theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Questions raised over State examinations marking process

Every year more than 100,000 students receive their Junior and Leaving Cert exam results .
The fact the exams are marked anonymously and major errors are relatively rare means they have widespread public confidence .
The State Examination Commission ( SEC ) says it is dedicated to providing a “ high quality examinations and assessment system incorporating the highest standards of openness , fairness and accountability ” .
However , an internal report prepared by the commission raises urgent questions over whether the system really is fully transparent , fair and fit-for-purpose .
The findings are contained in an unpublished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Leaving Certificate Examination .
The concerns stem from the measures used by the commission to ensure consistency of standards in students ’ overall grades from one year to the next .
Nowadays , students are entitled to see their marked exam papers and appeal their results if they feel they have grounds for an upgrade .
This has been a big step forward in promoting greater transparency over candidates ’ grades .
However , students do not have sight of the measures used to ensure consistency of standards in candidates ’ overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The commission achieves this by adjusting marking schemes during the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of candidates are awarded As , Bs and Cs ( or H1s , H2 and H3 , as they are now known ) each year .
As a result , it adjusts the marking schemes for individual exams .
This can involve diverting marks away from certain questions that are “ easy ” ( if too many students are scoring high grades ) or allocating extra marks for more challenging questions ( if too many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The precise details of how this takes place has been hidden from public view .
Requests by The Irish Times to see the details of how marking schemes are altered have been refused by the commission .
However , an internal research report produced by the SEC outlines several key ways the standard-setting process makes the marking scheme for exams “ less valid ” and reduces fairness by benefiting some students and penalising others .
1 .
Distorts the marking scheme The report says a “ critical disadvantage ” of this approach is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can have on marking schemes .
For example , when marks are diverted away from challenging questions , or towards easy questions , it has the effect of changing the weightings for different skills being assessed .
This discrepancy between the original marking scheme and the final one renders the exam “ less valid that it would otherwise be ” , according to the report .
2 .
‘ Questionable fairness ’ Changes to marking schemes vary from subject to subject – but in most cases it will change the “ rank ordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let ’ s say John scores 92 per cent or a H1 under the original marking scheme , while Mary scores 88 per cent or a H2 .
When the marking scheme is altered to get a similar proportion of grades to last year , John loses marks and ends up with 89 per cent or a H2 , while Mary gains marks and secures a H1 .
The report points out that changes to marking schemes affect this “ ranking ordering ” , which in many cases affects the grades students obtain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students who are chasing valuable CAO points for their chosen courses .
Significantly , a student will not know this has happened – even if they view their exam script ; this is because only the final marking scheme counts and earlier versions are not published .
The report also notes the original marking scheme was designed to reflect , as accurately as possible , how skills being measured ought to be valued relative to each other .
Therefore , any changes move it further away from this intended balance .
These factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of candidates , the report says , is “ more likely to reduce fairness than increase it ” .
3 .
Distorts the management of the marking process Ideally , the main focus of exam authorities is to ensure examiners are marking accurately and identifying any deficiencies .
However , the focus on the distribution of grades and the need to change marking schemes dominates the attention of authorities , according to the report .
The more time and attention devoted to this , the less time and attention that is available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern .
4 .
Compromises the accuracy of marking Much time and money goes on training hundreds of examiners to mark accurately using the original marking schemes .
If these are altered , examiners are required to implement these changes without further training other than a phone call from their advising examiners .
“ This , ” the report says , ” hinders the accuracy with which the examiners can do their work.
” 5 .
Slows down marking The need to gather data from sample exam papers and determine whether changes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considerable amount of time towards the start of the marking process .
The report estimates it takes about five days to do this .
Only after this , can the regular marking begin .
6 .
Impacts on the supply of examiners Each year the commission struggles to hire enough examiners to mark hundreds of thousands of examination scripts .
The process of altering marking schemes – which involves suspending marking until sample scripts are analysed and revisiting papers which have previously been marked – is a source of frustration for many examiners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mark exams shows this is a factor in their decision not to take up an offer of reappointment .
7 .
Lacks precision and efficiency The report notes altering marking schemes lacks “ precision and accuracy ” .
For example , a marking scheme may be adjusted because it is proving too harsh by producing too few A or B grades , and too lenient at the other end of the spectrum by producing too few E and F grades .
The report notes adjusting marking schemes to address both of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
8 .
Can not facilitate ‘ linked ’ grades Until recently there was no official link between grades at different levels in the same subject .
This has changed since 2016 with the introduction of a new common points scale .
For example , nowadays a H5 ( 50-60 per cent at Higher level ) is the equivalent of an O1 ( 90 to 100 per cent at Ordinary level ) , which is reflected in CAO points .
This link is now official and required under Department of Education policy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the present arrangement , “ this is simply not feasible at all.
” 9 .
Limits adoption of new technology to improve marking quality The process of adjusting marking schemes for standardising purposes is highly unusual internationally .
This makes it more difficult to find compatible technology which allows for digitisation of scripts and on-screen marking .
The report also examines the advantages of the existing standard-setting system used by the commission .
Among these are that it is “ familiar ” ; it “ has the appearance of objectivity ” ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard of the paper consistent ” .
The commission ’ s paper proposes two possible alternatives to the current standard-setting process , similar to systems used in the UK and elsewhere .
One involves setting grade boundaries after exams have been marked .
This would allow exam authorities to raise or lower the minimum marks needed to secure a grade , if an exam is easier or harder than the previous year .
This approach would ensure grades remain consistent year after year in a way in a way that is fairer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected in the same way .
Another approach involves applying a “ standardising transformation ” .
This is a relatively complex process which typically involves converting marks into a uniform scale which gives equal value to work at the same level of performance , regardless of the level of difficulty of the exam .
In simple terms , it transforms the marks of all students instead of moving the grade boundaries .
The research paper says the commission considers this approach would be “ significantly better ” than the current system .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Education ] approve the adoption [ of ] this procedure , following which the additional details can be discussed and agreed and an implementation plan developed , ” it states .

Sorting and despatching of Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate exam scripts at the State Examinations Commission in Athlone. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Every year more than 100,000 students receive their Junior and Leaving Cert exam results.
The fact the exams are marked anonymously and major errors are relatively rare means they have widespread public confidence.
The State Examination Commission (SEC) says it is dedicated to providing a "high quality examinations and assessment system incorporating the highest standards of openness, fairness and accountability".
However, an internal report prepared by the commission raises urgent questions over whether the system really is fully transparent, fair and fit-for-purpose.
READ MORE
Concerns
The findings are contained in an unpublished research paper, Standard setting procedures in the Leaving Certificate Examination.
The concerns stem from the measures used by the commission to ensure consistency of standards in students’ overall grades from one year to the next.
Nowadays, students are entitled to see their marked exam papers and appeal their results if they feel they have grounds for an upgrade.
This has been a big step forward in promoting greater transparency over candidates’ grades.
However, students do not have sight of the measures used to ensure consistency of standards in candidates’ overall grades from one year to the next.
The commission achieves this by adjusting marking schemes during the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of candidates are awarded As, Bs and Cs (or H1s, H2 and H3, as they are now known) each year.
As a result, it adjusts the marking schemes for individual exams.
This can involve diverting marks away from certain questions that are “easy” (if too many students are scoring high grades) or allocating extra marks for more challenging questions (if too many students are scoring lower grades).
When marks are diverted away from challenging questions, or towards easy questions, it has the effect of changing the weightings for different skills being assessed
The precise details of how this takes place has been hidden from public view. Requests by The Irish Times to see the details of how marking schemes are altered have been refused by the commission.
However, an internal research report produced by the SEC outlines several key ways the standard-setting process makes the marking scheme for exams “less valid” and reduces fairness by benefiting some students and penalising others.
1. Distorts the marking scheme
The report says a "critical disadvantage" of this approach is the "distorting effect" the procedure can have on marking schemes.
For example, when marks are diverted away from challenging questions, or towards easy questions, it has the effect of changing the weightings for different skills being assessed.
This discrepancy between the original marking scheme and the final one renders the exam “less valid that it would otherwise be”, according to the report.
2. 'Questionable fairness'
Changes to marking schemes vary from subject to subject – but in most cases it will change the "rank ordering" of candidates.
For example, let’s say John scores 92 per cent or a H1 under the original marking scheme, while Mary scores 88 per cent or a H2.
When the marking scheme is altered to get a similar proportion of grades to last year, John loses marks and ends up with 89 per cent or a H2, while Mary gains marks and secures a H1.
The report points out that changes to marking schemes affect this “ranking ordering”, which in many cases affects the grades students obtain.
These can be crucial differences for students who are chasing valuable CAO points for their chosen courses.
Significantly, a student will not know this has happened – even if they view their exam script; this is because only the final marking scheme counts and earlier versions are not published.
Much time and money goes on training hundreds of examiners to mark accurately using the original marking schemes
The report also notes the original marking scheme was designed to reflect, as accurately as possible, how skills being measured ought to be valued relative to each other. Therefore, any changes move it further away from this intended balance.
These factors and their impact on the rank ordering of candidates, the report says, is “more likely to reduce fairness than increase it”.
3. Distorts the management of the marking process
Ideally, the main focus of exam authorities is to ensure examiners are marking accurately and identifying any deficiencies.
However, the focus on the distribution of grades and the need to change marking schemes dominates the attention of authorities, according to the report.
The more time and attention devoted to this, the less time and attention that is available to focus on what should be their primary concern.
4. Compromises the accuracy of marking
Much time and money goes on training hundreds of examiners to mark accurately using the original marking schemes.
If these are altered, examiners are required to implement these changes without further training other than a phone call from their advising examiners. “This,” the report says,” hinders the accuracy with which the examiners can do their work.”
5. Slows down marking
The need to gather data from sample exam papers and determine whether changes are needed to the marking scheme takes a considerable amount of time towards the start of the marking process.
The report estimates it takes about five days to do this. Only after this, can the regular marking begin.
6. Impacts on the supply of examiners
Each year the commission struggles to hire enough examiners to mark hundreds of thousands of examination scripts.
The process of altering marking schemes – which involves suspending marking until sample scripts are analysed and revisiting papers which have previously been marked – is a source of frustration for many examiners.
Feedback from examiners who have declined to mark exams shows this is a factor in their decision not to take up an offer of reappointment.
7. Lacks precision and efficiency
The report notes altering marking schemes lacks "precision and accuracy".
For example, a marking scheme may be adjusted because it is proving too harsh by producing too few A or B grades, and too lenient at the other end of the spectrum by producing too few E and F grades.
The report notes adjusting marking schemes to address both of these difficulties at the same time is challenging.
8. Cannot facilitate 'linked' grades
Until recently there was no official link between grades at different levels in the same subject. This has changed since 2016 with the introduction of a new common points scale. For example, nowadays a H5 (50-60 per cent at Higher level) is the equivalent of an O1 (90 to 100 per cent at Ordinary level), which is reflected in CAO points. This link is now official and required under Department of Education policy. However, the report says, "under the present arrangement, "this is simply not feasible at all."
9. Limits adoption of new technology to improve marking quality
The process of adjusting marking schemes for standardising purposes is highly unusual internationally. This makes it more difficult to find compatible technology which allows for digitisation of scripts and on-screen marking.
Advantages
The report also examines the advantages of the existing standard-setting system used by the commission. Among these are that it is “familiar”; it “has the appearance of objectivity”; and may “contribute to keeping the standard of the paper consistent”.
The commission’s paper proposes two possible alternatives to the current standard-setting process, similar to systems used in the UK and elsewhere.
One involves setting grade boundaries after exams have been marked.
This would allow exam authorities to raise or lower the minimum marks needed to secure a grade, if an exam is easier or harder than the previous year.
This approach would ensure grades remain consistent year after year in a way in a way that is fairer for all candidates, as all candidates are affected in the same way.
Another approach involves applying a “standardising transformation”. This is a relatively complex process which typically involves converting marks into a uniform scale which gives equal value to work at the same level of performance, regardless of the level of difficulty of the exam. In simple terms, it transforms the marks of all students instead of moving the grade boundaries.
The research paper says the commission considers this approach would be “significantly better” than the current system.
“We recommend that the DES [Department of Education] approve the adoption [of] this procedure, following which the additional details can be discussed and agreed and an implementation plan developed,” it states.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Q&A: Will students be treated fairly under the State exams marking process?

Q .
Are all students being treated fairly in the State exams marking process ?
The State exams are generally seen as inherently fair in that every candidate is treated the same .
There have also been very positive changes towards greater transparency in recent times such as allowing students to see their marked exam papers .
However , an internal report produced by the State Examinations Commission ( SEC ) highlights key aspects of marking process where the issue of fairness is seriously questioned .
It flags concerns over the way marking schemes for individual exams are altered during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grades .
This effect of this – known as the “ bell-curve ” – is to ensure a similar proportion of candidates achieve As , Bs and Cs ( or H1 , H2 and H3s , as they are now known ) year after year .
This leads to marks being added to some selected questions or taken away from others , depending on whether the exam is too hard or too easy .
This affects students in different ways , benefiting some and penalising others .
For example , if your strongest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted for fewer marks under the marking scheme , you may lose out more than others .
Q .
So how , exactly , is this marking process flawed ?
As the SEC ’ s research paper states , this “ standard setting ” process is unfair or flawed because it : ( a ) changes the overall placement of students and their grades , which “ reduces fairness ” ; ( b ) diverts attention from a focus on accuracy to a focus on achieving a similar proportion of candidates get similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renders the marking scheme less valid by awarding marks in the wrong proportions when compared to the original marking scheme .
Q .
Why are grades manipulated in the first place ?
Why not just use candidates ’ actual results ?
Exam authorities seek to ensure the level of difficulty of each exam paper remains the same every year .
However , this is impossible to do precisely without pre-testing exam questions ( which we don ’ t do in Ireland for reasons of security and cost ) .
If the exam was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is accepted that the proportion of H1s , H2s , etc , would be very similar year after year .
As a result , a “ standard-setting ” process is used in most jurisdictions to ensure results are similar year on year .
The method used in Ireland is to adjust the marking scheme for exam papers while they are being marked .
Q .
How do I know if my grades have been altered by changes to the marking scheme ?
In all likelihood you won ’ t .
Only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has refused requests by The Irish Times to see how marking schemes have been altered in the past .
It has argued that giving public access to these changes would undermine public confidence in the exams .
( A small number of exam papers – about 5 per cent – that were used during a sampling exercise at the start of marking process will be marked under the old scheme – but this will be over-written by the final marking scheme ) .
Q .
How often are marking schemes altered for exams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure the “ right ” proportion of students score H1s , H2s and H3s , etc , to fit the bell curve .
The extent of these changes depends on how easy or hard the exam is compared to previous years .
Sometimes major changes are needed ; other times the changes are smaller .
Q .
How many students are affected by changes to marking schemes each year ?
In essence , every candidate taking a State exam is affected either directly or indirectly .
Let ’ s say there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under the original marking scheme , a student scores a H1 and student b scores a H2 .
However , the altered marking scheme may divert points away from some questions if the exam is deemed too easy , or towards some if it is deemed to hard .
This may result in the two students switching positions , so student b ranks above student a .
Anything which changes this rank ordering of students has implications for every student taking the exam .
It is difficult to say exactly how many actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not release details of how marking schemes are altered .
There ’ s no doubt , however , that significant numbers of grades are change ( as this is the very reason that marking schemes are altered in the first place ) .
Q .
If most countries alter students ’ grades , why should we concerned about what ’ s happening in Ireland ?
The Irish system is very unusual .
The weighting attached to questions on exam papers is changed during the marking process in order to achieve the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the bell curve ) .
This is a source of concern due to issues such as fairness and accuracy ( see above ) .
Q .
What approaches do other countries take to ensure grades are consistent ?
In other countries , grade boundaries – in other words , the minimum marks needed to secure a H1 , for example – may be shifted after the marking process is finished .
So , if the exam has proved too easy , authorities can nudge upwards or downwards the minimum marks needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simpler and affects all candidates .
Q .
Are there any benefits to the current system we use in Ireland ?
The SEC ’ s report says the only benefits of maintaining the current process are that it has “ the appearance of objectivity ” , is “ familiar ” and “ may contribute to keeping the standard of the paper consistent ” .

an internal report produced by the State Examinations Commission highlights key aspects of marking process where the issue of fairness is seriously questioned. Photograph: Peter Thursfield
Q. Are all students being treated fairly in the State exams marking process?
The State exams are generally seen as inherently fair in that every candidate is treated the same.
There have also been very positive changes towards greater transparency in recent times such as allowing students to see their marked exam papers.
However, an internal report produced by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) highlights key aspects of marking process where the issue of fairness is seriously questioned.
It flags concerns over the way marking schemes for individual exams are altered during the marking process to ensure consistency of grades.
READ MORE
This effect of this – known as the “bell-curve” – is to ensure a similar proportion of candidates achieve As, Bs and Cs (or H1, H2 and H3s, as they are now known) year after year.
This leads to marks being added to some selected questions or taken away from others, depending on whether the exam is too hard or too easy.
This affects students in different ways, benefiting some and penalising others.
For example, if your strongest area in an exam is the area targeted for fewer marks under the marking scheme, you may lose out more than others.
Q. So how, exactly, is this marking process flawed?
As the SEC's research paper states, this "standard setting" process is unfair or flawed because it:
(a) changes the overall placement of students and their grades, which "reduces fairness";
(b) diverts attention from a focus on accuracy to a focus on achieving a similar proportion of candidates get similar grades each year;
(c) renders the marking scheme less valid by awarding marks in the wrong proportions when compared to the original marking scheme.
Q. Why are grades manipulated in the first place? Why not just use candidates' actual results?
Exam authorities seek to ensure the level of difficulty of each exam paper remains the same every year.
However, this is impossible to do precisely without pre-testing exam questions (which we don't do in Ireland for reasons of security and cost).
If the exam was of the same level of difficulty, it is accepted that the proportion of H1s, H2s, etc, would be very similar year after year.
As a result, a “standard-setting” process is used in most jurisdictions to ensure results are similar year on year.
The method used in Ireland is to adjust the marking scheme for exam papers while they are being marked.
Q. How do I know if my grades have been altered by changes to the marking scheme?
In all likelihood you won't. Only the final marking scheme counts. The SEC has refused requests by The Irish Times to see how marking schemes have been altered in the past.
It has argued that giving public access to these changes would undermine public confidence in the exams.
(A small number of exam papers – about 5 per cent – that were used during a sampling exercise at the start of marking process will be marked under the old scheme – but this will be over-written by the final marking scheme).
Q. How often are marking schemes altered for exams?
Invariably, marking schemes are changed to ensure the "right" proportion of students score H1s, H2s and H3s, etc, to fit the bell curve.
The extent of these changes depends on how easy or hard the exam is compared to previous years. Sometimes major changes are needed; other times the changes are smaller.
Q. How many students are affected by changes to marking schemes each year?
In essence, every candidate taking a State exam is affected either directly or indirectly.
Let’s say there are two students, a and b. Under the original marking scheme, a student scores a H1 and student b scores a H2.
However, the altered marking scheme may divert points away from some questions if the exam is deemed too easy, or towards some if it is deemed to hard.
This may result in the two students switching positions, so student b ranks above student a.
Anything which changes this rank ordering of students has implications for every student taking the exam.
It is difficult to say exactly how many actual grades are changed, as the SEC does not release details of how marking schemes are altered. There’s no doubt, however, that significant numbers of grades are change (as this is the very reason that marking schemes are altered in the first place).
Q. If most countries alter students' grades, why should we concerned about what's happening in Ireland?
The Irish system is very unusual. The weighting attached to questions on exam papers is changed during the marking process in order to achieve the "right" proportion of grades (also known as the bell curve). This is a source of concern due to issues such as fairness and accuracy (see above).
Q. What approaches do other countries take to ensure grades are consistent?
In other countries, grade boundaries – in other words, the minimum marks needed to secure a H1, for example – may be shifted after the marking process is finished.
So, if the exam has proved too easy, authorities can nudge upwards or downwards the minimum marks needed to secure a H1.
This is simpler and affects all candidates.
Q. Are there any benefits to the current system we use in Ireland?
The SEC's report says the only benefits of maintaining the current process are that it has "the appearance of objectivity", is "familiar" and "may contribute to keeping the standard of the paper consistent".


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--State exams: What is the bell curve?

State exams: What is the bell curve?

Every year the State Examinations Commission ( SEC ) seeks to ensure a similar proportion of students achieve the same grades across individual subjects .
It is aimed at ensuring standards are maintained each year .
In this way , similar numbers of students progress to third-level institutions annually .
It is also hoped higher education institutions and employers can be assured of the consistent quality of applicants .
Using what some refer to as a bell curve , the commission adjusts marking schemes at an early stage in the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of students secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , year after year .
Take the Leaving Cert exam in Higher level English as an example .
The proportion of students who achieved a H1 ( 90 to 100 per cent ) in 2019 was 2.9 per cent ; the equivalent figure for 2018 was 2.9 per cent ; in 2017 it was 2.9 per cent .
The pattern is repeated further down the grades .
The proportion of students who achieved a H2 ( 80 to 90 per cent ) in 2019 was 10 per cent ; in 2018 it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was 10.7 per cent .
Similarly , the proportion of students who achieved a H3 ( 70 to 80 per cent ) in 2019 was 20.4 per cent ; in 2018 it was 20.6 per cent .
These remarkably similar proportion of grades are achieved by adjusting the marking schemes during the marking process , depending on whether the exam has been too hard or too easy .

Using what is referred to as a bell curve, the commission adjusts marking schemes at an early stage in the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of students secure H1s, H2s and H3, etc, year after year. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Every year the State Examinations Commission (SEC) seeks to ensure a similar proportion of students achieve the same grades across individual subjects.
Why?
It is aimed at ensuring standards are maintained each year.
In this way, similar numbers of students progress to third-level institutions annually.
READ MORE
It is also hoped higher education institutions and employers can be assured of the consistent quality of applicants.
Using what some refer to as a bell curve, the commission adjusts marking schemes at an early stage in the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of students secure H1s, H2s and H3, etc, year after year.
Take the Leaving Cert exam in Higher level English as an example.
The proportion of students who achieved a H1 (90 to 100 per cent) in 2019 was 2.9 per cent; the equivalent figure for 2018 was 2.9 per cent; in 2017 it was 2.9 per cent.
The pattern is repeated further down the grades.
The proportion of students who achieved a H2 (80 to 90 per cent) in 2019 was 10 per cent; in 2018 it was 10 per cent; and in 2017 it was 10.7 per cent.
Similarly, the proportion of students who achieved a H3 (70 to 80 per cent) in 2019 was 20.4 per cent; in 2018 it was 20.6 per cent.
These remarkably similar proportion of grades are achieved by adjusting the marking schemes during the marking process, depending on whether the exam has been too hard or too easy.


theirishtimes--2020-01-15--Disabled prisoners often left isolated in cells due to a lack of supports – report

Disabled prisoners are often left isolated in their cells due to a lack of supports , with one prisoner unable to leave his cell because a walking stick was not available , a new report has found .
Meanwhile , visually-impaired staff do not have enough access to material that they can read , while , the deaf suffer “ extremely limited ” access to sign language interpreters and are not given the use of video phones to talk to their families .
One prisoner said staff refused to push him in his wheelchair due to a lack of insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a particular concern .
“ They ’ d be preyed upon , ” said a prison staff member .
“ They ’ d be seen as weak .
.
.
but that ’ s the law of the jail , that ’ s the law of the jungle.
” The experiences are highlighted in a new Irish Penal Reform Trust report , Making Rights Real for People with Disabilities in Detention , published on Wednesday .
Researchers conducted 31 indepth interviews in three prisons , including with 16 prisoners who represented the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , intellectual or sensory impaired .
Because of its relatively small sample size , it examines general trends and individual accounts as opposed to the prevalence of disability within the system .
The testimony of prisoners was “ generally substantiated ” by staff and other interviewees .
“ There were reports that prisoners were effectively confined to their cells due to the inaccessibility of the prison environment , and had services brought to them , ” the report found .
“ This was seen to increase isolation experienced by prisoners with disabilities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation or in safety observation cells.
” Prisoners are also said to miss out due to significant difficulties navigating services , while the cell environment is challenging .
“ Access to sign language interpretation for deaf prisoners was extremely limited , making communication with prison staff and other prisoners almost impossible , ” the report noted .
“ Deaf prisoners routinely had no one to communicate with , and often only had an hour or so a week with someone who was proficient in Irish Sign Language , which amounted to communication deprivation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It noted in particular the lack of video call facilities .
One prison had the technology available to those with family abroad but did not allow deaf prisoners use it .
A particular area of concern identified was the lack of access to services and education and employment opportunities , due to accessibility and other issues .
Although all of the facilities visited had cells designated as appropriate for the mobility impaired , many others do not have such options .
Several prisoners praised the efforts of staff .
However , others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates for support .
“ We heard examples of prisoners making phone calls for deaf and hard of hearing prisoners , cleaning other prisoners ’ cells , providing emotional support , providing advocacy , transcription and even helping in medical emergencies.
” IPRT director general Fíona Ní Chinnéide said the Irish Prison Service ( IPS ) had demonstrated a commitment to its equality and human rights obligations by facilitating the research .
“ It is important that this commitment is now met with resourcing and implementation of the report recommendations , in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people with disabilities in prison , ” she said .

Disabled prisoners are often left isolated in their cells due to a lack of supports, with one prisoner unable to leave his cell because a walking stick was not available, a new report has found.
Meanwhile, visually-impaired staff do not have enough access to material that they can read, while, the deaf suffer “extremely limited” access to sign language interpreters and are not given the use of video phones to talk to their families.
One prisoner said staff refused to push him in his wheelchair due to a lack of insurance.
Bullying of disabled prisoners was flagged as a particular concern. “They’d be preyed upon,” said a prison staff member. “They’d be seen as weak . . . but that’s the law of the jail, that’s the law of the jungle.”
READ MORE
The experiences are highlighted in a new Irish Penal Reform Trust report, Making Rights Real for People with Disabilities in Detention, published on Wednesday.
Researchers conducted 31 indepth interviews in three prisons, including with 16 prisoners who represented the experiences of the long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impaired.
Because of its relatively small sample size, it examines general trends and individual accounts as opposed to the prevalence of disability within the system. The testimony of prisoners was “generally substantiated” by staff and other interviewees.
Deaf prisoners routinely had no one to communicate with, and often only had an hour or so a week with someone who was proficient in Irish Sign Language
“There were reports that prisoners were effectively confined to their cells due to the inaccessibility of the prison environment, and had services brought to them,” the report found.
“This was seen to increase isolation experienced by prisoners with disabilities, many of whom had spent time in isolation or in safety observation cells.”
Prisoners are also said to miss out due to significant difficulties navigating services, while the cell environment is challenging.
“Access to sign language interpretation for deaf prisoners was extremely limited, making communication with prison staff and other prisoners almost impossible,” the report noted.
“Deaf prisoners routinely had no one to communicate with, and often only had an hour or so a week with someone who was proficient in Irish Sign Language, which amounted to communication deprivation and de facto isolation of deaf prisoners.”
We heard examples of prisoners making phone calls for deaf and hard of hearing prisoners, cleaning other prisoners' cells, providing emotional support...
It noted in particular the lack of video call facilities. One prison had the technology available to those with family abroad but did not allow deaf prisoners use it.
A particular area of concern identified was the lack of access to services and education and employment opportunities, due to accessibility and other issues.
Although all of the facilities visited had cells designated as appropriate for the mobility impaired, many others do not have such options.
Several prisoners praised the efforts of staff. However, others are often left to rely on fellow inmates for support.
“We heard examples of prisoners making phone calls for deaf and hard of hearing prisoners, cleaning other prisoners’ cells, providing emotional support, providing advocacy, transcription and even helping in medical emergencies.”
IPRT director general Fíona Ní Chinnéide said the Irish Prison Service (IPS) had demonstrated a commitment to its equality and human rights obligations by facilitating the research.
“It is important that this commitment is now met with resourcing and implementation of the report recommendations, in order to address the significant barriers faced by people with disabilities in prison,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Resident at HSE disability centre felt they were treated like a baby – Hiqa report

A resident at a HSE disability centre in Co Sligo said they felt like they were “ treated like a baby ” , a report from the State ’ s health watchdog says .
Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) found “ disrespectful language ” was used in some care notes at Rosenheim Services regarding residents ’ “ intimate care management ” .
The unannounced inspection , which took place over two days last October , found the centre was not compliant with nine regulations .
Of the 25 inspection reports published by Hiqa on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disabilities , a good level of compliance with regulation and standards was found in 19 centres .
Inspectors said it was noted in care notes that a resident at Rosenheim Services “ expressed that they felt like they were ‘ treated like a baby ’ and did not like the way certain staff treated them ” .
Residents told inspectors they were not permitted treats when certain staff were on duty , with one resident stating that they “ liked to go home to family as they could choose what they wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition , there was disrespectful language used in some care notes with regard to residents ’ intimate care management , and this had not been identified and addressed by the person in charge , ” the inspection report said .
“ The person in charge acknowledged that she was not aware of these concerns , and safeguarding procedures had not been followed to establish if there were reasonable grounds for concern.
” Inspectors found that governance and management arrangements in place at Rosenheim Services were “ poor ” which was negatively impacting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in two of the five residential houses in the centre .
Inspectors also found there was “ insufficient staff ” in place to meet the needs of residents in some parts of the centre .
Hours that were assigned for social outings were at times utilised to cover staff absences , “ which resulted in a reduction of residents ’ accessing community outings of choice ” .
They also said “ significant improvements ” were required in the centre to ensure that the care delivered to residents was safe , of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ needs and individual choices .
Separately , inspectors at Damien House in Co Tipperary found residents ’ finances had not been managed in a “ safe and secure manner ” .
The announced inspection last September was the third to take place at the centre within a year .
The centre was found to be not compliant with eight regulations .
Inspectors said that while fire drills took place in all houses , in one instance they noted that the time frame for evacuation was 20 minutes .
“ A fire containment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not close fully as there was a draft excluder in place and no self-closure on this door .
This could pose a risk to the residents ’ safety , ” the inspection report said .
Inspectors also said that despite a significant amount of works being undertaken on the premises , one of the centre ’ s houses remained “ stark and uninviting ” with a large number of rooms locked and a “ sterile type environment ” .

Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found “disrespectful language” was used in some care notes regarding residents’ “intimate care management”. File photograph: iStock
A resident at a HSE disability centre in Co Sligo said they felt like they were “treated like a baby”, a report from the State’s health watchdog says.
Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found "disrespectful language" was used in some care notes at Rosenheim Services regarding residents' "intimate care management".
The unannounced inspection, which took place over two days last October, found the centre was not compliant with nine regulations.
Of the 25 inspection reports published by Hiqa on Tuesday on designated centres for people with disabilities, a good level of compliance with regulation and standards was found in 19 centres.
READ MORE
Inspectors said it was noted in care notes that a resident at Rosenheim Services “expressed that they felt like they were ‘treated like a baby’ and did not like the way certain staff treated them”.
Residents told inspectors they were not permitted treats when certain staff were on duty, with one resident stating that they “liked to go home to family as they could choose what they wanted to eat at home”.
“In addition, there was disrespectful language used in some care notes with regard to residents’ intimate care management, and this had not been identified and addressed by the person in charge,” the inspection report said.
“The person in charge acknowledged that she was not aware of these concerns, and safeguarding procedures had not been followed to establish if there were reasonable grounds for concern.”
Inspectors found that governance and management arrangements in place at Rosenheim Services were “poor” which was negatively impacting on the quality of life and safety of residents in two of the five residential houses in the centre.
Inspectors also found there was “insufficient staff” in place to meet the needs of residents in some parts of the centre. Hours that were assigned for social outings were at times utilised to cover staff absences, “which resulted in a reduction of residents’ accessing community outings of choice”.
They also said “significant improvements” were required in the centre to ensure that the care delivered to residents was safe, of a high quality and in line with residents’ needs and individual choices.
Tipperary
Separately, inspectors at Damien House in Co Tipperary found residents' finances had not been managed in a "safe and secure manner".
The announced inspection last September was the third to take place at the centre within a year. The centre was found to be not compliant with eight regulations.
Inspectors said that while fire drills took place in all houses, in one instance they noted that the time frame for evacuation was 20 minutes.
“A fire containment door in one of the houses did not close fully as there was a draft excluder in place and no self-closure on this door. This could pose a risk to the residents’ safety,” the inspection report said.
Inspectors also said that despite a significant amount of works being undertaken on the premises, one of the centre’s houses remained “stark and uninviting” with a large number of rooms locked and a “sterile type environment”.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Fr Brian D’Arcy receives OBE for cross community work

Fr Brian D ’ Arcy received an Order of the British Empire ( OBE ) for his work building cross community relations in Northern Ireland in recent decades , at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace on Tuesday .
Fr D ’ Arcy received the award from the Duke of Cambridge , Prince William , after agreeing to accept the honour last year .
Fr D ’ Arcy said royal officials were eager to award an OBE to a figure in Northern Ireland due to recent political difficulties between nationalist and unionist communities .
“ They were pretty keen that someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation in the North was so bad and nothing was happening and they were just looking to increase some form of cross-community relations and some form of help towards a healing path , ” he said .
“ It ’ s nice to get something to celebrate rather than be in grief about , ” he told the RTÉ radio Ray D ’ Arcy show .
The priest said the honour had been offered to him “ some time ago , ” and then again by royal officials last year .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t think you can refuse it , ” he said .
“ How can you say that you were working towards cross community relations and then refuse to take an award because of whatever , ” he said .
“ My reservation was I didn ’ t feel that I should be getting an award for something that I should be doing as a priest anyway , ” Fr D ’ Arcy said .
He said he “ absolutely ” did not have any objection in principle to accepting the honour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priest told Prince William he was praying for his family .
In recent days the British Royal family has been involved in major turmoil over a decision by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan , the Duke and Duchess of Sussex , to step back as senior royals .
“ I said in my particular job I ’ m fairly used to families having difficulties and everything can be worked out , ” Fr D ’ Arcy told RTÉ radio .

Fr Brian D’Arcy is made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by the Duke of Cambridge Prince William at Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Fr Brian D'Arcy received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work building cross community relations in Northern Ireland in recent decades, at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
Fr D’Arcy received the award from the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, after agreeing to accept the honour last year.
Fr D’Arcy said royal officials were eager to award an OBE to a figure in Northern Ireland due to recent political difficulties between nationalist and unionist communities.
“They were pretty keen that someone would step forward, because the political situation in the North was so bad and nothing was happening and they were just looking to increase some form of cross-community relations and some form of help towards a healing path,” he said.
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“It’s nice to get something to celebrate rather than be in grief about,” he told the RTÉ radio Ray D’Arcy show.
The priest said the honour had been offered to him “some time ago,” and then again by royal officials last year. “I texted a few people and said I don’t think you can refuse it,” he said.
“How can you say that you were working towards cross community relations and then refuse to take an award because of whatever,” he said.
“My reservation was I didn’t feel that I should be getting an award for something that I should be doing as a priest anyway,” Fr D’Arcy said. He said he “absolutely” did not have any objection in principle to accepting the honour.
When accepting the OBE, the priest told Prince William he was praying for his family. In recent days the British Royal family has been involved in major turmoil over a decision by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to step back as senior royals.
“I said in my particular job I’m fairly used to families having difficulties and everything can be worked out,” Fr D’Arcy told RTÉ radio.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Tractor protest: Major traffic disruption expected in Dublin on Wedneday

Gardaí have warned the public to expect major disruption to traffic in Dublin city centre on Wednesday due to a large protest by farmers over beef prices .
Over 400 tractors are expected to take part in what organisers are hoping will be the biggest turnout to date in a series of demonstrations to highlight low prices for beef farmers .
The Individual Farmers of Ireland , which is staging the demonstration , has claimed it will be “ significantly larger ” than previous protests in November and December .
Hundreds of farmers from all over Ireland are expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Agriculture and the Dáil .
Farmers remain concerned about the lack of progress by the Beef Task Force in meeting their demands for beef processors to pay higher prices to farmers in the sector .
It following the resumption of talks by the task force when representatives of the main supermarket groups attending their first face-to-face meeting with representatives of various farming bodies including the Irish Farmers ’ Association , the Beef Plan movement and Maicre na Feirme .
The Individual Farmers of Ireland has claimed the task force , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ fast becoming a talking shop designed to pacify farmers ’ concerns without any intention from the Government or the meat industry to resolve the impasse ” .
Although the protest is not due to begin until 2pm , gardaí said traffic would be impacted from 10am onwards due to a number of road closures in the city centre .
Streets around Leinster House including Kildare Street , Molesworth Street , St Stephen ’ s Green South , Merrion Square West/South/East and Merrion Street Upper will be closed to all traffic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street will be diverted up New Bride Street , while only public transport services will be allowed on St Stephen ’ s Green North and East from 2pm .
Gardaí said motorists should also expect some delays on the main routes into Dublin from midday as tractors start to converge on the city centre .
The authorities said bus lanes will not be affected and commuters are advised to avail of public transport where possible .

Gardaí have warned the public to expect major disruption to traffic in Dublin city centre on Wednesday due to a large protest by farmers over beef prices.
Over 400 tractors are expected to take part in what organisers are hoping will be the biggest turnout to date in a series of demonstrations to highlight low prices for beef farmers.
The Individual Farmers of Ireland, which is staging the demonstration, has claimed it will be “significantly larger” than previous protests in November and December.
Hundreds of farmers from all over Ireland are expected to converge on Kildare Street to protest outside the Department of Agriculture and the Dáil.
READ MORE
Farmers remain concerned about the lack of progress by the Beef Task Force in meeting their demands for beef processors to pay higher prices to farmers in the sector.
It following the resumption of talks by the task force when representatives of the main supermarket groups attending their first face-to-face meeting with representatives of various farming bodies including the Irish Farmers’ Association, the Beef Plan movement and Maicre na Feirme.
The Individual Farmers of Ireland has claimed the task force, which includes representatives of all stakeholders, was “fast becoming a talking shop designed to pacify farmers’ concerns without any intention from the Government or the meat industry to resolve the impasse”.
Although the protest is not due to begin until 2pm, gardaí said traffic would be impacted from 10am onwards due to a number of road closures in the city centre.
Streets around Leinster House including Kildare Street, Molesworth Street, St Stephen’s Green South, Merrion Square West/South/East and Merrion Street Upper will be closed to all traffic.
In addition, eastbound traffic on Kevin Street will be diverted up New Bride Street, while only public transport services will be allowed on St Stephen’s Green North and East from 2pm.
Gardaí said motorists should also expect some delays on the main routes into Dublin from midday as tractors start to converge on the city centre.
The authorities said bus lanes will not be affected and commuters are advised to avail of public transport where possible.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Evangelist Jason Evert cancels remaining Ireland tour dates ‘due to illness’

The remaining speaking engagements in a short tour of Ireland by controversial Catholic preacher , Jason Evert , were cancelled on Tuesday “ due to illness ” .
The US evangelist had been scheduled to speak at a number of events over the next few days including one at the only Catholic parish in Dublin run by priests from the conservative Opus Dei congregation .
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church on Merrion Road in Dublin confirmed on Tuesday evening that a planned talk by Mr Evert in the church on Wednesday evening was not going ahead as Mr Evert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to illness ” .
“ As a consequence all appearances , including ours , are now cancelled , ” a statement on the church ’ s website said .
It added : “ We were all looking forward to hearing him speak .
Perhaps we ’ ll get a chance in the future.
” Mr Evert is the founder of the Chastity Project , which promotes chastity among teenagers .
He has described homosexuality and the use of contraception as “ disordered.
” Mr Evert was also due to give an address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday , which was organised by the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore , whose bishop , Phonsie Cullinan is understood to be the only member of the Irish hierarchy who is a member of Opus Dei .
Mr Evert was also scheduled to make an informal visit to Rockbrook Park School in Rathfarnham between his official events .
The website of the secondary boys school , which has affiliations with Opus Dei , described Mr Evert as a “ popular Catholic speaker ” who was known for his “ compassionate , down-to-earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and chastity to teens and young adults.
” Last weekend , it was announced that several speaking engagements by Mr Evert had been cancelled after concerns had been raised about his views on homosexuality and contraception .
They included planned talks to students in Blackrock College and Rosemont secondary school in Sandyford and a public meeting in the Tower Hotel in Waterford .
UCD also cancelled a planned appearance by Mr Evert at the “ Incite 2020 ” student retreat in Belfield , which is running between Thursday and Saturday .
It followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Society for UCD authorities to stop the preacher from speaking at the event because his words put the safety of LGBTQ+ students at risk .

Jason Evert had been due to speak at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church on Merrion Road in Dublin. Photograph: Google Maps
The remaining speaking engagements in a short tour of Ireland by controversial Catholic preacher, Jason Evert, were cancelled on Tuesday "due to illness".
The US evangelist had been scheduled to speak at a number of events over the next few days including one at the only Catholic parish in Dublin run by priests from the conservative Opus Dei congregation.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church on Merrion Road in Dublin confirmed on Tuesday evening that a planned talk by Mr Evert in the church on Wednesday evening was not going ahead as Mr Evert was unable to travel to Ireland "due to illness".
“As a consequence all appearances, including ours, are now cancelled,” a statement on the church’s website said.
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It added: “We were all looking forward to hearing him speak. Perhaps we’ll get a chance in the future.”
Mr Evert is the founder of the Chastity Project, which promotes chastity among teenagers. He has described homosexuality and the use of contraception as “disordered.”
Mr Evert was also due to give an address to the Holy Family Mission in Waterford on Thursday, which was organised by the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, whose bishop, Phonsie Cullinan is understood to be the only member of the Irish hierarchy who is a member of Opus Dei.
Mr Evert was also scheduled to make an informal visit to Rockbrook Park School in Rathfarnham between his official events.
The website of the secondary boys school, which has affiliations with Opus Dei, described Mr Evert as a “popular Catholic speaker” who was known for his “compassionate, down-to-earth and thought-provoking approach to speaking about relationships and chastity to teens and young adults.”
Last weekend, it was announced that several speaking engagements by Mr Evert had been cancelled after concerns had been raised about his views on homosexuality and contraception.
They included planned talks to students in Blackrock College and Rosemont secondary school in Sandyford and a public meeting in the Tower Hotel in Waterford.
UCD also cancelled a planned appearance by Mr Evert at the "Incite 2020" student retreat in Belfield, which is running between Thursday and Saturday.
It followed calls by the university’s LGBT Society for UCD authorities to stop the preacher from speaking at the event because his words put the safety of LGBTQ+ students at risk.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Yamaha warns musicians not to climb in instrument cases after Ghosn escape

Yamaha Corporation has warned people not to try to squeeze inside musical instrument cases after reports former Nissan Motor boss Carlos Ghosn fled Japan concealed inside in one .
“ We won ’ t mention the reason , but there have been many tweets about climbing inside large musical instrument cases .
A warning after any unfortunate accident would be too late , so we ask everyone not to try it , ” the Japanese company said in a post on its Twitter account on January 11th .
Mr Ghosn , who is accused of hiding earnings , transferring investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , escaped from Japan at the end of December for Lebanon .
Japanese authorities have vowed to pursue him and have issued an international wanted notice for him and his wife Carole .
The former auto executive has declined to reveal how he slipped past Japanese airport security , or confirm media reports that accomplices smuggled him through a private jet lounge in Kansai Airport in western Japan hidden in a large speaker box that was too large to fit through the facility ’ s X-ray scanner .
Earlier reports , which Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried out of his home in Tokyo in a double-bass case .
Yamaha , which makes instruments and equipment ranging from pianos and double basses to drums and heavy-duty speakers , thanked people in a second tweet for liking its first post , which was retweeted more than 50,000 times .
It also reminded followers again that instrument cases are designed for instruments and not people .
– Reuters

Yamaha asked followers on Twitter not to try to get into its musical instrument cases. File photograph: iStock
Yamaha Corporation has warned people not to try to squeeze inside musical instrument cases after reports former Nissan Motor boss Carlos Ghosn fled Japan concealed inside in one.
“We won’t mention the reason, but there have been many tweets about climbing inside large musical instrument cases. A warning after any unfortunate accident would be too late, so we ask everyone not to try it,” the Japanese company said in a post on its Twitter account on January 11th.
Mr Ghosn, who is accused of hiding earnings, transferring investment losses to Nissan and misappropriating company funds, escaped from Japan at the end of December for Lebanon. Japanese authorities have vowed to pursue him and have issued an international wanted notice for him and his wife Carole.
The former auto executive has declined to reveal how he slipped past Japanese airport security, or confirm media reports that accomplices smuggled him through a private jet lounge in Kansai Airport in western Japan hidden in a large speaker box that was too large to fit through the facility’s X-ray scanner.
READ MORE
Earlier reports, which Mr Ghosn has dismissed, said he was carried out of his home in Tokyo in a double-bass case.
Yamaha, which makes instruments and equipment ranging from pianos and double basses to drums and heavy-duty speakers, thanked people in a second tweet for liking its first post, which was retweeted more than 50,000 times. It also reminded followers again that instrument cases are designed for instruments and not people. – Reuters


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Irish organised crime now in an era of unprecedented extremes

The discovery of arms and legs in a bag on a pavement outside homes on a north Dublin housing estate is a shocking act even by the standards of Ireland ’ s most ruthless drugs gangs .
Judged as a standalone crime this killing is gruesome and cruel .
In the longer term , it is the latest juncture in Irish crime ’ s evolution towards narcoterrorism-style violence .
More lives than ever are now being claimed in Irish gang feuds .
The modern era of gangland crime in the Republic can be viewed as the last 20 years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of carnage followed by a lull of approximately five years before the underworld erupted again into its most intense round of bloodletting yet .
The first decade-long period is bookended by a major drugs haul in a Dublin city centre hotel in March 2000 and the murder of Eamon Dunne a decade later in a Dublin pub in April 2010 .
During that decade Ireland witnessed its first protracted gangland gun feuds .
The Crumlin-Drimnagh feud began in March 2000 in a row over a drug seizure and the unrelated Limerick feud started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 people had been murdered in the two disputes .
While the sheer scale of those two disputes alone broke new ground for Irish organised crime , a gang in Finglas , Dublin , headed by Marlo Hyland and later Eamon Dunne , also went on a killing session at the same time ; 11 people were murdered in the 3½ years Dunne led the gang .
Indeed , Dunne ’ s killing session was so intense the Kinahan cartel decided to murder him to restore calm to the Irish underworld , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When Dunne was killed a calm of sorts was restored .
Gun killings linked to organised crime still occurred in Ireland but they were fewer in number and they did not lead to protracted feuding .
However , a new era was ushered in when Dubliner Gary Hutch was shot dead in Spain in 2015 .
This second explosion of modern era gun feuding in the Republic continues to the present day and is proving even more extreme than the decade to 2010 .
The Gary Hutch murder effectively began the Kinahan-Hutch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an international cartel , the Kinahans , has been involved in a gun feud in Ireland .
In the three years and four months between the feud ’ s first killing in September 2015 and its most recent murder in December 2018 , there were 18 people shot dead .
That ’ s the highest number of killings in any Irish gun feud to date and the frequency of the attacks is also unprecedented .
In one Kinahan-Hutch attack a team of gunmen dressed in mock Garda uniforms and firing IRA-supplied AK47s stormed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target their rivals .
Another new feature of this feud , and one usually associated with the narcoterrorism of Latin America and Asia , has been the shooting dead of soft targets by the Kinahan cartel to “ get at ” the Hutch gang .
That involves people in the wider Hutch family or their associates , who were not themselves at odds with the Kinahan cartel , being shot dead simply to damage Hutch faction leader Gerry Hutch and put him under pressure .
Just as the Kinahan-Hutch feud entered a period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun feud erupted in Dublin , in January of last year .
The frequency of the attacks and the barbaric nature of some of them have only served as proof that Irish gangland is now in a new era of its most intense gun violence yet .
In the 10 months to last November five men were murdered in the feud between criminals based mainly in Coolock , Dublin .
It is a murder rate that , like the Kinahan-Hutch dispute , outstrips even the Limerick and Crumlin-Drimnagh feuds , which were unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Coolock feud have mostly been young men – aged 21 , 22 and 23 years .
One of them was shot in the head while wheeling his baby son in a pushchair .
Another was shot dead during a visit to pay his respects to the family of another man shot dead days earlier .
And now the latest killing appears linked to yet another new feud ; in Drogheda , Co Louth .
If the limbs found in a holdall bag in Darndale on Monday night are confirmed as those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gangland will have plumbed to a new low even by its own , increasingly extreme , standards .

Gardaí remove the remains on Tuesday morning at the scene of the discovery of human body parts at the junction of Moatview Gardens and Moatview Drive in Darndale, Dublin, on Monday night. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins
The discovery of arms and legs in a bag on a pavement outside homes on a north Dublin housing estate is a shocking act even by the standards of Ireland’s most ruthless drugs gangs.
Judged as a standalone crime this killing is gruesome and cruel. In the longer term, it is the latest juncture in Irish crime’s evolution towards narcoterrorism-style violence.
More lives than ever are now being claimed in Irish gang feuds.
The modern era of gangland crime in the Republic can be viewed as the last 20 years and divides into three sections: a decade of carnage followed by a lull of approximately five years before the underworld erupted again into its most intense round of bloodletting yet.
READ MORE
The first decade-long period is bookended by a major drugs haul in a Dublin city centre hotel in March 2000 and the murder of Eamon Dunne a decade later in a Dublin pub in April 2010. During that decade Ireland witnessed its first protracted gangland gun feuds.
The Crumlin-Drimnagh feud began in March 2000 in a row over a drug seizure and the unrelated Limerick feud started in January 2003. By 2010 almost 30 people had been murdered in the two disputes.
While the sheer scale of those two disputes alone broke new ground for Irish organised crime, a gang in Finglas, Dublin, headed by Marlo Hyland and later Eamon Dunne, also went on a killing session at the same time; 11 people were murdered in the 3½ years Dunne led the gang.
Intense
Indeed, Dunne’s killing session was so intense the Kinahan cartel decided to murder him to restore calm to the Irish underworld, one of the biggest markets for its drugs.
When Dunne was killed a calm of sorts was restored. Gun killings linked to organised crime still occurred in Ireland but they were fewer in number and they did not lead to protracted feuding.
However, a new era was ushered in when Dubliner Gary Hutch was shot dead in Spain in 2015. This second explosion of modern era gun feuding in the Republic continues to the present day and is proving even more extreme than the decade to 2010.
The Gary Hutch murder effectively began the Kinahan-Hutch feud. It represents the first time an international cartel, the Kinahans, has been involved in a gun feud in Ireland. In the three years and four months between the feud’s first killing in September 2015 and its most recent murder in December 2018, there were 18 people shot dead.
That’s the highest number of killings in any Irish gun feud to date and the frequency of the attacks is also unprecedented.
Mock uniforms
In one Kinahan-Hutch attack a team of gunmen dressed in mock Garda uniforms and firing IRA-supplied AK47s stormed into a hotel in a bid to target their rivals. Another new feature of this feud, and one usually associated with the narcoterrorism of Latin America and Asia, has been the shooting dead of soft targets by the Kinahan cartel to "get at" the Hutch gang.
That involves people in the wider Hutch family or their associates, who were not themselves at odds with the Kinahan cartel, being shot dead simply to damage Hutch faction leader Gerry Hutch and put him under pressure.
Just as the Kinahan-Hutch feud entered a period of quite in December 2018, another gun feud erupted in Dublin, in January of last year. The frequency of the attacks and the barbaric nature of some of them have only served as proof that Irish gangland is now in a new era of its most intense gun violence yet.
In the 10 months to last November five men were murdered in the feud between criminals based mainly in Coolock, Dublin. It is a murder rate that, like the Kinahan-Hutch dispute, outstrips even the Limerick and Crumlin-Drimnagh feuds, which were unprecedented at the time.
Wheeling baby
The victims in the Coolock feud have mostly been young men – aged 21, 22 and 23 years. One of them was shot in the head while wheeling his baby son in a pushchair. Another was shot dead during a visit to pay his respects to the family of another man shot dead days earlier.
And now the latest killing appears linked to yet another new feud; in Drogheda, Co Louth. If the limbs found in a holdall bag in Darndale on Monday night are confirmed as those of a missing 17-year-old, as is suspected, gangland will have plumbed to a new low even by its own, increasingly extreme, standards.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Washing clothes on quick, cool cycles causes less environmental damage – research

Washing clothes in colder water for less time is less damaging for the planet than using hotter , longer washes , according to academic research published on Tuesday evening .
Researchers working with the University of Leeds have found that , by following some simple steps , people can dramatically increase the lifespan of garments and keep them out of landfill , while significantly reducing the level of microfibers sloshing around in oceans and washing up on beaches all over the world .
The research suggests that washing clothes with a quicker , cooler cycle reduced the amount of microfibre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52 per cent and cut dye release by up to 74 per cent .
Furthermore , washing clothes at 20 degrees rather than 40 degrees saves approximately 66 per cent of the energy used per load – according to the UK ’ s Energy Saving Trust .
Academics from the university and specialists from Procter & Gamble ( P & G ) , the makers of Ariel , Daz , Bold , Fairy and Lenor , have wrung out their new insight into how laundering clothing affects fading , colour runs and microfibre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands of microfibres – tiny strands that are flushed down the drain .
Many reach beaches and oceans , where they can remain for many years and be swallowed by sea creatures .
The lead author of the report Dr Lucy Cotton , from the University of Leeds School of Design , said people were “ increasingly familiar with the environmental threat posed by throwaway fast fashion , but we also know that consumers claim their clothes can lose their fit , softness and colour after fewer than five washes – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will ditch them long before they are worn out.
” She said that by using “ shorter , cooler washes is a simple way everyone can make their clothes last longer and keep them out of landfill.
” Dr Cotton worked with Dr Adam Hayward and Dr Neil Lant from P & G ’ s Newcastle Innovation Centre , as well as Leeds colleague Dr Richard Blackburn , and their findings have just been published in the journal Dyes and Pigments .
“ Our findings can help tackle the issue of ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Dr Blackburn , who heads the Sustainable Materials Research Group at the Leeds university .
“ Synthetic microfibres are released every time textiles are washed and account for more than a third of all plastic reaching the ocean .
But microfibres from cotton and other natural sources are found in even greater numbers in the sea , and we ’ re worried about their impact too.
” As to the impact on the cleanliness of the clothes , Dr Lant , a P & G research fellow , said advances in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ingredients such as enzymes , are allowing consumers to get excellent cleaning results in colder and quicker washes ” .

Washing clothes at 20 degrees rather than 40 degrees saves approximately 66% of the energy used per load. Photograph: iStock
Washing clothes in colder water for less time is less damaging for the planet than using hotter, longer washes, according to academic research published on Tuesday evening.
Researchers working with the University of Leeds have found that, by following some simple steps, people can dramatically increase the lifespan of garments and keep them out of landfill, while significantly reducing the level of microfibers sloshing around in oceans and washing up on beaches all over the world.
The research suggests that washing clothes with a quicker, cooler cycle reduced the amount of microfibre release into the environment by up to 52 per cent and cut dye release by up to 74 per cent.
Furthermore, washing clothes at 20 degrees rather than 40 degrees saves approximately 66 per cent of the energy used per load – according to the UK’s Energy Saving Trust.
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Academics from the university and specialists from Procter & Gamble (P&G), the makers of Ariel, Daz, Bold, Fairy and Lenor, have wrung out their new insight into how laundering clothing affects fading, colour runs and microfibre release.
Every load of washing releases hundreds of thousands of microfibres – tiny strands that are flushed down the drain. Many reach beaches and oceans, where they can remain for many years and be swallowed by sea creatures.
The lead author of the report Dr Lucy Cotton, from the University of Leeds School of Design, said people were "increasingly familiar with the environmental threat posed by throwaway fast fashion, but we also know that consumers claim their clothes can lose their fit, softness and colour after fewer than five washes – this means it's more likely they will ditch them long before they are worn out."
She said that by using “shorter, cooler washes is a simple way everyone can make their clothes last longer and keep them out of landfill.”
Dr Cotton worked with Dr Adam Hayward and Dr Neil Lant from P&G's Newcastle Innovation Centre, as well as Leeds colleague Dr Richard Blackburn, and their findings have just been published in the journal Dyes and Pigments.
"Our findings can help tackle the issue of 'invisible' plastics in the environment," said Dr Blackburn, who heads the Sustainable Materials Research Group at the Leeds university.
“Synthetic microfibres are released every time textiles are washed and account for more than a third of all plastic reaching the ocean. But microfibres from cotton and other natural sources are found in even greater numbers in the sea, and we’re worried about their impact too.”
As to the impact on the cleanliness of the clothes, Dr Lant, a P&G research fellow, said advances in detergent technology, “especially in sustainable ingredients such as enzymes, are allowing consumers to get excellent cleaning results in colder and quicker washes”.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--School principals' group warns Leaving Cert ‘no longer fit for purpose’

School principals have warned that the Leaving Certificate exam is “ no longer fit for purpose ” in light of an unpublished report which raises concerns over the fairness of the marking process .
The National Association of Principals and Deputy principals ( NAPD ) was responding to a report in The Irish Times which contained details of a highly critical report on the marking process produced by the State Examinations Commission .
The internal State Examinations Commission report states the marking process for the Leaving Cert exams is rushed , unfair and risks compromising the accuracy of students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way marking schemes for individual State exams are altered to ensure up to 100,000 students achieve grades broadly consistent from year to year .
The report outlines key ways this form of standard-setting makes the final marking scheme for exams “ less valid ” and “ reduces fairness ” by benefiting some students and penalising others .
In a statement , the NAPD said it recognised the work undertaken by the commission in seeking to continuously review and improve its examination marking process .
It added : “ Today ’ s findings demonstrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer fit for purpose and is still viewed in the narrow terms of filling places at third-level education through rote learning .
“ By extension , it is failing to give students the tools they need for lifelong learning , intellectual curiosity and a prosperous , fulfilled life.
” Fianna Fáil also called on the Minister for Education to urgently clarify issues around the fairness of the marking process .
“ It is deeply concerning that the State Examinations Commission has identified problems which have the potential to go to the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cert , ” the party ’ s education spokesman , Thomas Byrne , said .
He said the report found there is a potential for some results to be distorted by the weighting placed on some questions above others during the marking system .
“ How this conclusion was reached , and what it means for students in the current cycle needs to be explained , ” he said .
“ The examination period is a stressful time for all of those who take part .
It is vital that students and parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflected in their results.
” In a statement , the State Examinations Commission said it could provide “ absolute reassurance ” the existing exam standard-setting process was “ fit for purpose , represents a valid and reliable approach to the marking of candidates ’ work and is fair to all candidates ” .
It said the document seen by The Irish Times was an early draft from 2018 of an internal research paper and was intended to provoke initial discussion , consideration and debate on what is a “ complex and challenging process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the development of the paper , it said a “ deliberately critical lens ” was applied to the current standard-setting process to “ stimulate debate ” .
“ The paper has been subject to further revision , remains a work in progress , and is part of an ongoing review in the context of senior cycle reform and development , ” the commission added .

Fianna Fáil has called on the Minister for Education to clarify issues around the fairness of the Leaving Cert marking process. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
School principals have warned that the Leaving Certificate exam is “no longer fit for purpose” in light of an unpublished report which raises concerns over the fairness of the marking process.
The National Association of Principals and Deputy principals (NAPD) was responding to a report in The Irish Times which contained details of a highly critical report on the marking process produced by the State Examinations Commission.
The internal State Examinations Commission report states the marking process for the Leaving Cert exams is rushed, unfair and risks compromising the accuracy of students’ grades.
The concerns stem from the way marking schemes for individual State exams are altered to ensure up to 100,000 students achieve grades broadly consistent from year to year.
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The report outlines key ways this form of standard-setting makes the final marking scheme for exams “less valid” and “reduces fairness” by benefiting some students and penalising others.
In a statement, the NAPD said it recognised the work undertaken by the commission in seeking to continuously review and improve its examination marking process.
‘Rote learning’
It added: “Today’s findings demonstrate that the Leaving Cert examination process is no longer fit for purpose and is still viewed in the narrow terms of filling places at third-level education through rote learning.
“By extension, it is failing to give students the tools they need for lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity and a prosperous, fulfilled life.”
Fianna Fáil also called on the Minister for Education to urgently clarify issues around the fairness of the marking process.
“It is deeply concerning that the State Examinations Commission has identified problems which have the potential to go to the very heart of the fairness of the Leaving Cert,” the party’s education spokesman, Thomas Byrne, said.
He said the report found there is a potential for some results to be distorted by the weighting placed on some questions above others during the marking system.
“How this conclusion was reached, and what it means for students in the current cycle needs to be explained,” he said.
‘Absolute reassurance’
“The examination period is a stressful time for all of those who take part. It is vital that students and parents know that their hard work will be reflected in their results.”
In a statement, the State Examinations Commission said it could provide “absolute reassurance” the existing exam standard-setting process was “fit for purpose, represents a valid and reliable approach to the marking of candidates’ work and is fair to all candidates”.
It said the document seen by The Irish Times was an early draft from 2018 of an internal research paper and was intended to provoke initial discussion, consideration and debate on what is a “complex and challenging process” in any examinations system.
In the development of the paper, it said a “deliberately critical lens” was applied to the current standard-setting process to “stimulate debate”.
“The paper has been subject to further revision, remains a work in progress, and is part of an ongoing review in the context of senior cycle reform and development,” the commission added.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Woman tells murder trial of seeing former partner kicking and punching his father

A woman has described seeing her former partner kicking and punching his elderly father to death after the pensioner returned home following his 74th birthday celebrations .
Elizabeth “ Lil ” McDonagh said a row erupted over a burnt breakfast and Anthony Tims told his son he was a “ disappointment ” and he wished he ’ d never been born before the accused man Mark Tims , who was “ in a rage ” , put his father in a headlock , punched him twice in the head and kicked him when he fell to the ground .
Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Court on Tuesday in the trial of her former partner Mark Tims ( 48 ) who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to the murder of his father Anthony “ Tony ” Tims at the home they shared at Rowlagh Green , Clondalkin , Dublin 22 on July 13th , 2018 .
Ms McDonagh told prosecution counsel Michael Delaney SC that she went out with the accused man for about 10 years .
She was also a carer for Anthony Tims who had health problems including a difficulty in breathing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said , and both men were “ fond of the drink ” .
She described the relationship between father and son as “ like cat and dog ” , explaining that they often argued .
On the morning before Mr Tims died Ms McDonagh went to Rowlagh Green to cook breakfast for the two men but Anthony Tims had already cooked it .
Mark complained that the food was burnt and he wouldn ’ t eat it .
“ He had a bad attitude , ” she said .
That afternoon she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to Finche ’ s pub in Clondalkin to celebrate his 74th birthday .
Mark Tims spent the day at home drinking cans of Guinness and playing games in his room .
Anthony Tims returned home at about 8pm and told the witness he had a “ great day in the bookies ” and that people in the pub had bought him drinks for his birthday .
She said Mark made a joke about his breakfast being “ cremated ” and , “ out of the blue ” , Anthony told him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call the guards .
She said this was something Anthony would often say when they argued .
She said : “ Mark just jumped out of the chair and headlocked him and gave him two digs to the face and he fell to the ground.
” She described Mark kicking his father in the chest and head and added : “ I was begging him to stop but he wouldn ’ t stop.
” She said the older man asked her to “ please help me ” .
She said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t .
He was too strong.
” She went next door and asked the neighbours to call the guards because , she said , she knew Mark had gone too far .
When she returned to the house Anthony was on the floor in the kitchen .
Before leaving on his bike , she said Mark came back to the kitchen and kicked his father another two times in the chest .
An ambulance arrived a short time later but Ms McDonagh said she knew he was already dead .
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening the trial , told the jury that he is confident the evidence will show that the accused man “ assaulted his father in a vicious and sustained manner that led to his death.
” After the assault , Mr Tims was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 10pm that night .
A post mortem would show that he suffered multiple fractured ribs which caused air to enter his chest and led to both his lungs collapsing , causing his death .
Meanwhile , Mr Delaney said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street near Rowlagh Green and spoke to him about what had happened .
Together they went to an off-licence and bought a “ substantial amount of alcohol ” which they drank at a nearby green area .
The accused man remained in that area for nearly 24 hours until he was found by a garda search party the following evening at about 8pm “ hiding in some undergrowth ” .
Mr Delaney said the accused knew his father had died because he was in phone contact with family members .
During four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assaulting his father although Mr Delaney said some of the details of his account may differ from the account given by counsel .
Mr Delaney further explained to the jury that Mr Tims has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and therefore accepts he is responsible for the unlawful killing of his father .
He said that the issue the jury will most likely have to look into is Mark Tims ’ s state of mind at the time of the assault and , in particular , whether he intended to kill or cause serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt and the jury of seven women and five men .

Elizabeth ‘Lil’ McDonagh told court, ‘Mark just jumped out of the chair and headlocked him and gave him two digs to the face and he fell to the ground’. Photograph: Collins Courts
A woman has described seeing her former partner kicking and punching his elderly father to death after the pensioner returned home following his 74th birthday celebrations.
Elizabeth “Lil” McDonagh said a row erupted over a burnt breakfast and Anthony Tims told his son he was a “disappointment” and he wished he’d never been born before the accused man Mark Tims, who was “in a rage”, put his father in a headlock, punched him twice in the head and kicked him when he fell to the ground.
Ms McDonagh was giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday in the trial of her former partner Mark Tims (48) who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to the murder of his father Anthony “Tony” Tims at the home they shared at Rowlagh Green, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on July 13th, 2018.
Ms McDonagh told prosecution counsel Michael Delaney SC that she went out with the accused man for about 10 years. She was also a carer for Anthony Tims who had health problems including a difficulty in breathing.
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Mark lived with his father, she said, and both men were “fond of the drink”. She described the relationship between father and son as “like cat and dog”, explaining that they often argued.
On the morning before Mr Tims died Ms McDonagh went to Rowlagh Green to cook breakfast for the two men but Anthony Tims had already cooked it. Mark complained that the food was burnt and he wouldn’t eat it. “He had a bad attitude,” she said.
That afternoon she went shopping with Anthony Tims and he went to Finche’s pub in Clondalkin to celebrate his 74th birthday. Mark Tims spent the day at home drinking cans of Guinness and playing games in his room. Anthony Tims returned home at about 8pm and told the witness he had a “great day in the bookies” and that people in the pub had bought him drinks for his birthday.
She said Mark made a joke about his breakfast being “cremated” and, “out of the blue”, Anthony told him to get out of the house and threatened to call the guards. She said this was something Anthony would often say when they argued.
She said: “Mark just jumped out of the chair and headlocked him and gave him two digs to the face and he fell to the ground.” She described Mark kicking his father in the chest and head and added: “I was begging him to stop but he wouldn’t stop.”
She said the older man asked her to “please help me”. She said: “I tried to help but I couldn’t. He was too strong.”
She went next door and asked the neighbours to call the guards because, she said, she knew Mark had gone too far. When she returned to the house Anthony was on the floor in the kitchen. Before leaving on his bike, she said Mark came back to the kitchen and kicked his father another two times in the chest. An ambulance arrived a short time later but Ms McDonagh said she knew he was already dead.
On Tuesday morning, prosecuting counsel Michael Delaney SC opening the trial, told the jury that he is confident the evidence will show that the accused man “assaulted his father in a vicious and sustained manner that led to his death.”
After the assault, Mr Tims was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 10pm that night. A post mortem would show that he suffered multiple fractured ribs which caused air to enter his chest and led to both his lungs collapsing, causing his death.
Meanwhile, Mr Delaney said, the accused man met a friend on the street near Rowlagh Green and spoke to him about what had happened. Together they went to an off-licence and bought a “substantial amount of alcohol” which they drank at a nearby green area. The accused man remained in that area for nearly 24 hours until he was found by a garda search party the following evening at about 8pm “hiding in some undergrowth”. Mr Delaney said the accused knew his father had died because he was in phone contact with family members. During four interviews at a garda station he admitted assaulting his father although Mr Delaney said some of the details of his account may differ from the account given by counsel.
Mr Delaney further explained to the jury that Mr Tims has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and therefore accepts he is responsible for the unlawful killing of his father. He said that the issue the jury will most likely have to look into is Mark Tims’s state of mind at the time of the assault and, in particular, whether he intended to kill or cause serious injury to his father.
The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt and the jury of seven women and five men.


theirishtimes--2020-01-14--Huge rise in reports of online child abuse imagery

The online sharing of child abuse imagery , known in the legislation as “ child pornography ” , is skyrocketing , with a 174 per cent increase in reports between 2017 and 2018 .
According to the latest report from Hotline.ie , an online reporting tool funded by the Irish internet industry and overseen by the Department of Justice , there was a record 12,113 reports of allegedly illegal content in 2018 , up from 7,591 in 2017 .
Of these , Hotline analysts classified 1,437 as genuine reports of child abuse content being posted online , a 174 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were 524 confirmed reports .
Twenty-three , or 1.6 per cent , of these cases related to abuse images hosted in Ireland .
They were all hosted on a single site and have since been removed .
In the past this figure has never exceeded four .
The Netherlands was the biggest host of illegal content accessed in Ireland , with 38 per cent of images traced to that country .
It was followed by the US which hosted 31 per cent .
Each report of illegal content could represent hundreds or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report states .
“ For the first time in 20 years , Hotline.ie received over 10,000 publicly sourced reports in a year which is a 334 per cent increase from the annual average 2000-2017.
” The figures reflect trends seen elsewhere .
In 2013 there were 116 prosecutions for possession of “ child pornography ” in Irish courts , a figure which tripled to 392 in 2018 .
Seventy-seven per cent of the imagery showed children aged between four and 12 , while 6 per cent depicted children younger than three .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most extreme form of abuse on a five level scale , namely “ sadistic sexual torture ” and bestiality involving children .
“ Level four ” abuse made up the bulk of the images ( 47 per cent ) .
These depicted “ penetrative sexual activity between adults and children ” .
“ Images of children 10 years and younger most often depict them being abused through sexual assault and extreme sexual assaults ( bondage , torture and other degrading acts , etc ) ; while images of children over 11 years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or explicit sexual activity of a child ie masturbation , ” the organisation stated .
Internet forums were the most common method for sharing child abuse imagery , accounting for 35 per cent of reports .
They were followed by image hosting sites ( 24 per cent ) and cyberlockers ( 17 per cent ) .
Social media such as Facebook or Twitter accounted for 1 per cent of reports .
Hotline noted increasing amounts of imagery ( 11 per cent in 2018 ) being hosted on “ disguised websites ” .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pornography , which display illegal content to users if a specific “ digital pathway ” is followed .
The growing use of disguised websites is symptomatic of the increasingly sophisticated methods being employed by paedophiles online to avoid detection .
Complex encryptions and password-protected image dumps , are becoming more common , experts believe .
All child abuse content was passed to the Paedophile Investigation Unit of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau and to Interpol in the hope of identifying both victims and offenders , Hotline said .
The increasing number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service providers to report illegal content abuse to the authorities is impacting on attempts by the Garda to clear the current backlog of cases requiring forensic examination of computers .
Last week The Irish Times reported that online child abuse cases take an average of five years between investigation and sentencing due in large part to pressures on the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau .
The current maximum wait for the forensic examination of a device for child abuse imagery is two and a half years .

Internet forums were the most common method for sharing child abuse imagery, accounting for 35 per cent of reports. Photograph: iStock
The online sharing of child abuse imagery, known in the legislation as “child pornography”, is skyrocketing, with a 174 per cent increase in reports between 2017 and 2018.
According to the latest report from Hotline.ie, an online reporting tool funded by the Irish internet industry and overseen by the Department of Justice, there was a record 12,113 reports of allegedly illegal content in 2018, up from 7,591 in 2017.
Of these, Hotline analysts classified 1,437 as genuine reports of child abuse content being posted online, a 174 per cent increase from the previous year when there were 524 confirmed reports.
Twenty-three, or 1.6 per cent, of these cases related to abuse images hosted in Ireland. They were all hosted on a single site and have since been removed. In the past this figure has never exceeded four.
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The Netherlands was the biggest host of illegal content accessed in Ireland, with 38 per cent of images traced to that country. It was followed by the US which hosted 31 per cent.
Each report of illegal content could represent hundreds or even thousands of images and videos, the report states.
“For the first time in 20 years, Hotline.ie received over 10,000 publicly sourced reports in a year which is a 334 per cent increase from the annual average 2000-2017.”
The figures reflect trends seen elsewhere. In 2013 there were 116 prosecutions for possession of “child pornography” in Irish courts, a figure which tripled to 392 in 2018.
Extreme abuse
Seventy-seven per cent of the imagery showed children aged between four and 12, while 6 per cent depicted children younger than three.
Six per cent of images depicted the most extreme form of abuse on a five level scale, namely “sadistic sexual torture” and bestiality involving children.
“Level four” abuse made up the bulk of the images (47 per cent). These depicted “penetrative sexual activity between adults and children”.
“Images of children 10 years and younger most often depict them being abused through sexual assault and extreme sexual assaults (bondage, torture and other degrading acts, etc); while images of children over 11 years of age most often depict explicit sexual posing or explicit sexual activity of a child ie masturbation,” the organisation stated.
Internet forums were the most common method for sharing child abuse imagery, accounting for 35 per cent of reports. They were followed by image hosting sites (24 per cent) and cyberlockers (17 per cent).
‘Disguised websites’
Social media such as Facebook or Twitter accounted for 1 per cent of reports. Hotline noted increasing amounts of imagery (11 per cent in 2018) being hosted on "disguised websites". These are websites, often depicting legal adult pornography, which display illegal content to users if a specific "digital pathway" is followed.
The growing use of disguised websites is symptomatic of the increasingly sophisticated methods being employed by paedophiles online to avoid detection. Complex encryptions and password-protected image dumps, are becoming more common, experts believe.
All child abuse content was passed to the Paedophile Investigation Unit of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau and to Interpol in the hope of identifying both victims and offenders, Hotline said.
The increasing number of tip-offs and the stricter requirements on internet service providers to report illegal content abuse to the authorities is impacting on attempts by the Garda to clear the current backlog of cases requiring forensic examination of computers.
Last week The Irish Times reported that online child abuse cases take an average of five years between investigation and sentencing due in large part to pressures on the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.
The current maximum wait for the forensic examination of a device for child abuse imagery is two and a half years.