theirishtimes--2020-01-27--NUIG researchers call on election candidates to lay out direct provision plans

Several parties have promised to phase out direct provision if they are in government after the general election .
Candidates are being asked to publicly share their views on direct provision and the future of the asylum system as part of a campaign run by researchers from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway .
The response from the Fianna Fáil leader shows Micheál Martin committing to “ phase out the privatisation of direct provision ” and ensure “ applications process times are expedited ” .
In his response , Sinn Féin ’ s Eoin Ó Broin directed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 on the asylum system in which he described direct provision as “ a system derived by private profit ” and proposed that housing be provided for asylum seekers by approved housing bodies .
Jan O ’ Sullivan of Labour said the party would end the direct provision system , improve working rights and move responsibility for accommodating asylum seekers from the Department of Justice to the Department of Rural and Community Affairs .
Ellen O ’ Malley Dunlop of Fine Gael told the campaign direct provision needed structural reforms with shorter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Social Democrats ’ Linda Hayden described direct provision as a “ cruel system ” that should end with applicants having access to a range of therapies .
Malcolm Noonan from the Green Party said his party was committed to ending direct provision in the next Dáil and replacing it with “ good quality accommodation ” for asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their application .
Adrienne Wallace from People Before Profit described the system as “ a blatant attack on human rights ” and said she was committed to ending direct provision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Direct Provision , seeks to “ put a spotlight ” on the asylum system during the election campaign and to ensure candidates are held to account on their promises .
Researchers from the NUI Galway Masters of Law programme and Human Rights Law Clinic say they have contacted all candidates nationwide to establish their position on direct provision and ask what they would change about the system .
Responses to the question have been made publicly available on the @ AskAboutDP Twitter page since the campaign launched last Friday .
“ Housing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment , ” said researcher Stacey Wren , one of the creators of the campaign .
“ Appropriate housing and healthcare are hugely important for people who come to Ireland seeking international protection , as is their right under international and European law.
” The campaign , which is being run in partnership with the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland , aims to make direct provision a key election issue while informing the public of candidates ’ stance on the issue , said Ms Wren .
She added that the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate or political party and that all responses would be shared on Twitter without redactions .

General election candidates are being asked to publicly share their views on direct provision and the future of the asylum system. File photograph: Tom Honan
Several parties have promised to phase out direct provision if they are in government after the general election.
Candidates are being asked to publicly share their views on direct provision and the future of the asylum system as part of a campaign run by researchers from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway.
The response from the Fianna Fáil leader shows Micheál Martin committing to "phase out the privatisation of direct provision" and ensure "applications process times are expedited".
In his response, Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin directed researchers to a previous statement he made in 2018 on the asylum system in which he described direct provision as “a system derived by private profit” and proposed that housing be provided for asylum seekers by approved housing bodies.
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Jan O'Sullivan of Labour said the party would end the direct provision system, improve working rights and move responsibility for accommodating asylum seekers from the Department of Justice to the Department of Rural and Community Affairs.
Ellen O'Malley Dunlop of Fine Gael told the campaign direct provision needed structural reforms with shorter application timeframes and increased community resources.
‘Cruel system’
The Social Democrats’ Linda Hayden described direct provision as a “cruel system” that should end with applicants having access to a range of therapies.
Malcolm Noonan from the Green Party said his party was committed to ending direct provision in the next Dáil and replacing it with “good quality accommodation” for asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their application.
Adrienne Wallace from People Before Profit described the system as “a blatant attack on human rights” and said she was committed to ending direct provision.
The campaign, entitled Ask About Direct Provision, seeks to “put a spotlight” on the asylum system during the election campaign and to ensure candidates are held to account on their promises.
Researchers from the NUI Galway Masters of Law programme and Human Rights Law Clinic say they have contacted all candidates nationwide to establish their position on direct provision and ask what they would change about the system.
Publicly available
Responses to the question have been made publicly available on the @AskAboutDP Twitter page since the campaign launched last Friday.
"Housing and healthcare are rightly dominating election discussion at the moment," said researcher Stacy Wrenn, one of the creators of the campaign. "Appropriate housing and healthcare are hugely important for people who come to Ireland seeking international protection, as is their right under international and European law."
The campaign, which is being run in partnership with the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, aims to make direct provision a key election issue while informing the public of candidates’ stance on the issue, said Ms Wrenn.
She added that the project was not seeking to endorse any particular candidate or political party and that all responses would be shared on Twitter without redactions.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Election fact check: Is home ownership in Ireland at a near 50-year low?

During last week ’ s TV debate between Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and his Fianna Fáil counterpart Micheál Martin , housing was unsurprisingly one of the issues that took centre stage .
While discussing how they would help first-time buyers – and amid charges of “ auction politics ” – the Taoiseach and Martin had an exchange about the levels of home ownership .
Martin claimed “ we have the lowest level of home ownership in this country since 1971 , and that ’ s , in my view , something you [ the Government ] contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence , Varadkar cut in to tell moderator Pat Kenny : “ Those numbers are disputed , by the way.
” So , this exchange has produced two claims .
The first is Martin ’ s claim that the rate of home ownership has sunk to its lowest level since 1971 , with an associated claim that the Government has contributed to creating that .
The second is the Taoiseach ’ s competing claim that those numbers are disputed .
Upon what are they basing their claims ?
Asked for evidence to back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press office provided a link to Central Statistics Office ( CSO ) figures on changes in rent , home ownership and mortgages based on the results of the 2016 census ; the key finding is indeed that home-ownership rates are falling .
Fine Gael , when asked to substantiate the Taoiseach ’ s claim , said that Varadkar was disputing Fianna Fáil ’ s assertion “ that the decline in home ownership is directly linked to Fine Gael ” .
A spokesman for the party said that CSO data shows the biggest drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011 , “ when Fianna Fáil was in power and when record numbers of homes were being built ” .
The headline figure for the level of home ownership supports Martin ’ s contention that it is at its lowest level since 1971 .
Indeed , the CSO ’ s own statement publicising the 2016 census results flags that the home-ownership rate dropped “ from 69.7 per cent to 67.6 per cent , a rate last seen in 1971 ” .
From 1961 , the earliest year for which the CSO has published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on the rise , from 59.8 per cent to 79.3 per cent respectively .
This is unsurprising as much of the social policy of the State during the 20th century was focused on encouraging home ownership through a range of policy interventions , including council-house purchase , low-cost grants , tax breaks and loans .
So while the headline figure is as Fianna Fáil claims , it ’ s worth pointing out that home ownership actually dipped below the 1971 level in 2011 – the year in which Fine Gael under Enda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Fianna Fáil ’ s watch , and declined further under the last two governments .
There is also merit in Fine Gael pointing out that the sharpest decline occurred during years when Fianna Fáil were in power , from 2006 to 2011 .
During this period , from the peak of the Celtic Tiger almost to the trough of the recession , home-ownership rates dropped from 74.7 per cent to 69.7 per cent .
There are some nuances as you delve deeper into the statistics , especially the deviation between urban and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , home-ownership rates may be below 1971 levels , but when you look at figures for urban ownership , they are significantly higher in 2016 ( 59.2 per cent ) than in 1971 ( 55.6 per cent ) ; though it has declined since the 1991 peak of 73.2 per cent .
In 1971 in rural Ireland , the rate of home ownership was 85.6 per cent , whereas in 2016 , the rate had fallen to 82.4 per cent .
Given what was said on the night , it ’ s clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin ’ s contention that home ownership is at its lowest level since 1971 .
His associated claim that the Government has contributed to creating the low levels of home ownership is true in the narrow sense that everyone in political power contributes to outcomes of policy choices ; by that standard , we have to look at who was in power during the period of decline .
The sharpest declines in the rate of home ownership occurred under Fianna Fáil .
As much of the decline occurred before Fine Gael were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assign too much blame to the party , and even more when it comes to Varadkar , who has only been Taoiseach since 2017 .
Also , it must be considered that Fianna Fáil were in government for all but three of the years that followed the statistical peak in 1991 , until the rate fell below 1971 levels in 2011 .
Therefore , we find that Martin ’ s claim is partially true .
Conversely , we could find no evidence that the figures offered by Martin on home ownership are disputed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gael spokesman argued that the Taoiseach was disputing that the decline in home ownership is directly linked to Fine Gael , but that was not made clear during the debate , he merely asserted that they are disputed .
Given how an ordinary viewer of the debate would have understood the facts based on how they were argued during the debate , we find that the Taoiseach ’ s claim is untrue .

Micheál Martin said that home ownership in the State was at its lowest since 1971. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
During last week's TV debate between Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and his Fianna Fáil counterpart Micheál Martin, housing was unsurprisingly one of the issues that took centre stage.
While discussing how they would help first-time buyers – and amid charges of “auction politics” – the Taoiseach and Martin had an exchange about the levels of home ownership.
Martin claimed “we have the lowest level of home ownership in this country since 1971, and that’s, in my view, something you [the Government] contributed to creating”.
Mid-way through this sentence, Varadkar cut in to tell moderator Pat Kenny: "Those numbers are disputed, by the way."
READ MORE
So, this exchange has produced two claims.
The first is Martin’s claim that the rate of home ownership has sunk to its lowest level since 1971, with an associated claim that the Government has contributed to creating that. The second is the Taoiseach’s competing claim that those numbers are disputed.
Micheál Martin said that home ownership in the State was at its lowest since 1971. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
Upon what are they basing their claims?
Asked for evidence to back up the claim, the Fianna Fáil press office provided a link to Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures on changes in rent, home ownership and mortgages based on the results of the 2016 census; the key finding is indeed that home-ownership rates are falling.
Fine Gael, when asked to substantiate the Taoiseach’s claim, said that Varadkar was disputing Fianna Fáil’s assertion “that the decline in home ownership is directly linked to Fine Gael”. A spokesman for the party said that CSO data shows the biggest drop in home ownership was between 2006 and 2011, “when Fianna Fáil was in power and when record numbers of homes were being built”.
Is this correct?
The headline figure for the level of home ownership supports Martin’s contention that it is at its lowest level since 1971.
Indeed, the CSO’s own statement publicising the 2016 census results flags that the home-ownership rate dropped “from 69.7 per cent to 67.6 per cent, a rate last seen in 1971”.
From 1961, the earliest year for which the CSO has published figures, to 1991, home ownership was on the rise, from 59.8 per cent to 79.3 per cent respectively. This is unsurprising as much of the social policy of the State during the 20th century was focused on encouraging home ownership through a range of policy interventions, including council-house purchase, low-cost grants, tax breaks and loans.
So while the headline figure is as Fianna Fáil claims, it's worth pointing out that home ownership actually dipped below the 1971 level in 2011 – the year in which Fine Gael under Enda Kenny took power – so this occurred under Fianna Fáil's watch, and declined further under the last two governments.
There is also merit in Fine Gael pointing out that the sharpest decline occurred during years when Fianna Fáil were in power, from 2006 to 2011.
During this period, from the peak of the Celtic Tiger almost to the trough of the recession, home-ownership rates dropped from 74.7 per cent to 69.7 per cent.
There are some nuances as you delve deeper into the statistics, especially the deviation between urban and rural figures.
For the state overall, home-ownership rates may be below 1971 levels, but when you look at figures for urban ownership, they are significantly higher in 2016 (59.2 per cent) than in 1971 (55.6 per cent); though it has declined since the 1991 peak of 73.2 per cent.
In 1971 in rural Ireland, the rate of home ownership was 85.6 per cent, whereas in 2016, the rate had fallen to 82.4 per cent.
Verdict
Given what was said on the night, it’s clear that the data from the CSO supports Martin’s contention that home ownership is at its lowest level since 1971.
His associated claim that the Government has contributed to creating the low levels of home ownership is true in the narrow sense that everyone in political power contributes to outcomes of policy choices; by that standard, we have to look at who was in power during the period of decline.
The sharpest declines in the rate of home ownership occurred under Fianna Fáil.
As much of the decline occurred before Fine Gael were in power, it’s dubious to assign too much blame to the party, and even more when it comes to Varadkar, who has only been Taoiseach since 2017.
Also, it must be considered that Fianna Fáil were in government for all but three of the years that followed the statistical peak in 1991, until the rate fell below 1971 levels in 2011.
Therefore, we find that Martin’s claim is partially true.
Conversely, we could find no evidence that the figures offered by Martin on home ownership are disputed, as Varadkar claimed.
A Fine Gael spokesman argued that the Taoiseach was disputing that the decline in home ownership is directly linked to Fine Gael, but that was not made clear during the debate, he merely asserted that they are disputed.
Given how an ordinary viewer of the debate would have understood the facts based on how they were argued during the debate, we find that the Taoiseach’s claim is untrue.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Daughter insisted she did not ‘harm a hair’ on Patricia O’Connor’s head

A woman accused of impeding the investigation into her mother ’ s alleged murder told gardaí the retired hospital worker would tell her and her daughter every day that they should have been “ aborted ” .
Mother-of-five Louise O ’ Connor also told interviewing detectives that she did not “ harm a hair ” on Patricia O ’ Connor ’ s head and said she would go to her grave knowing that.The accused woman also told gardaí that despite everything , she really loved her mother .
The jury was listening to three interviews on Monday given by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Connor , to gardaí on September 2nd , 2017 .
The deceased ’ s daughter Louise O ’ Connor ( 41 ) and granddaughter Stephanie O ’ Connor ( 22 ) , both of Millmount Court , Dundrum Road , Dublin 14 , and Louise O ’ Connor ’ s ex-partner Keith Johnston ( 43 ) , of Avonbeg Gardens , Tallaght , Dublin 24 are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene , knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence , to wit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 61 ) on May 29th , 2017 .
Louise O ’ Connor has pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O ’ Connor disguising herself as Patricia O ’ Connor at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 on May 29th , 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O ’ Connor was dead .
Mr Greene ( 34 ) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs O ’ Connor at her home in Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 on May 29th , 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body of Mrs O ’ Connor was dismembered into 15 separate parts that were found at nine different locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th , 2017 .
Sergeant Brian Hanley told prosecution counsel Róisín Lacey SC that he conducted the first interview with Louise O ’ Connor at Bray Garda station on September 2nd 2017 .
Sgt Hanley said Louise O ’ Connor had been arrested on suspicion of murdering her mother Patricia O ’ Connor at her home on May 29th .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Connor told gardaí that she did not really understand why she was being arrested saying : “ You have someone for murder , he put his hands up.
” Her partner and father of three of her five children , Kieran Greene , had already been arrested for murdering Mrs O ’ Connor .
Louise O ’ Connor said her mother would tell her and her daughter Stephanie every day that they should have been “ aborted ” and they were constantly walking on eggshells around her .
Her mother and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” like “ bricks and mortar ” , she said .
Louise O ’ Connor said her father Augustine ‘ Gus ’ O ’ Connor had never raised a finger to her mother .
“ My ma tried to beat the head off me with a teapot the day she left .
I ducked and ran out of the sitting room , ” she continued .
She said Mrs O ’ Connor “ kicked the cat ” around the house and would tell her and her children that they were retarded and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Connor said she was diagnosed with Graves ’ disease four or five years previously .
“ Ma said I could use graves rage to kill my father and we ’ d split the proceeds .
I said no way , I ’ m not going to prison , ” she explained .
She said Mr Greene “ got it ” from her mother as well .
“ I said he had to go back to his ma ’ s to give us a break .
He bounced off me and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Louise O ’ Connor said she went with her children and her dad to Nutgrove Park on May 29th as she did not want to fight with her mother .
She couldn ’ t say what time they all got home but was in the toilet when she heard the door slam and her mother leaving the house , she outlined .
“ She [ Patricia O ’ Connor ] was always getting up and going off , she was shouting ‘ I ’ ll be back when the bastard pops his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connor explained , adding she “ hadn ’ t a clue ” where her mother was going to .
She said she did not call after her mother when she saw her going up the road that night carrying a suitcase .
Louise O ’ Connor said she was asleep when her mother came back to the house later that night .
Two weeks later , she said they found out Mr Greene had killed her mother .
Referring to Mr Greene , Louise O ’ Connor said he had “ put his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
She also told gardaí that her father Gus would not hurt a fly .
“ It ’ s nothing to do with me and Stephanie , why you asking me , ” she told gardaí .
“ Only two people who know what happened that day , me ma and Kieran .
Me ma is dead and Kieran is locked up , ” she said .
Louise O ’ Connor said she could not understand why Mr Greene did not call an ambulance or gardaí that night .
She also told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hair on her mother ’ s head and she would go to her grave knowing that .
When gardaí asked Louise O ’ Connor if her mother smoked , she replied : “ My ma lashed the weed out of it all day.
” She said she started to get worried about her mother when there was no contact from her .
Giving evidence on Monday afternoon , Detective Garda David Connolly told Ms Lacey that he went to Mountainview Park on June 12th at 7.50pm , after Mr Greene had presented himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviewed by Sergeant Lucy Myles .
The witness said he met Louise O ’ Connor outside the house and she was talking to her next door neighbour .
“ She was crying and had her hands up to face , she was upset , ” he said , adding that Louise O ’ Connor had also told him that Mr Greene had not been himself for the last number of weeks .
“ She also told us that Mr Greene had told them that he had killed Mrs O ’ Connor and disposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Det Gda Connolly said he conducted a second interview with Louise O ’ Connor on September 2nd , 2017 .
She told gardaí that Mr Greene had not followed them to the park on the evening of May 29th as he wanted to have a shower .
“ There are nine people in the house , getting a shower is like a miracle , ” she remarked .
She said her mother was upstairs and shouting as the cat was on her bed .
“ I got the kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dog and went out , ” she said .
Mr Greene said he would follow them later and did not know why he had not followed , she said .
When she tried to call Mr Greene ’ s phone , it went straight to his voicemail , she said , adding that he then sent her a text message to get lunch for the children .
When Louise O ’ Connor and the children returned , Mr Greene told her that Mrs O ’ Connor was “ pissed off ” because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shower , she continued .
Det Sgt Hanley testified that he conducted the third interview with Louise O ’ Connor on the evening of September 2nd at 8.30pm , during which she was shown CCTV footage of people entering and leaving the house at Mountainview Park on May 29th .
The jurors were also shown the same clips , which had been played for Louise O ’ Connor by gardaí during her detention at Bray Garda station .
Mrs O ’ Connor said she was aware her next door neighbour had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A neighbour of the O ’ Connor family , Sam Lin , has testified that he consented to gardaí taking possession of his CCTV system on June 14th , 2017 .
During this interview , Louise O ’ Connor was shown CCTV footage from her neighbour ’ s camera of herself and the children leaving Mountainview and going to the park at 6.53pm .
Louise O ’ Connor told gardaí that a clip from CCTV footage at 9.04pm on the same date showed herself and the children returning from Tesco .
Louise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from her neighbour ’ s camera at 9.34pm on May 29th and said it looked like her mother walking out of the house .
She told gardaí that she thought she had followed her mother out of the house after hearing the door slam and saw her mother going down the road .
At one point during the interview , Louise O ’ Connor told gardaí that despite everything she really loved her mother .
She said she did not contact anyone on the night of May 29th to find out where her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than worried .
She began asking people about Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s whereabouts the following day , she continued , adding that it was not unusual for her mother to storm off .
Louise O ’ Connor was then shown clips from her neighbour ’ s CCTV camera , which showed the rear of the O ’ Connor ’ s house .
“ My neighbour is videoing into my house , ” she said .
“ Nice .
Is that not against the law , recording into our house ?
Invasion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she continued .
Louise O ’ Connor was also shown a clip of CCTV footage taken at the rear of the house at 6.37pm on May 29th and asked by gardaí to comment on it .
“ That ’ s me ma opening and closing the door I think , ” she replied .
Louise O ’ Connor agreed with gardaí that someone could be seen closing a door at 10.06pm that night .
She said she did not know who this was and commented that she did not see how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really matter who closed the back door , ” she told gardaí .
Gardaí put it to Louise O ’ Connor that either she , her daughter Stephanie or Mr Greene had closed the back door at this time .
She said it could have been any of them but she did not remember anyone doing it .
She agreed with gardaí that the person was carrying something with black on it and said it could have been a beach bag but she could not see .
“ I think you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see things I can not see , ” remarked Louise O ’ Connor .
The Central Criminal Court trial has heard that while in custody , Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner ’ s mother , six months after he was charged with her murder .
The jury has heard that Mr Greene walked into Rathfarnham Garda station on June 12th , 2017 and told a detective that he had done “ something terrible ” and dismembered the body of Mrs O ’ Connor on his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardaí on December 9th that he had taken “ the rap ” and felt he was being set-up , as his girlfriend Louise O ’ Connor subsequently started going back out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston .
Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie ’ s , Mr Price , B & Q and Shoe Zone , Tallaght , Dublin 24 on June 9 , 2017 , which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the refurbishment of a bathroom at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 between May 31st , 2017 and June 9th , 2017 , in order to destroy or conceal any evidence relating to the murder of Mrs O ’ Connor .
Stephanie O ’ Connor has pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as Mrs O ’ Connor at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29th , 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women .

A woman accused of impeding the investigation into her mother’s alleged murder told gardaí the retired hospital worker would tell her and her daughter every day that they should have been “aborted”.
Mother-of-five Louise O’Connor also told interviewing detectives that she did not “harm a hair” on Patricia O’Connor’s head and said she would go to her grave knowing that.The accused woman also told gardaí that despite everything, she really loved her mother.
The jury was listening to three interviews on Monday given by the daughter of the deceased, Louise O’Connor, to gardaí on September 2nd, 2017.
The deceased’s daughter Louise O’Connor (41) and granddaughter Stephanie O’Connor (22), both of Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14, and Louise O’Connor’s ex-partner Keith Johnston (43), of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24 are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence, to wit the murder of Patricia O’Connor (61) on May 29th, 2017.
READ MORE
Louise O’Connor has pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O’Connor disguising herself as Patricia O’Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29th, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O’Connor was dead.
Mr Greene (34) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs O’Connor at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29th, 2017.
Evidence has been given that the body of Mrs O’Connor was dismembered into 15 separate parts that were found at nine different locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th, 2017.
Sergeant Brian Hanley told prosecution counsel Róisín Lacey SC that he conducted the first interview with Louise O’Connor at Bray Garda station on September 2nd 2017. Sgt Hanley said Louise O’Connor had been arrested on suspicion of murdering her mother Patricia O’Connor at her home on May 29th.
‘Walking on eggshells’
In her first interview, Louise O’Connor told gardaí that she did not really understand why she was being arrested saying: “You have someone for murder, he put his hands up.” Her partner and father of three of her five children, Kieran Greene, had already been arrested for murdering Mrs O’Connor.
Louise O’Connor said her mother would tell her and her daughter Stephanie every day that they should have been “aborted” and they were constantly walking on eggshells around her.
Her mother and the family would fight over “silly things” like “bricks and mortar”, she said.
Louise O’Connor said her father Augustine ‘Gus’ O’Connor had never raised a finger to her mother. “My ma tried to beat the head off me with a teapot the day she left. I ducked and ran out of the sitting room,” she continued.
She said Mrs O’Connor “kicked the cat” around the house and would tell her and her children that they were retarded and to get out of the house.
Louise O’Connor said she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease four or five years previously. “Ma said I could use graves rage to kill my father and we’d split the proceeds. I said no way, I’m not going to prison,” she explained.
She said Mr Greene “got it” from her mother as well. “I said he had to go back to his ma’s to give us a break. He bounced off me and I bounced off him,” she remarked.
Louise O’Connor said she went with her children and her dad to Nutgrove Park on May 29th as she did not want to fight with her mother. She couldn’t say what time they all got home but was in the toilet when she heard the door slam and her mother leaving the house, she outlined.
“She [Patricia O’Connor] was always getting up and going off, she was shouting ‘I’ll be back when the bastard pops his clogs’,” Louise O’Connor explained, adding she “hadn’t a clue” where her mother was going to.
She said she did not call after her mother when she saw her going up the road that night carrying a suitcase. Louise O’Connor said she was asleep when her mother came back to the house later that night. Two weeks later, she said they found out Mr Greene had killed her mother.
Not harm a hair
Referring to Mr Greene, Louise O’Connor said he had “put his hands up for what he had done”. She also told gardaí that her father Gus would not hurt a fly.
“It’s nothing to do with me and Stephanie, why you asking me,” she told gardaí. “Only two people who know what happened that day, me ma and Kieran. Me ma is dead and Kieran is locked up,” she said.
Louise O’Connor said she could not understand why Mr Greene did not call an ambulance or gardaí that night. She also told detectives that she did not harm a hair on her mother’s head and she would go to her grave knowing that.
When gardaí asked Louise O’Connor if her mother smoked, she replied: “My ma lashed the weed out of it all day.” She said she started to get worried about her mother when there was no contact from her.
Giving evidence on Monday afternoon, Detective Garda David Connolly told Ms Lacey that he went to Mountainview Park on June 12th at 7.50pm, after Mr Greene had presented himself at Rathfarnham Garda station and was being interviewed by Sergeant Lucy Myles.
The witness said he met Louise O’Connor outside the house and she was talking to her next door neighbour. “She was crying and had her hands up to face, she was upset,” he said, adding that Louise O’Connor had also told him that Mr Greene had not been himself for the last number of weeks. “She also told us that Mr Greene had told them that he had killed Mrs O’Connor and disposed of her body in the mountains,” he said.
Det Gda Connolly said he conducted a second interview with Louise O’Connor on September 2nd, 2017. She told gardaí that Mr Greene had not followed them to the park on the evening of May 29th as he wanted to have a shower. “There are nine people in the house, getting a shower is like a miracle,” she remarked.
She said her mother was upstairs and shouting as the cat was on her bed. “I got the kids and went out and my dad got the dog and went out,” she said.
Mr Greene said he would follow them later and did not know why he had not followed, she said. When she tried to call Mr Greene’s phone, it went straight to his voicemail, she said, adding that he then sent her a text message to get lunch for the children.
When Louise O’Connor and the children returned, Mr Greene told her that Mrs O’Connor was “pissed off” because she had walked in on him having a shower, she continued.
Det Sgt Hanley testified that he conducted the third interview with Louise O’Connor on the evening of September 2nd at 8.30pm, during which she was shown CCTV footage of people entering and leaving the house at Mountainview Park on May 29th.
CCTV
The jurors were also shown the same clips, which had been played for Louise O’Connor by gardaí during her detention at Bray Garda station.
Mrs O’Connor said she was aware her next door neighbour had a camera at the front of his house. A neighbour of the O’Connor family, Sam Lin, has testified that he consented to gardaí taking possession of his CCTV system on June 14th, 2017.
During this interview, Louise O’Connor was shown CCTV footage from her neighbour’s camera of herself and the children leaving Mountainview and going to the park at 6.53pm.
Louise O'Connor told gardaí that a clip from CCTV footage at 9.04pm on the same date showed herself and the children returning from Tesco.
Louise O’Connor was shown another clip from her neighbour’s camera at 9.34pm on May 29th and said it looked like her mother walking out of the house. She told gardaí that she thought she had followed her mother out of the house after hearing the door slam and saw her mother going down the road.
At one point during the interview, Louise O’Connor told gardaí that despite everything she really loved her mother.
She said she did not contact anyone on the night of May 29th to find out where her mother was as she was more annoyed than worried. She began asking people about Mrs O’Connor’s whereabouts the following day, she continued, adding that it was not unusual for her mother to storm off.
Louise O’Connor was then shown clips from her neighbour’s CCTV camera, which showed the rear of the O’Connor’s house. “My neighbour is videoing into my house,” she said. “Nice. Is that not against the law, recording into our house? Invasion of privacy or something? F**king disgraceful,” she continued.
Louise O’Connor was also shown a clip of CCTV footage taken at the rear of the house at 6.37pm on May 29th and asked by gardaí to comment on it. “That’s me ma opening and closing the door I think,” she replied.
Louise O’Connor agreed with gardaí that someone could be seen closing a door at 10.06pm that night. She said she did not know who this was and commented that she did not see how this was important. “Does it really matter who closed the back door,” she told gardaí.
Gardaí put it to Louise O’Connor that either she, her daughter Stephanie or Mr Greene had closed the back door at this time. She said it could have been any of them but she did not remember anyone doing it. She agreed with gardaí that the person was carrying something with black on it and said it could have been a beach bag but she could not see. “I think you’re expecting me to be a miracle worker and see things I cannot see,” remarked Louise O’Connor.
The Central Criminal Court trial has heard that while in custody, Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner’s mother, six months after he was charged with her murder.
The jury has heard that Mr Greene walked into Rathfarnham Garda station on June 12th, 2017 and told a detective that he had done “something terrible” and dismembered the body of Mrs O’Connor on his own. However, the accused man told gardaí on December 9th that he had taken “the rap” and felt he was being set-up, as his girlfriend Louise O’Connor subsequently started going back out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston.
Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie’s, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O’Connor.
Mr Johnston also denies engaging in the refurbishment of a bathroom at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 between May 31st, 2017 and June 9th, 2017, in order to destroy or conceal any evidence relating to the murder of Mrs O’Connor.
Stephanie O’Connor has pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as Mrs O’Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29th, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead.
The trial continues on Tuesday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Motorists urged to take care after snowfalls in west of Ireland

Gardaí have warned motorists to be mindful of hazardous road conditions if driving , with snow falling in some parts of the west of Ireland .
Counties including Mayo , Roscommon and Sligo experienced snowfalls on Monday and , in a Twitter post accompanying images of snow covered roads , the force said : “ Gardaí would like to remind motorists who may be driving in hazardous conditions to be extremely careful , reduce speed & always maintain a safe driving distance.
” Motorists are advised to drive with particular care on the N17 Sligo to Tuam road , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ireland West Airport in Knock said heavy snow had impacted on its flight schedule on Monday afternoon and that its operations team was working to clear the runway .
Met Éireann issued an advisory note warning of cold weather and the forecaster said the wintery conditions are set to continue at least until Tuesday afternoon .
Further showers of hail , sleet and snow are expected in Connacht and Ulster and on higher ground elsewhere .
Two status yellow marine warnings were also issued by for gale force winds of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a small craft warning is also in place .
The outlook for Monday night notes a continued risk of hail and thunder and further falls of snow in some areas .
The showers will become isolated in eastern counties later in the night but further wintry falls are expected across the western half of the country .
It is expected to be cold and frosty with a high risk of ice in minimum temperatures of -2 to 2 degrees .
Met Éireann said Tuesday would start cold and frosty with icy stretches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There will be a mix of sunshine and scattered wintry showers , which will be more frequent over the western half of the country .
Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 4 to 7 degrees .
The outlook for Tuesday night is for a mostly moderate west to southwest wind , temperatures of between zero and 2 degrees and mainly dry conditions for much of the country while showers continue in Ulster .
On Wednesday temperatures will rise to between 7 and 9 degrees .

A car drives along a snow covered road near Knock in Co Mayo. A Met Éireann cold weather advisory note says the wintry conditions are set to continue at least until Tuesday afternoon. Photograph: Paul Mealey
Gardaí have warned motorists to be mindful of hazardous road conditions if driving, with snow falling in some parts of the west of Ireland.
Counties including Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo experienced snowfalls on Monday and, in a Twitter post accompanying images of snow covered roads, the force said: “Gardaí would like to remind motorists who may be driving in hazardous conditions to be extremely careful, reduce speed & always maintain a safe driving distance.”
Motorists are advised to drive with particular care on the N17 Sligo to Tuam road, and around Westport and Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo.
The hazardous road conditions out West continue this afternoon as these photos in Sligo demonstrate. Gardaí would like to remind motorists who may be driving in hazardous conditions to be extremely careful, reduce speed & always maintain a safe driving distance. #BeWinterReady pic.twitter.com/pA7xH37aiM — An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) January 27, 2020
The current situation at the airport as heavy snow has impacted our flight schedule this afternoon. Our operations team are working to clear the runway but current conditions and continued heavy snowfall are challenging #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y7TrhyGCIx — Ireland West Airport (@Irelandwest) January 27, 2020
Ireland West Airport in Knock said heavy snow had impacted on its flight schedule on Monday afternoon and that its operations team was working to clear the runway.
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Met Éireann issued an advisory note warning of cold weather and the forecaster said the wintery conditions are set to continue at least until Tuesday afternoon. Further showers of hail, sleet and snow are expected in Connacht and Ulster and on higher ground elsewhere.
Two status yellow marine warnings were also issued by for gale force winds of up to force 8 on all Irish coastal waters and a small craft warning is also in place.
The outlook for Monday night notes a continued risk of hail and thunder and further falls of snow in some areas.
The showers will become isolated in eastern counties later in the night but further wintry falls are expected across the western half of the country. It is expected to be cold and frosty with a high risk of ice in minimum temperatures of -2 to 2 degrees.
Met Éireann said Tuesday would start cold and frosty with icy stretches on untreated surfaces and some lying snow. There will be a mix of sunshine and scattered wintry showers, which will be more frequent over the western half of the country. Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 4 to 7 degrees.
The outlook for Tuesday night is for a mostly moderate west to southwest wind, temperatures of between zero and 2 degrees and mainly dry conditions for much of the country while showers continue in Ulster.
On Wednesday temperatures will rise to between 7 and 9 degrees.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Man jailed for sexually assaulting woman with special needs

A Mayo man who sexually assaulted a woman with special needs in his home has been given a three years sentence with the final year suspended .
The man ( 59 ) , who can not be named for legal reasons , pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexual assault of the woman at his address on March 13th , 2015 .
At an earlier sentencing hearing , Detective Garda Roisin Loftus told John O ’ Kelly SC , prosecuting , that on the date in question the victim cycled to the man ’ s house to visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man ’ s son were friends and had attended the same special needs school .
Det Gda Loftus said the man had been viewing pornography on his iPad and that when he went to get his son , the woman looked at the iPad .
When he returned he asked her if she was interested in what she had seen .
The court heard that the man asked her if she would like to do it and the woman reported she did not say yes .
The man pulled down her trousers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A medical report opened to the court concluded that the woman is not capable of living independently and that she does not have the capacity to give consent due to her low level of cognitive function .
In interview with gardaí , the man admitted ejaculating on the woman , but claimed that she said she did want to do what she saw in the pornographic material and took down her own trousers .
In her victim impact statement , which was read out in court , the woman said she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the incident .
She said she was still very anxious when she goes out in public .
Paul Flannery SC , defending , said this was a spontaneous one-off incident and that this was not a case of grooming anybody .
He said his client apologised unreservedly to the victim for the offence .
Passing sentence on Monday , Mr Justice Michael White noted the two most aggravating factors in the case were the serious nature of the assault and the vulnerability of the victim .
He said there were exceptional mitigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed to be totally out of character for the accused man , whom he noted was a very caring parent to his own son with special needs .
Mr Justice White took into account the man had no previous convictions , that he had expressed genuine remorse , acknowledged what he had done and was a good family man .
He imposed a three year sentence and suspended the final year on conditions including that the man undergo assessment for the Better Lives programme .

A Mayo man who sexually assaulted a woman with special needs in his home has been given a three years sentence with the final year suspended.
The man (59), who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexual assault of the woman at his address on March 13th, 2015.
At an earlier sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Roisin Loftus told John O’Kelly SC, prosecuting, that on the date in question the victim cycled to the man’s house to visit his son. The woman and the man’s son were friends and had attended the same special needs school.
Det Gda Loftus said the man had been viewing pornography on his iPad and that when he went to get his son, the woman looked at the iPad. When he returned he asked her if she was interested in what she had seen.
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The court heard that the man asked her if she would like to do it and the woman reported she did not say yes. The man pulled down her trousers and masturbated over the victim’s buttocks.
A medical report opened to the court concluded that the woman is not capable of living independently and that she does not have the capacity to give consent due to her low level of cognitive function.
In interview with gardaí, the man admitted ejaculating on the woman, but claimed that she said she did want to do what she saw in the pornographic material and took down her own trousers.
In her victim impact statement, which was read out in court, the woman said she was very upset and had many sleepless nights following the incident. She said she was still very anxious when she goes out in public.
Paul Flannery SC, defending, said this was a spontaneous one-off incident and that this was not a case of grooming anybody. He said his client apologised unreservedly to the victim for the offence.
Passing sentence on Monday, Mr Justice Michael White noted the two most aggravating factors in the case were the serious nature of the assault and the vulnerability of the victim.
He said there were exceptional mitigating circumstances in this case and the offence seemed to be totally out of character for the accused man, whom he noted was a very caring parent to his own son with special needs.
Mr Justice White took into account the man had no previous convictions, that he had expressed genuine remorse, acknowledged what he had done and was a good family man.
He imposed a three year sentence and suspended the final year on conditions including that the man undergo assessment for the Better Lives programme.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Doctor struck off register for failing to keep up with professional competency

A doctor has been struck off the medical register by the president of the High Court after he was found guilty of misconduct by repeatedly ignoring requirements to keep up to date with his professional competency .
Mr Justice Peter Kelly said Dr Syed Munir , a senior house officer in the anaesthesiology department of Blanchardstown Hospital , Dublin , had been “ given every opportunity to put things right ” .
However , he had ignored the Medical Council and acted in breach of conditions previously imposed on him in an effort to get him to comply with professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The judge agreed with the Council his striking off was essential for public safety .
JP McDowell , solicitor for the Council , said this was the third disciplinary process against Dr Munir since 2015 .
Despite hundreds of letters and emails to him , the doctor had a history of non-engagement with the Council ’ s professional and disciplinary requirements , Mr McDowell said .
Dr Munir had sent an email last Friday saying he would be unable to attend court on Monday as he was unwell , the court heard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified in Pakistan in 1991 and lives in Clonee , Dublin 15 , was subject some years ago of a professional competency audit .
He did not participate in that audit and as a result in 2015 , a Council Fitness to Practise Committee imposed conditions on his registration including that he comply with ongoing competency obligations .
He failed to carry them out and there was a further inquiry in 2017 which resulted in the Council recommending his suspension from practice for six months .
When those six months expired , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competency schemes .
He again failed to do so and another inquiry found him guilty again of misconduct with the result that , last November , the Council recommended his striking off .
Apart from failing to comply with professional competency requirements , he was also found guilty of submitting paperwork to the Council in which he answered ‘ Yes ’ to questions about taking part in competency schemes and saying ‘ No ’ to a question of whether he had ever been the subject of sanctions .
Mr Justice Kelly said these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were being provided to the Council which was responsible for them in the first place .
The judge noted the president of the Council took a more severe view of what Dr Munir did , saying it was dishonesty .
The Committee , in recommending cancellation of registration , described the doctor as a “ serial offender ” who represents a risk to the public .
Mr Justice Kelly said he saw no good reason for not striking Dr Munir off the register and he confirmed the decision of the Council .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan be informed of the decision .

Despite hundreds of letters and emails to him, Dr Syed Munir had a history of non-engagement with the Medical Council’s professional and disciplinary requirements, the court heard. File photograph: David Sleator
A doctor has been struck off the medical register by the president of the High Court after he was found guilty of misconduct by repeatedly ignoring requirements to keep up to date with his professional competency.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly said Dr Syed Munir, a senior house officer in the anaesthesiology department of Blanchardstown Hospital, Dublin, had been "given every opportunity to put things right".
However, he had ignored the Medical Council and acted in breach of conditions previously imposed on him in an effort to get him to comply with professional competence requirements, the judge said.
The judge agreed with the Council his striking off was essential for public safety.
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JP McDowell, solicitor for the Council, said this was the third disciplinary process against Dr Munir since 2015.
Despite hundreds of letters and emails to him, the doctor had a history of non-engagement with the Council’s professional and disciplinary requirements, Mr McDowell said.
Dr Munir had sent an email last Friday saying he would be unable to attend court on Monday as he was unwell, the court heard.
Mr McDowell said Dr Munir, who qualified in Pakistan in 1991 and lives in Clonee, Dublin 15, was subject some years ago of a professional competency audit.
He did not participate in that audit and as a result in 2015, a Council Fitness to Practise Committee imposed conditions on his registration including that he comply with ongoing competency obligations.
He failed to carry them out and there was a further inquiry in 2017 which resulted in the Council recommending his suspension from practice for six months. When those six months expired, he was still required to engage with professional competency schemes.
He again failed to do so and another inquiry found him guilty again of misconduct with the result that, last November, the Council recommended his striking off.
Apart from failing to comply with professional competency requirements, he was also found guilty of submitting paperwork to the Council in which he answered ‘Yes’ to questions about taking part in competency schemes and saying ‘No’ to a question of whether he had ever been the subject of sanctions.
Mr Justice Kelly said these seemed “extraordinarily stupid answers” when they were being provided to the Council which was responsible for them in the first place.
The judge noted the president of the Council took a more severe view of what Dr Munir did, saying it was dishonesty.
The Committee, in recommending cancellation of registration, described the doctor as a “serial offender” who represents a risk to the public.
Mr Justice Kelly said he saw no good reason for not striking Dr Munir off the register and he confirmed the decision of the Council. He also directed the relevant authority in Pakistan be informed of the decision.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Bespoke unit for ‘deeply disturbed’ woman would cost €1m, court told

It would cost more than €1 million to provide a bespoke isolation detention unit in a mental health facility for a “ deeply disturbed ” woman who is deemed a danger to staff , other patients and herself , the High Court has been told .
The HSE says it does not have the money to do so and that the woman ’ s current accommodation , while not ideal , is the best that can be provided at the moment .
It says the €1 million plus bill would be in addition to current costs of having two nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been involved in hundreds of incidents , including cases of self-harm and assault , since she was first admitted to the facility in 2014 under mental health legislation .
One nurse resigned after being seriously assaulted and a second is still out on long-term illness leave , the court heard .
As a result of the woman ’ s involvement in some 196 incidents in 2015 , she had to be housed in a common sitting room in the facility where she can be permanently monitored by staff and CCTV at the nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman , who is middle aged , was made a ward of court last September which means the president of the High Court , Mr Justice Peter Kelly , reviews her detention at least twice a year .
On Monday , the judge ordered her continued detention for another four weeks .
He said he was doing so after being told an inspector with the Mental Health Commission expressed concern in relation to the recording and registering of her situation in the specially monitored area .
Seclusion of patients must be done in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court heard .
The judge was told by a solicitor , appointed in 2014 to represent the woman following her committal to the facility , that her behaviour had improved recently .
The solicitor believed she needed a bespoke unit because the existing situation was not appropriate , although staff were doing their best for her .
While her physical health had improved , her mental health had not , he said .
The solicitor said the woman is effectively in seclusion as her room is locked , she does not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so without proper supervision as there would be a risk of assault by her .
The General Solicitor for Wards of Court , who represents her interests under wardship , said the wardship situation had not changed the pressure on the HSE to provide a specialised unit , which it was accepted was very expensive .
A solicitor for the HSE said it did not accept the current arrangement was seclusion in the way it is defined by the guidelines .
What was being provided at the moment was a clinically appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solicitor said .
The woman can not be allowed to return to living among other patients , particularly in view of the ferocity of the assaults on two staff members , she said .
The HSE was acutely aware that her current situation was inappropriate but it was “ the best place at the moment taking into account capital constraints ” , the solicitor said .
Mr Justice Kelly said there was a concern the current situation compromised her dignity .
She was locked in a room with little or no therapeutic space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before him was that she was deeply disturbed as a result of a psychiatric condition for a long time .
He had last September authorised appropriate restraint , monitoring and seclusion in accordance with the guidelines .
While the general solicitor and the woman ’ s solicitor appointed under mental health legislation view her current placement as inappropriate it was the best the health service can provide with the budget at its disposal , he said .
Efforts to find a place for her in the UK were not successful .
He directed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical visitor and put the case back for four weeks with the detention order remaining in place until then .

It would cost more than €1 million to provide a bespoke isolation detention unit in a mental health facility for a ‘deeply disturbed’ woman who is deemed a danger to staff, other patients and herself, the High Court has been told. File photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times.
It would cost more than €1 million to provide a bespoke isolation detention unit in a mental health facility for a “deeply disturbed” woman who is deemed a danger to staff, other patients and herself, the High Court has been told.
The HSE says it does not have the money to do so and that the woman’s current accommodation, while not ideal, is the best that can be provided at the moment.
It says the €1 million plus bill would be in addition to current costs of having two nurses permanently chaperone the woman because she has been involved in hundreds of incidents, including cases of self-harm and assault, since she was first admitted to the facility in 2014 under mental health legislation.
One nurse resigned after being seriously assaulted and a second is still out on long-term illness leave, the court heard.
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As a result of the woman’s involvement in some 196 incidents in 2015, she had to be housed in a common sitting room in the facility where she can be permanently monitored by staff and CCTV at the nurses station, the court heard.
The woman, who is middle aged, was made a ward of court last September which means the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, reviews her detention at least twice a year.
On Monday, the judge ordered her continued detention for another four weeks. He said he was doing so after being told an inspector with the Mental Health Commission expressed concern in relation to the recording and registering of her situation in the specially monitored area.
Seclusion of patients must be done in accordance with approved guidelines and protocols, the court heard.
The judge was told by a solicitor, appointed in 2014 to represent the woman following her committal to the facility, that her behaviour had improved recently.
Not appropriate
The solicitor believed she needed a bespoke unit because the existing situation was not appropriate, although staff were doing their best for her. While her physical health had improved, her mental health had not, he said.
The solicitor said the woman is effectively in seclusion as her room is locked, she does not have access to other patients and could not do so without proper supervision as there would be a risk of assault by her.
The General Solicitor for Wards of Court, who represents her interests under wardship, said the wardship situation had not changed the pressure on the HSE to provide a specialised unit, which it was accepted was very expensive.
A solicitor for the HSE said it did not accept the current arrangement was seclusion in the way it is defined by the guidelines.
What was being provided at the moment was a clinically appropriate way of treating the woman, the solicitor said. The woman cannot be allowed to return to living among other patients, particularly in view of the ferocity of the assaults on two staff members, she said.
The HSE was acutely aware that her current situation was inappropriate but it was “the best place at the moment taking into account capital constraints”, the solicitor said.
Dignity
Mr Justice Kelly said there was a concern the current situation compromised her dignity. She was locked in a room with little or no therapeutic space, he said.
All the evidence before him was that she was deeply disturbed as a result of a psychiatric condition for a long time. He had last September authorised appropriate restraint, monitoring and seclusion in accordance with the guidelines.
While the general solicitor and the woman’s solicitor appointed under mental health legislation view her current placement as inappropriate it was the best the health service can provide with the budget at its disposal, he said. Efforts to find a place for her in the UK were not successful.
He directed a report be provided by a court medical visitor and put the case back for four weeks with the detention order remaining in place until then.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Woman exhumed after being buried in wrong grave in Kerry cemetery

A woman ’ s body has been exhumed from a grave in a Co Kerry cemetery after she was buried in a plot bought by another family following an apparent error by Kerry County Council .
The woman has since been buried in a different plot at St John Paul II cemetery in Listowel and council sources expect a formal apology will be issued to the two families involved .
“ At the request of the families involved and out of respect for their privacy , Kerry County Council will not be commenting on the matter , ” the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
Radio Kerry on Monday reported that the council had carried out the exhumation and reburial .
The cemetery was closed to the public on Friday while this took place with officials from the council and HSE environmental health officers present , as required by legislation .
Grave plots are sold only when a death has taken place and it is understood that last March , following the death of a woman in her 60s , three plots were bought by her family .
A fortnight ago that woman ’ s husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grave and noticed that another woman had been buried in the adjoining plot .
It is understood that the same plot was sold twice by the council in error .
A person close to the families concerned said both were deeply hurt by the way the matter was dealt with by the local authority .
“ The whole thing has added to the families ’ grief , ” the source said , adding that a written apology had not yet been received from the council .
“ Both these families are grieving they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling grief .
For a body as big as Kerry County Council to deal with families who are so traumatised in this way is not on.
” Last night Kerry County Council said contact was made and maintained with both of the families affected “ from the outset and formal apologies have issued to both families involved , having due regard to the sensitivities involved ” .
“ The council is reviewing existing procedures in this matter .
”

St John Paul II cemetery in Listowel, Co Kerry was closed to the public on Friday while the exhumation and reburial took place. File photograph: iStock
A woman’s body has been exhumed from a grave in a Co Kerry cemetery after she was buried in a plot bought by another family following an apparent error by Kerry County Council.
The woman has since been buried in a different plot at St John Paul II cemetery in Listowel and council sources expect a formal apology will be issued to the two families involved.
“At the request of the families involved and out of respect for their privacy, Kerry County Council will not be commenting on the matter,” the council said when asked about the matter on Monday.
Radio Kerry on Monday reported that the council had carried out the exhumation and reburial. The cemetery was closed to the public on Friday while this took place with officials from the council and HSE environmental health officers present, as required by legislation.
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Grave plots are sold only when a death has taken place and it is understood that last March, following the death of a woman in her 60s, three plots were bought by her family.
A fortnight ago that woman’s husband arrived to visit his wife’s grave and noticed that another woman had been buried in the adjoining plot.
It is understood that the same plot was sold twice by the council in error.
A person close to the families concerned said both were deeply hurt by the way the matter was dealt with by the local authority.
“The whole thing has added to the families’ grief,” the source said, adding that a written apology had not yet been received from the council.
“Both these families are grieving they are at a very early stage of handling grief. For a body as big as Kerry County Council to deal with families who are so traumatised in this way is not on.”
Last night Kerry County Council said contact was made and maintained with both of the families affected “ from the outset and formal apologies have issued to both families involved, having due regard to the sensitivities involved”.
“The council is reviewing existing procedures in this matter.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Nursing home had one staff member on duty for 44 residents

A nursing home in Co Kerry had just one staff member duty over a weekend to look after 44 residents , inspectors fro m a health watchdog have found .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) said that while staff levels at the Lystoll Lodge in Listowel had increased over recent months , a shortage of workers was still a significant issue at the facility .
“ This was a high risk practice as supervision was not robust on these occasions , hence the risk of a resident missing a meal was higher and a medication documentation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the report states .
“ Inspectors found that a resident in the upstairs sitting room appeared distressed and was perspiring .
Inspectors were required to call a staff member to attend to the resident .
In addition , an external contractor was observed to look for a staff member in the upstairs section , however , he was seen to have to go downstairs to locate a member of staff.
” The inspectors said that these issues were viewed as significant because some residents had high levels of needs and their visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that an investigation into an allegation of an abusive interaction had not been followed up with appropriate actions and that there were issues with the recording and verification or nurses who administered medicine .
A number of concerns raised indicated that not all staff were aware of what constituted verbal and psychological abuse , Hiqa said .
For example , residents had complained of rushed care , being dressed “ in a temper ’ ’ and not being given a bell prior to the carer leaving the room , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the part of a small number of staff .
Complaints had been made in relation to inadequate support and care at end-of-life , however , Hiqa found staff had not been afforded training in this aspect of care .
“ As a result , inspectors could not be assured that all staff were aware of best practice in holistic end-of-life care to include emotional support for all involved , ” the report states .
In response to the inspection , the centre said an additional clinical nurse manager and two senior staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and policies were also put in place , it said .
The report was one of 60 nursing home inspections released on Monday , of which 40 were found to be compliant with regulations and standards .
In the remaining 20 centres , inspectors found evidence of non-compliance , with providers failing to ensure that the service delivered to residents was effectively monitored in line with regulations and standards .
There was non-compliance in various areas including end of life care , protection of residents , risk management , managing challenging behaviour and @ @ @ @ @

A nursing home in Co Kerry had just one staff member duty over a weekend to look after 44 residents, inspectors fro m a health watchdog have found. File photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times.
A nursing home in Co Kerry had just one staff member duty over a weekend to look after 44 residents, inspectors fro m a health watchdog have found.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) said that while staff levels at the Lystoll Lodge in Listowel had increased over recent months, a shortage of workers was still a significant issue at the facility.
“This was a high risk practice as supervision was not robust on these occasions, hence the risk of a resident missing a meal was higher and a medication documentation error was seen to have occurred,” the report states.
“Inspectors found that a resident in the upstairs sitting room appeared distressed and was perspiring. Inspectors were required to call a staff member to attend to the resident. In addition, an external contractor was observed to look for a staff member in the upstairs section, however, he was seen to have to go downstairs to locate a member of staff.”
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The inspectors said that these issues were viewed as significant because some residents had high levels of needs and their visitors required information and support.
Inspectors also found that an investigation into an allegation of an abusive interaction had not been followed up with appropriate actions and that there were issues with the recording and verification or nurses who administered medicine. A number of concerns raised indicated that not all staff were aware of what constituted verbal and psychological abuse, Hiqa said.
‘In a temper’
For example, residents had complained of rushed care, being dressed “in a temper’’ and not being given a bell prior to the carer leaving the room, as well as a poor ‘’attitude’’ on the part of a small number of staff.
Complaints had been made in relation to inadequate support and care at end-of-life, however, Hiqa found staff had not been afforded training in this aspect of care.
“As a result, inspectors could not be assured that all staff were aware of best practice in holistic end-of-life care to include emotional support for all involved,” the report states.
In response to the inspection, the centre said an additional clinical nurse manager and two senior staff nurses had been recruited. Additional training and policies were also put in place, it said.
The report was one of 60 nursing home inspections released on Monday, of which 40 were found to be compliant with regulations and standards.
In the remaining 20 centres, inspectors found evidence of non-compliance, with providers failing to ensure that the service delivered to residents was effectively monitored in line with regulations and standards.
There was non-compliance in various areas including end of life care, protection of residents, risk management, managing challenging behaviour and on residents’ rights.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--‘Significant progress’ in Tusla reforms following critical report

There has been “ significant progress ” on a range of reforms at Tusla , the child and family agency , following a damning 2018 report by the State health watchdog into how the agency handled child sex abuse allegations .
Following a year-long investigation , the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) found systems failures in Tusla had led to the mishandling of abuse allegations .
The failures arose from a gap between Tusla ’ s policies and actual practice on the ground and a series of changes .
The final report of an expert group set-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undertaking these reforms , published on Monday , found the agency had made “ significant progress ” in addressing previous shortcomings .
The group was chaired by Dr Moling Ryan , and included experts in child protection such as Dr Helen Buckley and Dr Conor O ’ Mahony , the Government ’ s special rapporteur on child protection .
Out of 46 actions for improvement , Tusla had completed 10 and a further 31 were on track to be completed .
Five actions had been undertaken in part , and no targets were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the report .
However , the group said it was concerned that current legislation did “ not adequately equip Tusla to conduct investigations ” into allegations of abuse .
It said the problem lies in a lack of legal clarity as to how Tusla must balance the duty to protect children from harm , with the right of the accused to fair procedures .
The experts recommended a greater role for the Garda National Vetting Bureau to fill this gap , as it has a stronger statutory footing in the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken , challenges to the investigatory aspects of Tusla ’ s role will persist , ” they said .
The report notes that Tusla lacks several powers of investigation open to An Garda Síochána , such as the power to compel a witness to attend an interview or to seize evidence .
When investigating an allegation it has to rely on the “ cooperation of both the complainant and the person who is the subject of the allegations , ” it said .
The main action Tusla can take if it finds an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share the information , the report said .
Another challenge for the agency “ lies in increasing the number of social work graduates available to Tusla to tackle unallocated cases , ” the report said .
“ Despite Tusla ’ s willingness to recruit more social work graduates , it is restricted to targeting the currently available pool , approximately 215 per annum.
” Another area which had seen a lack of progress was the signing of a data sharing protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána .
Minister for Children Katherine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how Tusla dealt with abuse allegations following the mishandling of a false allegation against now-retired Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe .
Tusla ’ s chief executive , Bernard Gloster , said he was pleased with progress made over the 18 months following the highly critical Hiqa report .
“ We must also be aware of areas where challenges remain and continue to work on these areas which include attracting and retaining staff , managing increasing demands across our services , and rebuilding public confidence , ” he said .

The original report into how Tusla managed allegations of child sexual abuse was published in June 2018. The child and family agency has since been undertaking reforms. Photograph: Tom Honan
There has been "significant progress" on a range of reforms at Tusla, the child and family agency, following a damning 2018 report by the State health watchdog into how the agency handled child sex abuse allegations.
Following a year-long investigation, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found systems failures in Tusla had led to the mishandling of abuse allegations.
The failures arose from a gap between Tusla’s policies and actual practice on the ground and a series of changes.
The final report of an expert group set-up to monitor Tusla’s progress in undertaking these reforms, published on Monday, found the agency had made “significant progress” in addressing previous shortcomings.
READ MORE
The group was chaired by Dr Moling Ryan, and included experts in child protection such as Dr Helen Buckley and Dr Conor O'Mahony, the Government's special rapporteur on child protection.
Out of 46 actions for improvement, Tusla had completed 10 and a further 31 were on track to be completed. Five actions had been undertaken in part, and no targets were listed as delayed or not achievable, according to the report.
Legal clarity
However, the group said it was concerned that current legislation did “not adequately equip Tusla to conduct investigations” into allegations of abuse. It said the problem lies in a lack of legal clarity as to how Tusla must balance the duty to protect children from harm, with the right of the accused to fair procedures.
The experts recommended a greater role for the Garda National Vetting Bureau to fill this gap, as it has a stronger statutory footing in the area.
“Irrespective of the approach eventually taken, challenges to the investigatory aspects of Tusla’s role will persist,” they said.
The report notes that Tusla lacks several powers of investigation open to An Garda Síochána, such as the power to compel a witness to attend an interview or to seize evidence. When investigating an allegation it has to rely on the “cooperation of both the complainant and the person who is the subject of the allegations,” it said.
The main action Tusla can take if it finds an allegation of abuse to be founded is to share the information, the report said.
Another challenge for the agency “lies in increasing the number of social work graduates available to Tusla to tackle unallocated cases,” the report said.
“Despite Tusla’s willingness to recruit more social work graduates, it is restricted to targeting the currently available pool, approximately 215 per annum.”
Data sharing
Another area which had seen a lack of progress was the signing of a data sharing protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone asked Hiqa to investigate concerns about how Tusla dealt with abuse allegations following the mishandling of a false allegation against now-retired Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
Tusla's chief executive, Bernard Gloster, said he was pleased with progress made over the 18 months following the highly critical Hiqa report.
“We must also be aware of areas where challenges remain and continue to work on these areas which include attracting and retaining staff, managing increasing demands across our services, and rebuilding public confidence,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Man given suspended sentence for assaulting transgender escort

A former youth rugby player who assaulted a transgender escort in her home has received a fully suspended sentence .
Ben O ’ Reilly ( 21 ) formerly of The Old Mill , Ratoath , Co Meath , now residing at Village Green , Kilucan , Co Westmeath , had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Fernanda de Freitas causing her harm and robbing her of cash and her iPhone at her home on May 20th 2017 .
On the third day of the trial in December 2019 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court , a jury of ten women and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms de Freitas and acquitted him of the robbery charge .
He has no previous convictions .
Passing sentence on Monday , Judge Elma Sheahan said that after a dispute regarding the payment for the services of an escort , O ’ Reilly punched the victim and injured her further by placing his hands around her neck .
She said the case was aggravated by the seriousness of the offence .
Judge Sheahan said O ’ Reilly had lost the support of his mother , brothers and friends and had been suspended from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigating factors included his previous good character , his youth at the time and his acceptance of the jury ’ s verdict .
She noted that if a term of imprisonment were imposed , O ’ Reilly would lose his role with the British Armed Forces .
Judge Sheahan sentenced O ’ Reilly to two years imprisonment , but suspended the sentence in full on condition that he pay €10,000 in compensation to Ms de Freitas within a period of 12 months .
At an earlier sentencing hearing , Garda Brian O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that the woman worked as an escort and she first met the accused through an app called Grindr .
Gda O ’ Carroll said that on the date in question , O ’ Reilly went to her address and agreed to pay €500 .
He handed over €150 and Ms de Freitas said she would require him to go to the bank to get the rest .
After they engaged in “ intimacy ” , O ’ Reilly asked for his money back and punched Ms de Freitas in the face .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued punching her and began to squeeze her neck , stopping after she kicked him in the groin .
Ms de Freitas gave him €150 and he left her address , leaving his phone behind .
Gardaí used his phone to identify him as a suspect .
In interview with gardaí , O ’ Reilly said that because he had done this type of thing before he was under the impression he could get away with not paying .
He admitted that he hit the victim , but claimed she had become aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wallet In her victim impact statement , which was read out in court , Ms de Freitas said she felt it was important to make a report as she did not want him to do this to another woman .
She said she was unable to work for some time and needed to work to support her family .
Emmet Nolan BL , defending , said his client contested the case on the basis of self-defence .
He said his client accepted the verdict of the jury .
Mr Nolan said O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leinster U18s and U19s and played rugby for the Connacht U20s .
He said his client previously worked as a rugby coach for Florida State University .
He said O ’ Reilly has enlisted in UK army training and faced an automatic discharge if he received a custodial sentence .

A former youth rugby player who assaulted a transgender escort in her home has received a fully suspended sentence.
Ben O'Reilly (21) formerly of The Old Mill, Ratoath, Co Meath, now residing at Village Green, Kilucan, Co Westmeath, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Fernanda de Freitas causing her harm and robbing her of cash and her iPhone at her home on May 20th 2017.
On the third day of the trial in December 2019 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury of ten women and two men convicted O’Reilly of assaulting Ms de Freitas and acquitted him of the robbery charge. He has no previous convictions.
Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Elma Sheahan said that after a dispute regarding the payment for the services of an escort, O’Reilly punched the victim and injured her further by placing his hands around her neck. She said the case was aggravated by the seriousness of the offence.
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Suspended from rugby club
Judge Sheahan said O’Reilly had lost the support of his mother, brothers and friends and had been suspended from his rugby club. She said further mitigating factors included his previous good character, his youth at the time and his acceptance of the jury’s verdict.
She noted that if a term of imprisonment were imposed, O’Reilly would lose his role with the British Armed Forces.
Judge Sheahan sentenced O’Reilly to two years imprisonment, but suspended the sentence in full on condition that he pay €10,000 in compensation to Ms de Freitas within a period of 12 months.
At an earlier sentencing hearing, Garda Brian O’Carroll told Ronan Prendergast BL, prosecuting, that the woman worked as an escort and she first met the accused through an app called Grindr.
Gda O’Carroll said that on the date in question, O’Reilly went to her address and agreed to pay €500. He handed over €150 and Ms de Freitas said she would require him to go to the bank to get the rest.
After they engaged in “intimacy”, O’Reilly asked for his money back and punched Ms de Freitas in the face. He jumped on top of her, continued punching her and began to squeeze her neck, stopping after she kicked him in the groin.
Ms de Freitas gave him €150 and he left her address, leaving his phone behind. Gardaí used his phone to identify him as a suspect.
In interview with gardaí, O’Reilly said that because he had done this type of thing before he was under the impression he could get away with not paying. He admitted that he hit the victim, but claimed she had become aggressive and started taking money out of his wallet
Another woman
In her victim impact statement, which was read out in court, Ms de Freitas said she felt it was important to make a report as she did not want him to do this to another woman. She said she was unable to work for some time and needed to work to support her family.
Emmet Nolan BL, defending, said his client contested the case on the basis of self-defence. He said his client accepted the verdict of the jury.
Mr Nolan said O’Reilly was capped four times for the Leinster U18s and U19s and played rugby for the Connacht U20s. He said his client previously worked as a rugby coach for Florida State University.
He said O’Reilly has enlisted in UK army training and faced an automatic discharge if he received a custodial sentence.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Jury sworn in for trial of man charged with murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe

A 15-person jury has been sworn in to hear the trial of a man charged with the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe seven years ago .
Aaron Brady replied “ not guilty ” when charged with the murder of Det Gda Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th , 2013 at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth .
The 28-year-old from New Road , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh also replied “ not guilty ” to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same location .
Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court told the jury panel that the trial will be a lengthy one and is estimated to finish on May 28th .
He warned the panel not to allow themselves to be sworn onto the jury if they have a difficulty in serving , as that would cause “ serious difficulties ” for the court .
The judge said the trial will break for two weeks at Easter and will not sit on the St Patrick ’ s Day public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be breaks when he will deal with legal matters in the absence of the jury .
He added : “ That may suit self-employed people , who I would hope would consider sitting on the jury.
” He said he was conscious it is a long trial but added : “ The director [ Director of Public Prosecutions ] and defence and the Court are anxious to get a cross-section of jurors from all walks of life and I would ask you to consider serving for those reasons.
” Mr Justice White said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to let him know if they are aware of publicity and media coverage that might affect their impartiality .
He further stated that anyone from the Carlingford area , including Louth , Newry and south Armagh , should not serve because witnesses in the trial are from those areas .
He further explained that 15 people would be selected but only 12 will take part in the final deliberations .
The extra jurors are there in case someone is forced to drop out through illness or any other reason .
If more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial there will be an open ballot to decide the final make-up of the jury , Mr Justice White said .
It took nearly two hours to swear nine women and six men as more than 40 potential jurors were excused after pleading to the judge .
Mr Justice White warned them not to look on social media or to research anything on the internet relating to the trial as they are only to pay attention to the evidence in court .
The trial will open on Tuesday .

The trial of Aaron Brady from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is expected to be a lengthy one. File photograph: Collins
A 15-person jury has been sworn in to hear the trial of a man charged with the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe seven years ago.
Aaron Brady replied "not guilty" when charged with the murder of Det Gda Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
The 28-year-old from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh also replied "not guilty" to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew on the same date and at the same location.
Mr Justice Michael White at the Central Criminal Court told the jury panel that the trial will be a lengthy one and is estimated to finish on May 28th.
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He warned the panel not to allow themselves to be sworn onto the jury if they have a difficulty in serving, as that would cause “serious difficulties” for the court.
The late Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. Photograph: Garda/PA
The judge said the trial will break for two weeks at Easter and will not sit on the St Patrick’s Day public holiday. He said there will also be breaks when he will deal with legal matters in the absence of the jury. He added: “That may suit self-employed people, who I would hope would consider sitting on the jury.” He said he was conscious it is a long trial but added: “The director [Director of Public Prosecutions] and defence and the Court are anxious to get a cross-section of jurors from all walks of life and I would ask you to consider serving for those reasons.”
Mr Justice White said jurors must be impartial and asked them to let him know if they are aware of publicity and media coverage that might affect their impartiality. He further stated that anyone from the Carlingford area, including Louth, Newry and south Armagh, should not serve because witnesses in the trial are from those areas.
He further explained that 15 people would be selected but only 12 will take part in the final deliberations. The extra jurors are there in case someone is forced to drop out through illness or any other reason. If more than 12 jurors remain at the end of the trial there will be an open ballot to decide the final make-up of the jury, Mr Justice White said.
It took nearly two hours to swear nine women and six men as more than 40 potential jurors were excused after pleading to the judge. Mr Justice White warned them not to look on social media or to research anything on the internet relating to the trial as they are only to pay attention to the evidence in court.
The trial will open on Tuesday.


theirishtimes--2020-01-27--Gardaí may have to wait days to interview mother of McGinley children

It may be several days before gardaí can interview the mother of the three McGinley children who were found dead in their home in Newcastle , Co Dublin late last week .
The bodies of Conor ( 9 ) , Darragh ( 7 ) and Carla ( 3 ) were discovered in their home in the south Dublin village just before 8pm on Friday .
The children ’ s mother , Deirdre Morley , remains in an unconscious state in Tallaght Hospital .
The nurse was found by a taxi-driver in a disorientated condition near her house on Friday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be able to interview Ms Morley until her condition improves significantly .
It is understood that , although the woman remains seriously ill , she is expected to survive .
A Garda source said the investigation is a murder inquiry “ in all but name ” but that it is unlikely to be officially designated as such until gardaí speak to Ms Morley .
Gardaí believe the children were drugged , possibly with a sedative , before being suffocated .
Investigations will centre on what medication was in the house at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lady ’ s Children ’ s Hospital in Crumlin before going on stress related leave several months ago .
The children ’ s bodies were discovered by emergency workers along with a note stating “ don ’ t go upstairs ” and “ call 999 ” .
It is understood that another note was later found expressing concern about the children ’ s futures .
Andrew McGinley , the children ’ s father , returned to the house on Parsons Court on Monday in the company of family members following the completion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime examiners .
Throughout the evening neighbours continued to add to the hill of flowers and teddy bears which has appeared outside the house over the weekend .
Postmortems on the children have been completed but gardaí have declined to release the results , citing operations reasons .
Further toxicology reports are still awaited and will help guide inquiries , gardaí said .
Mr McGinley , a manager at a catering and facilities management company in south Dublin , has already spoken with gardaí on several occasions .
On Monday the school attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ wonderful boys ” .
Scoil Chrónáin , a gaelscoil in Rathcoole , said it was “ deeply saddened ” by the sudden deaths of Conchúr and Darragh Mac Fhionnghaile and their sister Carla .
Conor was in third class and Darragh was in first class at the school .
Carla ( 3 ) attended a local pre-school .
“ It is a tragedy for our community .
Our sympathy , thoughts and prayers are with the McGinley and Morley families and all their friends , ” the school said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ‘ Rang a Trí ’ and Darragh was in ‘ Rang a hAon ’ .
They were both wonderful boys and it was a pleasure to have them in our school .
They will be greatly missed by all who knew them .
“ Offers of support have been pouring in and are really appreciated.
” The school has implemented a critical incident management plan in response to the deaths of the three children , who were found at their home on the Parson ’ s Court estate in Newcastle .
Psychologists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NEPS ) attended with the school over the weekend and will continue to provide support and advice in the coming days .
NEPS staff will provide support to parents and teachers as well as advice on how to talk to children about the tragedy .
Support is also being provided by the South Dublin Children and Young People ’ s Service Committee ( CYPSC ) and Tusla .
The school said that it would remain open and asked that the media respected the privacy of the school as well as the McGinley and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time .

Conor (9), Carla (3) and Darragh McGinley (7) with their father Andrew McGinley. The children were found dead in a house in Co Dublin on Friday night. Handout photograph: Andrew McGinley/An Garda Síochána.
It may be several days before gardaí can interview the mother of the three McGinley children who were found dead in their home in Newcastle, Co Dublin late last week.
The bodies of Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) were discovered in their home in the south Dublin village just before 8pm on Friday.
The children’s mother, Deirdre Morley, remains in an unconscious state in Tallaght Hospital. The nurse was found by a taxi-driver in a disorientated condition near her house on Friday evening.
Doctors have warned investigators they will not be able to interview Ms Morley until her condition improves significantly. It is understood that, although the woman remains seriously ill, she is expected to survive.
READ MORE
A Garda source said the investigation is a murder inquiry “in all but name” but that it is unlikely to be officially designated as such until gardaí speak to Ms Morley.
Gardaí believe the children were drugged, possibly with a sedative, before being suffocated. Investigations will centre on what medication was in the house at the time.
Ms Morley worked at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin before going on stress related leave several months ago.
The children’s bodies were discovered by emergency workers along with a note stating “don’t go upstairs” and “call 999”. It is understood that another note was later found expressing concern about the children’s futures.
Returned
Andrew McGinley, the children’s father, returned to the house on Parsons Court on Monday in the company of family members following the completion of examinations by forensic experts and scenes of crime examiners.
Throughout the evening neighbours continued to add to the hill of flowers and teddy bears which has appeared outside the house over the weekend.
Postmortems on the children have been completed but gardaí have declined to release the results, citing operations reasons. Further toxicology reports are still awaited and will help guide inquiries, gardaí said.
Mr McGinley, a manager at a catering and facilities management company in south Dublin, has already spoken with gardaí on several occasions.
On Monday the school attended by Conor and Darragh McGinley described them as “wonderful boys”.
Scoil Chrónáin, a gaelscoil in Rathcoole, said it was “deeply saddened” by the sudden deaths of Conchúr and Darragh Mac Fhionnghaile and their sister Carla.
Conor was in third class and Darragh was in first class at the school. Carla (3) attended a local pre-school.
“It is a tragedy for our community. Our sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with the McGinley and Morley families and all their friends,” the school said in a statement.
Flowers are seen outside the McGinley family’s home in Newcastle, Co Dublin on Monday. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins.
‘Missed by all’
“Conchúr was a pupil in ‘Rang a Trí’ and Darragh was in ‘Rang a hAon’. They were both wonderful boys and it was a pleasure to have them in our school. They will be greatly missed by all who knew them.
“Offers of support have been pouring in and are really appreciated.”
The school has implemented a critical incident management plan in response to the deaths of the three children, who were found at their home on the Parson’s Court estate in Newcastle.
Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) attended with the school over the weekend and will continue to provide support and advice in the coming days.
NEPS staff will provide support to parents and teachers as well as advice on how to talk to children about the tragedy.
Support is also being provided by the South Dublin Children and Young People’s Service Committee (CYPSC) and Tusla.
The school said that it would remain open and asked that the media respected the privacy of the school as well as the McGinley and Morley families’ need for privacy at this time.