theirishtimes--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Number of new Irish cases is plateauing and set to fall, emergency team says

The number of new cases of Covid-19 has plateaued and should start to fall shortly , according to research provided to the National Public Health Emergency Team .
While the daily number of deaths reached a new high of 43 on Thursday , overall the rate of growth in cases , intensive care unit ( ICU ) admissions and deaths has slowed considerably since the start of the month , the new analysis shows .
The number of newly confirmed cases of Covid-19 is peaking “ around now ” and should decline in coming weeks , Prof Philip Nolan of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modelling trends in the epidemic , said .
“ We may have reached a plateau , ” he told a NPHET briefing on Thursday , though he warned there remained “ a delicate balance ” between suppression of the disease and the risk of its spiking again .
Since April 3rd , the growth rate in new cases has been “ close to zero ” , he said , and ICU numbers have been stable since that time .
In order for the outbreak to be suppressed , each person with the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person on average .
At present , Prof Nolan ’ s research shows , the so-called reproduction number of the disease is below this level , at 0.7-1 .
Prof Nolan warned any easing of restrictions after May 4th would have to be approached “ exceptionally carefully ” as it could spark a fresh surge of cases .
In some scenarios , these could be controlled by a reimposition of measures , but if the disease spread too widely , the new spike in cases could be “ unmanageable ” , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there would have been 1,700 deaths so far , not the 486 reported by NPHET on Thursday , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan pointed out .
The 43 deaths reported on Thursday included 22 males and 21 females .
Some 34 of the deaths were in the east , four in the west and five in the south .
A total of 27 of the patients were reported as having underlying health conditions .
There have now been 486 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
Dr Holohan said he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of registering deaths early so that the most complete data on Covid-19 deaths becomes available quickly .
The chief medical officer has also written to clinicians emphasising the importance of reporting to public health authorities and coroners deaths that could be related to the current outbreak .
“ That doesn ’ t always happen in as responsible a way as possible , ” he said , adding that he wanted doctors to be aware of the importance of having tests done on people who were unwell , even where the clinical symptoms were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , NPHET will review measures taken to tackle the large number of outbreaks that have occurred in nursing homes and other institutional settings .
Dr Holohan said there had been 254 outbreaks in residential settings , of which 163 were in nursing homes .
Some 302 of the deaths so far have occurred in residential settings , including 253 in nursing homes .
“ The data clearly shows that there are two very different experiences of Covid-19 in Ireland today , ” he acknowledged .
“ In the population at large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppressed .
However , the experience of the disease in long-term residential care settings continues to be a source of concern .
“ In order to protect the vulnerable , the first task was to suppress the virus in the population at large .
We are increasingly confident that we are achieving this .
All of our efforts now need to be on extinguishing Covid-19 in our community residential settings , including nursing homes.
” Speaking in the Dáil , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said nursing homes would not be the forgotten frontline in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the fact that the problem was not being dealt with as quickly as he would like was a reflection of the scale of the Covid-19 crisis .
At the briefing , officials also defended the “ robust ” handling of an outbreak at the Maryborough Centre in Portlaoise , where eight residents died of coronavirus over the Easter weekend .
None of the remaining 17 residents have been transferred to hospital , but are receiving treatment and care on-site with the assistance of staff from Portlaoise hospital .
Local Sinn Féin TD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them had already tested positive for Covid-19 .
Demanding that the HSE did more to protect patients and staff , he said : “ The deaths of over one-third of the patients last weekend have shocked people .
It is also very traumatic for the staff and the families of the deceased.
” Northern Ireland too is “ at , or very close to ” the peak of the coronavirus outbreak , according to the scientist responsible for modelling the virus ’ s progress .
However , the North ’ s Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had died in the previous 24 hours .

Another 43 people have died, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has announced at the daily Department Of Health Covid-19 press briefing. The total number of people with the virus now stands at 13,271 in Ireland. Video: RTE News Now
The number of new cases of Covid-19 has plateaued and should start to fall shortly, according to research provided to the National Public Health Emergency Team.
While the daily number of deaths reached a new high of 43 on Thursday, overall the rate of growth in cases, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths has slowed considerably since the start of the month, the new analysis shows.
The number of newly confirmed cases of Covid-19 is peaking "around now" and should decline in coming weeks, Prof Philip Nolan of NUI Maynooth, who leads a team modelling trends in the epidemic, said.
“We may have reached a plateau,” he told a NPHET briefing on Thursday, though he warned there remained “a delicate balance” between suppression of the disease and the risk of its spiking again.
READ MORE
Since April 3rd, the growth rate in new cases has been “close to zero”, he said, and ICU numbers have been stable since that time.
In order for the outbreak to be suppressed, each person with the disease must infect no more than one other person on average. At present, Prof Nolan’s research shows, the so-called reproduction number of the disease is below this level, at 0.7-1.
Prof Nolan warned any easing of restrictions after May 4th would have to be approached “exceptionally carefully” as it could spark a fresh surge of cases. In some scenarios, these could be controlled by a reimposition of measures, but if the disease spread too widely, the new spike in cases could be “unmanageable”, he said.
Had the measures not been introduced, there would have been 1,700 deaths so far, not the 486 reported by NPHET on Thursday, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan pointed out.
The 43 deaths reported on Thursday included 22 males and 21 females.
Registering deaths
Some 34 of the deaths were in the east, four in the west and five in the south. A total of 27 of the patients were reported as having underlying health conditions. There have now been 486 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
Dr Holohan said he had written to funeral directors about the importance of registering deaths early so that the most complete data on Covid-19 deaths becomes available quickly.
The chief medical officer has also written to clinicians emphasising the importance of reporting to public health authorities and coroners deaths that could be related to the current outbreak.
“That doesn’t always happen in as responsible a way as possible,” he said, adding that he wanted doctors to be aware of the importance of having tests done on people who were unwell, even where the clinical symptoms were not necessarily suspicious.
At its meeting on Friday, NPHET will review measures taken to tackle the large number of outbreaks that have occurred in nursing homes and other institutional settings.
Dr Holohan said there had been 254 outbreaks in residential settings, of which 163 were in nursing homes.
Some 302 of the deaths so far have occurred in residential settings, including 253 in nursing homes.
"The data clearly shows that there are two very different experiences of Covid-19 in Ireland today," he acknowledged. "In the population at large, the virus is contained and effectively suppressed. However, the experience of the disease in long-term residential care settings continues to be a source of concern.
No forgotten frontline
“In order to protect the vulnerable, the first task was to suppress the virus in the population at large. We are increasingly confident that we are achieving this. All of our efforts now need to be on extinguishing Covid-19 in our community residential settings, including nursing homes.”
Speaking in the Dáil, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said nursing homes would not be the forgotten frontline in the war against coronavirus. But he said the fact that the problem was not being dealt with as quickly as he would like was a reflection of the scale of the Covid-19 crisis.
At the briefing, officials also defended the "robust" handling of an outbreak at the Maryborough Centre in Portlaoise, where eight residents died of coronavirus over the Easter weekend. None of the remaining 17 residents have been transferred to hospital, but are receiving treatment and care on-site with the assistance of staff from Portlaoise hospital.
Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley said he understood many of them had already tested positive for Covid-19.
Demanding that the HSE did more to protect patients and staff, he said: “The deaths of over one-third of the patients last weekend have shocked people. It is also very traumatic for the staff and the families of the deceased.”
Northern Ireland too is "at, or very close to" the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, according to the scientist responsible for modelling the virus's progress.
However, the North's Public Health Agency announced on Thursday that 18 people had died in the previous 24 hours.


theirishtimes--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Tributes paid to Kilkenny hospital workers who died from Covid-19

People gathered on the streets in Kilkenny ’ s oldest neighbourhoods on Thursday to pay a silent tribute as a hearse carried the remains of Catherine Hickey to her final resting place .
Ms Hickey ( née Whelan ) , in her 50s and married with two children , was one of two members of staff at St Luke ’ s General Hospital in the city to die after they were infected with coronavirus .
Her colleague Jim Kenny , from Ballyragget , Co Kilkenny , who was a care worker at the hospital , was also buried on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he died .
Friends say he had been self-isolating at his home outside the Co Kilkenny village .
On Monday he had felt well enough to mow the lawn .
However , he became unwell and was found dead later by gardaí .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid tribute to the two healthcare workers .
He said it “ reminds us how healthcare workers and other essential workers put themselves at risk ” .
A close friend of Mr Kenny , councillor Pat Fitzpatrick , said : “ He was a very kind man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a community hero involved in everything .
It is just tragic for him and the family .
He was involved in everything , in everything .
“ Just one of those guys there ready to give a helping hand .
He would volunteer for everything – there was no job too little or large.
” Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan said the staff at the hospital had been “ rocked to the core by this devastating news ” , which is “ so hard to comprehend ” .
“ Our healthcare workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to care for those impacted by Covid-19 , ” he said , and death amongst those who risk “ life and limb day after day to help others is particularly hard to comprehend ” .

Jim Kenny: ‘He was a community hero involved in everything. It is just tragic for him and the family.’
People gathered on the streets in Kilkenny's oldest neighbourhoods on Thursday to pay a silent tribute as a hearse carrying the remains of Catherine Hickey passed by.
Ms Hickey (née Whelan), in her 50s and married with two children, was one of two members of staff at St Luke’s General Hospital in the city to die after they were infected with coronovirus. She will be laid to rest on Friday in St Kieran’s Cemetery after a private family funeral.
A memorial Mass to celebrate the life of her colleague, Jim Kenny from Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny, who was a care worker at the hospital, will take place at a further date.
He was not in hospital when he died. Friends say he had been self-isolating at his home outside the Co Kilkenny village. On Monday he had felt well enough to mow the lawn. However, he became unwell and was found dead later by gardaí.
READ MORE
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid tribute to the two healthcare workers. He said it "reminds us how healthcare workers and other essential workers put themselves at risk".
A close friend of Mr Kenny, councillor Pat Fitzpatrick, said: "He was a very kind man, a quiet man. He was a community hero involved in everything. It is just tragic for him and the family. He was involved in everything, in everything.
“Just one of those guys there ready to give a helping hand. He would volunteer for everything – there was no job too little or large.”
Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan said the staff at the hospital had been "rocked to the core by this devastating news", which is "so hard to comprehend".
“Our healthcare workers go above and beyond every single day to care for those impacted by Covid-19,” he said, and death amongst those who risk “life and limb day after day to help others is particularly hard to comprehend”.
The workers were members of Siptu and are deeply mourned by their colleagues and friends, the union’s health division organiser Paul Bell said.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of our two deceased members. The colleagues of these two workers as well as the members and staff of the union’s health division are deeply shocked by their deaths.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-17--Covid-19: Public takeover of private hospitals upends insurance sector and medical specialists

The Government deal to take over 19 private hospitals during the current Covid-19 crisis has upended both the health insurance sector and the working arrangements of hundreds of doctors who see only fee-paying patients .
The hospitals are the backbone of the private healthcare system in Ireland , employing thousands of staff and providing care for many of the 2.2 million people with health insurance cover .
For the next three months , and perhaps longer , the hospitals ’ facilities and equipment will be for the exclusive use of public patients .
The agreement with the private hospitals was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a necessary move to provide additional capacity , an estimated 2,000 beds , at a time when the public system was facing a potential major surge of Covid-19 patients .
Some argued it could represent a step towards a single-tier health system .
However in recent days the Government has come under pressure , particularly from Labour Party leader Alan Kelly , to publish the terms of the deal .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Thursday that €115 million a month was an “ accurate estimate ” of the cost of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounts will not be known until the end of the contract .
While the agreement requires the hospitals to use their resources , including staff and management , to support the public system , this does not include 600 fully-private medical specialists .
These consultants practise in the hospitals ’ facilities and many have bought or leased expensive rooms .
As part of the deal , private hospitals must try to ensure that self-employed medical consultants using their facilities sign up to a proposed State contract – with salaries ranging from €141,000 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only public patients .
However consultants became concerned about what would happen to thousands of private patients already on their books .The Government then suggested the doctors could treat their existing fee-paying patients in the public system on condition they did not charge them .
The consultants are also worried that they will be left paying for costs for private facilities without any private income – an impasse has ensued .
A number of doctors also point out that consultants in public hospitals with specific contractual rights can , in theory at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as can the public hospitals .
On Wednesday night further HSE proposals were tabled , including on overtime , but it appears that few private consultants have signed up .
Within the medical community there have been rumblings of potential legal action about the impact on practices when the current crisis is over .
Under the deal with the private hospitals the HSE has agreed to reimburse the cost of existing staff salaries , including senior management .
It will not pay any more than the equivalent of €200,000 per year .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff is published , remuneration for those in the private sector is not as readily accessible .
If the HSE is to pay some senior figures in the traditional private hospitals a salary of €200,000 , it would be considerably more than many what senior public health personnel are earning .
Undoubtedly when the Covid-19 crisis is over , there will be a review of the private hospital agreement .
Given the number of different contracts , the various commercial arrangements in place between doctors and hospitals , the differing indemnity regimes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector , it seems clear at this stage that using this deal as a stepping stone to a single-tier hospital system will not be easy and will not be cheap .

The Government deal to take over 19 private hospitals during the current Covid-19 crisis has upended both the health insurance sector and the working arrangements of hundreds of doctors who see only fee-paying patients.
The hospitals are the backbone of the private healthcare system in Ireland, employing thousands of staff and providing care for many of the 2.2 million people with health insurance cover.
For the next three months, and perhaps longer, the hospitals’ facilities and equipment will be for the exclusive use of public patients.
The agreement with the private hospitals was broadly welcomed when announced earlier this month as a necessary move to provide additional capacity, an estimated 2,000 beds, at a time when the public system was facing a potential major surge of Covid-19 patients. Some argued it could represent a step towards a single-tier health system.
READ MORE
However in recent days the Government has come under pressure, particularly from Labour Party leader Alan Kelly, to publish the terms of the deal.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Thursday that €115 million a month was an "accurate estimate" of the cost of the deal to the State but the actual amounts will not be known until the end of the contract.
Medical specialists
While the agreement requires the hospitals to use their resources, including staff and management, to support the public system, this does not include 600 fully-private medical specialists. These consultants practise in the hospitals’ facilities and many have bought or leased expensive rooms.
As part of the deal, private hospitals must try to ensure that self-employed medical consultants using their facilities sign up to a proposed State contract – with salaries ranging from €141,000 to €195,000 – which would see them treat only public patients.
However consultants became concerned about what would happen to thousands of private patients already on their books .The Government then suggested the doctors could treat their existing fee-paying patients in the public system on condition they did not charge them.
The consultants are also worried that they will be left paying for costs for private facilities without any private income – an impasse has ensued.
A number of doctors also point out that consultants in public hospitals with specific contractual rights can, in theory at least, continue to bill fee-paying patients – as can the public hospitals .
On Wednesday night further HSE proposals were tabled, including on overtime, but it appears that few private consultants have signed up.
Within the medical community there have been rumblings of potential legal action about the impact on practices when the current crisis is over.
Salaries
Under the deal with the private hospitals the HSE has agreed to reimburse the cost of existing staff salaries, including senior management. It will not pay any more than the equivalent of €200,000 per year. While details of the pay of public health staff is published, remuneration for those in the private sector is not as readily accessible. If the HSE is to pay some senior figures in the traditional private hospitals a salary of €200,000, it would be considerably more than many what senior public health personnel are earning.
Undoubtedly when the Covid-19 crisis is over, there will be a review of the private hospital agreement. Given the number of different contracts, the various commercial arrangements in place between doctors and hospitals, the differing indemnity regimes and the scale of the health insurance industry sector, it seems clear at this stage that using this deal as a stepping stone to a single-tier hospital system will not be easy and will not be cheap.


theirishtimes--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: In one month, the Republic has pushed Covid-19 back

“ Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh !
This is a St Patrick ’ s Day like no other .
A day that none of us will ever forget.
” It may seem like a lifetime ago but it has been one month since Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told us in a St Patrick ’ s Day address to “ come together as a nation by staying apart from each other ” .
The biggest social experiment ever attempted in this country was , as everyone foresaw , rolled over after a two-week period .
After some delay , the Taoiseach ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the enactment of draconian laws requiring citizens to have a “ reasonable excuse ” for being outside .
In his March 17th address to the television cameras , Varadkar warned : “ We can not stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back.
” A month on , this central objective has been largely achieved .
There have been bumps on the way , and performance in different areas has varied , but much of the health service has prepared well , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our individual livelihoods has been cushioned for now .
At the time the Taoiseach spoke , Ireland had 292 Covid-19 cases and two deaths ; now we ’ ve had some 13,000 people diagnosed with the illness and more than 450 have died .
Despite this upward trajectory , the die was already cast at the time of Varadkar ’ s address to the nation .
The virus was circulating and infecting people rapidly , and the challenge was always going to be to limit its growth first .
This has been achieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of more than 33 per cent has been cut to about 6 per cent .
Over the space of a month , the number of people contracting the disease from an infected person has dropped from an average of 20 to about three , as mass social distancing has taken effect .
Beyond the numbers , however , we have endured those “ difficult days ” envisaged by the Taoiseach as thousands have fallen ill and hundreds have died .
The expected frontline of the battle with coronavirus has shifted too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals have coped well with the expected surge of patients by clearing out other business more effectively than expected and by ramping up capacity .
The numbers of infected people in intensive care units ( ICU ) are stable and even falling slightly this week .
Sadly , nursing homes and other residential centres have fared less well .
The warning signs were there from an early stage , including a lack of specific guidelines , a lack of engagement with the sector and a lack of transparency .
Today , the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which account for more than half of all deaths .
An inquiry into how so many mostly elderly and frail residents , as well as poorly protected staff , were left exposed is inevitable at some point in the future .
May 5th is the new date for when the restrictions may end , but only a wild optimist believes a blanket departure from the measures is likely then .
Ireland is , at least , near the top of the graph , probably .
Having endured the Taoiseach ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the surge , we can soon look forward to cases and deaths beginning to fall .
The problem is that there is no clear way out of this .
While everything in our lives has changed , in terms of the challenge we still face , nothing has changed .
Other countries may be easing their restrictions at present , but these moves are tentative .
The science tells us the virus can and will return if social distancing ends .
And if distancing stays , our lives stay altered immeasurably , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In another demonstration of the challenge posed by this disease , a study published on Thursday in Nature found people were most infectious in the days before they showed symptoms .
The only way to cope with it for now will be to build the testing and contact-tracing system we have so far failed to properly develop .

“Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh! This is a St Patrick’s Day like no other. A day that none of us will ever forget.”
It may seem like a lifetime ago but it has been one month since Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told us in a St Patrick's Day address to "come together as a nation by staying apart from each other".
The biggest social experiment ever attempted in this country was, as everyone foresaw, rolled over after a two-week period. After some delay, the Taoiseach’s gently proffered directions were given teeth through the enactment of draconian laws requiring citizens to have a “reasonable excuse” for being outside.
In his March 17th address to the television cameras, Varadkar warned: “We cannot stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back.”
READ MORE
A month on, this central objective has been largely achieved. There have been bumps on the way, and performance in different areas has varied, but much of the health service has prepared well, while the blow to the economy and to our individual livelihoods has been cushioned for now.
At the time the Taoiseach spoke, Ireland had 292 Covid-19 cases and two deaths; now we've had some 13,000 people diagnosed with the illness and more than 450 have died.
Despite this upward trajectory, the die was already cast at the time of Varadkar’s address to the nation. The virus was circulating and infecting people rapidly, and the challenge was always going to be to limit its growth first.
Mass social distancing
This has been achieved in large measure; a daily growth rate of more than 33 per cent has been cut to about 6 per cent. Over the space of a month, the number of people contracting the disease from an infected person has dropped from an average of 20 to about three, as mass social distancing has taken effect.
Beyond the numbers, however, we have endured those “difficult days” envisaged by the Taoiseach as thousands have fallen ill and hundreds have died.
The expected frontline of the battle with coronavirus has shifted too. Despite difficulties with personal protective equipment, hospitals have coped well with the expected surge of patients by clearing out other business more effectively than expected and by ramping up capacity. The numbers of infected people in intensive care units (ICU) are stable and even falling slightly this week.
Sadly, nursing homes and other residential centres have fared less well. The warning signs were there from an early stage, including a lack of specific guidelines, a lack of engagement with the sector and a lack of transparency.
Frail exposed
Today, the virus is present in hundreds of care homes, which account for more than half of all deaths. An inquiry into how so many mostly elderly and frail residents, as well as poorly protected staff, were left exposed is inevitable at some point in the future.
May 5th is the new date for when the restrictions may end, but only a wild optimist believes a blanket departure from the measures is likely then.
Ireland is, at least, near the top of the graph, probably. Having endured the Taoiseach’s “calm before the storm” and coped with the surge, we can soon look forward to cases and deaths beginning to fall.
The problem is that there is no clear way out of this. While everything in our lives has changed, in terms of the challenge we still face, nothing has changed.
Other countries may be easing their restrictions at present, but these moves are tentative.
The science tells us the virus can and will return if social distancing ends. And if distancing stays, our lives stay altered immeasurably, at least until a vaccine is developed.
In another demonstration of the challenge posed by this disease, a study published on Thursday in Nature found people were most infectious in the days before they showed symptoms.
The only way to cope with it for now will be to build the testing and contact-tracing system we have so far failed to properly develop.


theirishtimes--2020-04-17--Leaving Cert students unlikely to progress to third-level courses before November

Leaving Cert students who progress to third-level education are likely to begin their courses as late as November this year , according to education sources .
The decision to postpone the Leaving Cert until late July or early August means students ’ results and college offers will be pushed out much later than usual .
Several third-level institutions say they are planning to admit first-year students in either late October or November under best-case scenarios .
The exact dates will depend on the timing of the exams , the duration of the marking process , and how quickly results and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to well-placed sources .
“ We ’ re looking at November at the very best , ” said one higher education source , who declined to be named .
“ This is assuming everything goes smoothly and that timeframes for everything can be compressed.
” Another said they were looking at classes beginning in late October or early November , allowing time for students to accept offers , find accommodation and take part in an orientation programme .
In addition , colleges are planning to make up lost time during the academic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading weeks for first-year students .
This should allow them to complete their summer exams as normal .
Much of the timings being discussed , however , will hinge on the timeframe for the exams and the marking process .
One source said if the Leaving Cert takes place at the end of July , the earliest the exams would be completed would be mid-August .
However , some institutions are preparing for the possibility of exams beginning in August and running until the very end of the month .
The question of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to start college is a subject of debate in higher education circles .
This issue was the subject of a high-profile High Court case in 2018 , when Wexford student Rebecca Carter argued that she should have been able to start her veterinary medicine course after a totting-up error meant she wrongly missed out on an offer .
Judge Richard Humphreys , who presided over Ms Carter ’ s case , ruled in Ms Carter ’ s favour and called the system “ highly unfair ” and “ manifestly unfit for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation could not be repeated .
Some institutions believe they will need to accommodate these students who gain places after successfully appealing their grades .
However , others believe the late start-time means these students will have to be offered places in the following academic year due to the unprecedented late start date .
There have also been calls for higher education institutions to provide more places for access students from disadvantaged backgrounds this year due to the challenges facing many Leaving Cert candidates .
The suggestion by UCC emeritus professor of education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Teachers ’ Union of Ireland and political parties .
Many third-level institutions , meanwhile , are preparing “ virtual ” open days for students who are considering their course choices .
Institutions such as Waterford Institute of Technology , Dundalk Institute of Technology , Maynooth University and NUI Galway are among those organising such events .
During each virtual open day prospective students or parents of CAO applicants will have the chance to chat live with lecturers and take interactive campus tours .
Marketing and outreach officer at WIT John Power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conversation online and see the questions other prospective students have .
“ A big part of each virtual open day is the chance to talk with lecturers who deliver our undergraduate programmes and the support staff from right across the institute , ” he said .
“ Online each day you can chat with staff from our admissions , schools liaison , outreach , fees and grants , accommodation and student life and learning departments .
”

The question of whether students who successfully appeal grades will be able to start college in the academic year is a subject of debate in higher education circles. Photograph: Getty Images
Leaving Cert students who progress to third-level education are likely to begin their courses as late as November this year, according to education sources.
The decision to postpone the Leaving Cert until late July or early August means students’ results and college offers will be pushed out much later than usual.
Several third-level institutions say they are planning to admit first-year students in either late October or November under best-case scenarios.
The exact dates will depend on the timing of the exams, the duration of the marking process, and how quickly results and offers can be provided to students, according to well-placed sources.
READ MORE
“We’re looking at November at the very best,” said one higher education source, who declined to be named. “This is assuming everything goes smoothly and that timeframes for everything can be compressed.”
Another said they were looking at classes beginning in late October or early November, allowing time for students to accept offers, find accommodation and take part in an orientation programme.
In addition, colleges are planning to make up lost time during the academic year by cutting short Christmas holidays and reading weeks for first-year students. This should allow them to complete their summer exams as normal.
Much of the timings being discussed, however, will hinge on the timeframe for the exams and the marking process.
One source said if the Leaving Cert takes place at the end of July, the earliest the exams would be completed would be mid-August.
However, some institutions are preparing for the possibility of exams beginning in August and running until the very end of the month.
Education circles
The question of whether students who successfully appeal grades will be able to start college is a subject of debate in higher education circles.
This issue was the subject of a high-profile High Court case in 2018, when Wexford student Rebecca Carter argued that she should have been able to start her veterinary medicine course after a totting-up error meant she wrongly missed out on an offer.
Judge Richard Humphreys, who presided over Ms Carter’s case, ruled in Ms Carter’s favour and called the system “highly unfair” and “manifestly unfit for purpose”. He insisted that the situation could not be repeated.
Some institutions believe they will need to accommodate these students who gain places after successfully appealing their grades.
However, others believe the late start-time means these students will have to be offered places in the following academic year due to the unprecedented late start date.
There have also been calls for higher education institutions to provide more places for access students from disadvantaged backgrounds this year due to the challenges facing many Leaving Cert candidates.
The suggestion by UCC emeritus professor of education Áine Hyland has since picked up support from the Teachers’ Union of Ireland and political parties.
Many third-level institutions, meanwhile, are preparing “virtual” open days for students who are considering their course choices.
Institutions such as Waterford Institute of Technology, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Maynooth University and NUI Galway are among those organising such events.
Open days
During each virtual open day prospective students or parents of CAO applicants will have the chance to chat live with lecturers and take interactive campus tours.
Marketing and outreach officer at WIT John Power said people would be able to join the conversation online and see the questions other prospective students have.
“A big part of each virtual open day is the chance to talk with lecturers who deliver our undergraduate programmes and the support staff from right across the institute,” he said.
“Online each day you can chat with staff from our admissions, schools liaison, outreach, fees and grants, accommodation and student life and learning departments.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-17--Houston, we have a problem: the myths of Apollo 13

It ’ s “ we ’ ve had ” not “ we have ” .
And it was spoken by Jack Swigert , not Jim Lovell .
I guess we ’ re all pretty inured to Hollywood making historical mistakes on film .
Almost every film that purports to be “ based on real events ” ends up compressing , altering , amalgamating or otherwise ignoring what actually happened as the needs of the story bend and twist the truths of history .
Don ’ t get me started on U-571 .
Apollo 13 was the seventh crewed mission in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant to land on the moon .
The craft was launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 11th , 1970 , but the lunar landing was aborted after an oxygen tank in the service module failed two days into the mission .
The crew instead looped around the moon , and returned safely to Earth on April 17th .
In the 1995 film Apollo 13 , however , we watched a story told on film that not only took place , in actuality , in the relatively recent past , but one for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and visual evidence , not to mention the book , Lost Moon , written by astronaut Jim Lovell , who ought to know as he was there .
So it ’ s perhaps a little surprising that the key moment in the film , the moment of greatest peril , the moment that gave us the quote everyone remembers and that made it on to the film ’ s poster , is incorrect .
In the film , Tom Hanks , playing Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell , says – tersely – into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a problem.
” The seriousness and rising panic are obvious in both Hanks ’ s face and the tone of his voice .
In fact , if you listen back ton the actual Nasa recordings of the radio chatter between Apollo 13 and mission control in Houston , it ’ s actually command module pilot Jack Swigert ( portrayed on film by Kevin Bacon ) who utters the fateful words .
Except he didn ’ t .
What he actually said was : “ Houston , we ’ ve had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ we ’ ve had ” lacks the dramatic urgency of “ we have ” , and to have had one of the actors replicate , perfectly , Swigert ’ s tone in the original transmission might also have undercut the drama – Swigert sounds more confused than panicked , in accordance with The Law of Test Pilot Radio Chatter .
Proposed by Tom Wolfe in his seminal book The Right Stuff , every test pilot and astronaut ( and most flyers in general , including those who shuttle us to Heathrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tried to emulate the casual drawl of the legendary Chuck Yeager , the man who ( officially ) first broke the sound barrier .
Swigert is , clearly , trying to keep up the “ aww-shucks-t ’ wern ’ t-nothing ” facade that is required of all test pilots , but he ’ s equally clearly more curious than worried at that point .
Bangs and shakes are not uncommon in space flight , but usually are harbingers of only minor issues .
Not this time .
Although none of the three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ( Lovell , Swigert , and lunar module pilot Fred Haise ) could see it , one of the spacecraft ’ s oxygen tanks – vital both for breathing oxygen and , just as importantly , the supply of electricity via 13 ’ s on-board fuel cells – had exploded .
A short in the electrical wiring had sparked during a routine procedure called “ stirring ” .
This switched on fans within the oxygen tanks , which would spin and stir up the oxygen and even out the pressure in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catastrophic detonation , destroying the tank and damaging adjacent tanks .
Deep in space , some 330,000km from Earth , Apollo 13 was losing both breathing air and electrical power .
To be fair to Hollywood , a few seconds after Swigert reports the problem , Lovell does come on the air and inform Houston of the explosion , but again he says “ we ’ ve had ” not “ we have ” .
Again , at this point , the film takes a turn away from history .
It shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with solutions to the potentially lethal issues now affecting the spacecraft .
It shows anxiety and confusion , which doubtless is true , but it does sidestep the fact that Nasa had trained for this very crisis .
From the start of the moon missions , it had been planned to use the attached lunar module as a lifeboat for the crew should anything happen the command and service module , so while there was certainly concern for the crew , and disappointment that now no moon landing would take place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to roll .
Even the firing of the lunar module ’ s engine , shown in the film as a make-or-break moment , had been carefully practised and thought out during countless hours of mission simulation on the ground .
In fact , that was true of all of efforts that followed to bring the crew back alive , save for one .
The issue of carbon dioxide .
In an interview in 2017 , Lovell said that the build-up of carbon dioxide , the exhaled breath of the crew , was probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort .
If carbon dioxide levels had risen too high , the crew could have suffocated , but not before becoming almost insensible from oxygen deprivation .
“ We were facing all sorts of problems , but the one that really stood out was the danger of carbon dioxide build-up , ” Lovell told the Observer .
“ We had no power .
It could have killed us.
” It didn ’ t because , for the most part , of the efforts of those in mission control .
With an average age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their university graduations , the mission controllers faced an almost hopeless problem ; how to rescue a crew that was too far away to rescue .
The jury-rigged apparatus the controllers designed to overcome the carbon dioxide issue was more or less accurately described in the film ( it had to create a connection for square carbon dioxide filters from the command module to fit into round filters from the lunar module ) and demonstrated above all the one thing Lovell says saved the mission and the men : teamwork .
There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director Gene Kranz ( played in the film by Ed Harris ) never actually said “ failure is not an option ” .
He may have thought it , though , and later took the phrase as the title for his own autobiography .
Not quite a year from the historic first moon landing of Apollo 11 , Apollo 13 could have been the space age ’ s worst disaster – three astronauts adrift in space , condemned to a slow death by asphyxiation , and all captured live on the evening news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it did so because of something we ’ ve apparently forgotten recently : listening to experts .
Apollo 13 was saved because Lovell , Haise , and Swigert were all skilled test pilots and highly trained astronauts , and that ’ s exactly who you would want in a situation such as that .
More importantly , though , they were able to survive because of the efforts of mission control , the eggheads in short-sleeved shirts , narrow ties and horn-rimmed glasses perpetually wreathed in cigarette smoke .
Not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fields , but they were back-stopped by teams of fellow experts , from Nasa engineers to those from aerospace companies such as Grumman and North American Aviation who had designed and built the two conjoined spacecraft .
Listening to experts : it seems to be something we ’ ve forgotten how to do , in this era of panic and pandemic , of elections carried by the loudest and the louts , of Brexit and Trump .
Experts have become derided and disparaged , and shunted off to the sidelines when their views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , depart from the political orthodoxy .
Spinning in space , hundreds of thousands of kilometres from home , with oxygen tanks leaking and their spacecraft losing its ability to keep them alive , Lovell , Swigert , and Haise listened , paid heed and got home safely .
Whatever the Hollywood inaccuracies , that was something the film got right , and something to which we should all pay attention .

It's "we've had" not "we have". And it was spoken by Jack Swigert, not Jim Lovell.
I guess we’re all pretty inured to Hollywood making historical mistakes on film. Almost every film that purports to be “based on real events” ends up compressing, altering, amalgamating or otherwise ignoring what actually happened as the needs of the story bend and twist the truths of history. Don’t get me started on U-571.
Apollo 13 was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space programme and the third meant to land on the moon. The craft was launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 11th, 1970, but the lunar landing was aborted after an oxygen tank in the service module failed two days into the mission. The crew instead looped around the moon, and returned safely to Earth on April 17th.
In the 1995 film Apollo 13, however, we watched a story told on film that not only took place, in actuality, in the relatively recent past, but one for which there was a wealth of audio and visual evidence, not to mention the book, Lost Moon, written by astronaut Jim Lovell, who ought to know as he was there.
READ MORE
It's actually command module pilot Jack Swigert who utters the fateful words. Except he didn't. What he actually said was: "Houston, we've had a problem"
So it's perhaps a little surprising that the key moment in the film, the moment of greatest peril, the moment that gave us the quote everyone remembers and that made it on to the film's poster, is incorrect. In the film, Tom Hanks, playing Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, says – tersely – into the radio microphone: "Houston, we have a problem." The seriousness and rising panic are obvious in both Hanks's face and the tone of his voice.
In fact, if you listen back ton the actual Nasa recordings of the radio chatter between Apollo 13 and mission control in Houston, it's actually command module pilot Jack Swigert (portrayed on film by Kevin Bacon) who utters the fateful words. Except he didn't. What he actually said was: "Houston, we've had a problem."
Dramatic licence
In fairness to the scriptwriters, “we’ve had” lacks the dramatic urgency of “we have”, and to have had one of the actors replicate, perfectly, Swigert’s tone in the original transmission might also have undercut the drama – Swigert sounds more confused than panicked, in accordance with The Law of Test Pilot Radio Chatter.
A San Diego Padres’ fan holds up a sign with a popular line from the film Apollo 13. Photograph: Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty
Proposed by Tom Wolfe in his seminal book The Right Stuff, every test pilot and astronaut (and most flyers in general, including those who shuttle us to Heathrow and back) have, since 1947, tried to emulate the casual drawl of the legendary Chuck Yeager, the man who (officially) first broke the sound barrier.
Swigert is, clearly, trying to keep up the “aww-shucks-t’wern’t-nothing” facade that is required of all test pilots, but he’s equally clearly more curious than worried at that point. Bangs and shakes are not uncommon in space flight, but usually are harbingers of only minor issues.
Deep in space, some 330,000km from Earth, Apollo 13 was losing both breathing air and electrical power
Not this time. Although none of the three astronauts on board Apollo 13 at the time (Lovell, Swigert, and lunar module pilot Fred Haise) could see it, one of the spacecraft’s oxygen tanks – vital both for breathing oxygen and, just as importantly, the supply of electricity via 13’s on-board fuel cells – had exploded.
A short in the electrical wiring had sparked during a routine procedure called “stirring”. This switched on fans within the oxygen tanks, which would spin and stir up the oxygen and even out the pressure in the tank. Instead the spark caused a catastrophic detonation, destroying the tank and damaging adjacent tanks. Deep in space, some 330,000km from Earth, Apollo 13 was losing both breathing air and electrical power.
To be fair to Hollywood, a few seconds after Swigert reports the problem, Lovell does come on the air and inform Houston of the explosion, but again he says “we’ve had” not “we have”.
Again, at this point, the film takes a turn away from history. It shows the staff at mission control rushing to come up with solutions to the potentially lethal issues now affecting the spacecraft. It shows anxiety and confusion, which doubtless is true, but it does sidestep the fact that Nasa had trained for this very crisis.
Well planned
From the start of the moon missions, it had been planned to use the attached lunar module as a lifeboat for the crew should anything happen the command and service module, so while there was certainly concern for the crew, and disappointment that now no moon landing would take place, the procedures were in place and ready to roll. Even the firing of the lunar module’s engine, shown in the film as a make-or-break moment, had been carefully practised and thought out during countless hours of mission simulation on the ground.
In fact, that was true of all of efforts that followed to bring the crew back alive, save for one. The issue of carbon dioxide. In an interview in 2017, Lovell said that the build-up of carbon dioxide, the exhaled breath of the crew, was probably the most dangerous aspect of the rescue effort.
Thankfully, disaster turned to triumph, and it did so because of something we've apparently forgotten recently: listening to experts
If carbon dioxide levels had risen too high, the crew could have suffocated, but not before becoming almost insensible from oxygen deprivation. “We were facing all sorts of problems, but the one that really stood out was the danger of carbon dioxide build-up,” Lovell told the Observer. “We had no power. It could have killed us.”
It didn’t because, for the most part, of the efforts of those in mission control. With an average age of 29, and many barely beyond their university graduations, the mission controllers faced an almost hopeless problem; how to rescue a crew that was too far away to rescue.
The jury-rigged apparatus the controllers designed to overcome the carbon dioxide issue was more or less accurately described in the film (it had to create a connection for square carbon dioxide filters from the command module to fit into round filters from the lunar module) and demonstrated above all the one thing Lovell says saved the mission and the men: teamwork.
James Lovell of Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 in 2009. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty
There's one final historical inaccuracy: flight director Gene Kranz (played in the film by Ed Harris) never actually said "failure is not an option". He may have thought it, though, and later took the phrase as the title for his own autobiography.
Listen to experts
Not quite a year from the historic first moon landing of Apollo 11, Apollo 13 could have been the space age’s worst disaster – three astronauts adrift in space, condemned to a slow death by asphyxiation, and all captured live on the evening news. Thankfully, disaster turned to triumph, and it did so because of something we’ve apparently forgotten recently: listening to experts.
Apollo 13 was saved because Lovell, Haise, and Swigert were all skilled test pilots and highly trained astronauts, and that’s exactly who you would want in a situation such as that.
More importantly, though, they were able to survive because of the efforts of mission control, the eggheads in short-sleeved shirts, narrow ties and horn-rimmed glasses perpetually wreathed in cigarette smoke.
Not only were the controllers experts in their individual fields, but they were back-stopped by teams of fellow experts, from Nasa engineers to those from aerospace companies such as Grumman and North American Aviation who had designed and built the two conjoined spacecraft.
The Apollo 13 damaged service module Odyssey after being jettisoned. Photograph: AFP via Getty
Listening to experts: it seems to be something we’ve forgotten how to do, in this era of panic and pandemic, of elections carried by the loudest and the louts, of Brexit and Trump. Experts have become derided and disparaged, and shunted off to the sidelines when their views, as is so often the case, depart from the political orthodoxy.
Spinning in space, hundreds of thousands of kilometres from home, with oxygen tanks leaking and their spacecraft losing its ability to keep them alive, Lovell, Swigert, and Haise listened, paid heed and got home safely. Whatever the Hollywood inaccuracies, that was something the film got right, and something to which we should all pay attention.


theirishtimes--2020-04-17--‘New social contract’ welcomed by Social Justice Ireland

Social Justice Ireland has welcomed what it described as “ the decision to put a new social contract and a focus on the wellbeing of Irish people at the heart of the FF/FG framework for a new programme for government ” .
This was “ very welcome as is the assertion that there is no going back to the old way of doing things ” , said Dr Seán Healy , Social Justice Ireland chief executive .
“ The fact that the framework recognises the need for new , credible , quality-of-life measures of individual and societal wellbeing and progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government will go beyond economic priorities and targets and take a more holistic approach in its decision-making .
Such a development would be very welcome , ” he said .
A final version of the programme for government “ should include a much greater emphasis on the need for real social dialogue – involving all stakeholders , not just some – to create consensus on what Ireland ’ s new social contract should look like , and how it is to be achieved , ” he said .
Meanwhile , the St Vincent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for government will be the most significant in modern Irish history .
The framework document published on Wednesday by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil included “ a number of welcome commitments such as delivering a living wage for workers , a reiteration of the importance of implementing Sláintecare and a recognition that a housing-first approach is the best way to address family homelessness ” , St Vincent de Paul social policy development officer Tricia Keilthy said .
“ Faced with economic uncertainty , we can not repeat the mistakes of the past and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minimum social floor for all citizens that no one is expected to fall below .
The Society of St Vincent de Paul are asking the next government to follow the example of Canada , Scotland and New Zealand and introduce a Poverty Reduction Act.
” For people “ still carrying the scars of the last recession , another economic shock will harm them further , unless safeguards are put in place ” .
The pandemic had also brought into focus “ the crucial contribution many people in low-paid jobs make to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , health and social care workers are being called on to deliver critical frontline services for our country .
Ireland would not be able to weather this storm without these vital workers , so we must ensure all have decent pay and conditions after the crisis has ended , ” she said .

Dr Seán Healy of Social Justice Ireland: “There is no going back to the old way of doing things.” Photograph: Alan Betson
Social Justice Ireland has welcomed what it described as "the decision to put a new social contract and a focus on the wellbeing of Irish people at the heart of the FF/FG framework for a new programme for government ".
This was “very welcome as is the assertion that there is no going back to the old way of doing things”, said Dr Seán Healy, Social Justice Ireland chief executive.
“The fact that the framework recognises the need for new, credible, quality-of-life measures of individual and societal wellbeing and progress, suggests that the next programme for government will go beyond economic priorities and targets and take a more holistic approach in its decision-making. Such a development would be very welcome,” he said.
A final version of the programme for government “should include a much greater emphasis on the need for real social dialogue – involving all stakeholders, not just some – to create consensus on what Ireland’s new social contract should look like, and how it is to be achieved,” he said.
READ MORE
‘Living wage’
Meanwhile, the St Vincent de Paul has said the next programme for government will be the most significant in modern Irish history.
The framework document published on Wednesday by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil included "a number of welcome commitments such as delivering a living wage for workers, a reiteration of the importance of implementing Sláintecare and a recognition that a housing-first approach is the best way to address family homelessness", St Vincent de Paul social policy development officer Tricia Keilthy said.
‘Social floor’
"Faced with economic uncertainty, we cannot repeat the mistakes of the past and we need a legislative basis that creates a minimum social floor for all citizens that no one is expected to fall below. The Society of St Vincent de Paul are asking the next government to follow the example of Canada, Scotland and New Zealand and introduce a Poverty Reduction Act."
For people “still carrying the scars of the last recession, another economic shock will harm them further, unless safeguards are put in place”.
The pandemic had also brought into focus “the crucial contribution many people in low-paid jobs make to our society. Food, retail, delivery, health and social care workers are being called on to deliver critical frontline services for our country. Ireland would not be able to weather this storm without these vital workers, so we must ensure all have decent pay and conditions after the crisis has ended,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-04-16--Fresh appeal for information on killing of Lyra McKee, a year after her death

The detective leading the investigation into the murder of Lyra McKee in Derry a year ago has made a renewed appeal for information ahead of the first anniversary of her death on Saturday .
The 29-year-old journalist was shot by dissident republicans as she watched a riot in the Creggan area of the city , and died shortly afterwards .
The Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) has said the New IRA was responsible .
Det Supt Jason Murphy said he would offer anonymity to anyone who wished to talk to police .
“ All I am looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ That ’ s it .
I know that individuals may be struggling with their conscience , either about footage they have or information they know .
“ We can help with that .
Talk to us .
Ease your conscience and help us resolve a small part of the nightmare that the McKee family live through every single day.
” He also made a specific appeal regarding the gun which killed Ms McKee , which has not been recovered .
The PSNI ’ s Major Investigation Team has sent letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community “ to reach into its conscience and tell us what it knows.
” Det Supt Murphy said that Ms McKee ’ s mother had died recently “ without seeing justice for her daughter ” , and while the appeal for information “ is being distributed by the police , it is also a direct appeal from the McKee family for help in getting justice for Lyra.
” One man has been charged with her murder , and a second has been charged with offences connected to the riot which preceded it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supt Murphy gave his “ sincere thanks to all those who have helped to date .
“ A huge amount of work has been done and massive amounts of community help has enabled us to piece together the events of 18 April 2019 and gain a clear understanding of the roles played by those who were involved , ” he said .
“ Lyra ’ s murder was not committed in isolation , nor did it involve only one person .
The events that led up to Lyra being shot , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am asking the community to reach into its conscience and tell us what it knows .
“ Lyra ’ s family can not begin the grieving process without the information about Lyra ’ s murder that they deserve .
Anybody in their position would want the same.
” He said that a year after McMcKee ’ s death , he was still seeking the evidence “ to bring every single person who was involved that night to justice ” , and he could not do so without the help of local people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal for mobile phone footage or photographs from anyone who was present the night Ms McKee was murdered .
He also said he wanted to speak to “ anyone who was present and who can identify those involved in the disorder ” , or who could “ provide first-hand evidence relating to the events which preceded or followed Lyra ’ s murder ” , and that he wanted to recover the gun that killed Ms McKee .
The public portal at https : //mipp.police.uk has been reactivated to allow members of the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upload photos or videos .
Det Supt Murphy can also be contacted via the portal , or via email jason.murphy @ psni.pnn.police.uk .

The 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee was shot by dissident republicans as she watched a riot in the Creggan area of Derry, and died shortly afterwards. Photograph: Jess Lowe Photography / AFP/Getty Images
The detective leading the investigation into the murder of Lyra McKee in Derry a year ago has made a renewed appeal for information ahead of the first anniversary of her death on Saturday.
The 29-year-old journalist was shot by dissident republicans as she watched a riot in the Creggan area of the city, and died shortly afterwards.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said the New IRA was responsible.
Det Supt Jason Murphy said he would offer anonymity to anyone who wished to talk to police. "All I am looking for is a conversation," he said. "That's it. I know that individuals may be struggling with their conscience, either about footage they have or information they know.
READ MORE
“We can help with that. Talk to us. Ease your conscience and help us resolve a small part of the nightmare that the McKee family live through every single day.”
He also made a specific appeal regarding the gun which killed Ms McKee, which has not been recovered.
The PSNI’s Major Investigation Team has sent letters to households in Creggan appealing to the community “to reach into its conscience and tell us what it knows.”
Det Supt Murphy said that Ms McKee’s mother had died recently “without seeing justice for her daughter”, and while the appeal for information “is being distributed by the police, it is also a direct appeal from the McKee family for help in getting justice for Lyra.”
One man has been charged with her murder, and a second has been charged with offences connected to the riot which preceded it.
In his letter to residents, Det Supt Murphy gave his “sincere thanks to all those who have helped to date.
“A huge amount of work has been done and massive amounts of community help has enabled us to piece together the events of 18 April 2019 and gain a clear understanding of the roles played by those who were involved,” he said.
“Lyra’s murder was not committed in isolation, nor did it involve only one person. The events that led up to Lyra being shot, and the events afterwards, are equally important. I am asking the community to reach into its conscience and tell us what it knows.
“Lyra’s family cannot begin the grieving process without the information about Lyra’s murder that they deserve. Anybody in their position would want the same.”
He said that a year after McMcKee’s death, he was still seeking the evidence “to bring every single person who was involved that night to justice”, and he could not do so without the help of local people.
Det Supt Murphy made a specific appeal for mobile phone footage or photographs from anyone who was present the night Ms McKee was murdered.
He also said he wanted to speak to “anyone who was present and who can identify those involved in the disorder”, or who could “provide first-hand evidence relating to the events which preceded or followed Lyra’s murder”, and that he wanted to recover the gun that killed Ms McKee.
The public portal at https://mipp.police.uk has been reactivated to allow members of the public to report information about the murder or upload photos or videos.
Det Supt Murphy can also be contacted via the portal, or via email jason.murphy@psni.pnn.police.uk.


theirishtimes--2020-04-16--Concerns raised over allegation of lack of social distancing on flight into Dublin

Concerns have been raised about a Ryanair flight carrying almost 200 fruit pickers into the country this week with allegedly no social distancing measures on board .
Their transit to the country has been called into question given ongoing public restrictions relating to Covid-19 .
A letter addressed to a Meath councillor , purporting to be from a Ryanair employee , said the chartered flight from Sofia on Monday had 189 passengers .
“ There was no social distancing on board , putting all the cabin crew at risk , there was also 200 bags in the hold of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk , ” the letter claimed .
“ I find this quite unsettling for myself and all my work colleagues as it ’ s putting us at risk and [ causing ] extra stress which we should not have to deal with it during this time of Covid-19.
” When contacted by The Irish Times , Ryanair said it ran a charter flight for a private company but when asked did not comment on the allegations of a lack of social distancing on board .
It said , however it “ complied with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the European Union Aviation Safety Agency ] and WHO [ World Health Organisation ] on these special flights.
” The flight also prompted political reaction .
Alan Lawes , the independent councillor who was contacted by the staff member , said putting 189 people onto a plane was concerning .
Meath TD and Aontú party leader Peadar Tóibín said he had raised the issue of imported labour and the safety measures around it with Government .
“ It does not make any sense that in the teeth of an global pandemic when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the road , when we will have one million people on State welfare that an empty Ryanair flight was sent to Sofia Bulgaria and returned home with 187 workers holding letters to pick fruit in North Dublin , ” he said in a statement on Thursday .
In recent weeks , passengers landing at Dublin Airport have been met by HSE staff advising them of the need to obey a 14-day period of restricted movement .
North Dublin fruit producer Keelings issued a statement about the employment by them of skilled horticultural staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the number or when they arrived .
“ It is essential that we have adequate staffing on the farm to pick crops quickly as they ripen , or we risk shortages in the market , ” it said in a statement issued on Thursday .
The well-known farm was established in 1926 to supply Dublin markets .
It has employed Bulgarian workers over previous seasons .
“ Across our entire business we have also worked tirelessly to implement the HSE and Government guidelines to ensure we are protecting the health of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 days of restricted movement for any new arrivals in the country , prior to starting work.
” The company said it was supporting local employment but underlined the importance of its foreign workforce without whom “ it would be impossible to bring fresh Irish strawberries to the Irish market ” .
At Dublin Airport , passenger traffic is down by 99 per cent .
A spokesman for DAA , which runs the airport , said on Wednesday fewer than 280 passengers were due to land .
That figure compares to about 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal circumstances .

Dr Tony Holohan has said that the chartering of flights to bring workers into the country is "not consistent with the public health advice", when asked about the Keelings/Ryanair controversy. Video: RTE News Now
Almost 200 Bulgarian fruit pickers flown into Dublin this week were all screened by doctors before they travelled, their employer has said.
Following an outpouring of concern in the context of Covid-19, Keelings strawberry producer said the 189 seasonal workers also had their temperature checked before entry.
"Ryanair and Dublin Airport can confirm that all regulations were adhered to. They were taken straight to their housing. In accordance with HSE guidelines, they cannot work for 14 days after their arrival and their movements are restricted," it said in a statement issued as an attempt to quell mounting concerns over the arrival of a relatively large number of people into the country.
The workers flew on a charter Ryanair flight from Sofia to Dublin on Monday.
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Keelings employs about 900 temporary horticulture workers during the main fruit and vegetable season from April to October - about 70 per cent return each year.
Anxiety
“We will take care of these colleagues as we take care of all of our people, permanent or temporary,” the company said.
“They will be subject to further medical screening before they start work at Keelings. We will continue to consult with the HSE and other appropriate agencies to ensure both our staff and the communities they live in remain safe.”
The arrival of the workers in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and stringent public movement restrictions has caused some anxiety in the area in which many of them are living.
The issue prompted Fianna Fáil to call for clarity as regards the movement of people through airports, while People Before Profit said formal inspections were required “to insure the workers are housed and working in conditions which will allow for social distancing and isolation if needed”.
Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said urgent clarity is required “about quarantine measures for seasonal workers who are arriving in Ireland”.
No distancing
Earlier in the week, a letter addressed to a Meath councillor, purporting to be from a Ryanair employee, said the chartered flight from Sofia on Monday had 189 passengers.
“There was no social distancing on board, putting all the cabin crew at risk, there was also 200 bags in the hold of the aircraft putting the ground handling agents at risk,” the letter claimed.
“I find this quite unsettling for myself and all my work colleagues as it’s putting us at risk and [causing] extra stress which we should not have to deal with it during this time of Covid-19.”
At Dublin Airport, passenger traffic is down by 99 per cent. A spokesman for DAA, which runs the airport, said on Wednesday fewer than 280 passengers were due to land. That figure compares to about 50,000 at this time of the year in normal circumstances.


theirishtimes--2020-04-16--Liverpool port detains P&O ship on Dublin-Liverpool route

A key supply line between the Republic and Britain has been disrupted by the impounding of the P & O vessel Norbay by port authorities in Liverpool on Thursday .
It is understood the dispute centres around the payment of €689,000 ( £600,000 ) in fees to Peel Ports , owners of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Limited , the formal name for Liverpool Port .
The Norbay is one of three P & O operated vessels on the Irish Sea between Dublin and Liverpool .
The other two are the Norbank and the Clipper Pennant .
The Norbank was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday for a passage to Liverpool , but was later stood down and its cargo taken off .
Volumes of freight have declined in recent weeks in line with coronavirus restrictions in Ireland , Britain and Europe , from where goods are sourced for Ireland via the British “ landbridge ” .
In a statement P & O said it had been “ in discussions since this crisis began ” with the owners of all of the ports it used “ to ensure that we can manage payments while everyone deals with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company siad it had “ asked for flexibility ” in terms of time to pay , but “ the Liverpool Port refused to respond even though we were committing to full payment ” .
P & O said “ the irresponsible and unnecessary actions of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Limited at a time of national crisis have closed an essential Dublin-Liverpool supply route , which means vital goods will not be able to flow between the UK , Ireland and Europe ” .
P & O Ferries is owned by DP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earnings before interest , tax and depreciation of €3.04billion in 2019 .
In its response Peel Ports said Liverpool played a vital supply role in many key logistics chains , including medical , healthcare and food .
It said “ customers who refuse to pay their bills put these and other supply chains at risk .
Any decision to detain a vessel is always taken as a last resort , and only when there is a significant debt to repay.
” Commenting on the significance of the impounding and the standing down of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liverpool , freight forwarding sources said the absence of P & O should not cause panic .
Sources said there were other companies – Seatruck , Irish Ferries and Stena – still operating on the mid-Irish Sea route to Liverpool and Holyhead .
However , hauliers were fearful that the absence of P & O even for a short time would affect their capacity to travel through Liverpool .
Most of the Seatruck business on the route is for trailers , as opposed to drive-on and drive-off .
Many drive-on and driver-off hauliers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they start early in the morning in Liverpool with “ a fresh driver and a fresh tachograph ” .
The Holyhead route , said one haulier , was a shorter crossing , but the Holyhead port was “ much further from the bulk of English destinations ” .

Volumes of freight have declined in recent weeks in line with coronavirus restrictions in Ireland, Britain and Europe. Photograph: Getty Images
A key supply line between the Republic and Britain has been disrupted by the impounding of the P&O vessel Norbay by port authorities in Liverpool on Thursday.
It is understood the dispute centres around the payment of €689,000 (£600,000) in fees to Peel Ports, owners of Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Limited, the formal name for Liverpool Port.
The Norbay is one of three P&O operated vessels on the Irish Sea between Dublin and Liverpool. The other two are the Norbank and the Clipper Pennant.
The Norbank was loaded and ready to sail from Dublin on Thursday for a passage to Liverpool, but was later stood down and its cargo taken off.
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Volumes of freight have declined in recent weeks in line with coronavirus restrictions in Ireland, Britain and Europe, from where goods are sourced for Ireland via the British "landbridge".
In a statement P&O said it had been “in discussions since this crisis began” with the owners of all of the ports it used “to ensure that we can manage payments while everyone deals with this unprecedented situation”.
The ferry company siad it had “asked for flexibility” in terms of time to pay, but “the Liverpool Port refused to respond even though we were committing to full payment”.
P&O said “the irresponsible and unnecessary actions of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company Limited at a time of national crisis have closed an essential Dublin-Liverpool supply route, which means vital goods will not be able to flow between the UK, Ireland and Europe”.
P&O Ferries is owned by DP World, a global organisation which had earnings before interest, tax and depreciation of €3.04billion in 2019.
In its response Peel Ports said Liverpool played a vital supply role in many key logistics chains, including medical, healthcare and food. It said “customers who refuse to pay their bills put these and other supply chains at risk. Any decision to detain a vessel is always taken as a last resort, and only when there is a significant debt to repay.”
Freight forwarding
Commenting on the significance of the impounding and the standing down of other P&O ships trading with Liverpool, freight forwarding sources said the absence of P&O should not cause panic. Sources said there were other companies – Seatruck, Irish Ferries and Stena – still operating on the mid-Irish Sea route to Liverpool and Holyhead.
However, hauliers were fearful that the absence of P&O even for a short time would affect their capacity to travel through Liverpool.
Most of the Seatruck business on the route is for trailers, as opposed to drive-on and drive-off. Many drive-on and driver-off hauliers prefer to take the Liverpool route as they start early in the morning in Liverpool with “a fresh driver and a fresh tachograph” .
The Holyhead route, said one haulier, was a shorter crossing, but the Holyhead port was “much further from the bulk of English destinations”.


theirishtimes--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: ‘To see them put into black bags is heartbreaking’

Danny Delaney , Theresa Sherlock , Ger O ’ Neill and Velma Jackson .
Those are the names of some of the men and women who lost their lives at a hospital in Laois over the Easter weekend .
They are the faces behind the statistics illustrating the deaths of nine people over three days at the Maryborough Centre , St Fintan ’ s Hospital in Portlaoise – eight of whom were confirmed as having Covid-19 .
In the case of Danny Delaney , who comes from Stradbally which is home to Electric Picnic , he had only been resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about three weeks .
He had spent months in the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise , before making the half-mile journey down the Dublin Road to the Maryborough Centre for Psychiatry of Old Age .
Known locally as St Fintan ’ s , it is a recently refurbished unit with multiple occupancy rooms and is registered with the Mental Health Commission for 28 beds .
Once a distinguished footballer , Mr Delaney represented his club and county in the 1950s , 1960s and 1970s .
He was on the Stradbally team which won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again in 1963 .
He represented Laois at county level throughout the 1960s while he also hurled at senior level for Ratheniska during this time .
Later , he served as a GAA official , serving as vice-chairman of the Laois County Board in 1973 .
He is survived by his wife Doreen , brothers John , Teddy and Kyrle , brothers-in-law , sisters-in-law , nephews , nieces , neighbours , relatives and friends .
He was laid to rest at a private ceremony in Oughaval Cemetery on Tuesday .
Doreen said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the staff or their care of her husband .
“ I wasn ’ t allowed anywhere near him , it was total lockdown .
And that was very , very sad , the hardest part of it , ” she said of when her husband contracted the virus .
“ But what they did , they did absolutely everything - held the phone , held a microphone to him and let me speak to him on the phone , ” she told RTÉ ’ s Prime Time .
However , the length of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s was the exception , not the rule .
Most of the 26 residents have been there for years , some for decades .
St Fintan ’ s opened originally as the Maryborough Asylum in 1833 .
It became Portlaoise Mental Hospital in the 1920s and went on to become St Fintan ’ s Hospital in the 1950s .
The psychiatric ward of the hospital was actually moved to the Midlands Regional Hospital in 2004 and now St Fintan ’ s , chiefly the Maryborough Centre , cares for elderly patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to The Irish Times but wished to remain anonymous , said they feared for the safety of the remaining 17 patients .
“ To see so many patients die one after another is deeply distressing and upsetting .
“ To see them being put into black bags and taken away is heartbreaking .
We have developed close relationships with the people here as we see them and interact with them everyday , ” the distressed staff member said .
Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley shares the concerns felt by many in Portlaoise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in St Fintan ’ s , pointing out that many of them have already tested positive for Covid-19 .
Demanding that the HSE does more to protect patients and staff , he says : “ The deaths of over one-third of the patients last weekend have shocked people .
It is also very traumatic for the staff and the families of the deceased.
” St Fintan ’ s has struggled , he said , because so many staff are out sick , or self-isolating , though he accepted that “ a real shortage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” which had existed “ is now being addressed ” .
While PPE is vital , its use poses problems for staff in the centre who are dealing with people they have known , often for year : “ With their conditions , seeing us dressed up in PPE is very hard on them , ” said the staff member “ A number of those remaining have tested Covid-19 positive but we are treating all patients as if they have the virus and they are being isolated .
Our biggest fear now is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still here will also die.
” Concerns had grown in and around Portlaoise over the last fortnight that not all was well in St Fintan ’ s , as rumours – later confirmed – spread about the shortage of PPE and the number of staff forced out of work through illness .
The local community have tried to help and three soccer clubs , Portlaoise AFC , Stradbally Town and Towerhill Rovers , ran a fundraiser which saw hot food and supplies delivered to the door .
Consultants at the Midlands Regional Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care of the remaining 17 patients and are providing medical support and assistance , says the HSE .
“ Support was also provided by experts [ in infection control ] .
Occupational supports and debriefing are being offered to staff at the centre following these tragic deaths , ” it added .
The HSE ’ s national lead for integrated care , Dr Siobhán Ní Bhriain , said St Fintan ’ s had fully followed HSE guidelines , separating residents immediately after the virus was found : “ Tragically they all died within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents may need to be moved after Covid-19 outbreaks , though the Health Information and Quality Authority “ feels quite strongly ” that people should not be moved out of a place that has become their home , she said .
The decision to leave the remaining patients in St Fintan ’ s was defended last night by Dr Colm Henry , the HSE ’ s national clinical adviser and programme lead for acute hospitals .
Transfers to acute hospitals are happening when it is in the best interests of the patient , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are being denied intensive care treatment .
“ The best clinical judgment is made in each case .
For many people in nursing homes , their co-morbidities , such as advanced dementia , or chronic illness , means that it is not the appropriate decision to transfer them .
“ They got a type of treatment and assessment which is better than acute hospital care because the consultants from the hospital up the road came down and went through each case over the bank holiday weekend , ” said Dr Henry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ become involved too and is examining the situation surrounding PPE supplies that now faces St Fintan ’ s , along with finding extra staff .
Expressing his sympathy to the families of those who have died , Minister for Justice and local TD Charlie Flanagan said : “ This is a tragedy in our community .
“ I would like to offer my sincere sympathies with the families of the deceased , some of whom I know personally , and with the hardworking and dedicated team at the unit .
“ This was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said , adding , “ My concern was and remains that everything that could be done was and is being done for staff and residents.
” Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty said the deaths bring home in “ a very dramatic way the huge need for special care ” for those living in nursing homes and residential centres .
“ Every life matters .
Every life counts .
Every life is precious irrespective of age or potential productivity .
In the nightly news reports , we hear many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am conscious that we might lose the person that is behind every statistic – this is someone ’ s mother , father , grandmother , grandfather , brother , sister , son , daughter or friend.
” Quoting a line from a British woman who lost her sister to the virus , Bishop Nulty said no one is a statistic : “ Neither is she or anyone who dies because of Covid-19 or who has tested positive.
” Confirming that eight of St Fintan ’ s residents had died after they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insisted it had enough staff to manage the centre despite “ a number of staff [ who ] are currently on sick leave ” .
Extra staff were deployed there more than a week before the Easter weekend following the diagnosis of Covid-19 in the resident group and to support their greater care needs , it said .

Danny Delaney, Theresa Sherlock and Ger O'Neill. Those are the names of some of the men and women who lost their lives at a hospital in Laois over the Easter weekend.
They are the faces behind the statistics illustrating the deaths of nine people over three days at the Maryborough Centre, St Fintan's Hospital in Portlaoise – eight of whom were confirmed as having Covid-19.
In the case of Danny Delaney, who comes from Stradbally which is home to Electric Picnic, he had only been resident in St Fintan's Hospital for about three weeks.
Among the dead is Danny Delaney, who had only been resident in St Fintan’s Hospital for about three weeks. He was on the Stradbally team which won the Laois intermediate championship in 1959 and 1963. Photograph: Laois Today
He had spent months in the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, before making the half-mile journey down the Dublin Road to the Maryborough Centre for Psychiatry of Old Age.
READ MORE
Known locally as St Fintan's, it is a recently refurbished unit with multiple occupancy rooms and is registered with the Mental Health Commission for 28 beds.
Once a distinguished footballer, Mr Delaney represented his club and county in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He was on the Stradbally team which won the Laois intermediate championship in 1959 and again in 1963.
He represented Laois at county level throughout the 1960s while he also hurled at senior level for Ratheniska during this time. Later, he served as a GAA official, serving as vice-chairman of the Laois County Board in 1973.
He is survived by his wife Doreen, brothers John, Teddy and Kyrle, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, neighbours, relatives and friends. He was laid to rest at a private ceremony in Oughaval Cemetery on Tuesday.
Doreen said she could find nothing negative to say about the staff or their care of her husband.
“I wasn’t allowed anywhere near him, it was total lockdown. And that was very, very sad, the hardest part of it,” she said of when her husband contracted the virus.
“But what they did, they did absolutely everything - held the phone, held a microphone to him and let me speak to him on the phone,” she told RTÉ’s Prime Time.
However, the length of time Mr Delaney stayed in St Fintan’s was the exception, not the rule. Most of the 26 residents have been there for years, some for decades.
Institutional history
St Fintan’s opened originally as the Maryborough Asylum in 1833. It became Portlaoise Mental Hospital in the 1920s and went on to become St Fintan’s Hospital in the 1950s.
The psychiatric ward of the hospital was actually moved to the Midlands Regional Hospital in 2004 and now St Fintan’s, chiefly the Maryborough Centre, cares for elderly patients.
One member of staff, who spoke to The Irish Times but wished to remain anonymous, said they feared for the safety of the remaining 17 patients. “To see so many patients die one after another is deeply distressing and upsetting.
“To see them being put into black bags and taken away is heartbreaking. We have developed close relationships with the people here as we see them and interact with them everyday,” the distressed staff member said.
Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley shares the concerns felt by many in Portlaoise for the health of those still staying in St Fintan’s, pointing out that many of them have already tested positive for Covid-19.
Demanding that the HSE does more to protect patients and staff, he says: “The deaths of over one-third of the patients last weekend have shocked people. It is also very traumatic for the staff and the families of the deceased.”
St Fintan’s has struggled, he said, because so many staff are out sick, or self-isolating, though he accepted that “a real shortage of personal protective equipment [PPE]” which had existed “is now being addressed”.
While PPE is vital, its use poses problems for staff in the centre who are dealing with people they have known, often for year: “With their conditions, seeing us dressed up in PPE is very hard on them,” said the staff member
“A number of those remaining have tested Covid-19 positive but we are treating all patients as if they have the virus and they are being isolated. Our biggest fear now is that many of the patients who are still here will also die.”
Concerns had grown in and around Portlaoise over the last fortnight that not all was well in St Fintan’s, as rumours – later confirmed – spread about the shortage of PPE and the number of staff forced out of work through illness.
Support and assistance
The local community have tried to help and three soccer clubs, Portlaoise AFC, Stradbally Town and Towerhill Rovers, ran a fundraiser which saw hot food and supplies delivered to the door.
Consultants at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise have now taken over the care of the remaining 17 patients and are providing medical support and assistance, says the HSE.
“Support was also provided by experts [in infection control]. Occupational supports and debriefing are being offered to staff at the centre following these tragic deaths,” it added.
The HSE’s national lead for integrated care, Dr Siobhán Ní Bhriain, said St Fintan’s had fully followed HSE guidelines, separating residents immediately after the virus was found: “Tragically they all died within a short space of time.”
Some residents may need to be moved after Covid-19 outbreaks, though the Health Information and Quality Authority “feels quite strongly” that people should not be moved out of a place that has become their home, she said.
The decision to leave the remaining patients in St Fintan’s was defended last night by Dr Colm Henry, the HSE’s national clinical adviser and programme lead for acute hospitals.
Transfers to acute hospitals are happening when it is in the best interests of the patient, and he rejected suggestions that some elderly people are being denied intensive care treatment.
“The best clinical judgment is made in each case. For many people in nursing homes, their co-morbidities, such as advanced dementia, or chronic illness, means that it is not the appropriate decision to transfer them.
“They got a type of treatment and assessment which is better than acute hospital care because the consultants from the hospital up the road came down and went through each case over the bank holiday weekend,” said Dr Henry.
Meanwhile, the Mental Health Commission has become involved too and is examining the situation surrounding PPE supplies that now faces St Fintan’s , along with finding extra staff.
Community tragedy
Expressing his sympathy to the families of those who have died, Minister for Justice and local TD Charlie Flanagan said: "This is a tragedy in our community.
“I would like to offer my sincere sympathies with the families of the deceased, some of whom I know personally, and with the hardworking and dedicated team at the unit.
“This was a heart-breaking experience for everybody concerned,” he said, adding, “My concern was and remains that everything that could be done was and is being done for staff and residents.”
Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty said the deaths bring home in “a very dramatic way the huge need for special care” for those living in nursing homes and residential centres.
“Every life matters. Every life counts. Every life is precious irrespective of age or potential productivity. In the nightly news reports, we hear many statistics that may confuse us.
“I am conscious that we might lose the person that is behind every statistic – this is someone’s mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, son, daughter or friend.”
Quoting a line from a British woman who lost her sister to the virus, Bishop Nulty said no one is a statistic: “Neither is she or anyone who dies because of Covid-19 or who has tested positive.”
St Fintan’s Hospital in Portlaoise, Co Laois: nine residents in the Maryborough Centre died there over the bank holiday weekend. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
Confirming that eight of St Fintan’s residents had died after they had tested positive for Covid-19, the HSE insisted it had enough staff to manage the centre despite “a number of staff [who] are currently on sick leave”.
Extra staff were deployed there more than a week before the Easter weekend following the diagnosis of Covid-19 in the resident group and to support their greater care needs, it said.
* This article was edited on June 18th, 2020


theirishtimes--2020-04-16--Man appears in court charged with murder in Co Fermanagh

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of John Paul McDonagh in Co Fermanagh .
Joseph Joyce @ @ @ @ @ Meadow in Enniskillen , is facing three charges in connection with the death of the @ @ @ @ @ in hospital on Monday after being stabbed in the Coolcullen Meadow area on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ with murder , possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and wounding with @ @ @ @ @ harm .
He said he understood the charges when they were put to him at @ @ @ @ @ ’ Court on Thursday .
An application for bail was denied by District Judge Eamonn @ @ @ @ @ risk of absconding , interference with witnesses and reoffending , as well as a threat @ @ @ @ @ life .
“ I am not satisfied that any conditions could be attached that would @ @ @ @ @ defendant is a candidate for bail , and consequently bail is refused , ” he @ @ @ @

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of John Paul McDonagh in Co Fermanagh.
Joseph Joyce (29) of Coolcullen Meadow in Enniskillen, is facing three charges in connection with the death of the 18-year-old.
Mr McDonagh died in hospital on Monday after being stabbed in the Coolcullen Meadow area on Saturday.
Mr Joyce has been charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
READ MORE
He said he understood the charges when they were put to him at a sitting of Strabane Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
An application for bail was denied by District Judge Eamonn King over concerns about the risk of absconding, interference with witnesses and reoffending, as well as a threat to Mr Joyce’s life.
“I am not satisfied that any conditions could be attached that would satisfy the court that this defendant is a candidate for bail, and consequently bail is refused,” he said. - PA


theirishtimes--2020-04-16--Man charged with murder ‘deeply regretted’ death, court told

A man charged with the murder of John Paul McDonagh in Enniskillen , Co Fermanagh , “ deeply regretted ” his death , a court has heard .
Joseph Joyce ( 29 ) , of Coolcullen Meadow in Enniskillen , is facing three charges in connection with the death of the 18-year-old .
Mr McDonagh died in hospital on Monday after being stabbed on Saturday .
Mr Joyce has been charged with murder , possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm .
He said he understood the charges when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting of Strabane Magistrates ’ Court in Dungannon on Thursday .
A PSNI officer confirmed in court that Mr Joyce handed himself in for interview on Tuesday and provided a statement .
He also agreed that Mr Joyce “ deeply regretted ” that Mr McDonagh had died , and that he had said he did not intend to kill him but that he had been attacked by three men .
Outlining the background , a prosecution lawyer said an altercation had started over garden fences .
“ It escalated into three McDonagh males @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons and the defendant coming out of his house with what is described as a scythe , ” he told the court , adding that “ all parties were described as attacking each other ” .
“ John Paul McDonagh was taken to hospital with an injury to his left leg ... this was described as life-threatening .
His brother Gerard McDonagh ( 36 ) was also brought to hospital with minor injuries but later discharged.
” The police officer said the PSNI “ strongly opposed bail ” for Mr Joyce , voicing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his life , potential interference with witnesses and reoffending .
“ Tensions are running high in the area in relation to this incident ; a number of threats have been made on Mr Joyce ’ s life .
It is felt that Mr Joyce may fear for his own safety within this jurisdiction , or even within the Republic of Ireland , and that he may flee further afield , ” he told the court .

A police officer said the PSNI “strongly opposed bail” for Joseph Joyce, voicing fears he could abscond, threats to his life, potential interference with witnesses and reoffending. Photograph: Getty Images
A man charged with the murder of John Paul McDonagh in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh,“deeply regretted” his death, a court has heard.
Joseph Joyce ( 29), of Coolcullen Meadow in Enniskillen, is facing three charges in connection with the death of the 18-year-old. Mr McDonagh died in hospital on Monday after being stabbed on Saturday.
Mr Joyce has been charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He said he understood the charges when they were put to him at a sitting of Strabane Magistrates’ Court in Dungannon on Thursday.
A PSNI officer confirmed in court that Mr Joyce handed himself in for interview on Tuesday and provided a statement.
READ MORE
He also agreed that Mr Joyce “deeply regretted” that Mr McDonagh had died, and that he had said he did not intend to kill him but that he had been attacked by three men.
Outlining the background, a prosecution lawyer said an altercation had started over garden fences.
“It escalated into three McDonagh males approaching Joe Joyce’s house brandishing weapons and the defendant coming out of his house with what is described as a scythe,” he told the court, adding that “all parties were described as attacking each other”.
Left leg
“John Paul McDonagh was taken to hospital with an injury to his left leg... this was described as life-threatening. His brother Gerard McDonagh (36) was also brought to hospital with minor injuries but later discharged.”
The police officer said the PSNI “strongly opposed bail” for Mr Joyce, voicing fears he could abscond, threats to his life, potential interference with witnesses and reoffending.
“Tensions are running high in the area in relation to this incident; a number of threats have been made on Mr Joyce’s life. It is felt that Mr Joyce may fear for his own safety within this jurisdiction, or even within the Republic of Ireland, and that he may flee further afield,” he told the court.
District Judge Eamonn King refused the application for bail. – PA