenous land , and we should both embrace and respect that.
” New Zealand , which removed the statue of Sir John Hamilton from the centre of the town named after him , is engaged in part of a worldwide debate about the removal of colonial-era statues and the renaming of towns and cities .

The statue of Oliver Cromwell at the Houses of Parliament in London. Photograph: EPA/NEIL HALL
Oxford's vice-chancellor has invoked the name of Oliver Cromwell in an attempt to retain the controversial Cecil Rhodes statue at the college.
Prof Louise Richardson – who is originally from Tramore, Co Waterford – said memorials were part of our understanding of history.
Campaigners have sought for years to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes from outside Oriel College. Rhodes was an imperialist and diamond magnate based in modern-day South Africa who left a huge amount of money to Oxford in his will. Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, was named after him.
Responding to the Rhodes Must Fall campaign, Prof Richardson told the Daily Telegraph: “The question is, how do we judge people? How do you judge Cecil Rhodes? Do we judge him by our values today or do we judge him by the context of his time?
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"I grew up in Ireland where Oliver Cromwell to me was what Voldemort [the Harry Potter villain] is to my children. And yet a statue of Cromwell stands outside Westminster. Does that mean it should be taken down? No.
“This is the stuff of academia. This is the stuff of universities. This is what education is all about. I don’t think we can pretend our history is different from what it was.”
However, Prof Richardson’s attempts to invoke the name of Nelson Mandela in the statue row has angered many of the university’s academics.
Asked whether Mandela would have opposed the Rhodes Must Fall campaign, Prof Richardson said: “I think he was a man of deep nuance who recognised complex problems for what they were. And I don’t think he sought simplistic solutions to complex problems.”
In a response published in the Daily Telegraph, the academics accused Prof Richardson of “inappropriate ventriloquising” of the late South African leader.
“It is especially so now, when universities need to listen to, not presume to speak for, black students and people of colour.
“Secondly, she claims that the campaign amounts to ’hiding our history’. The opposite is true. What is being demanded is a full and frank accounting for Britain’s history, in place of the selective commemoration of ’great men’ whose wealth was made through white supremacy.”
Prof Richardson’s intervention has not stopped the governing body of Oriel College voting to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes.
The college said it had “expressed their wish to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes and the King Edward Street Plaque”. It will need the permission of the city authorities to do so.
British prime minister Boris Johnson has indicated the statue of Cromwell at the Palaces of Westminster will not be removed.
In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Johnson said statues were a reminder of the nuances of history and that we should not judge historical characters by contemporary standards.
“Where will it end? Are we supposed to haul down Cromwell who killed so many thousands of people in Ireland?”
The town of Cromwell in New Zealand is also engaged in a debate over its name.
Cromwell resident Ben Deegan, who has Irish roots, told local media that places like Cromwell should be renamed.
‘’The name itself is a monument to someone responsible for thousands of deaths, with no bearing on anything here in New Zealand. We are all living on indigenous land, and we should both embrace and respect that.”
New Zealand, which removed the statue of Sir John Hamilton from the centre of the town named after him, is engaged in part of a worldwide debate about the removal of colonial-era statues and the renaming of towns and cities.


theirishtimes--2020-06-19--‘We are devastated’ - Vigil held for Colm Horkan as books of condolence open

Books of condolence have been opened around the country following the shooting dead of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Co Roscommon on Wednesday night .
The 49-year-old was shot dead in Castlerea after a struggle with a man who seized the detective ’ s gun .
The suspect history of mental health issues and alcohol abuse and is believed to have discharged the capacity 15 shots from the garda ’ s weapon , hitting the victim four times .
Lord Mayor of Dublin , Tom Brabazon and the Mayor of Cork County Ian Doyle have expressed their condolences to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was killed in Castlerea Co Roscommon , on Wednesday night .
Books of condolences have also been opened at Garda Stations across the State while in Dublin Lord Mayor Tom Brabazon Brabazon opened an online book of condolences which will remain available until Tuesday .
All messages of sympathy will be printed and forwarded in book form to the assistant Garda Commissioner in Dublin for passing on to the family of Detective Garda Horkan .
Hundreds of people attended a vigil in the town on Thursday night .
Garda colleagues joined community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer .
Superintendent Goretti Sheridan of Castlerea Garda Station thanked the local community for standing in support of the local members of the force .
Speaking at the prayer service , Supt Sheridan told the crowd , who had gathered at the town ’ s Fairgreen while observing social distancing , that “ it means a lot to us here in Castlerea and in the station in Ballaghaderreen ” .
“ We are devastated at the death of our friend and colleague Colm , ” she said .
She thanked local Parish Priest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the shooting on Wednesday night .
“ He said a few prayers and that meant the world to us , ” added Supt Sheridan .
She also thanked Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Paschal Fitzmaurice for inviting gardaí to attend the prayer vigil .
Mr Fitzmaurice said that the prayer service had been organised to show solidarity with the Horkan family and with the wider Garda community .
He noted that he had served for a long time in Castlerea and in Ballaghaderreen and had recently returned to Castlerea as a detective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town will never forget , ” said Mr Fitzmaurice as he extended the town ’ s sympathy to the Horkan family .
Fr McManus , who led the prayer service , said that the community had gathered in prayer and in memory of Garda Horkan .
He added that this was a testing and painful time for the family of Garda Horkan and for all who knew and loved him .
As the bell of St. Patrick ’ s Church rang through the town a minute ’ s silence was observed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were lit in his memory .
Speaking in Castlerea on Thursday Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said described detective Horkan as “ a beloved member of the community ” .
He said he was deeply saddened by the killing which was “ a random act ” .
Expressions of sympathy have also been made the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the President Michael D Higgins .
Speaking in Dublin as he opened the online book of condolence Mr Brabazon said he was “ deeply saddened ” by the death .
“ Detective Garda Horkan was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked as a retained fire fighter in Charlestown , County Mayo .
I am opening this Book of Condolence to allow the citizens of Dublin to express their sympathies to the family and colleagues of Detective Garda Horkan .
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam , ” he said .
Mr Brabazon led local authorities across the country which offered similar condolences .
In Cork Mayor Doyle said he was “ shocked and saddened ” to hear of the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan while on duty ” .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends , An Garda Síochána and the community he served during these most difficult times.
” A State funeral for Garda Horkan is expected to be held next week with Garda and Det Gda Horkan ’ s family working out how such a funeral may best be held under the Covid-19 restrictions .
A Garda spokesman advised those intending to sign books of condolences to check with their local garda division on the location of books , but not to breach Covid -19 restrictions .
He advised checking with the condolences pages on @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Murdered Det Gda Colm Horkan was set to be taken the final journey home to Charlestown, Co Mayo, on Friday afternoon after his remains were released to his family as local people gathered at the shooting scene where bullet holes in walls were evidence of how the victim had been killed.
The 49-year-old single man and 24-year veteran on the force was shot dead by a man with apparent mental health issues in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, late on Wednesday night.
As the 44-year-old from Castlerea was still being questioned in Castlerea on Friday, the murdered detective’s remains were due to be brought back to Charlestown ahead of his funeral on Sunday.
BALLAGHADEREEN - THE TOWN HE SERVED SO WELL: Garda colleagues of Colm Horkan were out in force this afternoon to pay respects to their local hero as he made his final journey through the town. Son. Brother. Friend. Garda. #Beloved #RIP pic.twitter.com/zPvHFOeySD — Garda Review (@GardaReview) June 19, 2020
His remains were due to be escorted by his Garda colleagues across the west back to the Horkan family home in Charlestown.
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The large cortege was expected to stop at Ballaghaderreen Garda station where Det Garda Horkan had been based until recently being posted to Castlerea after being promoted to detective.
Garda colleagues and local people were expected to turn out in numbers at Ballaghaderreen station when his remains are taken for a period of reflection and to honour him.
The cross which has been put in place at the spot where Colm Horkan was shot. Photograph: Conor Lally
Bullet holes
The scene of Wednesday night’s shooting in Castlerea remained sealed off until 3.30pm on Friday when the town was re-opened.
At the scene of the killing, a T-junction of Main St and St Patrick St, the signs of gunfire were clear to see, with one bullet hole on the exterior wall of Mulligan’s Menswear, another bullet hole in a window, patched up with cardboard and brown tape, of Gannon Travel across the road and another bullet hole visible in a steel gate beside Adrian Boyle Dental Surgery.
John Mulligan, the owner of Mulligan’s Menswear at the junction told The Irish Times of his “absolute shock” that Det Gda Horkan had been shot dead right outside his business and that the exterior wall, right beside the front door to the premises, had been fired at.
“My dad started this business back in 1968 and this is an awful shock; horrendous. Nobody could believe what had happened. We’re a small quiet, rural town and to have something like this go on . . .”
The bullet hole in the window of Gannon Travel was covered up by a piece of cardboard.
“At the start, word went out on the night that, on Wednesday night when it happened, that there were shots down town and then 10 minutes later we heard somebody was injured from the shots. Then there was speculation it was some guy buying drugs off a dealer or something and got shot or that some dealer had arrived in town and it was really only the next morning that we heard that a Garda was shot.
“And then you realise its a man who had been working in the town almost 20 years, and that it was outside out front door; that a guard was shot and there’s a bullet hole on our front wall . . . it’s just terrible. God, when you think if it, a man went out to work and he never went home. We know all the gardaí, they are all good guys. Colm was a quiet guy, I ran into him on a couple of occasions for different things, a real nice guy. The whole thing is just so sad.”
Garda sources said the 44-year-old suspect, who is from Castlerea and had recently spent time in the UK, somehow secured Det Gda Horkan’s pistol from him and discharged 15 shots from it, many of the bullets being fire into nearby buildings and a number of shots hitting the victim and killing him at the scene.
Books of condolence have been opened around the country following the shooting dead of Det Gda Horkan on Wednesday night.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Tom Brabazon and the Mayor of Cork County Ian Doyle have expressed their condolences to the family and colleagues of Detective Garda Horkan.
Books of condolences have also been opened at Garda stations across the State.
Hundreds gathered in Castlerea on Thursday for a vigil in memory of Colm Horkan. Photograph: Christina McHugh
Vigil
Hundreds of people attended a vigil in Castlerea on Thursday night. Garda colleagues joined community leaders for prayers to remember the deceased officer.
Supt Goretti Sheridan of Castlerea Garda Station thanked the local community for standing in support of the local members of the force .
Speaking at the prayer service , Supt Sheridan told the crowd, who had gathered at the town’s Fairgreen while observing social distancing, that “it means a lot to us here in Castlerea and in the station in Ballaghaderreen”.
“We are devastated at the death of our friend and colleague Colm”, she said.
She thanked local Parish Priest Fr John McManus for attending the scene of the shooting on Wednesday night . “He said a few prayers and that meant the world to us,” added Supt Sheridan.
She also thanked Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Paschal Fitzmaurice for inviting gardaí to attend the prayer vigil.
Mr Fitzmaurice said that the prayer service had been organised to show solidarity with the Horkan family and with the wider Garda community. “This is a tragedy the town will ever forget,” said Mr Fitzmaurice as he extended the town’s sympathy to the Horkan family.
Fr McManus, who led the prayer service, said the community had gathered in prayer and in memory of Garda Horkan. He added that this was a testing and painful time for the family of Garda Horkan and for all who knew and loved him.
As the bell of St Patrick’s Church rang through the town a minute’s silence was observed for the Charlestown, Co Mayo native and candles were lit in his memory.
Funeral details
Speaking in Castlerea on Thursday Garda Commissioner Drew Harris described Det Garda Horkan as “a beloved member of the community”. He said he was deeply saddened by the killing which was “a random act”.
Expressions of sympathy have also been made by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D Higgins.
Speaking in Dublin as he opened the online book of condolence Mr Brabazon said he was “deeply saddened” by the death.
“Detective Garda Horkan was a dedicated public servant who had also worked as a retained fire fighter in Charlestown, Co Mayo. I am opening this book of condolence to allow the citizens of Dublin to express their sympathies to the family and colleagues of Detective Garda Horkan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam,” he said.
In Cork Mayor Doyle said he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan while on duty”. This is “tragic loss for his family, friends, An Garda Síochána and the community he served during these most difficult times.”
The funeral details for Det Garda Horkan have been finalised. He will lie in repose at the family funeral home in Charlestown on Saturday afternoon. His remains will then be removed from the family home on Sunday morning to arrive at St James’s Church, Charlestown for concelebrated funeral Mass at 12 noon, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
The funeral mass will be broadcast live on mcnmedia.tv/camera/charlestown and Midwest Radio. The family have asked people to adhere to current HSE guidelines and restrictions at all times.


theirishtimes--2020-06-19--Coronavirus: Bookshop owner defends facemask policy amid online backlash

A Cork bookshop owner has defended her decision to ask customers to wear masks coming into her shop to protect against Covid-19 following backlash on social media .
Joan Lucey , who owns Vibes and Scribes on Lavitt ’ s Quay in Cork city centre , re-opened her shop on Tuesday and asked customers to wear a mask and , if they didn ’ t have one with them , the shop was happy to provide one .
“ We asked people to wear masks for the safety of our staff and our customers and if they didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide them with one and they could make a donation to the Cork Sexual Violence Centre , ” said Ms Lucey .
“ But we were very surprised when we discovered this really bad reaction on line with some people going on to our Facebook page , accusing us of trying to humiliate them and others saying that they were going to blacklist us.
” Among the comments posted on the Vibes and Scribes Facebook page was one stating “ Compulsory masks and sanitizers [ sic ] are my reasons for blacklisting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that kills small business , it ’ s those shops ’ own policies.
” Another person expressed delight that Vibes and Scribes was after re-opening but said they would “ not step a foot inside unless you remove the absurd requirement for people to wear masks ” .
“ Happy to see you have been ‘ allowed ’ to reopen but very disappointed to see your mask policy !
Big NO to masks !
!
Not necessary , not mandatory !
Won ’ t be visiting your store or any store that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another posted a message stating , “ Great way to stop customers coming to your shop – nobody should be made to wear face masks , we all have free choice “ while another vowed not to visit “ under these humiliating conditions.
” It appears some of those expressing strong opposition to Vibes and Scribes policy have links to the anti-vaccinations but Ms Lucey said she was simply following HSE advice on masks out of concern for her staff and customers .
“ We ’ re asking people to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if for whatever reason , people refuse to wear a mask , we ask them to limit their visit to 10 minutes - again out of concern for our staff and customers.
” Ms Lucey , who won Cork Retailer of the Year in 2015 , said she was gratified by the many messages of support they had received online from people saying they will come into her shop as Covid 19 has had a devastating impact on retail .
“ Retail is on its knees .
We ’ ve re-opened our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we open up our craft supplies shop on Bridge Street , no matter how the customers feel towards us , it ’ s going to be very difficult .
She said that she had moved all her staff to working on her online craft supplies business and nobody was left go from the Vibes and Scribes team during the pandemic but re-opening her shops presented new challenges .
“ Funnily enough , in our online shop we ’ ve been selling huge amounts of products for mask making because we sell a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was aware that people are making masks and people were pro-masks.
” “ I admit we didn ’ t consult with anybody but to be honest I didn ’ t feel that it was terribly relevant , I thought I was doing the right thing for my staff and my customers and to be fair , most our customers have been supportive.
” The latest official advice from the HSE , updated on June 15th , states that face coverings should be worn in situations where it is difficult to practice social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public transport .
“ Face coverings help to prevent people who do not know they have the virus from spreading it to others ... .
it may help to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets from people infected with coronavirus , ” said the HSE .
Just two days ago , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar launched a government campaign to urge people to wear face masks in public places and he did not rule out the possibility that the government might make the wearing of masks mandatory .
“ It ’ s seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the spread of the infection ... .
I do see people using them more and more so I think the message is getting across , ” he said .

A Cork bookshop owner has defended her decision to ask customers to wear masks coming into her shop to protect against Covid-19 following a backlash on social media. Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision
A Cork bookshop owner has defended her decision to ask customers to wear masks coming into her shop to protect against Covid-19 following backlash on social media.
Joan Lucey, who owns Vibes and Scribes on Lavitt's Quay in Cork city centre, re-opened her shop on Tuesday and asked customers to wear a mask and, if they didn't have one with them, the shop was happy to provide one.
"We asked people to wear masks for the safety of our staff and our customers and if they didn't have one, we were happy to provide them with one and they could make a donation to the Cork Sexual Violence Centre, " said Ms Lucey.
"But we were very surprised when we discovered this really bad reaction on line with some people going on to our Facebook page, accusing us of trying to humiliate them and others saying that they were going to blacklist us."
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Among the comments posted on the Vibes and Scribes Facebook page was one stating “Compulsory masks and sanitizers [sic] are my reasons for blacklisting the shops. It’s not Covid that kills small business, it’s those shops’ own policies.”
Another person expressed delight that Vibes and Scribes was after re-opening but said they would “not step a foot inside unless you remove the absurd requirement for people to wear masks”.
“Happy to see you have been ‘allowed’ to reopen but very disappointed to see your mask policy! Big NO to masks!! Not necessary, not mandatory! Won’t be visiting your store or any store that has a mask policy,” said another.
Another posted a message stating, “Great way to stop customers coming to your shop – nobody should be made to wear face masks, we all have free choice “ while another vowed not to visit “under these humiliating conditions.”
Opposition
It appears some of those expressing strong opposition to Vibes and Scribes policy have links to the anti-vaccinations but Ms Lucey said she was simply following HSE advice on masks out of concern for her staff and customers.
“We’re asking people to wear masks simply to protect our staff and customers and if for whatever reason, people refuse to wear a mask, we ask them to limit their visit to 10 minutes - again out of concern for our staff and customers.”
Ms Lucey, who won Cork Retailer of the Year in 2015, said she was gratified by the many messages of support they had received online from people saying they will come into her shop as Covid 19 has had a devastating impact on retail.
“Retail is on its knees. We’ve re-opened our bookshop and no matter what happens when we open up our craft supplies shop on Bridge Street, no matter how the customers feel towards us, it’s going to be very difficult.
She said that she had moved all her staff to working on her online craft supplies business and nobody was left go from the Vibes and Scribes team during the pandemic but re-opening her shops presented new challenges.
“Funnily enough, in our online shop we’ve been selling huge amounts of products for mask making because we sell a lot of elastics and fabrics, so I was aware that people are making masks and people were pro-masks.”
“I admit we didn’t consult with anybody but to be honest I didn’t feel that it was terribly relevant, I thought I was doing the right thing for my staff and my customers and to be fair, most our customers have been supportive.”
Official advice
The latest official advice from the HSE, updated on June 15th, states that face coverings should be worn in situations where it is difficult to practice social distancing, such as in shops and on public transport.
“Face coverings help to prevent people who do not know they have the virus from spreading it to others .... it may help to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets from people infected with coronavirus,” said the HSE.
Just two days ago, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar launched a government campaign to urge people to wear face masks in public places and he did not rule out the possibility that the government might make the wearing of masks mandatory.
“It’s seen as an additional hygiene measure that can help reduce the spread of the infection .... I do see people using them more and more so I think the message is getting across,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-19--Unlocking Ireland: Cabinet to consider moves to open hairdressers, theatres, cinemas, gyms

Moves to ease Ireland ’ s restrictions put in place to tackle coronavirus continue on Friday with announcements expected on the reopening of restaurants as well as hairdressers and barbers .
The Cabinet is due to consider the further acceleration of the Government ’ s roadmap for easing restrictions and will also examine plans for theatres , cinemas , gyms and outdoor gatherings .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) has recommended that hairdressers and barbers should reopen at the end of the month .
At a meeting on Thursday , NPHET finalised details of the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy .
Their recommendations will be considered by Ministers on Friday .
Bit it is understood that the reopening of hairdressers and barbers will be brought forward to June 29th from July 20th under the new plans .
Ministers are also expected to discuss the earlier reopening of salons and beauticians .
Earlier this week Fáilte Ireland published its guidelines for reopening pubs with premises that serve food allowed to open on Monday , June 29th .
Pubs that don ’ t serve food must wait until July 20th .
( Q @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Here ’ s how it will work ) .
Guidelines detailing how restaurants can operate when they reopen at the end of the month are to be published by Fáilte Ireland on Friday .
Like pubs , it is expected they will be able to implement one-metre physical distancing in “ permitted controlled environments , ” rather than the current two-metre rule .
At a briefing following the meeting of NPHET , Prof Philip Nolan , chair of its Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group , said that Covid-19 was at a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable .
However , a resurgence in the number of new Covid-19 infections in the State as a result of foreign travel , including from Britain and Sweden , has raised concerns among public health officials .
Fewer than 10 new cases of the coronavirus disease relating to travel outside the country were reported over the past fortnight after several weeks with no confirmed cases associated with travel .
“ Over the last two weeks we have begun to see a small number of travel-related cases - it is a cause for concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of these cases were still being investigated , he added .
The Department of Health reported four additional Covid-19 fatalities and 16 new confirmed cases on Thursday , bringing the death toll to 1,714 and the total number of cases to 23,355 .
Nursing homes account for 962 deaths or 56 per cent of all fatalities from the disease .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the greater the progress made on suppressing the virus at home , the more important the risk of importing cases from abroad would become .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see any cases being imported if we can avoid that , ” he said and advised people to continue to avoid all non-essential and holiday travel to and from Ireland .
Dr Holohan said the team did not see pubs reopening in the same phase as restaurants from the end of the month but that if pubs planned to operate as restaurants from this date he hoped publicans would be “ responsible ” in applying public health advice and guidance “ in good faith ” .
Prof Nolan said that the figures on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admissions to hospitals and intensive care units showed that the disease was “ at a very low level and very stable.
” But he sounded “ a note of caution ” that health officials “ would only just now ” be seeing the effect of changes made in the second reopening phase on June 8th .
Meanwhile , public health expert Dr Joe Barry warned on Friday that the reopening of pubs is “ a little bit premature ” .
On the balance of risks , the easing of restrictions should be taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high risk locations like pubs , he told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland .
Dr Barry , who is Clinical Professor in Public Health Medicine and Head of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care in Trinity College , Dublin said the issue was that a person could walk into a pub , have a few pints and walk out with Covid-19 , but be asymptomatic .
“ It ’ s a little bit premature to let pubs reopen the way they want to do it .
This has to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next three weeks , ” he said .
Dr Barry said pub is a different environment from restaurants , and would be more difficult to control .
Pubs are the ideal place for the spread of the virus given the close proximity of customers , he said .
Adding alcohol to the situation meant that people ’ s judgement could “ go a little bit.
” He argued that the Fáilte Ireland guidelines on the reopening of pubs were “ strange ” with “ a lot of wooly language.
” Dr Barry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen their businesses , but publicans were not unique in their suffering .
The situation was too serious for people to think they could just out to pubs again .
After all the efforts that had been made , there was too much to lose , he warned .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Friday that the Cabinet has approved the re-phasing of the roadmap to reopen Ireland’s economy and society. Video: RTE
The Cabinet has approved plans to accelerate Ireland’s exit from restrictions put in place to tackle the spread of Covid-19.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Friday that the Cabinet has approved the re-phasing of the roadmap to reopen Ireland’s economy and society.
Apart from some exceptions, many businesses and activities will return from June 29th including places of worship, gyms, cinemas, hairdressers and sporting activities.
He confirmed that gatherings will be limited to 50 people indoors from June 29th rising to 100 people in July.
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“In phase 3, which we expect to commence on Monday the 29th June, all sporting activities, including close contact sports, can recommence including team leagues for adults and children. We will all need to be careful. It will not be as it was before the start of the pandemic and for now sports will take place with very limited numbers of spectators,” Mr Varadkar said on Friday.
“We are making progress but this announcement comes with some important terms and conditions. The virus hasn’t gone away. We are all still susceptible to it,” he added.
The Taoiseach said the past few months have been amongst the toughest in the country’s history.
“In the darkest moments I think we all worried how bad things would get. How much more would people have to suffer. As a country we got through this without giving way to despair and by looking out for each other and staying hopeful.”
Mr Varadkar said the country was ahead of schedule in lifting the lockdown measures.
He confirmed that all sporting activities can recommence from June 29th but sports would take place with a limited number of spectators
However the announcement “comes with terms and conditions,” he said, adding that people should continue to work from home where possible.
“Personal responsibility will become more important than ever before.”
He said people should consider four things: distance, activity, time and environment.
“Taking personal responsibility means not entering a place if you can see that it is packed. It means leaving somewhere even if you are having a good time.”
The Cabinet has also agreed to provide €70 million in funding for the sports sector as it reopens at the end of the month.
"Ireland has missed sport in recent times. Communities have suffered an enormous amount. This particular allotment of money is a recognition of the tremendous community work being done by small sports clubs, large sports club and many other people," the Minister for Sport Shane Ross said.
Restart funds will be made available, Mr Ross said, adding that “insolvency was at the door” for many sports clubs. Funding of up to €40 million will be made available for the three main field sports organisations, the FAI, GAA and IRFU. There will be resilience fund of €10 million, a sports club resilience fund of €15 million, and a re-start fund of €5 million.
Willpower
Minister for Health Simon Harris said the collective challenge for the country now is “our willpower”.
“We have been easing restrictions now for over a month and we have not seen a detrimental impact.”
“But we move forward with the knowledge that globally this virus remains as dangerous as ever. We have weakened the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland but it can come back strong unless we follow the proper health checks.”
Mr Harris appealed to the public that if they have symptoms they should not wait to contact their doctor. It is taking two days at present for people to do this which is too long, he said.
Mr Harris was also asked about the resumption of routine cancer screenings which have been paused. He said the National Screening Service will outline their plans by the end of the month but that programmes would reopen in a phased basis over the summer.
The Minister also said it is unlikely that there will be a return to the same “menu” of restrictions as before if a second wave of cases emerges in the coming weeks.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said the public health team will consider over the coming weeks what kind of restrictions might be needed if there is an emergence of new cases.
He also said the team would re-examine the numbers allowed in both indoor and outdoors gatherings in the coming weeks.
Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said “I think I speak for most of the country when I say that the news that hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons will be able to open from June 29th is most welcome”.
She said 2020 should be “the summer of the staycation”.
On the issue of the 14-day quarantine that travellers coming into Ireland are asked to abide by, Mr Varadkar said the quarantine remains in place and that a Cabinet committee would further consider the issue next week.
Resurgence
Guidelines detailing how restaurants can operate when they reopen at the end of the month are to be published by Fáilte Ireland on Friday. Like pubs, it is expected they will be able to implement one-metre physical distancing in "permitted controlled environments," rather than the current two-metre rule.
At a briefing following the meeting of NPHET, Prof Philip Nolan, chair of its Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said that Covid-19 was at a very low level in the State and very stable. However, a resurgence in the number of new Covid-19 infections in the State as a result of foreign travel, including from Britain and Sweden, has raised concerns among public health officials.
Fewer than 10 new cases of the coronavirus disease relating to travel outside the country were reported over the past fortnight after several weeks with no confirmed cases associated with travel.
“Over the last two weeks we have begun to see a small number of travel-related cases - it is a cause for concern nonetheless,” said Prof Nolan. Many of these cases were still being investigated, he added.
The Department of Health reported four additional Covid-19 fatalities and 16 new confirmed cases on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 1,714 and the total number of cases to 23,355.
Nursing homes account for 962 deaths or 56 per cent of all fatalities from the disease.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the greater the progress made on suppressing the virus at home, the more important the risk of importing cases from abroad would become.
“We wouldn’t like to see any cases being imported if we can avoid that,” he said and advised people to continue to avoid all non-essential and holiday travel to and from Ireland.
Dr Holohan said the team did not see pubs reopening in the same phase as restaurants from the end of the month but that if pubs planned to operate as restaurants from this date he hoped publicans would be “responsible” in applying public health advice and guidance “in good faith”.
Prof Nolan said that the figures on the low number of new cases and admissions to hospitals and intensive care units showed that the disease was “at a very low level and very stable.”
But he sounded “a note of caution” that health officials “would only just now” be seeing the effect of changes made in the second reopening phase on June 8th.
Premature
Meanwhile, public health expert Dr Joe Barry warned on Friday that the reopening of pubs is “a little bit premature”.
On the balance of risks, the easing of restrictions should be taken “a little more gently” with high risk locations like pubs, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
Dr Barry, who is Clinical Professor in Public Health Medicine and Head of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care in Trinity College, Dublin said the issue was that a person could walk into a pub, have a few pints and walk out with Covid-19, but be asymptomatic.
“It’s a little bit premature to let pubs reopen the way they want to do it. This has to be looked at much more carefully over the next three weeks,” he said.
Dr Barry said pub is a different environment from restaurants, and would be more difficult to control. Pubs are the ideal place for the spread of the virus given the close proximity of customers, he said. Adding alcohol to the situation meant that people’s judgement could “go a little bit.”
He argued that the Fáilte Ireland guidelines on the reopening of pubs were “strange” with “a lot of wooly language.”
Dr Barry said he could understand publicans intensely lobbying to reopen their businesses, but publicans were not unique in their suffering. The situation was too serious for people to think they could just out to pubs again. After all the efforts that had been made, there was too much to lose, he warned.