theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Ex-diplomats ‘always knew’ Britain intercepted Irish communications

Irish diplomats assumed the British government listened to all their communications with Dublin during the 1980s , former officials say .
Speaking after the revelation that the Irish government unwittingly used an encryption machine from a CIA-owned company , former diplomats stationed in Northern Ireland and elsewhere told The Irish Times it was no secret foreign agencies had easy access to Irish phone and text communications .
The equipment , which was manufactured by the Swiss company Crypto AG , gave the US intelligence agency , and consequently their British equivalent , access to encrypted messages during the sensitive period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The equipment was viewed as top of the range by Irish officials .
“ The view at the time was the Swiss made the best equipment , ” said one former official who worked in the London embassy for a period .
However , all former officials who spoke to The Irish Times said it was assumed at all times their communications were compromised .
“ I think it would be fair to say that I and all our colleagues dealing with Anglo-Irish relations would have assumed that if there was [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveillance , ” said Seán Ó hUigínn , a former diplomat who led the Anglo-Irish division in the Department of Foreign Affairs .
“ So while the CIA ownership of Crypto AG may be a new detail , it is only a detail which does not affect the big picture.
” Michael Lillis , who helped negotiate the Anglo-Irish Agreement and worked in the Anglo-Irish secretariat in Antrim known as “ the Bunker ” , said they knew “ everything ” was being intercepted by the British codebreaking agency GCHQ .
Mr Lillis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and motive to listen to sensitive Irish communications around the time of the Anglo-Irish Agreement .
The British did not need to solely rely on the CIA to pass on intercepted communications .
In the 1980s and 1990s GCHQ also used facilities in Cheshire , Cornwall and Armagh to listen to telephone and electronic communications from Irish government officials .
Even the British sometimes failed to keep up the pretence that they were not listening to Irish communications .
Mr Lillis said a British counterpart , who wanted the agreement to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single word ” was being intercepted by GCHQ .
There were also signs the problems may have stemmed from the use of compromised encryption systems , said Mr Ó hUigínn .
“ In fact I heard from the department ’ s folklore that there were occasional hints from friendly British contacts not to rely overmuch on whatever was said on the tin in relation to our encryption systems.
” Indeed , Irish officials sometimes used this to their advantage .
“ Sometimes we wanted them to hear what we were saying , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials would speak in Irish or add extra encryption to their messages to signal to the British they contained particularly sensitive information and they should pay attention to it .
The British codebreakers got so good at Irish that when Mr Lillis passed on the text of an agreement in Irish to his opposite number , they came back with several corrections .
For any genuinely sensitive communications from Northern Ireland , couriers were used , Mr Lillis said .
“ We kept using our technology but we knew it was compromised.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bunker were likely bugged .
“ We used to say ‘ Goodnight , Cheltenham [ the location of GCHQ headquarters ] ’ , up to the lights , ” former diplomat Daithi Ó Ceallaigh said at a “ witness seminar ” in UCD in 2015 .

Irish diplomats assumed the British government listened to all their communications with Dublin during the 1980s, former officials say.
Speaking after the revelation that the Irish government unwittingly used an encryption machine from a CIA-owned company, former diplomats stationed in Northern Ireland and elsewhere told The Irish Times it was no secret foreign agencies had easy access to Irish phone and text communications.
The equipment, which was manufactured by the Swiss company Crypto AG, gave the US intelligence agency, and consequently their British equivalent, access to encrypted messages during the sensitive period leading up to the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.
The equipment was viewed as top of the range by Irish officials. “The view at the time was the Swiss made the best equipment,” said one former official who worked in the London embassy for a period.
READ MORE
However, all former officials who spoke to The Irish Times said it was assumed at all times their communications were compromised.
“I think it would be fair to say that I and all our colleagues dealing with Anglo-Irish relations would have assumed that if there was [an electronic device] involved there was surveillance,” said Seán Ó hUigínn, a former diplomat who led the Anglo-Irish division in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“So while the CIA ownership of Crypto AG may be a new detail, it is only a detail which does not affect the big picture.”
Michael Lillis, who helped negotiate the Anglo-Irish Agreement and worked in the Anglo-Irish secretariat in Antrim known as "the Bunker", said they knew "everything" was being intercepted by the British codebreaking agency GCHQ. Mr Lillis said the British had both the capacity and motive to listen to sensitive Irish communications around the time of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
GCHQ
The British did not need to solely rely on the CIA to pass on intercepted communications. In the 1980s and 1990s GCHQ also used facilities in Cheshire, Cornwall and Armagh to listen to telephone and electronic communications from Irish government officials.
Even the British sometimes failed to keep up the pretence that they were not listening to Irish communications. Mr Lillis said a British counterpart, who wanted the agreement to be a success, told him that “every single word” was being intercepted by GCHQ.
There were also signs the problems may have stemmed from the use of compromised encryption systems, said Mr Ó hUigínn. “In fact I heard from the department’s folklore that there were occasional hints from friendly British contacts not to rely overmuch on whatever was said on the tin in relation to our encryption systems.”
Indeed, Irish officials sometimes used this to their advantage. “Sometimes we wanted them to hear what we were saying,” said Mr Lillis. In these situations officials would speak in Irish or add extra encryption to their messages to signal to the British they contained particularly sensitive information and they should pay attention to it.
The British codebreakers got so good at Irish that when Mr Lillis passed on the text of an agreement in Irish to his opposite number, they came back with several corrections.
For any genuinely sensitive communications from Northern Ireland, couriers were used, Mr Lillis said. “We kept using our technology but we knew it was compromised.”
Officials were also conscious their offices in the Bunker were likely bugged. "We used to say 'Goodnight, Cheltenham [the location of GCHQ headquarters]', up to the lights," former diplomat Daithi Ó Ceallaigh said at a "witness seminar" in UCD in 2015.


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Bitter pill for HSE board as €20m funding for new drugs turned down

The Government has rejected a last-minute plea by the HSE board for up to €20 million in special funds for newly available drugs and medicines this year .
The Department of Health told the HSE board that no additional money was available and the costs involved would have to be met from savings .
The HSE said on Thursday that applications for new drugs that would mean extra costs were being considered in the context of savings from initiatives such as switching from branded products to generic and biosimilar medicines .
It said new drugs that were budget-neutral or would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved .
HSE chief executive Paul Reid wrote to the Department of Health on December 10th to say his board and its chairman , Ciarán Devane , were concerned about the lack of funding for new drugs .
This letter was sent more than a month after the HSE had submitted its service plan for 2020 to the Government but at a time when there were some discussions about additional funding potentially becoming available .
“ We estimate the potential cost of this to be in the region of €15-€20 million .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this issue to the Minister ’ s attention for appropriate consideration on part of the current process.
” On December 12th , the department ’ s secretary general , Jim Breslin , said he had told the Minister , Simon Harris , about the views of the HSE board , but there would be no additional money provided .
“ Notwithstanding the already targeted savings of €50 million from switching to biosimilar medicines , the department believes .
.
.
that there is ongoing requirement for the executive to continue to pursue efficiencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and usage of existing medicines , which could free up resources to fund new medicines.
” He said the Minister had already urged the HSE to look at working with health professionals to secure better value in relation to prescribing .
Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said it was “ astonishing ” the Minister would approve a service plan with no funding allocated for new drugs .
“ It is also extraordinary that a request from the board should be so blatantly ignored , ” he said .

Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said it was ‘astonishing’ the Minister would approve a service plan with no funding allocated for new drugs. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
The Government has rejected a last-minute plea by the HSE board for up to €20 million in special funds for newly available drugs and medicines this year.
The Department of Health told the HSE board that no additional money was available and the costs involved would have to be met from savings.
The HSE said on Thursday that applications for new drugs that would mean extra costs were being considered in the context of savings from initiatives such as switching from branded products to generic and biosimilar medicines.
It said new drugs that were budget-neutral or would lead to net savings were being routinely approved.
READ MORE
HSE chief executive Paul Reid wrote to the Department of Health on December 10th to say his board and its chairman, Ciarán Devane, were concerned about the lack of funding for new drugs.
Service plan
This letter was sent more than a month after the HSE had submitted its service plan for 2020 to the Government but at a time when there were some discussions about additional funding potentially becoming available.
“We estimate the potential cost of this to be in the region of €15-€20 million. I should be grateful if you would bring this issue to the Minister’s attention for appropriate consideration on part of the current process.”
On December 12th, the department's secretary general, Jim Breslin, said he had told the Minister, Simon Harris, about the views of the HSE board, but there would be no additional money provided.
“Notwithstanding the already targeted savings of €50 million from switching to biosimilar medicines, the department believes . . . that there is ongoing requirement for the executive to continue to pursue efficiencies, including in the supply, cost and usage of existing medicines, which could free up resources to fund new medicines.”
He said the Minister had already urged the HSE to look at working with health professionals to secure better value in relation to prescribing.
Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said it was "astonishing" the Minister would approve a service plan with no funding allocated for new drugs. "It is also extraordinary that a request from the board should be so blatantly ignored," he said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-15--Thinking Anew – Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain

I was entranced by a piece of music on the radio the other day and I have listened to it many times since .
The piece is part of Vivaldi ’ s setting of Psalm 127 Nisi Dominus “ Unless the Lord builds the house , those who build it labour in vain ” ( confusingly Psalm 126 in the Latin Bible ) : “ Cum dederit ” .
It is sung in the heart-breakingly beautiful voice of German counter-tenor Andreas Scholl .
Revisiting Psalm 127 reminds me of something my Dad told me years ago .
He was chatting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling him how when she entered the convent as a young woman there had been dozens of nuns in community together , with new vocations every year .
Now there was just a handful of aged sisters left .
Always a great man for the direct question , my Dad enquired of her if it made her sad the way the numbers had dwindled so drastically and how the future seemed unsustainable ?
Her response was utterly without anxiety .
“ I ’ m not sad at all ” , she replied .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ business whom he calls to the religious life .
If he wants us to keep going he will provide the vocations and call others to join us ; if not , we will see out our days peacefully and gracefully.
” There was such freedom and faith in her perspective that I have never forgotten it .
In these days of wringing of hands about falling church attendance and the perils of a society which is largely illiterate about and indifferent to organised religion , we need to be reminded that is God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is his work to build his Church : to call and equip whomsoever he chooses for this work , to allow branches which are no longer bearing fruit to die , to prune other branches as hard as he sees fit to promote future abundance .
Unless the Lord builds the house , those who build it labour in vain .
I find Rowan Williams ’ s definition of the Church extremely helpful .
‘ The Church is first of all a kind of space cleared by God through Jesus in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be .
.
.
a place we are invited to enter .
.
.
a kind of climate or landscape to be inhabited.
” A space cleared by God in Christ .
Not a building or a community or a clergy-person or a project ( although all these things will have their place within the Church ) , but a space , a cleared space which we are required to joyfully curate .
We gather around God ’ s table , not ours .
The Church doesn ’ t do too well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our track record is truly shocking at times .
Think the Crusades .
Think the burning at the stake by Christians of Christians who held a differently nuanced theology .
Think the Magdalene laundries .
Think the transatlantic slave-trade bolstered by proof-texts from Scripture , think the persecution , today , of LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters .
Perhaps our marginalisation is something to be grateful for .
Perhaps our position as guests of a secular society rather than the architects of Christendom is exactly where God would have us be .
Perhaps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us be persecuted like some of our brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world , rather than to be the ones who persecute .
The Kingdom is always hidden , like yeast in bread , like buried treasure , like a seed planted in the darkness .
We need to let our light be seen but not like a floodlight , mercilessly exposing everything .
That is not our task , though it may be God ’ s in the fullness of time .
Our light needs to be instead like a lantern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A beacon in the darkness , a loving warning , an invitation into the space of grace which has been cleared for us by God , in Christ .
Unless the Lord builds the house , those who build it labour in vain .

“Our light needs to be like a lantern, a lighthouse, a candle. A beacon in the darkness, a loving warning, an invitation into the space of grace which has been cleared for us by God, in Christ.” Photograph: iStock
I was entranced by a piece of music on the radio the other day and I have listened to it many times since.
The piece is part of Vivaldi’s setting of Psalm 127 Nisi Dominus “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (confusingly Psalm 126 in the Latin Bible): “Cum dederit”. It is sung in the heart-breakingly beautiful voice of German counter-tenor Andreas Scholl.
Revisiting Psalm 127 reminds me of something my Dad told me years ago. He was chatting to an old nun and she was telling him how when she entered the convent as a young woman there had been dozens of nuns in community together, with new vocations every year. Now there was just a handful of aged sisters left.
Always a great man for the direct question, my Dad enquired of her if it made her sad the way the numbers had dwindled so drastically and how the future seemed unsustainable?
READ MORE
Her response was utterly without anxiety. “I’m not sad at all”, she replied. “It’s God’s business whom he calls to the religious life. If he wants us to keep going he will provide the vocations and call others to join us; if not, we will see out our days peacefully and gracefully.”
There was such freedom and faith in her perspective that I have never forgotten it.
In these days of wringing of hands about falling church attendance and the perils of a society which is largely illiterate about and indifferent to organised religion, we need to be reminded that is God’s Church, not ours.
It is his work to build his Church: to call and equip whomsoever he chooses for this work, to allow branches which are no longer bearing fruit to die, to prune other branches as hard as he sees fit to promote future abundance.
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.
I find Rowan Williams’s definition of the Church extremely helpful. ‘The Church is first of all a kind of space cleared by God through Jesus in which people may become what God made them to be . . . a place we are invited to enter . . . a kind of climate or landscape to be inhabited.”
A space cleared by God in Christ. Not a building or a community or a clergy-person or a project (although all these things will have their place within the Church), but a space, a cleared space which we are required to joyfully curate.
We gather around God’s table, not ours.
The Church doesn’t do too well when it is powerful and influential. Our track record is truly shocking at times. Think the Crusades. Think the burning at the stake by Christians of Christians who held a differently nuanced theology. Think the Magdalene laundries. Think the transatlantic slave-trade bolstered by proof-texts from Scripture, think the persecution, today, of LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters.
Perhaps our marginalisation is something to be grateful for.
Perhaps our position as guests of a secular society rather than the architects of Christendom is exactly where God would have us be.
Perhaps, down the line, he would have us be persecuted like some of our brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world, rather than to be the ones who persecute.
The Kingdom is always hidden, like yeast in bread, like buried treasure, like a seed planted in the darkness.
We need to let our light be seen but not like a floodlight, mercilessly exposing everything. That is not our task, though it may be God’s in the fullness of time.
Our light needs to be instead like a lantern, a lighthouse, a candle. A beacon in the darkness, a loving warning, an invitation into the space of grace which has been cleared for us by God, in Christ.
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.


theirishtimes--2020-02-15--For peat’s sake: Rethinking the bog

For peat’s sake: Rethinking the bog

“ Bogs take time.
” Catherine Farrell repeated this phrase , like a quiet mantra , throughout a presentation on peatlands policy .
She was speaking at a workshop , in Kilcormac , Co Offaly , about the future of Lough Boora Discovery Park and , by extension , of Bord na Móna .
Farrell ’ s phrase reflects the millennia that bogs need to produce deep peat , unfold their full diversity of plant and animal life , and develop their complex relationship with climate .
But we are not time-rich as we face an increasingly urgent climate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very fast out our bogs today .
When Farrell became Bord na Móna ’ s first staff ecologist in 2001 , an appointment that was itself a harbinger of rapid changes to come , she recalls that “ there wasn ’ t a word about carbon then .
Now it ’ s all about carbon.
” She welcomes this new appreciation of the role of peatlands in countering climate change , but she adds a caveat : “ Don ’ t forget all the other wonderful benefits bogs provide us with .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural dimensions.
” Hardly anyone thought bogs were cultural icons when Bord na Móna was established by the State in 1946 .
Even conservationists seemed slow to wake up to their significance .
The company ’ s first chief executive , Todd Andrews , saw our boglands as a “ something to be got rid of , to be turned into productive land ” , in Farrell ’ s words .
The company had a straightforward dual brief : to be the strategic national energy provider , and to create desperately needed employment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both roles very well , while becoming a world leader in technical innovation for peat extraction .
No one knew then that the carbon emitted twice over , first by peat mining , and then by peat burning in power stations and in countless homes , would be a major engine of climate disruption half a century later .
As a result of that crisis , we are compelled to end peat production and combustion very rapidly , and to rehabilitate and restore the company ’ s vast estate of cutaway bogs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the healthiest bogs draw down the most carbon into the ground , while degraded peatlands continue to leak it into the atmosphere .
Farrell , who recently left the company to pursue research , pointed out that we need to be careful in talking about “ degraded ” bogs : “ It can imply that we deliberately did something wrong on them.
” That ’ s fair enough , looking to Bord na Móna ’ s past .
However , the company has been well aware of the climate crisis for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a responsibility to rehabilitate and restore its 80,000-hectare estate much more rapidly , and thoroughly , than heretofore .
But decarbonisation , though vital for our future , is not a victimless policy in the present .
Many rural communities , especially in the midlands , face ruinous downturns right now , as the big machines leave the bogs forever .
That ’ s one of several factors that makes a focus on the next phase of development at Lough Boora Discovery Park so important .
Indeed , the evolution of this 2000-hectare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dazzling array of post-industrial uses , is a hopeful story that suggests new directions for cutaway ( industrially exploited ) peatlands .
Long before Bord na Móna clearly envisaged any post-production role , some of its workers and middle management began to wonder what uses could be made of the “ black deserts ” created by peat extraction , barren of plants and animals .
In the early 1990s , employees in the villages around Lough Boora began to discuss informally whether such land could be used for agriculture , or forestry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiking and cycling .
An initially sceptical management was finally convinced to let them experiment .
Tom Egan , now manager of the park , recalls “ the dream of making Offaly a major agricultural county ” .
But the peatlands , scraped down to their mineral base , could not support either commercial forestry or agriculture .
“ You learn , ” he told the workshop , “ as you go along ” .
So the Boora group talked to other interested parties , including local anglers , the National Parks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps more surprisingly , artists ’ organisations .
Hiking and cycling trails were developed .
With time , and judiciously blocked drains , new habitats emerged .
Egan recalled how land he had regarded as “ unproductive ” , because it kept flooding , turned out to have great value for wildfowl and wading birds .
As semi-natural wetlands evolved , “ it was like the opening of a supermarket , everybody came , huge flocks of duck , wigeon , teal , mallard , and whooper swans ” .
Discussions with artists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of a sculpture park at Boora .
This called forth some highly evocative work , like Michael Bulfin ’ s Sky Train , which builds an airy bridge over a boggy horizon , using the tracks and vehicles from the eccentric-looking , but efficient , bog railways .
The artists were asked to meet some conditions : “ If this was to be a place where art and nature meet , they had to use materials indigenous to area , whether natural or industrial .
They discovered the potential of scrap iron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the engineering skills within our workforce , ” Egan said .
Today , the park forms a unique mosaic of blueprints for exploited peatlands .
It lies in the heart of the country , and attracts 100,000 visitors a year .
But how might this community-corporate initiative evolve again , to reflect the very different culture and nature on our national boglands after peat production ends ?
What might a second generation of Boora sculptors engage with , and what resources would they need ?
That is the question that Bord na @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arts Council asked Tim Collins and Reiko Goto , who organised the workshop .
Their Glasgow studio specialises in “ deep mapping ” , a process that explores links between artists , places and communities .
The workshop heard a wide range of views from a wide range of interests .
It ’ s impossible to reflect them all here , but some questions recurred again and again .
Could the big machine-shops on the Boora complex house a museum that could celebrate the remarkable history of Bord na Móna ?
Could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research spaces for ecologists ?
Could these disciplines interact to produce new kinds of sculpture , celebrating bog restoration instead of industrial production ?
And to what extent might these developments provide local jobs to compensate for those lost to decarbonisation ?
These questions suggest that Boora can become a living laboratory for the diverse futures of post-production peatlands across the country .
As such , it deserves the same kind of investment that has sustained Bord na Móna over eight decades .
Finding appropriate ways to apply Boora ’ s lessons across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will , like bogs themselves , take time .
But we must start now .
What do local people think ?
The workshop was followed by a public meeting on the future of Lough Boora .
Among the points made : “ No cultural institution or sculpture park can compare with the economic engine of Bord na Móna.
” “ Bord na Móna is owned by us .
Jobs need to be created , there is an ethical obligation to look out for local people.
” “ This is a co-created space between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits .
Arts feeds the soul , nature nourishes the soul .
We ’ ve heard of forest-bathing in Japan .
Perhaps we need to develop bog-bathing in Ireland.
” “ It ’ s remarkable that the parklands attract 100,000 people , but it absorbs them like a sponge .
I walk there regularly , and I never seem to see more than three or four others .
”

"Bogs take time." Catherine Farrell repeated this phrase, like a quiet mantra, throughout a presentation on peatlands policy. She was speaking at a workshop, in Kilcormac, Co Offaly, about the future of Lough Boora Discovery Park and, by extension, of Bord na Móna.
Farrell’s phrase reflects the millennia that bogs need to produce deep peat, unfold their full diversity of plant and animal life, and develop their complex relationship with climate.
But we are not time-rich as we face an increasingly urgent climate and biodiversity crisis. So things are changing very fast out our bogs today.
When Farrell became Bord na Móna’s first staff ecologist in 2001, an appointment that was itself a harbinger of rapid changes to come, she recalls that “there wasn’t a word about carbon then. Now it’s all about carbon.”
READ MORE
She welcomes this new appreciation of the role of peatlands in countering climate change, but she adds a caveat: “Don’t forget all the other wonderful benefits bogs provide us with. They are very spiritual places, they have cultural dimensions.”
Hardly anyone thought bogs were cultural icons when Bord na Móna was established by the State in 1946. Even conservationists seemed slow to wake up to their significance.
The company’s first chief executive, Todd Andrews, saw our boglands as a “something to be got rid of, to be turned into productive land”, in Farrell’s words. The company had a straightforward dual brief: to be the strategic national energy provider, and to create desperately needed employment in rural areas. The company fulfilled both roles very well, while becoming a world leader in technical innovation for peat extraction.
No one knew then that the carbon emitted twice over, first by peat mining, and then by peat burning in power stations and in countless homes, would be a major engine of climate disruption half a century later.
As a result of that crisis, we are compelled to end peat production and combustion very rapidly, and to rehabilitate and restore the company’s vast estate of cutaway bogs to the highest possible standard. Broadly speaking, the healthiest bogs draw down the most carbon into the ground, while degraded peatlands continue to leak it into the atmosphere.
Farrell, who recently left the company to pursue research, pointed out that we need to be careful in talking about “degraded” bogs: “It can imply that we deliberately did something wrong on them.”
Bogs need millennia to produce deep peat and unfold their full diversity of plant and animal life. Photograph: Getty Images
That’s fair enough, looking to Bord na Móna’s past. However, the company has been well aware of the climate crisis for more than a decade now. It has a responsibility to rehabilitate and restore its 80,000-hectare estate much more rapidly, and thoroughly, than heretofore.
Ruinous downturns
But decarbonisation, though vital for our future, is not a victimless policy in the present. Many rural communities, especially in the midlands, face ruinous downturns right now, as the big machines leave the bogs forever.
That’s one of several factors that makes a focus on the next phase of development at Lough Boora Discovery Park so important. Indeed, the evolution of this 2000-hectare site, from bogs stripped bare to a dazzling array of post-industrial uses, is a hopeful story that suggests new directions for cutaway (industrially exploited) peatlands.
Long before Bord na Móna clearly envisaged any post-production role, some of its workers and middle management began to wonder what uses could be made of the “black deserts” created by peat extraction, barren of plants and animals.
In the early 1990s, employees in the villages around Lough Boora began to discuss informally whether such land could be used for agriculture, or forestry, and also for public recreation, hiking and cycling. An initially sceptical management was finally convinced to let them experiment.
Tom Egan, now manager of the park, recalls “the dream of making Offaly a major agricultural county”. But the peatlands, scraped down to their mineral base, could not support either commercial forestry or agriculture. “You learn,” he told the workshop, “as you go along”.
So the Boora group talked to other interested parties, including local anglers, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, BirdWatch Ireland and, perhaps more surprisingly, artists’ organisations. Hiking and cycling trails were developed.
With time, and judiciously blocked drains, new habitats emerged. Egan recalled how land he had regarded as “unproductive”, because it kept flooding, turned out to have great value for wildfowl and wading birds. As semi-natural wetlands evolved, “it was like the opening of a supermarket, everybody came, huge flocks of duck, wigeon, teal, mallard, and whooper swans”.
Discussions with artists in the early 2000s led to the creation of a sculpture park at Boora. This called forth some highly evocative work, like Michael Bulfin’s Sky Train, which builds an airy bridge over a boggy horizon, using the tracks and vehicles from the eccentric-looking, but efficient, bog railways.
The artists were asked to meet some conditions: “If this was to be a place where art and nature meet, they had to use materials indigenous to area, whether natural or industrial. They discovered the potential of scrap iron. There was a great working partnership with the engineering skills within our workforce,” Egan said.
Today, the park forms a unique mosaic of blueprints for exploited peatlands. It lies in the heart of the country, and attracts 100,000 visitors a year. But how might this community-corporate initiative evolve again, to reflect the very different culture and nature on our national boglands after peat production ends? What might a second generation of Boora sculptors engage with, and what resources would they need?
That is the question that Bord na Móna, Offaly County Council, and the Arts Council asked Tim Collins and Reiko Goto, who organised the workshop. Their Glasgow studio specialises in “deep mapping”, a process that explores links between artists, places and communities.
The workshop heard a wide range of views from a wide range of interests. It’s impossible to reflect them all here, but some questions recurred again and again.
Could the big machine-shops on the Boora complex house a museum that could celebrate the remarkable history of Bord na Móna?
Could Boora also accommodate studios for artists and research spaces for ecologists? Could these disciplines interact to produce new kinds of sculpture, celebrating bog restoration instead of industrial production?
And to what extent might these developments provide local jobs to compensate for those lost to decarbonisation?
These questions suggest that Boora can become a living laboratory for the diverse futures of post-production peatlands across the country. As such, it deserves the same kind of investment that has sustained Bord na Móna over eight decades.
Finding appropriate ways to apply Boora’s lessons across Bord na Móna’s national estate will, like bogs themselves, take time. But we must start now.
What do local people think?
The workshop was followed by a public meeting on the future of Lough Boora. Among the points made:
“No cultural institution or sculpture park can compare with the economic engine of Bord na Móna.”
“Bord na Móna is owned by us. Jobs need to be created, there is an ethical obligation to look out for local people.”
“This is a co-created space between nature and humans. It has health benefits. Arts feeds the soul, nature nourishes the soul. We’ve heard of forest-bathing in Japan. Perhaps we need to develop bog-bathing in Ireland.”
“It’s remarkable that the parklands attract 100,000 people, but it absorbs them like a sponge. I walk there regularly, and I never seem to see more than three or four others.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--TCD and Sadsi speakers secure places for Irish Times Debate grand final

Speakers from Trinity College Dublin and the Solicitors ’ Apprentice Debating Society of Ireland ( Sadsi ) have secured the last three places in the 60th grand final of the Irish Times Debate .
The motion debated at the fourth and last semi-final , which took place in the Cadets ’ mess in the Curragh Camp , was “ This house believes that the European Union has failed the working class ” .
The winning team was Lucille McKnight and Ruairc O ’ Leary from TCD Phil , while Eamonn Butler ( Sadsi ) went through to the final as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Tom Clonan who won the competition in 1990 .
The final takes place in Trinity on Friday , February 28th and will be chaired by Chief Justice Frank Clarke .
Finalists will compete for the Demosthenes and Christina Murphy Memorial trophies and a tour of the US .
Already through to the final are teams Aislinn Carty and Eoin Quinn ( TCD Phil ) ; Cormac O ’ Brien and Shannon Buckley Barnes ( Sadsi ) ; and Cora Keegan and Mark Smyth ( UCD Law ) and individuals Simeon Burke ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UCD Law ) ; and Harry Hogan ( TCD Phil ) .

Mairead O’Leary from UCD LawSoc speaks during the semi-final of the Irish Times Debate 2019-2020 in the cadets’ mess at the Curragh Camp. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Speakers from Trinity College Dublin and the Solicitors' Apprentice Debating Society of Ireland (Sadsi) have secured the last three places in the 60th grand final of the Irish Times Debate.
The motion debated at the fourth and last semi-final, which took place in the Cadets' mess in the Curragh Camp, was "This house believes that the European Union has failed the working class".
The winning team was Lucille McKnight and Ruairc O’Leary from TCD Phil, while Eamonn Butler (Sadsi) went through to the final as an individual.
Cadet Chris Mulligan speaks for the opposition during the semi-final of the Irish Times Debate 2019-2020 in the cadets’ mess at the Curragh Camp. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Killian Farrelly from UCD LawSoc speaking for the proposition during the semi-final of the Irish Times Debate 2019-2020 in the cadets’ mess at the Curragh Camp. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
The debate was chaired by Tom Clonan who won the competition in 1990.
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The final takes place in Trinity on Friday, February 28th and will be chaired by Chief Justice Frank Clarke. Finalists will compete for the Demosthenes and Christina Murphy Memorial trophies and a tour of the US.
Already through to the final are teams Aislinn Carty and Eoin Quinn (TCD Phil); Cormac O'Brien and Shannon Buckley Barnes (Sadsi); and Cora Keegan and Mark Smyth (UCD Law) and individuals Simeon Burke (NUI Galway); Rachael Mullally (UCD Law); and Harry Hogan (TCD Phil).


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Ivan Yates: ‘I was a poster boy for bankruptcy tourism’

Broadcaster and former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates is planning to retire this summer and live a quieter life on the family farm following the settlement of a legal dispute with AIB over ownership of his Wexford property .
He says he is unable to put into words the intensity of the battle he has had to wage over the past decade to prevent the loss of the property to the bank , and to do so while all the time being so in the public eye .
“ I ’ ve turned 60 now and I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected to the Dáil in ’ 81 , ” he says .
“ I was a councillor in 1979 , so between politics , business and the media , I have given it a fair stint.
” He was just 21 when first elected to the Dáil .
He served as minister for agriculture , food and forestry in the 1994-1997 rainbow coalition led by John Bruton .
After leaving politics , Yates went into business , saw that business collapse and , after going through bankruptcy in Wales , developed a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deirdre , is finishing her career as a primary school teacher in July , and now that the couple have settled a massive High Court dispute over their home in Blackstoops , Enniscorthy , Yates is in a position to wind down his broadcasting career .
He presents Newstalk ’ s drivetime programme , The Hard Shoulder , and presents with Matt Cooper The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One .
Yates lives in Dublin during the week because of his broadcasting commitments .
“ There is no way that if Deirdre lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in Dublin , so this is a real moment , one of the happiest things that has happened in my life.
” Yates left politics in 2001 and became involved in the rapid expansion of Celtic Bookmakers , a chain of betting shops .
However , the business went into receivership in 2011 , and AIB pursued him for debts of €3.6 million .
He went to live in Wales and availed of the bankruptcy laws there , which were much less harsh than the regime that existed in Ireland at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing his world collapse around him in his autobiography , Full On ( 2014 ) .
“ When I went to Wales in 2012 , it was a 12-year life sentence to go bankrupt in Ireland under its draconian , Victorian laws .
“ And when I came back in 2013 , I wasted no opportunity to excoriate governments , politicians and the system to adopt the UK Insolvency Act 1986 that gave people a fresh start , allowed everyone to get on with the rest of their lives , and allowed closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of his move to Wales , Yates came in for a lot of criticism .
“ I started out as a poster boy for bankruptcy tourism and [ got ] massive odium about that , and really to this day , people have never really got over that in terms of my political life and public life.
” However , he is pleased the law here has been changed so it now reflects the UK regime , something that has “ completely transformed ” the situation of tens of thousands of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his move to Wales , it was not clear whether it would lead to the loss of the Blackstoops property , and even now he can not say definitively whether , with hindsight , the move was a good one .
“ That ’ s a complex question.
” Yates and his wife had signed personal guarantees for Celtic Bookmakers ’ borrowings .
In 2016 the bank was awarded a €1.6 million judgment order against Deirdre .
The bankruptcy trustees appointed by the Welsh courts got possession over the Yates family home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not evict Yates because his mother , who is now 88 , had the right to continue living on the property .
“ I mean we were literally homeless , in that we didn ’ t own our own home , ” Yates says .
“ Because of my mother ’ s life interest , we have always remained there , and it has been our family home , but the situation was that my bankruptcy did imperil the home.
” The house was bought by his great-grandfather , John F Yates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fifth generation – my family are – of Yateses at Blackstoops , Enniscorthy , and this [ battle over the property ] has been the most important thing in my life for the last decade , since Celtic Bookmakers went into receivership in January 2011.
” In 2017 Ivan and Deirdre took a complex High Court action against AIB and the bankruptcy trustees , challenging their taking possession of the Enniscorthy property on a number of grounds .
The case was to go ahead on February 4th , and was expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show it was settled on January 31st .
Yates says he can not discuss the settlement .
“ There is a confidentiality clause .
There will be no further litigation .
The matter has been resolved , ” is all he will say when questioned on the detail .
But the key point for him is that he will continue to live at Blackstoops .
Ivan and Deirdre have four children , aged 25-31 , and a grandchild who lives in Co Wexford .
Settling the case “ is a massive relief to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my own four children .
I really want to thank my legal team , Ensor O ’ Connor Solicitors , a small family practice in Wexford , and my senior counsel , Jerry Healy , and Peter Bland SC and Paula McCarthy BL.
” “ This allows us to get on with the final phase of our life , and I intend to step back from media work.
” His broadcasting contracts run up to August , and he plans to step back then , though he has not yet decided on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Yates on the party leaders ’ debate on Virgin Media One during the general election campaign provoked a lot of comment and no small amount of criticism .
He began the debate by accusing the seven party leaders in front of him as being a “ bunch of charlatans and chancers ” .
But he does not regret his approach .
“ I honestly believe that the 1977 general election promises caused a decade of recession , and the 2007 election directly contributed to the crash.
” He dislikes what he describes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election campaign just finished , and feels the media did not properly hold the parties to account over the promises they were making .
“ And the public lapped up the promises .
They always do.
” “ I have been involved in 14 general elections , and my big fear was history repeating itself .
I actually don ’ t mind a few brickbats and I don ’ t mind social media flak , that never bothers me.
” The politicians “ were putting their own popularity and short-term party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I sort of knew that the Department of Finance were absolutely doing their nut about this , and couldn ’ t say anything.
” His plan for retirement is to “ take life a bit easier ” .
Asked if he might not , given his personality , find that a bit of a challenge , he simply laughs .

Ivan Yates: ‘This allows us to get on with the final phase of our life, and I intend to step back from media work.’ Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Broadcaster and former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates is planning to retire this summer and live a quieter life on the family farm following the settlement of a legal dispute with AIB over ownership of his Wexford property.
He says he is unable to put into words the intensity of the battle he has had to wage over the past decade to prevent the loss of the property to the bank, and to do so while all the time being so in the public eye.
“I’ve turned 60 now and I’ve been in the public eye since I was elected to the Dáil in ’81,” he says.
“I was a councillor in 1979, so between politics, business and the media, I have given it a fair stint.”
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He was just 21 when first elected to the Dáil. He served as minister for agriculture, food and forestry in the 1994-1997 rainbow coalition led by John Bruton. After leaving politics, Yates went into business, saw that business collapse and, after going through bankruptcy in Wales, developed a new career in broadcasting.
We were literally homeless, in that we didn't own our own home. The situation was that my bankruptcy did imperil the home
His wife, Deirdre, is finishing her career as a primary school teacher in July, and now that the couple have settled a massive High Court dispute over their home in Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, Yates is in a position to wind down his broadcasting career.
He presents Newstalk’s drivetime programme, The Hard Shoulder, and presents with Matt Cooper The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One. Yates lives in Dublin during the week because of his broadcasting commitments.
“There is no way that if Deirdre lives in Enniscorthy that I’d be living in Dublin, so this is a real moment, one of the happiest things that has happened in my life.”
Yates left politics in 2001 and became involved in the rapid expansion of Celtic Bookmakers, a chain of betting shops. However, the business went into receivership in 2011, and AIB pursued him for debts of €3.6 million.
He went to live in Wales and availed of the bankruptcy laws there, which were much less harsh than the regime that existed in Ireland at the time. He described the trauma of seeing his world collapse around him in his autobiography, Full On (2014).
“When I went to Wales in 2012, it was a 12-year life sentence to go bankrupt in Ireland under its draconian, Victorian laws.
“And when I came back in 2013, I wasted no opportunity to excoriate governments, politicians and the system to adopt the UK Insolvency Act 1986 that gave people a fresh start, allowed everyone to get on with the rest of their lives, and allowed closure for the financial institutions.”
Public odium
At the time of his move to Wales, Yates came in for a lot of criticism. “I started out as a poster boy for bankruptcy tourism and [got] massive odium about that, and really to this day, people have never really got over that in terms of my political life and public life.”
However, he is pleased the law here has been changed so it now reflects the UK regime, something that has “completely transformed” the situation of tens of thousands of people, he says.
At the time of his move to Wales, it was not clear whether it would lead to the loss of the Blackstoops property, and even now he cannot say definitively whether, with hindsight, the move was a good one. “That’s a complex question.”
Ivan Yates’s property at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Photograph: Patrick Browne
Yates and his wife had signed personal guarantees for Celtic Bookmakers’ borrowings. In 2016 the bank was awarded a €1.6 million judgment order against Deirdre.
The bankruptcy trustees appointed by the Welsh courts got possession over the Yates family home and 150-acre farm in Blackstoops, but could not evict Yates because his mother, who is now 88, had the right to continue living on the property.
“I mean we were literally homeless, in that we didn’t own our own home,” Yates says. “Because of my mother’s life interest, we have always remained there, and it has been our family home, but the situation was that my bankruptcy did imperil the home.”
The house was bought by his great-grandfather, John F Yates, in 1890. “I am the fifth generation – my family are – of Yateses at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, and this [battle over the property] has been the most important thing in my life for the last decade, since Celtic Bookmakers went into receivership in January 2011.”
There is a confidentiality clause. There will be no further litigation. The matter has been resolved
In 2017 Ivan and Deirdre took a complex High Court action against AIB and the bankruptcy trustees, challenging their taking possession of the Enniscorthy property on a number of grounds.
The case was to go ahead on February 4th, and was expected to last two weeks. But court records show it was settled on January 31st. Yates says he cannot discuss the settlement.
“There is a confidentiality clause. There will be no further litigation. The matter has been resolved,” is all he will say when questioned on the detail. But the key point for him is that he will continue to live at Blackstoops.
Ivan and Deirdre have four children, aged 25-31, and a grandchild who lives in Co Wexford.
Massive relief
Settling the case "is a massive relief to my mother, my extended family and my own four children. I really want to thank my legal team, Ensor O'Connor Solicitors, a small family practice in Wexford, and my senior counsel, Jerry Healy, and Peter Bland SC and Paula McCarthy BL."
“This allows us to get on with the final phase of our life, and I intend to step back from media work.” His broadcasting contracts run up to August, and he plans to step back then, though he has not yet decided on the full details.
The aggressive approach adopted by Yates on the party leaders’ debate on Virgin Media One during the general election campaign provoked a lot of comment and no small amount of criticism.
Politicians 'were putting their own popularity and short-term party interests above the national interest'
He began the debate by accusing the seven party leaders in front of him as being a “bunch of charlatans and chancers”. But he does not regret his approach.
“I honestly believe that the 1977 general election promises caused a decade of recession, and the 2007 election directly contributed to the crash.”
He dislikes what he describes as the “Dutch auction” aspect of the election campaign just finished, and feels the media did not properly hold the parties to account over the promises they were making. “And the public lapped up the promises. They always do.”
“I have been involved in 14 general elections, and my big fear was history repeating itself. I actually don’t mind a few brickbats and I don’t mind social media flak, that never bothers me.”
The politicians “were putting their own popularity and short-term party interests above the national interest, and I sort of knew that the Department of Finance were absolutely doing their nut about this, and couldn’t say anything.”
His plan for retirement is to “take life a bit easier”. Asked if he might not, given his personality, find that a bit of a challenge, he simply laughs.


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Missing torso a setback to Mulready-Woods murder inquiry

Gardaí have been unable to determine the cause of death of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods ( 17 ) as some of his remains are still missing .
Detectives working on the case believe it will be extremely difficult to charge suspects with murder if pathologists are unable to confirm he was murdered or ascertain the manner of his killing .
Burial took place in Drogheda , Co Louth , this week , one month after the boy ’ s death , but his torso has still not been found .
Gardaí believe the teenager was killed , probably after being tortured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11th , shortly after he was last seen alive in the town at about 6pm .
Detectives are working on the theory he was killed , probably by stabbing , and dismembered in a house in Drogheda before his remains were separated .
His limbs were found in a bag on a pavement in the Moatview estate in Coolock , north Dublin , at about 10pm the day after he was killed .
In the early hours of Wednesday , January 14th , the teenager ’ s head , feet and hands were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set on fire in a laneway off Clonliffe Avenue in Dublin ’ s north inner city .
Despite intensive searching in Drogheda , including along the banks of the river Boyne close to a house where gardaí believe the victim was dismembered , his torso has not been found .
The teenager ’ s killing was the third in the worsening feud between two drug gangs in Drogheda , which are also linked to Dublin criminals .
Gardaí suspect the teenager ’ s body parts were to be dumped outside the homes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teenager was aligned with as a warning to them .
Gardaí also suspect that plan was abandoned because those transporting the body parts came close to encountering gardaí at or near the locations where they intended to leave them .
Sources said it had proven almost impossible in the past to charge people with murder in cases where the victim ’ s remains had never been found , or when partial remains were found , and the cause of death could not be confirmed .
Detectives working on the investigation have no cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the fatal injury is believed to have been to the torso .
Gardaí have not ruled out the possibility the torso was disposed of in a deliberate plan to ensure the investigation would be frustrated .
Graham Dwyer was convicted in 2015 of the murder of childcare worker Elaine O ’ Hara ( 36 ) in 2012 despite the cause of death never being established because some of the dead woman ’ s remains were never found .
However , Garda sources said that case was an exception and that prosecutions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Keane Mulready-Woods would have celebrated his 18th birthday the week before last .
He was buried on Thursday after several hundred mourners gathered at Holy Family Church , Ballsgrove , Drogheda , for his funeral Mass .

Keane Mulready-Woods: Gardaí suspect the teenager’s body parts were to be dumped outside the homes of leaders of the Drogheda crime gang the teenager was aligned with as a warning
Gardaí have been unable to determine the cause of death of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods (17) as some of his remains are still missing.
Detectives working on the case believe it will be extremely difficult to charge suspects with murder if pathologists are unable to confirm he was murdered or ascertain the manner of his killing.
Burial took place in Drogheda, Co Louth, this week, one month after the boy's death, but his torso has still not been found.
Gardaí believe the teenager was killed, probably after being tortured, in Drogheda on Sunday, January 11th, shortly after he was last seen alive in the town at about 6pm.
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Detectives are working on the theory he was killed, probably by stabbing, and dismembered in a house in Drogheda before his remains were separated.
His limbs were found in a bag on a pavement in the Moatview estate in Coolock, north Dublin, at about 10pm the day after he was killed.
In the early hours of Wednesday, January 14th, the teenager’s head, feet and hands were found in a stolen car that was set on fire in a laneway off Clonliffe Avenue in Dublin’s north inner city.
Despite intensive searching in Drogheda, including along the banks of the river Boyne close to a house where gardaí believe the victim was dismembered, his torso has not been found.
The teenager’s killing was the third in the worsening feud between two drug gangs in Drogheda, which are also linked to Dublin criminals.
Stark warning
Gardaí suspect the teenager’s body parts were to be dumped outside the homes of leaders of the Drogheda crime gang the teenager was aligned with as a warning to them.
Gardaí also suspect that plan was abandoned because those transporting the body parts came close to encountering gardaí at or near the locations where they intended to leave them.
Sources said it had proven almost impossible in the past to charge people with murder in cases where the victim’s remains had never been found, or when partial remains were found, and the cause of death could not be confirmed.
Detectives working on the investigation have no cause of death to inform their inquiry, because the fatal injury is believed to have been to the torso.
Gardaí have not ruled out the possibility the torso was disposed of in a deliberate plan to ensure the investigation would be frustrated.
Graham Dwyer was convicted in 2015 of the murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara (36) in 2012 despite the cause of death never being established because some of the dead woman's remains were never found.
However, Garda sources said that case was an exception and that prosecutions in such cases were “extremely difficult”.
Keane Mulready-Woods would have celebrated his 18th birthday the week before last. He was buried on Thursday after several hundred mourners gathered at Holy Family Church, Ballsgrove, Drogheda, for his funeral Mass.


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--People convicted of helping IRA carry out interrogations lose sentence appeals

A number of people involved in conducting an IRA “ inquiry ” of suspected informants in a Dublin suburb have lost appeals against the severity of their prison sentences .
The group was convicted of helping the IRA carry out interrogations of other members following a series of operations that were foiled by gardaí .
The IRA ’ s Dublin and Belfast brigades wanted to know who was responsible for leaking information and a number of men were brought to a house in Castleknock in Dublin for their interrogation .
The gardaí , however , had set up listening devices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interrogations to arrest and convict four men and one woman for their participation .
They were all found guilty following a trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin , in June 2018 .
Kevin Hannaway ( 71 ) of Colinmill , in Belfast as well as Eva Shannon ( 61 ) of Oakman Street , in Belfast were given three years and nine months and four years imprisonment respectively for assisting the interviewing of persons involved in IRA-organised criminal activities at Riverwood Park , Castleknock , Dublin 15 on August 7th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time Kevin Hannaway , one of the so-called “ hooded men ” , was back in custody since 1971 when he was subjected to what the European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) called “ inhumane and degrading ” treatment .
Hannaway had been interned and taken to a secret base in Derry during the Troubles where he had a hood placed over his head while being subjected to white noise and sleep deprivation .
The ECHR stopped short of calling it torture .
During the trial , Hannaway asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the recordings from the house in Castleknock were played , as the white noise brought him back to the period of detention in 1971 .
Seán Hannaway ( 48 ) of Linden Gardens , Belfast , was given five years and six months , David Nooney ( 53 ) of Coultry Green , Ballymun , Dublin was given three years and nine months while Edward O ’ Brien ( 42 ) , of Hazelcroft Road , Finglas , Dublin was given 16 months imprisonment all for membership of an unlawful organisation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Army , otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann , otherwise the IRA on August 8th , 2015 .
The Court of Appeal upheld all five of their sentences on Friday despite appeals by Kevin Hannaway , Seán Hannaway and Eva Shannon that their sentences were too severe , as well as appeals by the Director of Public Prosecutions that the sentences imposed on Nooney and O ’ Brien were “ unduly lenient ” .
Giving judgment , Mr Justice John Edwards said Kevin Hannaway ’ s position was “ most complex ” .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being “ subjected to torture ” in northern Ireland many years ago and suffered from PTSD .
Mr Justice Edwards said a medical report prepared by a consultant forensic psychiatrist found Kevin Hannaway to be “ not fit for imprisonment ” on the E Wing of Portlaoise Prison , where there was a constant undercurrent of noise , including white noise from an air conditioning system , which triggered nightmares associated with his arrest in 1971 .
The report , prepared by Professor Harry Kennedy , described the conditions faced by Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required further investigation by the prison authorities .
Counsel for Kevin Hannaway , Conan Fegan BL , submitted that his client ’ s circumstances were so unusual and “ exceptional ” , that he urged the court to suspend the balance of his sentence .
However , the court could find no error in principle .
Mr Justice Edwards said the sentence imposed reflected the gravity of the offence and the management of Kevin Hannaway ’ s prison sentence was a matter for the prison authorities .
He said each accused participated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ high level ” of planning and organisation .
It was not just passive assistance or support but “ active engagement ” in the furtherance of an illegal organisation ’ s activities .
A contention that the Special Criminal Court “ tarred ” Kevin Hannaway , Seán Hannaway and Eva Shannon “ all with the same brush ” did “ not stand up to scrutiny ” , according to the judge .
He said the Special Criminal Court was best placed to assess the culpability of those involved , and to conclude that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most culpable ” .
He said discounts afforded for the mitigating factors present in each case were within the Special Criminal Court ’ s discretion .
President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham , who sat with Mr Justice Edwards and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy , said the DPP ’ s undue leniency reviews were refused , as were the three appeals against sentence .

It was the first time Kevin Hannaway, one of the so-called “hooded men”, was back in custody since 1971 when he was subjected to what the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) called “inhumane and degrading” treatment. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / THE IRISH TIMES
A number of people involved in conducting an IRA “inquiry” of suspected informants in a Dublin suburb have lost appeals against the severity of their prison sentences.
The group was convicted of helping the IRA carry out interrogations of other members following a series of operations that were foiled by gardaí. The IRA’s Dublin and Belfast brigades wanted to know who was responsible for leaking information and a number of men were brought to a house in Castleknock in Dublin for their interrogation.
The gardaí, however, had set up listening devices at the house and used recordings of the interrogations to arrest and convict four men and one woman for their participation. They were all found guilty following a trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, in June 2018.
Kevin Hannaway (71) of Colinmill, in Belfast as well as Eva Shannon (61) of Oakman Street, in Belfast were given three years and nine months and four years imprisonment respectively for assisting the interviewing of persons involved in IRA-organised criminal activities at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15 on August 7th and 8th, 2015.
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It was the first time Kevin Hannaway, one of the so-called “hooded men”, was back in custody since 1971 when he was subjected to what the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) called “inhumane and degrading” treatment. Hannaway had been interned and taken to a secret base in Derry during the Troubles where he had a hood placed over his head while being subjected to white noise and sleep deprivation. The ECHR stopped short of calling it torture.
During the trial, Hannaway asked to be allowed to leave the courtroom while the recordings from the house in Castleknock were played, as the white noise brought him back to the period of detention in 1971.
Seán Hannaway (48) of Linden Gardens, Belfast, was given five years and six months, David Nooney (53) of Coultry Green, Ballymun, Dublin was given three years and nine months while Edward O’Brien (42), of Hazelcroft Road, Finglas, Dublin was given 16 months imprisonment all for membership of an unlawful organisation, namely an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on August 8th, 2015.
The Court of Appeal upheld all five of their sentences on Friday despite appeals by Kevin Hannaway, Seán Hannaway and Eva Shannon that their sentences were too severe, as well as appeals by the Director of Public Prosecutions that the sentences imposed on Nooney and O’Brien were “unduly lenient”.
Giving judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards said Kevin Hannaway’s position was “most complex”. He said the 72-year-old had an unfortunate history of being “subjected to torture” in northern Ireland many years ago and suffered from PTSD.
Mr Justice Edwards said a medical report prepared by a consultant forensic psychiatrist found Kevin Hannaway to be “not fit for imprisonment” on the E Wing of Portlaoise Prison, where there was a constant undercurrent of noise, including white noise from an air conditioning system, which triggered nightmares associated with his arrest in 1971.
The report, prepared by Professor Harry Kennedy, described the conditions faced by Kevin Hannaway as “life threatening” which required further investigation by the prison authorities.
Counsel for Kevin Hannaway, Conan Fegan BL, submitted that his client’s circumstances were so unusual and “exceptional”, that he urged the court to suspend the balance of his sentence.
However, the court could find no error in principle. Mr Justice Edwards said the sentence imposed reflected the gravity of the offence and the management of Kevin Hannaway’s prison sentence was a matter for the prison authorities.
He said each accused participated in conducting an IRA inquiry which involved a “high level” of planning and organisation. It was not just passive assistance or support but “active engagement” in the furtherance of an illegal organisation’s activities.
A contention that the Special Criminal Court “tarred” Kevin Hannaway, Seán Hannaway and Eva Shannon “all with the same brush” did “not stand up to scrutiny”, according to the judge.
He said the Special Criminal Court was best placed to assess the culpability of those involved, and to conclude that Seán Hannaway and Kevin Hannaway were “most culpable”. He said discounts afforded for the mitigating factors present in each case were within the Special Criminal Court’s discretion.
President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Edwards and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, said the DPP’s undue leniency reviews were refused, as were the three appeals against sentence.


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Man to pay €45,000 damages for turning building into bar without consent

The owners of a commercial premises in Cork city centre have been awarded more than €45,000 in damages for the cost of remedial works needed after a former tenant converted the building into a bar without their permission .
Businessmen Richard Walsh , Morgan O ’ Brien , Declan Field and David Brady had sued Joe Kearney for the cost of repair works to the building on MacCurtain Street in Cork which the tenant had operated as the Flux Bar .
The plaintiffs claimed the condition of the property , which required extensive repair works , was caused by alterations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Kearney claimed the owners of the property had consented to the works he had undertaken and also denied that he had caused the problems claimed by plaintiffs .
He originally counterclaimed for almost €150,000 for goods which he claimed belonged to him that were left in the building after he had abandoned it and for €201,000 for the costs of refurbishing the premises .
The High Court heard the plaintiffs leased the ground floor of the premises , which had been trading as the Agora Bar , to Mr Kearney in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Naked Grape .
The term of the lease was 25 years with initial annual rent at €40,000 , increasing by €5,000 per annum for each of the first five years .
The High Court heard the owners of the property became aware in early 2017 that Mr Kearney had undertaken works which effectively converted the premises back into a bar and included the removal of fire exit corridors and a relocation of the toilet area .
In 2008 , a firm of architects whose offices were on the first floor of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The High Court heard that the owners had effected a peaceable re-entry of the pub in December 2009 after it had been abandoned with rent , rates and water charges unpaid and the electricity cut off .
They claimed Mr Kearney had fallen into arrears of more than €27,100 on the rent by October 2009 .
In evidence to the High Court , Mr Kearney conceded that the works carried out in 2007 were not designed or supervised by any competent professional or expert .
He said he had contracted the works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partner , ultimately took over the trade of the Flux Bar .
Mr Kearney gave evidence that he met Mr Walsh in the Metropole Hotel in November 2006 in which he explained trade in the Naked Grape was unsatisfactory and he wished to convert the ground floor back into a bar .
He said Mr Walsh indicated he was open to such alterations but would first need to see the plans and consult with his partners .
Mr Kearney claims he got Mr Walsh ’ s consent to convert the premises to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eve in 2006 – a claim disputed by Mr Walsh .
Mr Justice Quinn said he concluded on the balance of all the evidence that the sagging of the first floor could only have been caused by the works undertaken by Mr Kearney in 2007 which required the remedial work carried out by the plaintiffs .
The judge said no consent was given even if Mr Walsh had indicated that his plans would be considered .
He said it appeared Mr Kearney regarded himself over a period of time as no longer bound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could “ transfer ” responsibility to Mr Hanlon whom he claimed was somehow responsible for the rent arrears .
Dismissing Mr Kearney ’ s counterclaim for damages , the judge said the defendant could not assert that the plaintiffs had acted unlawfully in relation to the contents of the bar when he had abandoned possession of the premises without either a surrender or any orderly communication with the owners .
Although the plaintiffs had originally sued for €83,879 , the sum was revised downwards to €63,928 .
Mr Justice Quinn said the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full but accepted Mr Kearney ’ s argument that the claim for loss of rental income could have been reduced by putting the property back on the market at an earlier stage .
He awarded the plaintiffs a total of €45,614 .

The High Court heard the owners of the property became aware in early 2017 that Mr Kearney had undertaken works which effectively converted the premises back into a bar. Photograph: iStocks
The owners of a commercial premises in Cork city centre have been awarded more than €45,000 in damages for the cost of remedial works needed after a former tenant converted the building into a bar without their permission.
Businessmen Richard Walsh, Morgan O’Brien, Declan Field and David Brady had sued Joe Kearney for the cost of repair works to the building on MacCurtain Street in Cork which the tenant had operated as the Flux Bar.
The plaintiffs claimed the condition of the property, which required extensive repair works, was caused by alterations made by Mr Kearney without their consent.
Mr Kearney claimed the owners of the property had consented to the works he had undertaken and also denied that he had caused the problems claimed by plaintiffs.
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He originally counterclaimed for almost €150,000 for goods which he claimed belonged to him that were left in the building after he had abandoned it and for €201,000 for the costs of refurbishing the premises.
The High Court heard the plaintiffs leased the ground floor of the premises, which had been trading as the Agora Bar, to Mr Kearney in June 2006 who opened an off-licence called the Naked Grape.
The term of the lease was 25 years with initial annual rent at €40,000, increasing by €5,000 per annum for each of the first five years.
The High Court heard the owners of the property became aware in early 2017 that Mr Kearney had undertaken works which effectively converted the premises back into a bar and included the removal of fire exit corridors and a relocation of the toilet area.
In 2008, a firm of architects whose offices were on the first floor of the building complained that the floor had subsided.
The High Court heard that the owners had effected a peaceable re-entry of the pub in December 2009 after it had been abandoned with rent, rates and water charges unpaid and the electricity cut off.
They claimed Mr Kearney had fallen into arrears of more than €27,100 on the rent by October 2009.
In evidence to the High Court, Mr Kearney conceded that the works carried out in 2007 were not designed or supervised by any competent professional or expert.
He said he had contracted the works to David Hanlon who, with a partner, ultimately took over the trade of the Flux Bar.
Mr Kearney gave evidence that he met Mr Walsh in the Metropole Hotel in November 2006 in which he explained trade in the Naked Grape was unsatisfactory and he wished to convert the ground floor back into a bar.
He said Mr Walsh indicated he was open to such alterations but would first need to see the plans and consult with his partners.
Consent
Mr Kearney claims he got Mr Walsh’s consent to convert the premises to a bar in a phone call on Christmas Eve in 2006 – a claim disputed by Mr Walsh.
Mr Justice Quinn said he concluded on the balance of all the evidence that the sagging of the first floor could only have been caused by the works undertaken by Mr Kearney in 2007 which required the remedial work carried out by the plaintiffs.
The judge said no consent was given even if Mr Walsh had indicated that his plans would be considered.
He said it appeared Mr Kearney regarded himself over a period of time as no longer bound by clear contractual obligations and believed he could “transfer” responsibility to Mr Hanlon whom he claimed was somehow responsible for the rent arrears.
Dismissing Mr Kearney’s counterclaim for damages, the judge said the defendant could not assert that the plaintiffs had acted unlawfully in relation to the contents of the bar when he had abandoned possession of the premises without either a surrender or any orderly communication with the owners.
Although the plaintiffs had originally sued for €83,879, the sum was revised downwards to €63,928.
Mr Justice Quinn said the majority of the costs should be allowed in full but accepted Mr Kearney’s argument that the claim for loss of rental income could have been reduced by putting the property back on the market at an earlier stage.
He awarded the plaintiffs a total of €45,614.


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Cracking defects found in 85 NCT vehicle lifts

Defects have been found in 85 National Car Testing Service ( NCTS ) vehicle lifts across more than 30 testing centres , according to the results of a full condition survey commissioned by the NCT operator Applus .
At the end of last month a key part of the national vehicle tests , the underbody check , was suspended due to safety fears over cracks discovered in the vehicle suspension lifts .
Applus , the company contracted to run the national car tests , has said it will be the end of April before full tests will be available in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the NCTS was informed by lift manufacturer Maha of cracking defects uncovered in similar lifts in Northern Ireland testing centres .
The defect is a hairline fracture along the scissor arm of the lift equipment , which poses safety risks as staff would be under the vehicles during the underbody inspection .
The results of a condition survey of all lifts , completed on Friday , show the defects were found in 85 NCT vehicle lifts , which have been taken out of operation until they are repaired or replaced .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue operating , and 13 lifts were repaired by the manufacturer this week .
Currently just a fifth of NCT testing lanes are operational across 14 centres , with a plan of repairs aiming to have half of all 106 lifts back operational by the end of March , and all testing lanes open by the end of April .
Drivers are advised to book and attend their NCT as normal , and that checks , apart from the underbody inspection , would be conducted .
Drivers will have to return to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operational .
There is no charge for the second test to inspect the vehicle ’ s underbody as long as the vehicle passed all other elements of the NCT during the initial test .
In a statement on Friday , NCTS general manager Grant Henderson said it was the operator ’ s aim “ to ensure that we have lift availability in most centres as soon as possible ” .
The NCTS will begin a programme to then replace all the repaired lifts with new machinery from June onwards , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the service is to hire additional inspectors and extend testing centre opening hours as lifts come back into operation , to clear the backlog of tests .
“ Due to the current situation , we are asking customers not to book too far in advance to alleviate the demand on the test centre network at the moment , ” a spokeswoman for the NCTS said .

Drivers are advised to book and attend their NCT as normal, and that checks, apart from the underbody inspection, would be conducted.
Defects have been found in 85 National Car Testing Service (NCTS) vehicle lifts across more than 30 testing centres, according to the results of a full condition survey commissioned by the NCT operator Applus.
At the end of last month a key part of the national vehicle tests, the underbody check, was suspended due to safety fears over cracks discovered in the vehicle suspension lifts.
Applus, the company contracted to run the national car tests, has said it will be the end of April before full tests will be available in all 47 centres.
The issue arose when the NCTS was informed by lift manufacturer Maha of cracking defects uncovered in similar lifts in Northern Ireland testing centres.
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The defect is a hairline fracture along the scissor arm of the lift equipment, which poses safety risks as staff would be under the vehicles during the underbody inspection.
The results of a condition survey of all lifts, completed on Friday, show the defects were found in 85 NCT vehicle lifts, which have been taken out of operation until they are repaired or replaced.
Last week eight vehicle lifts were cleared to continue operating, and 13 lifts were repaired by the manufacturer this week.
Currently just a fifth of NCT testing lanes are operational across 14 centres, with a plan of repairs aiming to have half of all 106 lifts back operational by the end of March, and all testing lanes open by the end of April.
Drivers are advised to book and attend their NCT as normal, and that checks, apart from the underbody inspection, would be conducted. Drivers will have to return to have the underbody checked when the lifts are operational.
There is no charge for the second test to inspect the vehicle’s underbody as long as the vehicle passed all other elements of the NCT during the initial test.
In a statement on Friday, NCTS general manager Grant Henderson said it was the operator's aim "to ensure that we have lift availability in most centres as soon as possible".
The NCTS will begin a programme to then replace all the repaired lifts with new machinery from June onwards, he said.
To cope with expected increased demand, the service is to hire additional inspectors and extend testing centre opening hours as lifts come back into operation, to clear the backlog of tests.
“Due to the current situation, we are asking customers not to book too far in advance to alleviate the demand on the test centre network at the moment,” a spokeswoman for the NCTS said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Man threatened garda in ambulance, saying he knew she had two children

An “ out of control ” 31-year-old Clare man threatened a female Garda that he knew she had two small children , that he would eat her face and send flowers to her door , a court has heard .
Martin O ’ Callaghan made the threat to Garda Ann Marie Hughes as he was being brought by ambulance from a scene at Kilrush where he had carried out a serious assault on a 69-year-old local man , Anthony O ’ Brien that left the pensioner with a brain injury .
At Ennis Circuit Court , Garda Hughes told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Callaghan “ have caused me a great deal of upset ” .
As part of a victim impact statement , Garda Hughes told the court : “ I would always be concerned that this man has an intimate knowledge of my family and living arrangements and those concerns will not go away.
” Garda Hughes stated that during the ambulance journey from Kilrush to Limerick , Mr O ’ Callaghan also pulled out tubing and spat .
Mr O ’ Callaghan also assaulted a paramedic at the A & E department at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a four-year sentence , suspending the final 14 months , for the rampage including the assault causing harm of Anthony O ’ Brien along with an assault on Garda Hughes .
Judge Keys gave credit for time already served by Mr O ’ Callaghan while on remand .
Mr O ’ Callaghan – who has 71 previous convictions – was being brought to UHL after collapsing at the scene .
CCTV footage shown at the court showed Mr O ’ Callaghan knocking over Anthony O ’ Brien on Pella Road , Kilrush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face , with force , on numerous occasions while he was on the ground .
Mr O ’ Callaghan of Beech Park , John Paul Estate , Kilrush pleaded guilty to seven charges from the incident .
Garda Hughes stated Mr O ’ Callaghan appeared to be on drugs .
Counsel for Mr O ’ Callaghan , Mark Nicholas SC said he was “ out of control ” and what occurred was “ an absolute disgrace ” .
Anthony O ’ Brien was found lying on Pella Road bleeding from his face at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of the injuries that he sustained , Anthony O ’ Brien had to remain in hospital for two weeks .
Before the assault on Anthony O ’ Brien , Mr O ’ Callaghan carried out an unprovoked assault on his son , David O ’ Brien ( 33 ) and then forced entry into David O ’ Brien ’ s home and picked up a butter knife and threatened him with it .

An “out of control” 31-year-old Clare man threatened a female Garda that he knew she had two small children, that he would eat her face and send flowers to her door, a court has heard.
Martin O’Callaghan made the threat to Garda Ann Marie Hughes as he was being brought by ambulance from a scene at Kilrush where he had carried out a serious assault on a 69-year-old local man, Anthony O’Brien that left the pensioner with a brain injury.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Garda Hughes told the court the threats made by Mr O’Callaghan “have caused me a great deal of upset”.
As part of a victim impact statement, Garda Hughes told the court: “I would always be concerned that this man has an intimate knowledge of my family and living arrangements and those concerns will not go away.”
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Garda Hughes stated that during the ambulance journey from Kilrush to Limerick, Mr O’Callaghan also pulled out tubing and spat.
Mr O’Callaghan also assaulted a paramedic at the A&E department at University Hospital Limerick
Judge Gerald Keys imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final 14 months, for the rampage including the assault causing harm of Anthony O’Brien along with an assault on Garda Hughes.
Judge Keys gave credit for time already served by Mr O’Callaghan while on remand.
Mr O’Callaghan – who has 71 previous convictions – was being brought to UHL after collapsing at the scene.
CCTV footage shown at the court showed Mr O’Callaghan knocking over Anthony O’Brien on Pella Road, Kilrush and punching Mr O’Brien in the face, with force, on numerous occasions while he was on the ground.
Mr O’Callaghan of Beech Park, John Paul Estate, Kilrush pleaded guilty to seven charges from the incident.
Garda Hughes stated Mr O’Callaghan appeared to be on drugs. Counsel for Mr O’Callaghan, Mark Nicholas SC said he was “out of control” and what occurred was “an absolute disgrace”.
Anthony O’Brien was found lying on Pella Road bleeding from his face at 6.15pm on August 15th 2018.
As a result of the injuries that he sustained, Anthony O’Brien had to remain in hospital for two weeks.
Before the assault on Anthony O’Brien, Mr O’Callaghan carried out an unprovoked assault on his son, David O’Brien (33) and then forced entry into David O’Brien’s home and picked up a butter knife and threatened him with it.


theirishtimes--2020-02-14--Report on mother and baby homes delayed following request for extension

The final report of the commission investigating the mother and baby homes has been delayed following a request for an extension of time .
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone , who remains in her ministerial post despite losing her seat in the general election , said she had received the sixth interim report of the commission , which “ raises complex issues related to the completion of the commission ’ s programme of work ” .
The report is now due to be completed by the June 26th this year .
The department is yet to respond to queries on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The commission was established to inquire into the treatment of , and dealings with , women and children in 14 mother and baby homes as well as four county homes between 1922 and 1998 .
It was due to report within three years of its establishment in 2015 .
Ms Zappone said the extension was requested “ because the commission is required to transfer its records to the Minister and deal with third party legal costs prior to submitting its final report , ( it ) has requested an extension of time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
The commission , she said , “ has highlighted how these requirements create significant problems in the absence of a further extension of time ” .
“ I know that many former residents and their families have contributed to this process and are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the investigation .
We can now confidently say that we are nearing the conclusion of this critically important and comprehensive investigative process.
” She said the Government ’ s priority in granting the extension is to avoid any risk to the outcome of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was published last April , found that the burial locations of hundreds of children who died in the mother and baby homes remain unknown .
The commission was established following claims that up to 800 babies may have been interred in an unmarked mass grave in the Bons Secours Mother and Baby home in Tuam , County Galway .
The discovery of human remains in a chambered structure , suggested to be a septic tank , at the home caused outrage and generated coverage around the world in 2015 .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the precise use of the structure at the time remains were placed there , soil sampling suggested that “ at least some of the chambers in which human remains were found were at some stage used to receive sewage ” .
After being furnished with a copy of the report , the Bons Secours sisters commissioned an expert report which suggested that the underground structure may have been “ designed as a burial vault and then used as such ” .
The commission found that it “ was not a recognised burial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not provide for the dignified internment of human remains ” .

The commission was established following claims that up to 800 babies may have been interred in an unmarked mass grave in the Bons Secours Mother and Baby home in Tuam, County Galway.
The final report of the commission investigating the mother and baby homes has been delayed following a request for an extension of time.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, who remains in her ministerial post despite losing her seat in the general election, said she had received the sixth interim report of the commission, which "raises complex issues related to the completion of the commission's programme of work".
The report is now due to be completed by the June 26th this year. The department is yet to respond to queries on when the report will be published.
The commission was established to inquire into the treatment of, and dealings with, women and children in 14 mother and baby homes as well as four county homes between 1922 and 1998. It was due to report within three years of its establishment in 2015.
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Ms Zappone said the extension was requested “because the commission is required to transfer its records to the Minister and deal with third party legal costs prior to submitting its final report, (it) has requested an extension of time to enable it to effectively manage these issues”.
The commission, she said, “has highlighted how these requirements create significant problems in the absence of a further extension of time”.
“I know that many former residents and their families have contributed to this process and are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the investigation. We can now confidently say that we are nearing the conclusion of this critically important and comprehensive investigative process.”
She said the Government’s priority in granting the extension is to avoid any risk to the outcome of the investigation.
The fifth interim report, which was published last April, found that the burial locations of hundreds of children who died in the mother and baby homes remain unknown. The commission was established following claims that up to 800 babies may have been interred in an unmarked mass grave in the Bons Secours Mother and Baby home in Tuam, County Galway.
The discovery of human remains in a chambered structure, suggested to be a septic tank, at the home caused outrage and generated coverage around the world in 2015. While no final verdict has been recorded yet on the precise use of the structure at the time remains were placed there, soil sampling suggested that “at least some of the chambers in which human remains were found were at some stage used to receive sewage”.
After being furnished with a copy of the report, the Bons Secours sisters commissioned an expert report which suggested that the underground structure may have been “designed as a burial vault and then used as such”. The commission found that it “was not a recognised burial ground or purpose built chamber. It did not provide for the dignified internment of human remains”.