theirishtimes--2020-07-02--Archbishop calls for some churches to be allowed hold greater numbers

Churches in the Republic should be allowed follow similar rules to those in Northern Ireland when it comes to attendance at Masses , Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said .
“ Churches across the Republic of Ireland are still awaiting information on the announced protocol between the Government and religious bodies about the numbers that may attend religious services , especially in large buildings , ” he said on Thursday .
He pointed out that “ the new Northern Ireland advice is that the number should be calculated on the basic of proportionality to the size of each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blanket cap of 50 people is still in place ” .
This limit in the Republic , which has been applied in churches since last Monday , had been “ working , albeit with some difficulty ” , he said , but “ priests around the country ” were concerned about what might happen next Sunday .
The 50-person limit for each Mass in the Republic , he said , “ would mean turning many people away or having them remain outside where social distancing is more problematic ” .
He drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 10am Mass at the large Church of Our Lady of Consolation in Dublin ’ s Donnycarney to illustrate the point on available space in larger churches .
It shows great spaces between members of the congregation .
It showed “ how the Church has been kitted out with clear indications of social distancing with stewards in place to monitor adherence to the norms .
It shows an ambience far different to what is authorised in other sectors , ” he said .
Last weekend , in a letter to the priests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin said that following an online meeting with the secretary general to the Government he had been informed that “ the Chief Medical Officer ( CMO ) and the public health authorities were against making any exception for churches from the maximum number of 50 at indoor gatherings ” .
Their “ specific concerns ” included “ the problem of access and exit from churches and especially in car parks ; they felt that the larger of any gathering , the greater the risk ; they referred to examples from overseas where outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned about the possibility of community singing fostering the spread of droplets ” .
He said the outgoing cabinet “ was anxious to widen the possibilities for Churches but was not prepared simply to lay aside the view of the CMO ” .

Large spaces between members of the congregation at the 10am Mass on Thursday at the Church of Our Lady of Consolation in Donnycarney, Dublin. Photograph: John McElroy
Churches in the Republic should be allowed follow similar rules to those in Northern Ireland when it comes to attendance at Masses, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said.
“Churches across the Republic of Ireland are still awaiting information on the announced protocol between the Government and religious bodies about the numbers that may attend religious services, especially in large buildings,” he said on Thursday.
He pointed out that "the new Northern Ireland advice is that the number should be calculated on the basic of proportionality to the size of each church whereas in the Republic of Ireland a blanket cap of 50 people is still in place".
This limit in the Republic, which has been applied in churches since last Monday, had been “working, albeit with some difficulty”, he said, but “priests around the country” were concerned about what might happen next Sunday.
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The 50-person limit for each Mass in the Republic, he said, “would mean turning many people away or having them remain outside where social distancing is more problematic”.
He drew attention to a photograph from Thursday's 10am Mass at the large Church of Our Lady of Consolation in Dublin's Donnycarney to illustrate the point on available space in larger churches. It shows great spaces between members of the congregation.
It showed “how the Church has been kitted out with clear indications of social distancing with stewards in place to monitor adherence to the norms. It shows an ambience far different to what is authorised in other sectors,” he said.
Last weekend, in a letter to the priests and parishes of the Dublin archdiocese , Archbishop Martin said that following an online meeting with the secretary general to the Government he had been informed that "the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the public health authorities were against making any exception for churches from the maximum number of 50 at indoor gatherings".
Their “specific concerns” included “the problem of access and exit from churches and especially in car parks; they felt that the larger of any gathering, the greater the risk; they referred to examples from overseas where outbreaks occurred around church gatherings; they were concerned about the possibility of community singing fostering the spread of droplets”.
He said the outgoing cabinet “was anxious to widen the possibilities for Churches but was not prepared simply to lay aside the view of the CMO”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-02--Social media’s ‘toxic elements’ criticised by mental health minister

The Minister of State for Mental Health criticised the “ absolutely toxic ” elements of social media as she recalled being encouraged to kill herself by a man on Facebook earlier this year .
Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler , who was appointed to the role on Wednesday , said there was not much legislation in place to deal with online abuse legally , but that she believed this would be “ corrected very soon ” .
Ms Butler said she had deleted her Facebook account after being abused online and does “ not miss it one bit ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the Waterford TD told Déise Today on WLR FM .
“ I have had some sent to me privately as well .
I received an email last Saturday night from a person absolutely delighted that I wasn ’ t a minister , hoping and praying that I wouldn ’ t be a junior minister.
” Ms Butler said the worst piece of abuse was received on the night before February ’ s general election - a Facebook message saying she should take her own life .
She said she had gone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) saw the message arrive , and this left her “ hysterical ” .
“ She said to Michael , my husband , ‘ please give me mam ’ s phone .
I don ’ t want her to see something ’ , ” Ms Butler said .
“ I had to stay up two hours with her that night , trying to calm her down , absolutely hysterical that somebody would actually put that up on Facebook about me , and had no problem putting it up .
“ I was able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page and see that he had daughters of his own .
I just thought to myself ‘ what is wrong with people ?
’ ” Ms Butler said she finds “ there are some social media elements that are absolutely toxic ” and that people can set up an account anonomously and then say “ anything you like about any person without fear or favour ” .
Earlier this year , Ms Butler reported a fake Facebook page to gardaí , which she said was used to create the impression that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse ” .
She said on Thursday that an investigation was ongoing .

The Minister of State for Mental Health criticised the "absolutely toxic" elements of social media as she recalled being encouraged to kill herself by a man on Facebook earlier this year.
Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler, who was appointed to the role on Wednesday, said there was not much legislation in place to deal with online abuse legally, but that she believed this would be "corrected very soon".
Ms Butler said she had deleted her Facebook account after being abused online and does “not miss it one bit”.
“There are some horrendous comments,” the Waterford TD told Déise Today on WLR FM. “I have had some sent to me privately as well. I received an email last Saturday night from a person absolutely delighted that I wasn’t a minister, hoping and praying that I wouldn’t be a junior minister.”
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Worst abuse
Ms Butler said the worst piece of abuse was received on the night before February’s general election - a Facebook message saying she should take her own life. She said she had gone to bed and that her daughter (23) saw the message arrive, and this left her “hysterical”.
“She said to Michael, my husband, ‘please give me mam’s phone. I don’t want her to see something’,” Ms Butler said.
“I had to stay up two hours with her that night, trying to calm her down, absolutely hysterical that somebody would actually put that up on Facebook about me, and had no problem putting it up.
“I was able to go into that person’s page and see that he had daughters of his own. I just thought to myself ‘what is wrong with people?’”
Withour fear
Ms Butler said she finds “there are some social media elements that are absolutely toxic” and that people can set up an account anonomously and then say “anything you like about any person without fear or favour”.
Earlier this year, Ms Butler reported a fake Facebook page to gardaí, which she said was used to create the impression that she was “dismissive of victims of child sexual abuse”. She said on Thursday that an investigation was ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-07-02--Homeless man found dead in Dublin city centre

A young homeless man has been found dead in central Dublin .
The 19-year-old , who had been sleeping rough and at times living out of a car , was found inside the vehicle on a laneway off Parnell Street on Thursday afternoon .
The man , believed to be from west Dublin , was known to homeless services for some time and was found by volunteers who went to liaise with him .
Gardaí and emergency services were notified and the scene was cordoned off to allow for forensic and technical examinations .
Cllr Christy Burke offered his sympathies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged newly appointed Minister for Housing Darragh O ’ Brien to address the “ uncontrollable situation ” of homelessness .
“ How many more lives have to be lost before this becomes a priority ?
For the past two days there have been no beds in the city for men , ” he said .
“ The homeless are being forgotten about again .
It ’ s just horrendous to think about what this young man went through and what his family now face.
” Dublin City Council said it was aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities .
The council said that as of 4pm on Thursday there are 20 beds available to homeless men in the city .

The man, believed to be from west Dublin, was known to homeless services for some time and was found by volunteers who went to liaise with him. Photograph: iStock
A young homeless man has been found dead in central Dublin.
The 19-year-old, who had been sleeping rough and at times living out of a car, was found inside the vehicle on a laneway off Parnell Street on Thursday afternoon.
The man, believed to be from west Dublin, was known to homeless services for some time and was found by volunteers who went to liaise with him.
Gardaí and emergency services were notified and the scene was cordoned off to allow for forensic and technical examinations.
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Cllr Christy Burke offered his sympathies to the man’s family and urged newly appointed Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to address the “uncontrollable situation” of homelessness.
“How many more lives have to be lost before this becomes a priority? For the past two days there have been no beds in the city for men,” he said.
“The homeless are being forgotten about again. It’s just horrendous to think about what this young man went through and what his family now face.”
Dublin City Council said it was aware of the incident and was liaising with the authorities. The council said that as of 4pm on Thursday there are 20 beds available to homeless men in the city.


theirishtimes--2020-07-02--All change at the unique Ashford Castle in era of Covid-19

“ The juice sommelier will be with you shortly , ” says Ashford Castle ’ s restaurant manager Robert Bowe as he seats me by a window in the dining room .
A juice sommelier ?
Is that a thing now ?
It certainly is in one of Ireland ’ s grandest hotels , one which reopens this weekend after more than 100 days in the most elegant of mothballs .
The role was created because the breakfast buffet has been claimed by Covid-19 .
And with it has gone the simple pleasure of pouring whatever juice that takes your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel .
Bowe stands by the tableside wearing a full face visor and points at the crisp linen napkin .
“ Normally I ’ d flip that for you but with social distancing and all that , ” he says .
He gestures towards the breakfast menus and a card embossed with QR codes .
“ If guests prefer to get the menu on their phones and make the experience completely contactless they can scan those , ” he explains .
Then the cheery juice sommelier arrives wearing an Ashford face mask and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting on a mountain of ice .
He runs through the options before mischievously adding “ A glass of champagne , perhaps ?
” It ’ s not yet 9am .
Welcome to a different world .
Since Ashford closed on March 19th , its general manager Niall Rochford has been plotting a complex course between evolving coronavirus rules and a fierce determination to provide the service for which the hotel is famed .
As go-time nears it ’ s clear he and his team have pulled off what even he thought could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you told me in March we ’ d have staff in masks , I ’ d have said ‘ No way !
’ ” , he declares from behind his own face visor .
“ But I think they work and I like how you can see our faces ; that connection is so important .
We have masks too .
I want my staff to work with confidence and without fear .
A mask or a visor will not get in the way of us delivering great service.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed that much .
“ We ’ ve always done it .
Although some things we did were in the background and will become more visible .
There will be more overt cleaning because that gives guests an extra level of reassurance.
” Guests will see reassurance at every turn from the moment they drive through the granite gates to be greeted by a smiling gatekeeper in personal protective equipment .
The pen used to sign check-in papers is sanitised before and after each signature and sits in a sanitised holder .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgical mask , hand sanitiser and gloves is tastefully presented in a glossy Ashford bag .
The social distancing is impeccably observed and the hand sanitiser bottles sprinkled around the common areas serve as a constant but gentle reminder to guests that everyone has a role to play in keeping all safe .
The expansive wine list comes in the form of an electronic tablet while breakfast time slots have to be reserved with access to the spa , pool and cinema carefully monitored .
The television remotes have always been santisied but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decanters assuring guests they have been poured exclusively for them while notes on the in-room magazines offer a similar assurance to guests that they will be only ones to read them .
What little Plexiglass there is comes adorned with the Ashford logo .
One of the most noticeable things about the safety measures rolled out is how fast they stop being noticeable .
Almost all of the talk about reopening Ireland in recent weeks has focused on process .
But in Ashford what is most striking are the people behind the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hard to miss as they wander halls and prepare to greet guests .
Wednesday was a return to work for Paula Carroll , the hotel ’ s head of marketing , and as she talks about her her first sight of the castle on the horizon when rounding that final bend her voice cracks and her eyes tear up .
“ I was so emotional .
I ’ d butterflies and then I saw the staff lined up and just burst into tears .
It is so wonderful to be back I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You could add the Gulf War , 9/11 , Sars [ the 2002-2004 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak ] , and the economic crash of 2008 all together and double it and this would still be worse , ” she says .
“ And we were about to have the best year in the history of the hotel too.
” Even as 50 of the hotel ’ s 83 rooms reopen , Rochford knows getting back to normal is only starting and will be difficult .
The hotel will not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portion of its guest book .
As many as 360 private planes land in Knock Airport annually , carrying Ashford-bound passengers and about 80 per cent of its custom base is from overseas .
“ Things will be difficult .
We know that and it will be at least three years before we get back to where we were , ” says Rochford before heading off to put the finishing touches to his big weekend and the start of the road back .

"The juice sommelier will be with you shortly," says Ashford Castle's restaurant manager Robert Bowe as he seats me by a window in the dining room.
A juice sommelier? Is that a thing now? It certainly is in one of Ireland’s grandest hotels, one which reopens this weekend after more than 100 days in the most elegant of mothballs.
The role was created because the breakfast buffet has been claimed by Covid-19. And with it has gone the simple pleasure of pouring whatever juice that takes your fancy of a morning in a swish hotel.
Restaurant manager Robert Bowe carves at the castle.
Ground force: Staff get back in the groove at the castle.
Bowe stands by the tableside wearing a full face visor and points at the crisp linen napkin. “Normally I’d flip that for you but with social distancing and all that,” he says.
READ MORE
He gestures towards the breakfast menus and a card embossed with QR codes. “If guests prefer to get the menu on their phones and make the experience completely contactless they can scan those,” he explains.
Then the cheery juice sommelier arrives wearing an Ashford face mask and wheeling a cart of brightly coloured bottles sitting on a mountain of ice. He runs through the options before mischievously adding “A glass of champagne, perhaps?” It’s not yet 9am. Welcome to a different world.
Since Ashford closed on March 19th, its general manager Niall Rochford has been plotting a complex course between evolving coronavirus rules and a fierce determination to provide the service for which the hotel is famed. As go-time nears it's clear he and his team have pulled off what even he thought could not be done three months ago.
“If you told me in March we’d have staff in masks, I’d have said ‘No way!’”, he declares from behind his own face visor. “But I think they work and I like how you can see our faces; that connection is so important. We have masks too. I want my staff to work with confidence and without fear. A mask or a visor will not get in the way of us delivering great service.”
Head of marketing Paula Carroll and general manager Niall Rochford in conversation.
Service with a difference in the luxurious Ashford Castle.
He says the cleaning routine hasn’t changed that much. “We’ve always done it. Although some things we did were in the background and will become more visible. There will be more overt cleaning because that gives guests an extra level of reassurance.”
Guests will see reassurance at every turn from the moment they drive through the granite gates to be greeted by a smiling gatekeeper in personal protective equipment. The pen used to sign check-in papers is sanitised before and after each signature and sits in a sanitised holder. The “covid gift pack” with its surgical mask, hand sanitiser and gloves is tastefully presented in a glossy Ashford bag.
The social distancing is impeccably observed and the hand sanitiser bottles sprinkled around the common areas serve as a constant but gentle reminder to guests that everyone has a role to play in keeping all safe.
The expansive wine list comes in the form of an electronic tablet while breakfast time slots have to be reserved with access to the spa, pool and cinema carefully monitored. The television remotes have always been santisied but now there are notes on the sherry decanters assuring guests they have been poured exclusively for them while notes on the in-room magazines offer a similar assurance to guests that they will be only ones to read them. What little Plexiglass there is comes adorned with the Ashford logo. One of the most noticeable things about the safety measures rolled out is how fast they stop being noticeable.
Almost all of the talk about reopening Ireland in recent weeks has focused on process. But in Ashford what is most striking are the people behind the process. The excitement and emotion among staff is hard to miss as they wander halls and prepare to greet guests.
‘I just burst into tears’
Wednesday was a return to work for Paula Carroll, the hotel's head of marketing, and as she talks about her her first sight of the castle on the horizon when rounding that final bend her voice cracks and her eyes tear up. "I was so emotional. I'd butterflies and then I saw the staff lined up and just burst into tears. It is so wonderful to be back I could cry again."
Then she does.
“You could add the Gulf War, 9/11, Sars [the 2002-2004 severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak], and the economic crash of 2008 all together and double it and this would still be worse,” she says. “And we were about to have the best year in the history of the hotel too.”
Even as 50 of the hotel’s 83 rooms reopen, Rochford knows getting back to normal is only starting and will be difficult. The hotel will not have the well-heeled Americans who comprise a significant portion of its guest book. As many as 360 private planes land in Knock Airport annually, carrying Ashford-bound passengers and about 80 per cent of its custom base is from overseas.
“Things will be difficult. We know that and it will be at least three years before we get back to where we were,” says Rochford before heading off to put the finishing touches to his big weekend and the start of the road back.


theirishtimes--2020-07-02--Story of movement by Adrian Donohoe murder accused is ‘bunkum’, court told

A former detective inspector who oversaw the investigation into the shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has described the accused man ’ s story of his movements on the night as “ bunkum and lies ” .
Retired detective Mr Pat Marry on Thurday told the Central Criminal Court he did not believe the accused man Aaron Brady was at a diesel laundering yard in south Armagh that night but that he was at Lordship Credit Union where the detective garda was shot dead .
Aaron Brady ( 28 ) from New Road , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh has pleaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25th , 2013 at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth .
Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location .
Michael O ’ Higgins SC for the defence opened his cross-examination of Mr Marry by saying he wanted to look at whether his client might have been laundering diesel at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donohoe being shot dead .
Mr Marry told Mr O ’ Higgins that Mr Brady had lied to a garda on the day after the shooting when asked to give an account of his whereabouts .
The witness said Mr Brady also told his then girlfriend Jessica King to lie for him about his movements that evening .
Ten days later Mr Brady gave an account to gardaí in which he said he was at a diesel laundering yard on Concession Road in Cullaville , Co Armagh for about 15 minutes between one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Marry agreed that a lot of CCTV was analyzed in the investigation and that so much CCTV had been gathered that an external hard drive was required to be built by Dell to deal with the volume .
He said it is the norm to check every aspect of an investigation , including the movements of persons of interest in the lead-up to a crime .
He agreed that other people who gave statements that they went to buy a television in Argos or to other locations on the day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardai .
Mr O ’ Higgins pressed the detective , asking him why Mr Brady ’ s statement that he was laundering diesel on Concession Road wasn ’ t checked out .
The former detective said it was checked out .
He said Mr Brady had not provided an exact address for the yard but investigators used a description he had given to locate a yard they believed was the one he was talking about .
Gardaí also asked the Police Service of Northern Ireland to gather CCTV in the area , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the road leading to the yard and outside the yard and consulted the crime and security section for intelligence on diesel laundering on Concession Road .
He said the CCTV found was of poor quality but it was examined and there was no evidence found that the car Mr Brady said he was traveling in was in that area at the relevant time .
He added : “ So that was very evident to me that the story told by Aaron Brady was bunkum and lies.
” He later said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had told other stories that didn ’ t turn out to be true so I had no great confidence in what he was telling the gardai because I believed he was involved in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.
” He said the yard was not relevant to his investigation because he did not believe Mr Brady was there .
He also asked why Mr Brady had provided an alibi before the trial in which he said he was at the diesel laundering yard for two hours whereas in 2013 he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes .
When Mr O ’ Higgins put it to him that he still had a duty to investigate regardless of what he believed to be true , the witness said that he had to take into account all the information he had and in respect of the yard , he didn ’ t believe Mr Brady was there .
He asked why , if Mr Brady was at that location , he didn ’ t say that to the garda that he spoke to on the afternoon following the shooting .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account in February 2013 he was at a house on Lough Road at the time of the shooting and not at the yard .
Mr O ’ Higgins said that the description Mr Brady gave of the yard was “ fact rich ” in that it described a forklift with a flat tyre , purple cubes of diesel waste , a truck and other items .
He suggested that it might have been useful for gardai to examine the site to see if his description was true and if those items were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the water ” and show that he was telling lies from the outset .
Mr Marry said gardaí had done a number of things but said it wasn ’ t deemed relevant to view the site because he did not believe Mr Brady was there .
He also pointed out that gardaí came into possession of photographs of the site arising out of a separate court case within two months of the shooting .
Mr O ’ Higgins put it to him that phone traffic between Mr Brady and a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel launderer , on the week of the murder appeared to relate to fuel laundering .
The inspector said that gardai had received a statement from the known fuel launderer to that effect but added : “ Do we believe him ?
” The cross-examination will continue tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women .

A former detective inspector who oversaw the investigation into the shooting of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has described the accused man's story of his movements on the night as "bunkum and lies".
Retired detective Mr Pat Marry on Thurday told the Central Criminal Court he did not believe the accused man Aaron Brady was at a diesel laundering yard in south Armagh that night but that he was at Lordship Credit Union where the detective garda was shot dead.
Aaron Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25th, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
Michael O’Higgins SC for the defence opened his cross-examination of Mr Marry by saying he wanted to look at whether his client might have been laundering diesel at the time of the robbery that resulted in Det Gda Donohoe being shot dead.
READ MORE
Mr Marry told Mr O’Higgins that Mr Brady had lied to a garda on the day after the shooting when asked to give an account of his whereabouts. The witness said Mr Brady also told his then girlfriend Jessica King to lie for him about his movements that evening. Ten days later Mr Brady gave an account to gardaí in which he said he was at a diesel laundering yard on Concession Road in Cullaville, Co Armagh for about 15 minutes between one hour and 90 minutes before the shooting.
Mr Marry agreed that a lot of CCTV was analyzed in the investigation and that so much CCTV had been gathered that an external hard drive was required to be built by Dell to deal with the volume.
He said it is the norm to check every aspect of an investigation, including the movements of persons of interest in the lead-up to a crime. He agreed that other people who gave statements that they went to buy a television in Argos or to other locations on the day of the shooting had their accounts verified by gardai.
Mr O’Higgins pressed the detective, asking him why Mr Brady’s statement that he was laundering diesel on Concession Road wasn’t checked out.
The former detective said it was checked out. He said Mr Brady had not provided an exact address for the yard but investigators used a description he had given to locate a yard they believed was the one he was talking about. Gardaí also asked the Police Service of Northern Ireland to gather CCTV in the area, they interviewed witnesses, carried out phone analysis on the road leading to the yard and outside the yard and consulted the crime and security section for intelligence on diesel laundering on Concession Road. He said the CCTV found was of poor quality but it was examined and there was no evidence found that the car Mr Brady said he was traveling in was in that area at the relevant time. He added: “So that was very evident to me that the story told by Aaron Brady was bunkum and lies.”
He later said: “I was cognisant of the fact he had told other stories that didn’t turn out to be true so I had no great confidence in what he was telling the gardai because I believed he was involved in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.”
He said the yard was not relevant to his investigation because he did not believe Mr Brady was there. He also asked why Mr Brady had provided an alibi before the trial in which he said he was at the diesel laundering yard for two hours whereas in 2013 he told gardai he was there for only 15 minutes.
When Mr O’Higgins put it to him that he still had a duty to investigate regardless of what he believed to be true, the witness said that he had to take into account all the information he had and in respect of the yard, he didn’t believe Mr Brady was there. He asked why, if Mr Brady was at that location, he didn’t say that to the garda that he spoke to on the afternoon following the shooting.
He said that on Mr Brady’s account in February 2013 he was at a house on Lough Road at the time of the shooting and not at the yard.
Mr O’Higgins said that the description Mr Brady gave of the yard was “fact rich” in that it described a forklift with a flat tyre, purple cubes of diesel waste, a truck and other items. He suggested that it might have been useful for gardai to examine the site to see if his description was true and if those items were not there it would “blow this story out of the water” and show that he was telling lies from the outset.
Mr Marry said gardaí had done a number of things but said it wasn’t deemed relevant to view the site because he did not believe Mr Brady was there. He also pointed out that gardaí came into possession of photographs of the site arising out of a separate court case within two months of the shooting.
Mr O’Higgins put it to him that phone traffic between Mr Brady and a number of other people, including one known fuel launderer, on the week of the murder appeared to relate to fuel laundering. The inspector said that gardai had received a statement from the known fuel launderer to that effect but added: “Do we believe him?”
The cross-examination will continue tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.


theirishtimes--2020-07-02--Ex-lovers in dispute over alleged movement of horses worth up to €4.5m

A Mexican businessman and his company have brought a High Court action against parties , including his former lover , over allegedly moving two valuable horses to Ireland without his permission .
The horses , said to be worth up to €4.5m , are a grey stallion called ‘ Milton ’ , pre-selected to represent Belgium in the 2021 Olympic Games , and a gelding named ‘ Diego ’ , expected to compete in the next European Championships .
On Thursday , Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted temporary injunctions preventing the horses being sold or moved out of Ireland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and horse rider , Jose Alfredo Hernandez Ortega , and his Panama registered company Leeston Enterprises SA , which owns the horses .
The proceedings are against Mr Ortega ’ s former partner , Martina Romagnoli , whom the court heard owns and operates a stud in Haras de Ligny in Belgium and also keeps horses in Co Waterford .
The action is against several other defendants , including XCE Heritage Ltd ; Heritage of Tomorrow Ltd ; Of Heritage Stud Ltd ; REI of Heritage Ltd ; Future of Heritage Ltd with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all of which Ms Romagnoli is the sole director .
It is alleged Ms Romagnoli , an Italian national , uses the companies to operate a business called Bunmahon Sporthouse Stud and Insemination Centre .
The proceedings are also against Richard Fitzgerald and his company , Ballinasisla Stud Ltd .
It is alleged Mr Fitzgerald is also secretary of Ms Romagnoli ’ s Irish registered companies .
Seeking the orders , Bernard Dunleavy SC , instructed by solicitor Michael Kavanagh of LK Shields , said the combined worth of the two horses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Counsel said Mr Ortega had left several horses temporarily at Ms Romagnoli ’ s stud in Belgium where he had been staying following a serious accident so as to be near their son .
He said she asked him to leave , because , given their personal history , being in proximity to each other proved stressful .
He said the horses remained at the stud and he paid for their upkeep and made arrangements for somebody else to train them .
He claims , in recent weeks , the horses were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romagnoli .
Two were moved to Ireland , while attempts were made to sell two others in Belgium without Mr Ortega ’ s consent , it is claimed .
The whereabouts of three other horses which he claims he owns and were at the stud remains unknown , the court heard .
He is not certain where in Ireland the horses are but Ms Romognoli and Mr Fitzgerald had been offering Milton ’ s semen to inseminate mares for sale at the stud in Co Waterford , the court was told .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consent , counsel said .
Counsel said the two horses allegedly sent to Ireland with a view to putting them beyond Mr Ortega ’ s reach were due to be ridden in international competitions by showjumper Jerome Guery .
If Mr Guery , the number 35 ranked rider in the world , can not train on Milton , he will not be able to participate in the Tokyo Olympics , counsel said .
Ms Romagnoli has asserted an interest in the horses , but no proof of ownership has been provided to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As a result it was decided to seek orders from the Irish courts .
Interim injunctions were granted , on an ex-parte basis , by Ms Justice Reynolds preventing the horses being moved or sold and requiring the defendants to detain and preserve any sample of semen , and the proceeds of any such samples , taken from Milton .
The defendants must also tell the applicants where the horses , or any samples of semen taken from Milton , are located .
The defendants are also restrained from inseminating any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counsel said , at a later stage of the proceedings , his client will seek orders including directing the two horses be handed over to him .
The judge said , based on the evidence before the court , an arguable case was made out for the temporary injunctions .
The matter will return before the court next week .

On Thursday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted temporary injunctions preventing the horses being sold or moved out of Ireland. Photograph: iStock
A Mexican businessman and his company have brought a High Court action against parties, including his former lover, over allegedly moving two valuable horses to Ireland without his permission.
The horses, said to be worth up to €4.5m, are a grey stallion called ‘Milton’, pre-selected to represent Belgium in the 2021 Olympic Games, and a gelding named ‘Diego’, expected to compete in the next European Championships.
On Thursday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted temporary injunctions preventing the horses being sold or moved out of Ireland.
The action is by Italian-based Mexican businessman and horse rider, Jose Alfredo Hernandez Ortega, and his Panama registered company Leeston Enterprises SA, which owns the horses.
READ MORE
The proceedings are against Mr Ortega’s former partner, Martina Romagnoli, whom the court heard owns and operates a stud in Haras de Ligny in Belgium and also keeps horses in Co Waterford.
The action is against several other defendants, including XCE Heritage Ltd; Heritage of Tomorrow Ltd; Of Heritage Stud Ltd; REI of Heritage Ltd; Future of Heritage Ltd with registered addresses in Bunmahon, Co Waterford, all of which Ms Romagnoli is the sole director.
It is alleged Ms Romagnoli, an Italian national, uses the companies to operate a business called Bunmahon Sporthouse Stud and Insemination Centre.
The proceedings are also against Richard Fitzgerald and his company, Ballinasisla Stud Ltd. It is alleged Mr Fitzgerald is also secretary of Ms Romagnoli’s Irish registered companies.
Seeking the orders, Bernard Dunleavy SC, instructed by solicitor Michael Kavanagh of LK Shields, said the combined worth of the two horses is estimated to be €4m to €4.5m.
Counsel said Mr Ortega had left several horses temporarily at Ms Romagnoli’s stud in Belgium where he had been staying following a serious accident so as to be near their son.
He said she asked him to leave, because, given their personal history, being in proximity to each other proved stressful.
He said the horses remained at the stud and he paid for their upkeep and made arrangements for somebody else to train them.
He claims, in recent weeks, the horses were removed from the Belgian stud by Ms Romagnoli.
Two were moved to Ireland, while attempts were made to sell two others in Belgium without Mr Ortega’s consent, it is claimed.
The whereabouts of three other horses which he claims he owns and were at the stud remains unknown, the court heard.
He is not certain where in Ireland the horses are but Ms Romognoli and Mr Fitzgerald had been offering Milton’s semen to inseminate mares for sale at the stud in Co Waterford, the court was told.
This was also without Mr Ortega’s consent, counsel said.
Counsel said the two horses allegedly sent to Ireland with a view to putting them beyond Mr Ortega’s reach were due to be ridden in international competitions by showjumper Jerome Guery.
If Mr Guery, the number 35 ranked rider in the world, cannot train on Milton, he will not be able to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, counsel said.
Ms Romagnoli has asserted an interest in the horses, but no proof of ownership has been provided to his client’s lawyers, he added.
As a result it was decided to seek orders from the Irish courts.
Interim injunctions were granted, on an ex-parte basis, by Ms Justice Reynolds preventing the horses being moved or sold and requiring the defendants to detain and preserve any sample of semen, and the proceeds of any such samples, taken from Milton.
The defendants must also tell the applicants where the horses, or any samples of semen taken from Milton, are located.
The defendants are also restrained from inseminating any other horse with Milton’s semen.
Counsel said, at a later stage of the proceedings, his client will seek orders including directing the two horses be handed over to him.
The judge said, based on the evidence before the court, an arguable case was made out for the temporary injunctions.
The matter will return before the court next week.


theirishtimes--2020-07-02--Free back-to-school resource toolkits aimed at families of children with autism

Thousands of free learning resource tookits are being provided to families of children with autism to help children prepare for a return to school in the autumn .
The tookit developed with Mary Immaculate College in collaboration with autism charity AsIAm aims to help those with high support needs who have suffered from a loss of structure and routine .
Some 20,000 “ bridge back to school ” resource booklets will be distributed to SuperValu stores nationwide and be available to pick up from Monday , July 6th in every store .
It can also be downloaded from its website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the booklet is aimed at teachers and special needs assistants who will be delivering a summer programme of support for children with special needs over the summer .
The resource offers guidance on sensory integration ; preparing for the new year ; dealing with worry and anxiety ; explaining the “ new normal ” ; social skills ; self-regulation ; use of visuals ; and clear communication AsIAm chief executive Adam Harris said that not only have the changes in routine and lack of support been a challenge for autistic students , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging .
“ The summer months present an important opportunity for Summer Provision facilitators and family members to help prepare children for the transition back to education in September , but materials and guidance are needed to do so .
The Bridge Back to School resource we ’ re launching will support a young person to understand , prepare and manage the return to school.
” Prof Emer Ring of Mary Immaculate College said that even minor changes can pose serious stress to others in their community .
“ While we welcome the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be mindful that this is not a simple transition for many people .
This resource we have developed with SuperValu & AsIAm offers essential guidance for those with high support needs that will find the transition back to school a particular challenge , ” she said .

A tookit developed with Mary Immaculate College in collaboration with autism charity AsIAm aims to help those with high support needs who have suffered from a loss of structure and routine.
Thousands of free learning resource tookits are being provided to families of children with autism to help children prepare for a return to school in the autumn.
The tookit developed with Mary Immaculate College in collaboration with autism charity AsIAm aims to help those with high support needs who have suffered from a loss of structure and routine.
Some 20,000 "bridge back to school" resource booklets will be distributed to SuperValu stores nationwide and be available to pick up from Monday, July 6th in every store. It can also be downloaded from its website.
As well as parents and carers, the booklet is aimed at teachers and special needs assistants who will be delivering a summer programme of support for children with special needs over the summer.
READ MORE
The resource offers guidance on sensory integration; preparing for the new year; dealing with worry and anxiety; explaining the “new normal”; social skills; self-regulation; use of visuals; and clear communication
AsIAm chief executive Adam Harris said that not only have the changes in routine and lack of support been a challenge for autistic students, but re-establishing routine will be just as challenging.
“The summer months present an important opportunity for Summer Provision facilitators and family members to help prepare children for the transition back to education in September, but materials and guidance are needed to do so. The Bridge Back to School resource we’re launching will support a young person to understand, prepare and manage the return to school.”
Prof Emer Ring of Mary Immaculate College said that even minor changes can pose serious stress to others in their community.
“While we welcome the reopening of businesses and society, we must be mindful that this is not a simple transition for many people. This resource we have developed with SuperValu & AsIAm offers essential guidance for those with high support needs that will find the transition back to school a particular challenge,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-02--Man arrested in Covid-19 payment fraud inquiry

A man in his 30s has been arrested in Dublin as part of ongoing investigations into Covid-19 payment fraud .
@ @ @ @ @ Thursday at a house in Mulhuddart by gardaí seconded to the Department of Employment Affairs @ @ @ @ @ special investigation unit .
The wider Covid-19 payment fraud investigation has followed up on 25 @ @ @ @ @ involving more than €56,000 .
Documentation and notebooks were also seized during Thursday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ said .
The man was being detained at Blanchardstown Garda station under section 4 of @ @ @ @ @ .

A man in his 30s has been arrested in Dublin as part of ongoing investigations into Covid-19 payment fraud. File photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
A man in his 30s has been arrested in Dublin as part of ongoing investigations into Covid-19 payment fraud.
The man was arrested on Thursday at a house in Mulhuddart by gardaí seconded to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection's special investigation unit.
The wider Covid-19 payment fraud investigation has followed up on 25 suspected fraudulent claims to date involving more than €56,000.
Documentation and notebooks were also seized during Thursday’s search, a Garda spokesman said.
READ MORE
The man was being detained at Blanchardstown Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Man who sexually assaulted sleeping flat mate has jail term cut on appeal

A 29-year-old man who sexually assaulted his flat mate while she slept on a couch in their Dublin home , has had his jail term cut on appeal .
The Italian man , who can not be named to protect his victim ’ s identity , was jailed for two-and-a-half years in January , after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to carrying out the offence on April 27th , 2018 .
The Court of Appeal on Friday found that the ultimate sentence imposed on the man was excessive and cut his jail term by six months following a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the woman and man had become friends after she began sharing a flat with him .
They had an intimate relationship for a short time and when it ended , the woman began a relationship with another man .
On the night in question , the woman fell asleep on the couch next to the defendant and awoke to find him sexually assaulting her .
It took some time for her to awaken fully and for what was happening “ to fully sink in ” .
The man apologised , telling her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so ashamed ” and wished he could undo his actions .
However , he later claimed to gardaí that the sexual activity was consensual before he finally admitted his actions .
The woman told his sentence hearing that her life would never be the same again and that the attack took all her dignity and femininity from her .
She said that nobody understood how badly she had been injured because the psychological damage was immeasurable .
Judge Martin Nolan said that he could accept as genuine the man ’ s expressions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was unlikely to re-offend .
However , he said “ the fall from grace was so severe ” that a jail sentence was necessary for his “ reprehensible ” actions , which had left his victim severely traumatised .
He set a headline sentence of five years , but reduced this by half , after taking his mitigation into account .
The man ’ s barrister , John Fitzgerald SC , argued his client ’ s headline sentence of five years was too high and that , consequently , the ultimate sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further submitted that the decision not to suspend any portion of the sentence involved error on the part of the judge .
However , Fionnuala O ’ Sullivan BL for the DPP , said that five years was the correct headline sentence and explained that the vulnerability of the victim , being asleep , was of most importance .
On the failure to suspend a portion of the sentence , she said the judge had found that two-and-a-half years was the appropriate time to spend in custody .
In a judgment returned electronically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said the sentencing judge was entitled to take the view that it was neither necessary or appropriate to incorporate a part-suspended element .
However , the three judges of the Court of Appeal concluded that the ultimate sentence imposed on the man was excessive and imposed a headline sentence of four years imprisonment instead of five years .
Mr Justice Birmingham , who sat with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy , resentenced the man to two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the appellant stay away from the injured party for a period of four years .

A 29-year-old man who sexually assaulted his flat mate while she slept on a couch in their Dublin home, has had his jail term cut on appeal.
The Italian man, who cannot be named to protect his victim’s identity, was jailed for two-and-a-half years in January, after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to carrying out the offence on April 27th, 2018.
The Court of Appeal on Friday found that the ultimate sentence imposed on the man was excessive and cut his jail term by six months following a successful appeal.
The sentencing court heard that the woman and man had become friends after she began sharing a flat with him. They had an intimate relationship for a short time and when it ended, the woman began a relationship with another man.
READ MORE
On the night in question, the woman fell asleep on the couch next to the defendant and awoke to find him sexually assaulting her. It took some time for her to awaken fully and for what was happening “to fully sink in”.
The man apologised, telling her the next day that he was “so ashamed” and wished he could undo his actions. However, he later claimed to gardaí that the sexual activity was consensual before he finally admitted his actions.
The woman told his sentence hearing that her life would never be the same again and that the attack took all her dignity and femininity from her. She said that nobody understood how badly she had been injured because the psychological damage was immeasurable.
Judge Martin Nolan said that he could accept as genuine the man’s expressions of shame and remorse, and said that he was unlikely to re-offend. However, he said “the fall from grace was so severe” that a jail sentence was necessary for his “reprehensible” actions, which had left his victim severely traumatised. He set a headline sentence of five years, but reduced this by half, after taking his mitigation into account.
The man’s barrister, John Fitzgerald SC, argued his client’s headline sentence of five years was too high and that, consequently, the ultimate sentence imposed was also too high. He further submitted that the decision not to suspend any portion of the sentence involved error on the part of the judge.
However, Fionnuala O’Sullivan BL for the DPP, said that five years was the correct headline sentence and explained that the vulnerability of the victim, being asleep, was of most importance. On the failure to suspend a portion of the sentence, she said the judge had found that two-and-a-half years was the appropriate time to spend in custody.
In a judgment returned electronically on Friday, President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said the sentencing judge was entitled to take the view that it was neither necessary or appropriate to incorporate a part-suspended element. However, the three judges of the Court of Appeal concluded that the ultimate sentence imposed on the man was excessive and imposed a headline sentence of four years imprisonment instead of five years.
Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, resentenced the man to two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final six months suspended. They also imposed a condition that the appellant stay away from the injured party for a period of four years.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Solar giants Jupiter and Saturn are dominating the night skies in July

There is a moment in Kim Stanley Robinson ’ s book Galileo ’ s Dream when a mysterious stranger prompts the title character to turn his newly acquired spyglass skyward .
Galileo ’ s companion that evening , we later learn , is a time traveller from one of the Jovian moons that the great scientist himself had discovered .
What emotions must Galileo have experienced as he explored the sky in the winter of 1609/10 , when marvels - unknown up to then - were revealed ?
Jupiter seemed to be a solar system in miniature , with Galileo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attentive courtiers .
Saturn was more of a puzzle though that the limitations of his instruments left it unsolved .
Fastforward to July 2020 and it is a month for solar system giants , as both Jupiter and Saturn become well placed for viewing this month Any pair of binoculars allows you track Jupiter ’ s four largest moons - Io , Europa , Ganymede , and Callisto - as tight-in points of light .
Their configuration changes nightly , while the number seen varies depending on whether one or more are hidden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing in front of Jupiter at the time .
Saturn looks slightly elongated in most binoculars , hinting at something unusual about the planet ’ s shape .
What stumped Galileo was that his later observations coincided with Earth ’ s passage through Saturn ’ s ring plane - they are so thin that when we see the rings edge-on every 15 years or so they almost disappear from view except in larger telescopes , which will next happen in 2025 .
Modern close-up views of Jupiter and Saturn and their retinue beamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Florentine scientist .
From fiery Io to billiard ball smooth Europa , along with the mysteries beneath Titan ’ s opaque atmosphere , there is much still to learn about the gas giants ’ families .
Europa , and its 20 km deep subsurface ocean , is one of the observation targets for Europe ’ s Juice ( Jupiter Icy moons Explorer ) mission due to launch in May 2022 .
The Stygian realm beneath the moon ’ s crust regularly features in science fiction because of its potential to support life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book explores sentience encountered in Europa ’ s watery depths , and the realisation that humankind - despite our diversity and differences - is just one species amongst many across a consciously connected Universe .
And that is a unifying message as powerful today .
Our view south in July at 11pm is towards the galactic centre .
Unfortunately , it is permanently low on the horizon from our latitude but closer to the equator and from the southern hemisphere the hub ’ s grandeur is more apparent .
Still , the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can admire from here .
Our chart shows just a few easily visible in small instruments but the flipside of the monthly chart from www.skymaps.com lists more .
In binoculars , the Lagoon Nebula ’ s pale glow wreathes some of the bright young suns that have evolved in this nursery .
Panning a little to the upper left brings you to M24 , the Sagittarius Star Cloud .
This is a region of space less choked with interstellar dust that is a 10,000 light-year long window towards the galactic centre .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clusters M23 and M25 , while nearby are the additional star forming regions of M16 - site of the famed Pillars of Creation - and M17 .
In short , the area has an astounding mix of targets for any optics .
An excellent book of observing highlights is The Monthly Sky Guide by Ian Ridpath , while Stars and Planets by the same author and published by Collins is also worth checking out .
Mercury can be picked up in the morning sky from the second half of July , slowly gaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than 5° above the north-eastern skyline around 4:45am on the 25th .
The crescent moon acts as a guide on the 19th when Mercury is to its lower right .
Magnificent Venus is well up before sunrise .
A beautiful close pairing with the waning moon greets early risers after 3am on the 17th .
The planet is then near Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus .
Ochre hued Mars has surged in brightness and rises before midnight in Pisces by the end of July .
Look for it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early hours of the 12th .
Telescope users can see some surface markings along with the planet ’ s polar caps .
Jupiter rises in the southeast at 10pm as it reaches opposition on the 14th .
Opposition is when the Earth lies directly between a planet and the Sun if you had a birds-eye view of our solar system .
The gas giant is dramatically just above the full moon on the 5th , with Saturn a little to the left .
Saturn rises soon after Jupiter and comes to opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is visible throughout the still brief summer nights .
The planet ’ s globe is a little bland for telescope users but seeing the ring system never fails to thrill .
Cream-coloured Jupiter is the brighter of the pair and easily outshines any other star-like object in Sagittarius where it currently lies , whereas Saturn ’ s tint is a little duller .
Telescope users will have to wait a couple of hours for both planets to clear the horizon shimmer before getting a steady view .
The moon is full on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lunar eclipse - the outer shadow of the Earth falls on the face of the moon .
The eclipse is only of passing interest however as it is too shallow to notice anything .
Last quarter falls on the 12th , while new moon is on the 20th .
First quarter is then on the 27th .
World space agencies are busy this month with three Mars-bound spacecraft .
First to leave the pad is the United Arab Emirates orbiter Amal ( “ Hope ” ) which will be launched from Japan on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven months to reach the Red Planet .
NASA ’ s Perseverance is next up on July 22nd .
The mission comprises a rover like the Curiosity vehicle currently on the Martian surface , but uniquely will have a small autonomous helicopter to extend the range for exploration .
China ’ s Tianwen 1 ( “ Heavenly Questions ” ) also includes a rover along with an orbiter .
It is due to fly on July 23rd with arrival at Mars in February next year .
Problems with the descent parachute of Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has meant its ExoMars mission launch is now deferred to 2022 .
SpaceX astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are due to remain on the International Space Station until August .
The orbiting outpost is in the morning sky at first in early July but then can be seen just after 11pm from mid-month .
Around that time , you can potentially see four passes in a single night !
Predictions for your location can be calculated at www.heavens-above.com .
John Flannery ( @ theskybyeye ) is a long-time amateur astronomer with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observable with the unaided eye .

The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter become well placed for viewing this month. File photograph: Getty Images
There is a moment in Kim Stanley Robinson’s book Galileo’s Dream when a mysterious stranger prompts the title character to turn his newly acquired spyglass skyward.
Galileo’s companion that evening, we later learn, is a time traveller from one of the Jovian moons that the great scientist himself had discovered.
What emotions must Galileo have experienced as he explored the sky in the winter of 1609/10, when marvels - unknown up to then - were revealed?
Jupiter seemed to be a solar system in miniature, with Galileo noting the regal planet was accompanied by attentive courtiers. Saturn was more of a puzzle though that the limitations of his instruments left it unsolved.
READ MORE
Fastforward to July 2020 and it is a month for solar system giants, as both Jupiter and Saturn become well placed for viewing this month
Any pair of binoculars allows you track Jupiter’s four largest moons - Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto - as tight-in points of light. Their configuration changes nightly, while the number seen varies depending on whether one or more are hidden by the planet’s bulk or passing in front of Jupiter at the time.
Jupiter with its moons Io and Europa photographed in 2010 by John Dolan, Irish Astronomical Society (www.irishastrosoc.org).
Saturn looks slightly elongated in most binoculars, hinting at something unusual about the planet’s shape.
What stumped Galileo was that his later observations coincided with Earth’s passage through Saturn’s ring plane - they are so thin that when we see the rings edge-on every 15 years or so they almost disappear from view except in larger telescopes, which will next happen in 2025.
Modern close-up views of Jupiter and Saturn and their retinue beamed back by robotic spacecraft would have amazed the Florentine scientist.
From fiery Io to billiard ball smooth Europa, along with the mysteries beneath Titan’s opaque atmosphere, there is much still to learn about the gas giants’ families.
Europa, and its 20 km deep subsurface ocean, is one of the observation targets for Europe’s Juice (Jupiter Icy moons Explorer) mission due to launch in May 2022. The Stygian realm beneath the moon’s crust regularly features in science fiction because of its potential to support life.
One plotline of Robinson’s book explores sentience encountered in Europa’s watery depths, and the realisation that humankind - despite our diversity and differences - is just one species amongst many across a consciously connected Universe. And that is a unifying message as powerful today.
Journey to the galactic hub
Our view south in July at 11pm is towards the galactic centre. Unfortunately, it is permanently low on the horizon from our latitude but closer to the equator and from the southern hemisphere the hub’s grandeur is more apparent.
Still, the area of Sagittarius is overflowing with treasures that we can admire from here. Our chart shows just a few easily visible in small instruments but the flipside of the monthly chart from www.skymaps.com lists more.
Objects in Sagittarius visible in binoculars at 11pm mid-July.
In binoculars, the Lagoon Nebula’s pale glow wreathes some of the bright young suns that have evolved in this nursery. Panning a little to the upper left brings you to M24, the Sagittarius Star Cloud. This is a region of space less choked with interstellar dust that is a 10,000 light-year long window towards the galactic centre.
Flanking the Cloud are the rich star clusters M23 and M25, while nearby are the additional star forming regions of M16 - site of the famed Pillars of Creation - and M17. In short, the area has an astounding mix of targets for any optics.
An excellent book of observing highlights is The Monthly Sky Guide by Ian Ridpath, while Stars and Planets by the same author and published by Collins is also worth checking out.
The Planets
Mercury can be picked up in the morning sky from the second half of July, slowly gaining in altitude each day to lie no better than 5° above the north-eastern skyline around 4:45am on the 25th. The crescent moon acts as a guide on the 19th when Mercury is to its lower right.
Mercury with the moon 37 hours from New at 4:30am on July 19th.
Magnificent Venus is well up before sunrise. A beautiful close pairing with the waning moon greets early risers after 3am on the 17th. The planet is then near Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus.
Venus with the crescent moon at 4am on July 17th.
Ochre hued Mars has surged in brightness and rises before midnight in Pisces by the end of July. Look for it to the moon's upper right in the early hours of the 12th. Telescope users can see some surface markings along with the planet's polar caps.
Jupiter rises in the southeast at 10pm as it reaches opposition on the 14th. Opposition is when the Earth lies directly between a planet and the Sun if you had a birds-eye view of our solar system. The gas giant is dramatically just above the full moon on the 5th, with Saturn a little to the left.
Saturn rises soon after Jupiter and comes to opposition on July 20th, meaning it too is visible throughout the still brief summer nights. The planet's globe is a little bland for telescope users but seeing the ring system never fails to thrill.
Cream-coloured Jupiter is the brighter of the pair and easily outshines any other star-like object in Sagittarius where it currently lies, whereas Saturn’s tint is a little duller. Telescope users will have to wait a couple of hours for both planets to clear the horizon shimmer before getting a steady view.
The Moon
The Moon with Jupiter and Saturn at 11pm on July 5th.
The moon is full on July 5th when there is also a penumbral lunar eclipse - the outer shadow of the Earth falls on the face of the moon. The eclipse is only of passing interest however as it is too shallow to notice anything. Last quarter falls on the 12th, while new moon is on the 20th. First quarter is then on the 27th.
Spaceflight
World space agencies are busy this month with three Mars-bound spacecraft. First to leave the pad is the United Arab Emirates orbiter Amal ("Hope") which will be launched from Japan on July 14th. The spacecraft will take seven months to reach the Red Planet. NASA's Perseverance is next up on July 22nd. The mission comprises a rover like the Curiosity vehicle currently on the Martian surface, but uniquely will have a small autonomous helicopter to extend the range for exploration.
China's Tianwen 1 ("Heavenly Questions") also includes a rover along with an orbiter. It is due to fly on July 23rd with arrival at Mars in February next year. Problems with the descent parachute of Europe's Rosalind Franklin lander and rover has meant its ExoMars mission launch is now deferred to 2022.
SpaceX astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are due to remain on the International Space Station until August. The orbiting outpost is in the morning sky at first in early July but then can be seen just after 11pm from mid-month.
Around that time, you can potentially see four passes in a single night! Predictions for your location can be calculated at www.heavens-above.com.
[ @theskybyeye ]


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Michelle O’Neill says sorry for hurt but insists she didn’t break coronavirus regulations

Northern Ireland ’ s deputy first minister has apologised for any hurt felt by grieving families as a result of her attendance at the funeral of Belfast republican Bobby Storey on Tuesday .
In a statement on Friday morning , Michelle O ’ Neill said she was “ concerned ” grieving families were “ experiencing more hurt over recent days .
I am sorry for that , ” she said .
However Ms O ’ Neill defended her attendance at the funeral , and said she had followed the coronavirus regulations .
“ If the regulations had prevented me from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those regulations , ” she said .
“ At the funeral and mass I kept to the regulations as I have advised others to do.
” The Sinn Féin leader , Mary Lou McDonald , also apologised , telling Newstalk that “ I do understand that looking at the images of very busy pathways in west Belfast , and taking all of that in obviously has jolted , and has caused some hurt among some of those families , and for that I am very sorry.
” Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the police had played a role in the planning of the funeral .
He said on Friday that the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) “ were not involved in the planning of this funeral and did not approve any plan for the funeral.
” He said that , “ in line with long established good practice and in common with many other circumstances ” , the police had “ engaged with the organisers on the basis of no promises and no surprises , in order that they understood their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of public safety.
” All available evidence would be reviewed , he said .
“ Where there is any potential breach of the health protection regulations or breach of any other statute identified in respect of any individual , the matter will be referred to the PPS [ Public Prosecution Service ] for their consideration.
” The leaders of the five parties in the Northern Executive have been meeting on Friday to discuss the fallout from Ms O ’ Neill ’ s attendance at the funeral and the apparent breach of social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Executive - the DUP , Ulster Unionists , SDLP and Alliance - believe the Executive ’ s public health message has been undermined , and have called for Ms O ’ Neill to step aside pending an investigation .
However the North ’ s first minister , Arlene Foster , said on Thursday that she would not collapse the Northern Executive .
“ Why would I punish the people of Northern Ireland for the bad behaviour of Sinn Féin ?
” she told UTV .
“ People expect me to lead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to walk away from the government of Northern Ireland at a time when we are having severe challenges ahead of us.
” In her statement on Friday , Ms O ’ Neill said she would not step aside .
“ It is unfortunate that this matter has divided the Executive , ” she said , adding that there was “ important work to do.
” “ We have made good progress in this despite all the difficulties .
My commitment is to continue this work.
” “ Covid-19 is still with us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through this and in to recovery , ” said Ms O ’ Neill .
The deputy first minister was one of a number of senior Sinn Féin figures , including the party leader , Mary Lou McDonald , who attended the funeral of the former IRA member in west Belfast on Tuesday .
About 100 people , rather than the 10 permitted by the regulations in force at the time , attended the funeral Mass inside St Agnes ’ Church , though it is understood social distancing arrangements were put in place and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Several thousand people gathered along the route of the cortège and hundreds of republicans , each standing at a distance from each other , formed a guard of honour .
About 30 mourners walked behind the cortege , in apparent accordance with the regulations permitting a maximum of 30 people to meet outdoors .
Questions have also been raised over social distancing at the ceremony which took place at the Republican plot at Milltown Cemetery following the funeral , and whether or not it breached the regulations regarding unnecessary journeys .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and was instead taken to Roselawn Crematorium for cremation .
The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP ) has called for an independent investigation into events at the crematorium , which is run by Belfast City Council .
There have been claims that a number of council staff were sent home and Sinn Féin marshals were instead on the site , and that there were no further burials or cremations on Tuesday afternoon to accommodate Mr Storey ’ s funeral .
In a lengthy statement on Friday , the council said all cremations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stewards “ appointed by the family ” were present to ensure “ only those permitted by the family ” were present , which the council said was “ no different to what would normally be the case in a high profile cremation or one that would potentially attract high numbers of people or media.
” The council said 15 members of staff remained present , but some non-cremation staff did go home early to avoid staff being photographed , “ as has happened with other high profile funerals or sensitive cremations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council did not know how many people might be present - to allow staff who did not need to be present to leave “ before potential volumes of traffic and media arrived.
” An “ operational decision ” was made , the council said , “ to hold the last three cremation slots of the day .
“ This decision was made in order to ensure that there were no other cremations later that day - in order to protect the privacy of other members of the public and their cremation services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know whether to anticipate high numbers or otherwise and therefore planned for all instances .
This would be normal practice in the event of a high profile cremation .
“ There is currently no waiting list at Roselawn Crematorium and no cremations were cancelled .
“ Operational decisions like these , made by Belfast City Council are made impartially in what is often a complex and difficult political environment , ” the council said .

First Minister Arlene Foster during a press conference at the grounds close to Colebrooke Parish Church in Co Fermanagh. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Michelle O'Neill's apology for hurt caused to grieving families by her presence at the funeral of Belfast republican Bobby Storey on Tuesday "falls short", the North's first minster has said.
Arlene Foster said while it was "important" this hurt had been recognised, "regrettably the role of the deputy first minister in causing that hurt has not been acknowledged".
“One of the things that struck me very strongly when I listened to Michelle give her statement today is there was no recognition of any wrongdoing, no recognition that there was a problem, no recognition that the credibility of the Executive has been damaged, and I think that’s wrong,” Ms Foster said.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday following a meeting of the Northern Executive’s five party leaders, Ms O’Neill said she was “very conscious of the fact that over the course of the past number of days that those [grieving] families would have felt even more hurt, and I’m sorry for that.”
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But she said she was “confident I can stand over the fact that I worked within the guidelines,that I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a reqiuem Mass which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people”.
Earlier, Ms Foster and Ms O’Neill took part in a meeting of the leaders of the five parties in Northern Executive, where it is understood the other parties expressed their concerns in a “robust” manner.
Afterwards the SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, described Ms O’Neill’s statement as a “half apology” and said if she could not show contrition or accept wrongdoing she should stand aside pending an investigation.
The Ulster Unionist leader, Steve Aiken, also said Ms O’Neill should either step aside or resign.
(left to right) Mary Lou McDonald, Gerry Adams, and Michelle O’Neill at the funeral of Bobby Storey on Tuesday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA
Ms Foster said it remained her position that Ms O’Neill should consider stepping aside while the police investigation and an internal Assembly inquiry took place.
At Friday’s meeting, Ms Foster said, the four other party leaders “were very clear that the deputy first minister had broken the guidance and the regulations. She maintains that she has not so; there is that fundamental difference.
“The investigations will look at all of that, but I think it is my clear view that she has broken the regulations.”
Ms Foster said discussions would take place over the weekend between the leaders of the other four parties with a view to finding a way forward.
“It is important that we try and rebuild the trust that has been lost”, she said, adding that it was important that the public continued to abide by social distancing guidelines and the coronavirus regulations.
The Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, also apologised, telling Newstalk: “I do understand that looking at the images of very busy pathways in west Belfast, and taking all of that in obviously has jolted, and has caused some hurt among some of those families, and for that I am very sorry.”
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd rejected comments by Ms McDonald on RTÉ radio that the police had played a role in the planning of the funeral. He said on Friday that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) "were not involved in the planning of this funeral and did not approve any plan for the funeral".
He said that, “in line with long established good practice and in common with many other circumstances”, the police had “engaged with the organisers on the basis of no promises and no surprises, in order that they understood their obligations and to seek assurances in respect of public safety”.
All available evidence would be reviewed, he said. “Where there is any potential breach of the health protection regulations or breach of any other statute identified in respect of any individual, the matter will be referred to the PPS [Public Prosecution Service] for their consideration.”
Ms O’Neill and Ms McDonald were among of a large number of senior Sinn Féin figures who attended the funeral of the former IRA member in west Belfast on Tuesday.
About 100 people, rather than the 10 permitted by the regulations in force at the time, attended the funeral Mass inside St Agnes’ Church, though it is understood social distancing arrangements were put in place and mourners were spread three to a pew.
Several thousand people gathered along the route of the cortège and hundreds of republicans, each standing at a distance from each other, formed a guard of honour. About 30 mourners walked behind the cortege, in apparent accordance with the regulations permitting a maximum of 30 people to meet outdoors.
Questions have also been raised over social distancing at the ceremony which took place at the republican plot at Milltown Cemetery following the funeral, and whether or not it breached the regulations regarding unnecessary journeys.
Mr Storey was not buried in the cemetery, and was instead taken to Roselawn Crematorium for cremation.
Investigation
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has called for an independent investigation into events at the crematorium, which is run by Belfast City Council. There have been claims that a number of council staff were sent home and Sinn Féin marshals were instead on the site, and that there were no further burials or cremations on Tuesday afternoon to accommodate Mr Storey's funeral.
In a lengthy statement on Friday, the council said all cremations on Tuesday complied with the official guidance.
Stewards “appointed by the family” were present to ensure “only those permitted by the family” were present, which the council said was “no different to what would normally be the case in a high profile cremation or one that would potentially attract high numbers of people or media”.
The council said 15 members of staff remained present, but some non-cremation staff did go home early to avoid staff being photographed, “as has happened with other high profile funerals or sensitive cremations in the past” and - given that the council did not know how many people might be present - to allow staff who did not need to be present to leave “before potential volumes of traffic and media arrived.”
An “operational decision” was made, the council said, “to hold the last three cremation slots of the day.
“This decision was made in order to ensure that there were no other cremations later that day - in order to protect the privacy of other members of the public and their cremation services.
“Belfast City Council did not know whether to anticipate high numbers or otherwise and therefore planned for all instances. This would be normal practice in the event of a high profile cremation.
“There is currently no waiting list at Roselawn Crematorium and no cremations were cancelled.
“Operational decisions like these, made by Belfast City Council are made impartially in what is often a complex and difficult political environment,” the council said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Car, HGV traffic returns to pre-Covid levels amid slower recovery on public transport

Traffic volumes for cars and heavy goods vehicles ( HGVs ) are returning to pre-Covid-19 levels , but people are slower to return to public transport as restrictions are lifted , new figures from the Central Statistics Office ( CSO ) show .
According to the CSO travel bulletin , published on Friday , the volume of cars on the roads was more than 70 per cent lower in the weeks when restrictions were most stringent ( from March 29th to May 2nd ) , when compared to the same period last year .
As restrictions eased , car traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone back up to 2019 levels .
Data for between June 21st and June 27th shows that car traffic volumes at regional sites and in Dublin remain almost one-third lower than for the same week in 2019 .
The number of passenger journeys on public transport dropped “ dramatically ” since the start of the Covid-19 crisis , the statisticians found .
The number of journeys taken in the first three weeks of April was 10 times lower than those taken in the first week of March .
The report added that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of journeys taken on public transport is not recovering at the same rate as road traffic volumes .
In the week beginning March 1st , there were more than 5.5 million passenger journeys on public transport , compared to 1.7 million during the week of June 21st .
The impact of Covid-19 restrictions on HGVs was not as pronounced as for cars or public transport .
In the first three weeks of March , leading up to the severest restrictions , HGV traffic volumes in Dublin and in regional locations were higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volume was decreasing in those weeks .
Between March 29th and May 9th , the volume of HGVs on Irish roads was 30 per cent lower when compared with the same period last year .
However , since May 24th , HGV traffic in Dublin has returned close to 2019 levels and the volume of HGV traffic measured in regional locations last week was just 2.3 per cent below 2019 .
The year-on-year comparisons of HGV volumes in mid-April was affected by the timing of Easter , the bulletin added .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road fatalities between January and June was higher in 2020 than last year , up from 70 in 2019 to 73 this year .
The bulletin was compiled using traffic counter data from Transport Infrastructure Ireland , the National Transport Authority and the Road Safety Authority .
Traffic volume was measured using traffic counter data from selected sites around the country .
Vehicles are counted when they pass over loops embedded in the road surface and the traffic counters then distinguish between different vehicle classes .
The number of car trips on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to one third below this time last year , despite the increase in mobility permitted by the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown .
In the initial three weeks following the introduction of the March 27th restrictions , traffic volumes were typically down approximately 65-70 per cent across the national road network .
But from April 21st , an upward trend in car traffic volumes became apparent .
This week car traffic volumes at a sample basket of counters across the network showed significantly stronger growth than last week , with many roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order of 7 per cent .
The increase follows the relaxation of restrictions of movement of people within the State .
Based on an analysis of Thursday ’ s figures , car traffic is closest to levels experience one years ago on the N40 Cork Southern Ring Road ( Kinsale Road to Douglas ) .
Volumes on the route , rose 7 per cent in the last week but remain 28 per cent below those on July 2nd last year .
Car traffic just south of the Border on the N1 at Jonesboro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week to Thursday , but the overall year ’ s reduction in car traffic at this counter was 36 pe rcent .
Car traffic volumes on the radial routes into Dublin showed a weekly increase on Thursday of between 5 per cent and 9 per cent .
Car traffic on the M1 was down 27 per cent on last year ; the M4 approach to the capital was down 26 per cent on last year and the M11 at Bray was down 30 pe rcent .
Traffic on the N6 Bóthar na dTreabh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent in the last week but is still 30 per cent lower than this time last year .
The M7 at Limerick Southern Ring Road , Ballysimon to Rosbrien , has also seen volumes increase by 7 per cent but the route is down 32 per cent on last year .
The M9 Mullinavat to Waterford was another road that saw growth of 7 per cent in the last week .
But overall it was down 34 per cent on last year .
The analysis of traffic counters , which are set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows weekly heavy goods vehicle traffic has remained largely stable .
Transport Infrastructure Ireland , which maintains the data , said much of its data was now available online .
The authority issues a daily summary of the morning peak which is published online in the early afternoon .
A spokesman said growth in vehicles numbers had been “ pretty consistent ” across the network since April .

Above, traffic on the M50 in Dublin on April 22nd, 2020.Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Traffic volumes for cars and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are returning to pre-Covid-19 levels, but people are slower to return to public transport as restrictions are lifted, new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.
According to the CSO travel bulletin, published on Friday, the volume of cars on the roads was more than 70 per cent lower in the weeks when restrictions were most stringent (from March 29th to May 2nd), when compared to the same period last year.
As restrictions eased, car traffic volumes increased, but they have not gone back up to 2019 levels.
Data for between June 21st and June 27th shows that car traffic volumes at regional sites and in Dublin remain almost one-third lower than for the same week in 2019.
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The number of passenger journeys on public transport dropped “dramatically” since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, the statisticians found.
The number of journeys taken in the first three weeks of April was 10 times lower than those taken in the first week of March.
The report added that it is “worth noting” that the number of journeys taken on public transport is not recovering at the same rate as road traffic volumes.
In the week beginning March 1st, there were more than 5.5 million passenger journeys on public transport, compared to 1.7 million during the week of June 21st.
The impact of Covid-19 restrictions on HGVs was not as pronounced as for cars or public transport.
In the first three weeks of March, leading up to the severest restrictions, HGV traffic volumes in Dublin and in regional locations were higher than in 2019, although HGV traffic volume was decreasing in those weeks.
Between March 29th and May 9th, the volume of HGVs on Irish roads was 30 per cent lower when compared with the same period last year.
However, since May 24th, HGV traffic in Dublin has returned close to 2019 levels and the volume of HGV traffic measured in regional locations last week was just 2.3 per cent below 2019.
The year-on-year comparisons of HGV volumes in mid-April was affected by the timing of Easter, the bulletin added.
Meanwhile, the report also acknowledged the number of road fatalities between January and June was higher in 2020 than last year, up from 70 in 2019 to 73 this year.
The bulletin was compiled using traffic counter data from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority and the Road Safety Authority.
Traffic volume was measured using traffic counter data from selected sites around the country. Vehicles are counted when they pass over loops embedded in the road surface and the traffic counters then distinguish between different vehicle classes.
The number of car trips on the State’s main roads is still up to one third below this time last year, despite the increase in mobility permitted by the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown.
In the initial three weeks following the introduction of the March 27th restrictions, traffic volumes were typically down approximately 65-70 per cent across the national road network.
But from April 21st, an upward trend in car traffic volumes became apparent. This week car traffic volumes at a sample basket of counters across the network showed significantly stronger growth than last week, with many roads showing increases in car volumes in the order of 7 per cent.
The increase follows the relaxation of restrictions of movement of people within the State.
Based on an analysis of Thursday’s figures, car traffic is closest to levels experience one years ago on the N40 Cork Southern Ring Road (Kinsale Road to Douglas). Volumes on the route, rose 7 per cent in the last week but remain 28 per cent below those on July 2nd last year.
Car traffic just south of the Border on the N1 at Jonesboro was up 5 per cent in the week to Thursday, but the overall year’s reduction in car traffic at this counter was 36 pe rcent.
Car traffic volumes on the radial routes into Dublin showed a weekly increase on Thursday of between 5 per cent and 9 per cent. Car traffic on the M1 was down 27 per cent on last year; the M4 approach to the capital was down 26 per cent on last year and the M11 at Bray was down 30 pe rcent.
Traffic on the N6 Bóthar na dTreabh, in Galway, has grown 7 per cent in the last week but is still 30 per cent lower than this time last year.
The M7 at Limerick Southern Ring Road, Ballysimon to Rosbrien, has also seen volumes increase by 7 per cent but the route is down 32 per cent on last year.
The M9 Mullinavat to Waterford was another road that saw growth of 7 per cent in the last week. But overall it was down 34 per cent on last year.
The analysis of traffic counters, which are set in the national and motorway roads, shows weekly heavy goods vehicle traffic has remained largely stable.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland, which maintains the data, said much of its data was now available online. The authority issues a daily summary of the morning peak which is published online in the early afternoon.
A spokesman said growth in vehicles numbers had been “pretty consistent” across the network since April.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Irish Water to review hosepipe ban following heavy rainfall

Irish Water is reviewing the need for a water conservation order , also known as a hosepipe ban , due to the heavy rainfall and improving groundwater conditions in recent weeks .
The utility imposed the conservation order on June 9th , and it was expected to remain in place until July 21st .
The order was put in place to “ safeguard ” water for essential purposes in light of the unseasonably dry weather .
Met Éireann confirmed that May 2020 was the driest since 1850 and continued dry weather was forecast .
Some 27 of Irish Water ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in drought with another 50 at risk of going into drought when the conservation order was introduced .
The situation “ deteriorated rapidly ” thereafter , with the number of schemes in drought or at risk of drought peaking at 98 , Irish Water said .
However , there has been above average rainfall in many areas of the country over the past couple of weeks , which has resulted in the recovery of some of the water supplies that were in drought or at risk of drought .
Currently only 22 schemes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at risk .
While the overall numbers are trending downwards , the situation is not uniform across the country , Irish Water said in a statement .
Irish Water said it is continuing to monitor these water sources “ as their recovery is fragile and subject to change ” .
The utility will again meet with Met Éireann , the office of public works , the environmental protection agency and other key stakeholders to discuss the impact of the recent rainfall with consideration to lifting or partially lifting the water conservation order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing director of Irish Water , said while some areas of the country have had significant rainfall , it “ has not been equally distributed in all of the areas that are most in need ” .
“ It is encouraging to see the improvement in so many of the water sources , but this recovery is fragile , ” he added .
Mr Gleeson said that in order to implement a water conservation order , Irish Water needs to be of the opinion that “ a serious deficiency of water available for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
“ We are now in a position where we need to judge whether the deficiency of water continues to satisfy the criteria set out in the Water Services Act and if this criteria can be applied nationally or whether we can remove the Water Conservation Order for certain parts of the country , ” he added .
Mr Gleeson thanked the public for their water conservation efforts over the past number of weeks , adding that it is “ still essential ” that members of the public continue to conserve water @

Irish Water is reviewing the need for a water conservation order, also known as a hosepipe ban, due to the heavy rainfall and improving groundwater conditions in recent weeks.
The utility imposed the conservation order on June 9th, and it was expected to remain in place until July 21st. The order was put in place to “safeguard” water for essential purposes in light of the unseasonably dry weather.
Met Éireann confirmed that May 2020 was the driest since 1850 and continued dry weather was forecast.
Some 27 of Irish Water’s 900 drinking water schemes, were in drought with another 50 at risk of going into drought when the conservation order was introduced.
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The situation “deteriorated rapidly” thereafter, with the number of schemes in drought or at risk of drought peaking at 98, Irish Water said.
However, there has been above average rainfall in many areas of the country over the past couple of weeks, which has resulted in the recovery of some of the water supplies that were in drought or at risk of drought.
Currently only 22 schemes remain in drought and a further 63 are at risk. While the overall numbers are trending downwards, the situation is not uniform across the country, Irish Water said in a statement. Irish Water said it is continuing to monitor these water sources “as their recovery is fragile and subject to change”.
The utility will again meet with Met Éireann, the office of public works, the environmental protection agency and other key stakeholders to discuss the impact of the recent rainfall with consideration to lifting or partially lifting the water conservation order early next week.
Niall Gleeson, managing director of Irish Water, said while some areas of the country have had significant rainfall, it "has not been equally distributed in all of the areas that are most in need".
“ It is encouraging to see the improvement in so many of the water sources, but this recovery is fragile,” he added.
Mr Gleeson said that in order to implement a water conservation order, Irish Water needs to be of the opinion that “a serious deficiency of water available for distribution exists or is likely to exist”.
“ We are now in a position where we need to judge whether the deficiency of water continues to satisfy the criteria set out in the Water Services Act and if this criteria can be applied nationally or whether we can remove the Water Conservation Order for certain parts of the country,” he added.
Mr Gleeson thanked the public for their water conservation efforts over the past number of weeks, adding that it is “still essential” that members of the public continue to conserve water.