theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Man and woman in their 60s killed in car crash in Co Cavan

The driver and passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed in a road crash on Friday evening @ @ @ @ @ Both of the vehicle ’ s occupants were aged in their 60s .
They were @ @ @ @ @ of the collision in Ballinagh shortly after emergency services arrived .
It occurred at about @ @ @ @ @ with a jeep on the N55 road .
The deceased were a male driver and @ @ @ @ @ said the male driver of the jeep was taken to Cavan General Hospital as a @ @ @ @ @ was subsequently preserved for examination by Garda forensic collision investigators , and the stretch of @ @ @ @ @ closed to traffic overnight .
Diversions were put in place .
There have been 24 @ @ @ @ @ year and a total of 15 deaths on the State ’ s roads in February @ @ @ @ @ drivers , four passengers , two motorcyclists and five pedestrians .
This is four fewer @ @ @ @ @ last year .

Gardaí said the male driver of the jeep was taken to Cavan General Hospital as a precaution. File photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
The driver and passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed in a road crash on Friday evening, gardaí have said.
Both of the vehicle's occupants were aged in their 60s. They were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision in Ballinagh shortly after emergency services arrived.
It occurred at about 7pm when their car collided with a jeep on the N55 road. The deceased were a male driver and a female passenger.
Gardaí said the male driver of the jeep was taken to Cavan General Hospital as a precaution.
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The crash site was subsequently preserved for examination by Garda forensic collision investigators, and the stretch of road was expected to remain closed to traffic overnight. Diversions were put in place.
There have been 24 road fatalities so far this year and a total of 15 deaths on the State’s roads in February. These statistics include 13 drivers, four passengers, two motorcyclists and five pedestrians. This is four fewer deaths than the same period last year.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--NUIG governing body to ask that proposed student rental hike be reversed

The governing body of the National University of Ireland , Galway ( NUIG ) has said it will contact the college ’ s accommodation group requesting that the decision to increase on-campus rent be reversed , NUIG ’ s student union has said .
It is understood Údarás na hOllscoile , NUIG ’ s governing authority , has agreed to contact Atalia Student Residences requesting they revoke their decision to increase campus accommodation rents by four per cent .
NUIG student union president , Clare Austick , said members of the authority had shown real support for students and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the student housing body .
Protests have been held at universities across Ireland in recent days in response to proposed rental hikes in student accommodation , with some students holding campus sleep-outs .
Ms Austick said she hoped NUIG could “ lead in breaking down the barriers ” blocking affordable education for all .
“ Education is a right , it shouldn ’ t just be available to those who earn enough to pay for it , ” she said .
“ We ’ re hopeful our institution can do something about this.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( USI ) has encouraged students to continue picketing and camping out until all institutions agree to reverse the rental increases .
USI president Lorna Fitzpatrick criticised the outgoing Government for contracting private developers to build high-cost , luxury student accommodation blocks as a solution to the housing crisis among students .
“ We all agree there needs to be additional accommodation but allowing private developers to build luxury apartments is not reflective of what ’ s needed .
We don ’ t want cinemas and bowling alleys , we can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean , accessible and affordable accommodation.
” UCD students kicked off the series of protests earlier this month following the decision to increase the university ’ s on-campus accommodation rents by 12 per cent over the next three years .
They subsequently erected tents on campus , a move replicated in UCC , where students have been sleeping out on the quad since Tuesday .
UCC students are facing a proposed rent increase of three per cent , a move UCC student union vice president Ciara Kealy described as “ pure extortion ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students as cash cows is wholly unacceptable ” said Ms Kealy .
“ This country is in crisis with a dysfunctional housing market , the highest third-level fees in Europe and now students are being asked to pay even more rent from September.
” On Thursday , Trinity College students joined the nationwide protest with 25 students gathering outside the university ’ s College Green entrance chanting “ can ’ t pay , won ’ t pay ” and “ raise the roof , not the rent ” .
Trinity student union president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus rents “ constantly rising ” .
“ Since 2010 , rooms down in Goldsmiths on the east end of our campus , they have risen the same amount as one year ’ s fees – €3,000 , ” she said .
“ It just doesn ’ t seem sustainable and the Susi [ Student Universal Support Ireland ] grant isn ’ t increasing to the same amount , incomes aren ’ t increasing.
” Ms Beston said a rent increase would affect about 1,800 students who live either on campus or in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College spokesperson said there were no current plans to increase on-campus rents , but that “ at some stage an increase of some sort is likely to be considered ” .
“ Accommodation is essentially paid for by borrowing , not the State , and that borrowing at some point has to be repaid .
Of course , if an increase is approved at some stage it would have to fall in line with regulations set by the Residential Tenancies Board.
” The spokesperson said it was “ too early to say ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no proposals had been made to the Trinity finance committee .
Craig McHugh , USI vice-president for the Dublin region , called on the incoming government to introduce a rent freeze on student accommodation and prioritise investment in higher education .
“ This is absolutely disgraceful but there is one route cause – it ’ s greed and it ’ s neglect and that ’ s from the Irish Government .
”

The governing body of the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) has said it will contact the college's accommodation group requesting that the decision to increase on-campus rent be reversed, NUIG's student union has said.
It is understood Údarás na hOllscoile, NUIG’s governing authority, has agreed to contact Atalia Student Residences requesting they revoke their decision to increase campus accommodation rents by four per cent.
NUIG student union president, Clare Austick, said members of the authority had shown real support for students and had committed to contacting the student housing body.
Ms Austick said she hoped NUIG could “lead in breaking down the barriers” blocking affordable education for all. “Education is a right, it shouldn’t just be available to those who earn enough to pay for it,” she said. “We’re hopeful our institution can do something about this.”
READ MORE
NUIG did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.
Protests have been held at universities across Ireland in recent days in response to proposed rental hikes in student accommodation, with some students holding campus sleep-outs.
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has encouraged students to continue picketing and camping out until all institutions agree to reverse the rental increases.
USI president Lorna Fitzpatrick criticised the outgoing Government for contracting private developers to build high-cost, luxury student accommodation blocks as a solution to the housing crisis among students.
“We all agree there needs to be additional accommodation but allowing private developers to build luxury apartments is not reflective of what’s needed. We don’t want cinemas and bowling alleys, we can’t afford that. We want standard, clean, accessible and affordable accommodation.”
UCD students kicked off the series of protests earlier this month following the decision to increase the university’s on-campus accommodation rents by 12 per cent over the next three years. They subsequently erected tents on campus, a move replicated in UCC where students have been sleeping out on the quad since last Tuesday.
UCC students are facing a proposed rent increase of three per cent, a move UCC student union vice president Ciara Kealy described as “pure extortion”.
“This level of treatment towards students as cash cows is wholly unacceptable” said Ms Kealy. “This country is in crisis with a dysfunctional housing market, the highest third-level fees in Europe and now students are being asked to pay even more rent from September.”
On Thursday, Trinity College students joined the nationwide protest with 25 students gathering outside the university’s College Green entrance chanting “can’t pay, won’t pay” and “raise the roof, not the rent”.
Unsustainable increase
Trinity student union president Laura Beston said students were frustrated by campus rents "constantly rising".
“Since 2010, rooms down in Goldsmiths on the east end of our campus, they have risen the same amount as one year’s fees – €3,000,” she said. “It just doesn’t seem sustainable and the Susi [Student Universal Support Ireland] grant isn’t increasing to the same amount, incomes aren’t increasing.”
Ms Beston said a rent increase would affect about 1,800 students who live either on campus or in Trinity Hall, Rathmines.
A Trinity College spokesperson said there were no current plans to increase on-campus rents, but that “at some stage an increase of some sort is likely to be considered”.
“Accommodation is essentially paid for by borrowing, not the State, and that borrowing at some point has to be repaid. Of course, if an increase is approved at some stage it would have to fall in line with regulations set by the Residential Tenancies Board.”
The spokesperson said it was “too early to say” when this rise would be discussed and that no proposals had been made to the Trinity finance committee.
Craig McHugh, USI vice-president for the Dublin region, called on the incoming government to introduce a rent freeze on student accommodation and prioritise investment in higher education.
"This is absolutely disgraceful but there is one route cause – it's greed and it's neglect and that's from the Irish Government. "


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Author Sheila O’Flanagan sees red over school building plan

Best selling author Sheila O ’ Flanagan has told An Bord Pleanála that construction of a new school near her Dublin home will be “ catastrophic ” for her privacy .
Last month Dublin City Council gave the go-ahead to Bono ’ s alma mater , Mount Temple School on Malahide Road , Clontarf , for a new three storey building accommodating 1,000 students .
The plan involves the demolition of the existing building and permission was granted despite opposition from O ’ Flanagan and local residents .
The contentious development involves relocation of the school beside houses on Copeland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council decision , O ’ Flanagan told the appeals board that “ the loss of privacy to me \ [ and other residents ] by placing the school so dramatically close to our homes is catastrophic ” .
The Copeland Grove residents group have also appealed the decision while the Department of Education has appealed against conditions attached to the grant of permission .
O ’ Flanagan has told the appeals board , “ I am a writer and work from home .
I need space and time for reflection as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be observed daily by students as I work .
Nor do I want to observe them.
” She claimed to be one of the most affected by the siting which would “ result in a significant loss of privacy both to my home as a residential space and to my home office where I have worked for more than 20 years ” .
O ’ Flanagan , whose All for You won an Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year Award , stated that if permission is upheld , the school building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and students will be able to look down into each home .
“ Pupils will be able to look directly into both my home office and living area from their classrooms as well as having an unimpeded view into my bedroom which I find totally unacceptable .
“ In granting permission , the very valid concerns of the broader community have not been taken into account by Dublin City Council .
“ It should not be the case that the very necessary development of the school should impact so catastrophically on the residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also criticised the department ’ s ’ s decision to move the building within 100m of her home despite the school having an area of 9½ hectares ( 23½ acres ) to build upon .
O ’ Flanagan said the site was chosen by the department in order to preserve the views of protected structures of Mount Temple House and the Clocktower .
She also said that the views from the buildings that are not used for day-to-day purposes have been placed ahead of the valid concerns of locals .
O ’ Flanagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete failure by Dublin City Council to consider the quality of life of local residents ” .
A decision is due by the appeals board in June .

Sheila O’Flanagan: ‘Pupils will be able to look directly into both my home office and living area from their classrooms.’ File photograph: The Irish Times
Best selling author Sheila O'Flanagan has told An Bord Pleanála that construction of a new school near her Dublin home will be "catastrophic" for her privacy.
Last month Dublin City Council gave the go-ahead to Bono's alma mater, Mount Temple School on Malahide Road, Clontarf, for a new three storey building accommodating 1,000 students.
The plan involves the demolition of the existing building and permission was granted despite opposition from O’Flanagan and local residents.
The contentious development involves relocation of the school beside houses on Copeland Grove.
READ MORE
In an appeal against the council decision, O’Flanagan told the appeals board that “the loss of privacy to me \[and other residents] by placing the school so dramatically close to our homes is catastrophic”.
The Copeland Grove residents group have also appealed the decision while the Department of Education has appealed against conditions attached to the grant of permission.
O’Flanagan has told the appeals board, “I am a writer and work from home. I need space and time for reflection as well as physically writing. I do not want to be observed daily by students as I work. Nor do I want to observe them.”
She claimed to be one of the most affected by the siting which would “result in a significant loss of privacy both to my home as a residential space and to my home office where I have worked for more than 20 years”.
‘View into my bedroom’
O’Flanagan, whose All for You won an Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year Award, stated that if permission is upheld, the school building will be significantly higher than the houses and students will be able to look down into each home.
“Pupils will be able to look directly into both my home office and living area from their classrooms as well as having an unimpeded view into my bedroom which I find totally unacceptable.
“In granting permission, the very valid concerns of the broader community have not been taken into account by Dublin City Council.
“It should not be the case that the very necessary development of the school should impact so catastrophically on the residents who have always supported it.”
She also criticised the department’s ’s decision to move the building within 100m of her home despite the school having an area of 9½ hectares (23½ acres)to build upon.
O’ Flanagan said the site was chosen by the department in order to preserve the views of protected structures of Mount Temple House and the Clocktower. She also said that the views from the buildings that are not used for day-to-day purposes have been placed ahead of the valid concerns of locals.
O’ Flanagan said “this seems to be a complete failure by Dublin City Council to consider the quality of life of local residents”.
A decision is due by the appeals board in June.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Protest against Tullamore direct provision centre scheduled for weekend

A protest against the direct provision centre set to open in Tullamore in March is scheduled to take place this Saturday in the Offaly town .
The demonstration , which is due to kick off at 11am , was announced on the recently established ‘ Tullamore says NO to Inhumane Direct Provision ’ Facebook page .
The page does not specify where in Tullamore the protest is taking place and it remains unclear how many people are planning to attend .
The online platform , set up on February 21st , follows a recent trend of similar Facebook pages which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the proposed opening of direct provision centres and emergency accommodation hubs for asylum seekers around Ireland .
The first of these online forums , ‘ Oughterard says NO to inhumane direct provision centres ’ launched in September 2019 and today has 2,900 members .
The Tullamore page , which features a stream of racist , anti-immigrant rhetoric and ‘ Ireland is for the Irish ’ posts , currently has 371 members .
A number of these members have called in recent days for the name of the Tullamore group to be changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival of asylum seekers in the town , not conditions in centres .
Many posts on the page appear to come from people living outside Tullamore including a number from abroad .
One woman , who according to her Facebook page lives in Australia , called on the people of Tullamore to “ stand together and show we won ’ t be beaten ” .
“ If we don ’ t come together and show how we truly feel , we will lose and they will come flooding in , ” she wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fianna Fáil councillor Tony McCormack told The Irish Times last week he did not believe Tullamore would see protests like those in Oughterard , Achill and Rooskey and that he had already spoken to a number of people eager to join the welcoming committee for the centre .
The Department of Justice confirmed last week that a contract had been signed with Bridgestock Care to use the Marian Hostel , a former hostel run by nuns in Tullamore town , as a direct provision centre .
The first residents - nine families from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the centre in March with the rest arriving on a phased basis .
Up to 168 adults and children will be housed in both the hostel and in three properties located beside it and across the road .
The Department has said that in line with new standards for direct provision being rolled out across the State , the centre will provide “ independent living ” facilities to residents .
Residents will have their own cooking facilities and an onsite food hall where they can get groceries .

Marian Hostel in Tullamore, which is due to become a direct provision centre for refugees and asylum seekers. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
A protest against the direct provision centre set to open in Tullamore in March is scheduled to take place this Saturday in the Offaly town.
The demonstration, which is due to kick off at 11am, was announced on the recently established 'Tullamore says NO to Inhumane Direct Provision' Facebook page.
The page does not specify where in Tullamore the protest is taking place and it remains unclear how many people are planning to attend.
The online platform, set up on February 21st, follows a recent trend of similar Facebook pages which have appeared over recent months in response to the proposed opening of direct provision centres and emergency accommodation hubs for asylum seekers around Ireland.
READ MORE
The first of these online forums, 'Oughterard says NO to inhumane direct provision centres' launched in September 2019 and today has 2,900 members.
The Tullamore page, which features a stream of racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric and ‘Ireland is for the Irish’ posts, currently has 371 members.
A number of these members have called in recent days for the name of the Tullamore group to be changed, saying their main concern is the arrival of asylum seekers in the town, not conditions in centres.
Many posts on the page appear to come from people living outside Tullamore including a number from abroad. One woman, who according to her Facebook page lives in Australia, called on the people of Tullamore to "stand together and show we won't be beaten".
“If we don’t come together and show how we truly feel, we will lose and they will come flooding in,” she wrote.
Despite this online negativity, local Fianna Fáil councillor Tony McCormack told The Irish Times last week he did not believe Tullamore would see protests like those in Oughterard, Achill and Rooskey and that he had already spoken to a number of people eager to join the welcoming committee for the centre.
The Department of Justice confirmed last week that a contract had been signed with Bridgestock Care to use the Marian Hostel, a former hostel run by nuns in Tullamore town, as a direct provision centre.
The first residents - nine families from a variety of countries - will arrive in the centre in March with the rest arriving on a phased basis. Up to 168 adults and children will be housed in both the hostel and in three properties located beside it and across the road.
The Department has said that in line with new standards for direct provision being rolled out across the State, the centre will provide “independent living” facilities to residents. Residents will have their own cooking facilities and an onsite food hall where they can get groceries.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--High Court refuses to continue injunction preventing race horse from racing

The High Court has refused to continue an injunction preventing a race horse which was believed to have been slaughtered from racing .
Mr Justice Senan Allen found the Tartan Spartan , which had been sent for slaughter by its owners in 2019 because they said it was “ beyond repair ” , should not be prevented from racing pending determination of its current ownership .
The judge refused to continue an injunction obtained earlier this month by Thistle Bloodstock , a company of Kilkenny stud farm owner Jim Long , against Carrick-on-Suir horse trainer Philip Fenton and Athlone horse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter for a month and gave directions for an early trial of the ownership issue .
The case arose after Andrew Hughes , manager of Thistle Bloodstock , saw the horse was entered for the 3.22pm race in Naas on February 8th .
He instructed his lawyers to seek an injunction because he had sent the stallion for slaughter in 2019 .
It had suffered a tendon injury and was “ broke down ” .
Mr Justice Allen said in seeking that injunction , Mr Hughes swore a statement that ownership had never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he still had its horse passport .
Mr Hughes later corrected that saying the passport had been sent with the horse .

Mr Justice Senan Allen adjourned the matter for a month and gave directions for an early trial of the ownership issue.
The High Court has refused to continue an injunction preventing a race horse which was believed to have been slaughtered from racing.
Mr Justice Senan Allen found the Tartan Spartan, which had been sent for slaughter by its owners in 2019 because they said it was “beyond repair”, should not be prevented from racing pending determination of its current ownership.
The judge refused to continue an injunction obtained earlier this month by Thistle Bloodstock, a company of Kilkenny stud farm owner Jim Long, against Carrick-on-Suir horse trainer Philip Fenton and Athlone horse dealer Jim Derwin.
He adjourned the matter for a month and gave directions for an early trial of the ownership issue.
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The case arose after Andrew Hughes, manager of Thistle Bloodstock, saw the horse was entered for the 3.22pm race in Naas on February 8th.
He instructed his lawyers to seek an injunction because he had sent the stallion for slaughter in 2019. It had suffered a tendon injury and was “broke down”.
Mr Justice Allen said in seeking that injunction, Mr Hughes swore a statement that ownership had never changed when he sent it for slaughter and he still had its horse passport. Mr Hughes later corrected that saying the passport had been sent with the horse.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Weapons confiscated at Strabane funeral bought for occasion

The hatchets , machetes and Stanley knives seized by police following a disturbance at a funeral in Co Tyrone on Thursday appeared to be new and bought for the event , a court has been told .
District judge Barney McElholm said it was a “ disgraceful incident ” and as far as he knew one group had been attending the funeral and was attacked by another .
Had it not been for the “ prompt action of the police , there could have been a blood bath ” , he said .
Police were in attendance at the funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melmount Road in Strabane due to public order concerns at what police and local sources said was a Traveller funeral .
The weapons , which included 13 hatchets , were seized after the disorder broke out .
Three males aged 17 , 22 and 32 were arrested and appeared before Derry ’ s magistrates ’ court on Friday .
John Anthony Doherty ( 32 ) with an address at Riverside Caravan Park in Queensbury , Wales , pleaded guilty to possession of a Stanley knife and cocaine , as well as driving without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was told police stopped several vehicles , including one driven by Doherty , and found him in possession of a Stanley knife and a small quantity of cocaine .
He was also driving without insurance and L-plates .
At interview , he said the knife was for repairing fences and he had forgotten it was there .
Doherty was sentenced to five months imprisonment suspended for three years .
He was also fined £425 ( €493 ) and disqualified from driving for 12 months .
Also before the court was 22-year-old Gerry Stokes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Derry , who was charged with the possession of a meat cleaver .
A police officer told the court that at about 11.30am on Thursday the defendant was seen in the car park of the church discarding a meat cleaver under a parked vehicle .
When police questioned him , he said he had taken it from another person but refused to say who and said he was getting rid of it in case someone got hurt .
A defence solicitor said his client claimed the weapon was a barley thresher .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of barley in Strabane main street .
The solicitor said his client had been at the funeral and heard the commotion outside which he felt was disrespectful .
He added that Stokes had gone out , seen someone with the weapon and took it off him in case someone got hurt .
And there was no suggestion Stokes was brandishing it .
Mr McElholm said while the claims were “ plausible ” it was clear “ some people came armed to do serious harm to others ” .
Stokes was sentenced to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 17-year-old , who can not be identified because of his age , was charged with two counts of possessing an axe .
A police officer told the court the youth was the passenger in a car which was stopped and a holdall containing the axes was found at his feet .
The 17-year-old said his father had bought the axes in order to start a gardening business .
He was released on bail and his case was adjourned until March 20th .
A fourth man , 18-year-old Thomas Scully from Donegal Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court charged with being disorderly in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry , possessing a knife and possessing a screwdriver early on Thursday morning .
The court was told he had been due to attend the funeral , but had been arrested beforehand .
He told police the screwdriver was for repairing kitchen cabinets but the knife just happened to be in the pocket of a jacket he had borrowed .
He was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for two years .

A defence solicitor said his client claimed the weapon was a barley thresher. The judge remarked that there was a lot of barley in Strabane main street.
The hatchets, machetes and Stanley knives seized by police following a disturbance at a funeral in Co Tyrone on Thursday appeared to be new and bought for the event, a court has been told.
District judge Barney McElholm said it was a “disgraceful incident” and as far as he knew one group had been attending the funeral and was attacked by another.
Had it not been for the “prompt action of the police, there could have been a blood bath”, he said.
Police were in attendance at the funeral at St Mary's Church on Melmount Road in Strabane due to public order concerns at what police and local sources said was a Traveller funeral.
READ MORE
The weapons, which included 13 hatchets, were seized after the disorder broke out. Three males aged 17, 22 and 32 were arrested and appeared before Derry’s magistrates’ court on Friday.
John Anthony Doherty (32) with an address at Riverside Caravan Park in Queensbury, Wales, pleaded guilty to possession of a Stanley knife and cocaine, as well as driving without insurance or L plates.
The court was told police stopped several vehicles, including one driven by Doherty, and found him in possession of a Stanley knife and a small quantity of cocaine. He was also driving without insurance and L-plates.
At interview, he said the knife was for repairing fences and he had forgotten it was there.
Doherty was sentenced to five months imprisonment suspended for three years. He was also fined £425 (€493) and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Also before the court was 22-year-old Gerry Stokes of Kearney Villas in Gulladuff, Co Derry, who was charged with the possession of a meat cleaver.
A police officer told the court that at about 11.30am on Thursday the defendant was seen in the car park of the church discarding a meat cleaver under a parked vehicle.
When police questioned him, he said he had taken it from another person but refused to say who and said he was getting rid of it in case someone got hurt.
A defence solicitor said his client claimed the weapon was a barley thresher. The judge remarked that there was a lot of barley in Strabane main street.
The solicitor said his client had been at the funeral and heard the commotion outside which he felt was disrespectful.
He added that Stokes had gone out, seen someone with the weapon and took it off him in case someone got hurt. And there was no suggestion Stokes was brandishing it.
Axes for ‘gardening business’
Mr McElholm said while the claims were “plausible” it was clear “some people came armed to do serious harm to others”.
Stokes was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified because of his age, was charged with two counts of possessing an axe.
A police officer told the court the youth was the passenger in a car which was stopped and a holdall containing the axes was found at his feet.
The 17-year-old said his father had bought the axes in order to start a gardening business. He was released on bail and his case was adjourned until March 20th.
A fourth man, 18-year-old Thomas Scully from Donegal Road in Ballybofey, Co Donegal, appeared in court charged with being disorderly in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, possessing a knife and possessing a screwdriver early on Thursday morning.
The court was told he had been due to attend the funeral, but had been arrested beforehand.
He told police the screwdriver was for repairing kitchen cabinets but the knife just happened to be in the pocket of a jacket he had borrowed.
He was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for two years.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Fine of €50,000 imposed for filling wildlife lagoon to create gallops for horses

A bloodstock trader who admitted putting 45,000 tonnes of construction rubble into a wildlife lagoon to create practice gallops for his horses has been fined €50,000 .
John Collins ( 43 ) , of Brown Island , Ballintubrid West , Carrigtwohill , Co Cork , pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to disposing of waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution at his address on June 3rd 2014 .
Nicholas Bond , Waste Enforcement Officer with Cork County Council , had told an earlier court sitting that in January 2014 the council received a report that construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area of conservation .
He said the council had served a notice on Collins requiring all work to cease and later invited him to meet them so they could hear his side of the story in relation to the filling in of the lagoon .
“ He came in with a planning consultant on February 10th 2014 and they said they had agreement with the National Parks and Wildlife to do work strengthening banks , ” said Mr Bond .
“ The National Parks and Wildlife said they had some agreement for minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceeded this agreement .
The requirement to cease all activities was still in place , ” he added .
Mr Bond said the two-acre lagoon , which flooded with water twice a day and was a special protection area for birds and wildlife , was filled in fully except for a stream about three metres in width .
Mr Collins told Mr Bond that about 14,000 cubic metres of dry building material had been put into the lagoon but Mr Bond estimated it was more than twice that – 31,000 cubic metres , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said that to remove it all would require filling 1,500 to 2,000 truck-loads .
“ We are very anxious that it would stop , that he would stop working on the site… We got no remediation plan ( from the defendant ) , ” Mr Bond said .
On Friday Philip O ’ Doherty , an engineer for the defendant , said he had visited the site and agreed that approximately 45,000 tonnes of building rubble had been used to fill in the lagoon before it was topped with soil to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he didn ’ t believe that the filling in of the lagoon had led to any flooding elsewhere and he pointed out that historic maps showed the surrounding land had all been reclaimed from the sea in the 1880s .
He said he estimated that the land belonging to Collins – which he acquired in 2001 – amounted to approximately 32 per cent of the reclaimed land in the 1880s while the filling of the lagoon amounted to just 7 per cent of the reclaimed land .
Asked about remediating the damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr O ’ Doherty said it would “ be a monumental task ” which would cost €735,000 given it would require removing 1,500 to 2,000 lorry loads of material .
Mr O ’ Doherty said he didn ’ t think the area was of any particular significance in terms of wildlife from his observations .
It was now an all weather gallops which was marked out with hedging either side .
Defence barrister , Ray Boland said there was no evidence of any adverse effect on the environment as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Judge O Donnabhain not to impose a custodial sentence .
The judge the issue that had particularly concerned him was whether the infilling of the lagoon had led to flooding elsewhere but Mr Bond had been unable to tell him where exactly was being flooded .
Mr O ’ Doherty was now telling the court there was no flooding resulting from the infilling of the lagoon where a stream remained draining down the land and into the sea so that was something he would have to take account of .
Judge O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the infilling since 2014 and continued with it in blatant disregard of notifications from Cork County Council to cease and he had failed to fully engage with the council .
He had also failed to respond to a council request to set out a schedule of remediation but he was not going to make an order for remediation as he was not satisfied there was any major environmental damage to the area , he said .
In all the circumstances , particularly the fact that the defendant had blatantly continued with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would fine him €50,000 but would allow him 12 months to pay the money .

The defendant’s barrister told the judge there was no evidence of any adverse effect on the environment as a result of his client’s actions.
A bloodstock trader who admitted putting 45,000 tonnes of construction rubble into a wildlife lagoon to create practice gallops for his horses has been fined €50,000.
John Collins (43), of Brown Island, Ballintubrid West, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to disposing of waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution at his address on June 3rd 2014.
Nicholas Bond, Waste Enforcement Officer with Cork County Council, had told an earlier court sitting that in January 2014 the council received a report that construction waste was being dumped in a special area of conservation.
He said the council had served a notice on Collins requiring all work to cease and later invited him to meet them so they could hear his side of the story in relation to the filling in of the lagoon.
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“He came in with a planning consultant on February 10th 2014 and they said they had agreement with the National Parks and Wildlife to do work strengthening banks,” said Mr Bond.
“The National Parks and Wildlife said they had some agreement for minor bank-strengthening works but that these works far exceeded this agreement. The requirement to cease all activities was still in place,” he added.
Mr Bond said the two-acre lagoon, which flooded with water twice a day and was a special protection area for birds and wildlife, was filled in fully except for a stream about three metres in width.
Mr Collins told Mr Bond that about 14,000 cubic metres of dry building material had been put into the lagoon but Mr Bond estimated it was more than twice that – 31,000 cubic metres, equating to 45,000 tonnes of rubble.
He said that to remove it all would require filling 1,500 to 2,000 truck-loads. “We are very anxious that it would stop, that he would stop working on the site… We got no remediation plan (from the defendant),” Mr Bond said.
On Friday Philip O’Doherty, an engineer for the defendant, said he had visited the site and agreed that approximately 45,000 tonnes of building rubble had been used to fill in the lagoon before it was topped with soil to create a gallops for horses.
However he said he didn’t believe that the filling in of the lagoon had led to any flooding elsewhere and he pointed out that historic maps showed the surrounding land had all been reclaimed from the sea in the 1880s.
‘Monumental task’
He said he estimated that the land belonging to Collins – which he acquired in 2001 – amounted to approximately 32 per cent of the reclaimed land in the 1880s while the filling of the lagoon amounted to just 7 per cent of the reclaimed land.
Asked about remediating the damage caused by the infilling of the lagoon, Mr O’Doherty said it would “be a monumental task” which would cost €735,000 given it would require removing 1,500 to 2,000 lorry loads of material.
Mr O’Doherty said he didn’t think the area was of any particular significance in terms of wildlife from his observations. It was now an all weather gallops which was marked out with hedging either side.
Defence barrister, Ray Boland said there was no evidence of any adverse effect on the environment as a result of his client's actions and he asked Judge O Donnabhain not to impose a custodial sentence.
The judge the issue that had particularly concerned him was whether the infilling of the lagoon had led to flooding elsewhere but Mr Bond had been unable to tell him where exactly was being flooded.
Mr O’Doherty was now telling the court there was no flooding resulting from the infilling of the lagoon where a stream remained draining down the land and into the sea so that was something he would have to take account of.
Judge O Donnabhain said the defendant had been engaged in the infilling since 2014 and continued with it in blatant disregard of notifications from Cork County Council to cease and he had failed to fully engage with the council.
He had also failed to respond to a council request to set out a schedule of remediation but he was not going to make an order for remediation as he was not satisfied there was any major environmental damage to the area, he said.
In all the circumstances, particularly the fact that the defendant had blatantly continued with the infilling despite notices to stop, he would fine him €50,000 but would allow him 12 months to pay the money.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Coronavirus: Travel insurer outlines criteria for payouts

The company that underwrites much of the travel insurance in Ireland has issued fresh guidelines for people who may be travelling outside the country in the days , weeks and months ahead and are increasingly concerned about the impact of the spread of the coronavirus on their plans .
Mapfre , which underwrites many policies here and also sells under its brand insureandgo.ie , has outlined how and when people will be able to make claims .
The people immediately affected are those who were due to travel to the Hubei province of China and had a trip booked before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mainland China ( not including Hong Kong and Macao ) with a trip booked before January 28th , and people booked to travel to Codogno , Castiglione d ’ Adda , Casalpusterlengo , Fombio , Maleo , Somaglia , Bertonico , Terranova dei Passerini , Castelgerundo and San Fiorano in northern Italy with a trip booked before February 24th are also among the first affected .
The insurer said people in these categories may be in a position to claim as the Department of Foreign Affairs had said on before the date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against “ All but essential travel ” : “ If the cancellation section of your policy lists as an insured peril cover where the Irish Government announces that travellers are recommended to avoid the country or area you have planned to visit , we will consider cancellation claims within 48 hours of your intended date of departure as long as that advice is in place , ” Mapfre said .
It said that if policies did not include cover as above , it would consider cancellation claims “ on an ex-gratia basis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date of departure as long that advice is in place ” .
It also advised people to refer to their policy documentation for details of cover available .
“ We will pay you for any unused travel and accommodation costs if you have to cancel your trip and any necessary extra travel costs if you have to cut your trip short , ” Mapfre said .
It reminded people that it would only consider claims where the date they bought the travel insurance policy preceded the date the Department of Foreign Affairs advised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would only consider non-refundable expenses on your travel insurance policy .
It said that , in the first instance , people should approach airlines , tour operators or travel companies for a possible refund or to see if they will amend itineraries .
People who want to rearrange trip dates , once they are not making a claim , can have a policy transferred to a later date to cover the new trip as long as it is within three months of the original departure date , is for the same or no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geographical area .
The company has urged people to check their policy terms and conditions to see exactly what cover their policy provides and how much they can claim for , as different policies vary .
“ We can only cover you for the scenarios above if you bought your policy and booked your trip before the [ department ’ s ] advice changed to ‘ all but essential travel , ’ ” it said The company also reminded people that if their trip did not involve travel to one of the affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of going on a trip , its travel insurance policies would not provide cover “ for disinclination to travel ” .
The statement said that although it sympathised that people might no longer want to travel on their trip , unless the department advised against travel to their intended destination , there would be “ no cover for cancelling or cutting short your trip ” .
People who are stuck overseas and unable to return to the Republic will have their existing policy automatically extended in line with the terms and conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them until they are reasonably able to return home .

The company that underwrites much of the travel insurance in Ireland has issued fresh guidelines for people who may be travelling outside the country in the days, weeks and months ahead and are increasingly concerned about the impact of the spread of the coronavirus on their plans.
Mapfre, which underwrites many policies here and also sells under its brand insureandgo.ie, has outlined how and when people will be able to make claims.
The people immediately affected are those who were due to travel to the Hubei province of China and had a trip booked before January 23rd.
Anyone due to travel to mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao) with a trip booked before January 28th, and people booked to travel to Codogno, Castiglione d'Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano in northern Italy with a trip booked before February 24th are also among the first affected.
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The insurer said people in these categories may be in a position to claim as the Department of Foreign Affairs had said on before the date of departure, that it had advised against “All but essential travel”:
"If the cancellation section of your policy lists as an insured peril cover where the Irish Government announces that travellers are recommended to avoid the country or area you have planned to visit, we will consider cancellation claims within 48 hours of your intended date of departure as long as that advice is in place," Mapfre said.
Cancellation claims
It said that if policies did not include cover as above, it would consider cancellation claims “on an ex-gratia basis, and within 48 hours of your intended date of departure as long that advice is in place”.
It also advised people to refer to their policy documentation for details of cover available.
“We will pay you for any unused travel and accommodation costs if you have to cancel your trip and any necessary extra travel costs if you have to cut your trip short,” Mapfre said.
It reminded people that it would only consider claims where the date they bought the travel insurance policy preceded the date the Department of Foreign Affairs advised against travel to the intended destination and would only consider non-refundable expenses on your travel insurance policy.
It said that, in the first instance, people should approach airlines, tour operators or travel companies for a possible refund or to see if they will amend itineraries.
People who want to rearrange trip dates, once they are not making a claim, can have a policy transferred to a later date to cover the new trip as long as it is within three months of the original departure date, is for the same or no longer duration and is to the same geographical area.
Check policy
The company has urged people to check their policy terms and conditions to see exactly what cover their policy provides and how much they can claim for, as different policies vary.
“We can only cover you for the scenarios above if you bought your policy and booked your trip before the [department’s] advice changed to ‘all but essential travel,’ ” it said
The company also reminded people that if their trip did not involve travel to one of the affected areas but they were concerned about the risk of going on a trip, its travel insurance policies would not provide cover “for disinclination to travel”.
The statement said that although it sympathised that people might no longer want to travel on their trip, unless the department advised against travel to their intended destination, there would be “no cover for cancelling or cutting short your trip”.
People who are stuck overseas and unable to return to the Republic will have their existing policy automatically extended in line with the terms and conditions for up to 30 days to cover them until they are reasonably able to return home.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Accelerating coronavirus could reach ‘all countries’

The World Health Organisation has said that the coronavirus could reach most “ if not all countries ” .
The warning comes after more confirmed cases began to emerge globally , including Mexico and Nigeria which recorded the first case in sub-Saharan Africa on Friday .
“ The outbreak is getting bigger , ” said WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeierat a Geneva news briefing .
“ The scenario of the coronavirus reaching multiple countries , if not all countries around the world , is something we have been looking at and warning against since quite a while.
” Covid-19 was reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nigeria , Estonia , Denmark , Netherlands and Lithuania , with all those diagnosed having a travel history linked to Italy .
In Geneva the annual motor show was cancelled after the government banned mass gatherings .
Mr Lindmeier said WHO was looking carefully into reports of some people getting re-infected .
“ We need to carefully look at how the tests were taken .
.
.
we ’ re not in a position to say it is possible or not to be .
.
.
re-infected.
” He said that health authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be immune for at least a period afterwards .
But again this is something “ we do not yet know ” .
Nigeria ’ s first confirmed coronovirus case entered the country on a Turkish Airlines flight from Italy via Istanbul , said Lagos state commissioner for health Akin Abayomi .
The man started his journey in Milan and arrived in Lagos on February 4th , spending the night at an airport hotel before travelling to work in a neighbouring state .
He was first treated on February 26th and subsequently transferred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti has warned the “ window of opportunity the continent has had to prepare for coronavirus disease is closing ” .
Egypt reported the first case of Covid-19 in Africa on February 14th while Algeria declared a case last Tuesday – another Italian adult who arrived in the country on February 17th .
Officials at WHO have previously warned that porous borders , flow of travellers and poorly resourced healthcare systems mean the risk of an outbreak across Africa was “ very high ” .
And they raised significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health systems ” to cope with the epidemic .
In the US acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney acknowledged that the coronavirus was likely to cause disruptions to everyday life , such as school closures and changes to public transportation .
“ Are you going to see some schools shut down ?
Probably .
Maybe see impacts on public transportation ?
Sure , but we do this .
We know how to handle this , ” said Mr Mulvaney said .
Seeking to reassure Americans worried about a potential public-health crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said “ what I ’ d like to do today to calm the markets is tell people to turn their televisions off for 24 hours .
”

The World Health Organisation has said that the coronavirus could reach most “if not all countries”.
The warning comes after more confirmed cases began to emerge globally, including Mexico and Nigeria which recorded the first case in sub-Saharan Africa on Friday.
“The outbreak is getting bigger,” said WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeierat a Geneva news briefing. “The scenario of the coronavirus reaching multiple countries, if not all countries around the world, is something we have been looking at and warning against since quite a while.”
Covid-19 was reported in five more countries on Friday: Nigeria, Estonia, Denmark, Netherlands and Lithuania, with all those diagnosed having a travel history linked to Italy.
READ MORE
In Geneva the annual motor show was cancelled after the government banned mass gatherings. Mr Lindmeier said WHO was looking carefully into reports of some people getting re-infected.
“We need to carefully look at how the tests were taken . . . we’re not in a position to say it is possible or not to be . . . re-infected.”
He said that health authorities would expect people with the infection would be immune for at least a period afterwards. But again this is something “we do not yet know”.
Nigeria's first confirmed coronovirus case entered the country on a Turkish Airlines flight from Italy via Istanbul, said Lagos state commissioner for health Akin Abayomi.
The man started his journey in Milan and arrived in Lagos on February 4th, spending the night at an airport hotel before travelling to work in a neighbouring state. He was first treated on February 26th and subsequently transferred to a containment facility .
WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti has warned the "window of opportunity the continent has had to prepare for coronavirus disease is closing".
‘Fragile health systems’
Egypt reported the first case of Covid-19 in Africa on February 14th while Algeria declared a case last Tuesday – another Italian adult who arrived in the country on February 17th.
Officials at WHO have previously warned that porous borders, flow of travellers and poorly resourced healthcare systems mean the risk of an outbreak across Africa was “very high”. And they raised significant concerns about the ability of “fragile health systems” to cope with the epidemic.
In the US acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney acknowledged that the coronavirus was likely to cause disruptions to everyday life, such as school closures and changes to public transportation.
“Are you going to see some schools shut down? Probably. Maybe see impacts on public transportation? Sure, but we do this. We know how to handle this,” said Mr Mulvaney said.
Seeking to reassure Americans worried about a potential public-health crisis and stock-market losses tied to the outbreak he said “what I’d like to do today to calm the markets is tell people to turn their televisions off for 24 hours.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Placing of children in adult psychiatric unit in Limerick ‘unacceptable’

Three children were placed in an adult acute psychiatric unit in Limerick over an eight month period , the Mental Health Commission has said .
The children were placed in the unit at University Hospital Limerick because there was no suitable accomodation available elsewhere .
“ The placing of children in adult units remains a totally unacceptable , but common feature of mental health care practice in Ireland , ” the commission ’ s chief executive John Farrelly said .
“ The psychiatric unit at Limerick is an adult acute admission unit and , as such , is not structured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age-appropriate facilities.
” The Limerick unit is one of three identified in reports published by the commission on Friday as having been involved in “ high-risk non-compliance ” with regulations .
The others were the St Edna ’ s Unit at St Loman ’ s Hospital , Mullingar and the Maryborough Centre at St Fintan ’ s Hospital , Portlaoise .
Not all staff were up to date or had been trained in mandatory training in fire safety , basic life support , prevention and management of aggression and violence , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found .
These types of failures put service users and staff at risk , said the Inspector of Mental Health Facilities Dr Susan Finnerty .
In relation to the acute psychiatric unit in Limerick , the commission noted that the high observation unit , which contains a seclusion room and eight single bedrooms , was out of commission at the time of inspection .
“ This area has never been operational and there are no plans to open it in the immediate future .
This affects the availability of space and accommodation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the report noted .
It also noted that the main sitting room in the unit was bare and stark in appearance , and was a thoroughfare to the outdoor area where residents could smoke .
“ The sitting room smelt of smoke as the adjoining door to the smoking area was often left open .
The main sitting room of the approved centre was cold .
The premises was unclean in some areas - particularly the fridge and the sink in the pantry.
” One outdoor area contained litter such as cigarette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and plant beds in all of the gardens were overgrown with weeds .
In relation to St Edna ’ s , the report noted that there was evidence of exposed wiring , broken doors , and cracked ceiling glass .
“ The corridors in St Edna ’ s ward were noticeably cold .
Some furnishings were worn and in a poor state of repair.
” In relation to the Maryborough Centre , the report noted that , while there were problems with some aspects of its operation , compliance with regulatory requirements had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 64 per cent in 2017 , to 83 per cent last year .

Three children were placed in an adult acute psychiatric unit at University Hospital Limerick over an eight month period, the Mental Health Commission has said. Image: Google Street View.
Three children were placed in an adult acute psychiatric unit in Limerick over an eight month period, the Mental Health Commission has said.
The children were placed in the unit at University Hospital Limerick because there was no suitable accomodation available elsewhere.
“The placing of children in adult units remains a totally unacceptable, but common feature of mental health care practice in Ireland,” the commission’s chief executive John Farrelly said. “The psychiatric unit at Limerick is an adult acute admission unit and, as such, is not structured or resourced to provide separate or specifically age-appropriate facilities.”
The Limerick unit is one of three identified in reports published by the commission on Friday as having been involved in “high-risk non-compliance” with regulations. The others were the St Edna’s Unit at St Loman’s Hospital, Mullingar and the Maryborough Centre at St Fintan’s Hospital, Portlaoise.
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Not all staff were up to date or had been trained in mandatory training in fire safety, basic life support, prevention and management of aggression and violence, and the Mental Health Act 2001, the reports found.
These types of failures put service users and staff at risk, said the Inspector of Mental Health Facilities Dr Susan Finnerty.
In relation to the acute psychiatric unit in Limerick, the commission noted that the high observation unit, which contains a seclusion room and eight single bedrooms, was out of commission at the time of inspection.
“This area has never been operational and there are no plans to open it in the immediate future. This affects the availability of space and accommodation for residents in the main approved centre,” the report noted.
Stark
It also noted that the main sitting room in the unit was bare and stark in appearance, and was a thoroughfare to the outdoor area where residents could smoke.
“The sitting room smelt of smoke as the adjoining door to the smoking area was often left open. The main sitting room of the approved centre was cold. The premises was unclean in some areas - particularly the fridge and the sink in the pantry.”
One outdoor area contained litter such as cigarette butts, one toilet was malodorous, and plant beds in all of the gardens were overgrown with weeds.
In relation to St Edna’s, the report noted that there was evidence of exposed wiring, broken doors, and cracked ceiling glass.
“The corridors in St Edna’s ward were noticeably cold. Some furnishings were worn and in a poor state of repair.”
In relation to the Maryborough Centre, the report noted that, while there were problems with some aspects of its operation, compliance with regulatory requirements had improved over the past three years, from 64 per cent in 2017, to 83 per cent last year.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Rapist treated drunk schoolgirl ‘like a dog’, judge says

A Donegal man has been jailed for seven years for repeatedly raping a teenage schoolgirl when she was too drunk to resist .
Ms Justice Tara Burns said the man , now 25 , treated the woman “ like a dog ” when he raped her in a field .
She said he took advantage of her half interest in him and her drunkenness to subject her to vile and despicable attacks .
The victim , now in her 20s , told the Central Criminal Court the attacks changed her from a happy , trusting girl who enjoyed life to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panic attacks .
The man , who can not be named to protect the identity of the victim , denied four counts of rape at two locations in Co Donegal on a night in July 2016 .
After a trial last month a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts .
The court heard the man had met the victim previously and they had kissed .
On the night of the rapes the victim and her friend planned a camping trip and invited a number of friends but nobody was available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend were contacted and the four met , procured two bottles of vodka and began drinking in a field .
They split into pairs and the man and the teenager kissed .
At one point she fell back and the man got on top of her .
She tried to get up and he pushed her back .
The victim said no but he raped her .
He turned her over and anally raped her and repeated these actions again and again , whispering “ good girl ” to her .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the man brought her back to his house and raped her twice again .
“ You brought me back to violate me all over again .
I couldn ’ t move .
I was so drunk and in so much shock that physically I was there but mentally I was gone , ” the woman said , in a victim impact statement .
Ms Justice Burns said after the first series of attacks the woman had walked back to her friend , became upset and told the man to go away when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her drunken state he subjected her to another vile attack , treating her almost like a dog to gratify his sexual desire on a drunk girl , ” the judge said .
The judge said she would give him some benefit for the acknowledgement of his guilt and expressions of remorse , despite these coming late .
She reduced an indicated headline sentence of nine years to seven years .
She noted also his previous good character and the fact he is a father figure to three young children .
She noted too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victim , and “ how broken ” she appeared in court .

A Donegal man has been jailed for seven years by a judge in the Central Criminal Court for repeatedly raping a teenage schoolgirl when she was too drunk to resist. File photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times.
A Donegal man has been jailed for seven years for repeatedly raping a teenage schoolgirl when she was too drunk to resist.
Ms Justice Tara Burns said the man, now 25, treated the woman “like a dog” when he raped her in a field.
She said he took advantage of her half interest in him and her drunkenness to subject her to vile and despicable attacks.
The victim, now in her 20s, told the Central Criminal Court the attacks changed her from a happy, trusting girl who enjoyed life to a fearful traumatised adult who struggles with panic attacks.
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The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, denied four counts of rape at two locations in Co Donegal on a night in July 2016. After a trial last month a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts.
The court heard the man had met the victim previously and they had kissed. On the night of the rapes the victim and her friend planned a camping trip and invited a number of friends but nobody was available to join them.
The man and his friend were contacted and the four met, procured two bottles of vodka and began drinking in a field. They split into pairs and the man and the teenager kissed.
At one point she fell back and the man got on top of her. She tried to get up and he pushed her back. The victim said no but he raped her.
He turned her over and anally raped her and repeated these actions again and again, whispering “good girl” to her.
After the attack the woman was falling around drunk and the man brought her back to his house and raped her twice again. “You brought me back to violate me all over again. I couldn’t move. I was so drunk and in so much shock that physically I was there but mentally I was gone,” the woman said, in a victim impact statement.
Ms Justice Burns said after the first series of attacks the woman had walked back to her friend, became upset and told the man to go away when he approached.
“Despite this and her drunken state he subjected her to another vile attack, treating her almost like a dog to gratify his sexual desire on a drunk girl,” the judge said.
The judge said she would give him some benefit for the acknowledgement of his guilt and expressions of remorse, despite these coming late. She reduced an indicated headline sentence of nine years to seven years.
She noted also his previous good character and the fact he is a father figure to three young children. She noted too the serious effect of the attacks on the victim, and “how broken” she appeared in court.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--A ‘rival suitor’ shot in the face and Brown Thomas’s new silks

In Birr District Court , a man who had been shot in the face gave evidence against the man charged with the crime .
According to a news story published on February 28th , 1939 , Samuel Albert Watkins said he had an argument with the shooter , Michael Clarke , before the incident .
A couple of weeks later , the two met again near Leap , Aghacon , and Watkins admitted to hitting Clarke : “ I asked him : ‘ Who are you looking for , are you looking for me ?
’ He made no reply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and staggered him back .
The next thing he told me : ‘ Take this , ’ and I heard a shot and felt something strike me .
He shot me on the left side of the face.
” A woman named Ms M Fowler told the court : “ Watkins and Clarke were rival suitors for my hand .
Watkins used to resent Clark coming up from Ballincor.
” Ms Fowler had encouraged the attentions of the young bachelor Clarke and had already rejected a proposal by Watkins , a widower aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another domestic crime featured prominently on page 9 on this day 81 years ago .
A 30-year-old labourer named Patrick Monaghan appeared at Balbriggan District Court , charged with murdering “ middle-aged spinster ” Elizabeth “ Lily ” McAvoy .
The woman ’ s body was discovered outside her one-roomed cottage down a boreen about a mile and a half from Swords town .
Evidence was heard that Monaghan was worse for drink on the day Lily - described as “ eccentric ” - was killed , and a belt found near her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black coat he owned .
Monaghan was also seen arguing with and assaulting the woman along the Brackenstown road the day before her body was found .
Monaghan was remanded in custody to appear in Naas court the following Wednesday .
The main news of the day was found further into the book , on page 7 .
The issuing of the Offences Against the State Bill the previous night took prime position ; the Bill provided powers to deal with offences against the State other than treason “ ranging from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication of seditious matter ” .
The Offences Against the State Act paved the way for the establishment of the Special Criminal Court .
In foreign news , “ a fresh wave of terrorism ” had left more than 30 people dead in Palestine following a day in which 14 separate bomb , landmine and shooting incidents were recorded .
In Europe , it was reported that the British and French governments had decided to recognise General Franco , with America expected to follow suit .
The front page , as was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times , was reserved for classifieds on this day in 1939 .
Brown Thomas evidently bought the most real estate : “ First again with the new silks ” tops the most spacious notice covering nearly half the page , complete with illustrations of various patterns and a headshot of Mr Martin , the store ’ s silk buyer .
The classifieds that day were a miscellany typical of the time : an accountant seeking employment , ads for sea trips abroad - “ USA & CANADA CALLING !
” from £27 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ £2,500 REQUIRED for completion of sound investment scheme , house property .
Address Z 1559 Money , this office.
” That ’ s all the information provided .
In other news , the minister of agriculture had decided to dissolved the Pigs Board - or the Northern Ireland Pig Marketing Board .
A report on the board had left the minister “ gravely perturbed ” and revealed “ serious laxity in the control and expenditure ” of funds .
A new body was to be appointed in its place .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 35-year-old John Foster in a snowdrift at Glenmacnass the previous day .
The man ’ s footsteps were traced , and it was concluded that he had been making for Laragh , having come from Blessington , and lost his way .
Meanwhile , the new Dublin coroner JP Brennan was appealing his salary of £300 .
It was proposed that it be raised to £400 and the matter ultimately was referred to the council ’ s finance committee .
On the same page as the council report , actor Yvonne Arnaud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plan for a Hostess at the Gaiety .
In sport , British middleweight boxing champion Jock McAvoy had knocked out France ’ s Emile Lebrize within one round in Manchester the previous evening .
The Senior Cup got its mention after both of the previous year ’ s finalists were defeated in the first round ; Belvedere lost to Clongowes and Newbridge defeated Castleknock .
The paper finished as it started , with classified ads – among them , a context-free Bible verse , Acts 16 31 : “ BELIEVE on the Lord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saved .
”

In Birr District Court, a man who had been shot in the face gave evidence against the man charged with the crime. According to a news story published on February 28th, 1939, Samuel Albert Watkins said he had an argument with the shooter, Michael Clarke, before the incident. A couple of weeks later, the two met again near Leap, Aghacon, and Watkins admitted to hitting Clarke: “I asked him: ‘Who are you looking for, are you looking for me?’ He made no reply and I struck him in the face and staggered him back. The next thing he told me: ‘Take this,’ and I heard a shot and felt something strike me. He shot me on the left side of the face.”
A woman named Ms M Fowler told the court: “Watkins and Clarke were rival suitors for my hand. Watkins used to resent Clark coming up from Ballincor.” Ms Fowler had encouraged the attentions of the young bachelor Clarke and had already rejected a proposal by Watkins, a widower aged 39. Clarke was allowed bail.
Another domestic crime featured prominently on page 9 on this day 81 years ago. A 30-year-old labourer named Patrick Monaghan appeared at Balbriggan District Court, charged with murdering “middle-aged spinster” Elizabeth “Lily” McAvoy. The woman’s body was discovered outside her one-roomed cottage down a boreen about a mile and a half from Swords town.
Evidence was heard that Monaghan was worse for drink on the day Lily - described as “eccentric” - was killed, and a belt found near her body matched one which Monaghan wore on a black coat he owned. Monaghan was also seen arguing with and assaulting the woman along the Brackenstown road the day before her body was found. Monaghan was remanded in custody to appear in Naas court the following Wednesday.
READ MORE
The main news of the day was found further into the book, on page 7. The issuing of the Offences Against the State Bill the previous night took prime position; the Bill provided powers to deal with offences against the State other than treason “ranging from the usurpation or obstruction of government to the publication of seditious matter”. The Offences Against the State Act paved the way for the establishment of the Special Criminal Court.
In foreign news, "a fresh wave of terrorism" had left more than 30 people dead in Palestine following a day in which 14 separate bomb, landmine and shooting incidents were recorded. In Europe, it was reported that the British and French governments had decided to recognise General Franco, with America expected to follow suit.
'USA & CANADA CALLING!'
The front page, as was the style prior to 1941 in The Irish Times, was reserved for classifieds on this day in 1939. Brown Thomas evidently bought the most real estate: “First again with the new silks” tops the most spacious notice covering nearly half the page, complete with illustrations of various patterns and a headshot of Mr Martin, the store’s silk buyer.
February 28th, 1939
The classifieds that day were a miscellany typical of the time: an accountant seeking employment, ads for sea trips abroad - “USA & CANADA CALLING!” from £27 5 0 return - and spurious investment opportunities: “£2,500 REQUIRED for completion of sound investment scheme, house property. Address Z 1559 Money, this office.” That’s all the information provided.
In other news, the minister of agriculture had decided to dissolved the Pigs Board - or the Northern Ireland Pig Marketing Board. A report on the board had left the minister "gravely perturbed" and revealed "serious laxity in the control and expenditure" of funds. A new body was to be appointed in its place. In Wicklow, a farmer discovered the body of 35-year-old John Foster in a snowdrift at Glenmacnass the previous day. The man's footsteps were traced, and it was concluded that he had been making for Laragh, having come from Blessington, and lost his way.
Meanwhile, the new Dublin coroner JP Brennan was appealing his salary of £300. It was proposed that it be raised to £400 and the matter ultimately was referred to the council’s finance committee. On the same page as the council report, actor Yvonne Arnaud received glowing praise for her performance in Plan for a Hostess at the Gaiety.
In sport, British middleweight boxing champion Jock McAvoy had knocked out France’s Emile Lebrize within one round in Manchester the previous evening. The Senior Cup got its mention after both of the previous year’s finalists were defeated in the first round; Belvedere lost to Clongowes and Newbridge defeated Castleknock.
February 28th, 1939
The paper finished as it started, with classified ads – among them, a context-free Bible verse, Acts 16 31: “BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and though shalt be saved.”
Full edition: February 28th, 1931


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Coronavirus: Myths that have gained traction

In the two months since a novel strain of coronavirus emerged in Wuhan , China , panic has spread throughout social media .
The World Health Organisation has expressed concern about an “ infodemic ” , warning that misinformation about the Sars-CoV-2 virus ( which causes Covid-19 illness ) is causing harmful stigmatisation and discrimination .
With a focus on doomsday scenarios , fake news has created false but believable memes to feed people ’ s understandable thirst for information .
But despite social media giants attempting to tackle misinformation about the new virus , the spread of false news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that of all categories of fake news , health news is the worst .
Vaccines have been a particular target ; now false news sources are blurring the line between opinion and fact about the new illness , Covid-19 .
Here are some of the myths that have gained traction around Covid-19 .
Fact : The vast majority of cases are mild and self-limiting .
The new bug has a mortality rate of about 2 per cent .
Even those admitted to hospital with a severe illness are most likely to fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17,000 recoveries from the illness .
And if it had a high mortality rate , we would not be seeing the easy spread of Covid-19 .
Myth : Wearing a face mask will protect you from it Fact : Despite global panic buying there is no evidence that standard disposable surgical face masks offer protection against the virus .
Because they are not custom-fit and are loose , these masks may allow tiny droplets from an infected person to get into the wearer ’ s nose , mouth or eyes .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands who touches their face under a mask could become infected .
However , people diagnosed with Sars-CoV-2 who wear these masks lessen their chance of infecting those around them .
Myth : A commercial hand sanitiser is the only way to kill it Fact : While washing hands is the single most important action you can take to stop the spread of the virus , it must be done thoroughly .
Wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water , including between the fingers and the area around the base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitiser , for it to be effective , make sure it contains at least 60 per cent alcohol .
Myth : Cannabis and garlic protect against the virus Fact : A YouTube video of a doctor discussing how cannabis can boost a person ’ s immunity to the coronavirus is a fake .
Medical experts emphasise there is no evidence to suggest that cannabis improves immunity against the virus .
Online claims that Covid-19 can be cured overnight by drinking freshly boiled garlic water are untrue .
There is no specific anti-viral treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and airports will stop the spread Fact : Past experience suggests there is no benefit to measures such as these .
If anything , they promote fear and panic .
And they probably make it more likely that people with symptoms of Sars-CoV-2 won ’ t come forward and identify themselves to health professionals .

Minister for Health Simon harris has visited Dublin Airport where he met with HSE staff providing information about the coronavirus to people as they arrive in Ireland. Video: Bryan O'Brien
In the two months since a novel strain of coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, panic has spread throughout social media.
The World Health Organisation has expressed concern about an “infodemic”, warning that misinformation about the Sars-CoV-2 virus (which causes Covid-19 illness) is causing harmful stigmatisation and discrimination.
With a focus on doomsday scenarios, fake news has created false but believable memes to feed people’s understandable thirst for information. But despite social media giants attempting to tackle misinformation about the new virus, the spread of false news continues.
A 2018 Rand corporation survey found that of all categories of fake news, health news is the worst. Vaccines have been a particular target; now false news sources are blurring the line between opinion and fact about the new illness, Covid-19.
READ MORE
Here are some of the myths that have gained traction around Covid-19.
Myth: Getting coronavirus is a death sentence
Fact: The vast majority of cases are mild and self-limiting. The new bug has a mortality rate of about 2 per cent. Even those admitted to hospital with a severe illness are most likely to fully recover. Researchers tracking the disease report 17,000 recoveries from the illness. And if it had a high mortality rate, we would not be seeing the easy spread of Covid-19.
Myth: Wearing a face mask will protect you from it
Fact: Despite global panic buying there is no evidence that standard disposable surgical face masks offer protection against the virus. Because they are not custom-fit and are loose, these masks may allow tiny droplets from an infected person to get into the wearer's nose, mouth or eyes. In addition, anyone with the virus on their hands who touches their face under a mask could become infected. However, people diagnosed with Sars-CoV-2 who wear these masks lessen their chance of infecting those around them.
Myth: A commercial hand sanitiser is the only way to kill it
Fact: While washing hands is the single most important action you can take to stop the spread of the virus, it must be done thoroughly. Wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, including between the fingers and the area around the base of the thumb. If using a sanitiser, for it to be effective, make sure it contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.
Myth: Cannabis and garlic protect against the virus
Fact: A YouTube video of a doctor discussing how cannabis can boost a person's immunity to the coronavirus is a fake. Medical experts emphasise there is no evidence to suggest that cannabis improves immunity against the virus.
Online claims that Covid-19 can be cured overnight by drinking freshly boiled garlic water are untrue. There is no specific anti-viral treatment for it.
Myth: Closing borders and airports will stop the spread
Fact: Past experience suggests there is no benefit to measures such as these. If anything, they promote fear and panic. And they probably make it more likely that people with symptoms of Sars-CoV-2 won't come forward and identify themselves to health professionals.