theirishtimes--2020-01-20--CAO countdown: Last-minute tips before the college application

Today ( Monday ) at 5.15pm marks closure of the Central Applications Office ( CAO ) discounted online applications process , while the normal closing date for applications is February 1st .
This is just to register with the CAO ; there ’ still plenty of time to select a course .
In fact , you can alter your choices until July 1st in most cases .
However , some programmes require earlier applications .
For example , people applying for “ restricted application ” courses ( which include early assessments such as interviews or portfolio assessment ) must list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by February 1st .
Following these assessments , applicants will learn if they are approved for consideration for a place on each programme .
Marks are awarded in many cases , which are added to an applicant ’ s CAO points score in August , to determine offers of places .
There are also key dates you need to remember if applying to any of the five Irish undergraduate medical schools .
In addition to registering with the CAO , you need to register with Hpat Ireland – Health Professions Admission Test – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its €140 fee .
( Otherwise you risk paying a late registration fee , €210 , until February 1st , with an exceptional late fee of €245 until February 3rd ) .
These Hpat tests take place in centres countrywide on Saturday , February 22nd .
In addition , mature applicants for nursing , as well as making their CAO application before February 1st at 5.15pm , must sit a separate assessment test .
To do this you need to register with publicjobs.ie and submit the relevant online application form between February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test is carried out by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Board ( see the CAO handbook online for more ) .
Remember the CAO application process is just one of many opportunities on offer .
For the current Leaving Cert class of 2020 , the nightmare scenario in mid-August is to find yourself with no satisfactory offer from the CAO and with no other options in place .
Now is the time to ensure that does not happen .
For example , let ’ s say you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Co Galway , and are considering applying for a place in accounting at NUI Galway , which required 486 points in 2019 .
You would be wise to look at an excellent degree in accounting offered in GMIT Castlebar which required 253 points last year .
Also , consider applying for the two-year highly regarded accounting technician apprenticeship which is a two-year level-six course .
( see accountingtechnicianapprenticeship.ie for more details ) .
It involves spending one day a week in college and the remainder of the working week in an accounting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the duration of the apprenticeship and it also provides a route to study through other professional bodies such as Chartered Accountants Ireland .
You might consider a general business degree instead , or apply for a one-year FET ( further education and trainnig ) level-five accounting course , available from your local Education and Training Board college ) .
The key is to keep your options open : if you do , you can be almost certain of progressing into a career of your choice .
Think outside the box Finally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programmes , any student seeking a place on a high-demand course should look at the opportunities to study in a European university .
Up to 1,000 programmes are taught exclusively through English .
I spoke recently to three Irish students who are studying physiotherapy in two Dutch universities , where there are more than 20 Irish students in both their class group .
Admission requires two H4s and four passes in the Leaving Cert .
Fees are lower that in Ireland , with the highest charge being €2,143 per year in the Netherlands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
Information on all EU programmes is available online ( www.eunicas.ie ) .
Whatever option you choose , one thing is true : if you have the drive to succeed , the determination to knuckle down and the ability through hard work , there is no reason for any aspiring student not to chart a pathway towards that goal over the coming year .

Some students are looking to Europe due to high entry requirements for many disciplines in Ireland. Photogragh: iStock
Today (Monday) at 5.15pm marks closure of the Central Applications Office (CAO) discounted online applications process, while the normal closing date for applications is February 1st.
This is just to register with the CAO; there’ still plenty of time to select a course. In fact, you can alter your choices until July 1st in most cases.
However, some programmes require earlier applications. For example, people applying for “restricted application” courses (which include early assessments such as interviews or portfolio assessment) must list any such course on their CAO application by February 1st.
Following these assessments, applicants will learn if they are approved for consideration for a place on each programme. Marks are awarded in many cases, which are added to an applicant’s CAO points score in August, to determine offers of places.
READ MORE
Hpat test
There are also key dates you need to remember if applying to any of the five Irish undergraduate medical schools.
In addition to registering with the CAO, you need to register with Hpat Ireland – Health Professions Admission Test – by January 20th at 5.15pm to avail of its €140 fee. (Otherwise you risk paying a late registration fee, €210, until February 1st, with an exceptional late fee of €245 until February 3rd). These Hpat tests take place in centres countrywide on Saturday, February 22nd .
In addition, mature applicants for nursing, as well as making their CAO application before February 1st at 5.15pm, must sit a separate assessment test.
To do this you need to register with publicjobs.ie and submit the relevant online application form between February 3rd and 21st at 3pm. The test is carried out by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Board (see the CAO handbook online for more).
Broaden your horizons
Remember the CAO application process is just one of many opportunities on offer.
For the current Leaving Cert class of 2020, the nightmare scenario in mid-August is to find yourself with no satisfactory offer from the CAO and with no other options in place. Now is the time to ensure that does not happen.
For example, let's say you're a student based in Tuam, Co Galway, and are considering applying for a place in accounting at NUI Galway, which required 486 points in 2019.
You would be wise to look at an excellent degree in accounting offered in GMIT Castlebar which required 253 points last year.
Also, consider applying for the two-year highly regarded accounting technician apprenticeship which is a two-year level-six course. (see accountingtechnicianapprenticeship.ie for more details).
It involves spending one day a week in college and the remainder of the working week in an accounting firm. Significantly, you are paid for the duration of the apprenticeship and it also provides a route to study through other professional bodies such as Chartered Accountants Ireland.
You might consider a general business degree instead, or apply for a one-year FET (further education and trainnig) level-five accounting course, available from your local Education and Training Board college).
The key is to keep your options open: if you do, you can be almost certain of progressing into a career of your choice.
Think outside the box
Finally, given the high entry requirements for many programmes, any student seeking a place on a high-demand course should look at the opportunities to study in a European university. Up to 1,000 programmes are taught exclusively through English.
I spoke recently to three Irish students who are studying physiotherapy in two Dutch universities, where there are more than 20 Irish students in both their class group.
Admission requires two H4s and four passes in the Leaving Cert. Fees are lower that in Ireland, with the highest charge being €2,143 per year in the Netherlands. Living costs are between €400-€500 per month. Information on all EU programmes is available online (www.eunicas.ie).
Whatever option you choose, one thing is true: if you have the drive to succeed, the determination to knuckle down and the ability through hard work, there is no reason for any aspiring student not to chart a pathway towards that goal over the coming year.


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Gardaí appeal for assistance in tracking down Co Cork burglary gang

Gardaí in north Cork have appealed to the public for assistance in helping to track down a gang who carried out a series of burglaries on the Cork-Kerry border before fleeing into forestry .
Gardaí were alerted when they received reports of a silver Volkswagen acting suspiciously in the Knocknagree area near the Kerry border around midday on Friday and gardaí from Millstreet , Co Cork responded .
Gardaí arrived on the scene just as the gang was fleeing after breaking into two houses near Knocknagree Church around 1pm and the gang threw coins stolen in the burglaries at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No gardaí were injured and the gang who drove off at speed were pursued by units from Cork West , Cork North , Kerry and Limerick Garda Divisions .
Gardaí caught up with the gang near a windfarm at Gneeves south of Millstreet where they abandoned their car and fled on foot into forestry where gardaí were assisted by local farmers on quad bikes in the search operation .
The search was called off at 8pm on Friday night but gardaí maintained a presence at the forestry overnight and on Saturday , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an effort to locate the suspects .
So far gardaí have failed to find the gang but the car , which was fitted with false number plates , has been removed for a forensic examination by garda technical experts and gardaí are confident of being able to identify the gang .
Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the Gneeveguilla area on Friday and more recently around Gneeves , Millstreet , Rathmore or Ballyvourney is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026-20590 .

Gardaí arrived on the scene just as the gang was fleeing after breaking into two houses near Knocknagree Church in Co Cork on Friday. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Gardaí in north Cork have appealed to the public for assistance in helping to track down a gang who carried out a series of burglaries on the Cork-Kerry border before fleeing into forestry.
Gardaí were alerted when they received reports of a silver Volkswagen acting suspiciously in the Knocknagree area near the Kerry border around midday on Friday and gardaí from Millstreet, Co Cork responded.
Gardaí arrived on the scene just as the gang was fleeing after breaking into two houses near Knocknagree Church around 1pm and the gang threw coins stolen in the burglaries at the garda car, smashing its windscreen.
No gardaí were injured and the gang who drove off at speed were pursued by units from Cork West, Cork North, Kerry and Limerick Garda Divisions.
READ MORE
Gardaí caught up with the gang near a windfarm at Gneeves south of Millstreet where they abandoned their car and fled on foot into forestry where gardaí were assisted by local farmers on quad bikes in the search operation.
The search was called off at 8pm on Friday night but gardaí maintained a presence at the forestry overnight and on Saturday, were assisted by army personnel who deployed drones in an effort to locate the suspects.
So far gardaí have failed to find the gang but the car, which was fitted with false number plates, has been removed for a forensic examination by garda technical experts and gardaí are confident of being able to identify the gang.
Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the Gneeveguilla area on Friday and more recently around Gneeves, Millstreet, Rathmore or Ballyvourney is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026-20590.


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Doctors seek 2,000 additional hospital beds and investment in GPs

Doctors are seeking 2,000 additional hospital beds to be provided in the first two years of the next government , an end to lower pay rates in place for recently-appointed consultants and new investment in general practice .
The Irish Medical Organisation ( IMO ) said it was “ reckless for politicians to talk about expanding services without the proper infrastructure in place ” .
Dr Pádraig McGarry , the IMO ’ s president , said politicians needed “ to sensibly prioritise what we can realistically achieve for the good of all patients rather than promising everything to every person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The IMO said the overcrowding problem in hospitals , which was dangerous to patients and staff , was a direct result of the removal of hundreds of beds from the system a decade ago .
This “ left Ireland ’ s rapidly ageing population with the fourth-lowest hospital bed per capita ratio in Europe ” .
The doctors ’ trade union said planned government investment in the acute hospital sector had to be reviewed to allow for a significant up-front injection of funding to provide 2,000 additional beds within two years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 5,000 beds was needed to meet demand and to ensure patients could be treated in a timely manner .
The IMO said pay cuts introduced for consultants appointed after 2012 had led to recruitment and retention problems and should be reversed .
Dr McGarry also called for greater investment in general practice and a complete overhaul of out-of-hours services .
“ Young doctors must be given grants to establish new practices and existing practices should be helped to recruit more GPs with grants for additional medical staff , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support our sickest and poorest patients .
If we do not do this fast , we will see even longer waiting lists in GP practices and a collapse of the out-of-hours service .
”

The IMO said planned government investment in the acute hospital sector had to be reviewed to allow for a significant up-front injection of funding to provide 2,000 additional beds within two years. Photograph: Getty Images
Doctors are seeking 2,000 additional hospital beds to be provided in the first two years of the next government, an end to lower pay rates in place for recently-appointed consultants and new investment in general practice.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said it was "reckless for politicians to talk about expanding services without the proper infrastructure in place".
Dr Pádraig McGarry, the IMO’s president , said politicians needed “to sensibly prioritise what we can realistically achieve for the good of all patients rather than promising everything to every person in the hope of winning votes”.
The IMO said the overcrowding problem in hospitals, which was dangerous to patients and staff, was a direct result of the removal of hundreds of beds from the system a decade ago. This “left Ireland’s rapidly ageing population with the fourth-lowest hospital bed per capita ratio in Europe”.
READ MORE
Additional beds
The doctors’ trade union said planned government investment in the acute hospital sector had to be reviewed to allow for a significant up-front injection of funding to provide 2,000 additional beds within two years. It said an accelerated programme to deliver at least 5,000 beds was needed to meet demand and to ensure patients could be treated in a timely manner.
The IMO said pay cuts introduced for consultants appointed after 2012 had led to recruitment and retention problems and should be reversed.
Dr McGarry also called for greater investment in general practice and a complete overhaul of out-of-hours services.
“Young doctors must be given grants to establish new practices and existing practices should be helped to recruit more GPs with grants for additional medical staff,” he said.
“The priority objective should be to support our sickest and poorest patients. If we do not do this fast, we will see even longer waiting lists in GP practices and a collapse of the out-of-hours service.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Men arrested in relation to Dublin shooting released without charge

Two men arrested in relation to a shooting incident in north Dublin on Friday have been released without charge .
@ @ @ @ @ in the shooting , which happened at about 11.30am at Killeek Lane in St Margaret @ @ @ @ @ the men was shot up to five times , including to the head .
Shortly @ @ @ @ @ arrested two men close to where a black Citroen C4 car , registration 151 D @ @ @ @ @ .
They were questioned under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act , @ @ @ @ @ charge on Sunday evening .
A Garda spokeswoman said the investigation into the shooting was @ @ @ @ @ are both involved in the haulage sector .
They were sitting in a blue Mercedes @ @ @ @ @ on an industrial estate when a car arrived carrying a gunman , who walked up @ @ @ @ @ .
The victims were attended to by paramedics at the scene before being taken to @ @ @ @ @ , Blanchardstown .

Gardaí at the scene of the shooting at an industrial estate on Killeek Lane, Co Dublin, in which two men were critically injured. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Two men arrested in relation to a shooting incident in north Dublin on Friday have been released without charge.
Two men were critically injured in the shooting, which happened at about 11.30am at Killeek Lane in St Margaret's. One of the men was shot up to five times, including to the head.
Shortly after the incident, gardaí arrested two men close to where a black Citroen C4 car, registration 151 D 34526, was found burning.
They were questioned under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 but were released without charge on Sunday evening. A Garda spokeswoman said the investigation into the shooting was ongoing.
READ MORE
The wounded men are both involved in the haulage sector. They were sitting in a blue Mercedes car outside a business premises on an industrial estate when a car arrived carrying a gunman, who walked up their car and opened fire.
The victims were attended to by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Beaumont Hospital and Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Search for missing remains of Mulready-Woods (17) continues

Gardaí are continuing the search for some of the remains of Keane Mulready-Woods a week after the murder of the 17-year-old as part of a worsening gangland feud in Drogheda , Co Louth .
Remains were found in a bag on the Moatview estate in Darndale , north Dublin , last Monday at about 10pm .
More remains were discovered in a stolen car that was found ablaze on a laneway near Croke Park in Dublin ’ s north inner city early on Wednesday .
DNA testing carried out on the remains confirmed they were those of the teenager , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Drogheda on January 12th .
Gardaí believe he was killed in the town on the same day .
Not all of the body has been found and the search continued over the weekend .
It was unclear if Keane ’ s family would hold a funeral in coming days or wait until the rest of his remains have been found .
Gardaí believe the gang that murdered and dismembered Keane ’ s was planning to dump some of his body outside the Co Louth home of a senior criminal aligned to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , that plan appears to have been abandoned , possibly because of Garda activity in the area where the criminal lives .
Gardaí have not discounted the possibility that the limbs found in Darndale were deliberately left there as a threat to criminals from the area , who are aligned to the same Drogheda gang as the late teenager .
His murder was the third killing in the Drogheda feud since it erupted in July 2018 , while five other targets in the feud have survived being wounded .
Gardaí suspect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a criminal from north Dublin who has lived in the northeast for years .
That man was a close associate of Richard Carberry ( 39 ) , who was shot dead in Bettystown , Co Meath , last November as part of the feud .
Another associate , Keith Branigan ( 29 ) , was murdered in Clogherhead , Co Louth , last August .
The criminal suspected of ordering Keane ’ s murder was incensed by Carberry ’ s killing and he had also been assaulted on the street in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang that murdered Carberry .
During that street attack the senior criminal ’ s flip flops were stolen from his gym bag .
The group who assaulted the criminal then taunted him by photographing themselves in the flip flops in various locations over the following weeks and circulating the images via social media apps .
Gardaí are now investigating if that man ordered Keane ’ s murder as revenge for being attacked and ridiculed in addition to the murder of his associate Carberry .
There are also serious fears for the safety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as those pictured in the footwear .
The 17-year-old ’ s murder was the first time the other gang has killed someone in the course of the feud .

The crime scene at Rathmullen Park in Drogheda, Co Louth, where it is believed teenager Keane Mulready-Woods was murdered. Photograph: Alan Betson
Gardaí are continuing the search for some of the remains of Keane Mulready-Woods a week after the murder of the 17-year-old as part of a worsening gangland feud in Drogheda, Co Louth.
Remains were found in a bag on the Moatview estate in Darndale, north Dublin, last Monday at about 10pm. More remains were discovered in a stolen car that was found ablaze on a laneway near Croke Park in Dublin's north inner city early on Wednesday.
DNA testing carried out on the remains confirmed they were those of the teenager, who was last seen at about 6pm in Drogheda on January 12th. Gardaí believe he was killed in the town on the same day.
Not all of the body has been found and the search continued over the weekend. It was unclear if Keane’s family would hold a funeral in coming days or wait until the rest of his remains have been found.
READ MORE
Gardaí believe the gang that murdered and dismembered Keane’s was planning to dump some of his body outside the Co Louth home of a senior criminal aligned to a rival gang in the Drogheda feud.
However, that plan appears to have been abandoned, possibly because of Garda activity in the area where the criminal lives.
Gardaí have not discounted the possibility that the limbs found in Darndale were deliberately left there as a threat to criminals from the area, who are aligned to the same Drogheda gang as the late teenager.
His murder was the third killing in the Drogheda feud since it erupted in July 2018, while five other targets in the feud have survived being wounded.
Shot dead
Gardaí suspect the latest killing was done on the orders of a criminal from north Dublin who has lived in the northeast for years. That man was a close associate of Richard Carberry (39), who was shot dead in Bettystown, Co Meath, last November as part of the feud. Another associate, Keith Branigan (29), was murdered in Clogherhead, Co Louth, last August.
The criminal suspected of ordering Keane’s murder was incensed by Carberry’s killing and he had also been assaulted on the street in recent months by young criminals linked to the gang that murdered Carberry.
During that street attack the senior criminal’s flip flops were stolen from his gym bag. The group who assaulted the criminal then taunted him by photographing themselves in the flip flops in various locations over the following weeks and circulating the images via social media apps.
Gardaí are now investigating if that man ordered Keane’s murder as revenge for being attacked and ridiculed in addition to the murder of his associate Carberry. There are also serious fears for the safety of the young men who attacked the criminal as well as those pictured in the footwear.
The 17-year-old’s murder was the first time the other gang has killed someone in the course of the feud.


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Gardaí speak to partygoers at house where student fatally stabbed

Gardaí investigating the murder of a student at a house party in Cork last Thursday have identified and spoken to those who were present including a number of teenagers who gatecrashed the gathering .
Detectives have spoken to about 15 people who were at the party on the Bandon Road when Cork Institute of Technology student Cameron Blair ( 20 ) was fatally injured during a row at the door to the house at about 9.20pm .
They have also spoken to others who were in the house earlier and had left before Mr Blair was fatally injured .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially gatecrashed the party and were inside for up to an hour before they were asked to leave .
Three of these teenagers tried to get back into the house and Mr Blair was at the front door trying to calm the situation down when it is understood one of them produced a blade and lashed out , slashing Mr Blair ’ s neck .
Mr Blair collapsed on to the street and paramedics attended to him on the street before he was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cathy at his bedside .
Gardaí gathered CCTV footage from the Bandon Road and Barrack Street areas and have received a good response from students who were on the street and filmed events on Bandon Road .
It is understood gardaí have identified three teenagers who ran up Bandon Road and they have spoken to them in the presence of their parents .
However , gardaí are continuing to examine CCTV footage from the area to try and get an accurate picture of what happened .
Gardaí are also continuing to search for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack .
Search teams spent most of the weekend going through grass and parkland off Connaught Avenue looking for the weapon .
Sources dismissed as incorrect some media reports that they had found a boxcutter-type knife used in the attack .
A native of Ballinascarthy in west Cork , Mr Blair was a second-year chemical engineering student at CIT and was living in student accommodation in Bishopstown .
He was a keen sportsman , playing rugby with Bandon RFC and competing in athletics with Bandon AC .
Conor Slattery , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribute to Mr Blair , who he recalled as a speedy winger .
“ As a rugby player , Cameron had a lovely confidence about him .
He played rugby like he lived , with a great joy and exuberance and he was an exciting player to see running with the ball in hand , ” said Mr Slattery “ And then as a person , he was a connector – he had this great ability to connect to people .
He connected with people right across the club and that was evident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
“ The other thing about Cameron was that he had this great talent for innovation and adapting things and he loved working with his dad , Noel , in his light engineering business .
”

Gardaí investigating the murder of a student at a house party in Cork last Thursday have identified and spoken to those who were present including a number of teenagers who gatecrashed the gathering.
Detectives have spoken to about 15 people who were at the party on the Bandon Road when Cork Institute of Technology student Cameron Blair (20) was fatally injured during a row at the door to the house at about 9.20pm.
They have also spoken to others who were in the house earlier and had left before Mr Blair was fatally injured.
It is understood that up to six teenagers initially gatecrashed the party and were inside for up to an hour before they were asked to leave. Three of these teenagers tried to get back into the house and Mr Blair was at the front door trying to calm the situation down when it is understood one of them produced a blade and lashed out, slashing Mr Blair’s neck.
READ MORE
Ambulance
Mr Blair collapsed on to the street and paramedics attended to him on the street before he was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital, where he later died with his parents Noel and Cathy at his bedside.
Gardaí gathered CCTV footage from the Bandon Road and Barrack Street areas and have received a good response from students who were on the street and filmed events on Bandon Road.
It is understood gardaí have identified three teenagers who ran up Bandon Road and they have spoken to them in the presence of their parents.
However, gardaí are continuing to examine CCTV footage from the area to try and get an accurate picture of what happened.
Gardaí are also continuing to search for the knife they believe was used in the attack. Search teams spent most of the weekend going through grass and parkland off Connaught Avenue looking for the weapon. Sources dismissed as incorrect some media reports that they had found a boxcutter-type knife used in the attack.
Keen sportsman
A native of Ballinascarthy in west Cork, Mr Blair was a second-year chemical engineering student at CIT and was living in student accommodation in Bishopstown. He was a keen sportsman, playing rugby with Bandon RFC and competing in athletics with Bandon AC.
Conor Slattery, director of rugby at the football club, paid tribute to Mr Blair, who he recalled as a speedy winger.
“As a rugby player, Cameron had a lovely confidence about him . He played rugby like he lived, with a great joy and exuberance and he was an exciting player to see running with the ball in hand,” said Mr Slattery
“And then as a person, he was a connector – he had this great ability to connect to people. He connected with people right across the club and that was evident in how hugely popular he was with people.
“The other thing about Cameron was that he had this great talent for innovation and adapting things and he loved working with his dad, Noel, in his light engineering business.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Man (60s) arrested after hit and run incident in Co Kerry

Gardaí have arrested a man in his 60s for questioning about a hit and run incident in Co Kerry which has left an 88-year-old man in a critical condition in hospital .
Officers arrested the man late on Saturday night and seized a silver car for a forensic examination as part of their investigation into the hit and run on the main Killarney-Mallow Road at Rathmore on Friday night .
The 88-year-old victim , who is from Rathmore , suffered serious head and chest injuries when he was struck by a car that failed to stop at Churchview in Rathmore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Witnesses raised the alarm and paramedics attended to the elderly man at the scene before he was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he remains in a critical condition at the hospital ’ s Intensive Care Unit .
Detectives from the West Cork Division arrested the suspect late on Saturday night and brought him to Bandon Garda Station for questioning about the hit and run .
The man , who is from the Rathmore area , was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí detain suspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be charged or released .
They also seized a silver car which has been sent for a technical examination by a garda forensic crash investigator to establish whether it was the vehicle involved in the hit and run incident .

Officers arrested the man late on Saturday night and seized a silver car for a forensic examination as part of their investigation. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Gardaí have arrested a man in his 60s for questioning about a hit and run incident in Co Kerry which has left an 88-year-old man in a critical condition in hospital.
Officers arrested the man late on Saturday night and seized a silver car for a forensic examination as part of their investigation into the hit and run on the main Killarney-Mallow Road at Rathmore on Friday night.
The 88-year-old victim, who is from Rathmore, suffered serious head and chest injuries when he was struck by a car that failed to stop at Churchview in Rathmore at around 7pm on Friday night.
Witnesses raised the alarm and paramedics attended to the elderly man at the scene before he was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he remains in a critical condition at the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.
READ MORE
Detectives from the West Cork Division arrested the suspect late on Saturday night and brought him to Bandon Garda Station for questioning about the hit and run.
The man, who is from the Rathmore area, was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí detain suspects for up to 24 hours before they have to be charged or released.
They also seized a silver car which has been sent for a technical examination by a garda forensic crash investigator to establish whether it was the vehicle involved in the hit and run incident.


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Rescue 116 company warns Black Sod crash could affect revenue

The search and rescue firm that lost four crew members on the crashed Rescue 116 Sikorsky helicopter fears the 2017 accident “ could result in legal and regulatory proceedings ” .
In accounts filed with the Companies Office , CHC Ireland DAC states that such proceedings “ could materially affect our revenue and profitability ” .
The note states “ it is too early to determine the extent of the impact of the accident on our results of operations or financial condition based on information currently available ” .
The business operates a €500 million State contract to provide search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Irish Coast Guard from four main bases .
CHC Ireland says the “ tragic accident ” that occurred on March 14th , 2017 , near Black Sod , Co Mayo , is the subject of two investigations – one by the Air Accident Investigations Unit ( AAIU ) and a second being jointly conducted by An Garda Síochána and the Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) .
The bodies of Capt Dara Fitzpatrick and Capt Mark Duffy were recovered but a large-scale recovery operation failed to locate the bodies of winch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The AAIU circulated its final draft report last autumn and the Department of Transport recently confirmed that a review of the final draft report is to be carried out .
Stakeholders were informed earlier this month of a delay in publishing the final report , when the AAIU confirmed an “ interested party ” had served notice of re-examination in relation to “ specific findings and conclusions contained in the draft final report ” .
The CHC filings show that the company recorded a pretax loss of €1.76 million in the 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company narrowed its pretax losses by 36 per cent after increasing revenue by 4.5 per cent from €51.1 million to €53.47 million .
The directors state that flight hours for SAR services were 2,911 hours last year compared to 2,600 hours in the previous year .
The loss last year takes account of operating lease of aircraft costs of €15 million and non-cash depreciation costs of €850,000 .
The company had shareholder funds of €8.7 million that included cash of €6.1 million at the end of April .

CHC Ireland operates a €500 million State contract to provide search and rescue services for the Irish Coast Guard from four main bases.
The search and rescue firm that lost four crew members on the crashed Rescue 116 Sikorsky helicopter fears the 2017 accident “could result in legal and regulatory proceedings”.
In accounts filed with the Companies Office, CHC Ireland DAC states that such proceedings “could materially affect our revenue and profitability”.
The note states “it is too early to determine the extent of the impact of the accident on our results of operations or financial condition based on information currently available”.
The business operates a €500 million State contract to provide search and rescue (SAR) services for the Irish Coast Guard from four main bases.
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CHC Ireland says the “tragic accident” that occurred on March 14th, 2017, near Black Sod, Co Mayo, is the subject of two investigations – one by the Air Accident Investigations Unit (AAIU) and a second being jointly conducted by An Garda Síochána and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
The bodies of Capt Dara Fitzpatrick and Capt Mark Duffy were recovered but a large-scale recovery operation failed to locate the bodies of winch operator Paul Ormsby and winch-man Ciaran Smith.
The AAIU circulated its final draft report last autumn and the Department of Transport recently confirmed that a review of the final draft report is to be carried out.
Stakeholders were informed earlier this month of a delay in publishing the final report, when the AAIU confirmed an “interested party” had served notice of re-examination in relation to “specific findings and conclusions contained in the draft final report”.
The CHC filings show that the company recorded a pretax loss of €1.76 million in the 12 months to the end of last April. The company narrowed its pretax losses by 36 per cent after increasing revenue by 4.5 per cent from €51.1 million to €53.47 million.
The directors state that flight hours for SAR services were 2,911 hours last year compared to 2,600 hours in the previous year.
The loss last year takes account of operating lease of aircraft costs of €15 million and non-cash depreciation costs of €850,000. The company had shareholder funds of €8.7 million that included cash of €6.1 million at the end of April.


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Hydroelectric plant marks change at Falls Hotel

More than 6,000 kilowatt hours of electricity were consumed during the general election count for the Clare constituency at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon in 2016 .
This is enough to fuel the average electric car for a full 40,000km circumnavigation of the globe .
When the ballot boxes are opened in the Ennistymon count centre next month , the hotel will be supplying energy to the electricity grid rather than drawing from it .
Work on the hotel ’ s hydroelectric plant was completed last year .
By generating electricity from the nearby river Inagh , the hotel estimates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of carbon from being released into the environment .
Michael McCarthy , general manager of the hotel , said the move towards renewable energy was driven by demand from customers , locals and staff .
“ People are looking for green places to come and stay , ” Mr McCarthy said .
“ These days everyone wants to do their bit for the environment .
If you could choose between two hotels , one that was green and one that wasn ’ t , you ’ d pick the green hotel all day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to develop a pumping system that would see all of the hotel ’ s hot water generated from renewable sources .
Ennistymon is the base of Cllr Roisín Garvey , the Green Party ’ s candidate in the Clare constituency , but Mr McCarthy would not reveal who he intends to support in the election .
However , he believes that green issues have become much more important to the community in Co Clare .
“ Everyone needs to do their bit .
Awareness of the environment and the different issues that need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this area in recent years , ” he said .
“ I think that education is the key .
The more people know , the better able they will be to change.
” During the development of the hotel ’ s hydroelectric plant , care was taken to ensure that wildlife in the river , including spawning fish , was not impacted .
“ If the level in the river starts to get low , the turbine stops working , so it never takes all the water from the river .
The river @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish pass is the top priority .
If there was a drought , the fish pass is the last bit of the river that will dry out , ” said Mr McCarthy .

More than 6,000 kilowatt hours of electricity were consumed during the general election count for the Clare constituency at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon in 2016. This is enough to fuel the average electric car for a full 40,000km circumnavigation of the globe.
When the ballot boxes are opened in the Ennistymon count centre next month, the hotel will be supplying energy to the electricity grid rather than drawing from it.
Work on the hotel’s hydroelectric plant was completed last year. By generating electricity from the nearby river Inagh, the hotel estimates it has already prevented some 550 tones of carbon from being released into the environment.
Michael McCarthy, general manager of the hotel, said the move towards renewable energy was driven by demand from customers, locals and staff.
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“People are looking for green places to come and stay,” Mr McCarthy said.
Renewable sources
“These days everyone wants to do their bit for the environment. If you could choose between two hotels, one that was green and one that wasn’t, you’d pick the green hotel all day long.”
Plans are also in place to develop a pumping system that would see all of the hotel’s hot water generated from renewable sources.
Ennistymon is the base of Cllr Roisín Garvey, the Green Party’s candidate in the Clare constituency, but Mr McCarthy would not reveal who he intends to support in the election.
Fish respected
However, he believes that green issues have become much more important to the community in Co Clare.
“Everyone needs to do their bit. Awareness of the environment and the different issues that need to be addressed has grown massively in this area in recent years,” he said. “I think that education is the key. The more people know, the better able they will be to change.”
During the development of the hotel’s hydroelectric plant, care was taken to ensure that wildlife in the river, including spawning fish, was not impacted.
“If the level in the river starts to get low, the turbine stops working, so it never takes all the water from the river. The river gets priority over the power and the fish pass is the top priority. If there was a drought, the fish pass is the last bit of the river that will dry out,” said Mr McCarthy.


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Death of man in Co Louth investigated by gardaí

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of a man ’ s death after a body was found near Termonfeckin , Co @ @ @ @ @ remains were discovered at about 1pm on the Baltray Road .
The man ’ s @ @ @ @ @ scene and taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda .
“ A postmortem @ @ @ @ @ in due course and the results of which , will determine the course of the @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman said .
It is understood the discovery is not thought to be connected to @ @ @ @ @ of Keane Mulready-Woods from Drogheda

The man’s body was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Phoograph: Google Street View
Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of a man’s death after a body was found near Termonfeckin, Co Louth on Sunday.
The remains were discovered at about 1pm on the Baltray Road. The man’s body was removed from the scene and taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
“A postmortem is scheduled to take place in due course and the results of which, will determine the course of the investigation,” a Garda spokeswoman said.
It is understood the discovery is not thought to be connected to the investgiation into the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods from Drogheda


theirishtimes--2020-01-19--Gardaí seize €75,000 worth on cannabis herb in Westmeath

Gardaí seized €75,000 worth of suspected cannabis herb on Saturday .
The seizure took place on Saturday in Athlone .
@ @ @ @ @ a search operation of a residence in the town carried out by gardaí .
A @ @ @ @ @ the scene and has since been charged .
She is due to appear before Athlone @ @ @ @ @ .

Investigations into the seizure are ongoing. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Gardaí seized €75,000 worth of suspected cannabis herb on Saturday. The seizure took place on Saturday in Athlone.
The herb was located during a search operation of a residence in the town carried out by gardaí.
A 34-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and has since been charged. She is due to appear before Athlone District Court on Monday morning.
Investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Lucan doctor faces Medical Council hearing over thyroid cancer case

A GP who failed to provide adequate care for a patient who later died of thyroid cancer is facing allegations of poor professional performance at the Medical Council .
Dr Pawel Kaminski is admitting the three allegations of poor professional performance he faces at the fitness to practise hearing of the Medical Council .
Dr Kaminski also accepts the allegations amount to a finding of poor professional performance .
The allegations relate to the care he provided to Christine Monahan at Ballyowen Lane medical centre in Lucan in 2015 .
When Ms Monahan , who had a lump in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital emergency department , Dr Kaminski said she would only spend all day waiting there , according to family members .
The lump was eventually diagnosed as anaplastic thyroid cancer , a rare and aggressive form of the disease , when she attended Tallaght hospital for treatment of her Parkinson ’ s in August 2015 .
Ms Monahan ’ s family say they do not hold Dr Kaminski responsible for her death , as she had an aggressive form of cancer , but they say she might have lived a few months longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her final months if the cancer had been diagnosed earlier .
Dr Triona Marnell , a Cork GP called as an expert witness by the Medical Council , said Ms Monahan ’ s overactive thyroid should have been referred to an endocrinologist .
His procedures for following up on referrals were “ less than satisfactory , ” Dr Marnell said .
It is alleged that Dr Kaminski , while working as a GP at Ballyowen Lane medical centre , on June 11th 2015 recorded “ US ” ( ultrasound ) in Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to arrange for her to have an ultrasound .
It is also alleged that on or around June 11th , 2015 to August 8th 2015 , when he had diagnosed the patient with hyperthyroidism , he failed to consider adequately all differential diagnoses for her symptoms , failed to refer her to an endocrinologist and failed to prescribe medications in an appropriate manner for the treatment of her condition .
It is also alleged that his referral letter to the radiology department of St James ’ s Hospital of August 6th 2015 failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the urgency of the referral and the seriousness of her condition was evident .
Ms Monahan , who was feeling unwell in 2015 , was referred for tests by Dr Kaminski on several occasions that year .
She died in October 2015 , aged 52 .
Dr Kaminski qualified as a doctor in Warsaw in 1993 , and worked in Poland and Australia before coming to work in Ireland in 2012 .

Dr Pawel Kaminski is admitting the three allegations of poor professional performance he faces at the fitness to practise hearing of the Medical Council. Photograph: Thinkstock.
A GP who failed to provide adequate care for a patient who later died of thyroid cancer has been found guilty of poor professional performance at the Medical Council.
Dr Pawel Kaminski had admitted three allegations of poor professional performance he faced at the fitness to practise hearing of the Medical Council.
Dr Kaminski had also accepted the allegations amounted to a finding of poor professional performance.
The allegations related to the care provided to Christine Monahan, from Clondalkin, at Ballyowen Lane medical centre in west Dublin in 2015.
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When Ms Monahan, who had a lump in her neck, sought a referral to a hospital emergency department, Dr Kaminski said she would only spend all day waiting there, according to family members.
The lump was diagnosed as anaplastic thyroid cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease, when she attended Tallaght hospital for unrelated treatment of her Parkinson’s in August 2015.
Ms Monahan’s family say they do not hold Dr Kaminski responsible for her death, as she had an aggressive form of cancer, but they say she might have lived a few months longer and had a better quality of life in her final months if the cancer had been diagnosed earlier.
It is alleged Dr Kaminski, while working as a GP at the medical centre, on June 11th 2015 recorded “US” in Ms Monahan’s medical records but failed to arrange for her to have an ultrasound.
It is also alleged that on or around June 11th, 2015 to August 8th 2015, when he had diagnosed the patient with hyperthyroidism, he failed to consider adequately all differential diagnoses for her symptoms, failed to refer her to an endocrinologist and failed to prescribe medications in an appropriate manner for the treatment of her condition.
It is also alleged that his referral letter to the radiology department of St James’s Hospital of August 6th 2015 failed to provide adequate clinical information to ensure the urgency of the referral and the seriousness of her condition was evident.
Ms Monahan, who was feeling unwell in 2015, was referred for tests by Dr Kaminski on several occasions that year. She died in October 2015.
Dr Kaminski qualified as a doctor in Warsaw in 1993, and worked in Poland and Australia before coming to work in Ireland in 2012.
His lawyer, Cathal Murphy BL, pointed out that no other complaint had ever been made against his client and submitted a positive reference from his current employer. Counsel pleaded that the case be dealt with by way of an undertaking not to repeat what had happened.
In finding the allegations proven, the fitness to practise committee said they did not think this case could be dealt with by way of an undertaking. The issue of what sanctions to impose, if any, will be decided by the Medical Council at a later date.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Man (23) doused in petrol and set on fire in Cork attack

Gardaí in Cork have begun an investigation after a man was doused with petrol and set on fire in an assault overnight that has left him with life changing injuries .
The assault happened when three men , armed with what is believed to be a machete and iron bars , burst into a house in the Dunard in Mayfield at around 4am on Monday morning and began attacking a 23-year-old man .
The man suffered a number of serious injuries to his head and upper body before the gang raced from the house only to return and douse him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The man ’ s family raised the alarm and he was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he was put in an induced coma on a ventilator as doctors work to treat severe burns to his head and upper body .
Meanwhile two units of Cork City Fire Service were called to deal with a fire at the house in Dunard and the situation was quickly brought under control before the units returned to base .
The attackers fled in a black Ford Mondeo and a Citroen Berlingo van and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them on icy roads near the Fox & Hounds pub in Ballyvolane .
However , gardaí have since recovered a Ford Mondeo and a Citroen Berlingo van at a location in the southside of Cork city and garda technical experts have begun a forensic examination of both vehicles for DNA and other evidence .
Gardaí have also sealed off the scene of the attack in Dunard and garda technical experts have begun an examination of the building while officers have also begun harvesting CCTV footage from the area .
Detectives have also been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnessed the attack to see if they can identify the culprits who don ’ t appear to have been masked and may have been known to the injured party .
Gardaí say they are keeping an open mind on a motive for the attack but said they are investigating whether it may be linked to a personal dispute between two men in their 20s .

The house in the Dunard estate, Mayfield, Cork where a man was doused with petrol and set on fire during an assault that has left him with life changing injuries. Photograph: Provision
Gardaí in Cork have begun an investigation after a man was doused with petrol and set on fire in an assault overnight that has left him with life changing injuries.
The assault happened when three men, armed with what is believed to be a machete and iron bars, burst into a house in the Dunard in Mayfield at around 4am on Monday morning and began attacking a 23-year-old man.
The man suffered a number of serious injuries to his head and upper body before the gang raced from the house only to return and douse him with petrol before setting him alight.
The man’s family raised the alarm and he was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he was put in an induced coma on a ventilator as doctors work to treat severe burns to his head and upper body.
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Meanwhile two units of Cork City Fire Service were called to deal with a fire at the house in Dunard and the situation was quickly brought under control before the units returned to base.
The attackers fled in a black Ford Mondeo and a Citroen Berlingo van and were pursued by gardaí from Mayfield who lost them on icy roads near the Fox & Hounds pub in Ballyvolane.
However, gardaí have since recovered a Ford Mondeo and a Citroen Berlingo van at a location in the southside of Cork city and garda technical experts have begun a forensic examination of both vehicles for DNA and other evidence.
Gardaí have also sealed off the scene of the attack in Dunard and garda technical experts have begun an examination of the building while officers have also begun harvesting CCTV footage from the area.
Detectives have also been speaking to a number of people who witnessed the attack to see if they can identify the culprits who don’t appear to have been masked and may have been known to the injured party.
Gardaí say they are keeping an open mind on a motive for the attack but said they are investigating whether it may be linked to a personal dispute between two men in their 20s.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Man (30) attacked with hammer and baseball bat in Cork city

A 30-year-old man has suffered a fractured skull and bleed to the brain after he was attacked by two men armed with a hammer and baseball bat in Cork over the weekend .
Gardaí are hoping to interview the victim , who is from the Glen on the city ’ s northside , after he was attacked by two men who got out of a car when they spotted him walking along Great William O ’ Brien Street near Blackpool Church around 8pm on Friday night .
The two men knocked the victim to the ground and hit him with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several blows to the man ’ s head and fracturing his skull .
The man was saved when a group of detectives on patrol in an unmarked car came upon the attack and immediately arrested the two assailants while the injured party was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital .
It is understood the man underwent surgery at CUH and was detained for observation overnight before discharging himself .
Gardaí are today hoping to take a statement from him about the attack .
The two arrested men - who are aged 37 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were taken to Mayfield Garda Station where they were questioned for several hours before being released without charge .
Gardaí have also harvested CCTV footage from a number of premises in the Great William O ’ Brien St area and will begin examining it before forwarding a file on the assault to the Director of Public Prosecution .

Gardaí are hoping to interview the victim, who is from the Glen on the city’s northside, after he was attacked by two men. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
A 30-year-old man has suffered a fractured skull and bleed to the brain after he was attacked by two men armed with a hammer and baseball bat in Cork over the weekend.
Gardaí are hoping to interview the victim, who is from the Glen on the city's northside, after he was attacked by two men who got out of a car when they spotted him walking along Great William O'Brien Street near Blackpool Church around 8pm on Friday night.
The two men knocked the victim to the ground and hit him with a hammer and baseball bat, striking several blows to the man’s head and fracturing his skull.
The man was saved when a group of detectives on patrol in an unmarked car came upon the attack and immediately arrested the two assailants while the injured party was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.
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It is understood the man underwent surgery at CUH and was detained for observation overnight before discharging himself. Gardaí are today hoping to take a statement from him about the attack.
The two arrested men - who are aged 37 and 33 and both from Farranree - were taken to Mayfield Garda Station where they were questioned for several hours before being released without charge.
Gardaí have also harvested CCTV footage from a number of premises in the Great William O’Brien St area and will begin examining it before forwarding a file on the assault to the Director of Public Prosecution.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Over 200 gardaí begin cybercrime training to speed up online child abuse investigations

More than 200 gardaí have started training on how to quickly identify digital devices that may contain child abuse imagery in an attempt to speed up investigations .
By the end of March , 240 front-line gardaí will have completed training as cybercrime “ first responders ” .
The course , which is being run by UCD ’ s Centre for Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigations ( CCI ) , “ will equip participants with the appropriate knowledge , tools and techniques to appropriately identify and seize digital evidence regarding Cybercrime Investigations , ” An Garda Síochána said .
The initiative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workload of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau , which is dealing with a backlog of digital devices that require analysis after being seized during investigations .
This is delaying the prosecution of offenders for possessing or sharing images of child abuse , known in the legislation as “ child pornography ” .
The Irish Times reported last week that online child abuse cases were taking an average of five years to reach sentencing stage due to the backlog .
The maximum wait time for analysis of devices by the bureau is currently2½ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
It is anticipated that the new training module for front-line gardaí will reduce the number of devices being sent to the bureau as members will be able to prioritise devices at the scene instead of simply sending everything for analysis .
A large amount of the bureau ’ s staff ’ s time is taken up analysing devices that turn out not to contain evidence of child abuse material .
On average only 60 per cent of seized devices will end up containing illegal material .
Sources say “ first responders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology to “ triage ” devices and make a preliminary determination of whether they contain evidence of abuse .
This will be particularly useful in prioritising cases where children are at active risk of further abuse , they say .
As well as aiding online child abuse investigations , the training will also aid gardaí investigating organised criminals who are increasingly using mobile phones with sophisticated encryption software .
Some phones are programmed to automatically delete their contents after a few minutes , making them useless as sources of evidence .
The training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such digital evidence at the scene of a search .
The course , which is being funded by the Internal Security Fund of the European Commission , costs around €200,000 for the 240 gardaí .
In the past , the high cost of analysis software and training was a barrier in cybercrime investigations .
However , “ first responder ” gardaí will be trained in the use of an app , available free of charge to police forces .
The app allows front-line gardaí to gather digital evidence with minimal training simply by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or machine .

The training programme is aimed at reducing the workload of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which is dealing with increasing volumes of digital devices that require analysis. Photograph: iStock
More than 200 gardaí have started training on how to quickly identify digital devices that may contain child abuse imagery in an attempt to speed up investigations.
By the end of March, 240 front-line gardaí will have completed training as cybercrime “first responders”.
The course, which is being run by UCD's Centre for Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigations (CCI), "will equip participants with the appropriate knowledge, tools and techniques to appropriately identify and seize digital evidence regarding Cybercrime Investigations," An Garda Síochána said.
The initiative is aimed in part at reducing the workload of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which is dealing with a backlog of digital devices that require analysis after being seized during investigations.
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This is delaying the prosecution of offenders for possessing or sharing images of child abuse, known in the legislation as “child pornography”.
The Irish Times reported last week that online child abuse cases were taking an average of five years to reach sentencing stage due to the backlog.
The maximum wait time for analysis of devices by the bureau is currently2½ years, down from six years in 2017.
It is anticipated that the new training module for front-line gardaí will reduce the number of devices being sent to the bureau as members will be able to prioritise devices at the scene instead of simply sending everything for analysis.
Seized devices
A large amount of the bureau’s staff’s time is taken up analysing devices that turn out not to contain evidence of child abuse material. On average only 60 per cent of seized devices will end up containing illegal material.
Sources say “first responders” will now be able to use technology to “triage” devices and make a preliminary determination of whether they contain evidence of abuse. This will be particularly useful in prioritising cases where children are at active risk of further abuse, they say.
As well as aiding online child abuse investigations, the training will also aid gardaí investigating organised criminals who are increasingly using mobile phones with sophisticated encryption software.
Some phones are programmed to automatically delete their contents after a few minutes, making them useless as sources of evidence. The training will allow gardaí to download and preserve such digital evidence at the scene of a search.
The course, which is being funded by the Internal Security Fund of the European Commission, costs around €200,000 for the 240 gardaí.
In the past, the high cost of analysis software and training was a barrier in cybercrime investigations.
However, “first responder” gardaí will be trained in the use of an app, available free of charge to police forces. The app allows front-line gardaí to gather digital evidence with minimal training simply by inserting a USB into a suspect device or machine.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Joan Burton objects to local housing development

Labour TD Joan Burton has objected to a proposed housing development in her constituency , stating that it is “ detrimental to the local environment ” and “ damaging to residential amenity ” .
Glenveagh Homes has submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála seeking permission to build 192 apartments across five , five-storey buildings at Balroy House , Castleknock , Dublin 15 .
In a joint submission letter to the planning board , Ms Burton and local Labour councillor John Walsh called for the application to be rejected “ as it is contrary to proper planning and sustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The scale and height of the proposed five-block , five-storey over-basement development is inappropriate and out of keeping with the pattern of development in the surrounding area , ” they said in the letter .
“ A development consisting of 5 five-storey blocks will have a negative visual impact on surrounding estates.
” The local representatives also stated there is an “ inappropriate ” mix of housing due to the focus on apartments .
“ Many of the assumptions made in the social infrastructure report are predicated on the idea that most occupants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families , ” they said .
“ Any development on this site should include adequate provision for three- or four-bedroom family homes on a similar basis to neighbouring estates.
” The two politicians stated that the infrastructure report attached to the planning application is “ fundamentally flawed ” .
“ Overall the report reveals a striking ignorance of local conditions in terms of provision for schools and other necessary social infrastructure , ” they said .
“ The scale of the development will impose unsustainable pressure on schools and childcare places in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The development , if approved , will see the demolition of the existing two-storey nursing home and supporting buildings , according to the planning application .
The apartment blocks will comprise 67 one-bedroom apartments , 104 two-bedroom apartments and 21 three-bedroom apartments .
The ground floor of one of the blocks will also feature a crèche , a gym , a “ residential amenity room ” and a security room .
The proposal also includes provision for the construction of 240 car-parking spaces , 180 basement cycle spaces and 172 surface cycle spaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic housing development plan , meaning it bypasses the local authority and is submitted directly to the planning board .
The Fingal County Council area committee passed a motion in November stating it would also object to the proposal because it is “ fundamentally flawed , does not create a sustainable community and is contrary to proper planning ” .
In a statement to An Bord Pleanála as part of the application , Glenveagh homes said the proposed development “ responds to the identified strategic need for a greater mix in the housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developer added that the proposal meets building height guidelines , density guidelines and apartment size guidelines .

Joan Burton TD and local Labour councillor John Walsh called for the planning application to be rejected ‘as it is contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area’. Photograph: Collins Courts
Labour TD Joan Burton has objected to a proposed housing development in her constituency, stating that it is "detrimental to the local environment" and "damaging to residential amenity".
Glenveagh Homes has submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála seeking permission to build 192 apartments across five, five-storey buildings at Balroy House, Castleknock, Dublin 15.
In a joint submission letter to the planning board, Ms Burton and local Labour councillor John Walsh called for the application to be rejected "as it is contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
“The scale and height of the proposed five-block, five-storey over-basement development is inappropriate and out of keeping with the pattern of development in the surrounding area,” they said in the letter. “A development consisting of 5 five-storey blocks will have a negative visual impact on surrounding estates.”
READ MORE
The local representatives also stated there is an “inappropriate” mix of housing due to the focus on apartments.
“Many of the assumptions made in the social infrastructure report are predicated on the idea that most occupants in the new development will not have families,” they said. “Any development on this site should include adequate provision for three- or four-bedroom family homes on a similar basis to neighbouring estates.”
‘Flawed’
The two politicians stated that the infrastructure report attached to the planning application is “fundamentally flawed”.
“Overall the report reveals a striking ignorance of local conditions in terms of provision for schools and other necessary social infrastructure,” they said. “The scale of the development will impose unsustainable pressure on schools and childcare places in the area which are already heavily over-subscribed.”
The development, if approved, will see the demolition of the existing two-storey nursing home and supporting buildings, according to the planning application.
The apartment blocks will comprise 67 one-bedroom apartments, 104 two-bedroom apartments and 21 three-bedroom apartments. The ground floor of one of the blocks will also feature a crèche, a gym, a “residential amenity room” and a security room.
The proposal also includes provision for the construction of 240 car-parking spaces, 180 basement cycle spaces and 172 surface cycle spaces.
The application was submitted under the strategic housing development plan, meaning it bypasses the local authority and is submitted directly to the planning board.
The Fingal County Council area committee passed a motion in November stating it would also object to the proposal because it is “fundamentally flawed, does not create a sustainable community and is contrary to proper planning”.
In a statement to An Bord Pleanála as part of the application, Glenveagh homes said the proposed development “responds to the identified strategic need for a greater mix in the housing stock in urban areas”.
The developer added that the proposal meets building height guidelines, density guidelines and apartment size guidelines.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Election 2020: Is Leo Varadkar right when he says Ireland’s crime rate is low?

“ Ireland is a country that is safe .
Ireland is a country that thankfully relative to other countries has a relatively low crime rate and murder rate ” .
Those were the words of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the end of the first week of the general election campaign , a week overshadowed by serious crime .
Keane Mulready Woods ( 17 ) was abducted in Drogheda , Co Louth , last Sunday week as part of a gangland feud in the town .
He was murdered and his body dismembered with most of his remains found in two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the criminals involved in the Drogheda feud was shot at on Monday night as he travelled in a taxi .
He escaped uninjured but the taxi driver was wounded .
Cameron Blair , a 20-year-old student , was fatally stabbed in the neck on Thursday at the property where he lived in Cork in a row over who was being allowed into a house party .
Two men were wounded on Friday as they sat in a car on an industrial estate in St Margaret ’ s in Dublin in a gangland attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two men were shot in Sixmilebridge in Co Clare .
Despite the violent events of the past week , the Taoiseach is right when he says the homicide rate last year was about half what it was a decade ago .
Ireland ’ s homicide rate is the 23rd lowest in the world , according to the UN ’ s Global Study on Homicide report last year .
Ireland had a homicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 people in 2017 , the report states ; lower than the European average .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 0.5 per 100,000 and in 2007 it reached 1.8 per 100,000 people .
The small number of organised crime gangs who become embroiled in murderous feuds in recent times is a cause for concern .
These disputes have endured for a decade or more in the past .
Gun killings peaked in the State at 26 cases in 2006 but last year that fell to 11 , 10 of which were gangland killings .
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris recently attempted to debunk a view that crime rises during a recession .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spend on drink and drugs , crime rates increase .
There can be no doubt that prosperity has been the biggest driver of crime in the State since 2003 , when the Central Statistics Office began publishing crime data .
Crime increased from 2003 until about 2009 and then fell ( in line with the economy ) .
About three years ago , when the economic recovery began to take hold , crime started to increase again .
Crime rates , generally speaking , are still a long way off their peaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But a pattern of sustained increases in Irish crime is now well underway .
The number of sex crimes being reported to the Garda is now at an all-time high .
Crimes linked to prosperity are increasing such as assaults , drunkenness and disorder as well as drug crime and the gun crime associated with it .
Because the drugs trade has been recovering – with demand rising in line with disposable incomes – gangs are competing more intensely for their share of the market .
That competition has resulted in renewed gang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saw the first two murders in the Drogheda feud .
Similarly , a feud in Coolock began at the start of last year and has so far claimed five lives .
When one considers drug crime increased by 17 per cent in the 12 months to last September , after falling for years , it is not hard to understand why drug gang feuding has suddenly started to take hold again .
The gun murder rate may not be as high as the peak of 2006 , but the running feuds have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ahead .
At the same time , the Garda has been better resourced than ever in recent years to tackle the gangs .

Leo Varadkar sought to reassure voters after serious crime overshadowed the first week of the general election campaign. Photograph: Alan Betson
"Ireland is a country that is safe. Ireland is a country that thankfully relative to other countries has a relatively low crime rate and murder rate".
Those were the words of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the end of the first week of the general election campaign, a week overshadowed by serious crime.
Keane Mulready Woods (17) was abducted in Drogheda, Co Louth, last Sunday week as part of a gangland feud in the town. He was murdered and his body dismembered with most of his remains found in two batches in north Dublin.
One of the criminals involved in the Drogheda feud was shot at on Monday night as he travelled in a taxi. He escaped uninjured but the taxi driver was wounded.
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Cameron Blair, a 20-year-old student, was fatally stabbed in the neck on Thursday at the property where he lived in Cork in a row over who was being allowed into a house party.
Two men were wounded on Friday as they sat in a car on an industrial estate in St Margaret's in Dublin in a gangland attack. In the early hours of Saturday, two men were shot in Sixmilebridge in Co Clare.
Despite the violent events of the past week, the Taoiseach is right when he says the homicide rate last year was about half what it was a decade ago. Ireland’s homicide rate is the 23rd lowest in the world, according to the UN’s Global Study on Homicide report last year.
Ireland had a homicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 people in 2017, the report states; lower than the European average. In 1990, Ireland’s homicide rate was 0.5 per 100,000 and in 2007 it reached 1.8 per 100,000 people.
The small number of organised crime gangs who become embroiled in murderous feuds in recent times is a cause for concern. These disputes have endured for a decade or more in the past.
Gun killings peaked in the State at 26 cases in 2006 but last year that fell to 11, 10 of which were gangland killings.
Prosperity
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris recently attempted to debunk a view that crime rises during a recession. He said that when people have more money to spend on drink and drugs, crime rates increase.
There can be no doubt that prosperity has been the biggest driver of crime in the State since 2003, when the Central Statistics Office began publishing crime data. Crime increased from 2003 until about 2009 and then fell (in line with the economy). About three years ago, when the economic recovery began to take hold, crime started to increase again.
Crime rates, generally speaking, are still a long way off their peaks of just over a decade ago. But a pattern of sustained increases in Irish crime is now well underway.
The number of sex crimes being reported to the Garda is now at an all-time high. Crimes linked to prosperity are increasing such as assaults, drunkenness and disorder as well as drug crime and the gun crime associated with it.
Because the drugs trade has been recovering – with demand rising in line with disposable incomes – gangs are competing more intensely for their share of the market.
That competition has resulted in renewed gang feuding. Last year, for example, saw the first two murders in the Drogheda feud. Similarly, a feud in Coolock began at the start of last year and has so far claimed five lives.
When one considers drug crime increased by 17 per cent in the 12 months to last September, after falling for years, it is not hard to understand why drug gang feuding has suddenly started to take hold again.
The gun murder rate may not be as high as the peak of 2006, but the running feuds have the potential to significantly worsen in the year ahead. At the same time, the Garda has been better resourced than ever in recent years to tackle the gangs.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Department of Education clashes with research agency over future direction

The Department of Education has clashed with the country ’ s largest State-funded research agency over how taxpayers ’ money should be spent , documents show .
Science Foundation Ireland ( SFI ) has been drawing up a strategy for the years 2020 to 2025 to guide the direction of future investment .
A letter sent by the department to the foundation , following a meeting to discuss the draft strategy , reveals sharp differences over how its funding should be spent .
The five-page letter from William Beausang , a senior official who heads the department ’ s tertiary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ clear risk ” of its draft blueprint being “ out of step ” with developments in national and higher education research .
It warns that its strategy needs to be much more closely aligned with other Government blueprints on innovation , future jobs and skills .
In addition , it hints that the SFI is overreaching itself and needs to focus on its role as part of a much wider education and training system .
“ This serious concern is at the core of the reservations expressed at our meeting ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a responsibility to ensure that individual strategies are aligned to and follow national policy and strategy .
“ Rather than just a reference , there needs to be more direct alignment and representation in SFI ’ s strategy of what it can do to contribute to the achievement of Ireland ’ s national policy objectives ... ” Mr Beausang also said he would prefer if the foundation held off completing its strategy until a successor to the Government ’ s national research and innovation strategy – Innovation 2020 – has been considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role of SFI , the letter states the draft strategy did not adequately recognise the “ centrality of the higher education system ” for the delivery of a wide range of objectives for national policy , “ not solely restricted to research , which is in the interest of SFI ” .
Details of the letter , seen by The Irish Times , were first published recently in Ireland ’ s Yearbook of Education 2019-2020 by former government adviser John Walshe .
Mr Beausang also emphasised the role of the Higher Education Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a much stronger and more collaborative approach .
“ The HEA is therefore more than just one of the many parties to be consulted within the formulation of your strategy .
In this department ’ s view , additional significant consultation and engagement with the HEA is essential to putting a successful strategy in place , ” he wrote .
It adds , pointedly , that research is generally performed by HEA core-funded staff within the higher education research system .
“ Any future development of the SFI Research Centres programme needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an essential part of their operation.
” He added that there were risks with extending the scope of SFI ’ s remit too broadly , which could lead to a “ loss of focus , challenges in reconciling competing priorities and potentially impacting on the prioritisation of core work ” .
It also refers to the “ disappointingly brief and limited reference ” in the draft strategy document to the emergence of technological universities .
“ The establishment of the TUs is the single most important development in the HE [ higher education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and warrants a significant focus in the SFI strategy , ” it adds .

Irish Times education columnist Brian Mooney, Dr Maurice Manning and publisher Phyllis Mitchell at the recent publication of Ireland’s Yearbook of Education.
The Department of Education has clashed with the country’s largest State-funded research agency over how taxpayers’ money should be spent, documents show.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has been drawing up a strategy for the years 2020 to 2025 to guide the direction of future investment.
A letter sent by the department to the foundation, following a meeting to discuss the draft strategy, reveals sharp differences over how its funding should be spent.
The five-page letter from William Beausang, a senior official who heads the department's tertiary unit, warns SFI that there is a "clear risk" of its draft blueprint being "out of step" with developments in national and higher education research. It warns that its strategy needs to be much more closely aligned with other Government blueprints on innovation, future jobs and skills.
READ MORE
In addition, it hints that the SFI is overreaching itself and needs to focus on its role as part of a much wider education and training system.
“This serious concern is at the core of the reservations expressed at our meeting...” the letter states. “There is a responsibility to ensure that individual strategies are aligned to and follow national policy and strategy.
Successor
“Rather than just a reference, there needs to be more direct alignment and representation in SFI’s strategy of what it can do to contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s national policy objectives...”
Mr Beausang also said he would prefer if the foundation held off completing its strategy until a successor to the Government’s national research and innovation strategy – Innovation 2020 – has been considered.
In a pointed reference to the role of SFI, the letter states the draft strategy did not adequately recognise the “centrality of the higher education system” for the delivery of a wide range of objectives for national policy, “not solely restricted to research, which is in the interest of SFI”.
Details of the letter, seen by The Irish Times, were first published recently in Ireland's Yearbook of Education 2019-2020 by former government adviser John Walshe.
More collaborative
Mr Beausang also emphasised the role of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the need for a much stronger and more collaborative approach.
“The HEA is therefore more than just one of the many parties to be consulted within the formulation of your strategy. In this department’s view, additional significant consultation and engagement with the HEA is essential to putting a successful strategy in place,” he wrote.
It adds, pointedly, that research is generally performed by HEA core-funded staff within the higher education research system. “Any future development of the SFI Research Centres programme needs to recognise that the HEA core funding is an essential part of their operation.”
He added that there were risks with extending the scope of SFI’s remit too broadly, which could lead to a “loss of focus, challenges in reconciling competing priorities and potentially impacting on the prioritisation of core work”.
Limited reference
It also refers to the “disappointingly brief and limited reference” in the draft strategy document to the emergence of technological universities.
“The establishment of the TUs is the single most important development in the HE [higher education] landscape over the next number of years and warrants a significant focus in the SFI strategy,” it adds.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--RTÉ receives complaint from union after ‘issue’ with spokeswoman’s accent

A trade union has complained to RTÉ after the broadcaster requested a different spokesperson be put forward to participate on a radio programme because “ they had an issue ” with the original speaker ’ s accent .
In a letter to RTÉ , Unite , which represents workers from various sectors , said it wished to register its “ disappointment ” with the decision which “ specifically undermined our spokesperson Julia Marciniak ” .
The union alleged that the production team behind RTÉ Radio One evening programme Drivetime contacted it seeking a spokesperson to discuss the distribution of tips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unite said that following a preliminary phone call with Ms Marciniak , who is of Polish ethnicity , the union was contacted by the production team requesting “ a different spokesperson because they had an issue with Julia ’ s accent ” .
“ We find this action extremely disappointing , ” the letter stated , adding that Ms Marciniak “ is best-placed in terms of experience and expertise to speak on behalf of our members ” .
The union said the decision was “ highly insensitive ” and reflected a “ lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrant workers in the hospitality sector .
“ Silencing a representative of workers based on her foreign accent sends a very negative message , not just for migrant workers in Ireland , but for all who pay a licence fee in regard to the commitment of our national broadcaster to reflect and represent all in our society.
” Asked about the matter , RTÉ said it would be “ responding directly to Unite ” .
It is understood that in its correspondence to Unite , RTÉ will acknowledge these actions fell short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reiterate its commitment to representing diverse voices in its programming .

Unite says RTÉ’s decision was ‘highly insensitive’ and reflected a ‘lack of understanding of the vulnerability’ of migrant workers in the hospitality sector. Photograph: Alan Betson
A trade union has complained to RTÉ after the broadcaster requested a different spokesperson be put forward to participate on a radio programme because "they had an issue" with the original speaker's accent.
In a letter to RTÉ, Unite, which represents workers from various sectors, said it wished to register its “disappointment” with the decision which “specifically undermined our spokesperson Julia Marciniak”.
The union alleged that the production team behind RTÉ Radio One evening programme Drivetime contacted it seeking a spokesperson to discuss the distribution of tips in the hospitality sector on air.
‘Extremely disappointing’
Unite said that following a preliminary phone call with Ms Marciniak, who is of Polish ethnicity, the union was contacted by the production team requesting “a different spokesperson because they had an issue with Julia’s accent”.
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“We find this action extremely disappointing,” the letter stated, adding that Ms Marciniak “is best-placed in terms of experience and expertise to speak on behalf of our members”.
The union said the decision was “highly insensitive” and reflected a “lack of understanding of the vulnerability” of migrant workers in the hospitality sector.
‘Negative message’
"Silencing a representative of workers based on her foreign accent sends a very negative message, not just for migrant workers in Ireland, but for all who pay a licence fee in regard to the commitment of our national broadcaster to reflect and represent all in our society."
Asked about the matter, RTÉ said it would be “responding directly to Unite”.
It is understood that in its correspondence to Unite, RTÉ will acknowledge these actions fell short of its diversity and inclusion policies and will reiterate its commitment to representing diverse voices in its programming.


theirishtimes--2020-01-20--Clontarf tenant says her garden was ‘destroyed’ without warning by Irish Rail

A Dublin tenant says Irish Rail “ destroyed ” her back garden without warning .
Kayla Jackson says she was told she had no right to be consulted on works in the garden as she is not the property owner .
Ms Jackson ( 56 ) , who rents her home in Clontarf , lives alone and has tended her back garden as a bio-sphere [ self-contained eco system ] since she moved in 12 years ago .
She says trees and hedgerow in her garden , and on the other side of the garden wall on land owned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40ft in height .
Within the garden , she says , large shrubbery co-existed with wild roses which hosted bees , butterflies , birds ’ nests , foxes and “ thousands of little grubs ” , along with plants and fruits trees .
“ It was my sanctuary , ” says Ms Jackson .
She was “ shocked ” on October 3rd last to find men in her back garden and on the other side of the wall felling trees and removing the hedge .
“ I begged them to stop and asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were doing .
They told me they were working for Irish Rail and that they had to cut down all the trees .
When I asked them who had given them permission , they said they had tried to knock on the front door but got no answer .
That ’ s impossible though because I was here all morning.
” Ms Jackson says she went to work and on her return found “ the entire garden had been cleared and destroyed ” .
It now consists of a lawn , with most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead-looking branches .
The trees are gone and a railway line and signalling platform that was hidden previously is now exposed .
While Ms Jackson does not mind seeing trains passing every 15 minutes , she feels her privacy has been compromised .
“ And all that sound barrier and natural insulation is gone .
The back of my house is colder , it ’ s noisier and I just feel devastated.
” She has survived a “ number of traumas ” in the past 15 years and the garden she created was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of safety here .
.
.
this has really depleted my quality of life.
” She contacted Irish Rail in early October and was told she “ did not have any rights ” in the matter , that her landlord had consented to the works .
While one neighbour last week was “ happy enough ” with the works , others including Kathleen and Martin Boyle were unhappy about trees being felled and understood Ms Jackson ’ s dismay .
“ I don ’ t blame her , ” said Ms Boyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice from Irish Rail .
What do Irish Rail say ?
A spokesman for Irish Rail said the company was approached by a neighbour and asked to clear trees and vegetation on its property .
“ When such requests are received , we will endeavour to undertake the work in a planned manner .
.
.
after a number of efforts to contact [ Ms Jackson ] including house visits , we made contact with the owner who gave permission for the tree and vegetation to be removed.
” Stephen Large , Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said although this was the landlord ’ s property , it was Ms Jackson ’ s home .
“ When State agencies interfere with a tenant ’ s home it is not unreasonable to expect that the tenant would be informed and that any concerns they have would be listened to .
It is also incumbent upon the landlord to inform the tenant if there is likely to be disruption or changes to the property , ” he said .
“ If renting is to become a tenure of choice , tenants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what happens to their home.
” The landlord did not respond to calls or text messages about the matter .

A Dublin tenant says Irish Rail "destroyed" her back garden without warning.
Kayla Jackson says she was told she had no right to be consulted on works in the garden as she is not the property owner. Ms Jackson (56), who rents her home in Clontarf, lives alone and has tended her back garden as a bio-sphere [self-contained eco system] since she moved in 12 years ago.
She says trees and hedgerow in her garden, and on the other side of the garden wall on land owned by Irish Rail, had grown to about 40ft in height.
Within the garden, she says, large shrubbery co-existed with wild roses which hosted bees, butterflies, birds’ nests, foxes and “thousands of little grubs”, along with plants and fruits trees.
READ MORE
“It was my sanctuary,” says Ms Jackson.
She was “shocked” on October 3rd last to find men in her back garden and on the other side of the wall felling trees and removing the hedge.
“I begged them to stop and asked them who they were and what they were doing. They told me they were working for Irish Rail and that they had to cut down all the trees. When I asked them who had given them permission, they said they had tried to knock on the front door but got no answer. That’s impossible though because I was here all morning.”
Ms Jackson says she went to work and on her return found “the entire garden had been cleared and destroyed”. It now consists of a lawn, with most of the hedgerow reduced to brown, dead-looking branches. The trees are gone and a railway line and signalling platform that was hidden previously is now exposed.
While Ms Jackson does not mind seeing trains passing every 15 minutes, she feels her privacy has been compromised.
“And all that sound barrier and natural insulation is gone. The back of my house is colder, it’s noisier and I just feel devastated.”
She has survived a “number of traumas” in the past 15 years and the garden she created was “central to my healing and my sense of safety here . . . this has really depleted my quality of life.”
She contacted Irish Rail in early October and was told she “did not have any rights” in the matter, that her landlord had consented to the works.
While one neighbour last week was "happy enough" with the works, others including Kathleen and Martin Boyle were unhappy about trees being felled and understood Ms Jackson's dismay.
“I don’t blame her,” said Ms Boyle, adding that they too had no notice from Irish Rail.
What do Irish Rail say?
A spokesman for Irish Rail said the company was approached by a neighbour and asked to clear trees and vegetation on its property.
“When such requests are received, we will endeavour to undertake the work in a planned manner . . . after a number of efforts to contact [Ms Jackson] including house visits, we made contact with the owner who gave permission for the tree and vegetation to be removed.”
Stephen Large, Dublin regional services manager with tenancy advocacy Threshold, said although this was the landlord's property, it was Ms Jackson's home.
“When State agencies interfere with a tenant’s home it is not unreasonable to expect that the tenant would be informed and that any concerns they have would be listened to. It is also incumbent upon the landlord to inform the tenant if there is likely to be disruption or changes to the property,” he said.
“If renting is to become a tenure of choice, tenants must be a part of the conversation about what happens to their home.”
The landlord did not respond to calls or text messages about the matter.