theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Taoiseach pledges extra €10m to new Connacht Rugby stadium

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has pledged an extra €10 million to Connacht Rugby to build a new stadium over and above the limits of a grant scheme from Minister for Sport Shane Ross .
The announcement came on Friday evening amid renewed speculation in recent days that Mr Varadkar may call a snap general election .
Last month Mr Ross decided to award €10 million each to Leinster and Connacht for their plans to build or refurbish stadiums , along with €1.5 million to Munster Rugby for floodlighting and an indoor training centre .
However , he refused to meet Connacht @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million for its project , arguing that rugby could not be given a greater share of the €77 million sports infrastructure grants that were announced yesterday given other demands .
It has been known in Government circles that Connacht was unhappy with the limit put in place by Mr Ross , and Government sources said Mr Varadkar gave the go ahead for the additional €10 million , but insisted the decision is “ fully justified ” because Connacht ’ s application was the “ second highest scoring project ” .
Sources said talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Fine Gael side of government and the move was announced yesterday by Sean Kyne , the Government chief whip , and Hildegarde Naughton , who are both local party TDs .
Mr Kyne , a minister in the Taoiseach ’ s department , was particularly cited by club officials .
A decision was made to find additional money for Connacht elsewhere , above Mr Ross ’ s grant , and it is understood that the funds will come from the Government ’ s Project Ireland 2040 plan .
The pledge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made in writing so that the club can borrow a further €10 million to complete the 12,000-seater stadium at its Sportsground home on College Road in Galway .
Saying the decision had prompted , “ great excitement ” , the club ’ s chief executive , Willie Ruane said in a statement last night that he wanted to “ fully acknowledge the very significant support ” received from the Taoiseach .
In his announcement yesterday , M Ross said the €77.4 million given to 25 projects had been decided “ following a rigorous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving grant offers ” .
“ The fund provides a robust and transparent mechanism for the allocation of funding to develop the best high quality sports facilities across all regions , ” Mr Ross said .
Two projects in , or near to Mr Ross ’ s constituency – the Beckett Civic Centre and the Tibradden Road sports centre will receive more than €10 million .
Last May , Mr Varadkar , along with Ms Naughton and Government Chief Whip Sean Kyne , were told during a visit to Galway that the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State put up €20 million .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has pledged an extra €10 million to Connacht Rugby to build a new stadium over and above the limits of a grant scheme from Minister for Sport Shane Ross.
The announcement came on Friday evening amid renewed speculation in recent days that Mr Varadkar may call a snap general election.
Last month Mr Ross decided to award €10 million each to Leinster and Connacht for their plans to build or refurbish stadiums, along with €1.5 million to Munster Rugby for floodlighting and an indoor training centre.
However, he refused to meet Connacht’s demand for an extra €10 million for its project, arguing that rugby could not be given a greater share of the €77 million sports infrastructure grants that were announced yesterday given other demands.
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It has been known in Government circles that Connacht was unhappy with the limit put in place by Mr Ross, and Government sources said Mr Varadkar gave the go ahead for the additional €10 million, but insisted the decision is “fully justified” because Connacht’s application was the “second highest scoring project”.
‘Great excitement’
Sources said talks have been ongoing between Connacht and figures on the Fine Gael side of government and the move was announced yesterday by Sean Kyne, the Government chief whip, and Hildegarde Naughton, who are both local party TDs. Mr Kyne, a minister in the Taoiseach's department, was particularly cited by club officials.
A decision was made to find additional money for Connacht elsewhere, above Mr Ross’s grant, and it is understood that the funds will come from the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 plan.
The pledge to Connacht Rugby by the Taoiseach will be made in writing so that the club can borrow a further €10 million to complete the 12,000-seater stadium at its Sportsground home on College Road in Galway.
Saying the decision had prompted, "great excitement", the club's chief executive, Willie Ruane said in a statement last night that he wanted to "fully acknowledge the very significant support" received from the Taoiseach.
In his announcement yesterday, M Ross said the €77.4 million given to 25 projects had been decided “following a rigorous assessment process with the highest scoring applications receiving grant offers”.
“The fund provides a robust and transparent mechanism for the allocation of funding to develop the best high quality sports facilities across all regions,” Mr Ross said.
Two projects in, or near to Mr Ross's constituency – the Beckett Civic Centre and the Tibradden Road sports centre will receive more than €10 million.
Last May, Mr Varadkar, along with Ms Naughton and Government Chief Whip Sean Kyne, were told during a visit to Galway that the new stadium could not be financed unless the State put up €20 million.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Four-year-old's chemotherapy appointment cancelled due to lack of beds

A mother whose four-year-old daughter ’ s cancer treatment was postponed again this week has described the lack of available beds in hospitals as a “ chronic problem ” .
Ciara Reid ’ s daughter Réiltín , who was diagnosed with leukaemia almost two years ago , was scheduled to have a chemotherapy session on Friday but the appointment was postponed the evening before .
Crumlin children ’ s hospital in Dublin told Ms Reid it had been forced to postpone Réiltín ’ s admission due to rising bed demand caused by a surge in flu cases .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have has to be done under general anaesthetic which means she has to be starved .
She has an issue maintaining her sugar levels , so I always ring the day before to make sure a glucose direct is written up for her .
When I rang and spoke to the nurse manager she told me they didn ’ t have a slot , ” Ms Reid said .
“ We ’ ve been cancelled numerous times before .
I honestly can ’ t count how many times we ’ ve been cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives – you get yourself ready , you have everything organised , the bags packed , plans made for childcare and then you get cancelled and everything needs to be rearranged again , ” she said .
“ Every time , you hope it won ’ t happen .
The knock-on effect for so many people is fairly big .
My daughter has Down syndrome as well , so her support worker in playschool was going to look after another child since Réiltín wasn ’ t going to be at school on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rearrange that.
” “ We ’ re only coming from Glasnevin to Crumlin .
We weren ’ t coming from Kerry or Donegal , so for families who get cancelled when they ’ re travelling a distance , the logistics and the cost of rearranging that again is tremendous , ” Ms Reid said .
Ms Reid said her other daughter ( 7 ) gets anxious when they go to the hospital .
“ In 2018 , we spent 200 nights in Crumlin with Réiltín and that had serious effects with my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sometimes I ’ m grateful Réiltín has a learning disability because I think that innocence means she doesn ’ t have to worry.
” A spokeswoman for Children ’ s Health Ireland ( CHI ) said : “ CHI sincerely regrets that on occasion deferment of planned treatment occurs .
Patients are scheduled based on their treatment plans and unfortunately these may need to be deferred for different reasons which are individual to each patient .
The decision to defer a patient ’ s treatment is not undertaken lightly and is made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to CHI , there were 130 appointments scheduled this week at the haematology and oncology day unit in Crumlin children ’ s hospital .
Twelve patients due to attend the unit had their treatment deferred ; five patients were deemed not medically fit to receive treatment and seven were deferred due to “ isolation requirements and infection prevention and control guidance ” , the spokeswoman said .
Réiltín ’ s treatment has been rescheduled for next Thursday .

A chemotherapy appointment for Réiltín Reid (4), who has been diagnosed with leukaemia, was cancelled at short notice this week. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
A mother whose four-year-old daughter’s cancer treatment was postponed again this week has described the lack of available beds in hospitals as a “chronic problem”.
Ciara Reid's daughter Réiltín, who was diagnosed with leukaemia almost two years ago, was scheduled to have a chemotherapy session on Friday but the appointment was postponed the evening before.
Crumlin children's hospital in Dublin told Ms Reid it had been forced to postpone Réiltín's admission due to rising bed demand caused by a surge in flu cases.
“The sort of chemo Réiltín was due to have has to be done under general anaesthetic which means she has to be starved. She has an issue maintaining her sugar levels, so I always ring the day before to make sure a glucose direct is written up for her. When I rang and spoke to the nurse manager she told me they didn’t have a slot,” Ms Reid said.
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“We’ve been cancelled numerous times before. I honestly can’t count how many times we’ve been cancelled. Cancellations are just part of our lives – you get yourself ready, you have everything organised, the bags packed, plans made for childcare and then you get cancelled and everything needs to be rearranged again,” she said.
“Every time, you hope it won’t happen. The knock-on effect for so many people is fairly big. My daughter has Down syndrome as well, so her support worker in playschool was going to look after another child since Réiltín wasn’t going to be at school on the day of her chemo. We had to rearrange that.”
"We're only coming from Glasnevin to Crumlin. We weren't coming from Kerry or Donegal, so for families who get cancelled when they're travelling a distance, the logistics and the cost of rearranging that again is tremendous," Ms Reid said.
Ms Reid said her other daughter (7) gets anxious when they go to the hospital. “In 2018, we spent 200 nights in Crumlin with Réiltín and that had serious effects with my eldest daughter’s anxiety levels. Sometimes I’m grateful Réiltín has a learning disability because I think that innocence means she doesn’t have to worry.”
Réiltín Reid (4) pictured with her sister, Dearbhla (7). A scheduled chemotherapy appointment for Réiltín, who has been diagnosed with leukaemia, was cancelled at short notice this week. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
A spokeswoman for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) said: “CHI sincerely regrets that on occasion deferment of planned treatment occurs. Patients are scheduled based on their treatment plans and unfortunately these may need to be deferred for different reasons which are individual to each patient. The decision to defer a patient’s treatment is not undertaken lightly and is made by the patient’s clinical team.”
According to CHI, there were 130 appointments scheduled this week at the haematology and oncology day unit in Crumlin children’s hospital. Twelve patients due to attend the unit had their treatment deferred; five patients were deemed not medically fit to receive treatment and seven were deferred due to “isolation requirements and infection prevention and control guidance”, the spokeswoman said.
Réiltín’s treatment has been rescheduled for next Thursday.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Where to now after the debacle over the RIC/DMP commemoration?

Before a decade of commemorations began in 2012 of the years around the creation of the State , then taoiseach Enda Kenny was only too well aware that it could exacerbate tensions and revive ancestral hatreds .
In a bid to ensure that pitfalls could be avoided and consensus created , the government set up an expert advisory group under the chairmanship of the chancellor of the National University of Ireland Dr Maurice Manning .
Given that North ’ s Stormont Assembly and Executive and the Belfast Agreement institutions were then working reasonably well , the government believed that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a frame of reference .
However , the experts refused “ point blank ” , arguing that a sanitised , whitewashed version of Irish history should not be presented for fear of causing offence .
“ We were into commemoration .
We were into history .
We were not into politics .
We said no , ” Manning said in 2016 .
The system worked well for years : the 1916 commemorations drew huge crowds and moderate debate , prompting an interest amongst new generations in the events that led to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Irishmen in the first World War .
However , the Government ’ s attempts to keep contemporary politics out of the commemorations imploded this week where Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan was forced to postpone a proposed commemoration for the Royal Irish Constabulary ( RIC ) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police ( DMP ) .
The recriminations have been ugly and have left nobody happy .
Many people were outraged that the service would have remembered those who served in the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries since their dead are included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those years even if they were not the primary focus of those behind the plan .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the Opposition has done nothing to hasten the day of a united Ireland , while Fianna Fáil has accused him of ignoring the cross-party consensus on commemorations that was carefully built up over years .
Meanwhile , unionists , some of them gleefully , have complained that the affair has illustrated that anti-British sentiment in the Republic still runs deep .
Mr Flanagan has been taken aback by the “ nastiness and vitriol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its guidance for the second half of the Decade of Centenaries ( 2018-2023 ) , the expert advisory group recommended that the State should ration itself to a small number of key centenaries and leave the rest to local commemoration groups .
This was vindicated by the Soloheadbeg commemoration in January 2019 , which by common consent was respectfully handled by local people .
It saw relatives of the ambushers mingle with relatives of the two RIC men shot dead in the opening action of the War of Independence .
The State events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Independence truce ( July 11th , 1921 ) ; one for the Civil War , two for the coming into being of the State ( January 1922 and December 1922 ) and one for when Ireland joined the League of Nations in September 1923 , which will end the Decade of Centenaries .
The Government has added another to the list .
There will be a State ceremony to remember Cork ’ s involvement in the War of Independence around the centenary of the death of the city ’ s lord mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ’ s unseemly row does not auger well for the years ahead .
There will be many difficult commemorations which will test people ’ s tolerance and respect for differences .
This is particularly true of the North .
August marks the centenary of the beginning of pogroms which followed the shooting dead of Det Sgt Oswald Swanzy in Lisburn in 1920 .
This provoked a sectarian backlash against the Catholic community which spread to Belfast .
Some 450 people were killed between 1920 and 1922 in an orgy of violence which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The centenary of partition and the foundation of Northern Ireland ( June 1921 ) are certain to be bitterly contested .
The new document New Decade , New Approach has a provision to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in a “ spirit of mutual respect , inclusiveness and reconciliation in line with the principles for remembering ” .
DUP leader Arlene Foster has already stated that she wants 2021 to be a celebration year , declaring that Northern Ireland has “ endured ” and “ succeeded ” .
Sinn Féin president Mary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no part in any attempt to celebrate the anniversary .
Northern historian Dr Eamon Phoenix , a member of the Government ’ s advisory group , said the Decade of Centenaries had been well handled to date in the North , with many cross-community events in 2016 to mark the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme .
That was when there was an executive in place .
“ From this year down to 2022 , opinion is bitterly divided .
The RIC commemoration shows the kind of problems that lie ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north of the Border , we have achieved quite a bit .
The big challenge is in a way about the birth of partition.
” He suggested that both communities could coalesce around the centenary of King George V ’ s speech at the opening of the Northern Ireland parliament ( June 22nd , 1921 ) in which he stated : “ I appeal to all Irishmen to pause , to stretch out the hand of forbearance and conciliation , to forgive and to forget , and to join in making for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of peace , contentment and goodwill.
” The next potential landmine for whatever Irish government is in power is a proposal for a State commemoration for the Truce ( July 11th , 1921 ) which ended the War of Independence .
The advisory group has recommended a “ formal commemoration for all of those who lost their lives during the War of Independence ” .
There are many people who will object to any attempt to morally equate those who died fighting for Irish freedom with those who opposed it .
Will this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British be involved ?
Where will it be hosted ?
What format will it take ?
The Civil War commemoration will be another one that will need careful handling when that centenary rolls around in June 1922 .
The advisory group has recommended that the approach should be a “ reflective and a reconciliatory tone that recognises that neither side has the monopoly on either atrocity or virtue ” .
The group has advised that just one State ceremony should take place to remember those who died in the Civil War .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities .
Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív , the grandson of Eamon de Valera , said he grew up in a household where the sincerity on both sides of the Civil War was respected .
As a member of the all-party group on commemorations , he says wide consultation will be critical in the years ahead .
“ The biggest lesson that we can learn out of this for the next four years is start your discussions early , be sensitive to the nuances of situations , and don ’ t go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinions on board.
” He believes the personal tragedy of those who died opposing Irish independence should be recognised , but there is a “ fundamental difference ” between commemorating individuals and commemorating organisations opposed to independence .
“ There is no hierarchy of victims but there is a hierarchy of causes , and the cause of Irish independence and protecting and defending Dáil Éireann set up by the Irish people by democratic choice was a noble cause from where I come from , and is something that I believe should be positively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time there has been a rumpus over commemorations .
The Easter Rising commemorations began with the debacle over a promotional video which featured none of those involved in 1916 , and was famously dismissed by Prof Diarmaid Ferriter as “ a historical shit ” .
The video was reshot , lessons were learned , and , by common consent , the 1916 commemorations went well .
If the coming years go as well , few will remember what happened this week .

Before a decade of commemorations began in 2012 of the years around the creation of the State, then taoiseach Enda Kenny was only too well aware that it could exacerbate tensions and revive ancestral hatreds.
In a bid to ensure that pitfalls could be avoided and consensus created, the government set up an expert advisory group under the chairmanship of the chancellor of the National University of Ireland Dr Maurice Manning.
Given that North's Stormont Assembly and Executive and the Belfast Agreement institutions were then working reasonably well, the government believed that any commemorations should use the Northern peace process as a frame of reference.
However, the experts refused “point blank”, arguing that a sanitised, whitewashed version of Irish history should not be presented for fear of causing offence.
READ MORE
“We were into commemoration. We were into history. We were not into politics. We said no,” Manning said in 2016.
The system worked well for years: the 1916 commemorations drew huge crowds and moderate debate, prompting an interest amongst new generations in the events that led to the foundation of the State and the role of Irishmen in the first World War.
However, the Government's attempts to keep contemporary politics out of the commemorations imploded this week where Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan was forced to postpone a proposed commemoration for the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP).
The recriminations have been ugly and have left nobody happy. Many people were outraged that the service would have remembered those who served in the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries since their dead are included in the toll of 555 killed during those years even if they were not the primary focus of those behind the plan.
Consensus
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the Opposition has done nothing to hasten the day of a united Ireland, while Fianna Fáil has accused him of ignoring the cross-party consensus on commemorations that was carefully built up over years.
Meanwhile, unionists, some of them gleefully, have complained that the affair has illustrated that anti-British sentiment in the Republic still runs deep.
Mr Flanagan has been taken aback by the “nastiness and vitriol” that his proposal generated.
In its guidance for the second half of the Decade of Centenaries (2018-2023), the expert advisory group recommended that the State should ration itself to a small number of key centenaries and leave the rest to local commemoration groups.
This was vindicated by the Soloheadbeg commemoration in January 2019, which by common consent was respectfully handled by local people. It saw relatives of the ambushers mingle with relatives of the two RIC men shot dead in the opening action of the War of Independence.
The State events as proposed are one for the War of Independence truce (July 11th, 1921); one for the Civil War, two for the coming into being of the State (January 1922 and December 1922) and one for when Ireland joined the League of Nations in September 1923, which will end the Decade of Centenaries.
The Government has added another to the list. There will be a State ceremony to remember Cork’s involvement in the War of Independence around the centenary of the death of the city’s lord mayor Terence MacSwiney in the autumn.
This week’s unseemly row does not auger well for the years ahead. There will be many difficult commemorations which will test people’s tolerance and respect for differences.
This is particularly true of the North. August marks the centenary of the beginning of pogroms which followed the shooting dead of Det Sgt Oswald Swanzy in Lisburn in 1920. This provoked a sectarian backlash against the Catholic community which spread to Belfast. Some 450 people were killed between 1920 and 1922 in an orgy of violence which matched the intensity of the Troubles.
Mutual respect
The centenary of partition and the foundation of Northern Ireland (June 1921) are certain to be bitterly contested. The new document New Decade, New Approach has a provision to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in a "spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and reconciliation in line with the principles for remembering".
DUP leader Arlene Foster has already stated that she wants 2021 to be a celebration year, declaring that Northern Ireland has "endured" and "succeeded".
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has said republicans will have no part in any attempt to celebrate the anniversary.
Northern historian Dr Eamon Phoenix, a member of the Government's advisory group, said the Decade of Centenaries had been well handled to date in the North, with many cross-community events in 2016 to mark the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme.
That was when there was an executive in place. “From this year down to 2022, opinion is bitterly divided. The RIC commemoration shows the kind of problems that lie ahead. As somebody involved in public history north of the Border, we have achieved quite a bit. The big challenge is in a way about the birth of partition.”
He suggested that both communities could coalesce around the centenary of King George V’s speech at the opening of the Northern Ireland parliament (June 22nd, 1921) in which he stated: “I appeal to all Irishmen to pause, to stretch out the hand of forbearance and conciliation, to forgive and to forget, and to join in making for the land which they love a new era of peace, contentment and goodwill.”
Potential landmine
The next potential landmine for whatever Irish government is in power is a proposal for a State commemoration for the Truce (July 11th, 1921) which ended the War of Independence.
The advisory group has recommended a “formal commemoration for all of those who lost their lives during the War of Independence”.
There are many people who will object to any attempt to morally equate those who died fighting for Irish freedom with those who opposed it.
Will this be an Irish-only commemoration or will the British be involved? Where will it be hosted? What format will it take?
The Civil War commemoration will be another one that will need careful handling when that centenary rolls around in June 1922. The advisory group has recommended that the approach should be a “reflective and a reconciliatory tone that recognises that neither side has the monopoly on either atrocity or virtue”.
The group has advised that just one State ceremony should take place to remember those who died in the Civil War. The rest should be left up to individual communities.
Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív, the grandson of Eamon de Valera, said he grew up in a household where the sincerity on both sides of the Civil War was respected. As a member of the all-party group on commemorations, he says wide consultation will be critical in the years ahead.
“The biggest lesson that we can learn out of this for the next four years is start your discussions early, be sensitive to the nuances of situations, and don’t go ahead until you have got all reasonable opinions on board.”
He believes the personal tragedy of those who died opposing Irish independence should be recognised, but there is a “fundamental difference” between commemorating individuals and commemorating organisations opposed to independence.
Hierarchy
“There is no hierarchy of victims but there is a hierarchy of causes, and the cause of Irish independence and protecting and defending Dáil Éireann set up by the Irish people by democratic choice was a noble cause from where I come from, and is something that I believe should be positively commemorated.”
This is not the first time there has been a rumpus over commemorations. The Easter Rising commemorations began with the debacle over a promotional video which featured none of those involved in 1916, and was famously dismissed by Prof Diarmaid Ferriter as "a historical shit".
The video was reshot, lessons were learned, and, by common consent, the 1916 commemorations went well.
If the coming years go as well, few will remember what happened this week.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Mother of Clare man killed in plane crash says Boeing must be held accountable

Airline manufacturer Boeing must suffer criminal punishment for the failures that led to two crashes of its 737 Max aircraft , the Irish mother of one of the victims has said .
Christine Ryan ’ s son Michael , from Lahinch , Co Clare , was killed when the ill-fated Boeing 737 Max ET302 flight flown by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Adaba in Ethiopia early last year .
On Friday , Mrs Ryan was part of a network of people from all over the world who have lost loved ones that communicate with each other daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate greed .
We know that the US Federal Aviation Administration had told Boeing that within the lifetime of those planes , there would be 14 crashes , ” she said .
“ That came out in a hearing in America .
They had been warned but still they didn ’ t stop , ” she says .
“ I don ’ t think it will be any consolation but I ’ d like to see justice done .
It ’ s not a question of money.
” Mrs Ryan said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Money doesn ’ t matter to them .
We would prefer if people were found culpable .
They need to be held accountable for killing all of those people .
“ Nothing is going to bring them back but if people were held accountable for what is really a criminal offence rather than a civil offence , that might give us some bit of peace ” she declared .
Her family , she said , is still struggling to cope with the loss of her son , who had worked all over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Food Programme , including South Sudan during the Ebola crisis .
“ As far as the family is concerned , we ’ re not doing good .
None of us are doing good .
We haven ’ t dealt with this very well .
None of us have gone for counselling or anything like that but we probably should , ” she said .
“ He was so interested in us .
I would be in contact with him every day , telling him how everyone in the family was getting on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d tell him .
We ’ d discuss it and he ’ d try and get them sorted , ” she said .
“ He is such a huge loss to his wife and his kids .
To all of us .
It ’ s so unfair .
It shouldn ’ t have happened .
He was a humanitarian , he helped people , he looked out for people , ” she said .
Her son was “ the heart ” of the family , she said .
“ We will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t even know will we get through it .
People say it will get easier as time goes on .
As far as I ’ m concerned , it ’ s getting harder .
I depended on him so much .
“ He had great energy for his life and his work .
He helped out so many people , people he didn ’ t know .
They came to him with their problems and he helped them .
The worst thing is that he would have done so much more .
@

Airline manufacturer Boeing must suffer criminal punishment for the failures that led to two crashes of its 737 Max aircraft, the Irish mother of one of the victims has said.
Christine Ryan's son Michael, from Lahinch, Co Clare, was killed when the ill-fated Boeing 737 Max ET302 flight flown by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Adaba in Ethiopia early last year.
On Friday, Mrs Ryan was part of a network of people from all over the world who have lost loved ones that communicate with each other daily, sharing information.
“It was corporate greed. We know that the US Federal Aviation Administration had told Boeing that within the lifetime of those planes, there would be 14 crashes,” she said.
READ MORE
“That came out in a hearing in America. They had been warned but still they didn’t stop,” she says. “I don’t think it will be any consolation but I’d like to see justice done. It’s not a question of money.”
Mrs Ryan said, “They are a multi-million dollar organisation. Money doesn’t matter to them. We would prefer if people were found culpable. They need to be held accountable for killing all of those people.
World Food Programme deputy chief engineer, Michael Ryan from Co Clare who was killed when Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 crashed minutes after take off.
“Nothing is going to bring them back but if people were held accountable for what is really a criminal offence rather than a civil offence, that might give us some bit of peace” she declared.
Her family, she said, is still struggling to cope with the loss of her son, who had worked all over the world with the United Nations' World Food Programme, including South Sudan during the Ebola crisis.
“As far as the family is concerned, we’re not doing good. None of us are doing good. We haven’t dealt with this very well. None of us have gone for counselling or anything like that but we probably should,” she said.
“He was so interested in us. I would be in contact with him every day, telling him how everyone in the family was getting on. If I was worried about anyone, I’d tell him. We’d discuss it and he’d try and get them sorted,” she said.
“He is such a huge loss to his wife and his kids. To all of us. It’s so unfair. It shouldn’t have happened. He was a humanitarian, he helped people, he looked out for people,” she said.
Her son was “the heart” of the family, she said. “We will never get over it, I don’t even know will we get through it. People say it will get easier as time goes on. As far as I’m concerned, it’s getting harder. I depended on him so much.
“He had great energy for his life and his work. He helped out so many people, people he didn’t know. They came to him with their problems and he helped them. The worst thing is that he would have done so much more.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Post-mortem due on man (48) who died after assault in Co Waterford

Gardaí are expected to wait until they receive the results of a post-mortem on Sunday before formally deciding on the status of their investigation into the death of a 48-year-old father of two in Co Waterford .
Gardaí requested the services of the State Pathologist ’ s Office after the man was seriously injured during an assault in a house on Brown Street in Portlaw sometime after 2am on Saturday .
The man , who has been named locally as John Butler , was treated at the scene before being rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford in Ardkeen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time later .
Gardaí had been alerted , and arrested a 21-year-old man , who was known to Mr Butler , a short distance from the house ; he was brought to Tramore Garda Station for questioning .
The young man , who is from Portlaw , is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí to detain suspects for 24 hours before they have to be released or charged .
It ’ s understood that Mr Butler ’ s remains will be brought to Dublin for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mulligan on Sunday , amid concerns about the suitability of the morgue at University Hospital Waterford for post-mortem examinations .
Meanwhile Garda technical experts began a forensic examination of the scene of the assault in Portlaw , while officers also carried out door-to-door inquiries and began harvesting CCTV footage from the Brown Street area .
News of Mr Butler ’ s death was greeted with sadness and dismay in Portlaw , with local Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler saying the tragedy had shocked the town as Mr Butler ( no relation ) was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lovely quiet man – you would always see him every day walking his two dogs – he used to work a couple of days a week in the Dr Martin Day Care Centre for the elderly , so he was well known and very well liked by everyone .
“ I spoke to one of his neighbours earlier today and they told me he was a great neighbour – a lovely quiet man– it ’ s just an awful , tragic , tragic event and our thoughts are with his immediate family at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been living in Portlaw for 20 years but it ’ s understood he went playing darts with another man in Carrick-on-Suir , where he is originally from , on Friday night before getting a taxi back to Portlaw .
It is understood that a row may have broken out outside a pub in Portlaw , followed by another row in the house on Brown Street where Mr Butler was fatally assaulted .

The scene of the fatal assault at Brown Street, Portlaw, Co Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne
A man is due to appear in court on Sunday charged in connection with the fatal assault of a man in Portlaw, Co Waterford in the early hours of Saturday.
The man, aged 21, is due to appear at Carrick-on-Suir District Court on Sunday at noon.
Gardaí are expected to wait until they receive the results of a post-mortem on Sunday before formally deciding on the status of their investigation into the death of the man (48).
Gardaí requested the services of the State Pathologist’s Office after the man was seriously injured during an assault in a house on Brown Street in Portlaw sometime after 2am on Saturday.
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The man, who has been named locally as John Butler, was treated at the scene before being rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford in Ardkeen, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Gardaí had been alerted, and arrested a 21-year-old man a short distance from the house.
It is understood Mr Butler’s remains will be brought to Dublin for a post mortem.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler said the death had shocked the town as Mr Butler (no relation) was well-known.
“He was a lovely quiet man – you would always see him every day walking his two dogs – he used to work a couple of days a week in the Dr Martin Day Care Centre for the elderly, so he was well known and very well liked by everyone.
“I spoke to one of his neighbours earlier today and they told me he was a great neighbour – a lovely quiet man– it’s just an awful, tragic, tragic event and our thoughts are with his immediate family at this time.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Dublin’s late-night kebab shop Iskander’s to close after nearly three decades

Dublin ’ s original kebab shop is set to close its doors later this month for a major refurbishment and relaunch following nearly 28 years of providing late-night snacks to hungry city-centre revellers .
Iskander ’ s Kebab House on Dame Street , which has been in operation since 1992 , will close on January 19th to allow for a complete renovation of the premises .
The late-night food takeaway was recently bought by the Aydin family who say they are planning to reopen in mid-February as a more upmarket restaurant .
Ali Aydin , whose father started working at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family moved to Ireland from Turkey , says the kebab shop was the first of its kind in the city centre and introduced passersby to the tastes of North Africa and the Middle East .
“ Being open till half five in the morning it started a trend of eating a kebab after a night out on the town with many other shops following in its footsteps , ” said Mr Aydin .
“ It paved the way for the terms ‘ shawarma ’ and ‘ doner kebab ’ being widely known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s staff member , who has worked at the shop for 24 years , recalled to Mr Aydin how hundreds of people would queue outside the shop in the early hours of the morning eagerly awaiting their kebab .
“ He said they were pushing out 1,600 orders a day .
People were intrigued and trying to find out what this new food was .
It was something they ’ d never seen before.
” It ’ s believed the original owner was Algerian but the shop was subsequently sold on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1990s other kebab shops started to spring up around the city centre including the popular Zaytoon chain which opened its first Café Topolis premises in 1996 .
Mr Aydin says he enjoyed working behind the till while at college and that the late-night antics among customers “ aren ’ t as bad as people make them out to be ” .
“ Nearly all kebab shops have security after 1am but I don ’ t see the need for it because there aren ’ t as many problems as there used to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fights between customers but we don ’ t see that anymore .
People seem more chilled.
” The Aydin family had recently noticed a change in customer preferences with more people choosing to eat their fare for lunch or dinner rather than after a night out .
“ We ’ ve been seeing less people coming in at 4am and more families during the day .
Other places are renovating and placing more focus on the environment where people eat.
” Jamal ( Jimmy ) Aydin , Ali ’ s uncle , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years making plans on how they could purchase and refurbish the shop .
“ We want to have a more modern concept , the place needs updating .
We thought it would be good to tell people in advance because Iskander ’ s has been open for such a long time , ” he said .
“ We didn ’ t want to just shut the doors.
” He said the new restaurant will no longer be called Iskander ’ s .

One of Dublin’s original kebab shops is set to close its doors later this month for a major refurbishment and relaunch following nearly 28 years of providing late-night snacks to hungry city-centre revellers.
Iskander’s Kebab House on Dame Street, which has been in operation since 1992, will close on January 19th to allow for a complete renovation of the premises. The late-night food takeaway was recently bought by the Aydin family who say they are planning to reopen in mid-February as a more upmarket restaurant.
Ali Aydin, whose father started working at Iskander's in 2000 shortly after the family moved to Ireland from Turkey, says the kebab shop was one of the first of its kind in the city centre and introduced passersby to the tastes of North Africa and the Middle East.
Iskander’s has fed hungry Dubliners into the early hours of the morning for nearly three decades.
“Being open till half five in the morning it started a trend of eating a kebab after a night out on the town with many other shops following in its footsteps,” said Mr Aydin. “It paved the way for the terms ‘shawarma’ and ‘doner kebab’ being widely known in the Dublin region.”
READ MORE
One Iskander’s staff member, who has worked at the shop for 24 years, recalled to Mr Aydin how hundreds of people would queue outside the shop in the early hours of the morning eagerly awaiting their kebab. “He said they were pushing out 1,600 orders a day. People were intrigued and trying to find out what this new food was. It was something they’d never seen before.”
It’s believed the original owner was Algerian but the shop was subsequently sold on to an Irish owner. In the late 1990s other kebab shops started to spring up around the city centre including the popular Zaytoon chain which opened its first Café Topolis premises in 1996.
Staff at Iskander’s kebab house on Dublins Dame Street, Parsed Ramphul, Nicole Montalvo and Duran Duran. Photograph: Alan Betson
Mr Aydin says he enjoyed working behind the till while at college and that the late-night antics among customers “aren’t as bad as people make them out to be”. “Nearly all kebab shops have security after 1am but I don’t see the need for it because there aren’t as many problems as there used to be. We used to hear stories of fights between customers but we don’t see that anymore. People seem more chilled.”
The Aydin family had recently noticed a change in customer preferences with more people choosing to eat their fare for lunch or dinner rather than after a night out. “We’ve been seeing less people coming in at 4am and more families during the day. Other places are renovating and placing more focus on the environment where people eat.”
Jamal (Jimmy) Aydin, Ali’s uncle, said the family had spent the past three years making plans on how they could purchase and refurbish the shop.
“We want to have a more modern concept, the place needs updating. We thought it would be good to tell people in advance because Iskander’s has been open for such a long time,” he said. “We didn’t want to just shut the doors.”
He said the new restaurant will no longer be called Iskander’s.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Cork: Families call on city council to install CCTV at graveyard after vandalism

Families who have seen the graves of their loved ones vandalised in a Cork graveyard have called on Cork City Council to install CCTV cameras in the cemetery as a matter of urgency .
Around 100 people , with family members buried at St Catherine ’ s Cemetery in Kilcully on the northern outskirts of Cork city , made the call at a public meeting on Saturday , organised to address the recent spate of vandalism at the cemetery .
According to Cork City Council , five headstones were knocked over and items on another 14 graves were damaged at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in damage totalling an estimated €16,000 .
At the meeting organised by the newly formed Friends of Catherine ’ s Cemetery , Cork city councillors told relatives that Cork City Council officials had made it clear that they would not be footing the repair bill for the damage .
Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Gould told the meeting that he had raised the issue with council officials , who informed him that responsibility for maintenance and repair of graves in any Cork city graveyard lay with the families .
Local councillors have pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , and have agreed to seek a suspension of standing orders at Cork City Council when they meet on Monday evening to press for improved security .
Several people at the meeting criticised the council ’ s position , with some saying it was hypocritical of them to say that they had no responsibility for the upkeep of graves , while also dictating to families on what they can put on graves .
TJ Hogan pointed out that Cork City Council determined what size headstones families can erect on graves and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not accept responsibility for any damage .
Veronica Cahill , whose father Martin is buried in St Catherine ’ s , said the committee should seek its own independent legal advice on whether the council was liable for failing to provide proper security at the cemetery .
Meeting organiser Laura Carey said that she was very pleased with the large attendance and she welcomed city councillors present agreeing to push for the installation of CCTV footage to cover the interior of the graveyard .
“ We ’ ve set up a committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the focus now is to get CCTV footage installed and have security there , as well as helping the families who have been affected by the vandalism , ” she said .
Campaigner for the elderly Paddy O ’ Brien , whose wife Pat is buried at St Catherine ’ s , said the upset went beyond the families whose graves were damaged and extended to anyone with relatives buried in St Catherine ’ s .
“ The top priority has to be security and ensuring there is no repeat of the heartbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Damage done to the Donovan family grave at St Catherine’s Cemetery in Kilcully, Co Cork. Photograph: Laura Donovan
Families who have seen the graves of their loved ones vandalised in a Cork graveyard have called on Cork City Council to install CCTV cameras in the cemetery as a matter of urgency.
Around 100 people, with family members buried at St Catherine's Cemetery in Kilcully on the northern outskirts of Cork city, made the call at a public meeting on Saturday, organised to address the recent spate of vandalism at the cemetery.
According to Cork City Council, five headstones were knocked over and items on another 14 graves were damaged at the start of the month, resulting in damage totalling an estimated €16,000.
At the meeting organised by the newly formed Friends of Catherine’s Cemetery, Cork city councillors told relatives that Cork City Council officials had made it clear that they would not be footing the repair bill for the damage.
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Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Gould told the meeting that he had raised the issue with council officials, who informed him that responsibility for maintenance and repair of graves in any Cork city graveyard lay with the families.
Local councillors have pledged to contribute €500 each to cover the repair bill, and have agreed to seek a suspension of standing orders at Cork City Council when they meet on Monday evening to press for improved security.
Hypocritical
Several people at the meeting criticised the council’s position, with some saying it was hypocritical of them to say that they had no responsibility for the upkeep of graves, while also dictating to families on what they can put on graves.
TJ Hogan pointed out that Cork City Council determined what size headstones families can erect on graves and what they can put on graves, but will not accept responsibility for any damage.
Veronica Cahill, whose father Martin is buried in St Catherine's, said the committee should seek its own independent legal advice on whether the council was liable for failing to provide proper security at the cemetery.
Meeting organiser Laura Carey said that she was very pleased with the large attendance and she welcomed city councillors present agreeing to push for the installation of CCTV footage to cover the interior of the graveyard.
“We’ve set up a committee to liaise with Cork City Council and the focus now is to get CCTV footage installed and have security there, as well as helping the families who have been affected by the vandalism,” she said.
Campaigner for the elderly Paddy O’Brien, whose wife Pat is buried at St Catherine’s, said the upset went beyond the families whose graves were damaged and extended to anyone with relatives buried in St Catherine’s.
“The top priority has to be security and ensuring there is no repeat of the heartbreak that this vandalism has caused.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Hundreds protest in Dublin against homelessness

Hundreds of people protested through Dublin city centre on Saturday afternoon against homelessness .
Over 200 people marched from the Garden of Remembrance to O ’ Connell Bridge , chanting “ homes for need , not for greed ” and “ Leo , Leo , Leo - out , out , out ” .
The event was organised by a Facebook group , Protest against Homeless in Ireland , Less Talk More Action , which held a similar march before Christmas .
Among those protesting were a number of homeless people , families and young children carrying banners stating “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ get the finger out ” .
Daiga Sunepa set up the social media group , which has almost 70,000 members , after reading countless articles about homelessness .
“ I kept seeing stories about homeless people and I just thought nothing is being done , ” she said .
“ I have neighbours who were thrown out of their homes by landlords because they are selling or just want the house back .
They have kids and everything and are just being thrown from hotel to hotel or B & B to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was set uplast year , plans to organise further protests .
Leah Daly , who was in emergency accommodation with her two children for two years , said “ there ’ s no political will to fix anything ” .
“ The crisis is getting worse all the time , it ’ s not getting any better .
They might be taking people out of homelessness but they ’ re putting them back in .
Nothing is actually getting sorted , ” she said .
“ When you ’ re in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see what it ’ s like then .
It opens your eyes.
” Phyllis Hand ( 74 ) said she was disappointed that greater numbers hadn ’ t turned out to protest .
“ Anybody that has a heart should be out protesting .
I think it ’ s disgraceful what ’ s going on in the country , people sleeping out and children eating and sleeping on streets , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t need a home , all my families have homes thank God , but somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going on.
” The latest figures from the Department of Housing state there are 10,448 homeless people in the State .
There were 3,752 homeless children and 6,696 homeless adults living in emergency accommodation at the end of November 2019 , an increase of 480 when compared to the same month in 2018 .

Hundreds of people protested through Dublin city centre on Saturday afternoon against homelessness. Over 200 people marched from the Garden of Remembrance to O’Connell Bridge, chanting “homes for need, not for greed” and “Leo, Leo, Leo - out, out, out”.
The event was organised by a Facebook group, Protest against Homeless in Ireland, Less Talk More Action, which held a similar march before Christmas.
Among those protesting were a number of homeless people, families and young children carrying banners stating “everybody should have a home” and “get the finger out”.
Daiga Sunepa set up the social media group, which has almost 70,000 members, after reading countless articles about homelessness.
READ MORE
“I kept seeing stories about homeless people and I just thought nothing is being done,” she said.
An anti-homelessness protest in Dublin city centre on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson
“I have neighbours who were thrown out of their homes by landlords because they are selling or just want the house back. They have kids and everything and are just being thrown from hotel to hotel or B&B to B&B.”
The Facebook group, which was set uplast year, plans to organise further protests.
Leah Daly, who was in emergency accommodation with her two children for two years, said "there's no political will to fix anything".
“The crisis is getting worse all the time, it’s not getting any better. They might be taking people out of homelessness but they’re putting them back in. Nothing is actually getting sorted,” she said.
“When you’re in that homeless situation yourself, you really see what it’s like then. It opens your eyes.”
Phyllis Hand (74) said she was disappointed that greater numbers hadn't turned out to protest.
“Anybody that has a heart should be out protesting. I think it’s disgraceful what’s going on in the country, people sleeping out and children eating and sleeping on streets,” she said.
“I don’t need a home, all my families have homes thank God, but somebody has to show the Government what’s going on.”
The latest figures from the Department of Housing state there are 10,448 homeless people in the State. There were 3,752 homeless children and 6,696 homeless adults living in emergency accommodation at the end of November 2019, an increase of 480 when compared to the same month in 2018.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Vehicles, cannabis and €135,000 cash seized in Crumlin raid linked to biker group

Two motorcycles , a van , a quantity of cannabis and €135,000 in cash have been seized from a house in the Windmill Road area of Crumlin as part of a search of premises linked to a group of bikers in Dublin .
The raid follows the arrests of four men , aged between 30 and 60 , on the M7 on Thursday who remain in detention at various Garda stations in Wexford .
No further arrests have been made .
Some members of the biker group are suspected of involvement in organised crime in Dublin , while at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have threatened two men in Wexford on Thursday during which a gun or replica gun was produced .
A large team of detectives from Crumlin accompanied by the Crumlin district drugs unit , community police , members of the armed Emergency Response Unit and the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau began a search of the premises used by the biking club on Friday .
The search , which is being conducted under Section 29 of the offences against the state act 1993 , continued on Saturday .
A sum of cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ongoing search follows the arrest of four men , aged between 30 and 60 , on Thursday on suspicion that they travelled to Co Wexford to threaten a number of people earlier that day .
In one incident , four men went into a garage in the Clonroche area armed with what witnesses described as a handgun and threatened staff members , with two men based in the area the apparent targets of the group .
The men then left the scene in a silver Hyundai car and , while no shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the incident was reported to gardaí and a search operation began .
The same vehicle was later observed by gardaí on the M9 motorway and it was eventually intercepted by members of the ERU on the M7 near Naas , Co Kildare .
The four suspects were subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms at the scene after their car was rammed by gardaí .
Members of the same biker group led the cortege during the funeral of David Byrne , the Crumlin man who was shot dead in the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin , as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud .
In the past , swords , knives and replica guns along with small quantities of cash and drugs have been found at a premises linked to the same group of bikers .
Gardaí believe some members of the group are close to the Byrne organised crime group ; the Dublin-based gang that is effectively the Irish unit of the wider international Kinahan crime cartel .
Some members of the group are suspected of carrying out debt collection on behalf of criminals involved in organised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to extort money from their victims .

Two motorcycles, a van, a quantity of cannabis and €135,000 in cash have been seized from a house in the Windmill Road area of Crumlin as part of a search of premises linked to a group of bikers in Dublin.
The raid follows the arrests of four men, aged between 30 and 60, on the M7 on Thursday who remain in detention at various Garda stations in Wexford. No further arrests have been made.
Some members of the biker group are suspected of involvement in organised crime in Dublin, while at least four of the men are believed to have threatened two men in Wexford on Thursday during which a gun or replica gun was produced.
A large team of detectives from Crumlin accompanied by the Crumlin district drugs unit, community police, members of the armed Emergency Response Unit and the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau began a search of the premises used by the biking club on Friday.
READ MORE
The search, which is being conducted under Section 29 of the offences against the state act 1993, continued on Saturday. A sum of cash and electronic devices were also seized.
The ongoing search follows the arrest of four men, aged between 30 and 60, on Thursday on suspicion that they travelled to Co Wexford to threaten a number of people earlier that day.
In one incident, four men went into a garage in the Clonroche area armed with what witnesses described as a handgun and threatened staff members, with two men based in the area the apparent targets of the group.
The men then left the scene in a silver Hyundai car and, while no shots were fired and no injuries were reported, the incident was reported to gardaí and a search operation began.
The same vehicle was later observed by gardaí on the M9 motorway and it was eventually intercepted by members of the ERU on the M7 near Naas, Co Kildare.
The four suspects were subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms at the scene after their car was rammed by gardaí.
Members of the same biker group led the cortege during the funeral of David Byrne, the Crumlin man who was shot dead in the 2016 shooting at the Regency Hotel, north Dublin, as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud.
In the past, swords, knives and replica guns along with small quantities of cash and drugs have been found at a premises linked to the same group of bikers.
Gardaí believe some members of the group are close to the Byrne organised crime group; the Dublin-based gang that is effectively the Irish unit of the wider international Kinahan crime cartel.
Some members of the group are suspected of carrying out debt collection on behalf of criminals involved in organised crime, often using threats and violence to extort money from their victims.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Cannabis worth €700,000 seized in Cork and Donegal

Gardaí have seized an estimated €700,000 worth of cannabis in two separate operations in Co Donegal and Co Cork .
@ @ @ @ @ €400,000 were discovered during a search at a premises in Drumrooske , Co Donegal , @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
During the search a grow house was located and between 450 and @ @ @ @ @ analysis – were discovered .
The plants were at varying stages of growth , according @ @ @ @ @ the search was carried out under Section 26 of the Misuse of Drugs Act as @ @ @ @ @ in the Donegal Town area .
In a separate operation on Friday carried out at @ @ @ @ @ area , Co Cork , gardaí seized a large quantity of cannabis herb valued at @ @ @ @ @ was carried out as part of an ongoing Garda operation targeting the sale and supply @ @ @ @ @ area .
No arrests have been made in connection with either seizure and investigations are @ @

Gardaí discovered a grow house during a search operation in Co Donegal on Friday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Gardaí have seized an estimated €700,000 worth of cannabis in two separate operations in Co Donegal and Co Cork.
Cannabis plants worth an estimated €400,000 were discovered during a search at a premises in Drumrooske, Co Donegal, which began at about 9.45am on Friday.
During the search a grow house was located and between 450 and 500 cannabis plants – pending analysis – were discovered. The plants were at varying stages of growth, according to gardaí.
Gardaí discovered a grow house during a search operation in Co Donegal on Friday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Gardaí say the search was carried out under Section 26 of the Misuse of Drugs Act as part of an ongoing operation in the Donegal Town area.
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In a separate operation on Friday carried out at various locations in the Bantry area, Co Cork, gardaí seized a large quantity of cannabis herb valued at about €300,000.
Gardaí discovered a grow house during a search operation in Co Donegal on Friday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
The search was carried out as part of an ongoing Garda operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Bantry area.
No arrests have been made in connection with either seizure and investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Man in his 40s dies after attack in Co Waterford house

A man in his 20s has been arrested following a fatal assault in Waterford on Saturday morning .
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a serious assault in the Portlaw area of Waterford in the early hours .
A 48-year-old man was taken to University Hospital Waterford where he was later pronounced dead .
The incident began when a row broke out between the deceased and a 21-year-old man – who was known to him – outside a pub in Portlaw at about 2am , sources said .
The row seemed to have ended and both parties went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second row broke out between the parties inside the house .
The older man suffered a serious injury to the head and local medics were called before he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford .
Efforts to resuscitate the man at the hospital proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead just before 4am .
The scene will be examined by Garda technical experts on Saturday .
The arrested man is being held Tramore Garda Station for questioning about the assault .
He is being held under Section 4 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detain suspects for 24 hours .
Gardaí have requested the services of the State Pathologist ’ s Office and a post mortem is expected to take place in Dublin on Saturday .

The scene of the fatal assault at Brown Street, Portlaw, Co Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne
A man in his 20s has been arrested following a fatal assault in Waterford on Saturday morning.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a serious assault in the Portlaw area of Waterford in the early hours. A 48-year-old man was taken to University Hospital Waterford where he was later pronounced dead.
The incident began when a row broke out between the deceased and a 21-year-old man – who was known to him – outside a pub in Portlaw at about 2am, sources said.
The row seemed to have ended and both parties went to a house in Brown Street but a second row broke out between the parties inside the house.
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The older man suffered a serious injury to the head and local medics were called before he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford.
Efforts to resuscitate the man at the hospital proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead just before 4am.
The scene will be examined by Garda technical experts on Saturday.
The arrested man is being held Tramore Garda Station for questioning about the assault. He is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí detain suspects for 24 hours.
Gardaí have requested the services of the State Pathologist’s Office and a post mortem is expected to take place in Dublin on Saturday.


theirishtimes--2020-01-12--Mount Trenchard residents suffered psychologically, says charity

The Limerick charity which called for the immediate closure of the Mount Trenchard direct provision centre has said additional steps must be taken to ensure minimum standards are met in all accommodation centres as a matter of urgency .
Doras Luimní welcomed the news that Mount Trenchard in Foynes , widely regarded as the worst direct provision centre in the country due to poor facilities , overcrowding and isolation , is set to close next month but warned that many residents had suffered “ both mentally and psychologically ” during their time there .
A Doras report into the centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the “ unwelcoming , bleak , and confined space ” of Mount Trenchard for extensive periods of time resulted in disinterest , apathy and depression .
Many residents believed they were sent to Mount Trenchard as some form of punishment and described the centre as “ an open prison ” , comparing it to Guantanamo Bay , according to the report .
While Mount Trenchard is generally seen to be an example of the worst of direct provision conditions in Ireland , there are many other centres across the country with varying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions and inadequate management which are located in isolated locations , said the charity .
The “ lengthy amount of time ” people spend waiting for a decision on their asylum claim must also be urgently addressed , said Doras director John Lannon .
“ Spending an indeterminate amount of time , often several years , effectively segregated from society , can negatively impact a person ’ s mental health and wellbeing , and creates barriers to integration and inclusion , ” said Mr Lannon .
This long wait not only affects residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centres across Ireland , he said .
“ It is essential that the department works to implement an alternative to the inhumane system of direct provision , ” said Mr Lannon .
“ Every person seeking international protection in Ireland should be treated with the dignity and respect that everyone deserves.
” A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed on Friday that its contract with Mount Trenchard ’ s owners would end in February and will be not renewed .
The Doras Luimní report , as well as a large number of complaints from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors in the decision to close the centre , a senior Justice source said .
Officials have already started moving residents to a direct provision centre in Ennis , Co Clare .
On Friday , 14 residents transferred to Ennis with the remainder expected to follow in the coming weeks .

The Limerick charity which called for the immediate closure of the Mount Trenchard direct provision centre has said additional steps must be taken to ensure minimum standards are met in all accommodation centres as a matter of urgency.
Doras Luimní welcomed the news that Mount Trenchard in Foynes, widely regarded as the worst direct provision centre in the country due to poor facilities, overcrowding and isolation, is set to close next month but warned that many residents had suffered "both mentally and psychologically" during their time there.
A Doras report into the centre published in late 2019 found that living in the “unwelcoming, bleak, and confined space” of Mount Trenchard for extensive periods of time resulted in disinterest, apathy and depression.
Many residents believed they were sent to Mount Trenchard as some form of punishment and described the centre as “an open prison”, comparing it to Guantanamo Bay, according to the report.
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While Mount Trenchard is generally seen to be an example of the worst of direct provision conditions in Ireland, there are many other centres across the country with varying degrees of safety issues, sub-standard living conditions and inadequate management which are located in isolated locations, said the charity.
The “lengthy amount of time” people spend waiting for a decision on their asylum claim must also be urgently addressed, said Doras director John Lannon.
“Spending an indeterminate amount of time, often several years, effectively segregated from society, can negatively impact a person’s mental health and wellbeing, and creates barriers to integration and inclusion,” said Mr Lannon. This long wait not only affects residents at Mount Trenchard but people in many centres across Ireland, he said.
“It is essential that the department works to implement an alternative to the inhumane system of direct provision,” said Mr Lannon. “Every person seeking international protection in Ireland should be treated with the dignity and respect that everyone deserves.”
A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed on Friday that its contract with Mount Trenchard’s owners would end in February and will be not renewed.
The Doras Luimní report, as well as a large number of complaints from residents and migrants groups, were key factors in the decision to close the centre, a senior Justice source said.
Officials have already started moving residents to a direct provision centre in Ennis, Co Clare. On Friday, 14 residents transferred to Ennis with the remainder expected to follow in the coming weeks.


theirishtimes--2020-01-12--Girl (11) seriously injured in car crash in Dublin

An 11-year-old girl was seriously injured in a single-vehicle road crash in Dublin on Saturday morning .
Her sister ( @ @ @ @ @ injuries in the incident , which occurred at about 11.30am on the Lower Lucan Road @ @ @ @ @ were taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown .
Their father , who was driving the @ @ @ @ @ the crash , was uninjured .
Gardaí are investigating and have asked any witnesses or @ @ @ @ @ in the area at the time , particularly those with dash-cam footage , to contact @ @ @ @ @ contacted at Lucan Garda station on 01 666 7300 , the Garda confidential line on @ @ @ @ @ Garda station .

An 11-year-old girl was seriously injured in a single-vehicle road crash in Dublin on Saturday morning.
Her sister (7) also suffered minor injuries in the incident, which occurred at about 11.30am on the Lower Lucan Road, Lucan.
Both girls were taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
Their father, who was driving the car at the time of the crash, was uninjured.
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Gardaí are investigating and have asked any witnesses or any road users who were in the area at the time, particularly those with dash-cam footage, to contact them.
They can be contacted at Lucan Garda station on 01 666 7300, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Man due in court charged over fatal assault in Co Waterford

A man is due to appear in court on Sunday charged in connection with the fatal assault of a man in Portlaw , Co Waterford in the early hours of Saturday .
The man , aged 21 , is due to appear at Carrick-on-Suir District Court on Sunday at noon .
Gardaí are expected to wait until they receive the results of a post-mortem on Sunday before formally deciding on the status of their investigation into the death of the man ( 48 ) .
Gardaí requested the services of the State Pathologist ’ s Office after the man was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house on Brown Street in Portlaw sometime after 2am on Saturday .
The man , who has been named locally as John Butler , was treated at the scene before being rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford in Ardkeen , where he was pronounced dead a short time later .
Gardaí had been alerted , and arrested a 21-year-old man a short distance from the house .
It is understood Mr Butler ’ s remains will be brought to Dublin for a post mortem .
Local Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Butler ( no relation ) was well-known .
“ He was a lovely quiet man – you would always see him every day walking his two dogs – he used to work a couple of days a week in the Dr Martin Day Care Centre for the elderly , so he was well known and very well liked by everyone .
“ I spoke to one of his neighbours earlier today and they told me he was a great neighbour – a lovely quiet man– it ’ s just an awful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are with his immediate family at this time .
”


theirishtimes--2020-01-13--Calls increase for Dublin cycling network plan to be implemented

Calls are increasing for the implementation of a cycling network in the greater Dublin area after two hospital chief executives recently said the capital “ sorely needs ” safer cycling infrastructure .
First proposed by the National Transport Authority in 2013 , the plan would see the number of segregated cycle routes in and around Dublin increase fivefold .
In a joint letter to Minister for Transport Shane Ross , Lorcan Birthistle , chief executive of St James ’ s Hospital , and Eilish Hardiman , chief executive of Children ’ s Health Ireland , called for the plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two chief executives added that they aspire to be “ cycle-friendly employers ” but that they “ also value the safety of our employees ” .
“ The lack of safe cycling infrastructure in Dublin city is the single biggest barrier to increasing the mode share of cyclists , ” the letter states .
“ As acute hospitals we see directly at times tragic consequences of cyclists sharing the same roads infrastructure as cars and heavy duty vehicles.
” The chief executives also highlighted the health benefits of increased cycling , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase in physical activity .
“ As leading healthcare institutions we know that the increasing levels of inactivity amongst adults and children is alarming .
Regular physical activity can help protect from serious diseases such as obesity , heart disease , cancer , mental illness , diabetes and arthritis , ” the letter added .
“ Cycling is an ideal form of physical activity but the lack of safe cycling infrastructure is a significant barrier to increasing the uptake of such an active means of commuting.
” The two hospital chiefs said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver the comprehensive and safe cycling infrastructure this city sorely needs ” .
The letter was written on December 5th , one month after cyclist Neeraj Jain ( 34 ) died following a collision with a cement truck at a junction to the back of St James ’ s Hospital and near the entrance of the new children ’ s hospital .
Kevin Baker , chairman of the Dublin Cycling Campaign , said the time to develop the routes was now , and that it could no longer be put on the long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most people from taking up cycling is that the roads don ’ t feel safe , ” Mr Baker said .
“ The number one thing we can do to make roads feel safe for people is to build proper , segregated cycle routes on main roads , and that ’ s what this plan does.
” He said that the campaign group was “ frustrated there hasn ’ t been more progress ” , but added they are “ cautiously optimistic ” that authorities are beginning to act on the issue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced this week that it will be making funding available to cycle parking at primary schools in the council area .
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said that both the Minister and his department are committed to improving road safety , “ particularly for those more vulnerable road users such as cyclists ” .
“ In recent years there has been a significant increase in funding for improved active travel infrastructure in all our major cities , ” the spokeswoman said .
“ This covers a wide range of projects including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme , further separate funding for cycling as well as walking facilities , and additional funding for greenways projects .
”

The cycling network plan would see the number of segregated cycle routes in and around Dublin increase fivefold. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Calls are increasing for the implementation of a cycling network in the greater Dublin area after two hospital chief executives recently said the capital “sorely needs” safer cycling infrastructure.
First proposed by the National Transport Authority in 2013, the plan would see the number of segregated cycle routes in and around Dublin increase fivefold.
In a joint letter to Minister for Transport Shane Ross, Lorcan Birthistle, chief executive of St James's Hospital, and Eilish Hardiman, chief executive of Children's Health Ireland, called for the plan to be established "without delay".
The two chief executives added that they aspire to be “cycle-friendly employers” but that they “also value the safety of our employees”.
READ MORE
Biggest barrier
“The lack of safe cycling infrastructure in Dublin city is the single biggest barrier to increasing the mode share of cyclists,” the letter states. “As acute hospitals we see directly at times tragic consequences of cyclists sharing the same roads infrastructure as cars and heavy duty vehicles.”
The chief executives also highlighted the health benefits of increased cycling, such as a reduction in air pollution and an increase in physical activity.
“As leading healthcare institutions we know that the increasing levels of inactivity amongst adults and children is alarming. Regular physical activity can help protect from serious diseases such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes and arthritis,” the letter added.
“Cycling is an ideal form of physical activity but the lack of safe cycling infrastructure is a significant barrier to increasing the uptake of such an active means of commuting.”
The two hospital chiefs said the proposed plan will “serve to deliver the comprehensive and safe cycling infrastructure this city sorely needs”.
The letter was written on December 5th, one month after cyclist Neeraj Jain (34) died following a collision with a cement truck at a junction to the back of St James's Hospital and near the entrance of the new children's hospital.
Kevin Baker, chairman of the Dublin Cycling Campaign, said the time to develop the routes was now, and that it could no longer be put on the long finger.
Segregated routes
“The biggest thing preventing most people from taking up cycling is that the roads don’t feel safe,” Mr Baker said. “The number one thing we can do to make roads feel safe for people is to build proper, segregated cycle routes on main roads, and that’s what this plan does.”
He said that the campaign group was “frustrated there hasn’t been more progress”, but added they are “cautiously optimistic” that authorities are beginning to act on the issue.
Separately, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council announced this week that it will be making funding available to cycle parking at primary schools in the council area.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said that both the Minister and his department are committed to improving road safety, “particularly for those more vulnerable road users such as cyclists”.
“In recent years there has been a significant increase in funding for improved active travel infrastructure in all our major cities,” the spokeswoman said. “This covers a wide range of projects including new segregated cycle lanes under the BusConnects programme, further separate funding for cycling as well as walking facilities, and additional funding for greenways projects.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-13--Revised BusConnects plan may harden plaza plan for College Green

Conflicts arising over bus movements through the city centre and the proposal to create a traffic-free public space are the main reason the plaza plans for College Green were scuppered in November 2018 .
Essentially , An Bord Pleanála said the scale of rerouting involved to take buses out of College Green would have a significantly negative effect on the bus system and the council had failed to demonstrate that other parts of the city , notably the Liffey quays , could cope with the volume of diverted buses .
Revisions to BusConnects , published last October , will provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present to the board and will result in fewer buses using College Green to cross the city .
However , there are still several routes which cross College Green and would be in conflict with the council ’ s plaza plans .
Chief among these is the A Spine , a series of routes running from areas including Drumcondra and Santry on the north side to Rathgar and Terenure on the south side .
All of these buses remain routed though College Green .
In addition route 16 from Parnell Square to Tallaght @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall to South Circular Road and route 23 from Marino to Crumlin hospital would cross College Green .
The National Transport Authority in its revised plan notes the “ rejection ” of the College Green plaza plan by An Bord Pleanála and says because of this it “ will remain possible for buses to travel across College Green between Dame Street and the O ’ Connell Bridge ” .
However , it acknowledges College Green “ may yet become pedestrianised through future planning efforts ” .
With this in mind , it says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routings are largely separable from the rest of the proposed network ” .

Conflicts arising over bus movements through the city centre and the proposal to create a traffic-free public space are the main reason the plaza plans for College Green were scuppered in November 2018.
Essentially, An Bord Pleanála said the scale of rerouting involved to take buses out of College Green would have a significantly negative effect on the bus system and the council had failed to demonstrate that other parts of the city, notably the Liffey quays, could cope with the volume of diverted buses.
Revisions to BusConnects, published last October, will provide more definite information for the council to present to the board and will result in fewer buses using College Green to cross the city.
However, there are still several routes which cross College Green and would be in conflict with the council’s plaza plans.
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Chief among these is the A Spine, a series of routes running from areas including Drumcondra and Santry on the north side to Rathgar and Terenure on the south side. All of these buses remain routed though College Green. In addition route 16 from Parnell Square to Tallaght, routes 20 and 22 from East Wall to South Circular Road and route 23 from Marino to Crumlin hospital would cross College Green.
The National Transport Authority in its revised plan notes the "rejection" of the College Green plaza plan by An Bord Pleanála and says because of this it "will remain possible for buses to travel across College Green between Dame Street and the O'Connell Bridge".
However, it acknowledges College Green “may yet become pedestrianised through future planning efforts”. With this in mind, it says the “details of the city centre routings are largely separable from the rest of the proposed network”.


theirishtimes--2020-01-13--New College Green plaza application to come despite bus conflict

A fresh application for Dublin city ’ s flagship traffic-free civic plaza at College Green will be submitted early this year , Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan has confirmed .
An Bord Pleanála in November 2018 rejected the council ’ s plans for pedestrian and cycle plaza scheme due to concerns about the “ significantly negative impacts ” it would have on bus transport and traffic in the city .
Mr Keegan said he was confident the new application would be approved by the board , even though it would still require buses to be banned from crossing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The council has been preparing plans for the plaza since 2015 and has said the creation of the traffic-free space was essential to the smooth running of the Luas Green line that began operations through the city centre two years ago .
It submitted its planning application for the plaza to the board in May 2017 and the board had initially intended to issue its decision in November of that year , the month before the cross-city Luas began running .
However , following a large number of appeals against the plaza plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said taking buses out of the plaza space would be “ socially regressive ” , the board decided to hold a public hearing .
Under the plaza plans , public transport traffic , including trams , buses and taxis , would continue to run north and south in front of Trinity College to access Nassau Street , but no vehicular traffic would be permitted to cross College Green in an east/west direction , meaning buses could not run from Dame Street to Westmoreland Street or from College Street to Dame Street .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board said “ the principle of the proposed development is acceptable ” , it would produce a “ quality public realm ” and would “ facilitate improved appreciation of the architectural and cultural heritage of this important site ” .
However it refused permission because of the traffic implications , particularly for buses .
The board said there was “ uncertainty ” about the potential effects on the bus system , but they were likely to be “ significantly negative in the light of the scale of rerouting of buses proposed ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to traffic on three consecutive Sundays to determine popularity of the plaza and iron out any logistical difficulties .
During the trial , southbound buses were diverted along the south quays , while northbound buses were diverted through the Christchurch area and down Winetavern Street to the north quays .
The council said it would await revisions of the BusConnects plan , the redesign of the Dublin Bus network , before submitting a new application for the plaza .
The National Transport Authority ( NTA ) published its revisions last October , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Green , Mr Keegan said it is an appropriate time to resubmit plans for the plaza .
“ There are now very few routes going east-west through College Green in the BusConnects plan .
And we think with some small modifications the last of them can be taken out.
” Changes made to the BusConnects plan mean a proposed bus “ turning circle ” on Dame Street , where buses coming from the west of the city would turn before reaching College Green , could be eliminated , said Mr Keegan , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ design .
“ We will submit a new application to the board in the first quarter of the year and I am confident the board will be able to approve it – even more confident than I was the first time , ” said Mr Keegan .
The NTA said discussions with the council about “ details of routing in the centre ” can “ proceed on a separate track ” from those of the BusConnects plan as a whole .

Under the plaza plans, public transport traffic, including trams, buses and taxis, would continue to run north and south in front of Trinity College to access Nassau Street. File photograph: The Irish Times
A fresh application for Dublin city's flagship traffic-free civic plaza at College Green will be submitted early this year, Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan has confirmed.
An Bord Pleanála in November 2018 rejected the council's plans for pedestrian and cycle plaza scheme due to concerns about the "significantly negative impacts" it would have on bus transport and traffic in the city.
Mr Keegan said he was confident the new application would be approved by the board, even though it would still require buses to be banned from crossing College Green to access Dame Street.
The council has been preparing plans for the plaza since 2015 and has said the creation of the traffic-free space was essential to the smooth running of the Luas Green line that began operations through the city centre two years ago.
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It submitted its planning application for the plaza to the board in May 2017 and the board had initially intended to issue its decision in November of that year, the month before the cross-city Luas began running.
However, following a large number of appeals against the plaza plans, including one from Dublin Bus which said taking buses out of the plaza space would be "socially regressive", the board decided to hold a public hearing.
Under the plaza plans, public transport traffic, including trams, buses and taxis, would continue to run north and south in front of Trinity College to access Nassau Street, but no vehicular traffic would be permitted to cross College Green in an east/west direction, meaning buses could not run from Dame Street to Westmoreland Street or from College Street to Dame Street.
In its ruling against the plaza, the board said “the principle of the proposed development is acceptable”, it would produce a “quality public realm” and would “facilitate improved appreciation of the architectural and cultural heritage of this important site”.
However it refused permission because of the traffic implications, particularly for buses. The board said there was “uncertainty” about the potential effects on the bus system, but they were likely to be “significantly negative in the light of the scale of rerouting of buses proposed”.
Confident council chief
The council last summer closed College Green to traffic on three consecutive Sundays to determine popularity of the plaza and iron out any logistical difficulties. During the trial, southbound buses were diverted along the south quays, while northbound buses were diverted through the Christchurch area and down Winetavern Street to the north quays.
The council said it would await revisions of the BusConnects plan, the redesign of the Dublin Bus network, before submitting a new application for the plaza. The National Transport Authority (NTA) published its revisions last October, and while these still include buses using College Green, Mr Keegan said it is an appropriate time to resubmit plans for the plaza.
“There are now very few routes going east-west through College Green in the BusConnects plan. And we think with some small modifications the last of them can be taken out.”
Changes made to the BusConnects plan mean a proposed bus “turning circle” on Dame Street, where buses coming from the west of the city would turn before reaching College Green, could be eliminated, said Mr Keegan, as this was proving problematic to the plaza design.
“We will submit a new application to the board in the first quarter of the year and I am confident the board will be able to approve it – even more confident than I was the first time,” said Mr Keegan.
The NTA said discussions with the council about “details of routing in the centre” can “proceed on a separate track” from those of the BusConnects plan as a whole.


theirishtimes--2020-01-13--Senior consultant placed on leave after staff allege he posed risk to patients

The HSE has placed a senior medical consultant on administrative leave after staff alleged he posed a significant risk to patients .
Two patients have died and another had a “ near miss ” due to increased risk since the consultant took up a HSE post earlier this year , two staff members have alleged .
“ We are of the view that these adverse and tragic events could have been averted through competent clinical practice , ” the two staff members allege in a formal written complaint to the local health service manager .
The doctor , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another country over misconduct with a patient .
He later found work in a third country but did not tell his employer about his past .
When this was discovered , he was allowed to practise medicine but with conditions .
These were lifted some years ago .
He came to Ireland this year to take up a consultant post , having successfully applied through the Public Appointments Service .
The two female employees say their dignity at work has not been respected since the consultant started working with them and he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and intimidated ” .
The complaint raises concerns about the prescribing of medication and details how one patient died after the consultant made changes to his medication .
It is also claimed the consultant placed an undue focus on sexual aspects in his dealings with some female patients .
In September , a female patient contacted The Irish Times anonymously claiming the consultant was “ more interested in my sexual functioning ” than he was in her condition .
“ His interviews with me were highly inappropriate and I am scared of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular.
” Asked what action it had taken in response to the serious issues raised by staff and patients and to ensure patients were not at risk , the HSE said it was not in a position to comment on individual staff members .
However , the doctor was later placed on administrative leave , on pay , to allow time for the complaint to be investigated .

The doctor has been placed on administrative leave, on pay, to allow time for the complaint to be investigated. Photograph: iStock
The HSE has placed a senior medical consultant on administrative leave after staff alleged he posed a significant risk to patients.
Two patients have died and another had a “near miss” due to increased risk since the consultant took up a HSE post earlier this year, two staff members have alleged.
“We are of the view that these adverse and tragic events could have been averted through competent clinical practice,” the two staff members allege in a formal written complaint to the local health service manager.
The doctor, who is Irish, was previously struck off in another country over misconduct with a patient. He later found work in a third country but did not tell his employer about his past. When this was discovered, he was allowed to practise medicine but with conditions. These were lifted some years ago.
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He came to Ireland this year to take up a consultant post, having successfully applied through the Public Appointments Service.
The two female employees say their dignity at work has not been respected since the consultant started working with them and he has made them “feel unsafe, uncomfortable and intimidated”.
‘Highly inappropriate’
The complaint raises concerns about the prescribing of medication and details how one patient died after the consultant made changes to his medication.
It is also claimed the consultant placed an undue focus on sexual aspects in his dealings with some female patients.
In September, a female patient contacted The Irish Times anonymously claiming the consultant was “more interested in my sexual functioning” than he was in her condition. “His interviews with me were highly inappropriate and I am scared of the risk this man poses to female patients in particular.”
Asked what action it had taken in response to the serious issues raised by staff and patients and to ensure patients were not at risk, the HSE said it was not in a position to comment on individual staff members.
However, the doctor was later placed on administrative leave, on pay, to allow time for the complaint to be investigated.