theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Rezoning of Dublin city lands for up to 3,500 homes is delayed by council

The rezoning of old industrial lands across Dublin for up to 3,500 homes has been delayed by Dublin city councillors , following objections from local residents to the plans .
The council ’ s planning department had sought approval to rezone 20 sites in the city , totalling 55 hectares , from industrial to residential or mixed use .
The previous council had asked the planning department to assess the industrial lands in the city and see which might be suitable for housing .
For most of the 20 sites targeted , industrial zoning is obsolete and does not reflect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the surrounding lands , city planner John O ’ Hara has said .
The sites are spread across the city , with a concentration in the southwest and northeast .
Lands include the Mornington Business Park , a 1-hectare site off the Malahide Road in Artane that is bounded on all sides by residential development ; a vacant site measuring just 0.16 hectares on Ballyfermot Road Lower , that was previously a coal yard , and a 0.2-hectare site on Esmond Avenue , Fairview , which is used as a builder ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing .
More than 280 organisations , residents ’ associations and individuals made submissions to the council earlier this year on the proposed rezonings .
While State bodies and private organisations were generally supportive of the moves , large numbers of residents and residents ’ groups opposed the plans for their local areas .
Chief among their concerns was that there was already “ too much ” housing in their locality and transport services and schools would be unable to cope with increased populations .
Other concerns included the uncertainty about the type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a fear of tall apartment blocks .
Several councillors said they could not support the rezonings because they did not know what sort of housing would be built on the lands , with a particular concern that tall apartments and co-living blocks would be built .
Cllr Catherine Stocker of the Social Democrats said her party could not support the rezoning of land with “ no guarantee it will not be used for co-housing ” , as there would be “ no oversight whatsoever on what we will be giving the green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donncha of Sinn Féin said the rezoning was being proposed “ within a deeply flawed planning and zoning system ” .
Cllr Pat Dunne , an Independent , said the councillors were “ being asked to buy a pig in a poke ” , while Labour ’ s Alison Gilliland raised concerns about the “ eradication of local employment opportunities ” .
Fianna Fáil councillor Racheal Batten said the planned rezonings did not show “ real consideration of the residents of Dublin ” .
Mr O ’ Hara said employment uses could continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have agreed to have a separate meeting on the issue next week .
Separately , the councillors have voted to seek leave to take a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála ’ s decision to grant permission for more than 650 apartments in blocks up to nine storeys tall beside St Anne ’ s Park in Raheny , Dublin .
An Bord Pleanála last month approved the development by Crekav , a subsidiary of developer Pat Crean ’ s Marlet Property Group , of 657 apartments along with almost 500 parking spaces on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s College beside the park , despite opposition from Dublin City Council and locals .

The rezoning of old industrial lands across Dublin for up to 3,500 homes has been delayed by Dublin city councillors. File photograph: David Davies/PA Wire
The rezoning of old industrial lands across Dublin for up to 3,500 homes has been delayed by Dublin city councillors, following objections from local residents to the plans.
The council’s planning department had sought approval to rezone 20 sites in the city, totalling 55 hectares, from industrial to residential or mixed use.
The previous council had asked the planning department to assess the industrial lands in the city and see which might be suitable for housing. For most of the 20 sites targeted, industrial zoning is obsolete and does not reflect the current use of the land, or the surrounding lands, city planner John O’Hara has said.
The sites are spread across the city, with a concentration in the southwest and northeast. Lands include the Mornington Business Park, a 1-hectare site off the Malahide Road in Artane that is bounded on all sides by residential development; a vacant site measuring just 0.16 hectares on Ballyfermot Road Lower, that was previously a coal yard, and a 0.2-hectare site on Esmond Avenue, Fairview, which is used as a builder's yard but could be suitable for housing.
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More than 280 organisations, residents’ associations and individuals made submissions to the council earlier this year on the proposed rezonings.
While State bodies and private organisations were generally supportive of the moves, large numbers of residents and residents’ groups opposed the plans for their local areas. Chief among their concerns was that there was already “too much” housing in their locality and transport services and schools would be unable to cope with increased populations. Other concerns included the uncertainty about the type of homes that would be built, including a fear of tall apartment blocks.
Several councillors said they could not support the rezonings because they did not know what sort of housing would be built on the lands, with a particular concern that tall apartments and co-living blocks would be built.
Lack of oversight
Cllr Catherine Stocker of the Social Democrats said her party could not support the rezoning of land with "no guarantee it will not be used for co-housing", as there would be "no oversight whatsoever on what we will be giving the green light to".
Cllr Mícheál Mac Donncha of Sinn Féin said the rezoning was being proposed “within a deeply flawed planning and zoning system”.
Cllr Pat Dunne, an Independent, said the councillors were "being asked to buy a pig in a poke", while Labour's Alison Gilliland raised concerns about the "eradication of local employment opportunities".
Fianna Fáil councillor Racheal Batten said the planned rezonings did not show "real consideration of the residents of Dublin".
Mr O’Hara said employment uses could continue on the lands despite rezoning. Councillors have agreed to have a separate meeting on the issue next week.
Separately, the councillors have voted to seek leave to take a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant permission for more than 650 apartments in blocks up to nine storeys tall beside St Anne's Park in Raheny, Dublin.
An Bord Pleanála last month approved the development by Crekav, a subsidiary of developer Pat Crean's Marlet Property Group, of 657 apartments along with almost 500 parking spaces on former playing fields east of St Paul's College beside the park, despite opposition from Dublin City Council and locals.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Plan for Liffey cycle route approved by Dublin councillors

Plans to begin the implementation of the Liffey cycle route , first proposed almost eight years ago , were approved by Dublin City councillors on Monday evening .
Traffic lanes will be removed and parking eliminated along parts of the quays so space can be reallocated to cyclists .
However , while the route will be continuous on the north side of the river , the council said it has not been possible to achieve this on all of the south quays , with the section between O ’ Connell Bridge and the Civic Offices at Wood Quay to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The route for the 5km path was selected by the National Transport Authority ( NTA ) last April .
It emerged later last year the route would not be completed until 2024 , at the earliest .
In response to the delay , cycling campaigners set up a petition calling for the council to trial a two-way cycle path on the north quays only .
However , instead of undertaking a short-term trial , the council will implement as much of the NTA ’ s planned route as possible , and keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent scheme is completed .
The full NTA route - from the Phoenix Park in the west to the 3 Arena in the east - was expected to cost more than €20 million largely due to the engineering work required on the sections of the quays where there is limited road space .
The interim scheme , which will be progressed in phases from now until August , will concentrate on the section between the Phoenix Park and the Custom House , and cost €800,000 .
It will largely involve re-allocating existing road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as “ orcas ” along with vertical flexible “ wands ” .
There will be no major alteration of bus stops and no reduction in footpath widths , car traffic will not be removed from any section of the quays , and access to car parks will be maintained .
Where there is only one general traffic lane , the council has decided it was “ not feasible ” to remove it .
This means that Aston Quay on the southside , Crampton Quay , Wellington Quay , Essex Quay and Ushers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The measures will be implemented between now and August .
The council ’ s transportation department presented eight different “ preferred routes ” for the path from 2012-2017 , but couldn ’ t secure the sanction of councillors for any of them .
In 2017 , after more than €360,000 had been spent on the project , the NTA suspended funding and said it would take over the decision making .
Last April it published its plan , but late last year said it would not be possible to implement the scheme @ @ @

Plans to begin the implementation of the Liffey cycle route, first proposed almost eight years ago, were approved by Dublin City councillors on Monday evening.
Traffic lanes will be removed and parking eliminated along parts of the quays so space can be reallocated to cyclists.
However, while the route will be continuous on the north side of the river, the council said it has not been possible to achieve this on all of the south quays, with the section between O’Connell Bridge and the Civic Offices at Wood Quay to be left without a dedicated lane until 2024.
The route for the 5km path was selected by the National Transport Authority (NTA) last April. It emerged later last year the route would not be completed until 2024, at the earliest. In response to the delay, cycling campaigners set up a petition calling for the council to trial a two-way cycle path on the north quays only.
READ MORE
However, instead of undertaking a short-term trial, the council will implement as much of the NTA’s planned route as possible, and keep this interim scheme in place until the permanent scheme is completed.
The full NTA route - from the Phoenix Park in the west to the 3 Arena in the east - was expected to cost more than €20 million largely due to the engineering work required on the sections of the quays where there is limited road space.
The interim scheme, which will be progressed in phases from now until August, will concentrate on the section between the Phoenix Park and the Custom House, and cost €800,000. It will largely involve re-allocating existing road space to cyclists using lane separators, known as “orcas” along with vertical flexible “wands”.
There will be no major alteration of bus stops and no reduction in footpath widths, car traffic will not be removed from any section of the quays, and access to car parks will be maintained.
Where there is only one general traffic lane, the council has decided it was "not feasible" to remove it. This means that Aston Quay on the southside, Crampton Quay, Wellington Quay, Essex Quay and Ushers Island will not have segregated cycle lanes.
The measures will be implemented between now and August.
The council’s transportation department presented eight different “preferred routes” for the path from 2012-2017, but couldn’t secure the sanction of councillors for any of them. In 2017, after more than €360,000 had been spent on the project, the NTA suspended funding and said it would take over the decision making. Last April it published its plan, but late last year said it would not be possible to implement the scheme until 2024.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Garda did not tell two girls alleging assault to tell truth, court hears

A garda who interviewed two of the alleged sexual assault victims of a childcare worker should have told them it was important to tell the truth , his trial has heard .
Garda Ciara Holmes told defence barrister , Seán Guerin SC , that it was an “ oversight ” on her part not to tell the girls to tell the truth when she was interviewing them in January 2017 .
“ I ’ ve no excuse for it , ” Garda Holmes told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial on Monday .
“ It ’ s something that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it on these two occasions.
” When Mr Guerin put it to the garda that this was in breach of the guidelines surrounding child interviews , Garda Holmes replied that it was , “ not in line with the guidelines ” .
The 29-year-old man , who can not be named to protect the identity of the complainants , has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of sexually assaulting the four girls at a Leinster creche on dates between February 2015 and December 2016 .
The trial has been played videos of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with specialist gardaí in January 2017 , one month after the allegations first came to light .
The first complainant told gardaí the man touched her “ privates ” in a number of locations in the creche and on the creche bus and that she di d not like it .
The second complainant alleges the man licked her “ privates ” in the creche bathroom and in a classroom .
Garda Louise Curtin gave evidence on Monday in relation to the second complainant , whom the court has heard initially declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recorded interview .
Garda Curtin told Mr Guerin that she was not sure if the girl , who was then aged six , had been told she did not have to speak with gardaí .
She agreed she had not made a note of such a conversation with the child .
The child told gardaí : “ It ’ s scary having to talk to the gardaí , ” the court heard .
She was then asked if it would be okay for gardaí to talk to her the next day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t have to talk at all , ” Mr Guerin said .
Garda Curtin replied that she could not say if she did or not .
“ That is something that as a specialist interviewer I would regularly say to persons , ” she said .
The court heard that the girl told the gardaí she did not understand the truth .
At the start of the recorded interview with Garda Holmes in January 2017 , the girl also said : “ I ’ m going to have to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Guerin that this appeared to be a “ fear ” the child had .
Mr Guerin asked the garda if it concerned her that the girl “ thought she had to speak with the guards , having declined to speak at the first interview , thought she was in trouble and said she didn ’ t understand the truth ” .
Garda Curtin replied that this was “ a six-year-old child speaking with two members of An Garda Síochána ” .
She said she was in regular contact with the girl ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had reassured the child .
She said she believed the child was “ okay ” to be video interviewed on the day in question .
The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women .

A 29-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of sexually assaulting four girls at a Leinster creche on dates between February 2015 and December 2016. File photograph: Collins Courts
A garda who interviewed two of the alleged sexual assault victims of a childcare worker should have told them it was important to tell the truth, his trial has heard.
Garda Ciara Holmes told defence barrister, Seán Guerin SC, that it was an "oversight" on her part not to tell the girls to tell the truth when she was interviewing them in January 2017.
“I’ve no excuse for it,” Garda Holmes told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial on Monday. “It’s something that I normally do and I didn’t do it on these two occasions.”
When Mr Guerin put it to the garda that this was in breach of the guidelines surrounding child interviews, Garda Holmes replied that it was, “not in line with the guidelines”.
READ MORE
The 29-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainants, has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of sexually assaulting the four girls at a Leinster creche on dates between February 2015 and December 2016.
The trial has been played videos of the interviews the first two complainants had with specialist gardaí in January 2017, one month after the allegations first came to light.
The first complainant told gardaí the man touched her “privates” in a number of locations in the creche and on the creche bus and that she di d not like it.
The second complainant alleges the man licked her “privates” in the creche bathroom and in a classroom.
Declined
Garda Louise Curtin gave evidence on Monday in relation to the second complainant, whom the court has heard initially declined to be interviewed by gardaí before participating in a recorded interview.
Garda Curtin told Mr Guerin that she was not sure if the girl, who was then aged six, had been told she did not have to speak with gardaí. She agreed she had not made a note of such a conversation with the child.
The child told gardaí: “It’s scary having to talk to the gardaí,” the court heard. She was then asked if it would be okay for gardaí to talk to her the next day.
“You didn’t tell her you don’t have to talk at all,” Mr Guerin said.
Garda Curtin replied that she could not say if she did or not. “That is something that as a specialist interviewer I would regularly say to persons,” she said.
The court heard that the girl told the gardaí she did not understand the truth. At the start of the recorded interview with Garda Holmes in January 2017, the girl also said: “I’m going to have to keep coming here.”
Garda Curtin agreed with Mr Guerin that this appeared to be a “fear” the child had.
Mr Guerin asked the garda if it concerned her that the girl “thought she had to speak with the guards, having declined to speak at the first interview, thought she was in trouble and said she didn’t understand the truth”.
Garda Curtin replied that this was “a six-year-old child speaking with two members of An Garda Síochána”. She said she was in regular contact with the girl’s mother, who told her she had reassured the child. She said she believed the child was “okay” to be video interviewed on the day in question.
The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Ranelagh pub admits breaking smoking area regulations

A popular Dublin pub has been given a chance to avoid a conviction after admitting it broke smoking area regulations .
Humphreys , located at 79-81 in Ranelagh , Dublin 6 , pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court after it was prosecuted by the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) .
Solicitor Fiona McNulty , for the HSE , said the prosecution was for tobacco related offences .
HSE inspector Padraic Gorby told Judge Anthony Halpin he inspected the pub on October 24th last .
The rear was divided into two sections , he said .
He also furnished the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoking area surrounded by three walls and covered by perspex .
The second area that came to his attention had three walls and a retractable canopy that covered the entire courtyard .
There were 12 patrons there smoking , he said .
He spoke to the manager to advise him of his findings and told him to desist in allowing customers smoke in the areas until necessary alterations were carried out .
He agreed with Ms McNulty that the work has been completed and the retractable canopy will not be within 8½ feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the smoking area was divided into two sections .
He was satisfied the pub was now compliant with smoking laws .
It had no prior convictions .
The pub ’ s solicitor said it was a long established premises , it had co-operated with the HSE and matters were now in order .
Judge Halpin said he will spare the pub a conviction and apply the Probation of Offenders Act if it donated €200 to charity and paid €615 toward prosecution costs .
The case was adjourned until April 6th next .

Solicitor for Humphreys pub said it was a long established premises, it had co-operated with the HSE and matters were now in order. Image: Google Maps
A popular Dublin pub has been given a chance to avoid a conviction after admitting it broke smoking area regulations.
Humphreys, located at 79-81 in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court after it was prosecuted by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Solicitor Fiona McNulty, for the HSE, said the prosecution was for tobacco related offences.
HSE inspector Padraic Gorby told Judge Anthony Halpin he inspected the pub on October 24th last.
READ MORE
The rear was divided into two sections, he said. He also furnished the court with diagrams.
One was the smoking area surrounded by three walls and covered by perspex.
The second area that came to his attention had three walls and a retractable canopy that covered the entire courtyard.
There were 12 patrons there smoking, he said.
He spoke to the manager to advise him of his findings and told him to desist in allowing customers smoke in the areas until necessary alterations were carried out.
He agreed with Ms McNulty that the work has been completed and the retractable canopy will not be within 8½ feet from the perimeter.
The perspex roof of the smoking area was divided into two sections.
He was satisfied the pub was now compliant with smoking laws.
It had no prior convictions.
The pub’s solicitor said it was a long established premises, it had co-operated with the HSE and matters were now in order.
Judge Halpin said he will spare the pub a conviction and apply the Probation of Offenders Act if it donated €200 to charity and paid €615 toward prosecution costs. The case was adjourned until April 6th next.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Wet, stormy February brings record rainfall to many places

It was the wettest February since records began in many parts of the country , with some places experiencing once-in-100-years levels of rainfall .
Two of the oldest weather stations in the country , Phoenix Park in Dublin and Malin Head in Donegal , had their wettest February since recording started in 1850 .
Other weather stations that broke records were Shannon Airport , Co Clare ( record length 74 years ) ; Newport , Co Mayo ( 60 years ) ; Claremorris , Co Mayo ( 56 years ) ; Casement , Co Dublin ( 56 years ) ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Weather stations at Claremorris and Shannon Airport had once-in-100 years amounts of rainfall .
Ballyhaise , Co Cavan , recorded once-in-90-years amounts of rain .
Finner , Co Donegal ; and Gurteen , Co Sligo , recorded once-in-60-years levels of rain .
Met Éireann long-term forecasters said the frequency of extreme weather such as the February floods could be attributed to climate change .
However , they cautioned : “ Without further detailed analysis , it ’ s not possible to assess the role of climate change in this complex event.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northern half of the country , was caused by a strong stratospheric polar vortex that left the jet stream farther south than normal , steering a series of vigorous Atlantic depressions towards the northern half of the country .
It also brought with it three storms in the month , Ciara , Dennis and Jorge which in turn led to persistent flooding in many parts of the midlands and west .
The weekend was also characterised by high winds .
Mace Head in Co Galway recorded its highest ever wind speed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 29th .
The highest monthly rainfall total for February was recorded at Newport , Co Mayo , with 342.7mm ( 271 per cent of its February long-term average ) .
The lowest monthly rainfall total was recorded at Dublin Airport with 130.4mm ( 267 per cent of its February average ) .
The highest daily rainfall total was 51.5mm on Saturday , February 8th , at Knock Airport , Co Mayo ( 50 per cent of its monthly long-term average ) .
The persistent bad weather is set to continue with cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the week and the risk of snowfall in places .
It will be bitterly cold at night with temperatures falling to minus-3 degrees inland on Tuesday night .
More rain is expected in the southern half of the country on Wednesday , and Thursday will be another cold day , with rain , sleet and snow coming in from the Atlantic .
It is expected that the long spell of seasonably cold weather will end at the weekend with more mild weather in store for the country .

Padraig McNiffe stands in the flooded fields near his farm in Newtownflood, outside Athlone. Photograph: Laura Hutton
It was the wettest February since records began in many parts of the country, with some places experiencing once-in-100-years levels of rainfall.
Two of the oldest weather stations in the country, Phoenix Park in Dublin and Malin Head in Donegal, had their wettest February since recording started in 1850.
Other weather stations that broke records were Shannon Airport, Co Clare (record length 74 years); Newport, Co Mayo (60 years); Claremorris, Co Mayo (56 years); Casement, Co Dublin (56 years); and Knock Airport (23 years).
Weather stations at Claremorris and Shannon Airport had once-in-100 years amounts of rainfall. Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, recorded once-in-90-years amounts of rain. Finner, Co Donegal; and Gurteen, Co Sligo, recorded once-in-60-years levels of rain.
READ MORE
Met Éireann long-term forecasters said the frequency of extreme weather such as the February floods could be attributed to climate change. However, they cautioned: "Without further detailed analysis, it's not possible to assess the role of climate change in this complex event."
The extreme weather, which mostly affected the northern half of the country, was caused by a strong stratospheric polar vortex that left the jet stream farther south than normal, steering a series of vigorous Atlantic depressions towards the northern half of the country.
Three storms
It also brought with it three storms in the month, Ciara, Dennis and Jorge which in turn led to persistent flooding in many parts of the midlands and west.
The weekend was also characterised by high winds. Mace Head in Co Galway recorded its highest ever wind speed for February with a gust of 133km/h on February 29th.
The highest monthly rainfall total for February was recorded at Newport, Co Mayo, with 342.7mm (271 per cent of its February long-term average).
The lowest monthly rainfall total was recorded at Dublin Airport with 130.4mm (267 per cent of its February average).
The highest daily rainfall total was 51.5mm on Saturday, February 8th, at Knock Airport, Co Mayo (50 per cent of its monthly long-term average).
The persistent bad weather is set to continue with cold, showery weather for the rest of the week and the risk of snowfall in places.
It will be bitterly cold at night with temperatures falling to minus-3 degrees inland on Tuesday night.
More rain is expected in the southern half of the country on Wednesday, and Thursday will be another cold day, with rain, sleet and snow coming in from the Atlantic.
It is expected that the long spell of seasonably cold weather will end at the weekend with more mild weather in store for the country.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Covid-19 a greater menace to the elderly and vulnerable

These are worrying times , given the spread of the coronavirus , but especially so for people with underlying health conditions , older people and their families .
By now most people know Covid-19 , as the disease is known , strikes older and vulnerable people harder than most .
One study of 45,000 early cases in China showed an overall death rate of 1 per cent , but this rose to 6 per cent for people with cancer , high blood pressure and chronic respiratory disease , 7.3 per cent for those with diabetes and 10.5 per cent with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steep age gradient ; there were no deaths in the newborn to nine-year-old category , but the death rate among those aged over 80 was almost 15 per cent .
These are still early days in terms of our knowledge of this virus , and these figures have to be approached with caution .
Health systems vary from country to country , as does recording of data , and there may be factors particular to China that do not apply in Europe – smoking rates , for example , or air quality .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease is already evident in the stories emerging from outbreaks in western countries .
It emerged in the UK at the weekend , for example , that one of the new coronavirus cases there occurred in a cancer centre .
In the US , a serious outbreak near Seattle has occurred in a nursing home .
Obviously , the risk of something similar happening in Ireland is a huge worry .
At-risk groups already suffer disproportionately from the seasonal flu .
This winter , it was apparent from the graphs that young children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major role in passing on the flu to older relatives , whose admissions to hospital then peaked in the weeks that followed .
The HSE in its general advice says we do not know for sure which groups are most at risk of complications if they catch coronavirus , but it adds that you are more likely to be at risk if you catch the disease and are 65 years and over , have a long-term medical condition , such as heart disease , lung disease , diabetes or liver disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these vulnerable groups other than the general hygiene , travel and social distancing advice applicable to us all .
Oncologist Prof John Crown has highlighted the potential exposure of cancer patients , who he says should stay away from situations of risk and ensure those around them do likewise .
He had also counselled cancer patients to “ give a second thought ” about travelling to areas where the virus is present .
Can it be contained ?
Like other doctors , Prof Crown is concerned about a shortage of intensive care beds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases occur .
However , as he points out , by acting now to delay the arrival of new cases and minimise the spread of existing ones , we can “ flatten the curve ” and so successfully contain its spread .
Nursing Homes Ireland , representing the owners of private nursing homes , has sought to reassure the public that its members have the experience to know what to do if the virus arrives , given their experience in dealing with seasonal flu and the vomiting bug .
Some restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat from the virus rises .
Meanwhile , cystic fibrosis ( CF ) patients have also been expressing concern about the developing situation .
CF Ireland has written to the chief medical officer and is seeking a meeting with senior health officials over its concerns , it said on Monday .
The charity believes not enough information for at-risk groups has been provided for people with CF and other lung diseases .
Minister for Health Simon Harris indicated on Monday that he plans to organise a briefing session for at-risk groups on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Minister to these groups remains the same as for the rest of the population – for example , to wash your hands regularly and practise good sneezing etiquette .
Common sense suggests those affected should also practise social distancing and avoid travelling to places where the virus is circulating .

The advice for the public, for example, is to wash your hands regularly and practise good sneezing etiquette. Photograph: Reuters
These are worrying times, given the spread of the coronavirus, but especially so for people with underlying health conditions, older people and their families.
By now most people know Covid-19, as the disease is known, strikes older and vulnerable people harder than most.
One study of 45,000 early cases in China showed an overall death rate of 1 per cent, but this rose to 6 per cent for people with cancer, high blood pressure and chronic respiratory disease, 7.3 per cent for those with diabetes and 10.5 per cent with heart disease.
There was also a steep age gradient; there were no deaths in the newborn to nine-year-old category, but the death rate among those aged over 80 was almost 15 per cent.
READ MORE
These are still early days in terms of our knowledge of this virus, and these figures have to be approached with caution. Health systems vary from country to country, as does recording of data, and there may be factors particular to China that do not apply in Europe – smoking rates, for example, or air quality.
However, the opportunistic nature of the disease is already evident in the stories emerging from outbreaks in western countries. It emerged in the UK at the weekend, for example, that one of the new coronavirus cases there occurred in a cancer centre. In the US, a serious outbreak near Seattle has occurred in a nursing home. Obviously, the risk of something similar happening in Ireland is a huge worry.
At-risk groups already suffer disproportionately from the seasonal flu. This winter, it was apparent from the graphs that young children, off school over Christmas, played a major role in passing on the flu to older relatives, whose admissions to hospital then peaked in the weeks that followed.
The HSE in its general advice says we do not know for sure which groups are most at risk of complications if they catch coronavirus, but it adds that you are more likely to be at risk if you catch the disease and are 65 years and over, have a long-term medical condition, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or liver disease.
It does not offer advice specific to these vulnerable groups other than the general hygiene, travel and social distancing advice applicable to us all.
Oncologist Prof John Crown has highlighted the potential exposure of cancer patients, who he says should stay away from situations of risk and ensure those around them do likewise. He had also counselled cancer patients to "give a second thought" about travelling to areas where the virus is present.
Can it be contained?
Like other doctors, Prof Crown is concerned about a shortage of intensive care beds in the Irish system should a large number of cases occur. However, as he points out, by acting now to delay the arrival of new cases and minimise the spread of existing ones, we can “flatten the curve” and so successfully contain its spread.
Nursing Homes Ireland, representing the owners of private nursing homes, has sought to reassure the public that its members have the experience to know what to do if the virus arrives, given their experience in dealing with seasonal flu and the vomiting bug.
Some restrictions on visiting may be needed if the threat from the virus rises.
Meanwhile, cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have also been expressing concern about the developing situation. CF Ireland has written to the chief medical officer and is seeking a meeting with senior health officials over its concerns, it said on Monday.
The charity believes not enough information for at-risk groups has been provided for people with CF and other lung diseases.
Minister for Health Simon Harris indicated on Monday that he plans to organise a briefing session for at-risk groups on the coronavirus.
For now, the advice from the Minister to these groups remains the same as for the rest of the population – for example, to wash your hands regularly and practise good sneezing etiquette.
Common sense suggests those affected should also practise social distancing and avoid travelling to places where the virus is circulating.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Mother of child with spinal rod has ‘handed over trust’ to surgeon

A Mayo mother whose child received a spinal implant that became subject to a product recall has said she has “ handed over my trust ” to her daughter ’ s surgeon and will leave it in place with ongoing monitoring .
Last week it emerged that some titanium Magec Model X rods , used in small children with severe scoliosis , were found to be defective .
The American manufacturer , NuVasive , said any decision to remove devices already implanted in children was up to surgeons and the families affected .
Children ’ s Health Ireland , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals , later concluded a review of an unspecified number of cases in Ireland that it said had identified no faults .
Paula Jordan ’ s eight-year-old daughter , Aideen Burke , had one of the devices fitted in 2018 .
Ms Jordan said although it had “ crossed her mind ” to have the rod removed after the recall was issued , she has confidence in her daughter ’ s surgeon and treatment .
“ I was reassured by my conversation with him , and then they rang me again [ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But then I began thinking , you know , if it was your toaster or your kettle , you would be sending it back .
But this isn ’ t , this is my daughter.
” However , Ms Jordan said Aideen has been doing well physically since receiving the implant , and that if the problems identified with the rods were very serious , the manufacturer would have advised immediate removal .
“ I have handed over my trust because it ’ s not in my area [ of expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgeon , and explained that the situation would be monitored via regular check-ups .
“ To the trained eye it ’ s very obvious if this component is coming off , and they will check every time she is X-rayed.
” It is understood 31 Magec rods covered by the recall notice were in Ireland but it is not clear how many were implanted in children .
A medical source said concerns must remain around the potential for problems to arise at a later stage .
Children ’ s Health Ireland said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with any implant .
If this happens with any of the Magec rods , the complications will be dealt with appropriately ” .
The recall was issued when it was found that an end-cap in some of the rods had separated , a flaw that could expose internal components including titanium alloy debris .
A review of Irish cases found this separation had not happened in Ireland but the issue had raised concerns within the medical community , where views of the Magec system were known to vary .
Regarding the next steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Ireland said “ following the agreed treatment plan , all children will continue to be monitored and assessed both clinically and with X-rays at regular intervals ” .

Some titanium Magec Model X rods, used in small children with severe scoliosis, were found to be defective. Photograph: iStock
A Mayo mother whose child received a spinal implant that became subject to a product recall has said she has "handed over my trust" to her daughter's surgeon and will leave it in place with ongoing monitoring.
Last week it emerged that some titanium Magec Model X rods, used in small children with severe scoliosis, were found to be defective.
The American manufacturer, NuVasive, said any decision to remove devices already implanted in children was up to surgeons and the families affected.
Children's Health Ireland, which runs the country's main paediatric hospitals, later concluded a review of an unspecified number of cases in Ireland that it said had identified no faults.
READ MORE
Paula Jordan's eight-year-old daughter, Aideen Burke, had one of the devices fitted in 2018. Ms Jordan said although it had "crossed her mind" to have the rod removed after the recall was issued, she has confidence in her daughter's surgeon and treatment.
“I was reassured by my conversation with him, and then they rang me again [the following day],” she said.
“But then I began thinking, you know, if it was your toaster or your kettle, you would be sending it back. But this isn’t, this is my daughter.”
However, Ms Jordan said Aideen has been doing well physically since receiving the implant, and that if the problems identified with the rods were very serious, the manufacturer would have advised immediate removal.
“I have handed over my trust because it’s not in my area [of expertise],” she said of the surgeon, and explained that the situation would be monitored via regular check-ups.
“To the trained eye it’s very obvious if this component is coming off, and they will check every time she is X-rayed.”
Potential problems
It is understood 31 Magec rods covered by the recall notice were in Ireland but it is not clear how many were implanted in children.
A medical source said concerns must remain around the potential for problems to arise at a later stage.
Children’s Health Ireland said it “acknowledges that there can be complications with any implant. If this happens with any of the Magec rods, the complications will be dealt with appropriately”.
The recall was issued when it was found that an end-cap in some of the rods had separated, a flaw that could expose internal components including titanium alloy debris.
A review of Irish cases found this separation had not happened in Ireland but the issue had raised concerns within the medical community, where views of the Magec system were known to vary.
Regarding the next steps by medical staff, Children’s Health Ireland said “following the agreed treatment plan, all children will continue to be monitored and assessed both clinically and with X-rays at regular intervals”.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Google staff told to stay at home after worker shows ‘flu-like’ symptoms

Some staff at Google in Dublin have been told to work from home after a co-worker reported flu-like symptoms , The Irish Times has learned .
The person concerned is not a confirmed case of the Covid-19 coronavirus , but a source said people who may be close contacts of the individual have been told to work at home until there is greater clarity on whethey they are at risk .
A source said the measure was being taken “ out of an abundance of caution ” .
The multinational , which has over 8,000 employees in Dublin , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a company-wide work from home day on Tuesday .
All staff will participate in this event .
The majority of its employees will return to work in its Dublin offices on Wednesday .
A Google spokeswoman said : “ We continue to take precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of our workforce , and as part of that effort we have asked our Dublin teams to work from home tomorrow.
” It is understood that this is not the first time a Google office has been closed for a day or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the company has been doing so across its network for some time amid an emphasis on worker safety .
On Monday , Minister for Health Simon Harris said the Government may approve income support for workers who had to self-isolate due to the risk of spreading coronavirus .
Mr Harris told RTÉ Six One News the Government would be “ publishing very shortly ” guidelines for businesses which might have to deal with their workers not being available to come into work on the advice of the HSE .
The Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Social Protection in some cases .
However , he emphasised this would only apply if self-isolation became more widespread .

Google, which has 8,000 employees in Dublin, is also testing its wider preparedness by initiating a company-wide work from home day on Tuesday. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times
Some staff at Google in Dublin have been told to work from home after a co-worker reported flu-like symptoms, The Irish Times has learned.
The person concerned is not a confirmed case of the Covid-19 coronavirus, but a source said people who may be close contacts of the individual have been told to work at home until there is greater clarity on whethey they are at risk.
A source said the measure was being taken “out of an abundance of caution”.
The multinational, which has over 8,000 employees in Dublin, is also testing its wider preparedness by initiating a company-wide work from home day on Tuesday. All staff will participate in this event. The majority of its employees will return to work in its Dublin offices on Wednesday.
READ MORE
A Google spokeswoman said: “We continue to take precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of our workforce, and as part of that effort we have asked our Dublin teams to work from home tomorrow.”
It is understood that this is not the first time a Google office has been closed for a day or more as a result of the coronvirus, and the company has been doing so across its network for some time amid an emphasis on worker safety.
On Monday, Minister for Health Simon Harris said the Government may approve income support for workers who had to self-isolate due to the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Mr Harris told RTÉ Six One News the Government would be “publishing very shortly” guidelines for businesses which might have to deal with their workers not being available to come into work on the advice of the HSE. The Minister suggested there may be support available from the Department of Social Protection in some cases. However, he emphasised this would only apply if self-isolation became more widespread.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Gsoc investigates interaction between gardaí and driver in fatal crash

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission ( Gsoc ) is investigating interactions between gardaí and the driver of a car that was involved in a fatal crash in Co Galway at the weekend .
The matter was referred to Gsoc shortly after the crash when it was established that the car had “ an interaction ” with gardaí late on Saturday or early on Sunday .
The nature of the interaction remains unknown but it is understood there was not a car chase .
Gsoc is obliged to investigate all fatal incidents where the deceased had contact with gardaí beforehand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the car she was a passenger in hit a wall at about 1.15am on Sunday in Porridgetown , Oughterard .
The driver of the car , a man ( 21 ) , suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries .
It is understood there was garda activity around Oughterard and that the man driving the car may have interacted with a garda car that was on patrol .
A Gsoc spokeswoman said the organisation was alerted in the hours after the crash by the local Garda superintendent .
“ The referral under section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Síochána Act , 2005 indicated there had been an interaction between a garda and the vehicle which subsequently crashed .
The matter is now under examination by Gsoc.
” Section 102 ( 1 ) obliges the Garda to notify Gsoc of “ any matter that appears to the Garda Commissioner to indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of , or serious harm to , a person ” .
Gsoc investigators are conducting an initial assessment to determine if a full investigation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved and appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Salthill station on ( 091 ) 514720 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station .
Ms Hession was one of seven people killed on the State ’ s roads over the weekend .

Garda has appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Salthill station. Photograph: Frank Miller
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) is investigating interactions between gardaí and the driver of a car that was involved in a fatal crash in Co Galway at the weekend.
The matter was referred to Gsoc shortly after the crash when it was established that the car had “an interaction” with gardaí late on Saturday or early on Sunday.
The nature of the interaction remains unknown but it is understood there was not a car chase. Gsoc is obliged to investigate all fatal incidents where the deceased had contact with gardaí beforehand.
Róisín Hession (16) was killed when the car she was a passenger in hit a wall at about 1.15am on Sunday in Porridgetown, Oughterard. The driver of the car, a man (21), suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.
READ MORE
It is understood there was garda activity around Oughterard and that the man driving the car may have interacted with a garda car that was on patrol.
A Gsoc spokeswoman said the organisation was alerted in the hours after the crash by the local Garda superintendent.
“The referral under section 102 (1) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 indicated there had been an interaction between a garda and the vehicle which subsequently crashed. The matter is now under examination by Gsoc.”
Section 102 (1) obliges the Garda to notify Gsoc of “any matter that appears to the Garda Commissioner to indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”.
Gsoc investigators are conducting an initial assessment to determine if a full investigation is required.
The Garda confirmed Gsoc is involved and appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Salthill station on (091) 514720, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Ms Hession was one of seven people killed on the State’s roads over the weekend.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Man who raped his wife and sexually abused his sister jailed for 13 years

A man who sexually abused his sister as a child and went on to regularly rape his wife in a “ rough , humiliating and brutish fashion ” has been jailed for 13 years .
The 55-year-old Munster man made no reaction as the sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court on Monday .
He had pleaded guilty to eight sample counts of indecently assaulting his younger sister and three counts of raping her at their family home between 1978 and 1987 .
The man also stood trial at Central Criminal Court last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anally raping his wife at their home between 2003 and 2007 .
He was found guilty of all counts by a jury .
He continues to deny raping his wife .
The court heard the man started sexually abusing his sister when she was nine and he was 13 .
He orally raped his younger sister for the final time when she was 17 .
Mr Justice McDermott said the man abused his sister in a “ humiliating and degrading way ” .
He said the later abuse , which occurred when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in a “ calculated , cynical and brutal way ” .
“ He repeatedly raped his victim when she pleaded with him not to , ” the judge said .
He said the man displayed “ a viciousness towards his wife , the mother of his children ” .
He showed a “ callous indifference to her emotional welfare ” and took advantage of her when she was vulnerable .
The judge said there was little by way of mitigation on this offending , as the man had not pleaded guilty and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took into account mitigating factors including that the man was allegedly sexually abused by two neighbours when he was a child and was physically abused by his father .
The judge imposed a sentence of seven years in relation to the offences against the sister and six years in relation to the wife .
He ordered them to run consecutively .
He also imposed a post-release supervision order of three years upon the man ’ s release , placing him under the supervision of the probation service .
He ordered the man to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with his victims .
The man ’ s sister , in a victim impact statement she read to the court , said she could not understand what kind of man thought it was okay to rape his baby sister and make her perform oral sex on him out of fear .
“ He crossed the line of sister and brother for his own sick satisfaction , ” she said .
She described how he had made her feel insecurity , anxiety , shame and bullied her at every opportunity .
She outlined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she lost contact “ with so called family.
” She said her mother “ supports her paedophile son over her daughter who was raped ” .
She said if she could go back in time she would give the small helpless child she was a big hug and tell her the truth would set her free and everything will be all right .
“ The boogey man is gone , ” she said .
The man ’ s former wife , in her victim impact statement , described how she had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dysfunctional family and the man had presented himself as her saviour .
They married when she was 18 and he was 28 .
She said it was a “ devastating discovery ” to subsequently find out the accused man had gone from abusing one teenage girl to another .
“ I was nothing more than his second victim , ” said the woman .
“ He sadistically heightened his own sexual pleasure by inflicting on me the most excruciating pain , ” she said .
Describing physical and emotional abuse during her marriage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What I suffered during those years is beyond my ability to describe.
” “ There are times when the feeling of horror reaches such intensity I feel unable to keep going on , ” she said .
She described how at times when her own survival had been in danger she was saved by the love of her children , who rescued her from despair .
The woman said she had found the trial process horrendous but hoped the action she had taken in bringing her abuser to justice would encourage other women @ @ @ @ @ @

The 55-year-old Munster man made no reaction as the sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court on Monday.
A man who sexually abused his sister as a child and went on to regularly rape his wife in a “rough, humiliating and brutish fashion” has been jailed for 13 years.
The 55-year-old Munster man made no reaction as the sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court on Monday.
He had pleaded guilty to eight sample counts of indecently assaulting his younger sister and three counts of raping her at their family home between 1978 and 1987.
The man also stood trial at Central Criminal Court last November charged with 16 sample counts of anally raping his wife at their home between 2003 and 2007. He was found guilty of all counts by a jury. He continues to deny raping his wife.
READ MORE
The court heard the man started sexually abusing his sister when she was nine and he was 13. He orally raped his younger sister for the final time when she was 17.
Mr Justice McDermott said the man abused his sister in a “humiliating and degrading way”. He said the later abuse, which occurred when the man was an adult, was carried out in a “calculated, cynical and brutal way”.
“He repeatedly raped his victim when she pleaded with him not to,” the judge said.
He said the man displayed “a viciousness towards his wife, the mother of his children”. He showed a “callous indifference to her emotional welfare” and took advantage of her when she was vulnerable.
The judge said there was little by way of mitigation on this offending, as the man had not pleaded guilty and continued to deny his offending.
He took into account mitigating factors including that the man was allegedly sexually abused by two neighbours when he was a child and was physically abused by his father.
The judge imposed a sentence of seven years in relation to the offences against the sister and six years in relation to the wife. He ordered them to run consecutively.
He also imposed a post-release supervision order of three years upon the man’s release, placing him under the supervision of the probation service.
He ordered the man to have no contact, directly or indirectly, with his victims.
The man’s sister, in a victim impact statement she read to the court, said she could not understand what kind of man thought it was okay to rape his baby sister and make her perform oral sex on him out of fear.
“He crossed the line of sister and brother for his own sick satisfaction,” she said.
She described how he had made her feel insecurity, anxiety, shame and bullied her at every opportunity.
She outlined how the abuse had affected her life and she lost contact “with so called family.” She said her mother “supports her paedophile son over her daughter who was raped”.
She said if she could go back in time she would give the small helpless child she was a big hug and tell her the truth would set her free and everything will be all right. “The boogey man is gone,” she said.
The man’s former wife, in her victim impact statement, described how she had been a vulnerable teenager having come from a dysfunctional family and the man had presented himself as her saviour. They married when she was 18 and he was 28.
She said it was a “devastating discovery” to subsequently find out the accused man had gone from abusing one teenage girl to another. “I was nothing more than his second victim,” said the woman.
“He sadistically heightened his own sexual pleasure by inflicting on me the most excruciating pain,” she said.
Describing physical and emotional abuse during her marriage, she told the court: “What I suffered during those years is beyond my ability to describe.”
“There are times when the feeling of horror reaches such intensity I feel unable to keep going on,” she said.
She described how at times when her own survival had been in danger she was saved by the love of her children, who rescued her from despair.
The woman said she had found the trial process horrendous but hoped the action she had taken in bringing her abuser to justice would encourage other women to vindicated their human rights.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--New Irish citizens on nodding terms as virus fears thwart handshakes

Large-scale citizenship ceremonies in Killarney , Co Kerry , got under way on Monday with a nod to the coronavirus .
The usual neighbourly handshake after the oath of fealty to the State gave way to simple “ nodding ” , as some 900 people from around 135 countries , at the first of six ceremonies over two days , nodded to their neighbours left and right , and behind and in front , in the INEC venue .
“ On such occasions , before threatened with viruses , I would suggest you turn to the new citizens beside you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shake hands today , but you can look at them and nod in their direction , ” the presiding officer , retired High Court judge Bryan MacMahon , urged .
The Department of Justice , in consultation with health authorities , had asked candidates and their guests who had returned from a Covid-19-affected region in the past 14 days , or who believed they had symptoms , not to attend .
About 60 people had postponed by Monday morning , and a short ceremony will be held in Killarney in April to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Exactly how many cancelled because of the virus was not clear , as weather was a factor in some cases .
The 40-minute solemn and simple event began with the Army band ’ s rendition of the EU anthem , Beethoven ’ s Ode to Joy , and it ended with the Irish national anthem .
Harpist Elaine Hogan played O ’ Carolan ’ s Welcome .
In nine years of citizenship ceremonies , more than 120,000 people from 180 countries had become naturalised , Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this tiny island at the edge of western Europe has as its citizens members of every nationality and from every country on this planet , ” Mr Flanagan said .
Almost 1,000 candidates were from the UK , followed by 715 from Poland and almost 500 from Romania .
This was followed by India with 370 and Nigeria with 201 .
In the red and blue tartan kilt of the Hamilton clan came David Pratt , originally from Edinburgh .
Mr Pratt said he had been living in Derry for 10 years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted him to apply for Irish citizenship .
Many British people gave Brexit as a central reason behind their decision to seek citizenship .
Some 45 people travelled from Sligo , among them 80-year-old Lawson Owen Clements , originally from Wales .
“ I ’ m very worried about Brexit , ” the retired veterinary surgeon said .
Wojcieh Terlecki , from Poland , has lived for 13 years in Sligo , where he has his own wardrobe business .
The father of two said Brexit was also a key factor for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , originally from England , has lived in west Cork for almost 20 years .
She was congratulated in person by Mr Justice MacMahon .
Wearing a green cardigan and beads in honour of the occasion , Ms Moriyama said she had been greatly moved by the ceremony .
“ I have been quite frustrated I couldn ’ t vote in referendums , ” she added .
Accompanying her was her husband of 46 years , Japanese-born Jerome Moriyama .
He wanted to apply , but Japanese law does not allow dual citizenship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Greece , pregnant with her third child , said she and her husband Kostas , an orthodontist , had been living in Ireland for 11 years .
She wore a mask because of the coronavirus .
“ I am afraid , ” she said .
A 33-year-old woman , originally from China , was medically monitored after complaining of feeling unwell in the venue .
She was due to attend a ceremony at noon , but her conferring was postponed until the late afternoon while she was attended to .
A spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was provided with food , was accompanied at all times and had access to her phone .
Staff were following the advised protocol on dealing with suspected cases of coronavirus , the spokesman said .
The woman , who did not wish to be named , said she felt she was held because she was Chinese , but the department has strongly denied this .
There are two days of ceremonies because a backlog has developed due to a legal question over continuous residence .
In November 2019 , the Court of Appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitled to allow for reasonable absences from Ireland .
Previously the High Court had found “ continuous residence ” must mean applicants could not leave Ireland at all during the 12-month period before their application was submitted .

Five thousand people from 135 countries are being sworn in as Irish citizens in six separate ceremonies in Killarney over two days. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Large-scale citizenship ceremonies in Killarney, Co Kerry, got under way on Monday with a nod to the coronavirus.
The usual neighbourly handshake after the oath of fealty to the State gave way to simple “nodding”, as some 900 people from around 135 countries, at the first of six ceremonies over two days, nodded to their neighbours left and right, and behind and in front, in the INEC venue.
“On such occasions, before threatened with viruses, I would suggest you turn to the new citizens beside you and shake hands. You are not to shake hands today, but you can look at them and nod in their direction,” the presiding officer, retired High Court judge Bryan MacMahon, urged.
The Department of Justice, in consultation with health authorities, had asked candidates and their guests who had returned from a Covid-19-affected region in the past 14 days, or who believed they had symptoms, not to attend.
READ MORE
About 60 people had postponed by Monday morning, and a short ceremony will be held in Killarney in April to accommodate this group, a spokesman said. Exactly how many cancelled because of the virus was not clear, as weather was a factor in some cases.
The 40-minute solemn and simple event began with the Army band’s rendition of the EU anthem, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, and it ended with the Irish national anthem. Harpist Elaine Hogan played O’Carolan’s Welcome.
In nine years of citizenship ceremonies, more than 120,000 people from 180 countries had become naturalised, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said.
“It’s very remarkable that this tiny island at the edge of western Europe has as its citizens members of every nationality and from every country on this planet,” Mr Flanagan said.
Almost 1,000 candidates were from the UK, followed by 715 from Poland and almost 500 from Romania. This was followed by India with 370 and Nigeria with 201.
Brexit factor
In the red and blue tartan kilt of the Hamilton clan came David Pratt, originally from Edinburgh. Mr Pratt said he had been living in Derry for 10 years and Brexit was one of the factors that prompted him to apply for Irish citizenship.
Many British people gave Brexit as a central reason behind their decision to seek citizenship. Some 45 people travelled from Sligo, among them 80-year-old Lawson Owen Clements, originally from Wales. “I’m very worried about Brexit,” the retired veterinary surgeon said.
Ian Bascombe, originally from England, now living in the Burren, Co Clare, and David Pratt, originally from Scotland and now living in Belfast. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Wojcieh Terlecki, from Poland, has lived for 13 years in Sligo, where he has his own wardrobe business. The father of two said Brexit was also a key factor for him.
Anne Mary Moriyama (83), originally from England, has lived in west Cork for almost 20 years. She was congratulated in person by Mr Justice MacMahon. Wearing a green cardigan and beads in honour of the occasion, Ms Moriyama said she had been greatly moved by the ceremony. “I have been quite frustrated I couldn’t vote in referendums,” she added.
Accompanying her was her husband of 46 years, Japanese-born Jerome Moriyama. He wanted to apply, but Japanese law does not allow dual citizenship, Mr Moriyama said.
Loukia Athanasiou from Greece, pregnant with her third child, said she and her husband Kostas, an orthodontist, had been living in Ireland for 11 years. She wore a mask because of the coronavirus. “I am afraid,” she said.
Feeling unwell
A 33-year-old woman, originally from China, was medically monitored after complaining of feeling unwell in the venue. She was due to attend a ceremony at noon, but her conferring was postponed until the late afternoon while she was attended to.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said she was provided with food, was accompanied at all times and had access to her phone. Staff were following the advised protocol on dealing with suspected cases of coronavirus, the spokesman said. The woman, who did not wish to be named, said she felt she was held because she was Chinese, but the department has strongly denied this.
There are two days of ceremonies because a backlog has developed due to a legal question over continuous residence.
In November 2019, the Court of Appeal held that the Minister for Justice was entitled to allow for reasonable absences from Ireland. Previously the High Court had found “continuous residence” must mean applicants could not leave Ireland at all during the 12-month period before their application was submitted.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--McNamara-Lowe €2.9m debt write-off shows merits of insolvency regime

Anyone thinking that the €2.9 million debt write-off approved for former RTÉ celebrities Theresa Lowe and Frank McNamara is only for high-profile applicants should think again .
The couple ’ s protracted efforts to find a solution to their long-running financial difficulties came as a result of the State ’ s personal insolvency system that can help anyone , regardless of income level , social standing or how they found themselves in financial difficulty in the first place .
In fact , personal insolvency arrangements - the legal mechanism used by the barrister-presenter and musical director-composer to write down their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to economic activity with sustainable overheads - are being approved at a rate of about 100 a month .
There were 1,055 personal insolvency arrangements approved in 2019 , an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year ’ s figure , according to the Insolvency Service of Ireland .
The statistics show that more and more people are turning to this debt write-off mechanism to secure a fresh financial start .
“ These cases are being approved every day of the week for the average household who go out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university and have the same day-to-day problems that everyone has .
It is not just limited to the rich and famous , ” said James Green of McCambridge Duffy , the personal insolvency adviser who devised the debt plan for McNamara and Lowe .
The High Court ’ s approval of the couple ’ s restructuring plan on Monday formally signs off a deal that was agreed in principle last August with some minor details to be ironed out .
The couple were carrying debts totalling €3.7 million , the bulk of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tanager , the investment fund owned by US private equity giant Apollo and one of the firms branded as “ vulture funds ” by debtor advocates who are critical of their aggressive behaviour .
Much of the debt stems from remortgaging properties by the couple who tried to get through short-term financial difficulties as a result of Mr McNamara ’ s musical royalty income drying up .
The couple will walk away owing €420,000 on a new mortgage that is more sustainable on their Co Meath home estimated to be worth €550,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the couple - far from it ; Mr McNamara is paying a large lump sum to his creditors from his late father ’ s estate .
Ultimately , the deciding factor in whether a debt write-off in a personal insolvency arrangement should be approved - either by creditors informally outside the court process or formally by judges in an appeal inside it - is whether it is better outcome for all the parties than bankruptcy .
In the McNamara-Lowe case , the judge found that it was : about five cent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund that raised objections that delayed a final outcome for more than three years .
Mr Justice Denis McDonald noted in his judgment in the case that the 2012 and 2015 pieces of legislation establishing the personal insolvency arrangements envisaged the process lasting only a matter of months but this case had taken “ an unusually long time to be finalised ” .
In another significant case on Monday , Mr Justice McDonald said the court could not approve “ debt for equity swaps ” - another tool to help struggling borrowers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested changes be made to legislation introducing new debt resolution solutions in sufficient detail to help all parties “ understand the precise scope and boundaries ” of the solutions .
There is no fresh legal precedent set by the McNamara-Lowe case but if any benefit can come from high-profile litigants such as in this case , it will be from highlighting the value of the insolvency regime to individuals with the dark clouds of debt hanging over them .
It is another case that will help prove the merits of approving these kinds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is a juicy case because it has two people who used to work for RTÉ and are familiar in every sitting room in the country and who had debts running into the millions , ” said Mitchell O ’ Brien , the Dungarvan-based personal insolvency practitioner who helps struggling debtors .
“ The exact same maths apply for an ordinary mom and pop case with a number of kids in a semi-D in any town in the country .
”

Anyone thinking that the €2.9 million debt write-off approved for former RTÉ celebrities Theresa Lowe and Frank McNamara is only for high-profile applicants should think again.
The couple’s protracted efforts to find a solution to their long-running financial difficulties came as a result of the State’s personal insolvency system that can help anyone, regardless of income level, social standing or how they found themselves in financial difficulty in the first place.
In fact, personal insolvency arrangements - the legal mechanism used by the barrister-presenter and musical director-composer to write down their debts, retain their family home and return to economic activity with sustainable overheads - are being approved at a rate of about 100 a month.
There were 1,055 personal insolvency arrangements approved in 2019, an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year's figure, according to the Insolvency Service of Ireland. The statistics show that more and more people are turning to this debt write-off mechanism to secure a fresh financial start.
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"These cases are being approved every day of the week for the average household who go out to work every day, have children in university and have the same day-to-day problems that everyone has. It is not just limited to the rich and famous," said James Green of McCambridge Duffy, the personal insolvency adviser who devised the debt plan for McNamara and Lowe.
The High Court’s approval of the couple’s restructuring plan on Monday formally signs off a deal that was agreed in principle last August with some minor details to be ironed out.
The couple were carrying debts totalling €3.7 million, the bulk of that (almost €2.3 million) due to Tanager, the investment fund owned by US private equity giant Apollo and one of the firms branded as “vulture funds” by debtor advocates who are critical of their aggressive behaviour.
Mortgage debt
Much of the debt stems from remortgaging properties by the couple who tried to get through short-term financial difficulties as a result of Mr McNamara’s musical royalty income drying up.
The couple will walk away owing €420,000 on a new mortgage that is more sustainable on their Co Meath home estimated to be worth €550,000. The deal is not without a cost of the couple - far from it; Mr McNamara is paying a large lump sum to his creditors from his late father’s estate.
Ultimately, the deciding factor in whether a debt write-off in a personal insolvency arrangement should be approved - either by creditors informally outside the court process or formally by judges in an appeal inside it - is whether it is better outcome for all the parties than bankruptcy.
In the McNamara-Lowe case, the judge found that it was: about five cent in the euro better for Tanager, a fund that raised objections that delayed a final outcome for more than three years.
Mr Justice Denis McDonald noted in his judgment in the case that the 2012 and 2015 pieces of legislation establishing the personal insolvency arrangements envisaged the process lasting only a matter of months but this case had taken “an unusually long time to be finalised”.
In another significant case on Monday, Mr Justice McDonald said the court could not approve “debt for equity swaps” - another tool to help struggling borrowers who cannot repay mortgages - and he suggested changes be made to legislation introducing new debt resolution solutions in sufficient detail to help all parties “understand the precise scope and boundaries” of the solutions.
There is no fresh legal precedent set by the McNamara-Lowe case but if any benefit can come from high-profile litigants such as in this case, it will be from highlighting the value of the insolvency regime to individuals with the dark clouds of debt hanging over them.
It is another case that will help prove the merits of approving these kinds of deals more quickly for all debtors.
“This is a juicy case because it has two people who used to work for RTÉ and are familiar in every sitting room in the country and who had debts running into the millions,” said Mitchell O’Brien, the Dungarvan-based personal insolvency practitioner who helps struggling debtors.
“The exact same maths apply for an ordinary mom and pop case with a number of kids in a semi-D in any town in the country.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Former paratrooper rejects suggestion he fired fatal shots in Ballymurphy

A former paratrooper has rejected a suggestion that he could have fired the shots which killed a Catholic priest during disturbances in west Belfast almost 50 years ago .
Witness M1270 , who has been granted anonymity , was giving evidence at Belfast Coroner ’ s Court about the events of August 9th in Ballymurphy .
Fr Hugh Mullan ( 38 ) , was shot dead as he tended a wounded man , before Frank Quinn ( 19 ) , was also killed , on an area of waste ground close to an army barracks at Vere Foster school that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fresh inquests into the deaths of 10 people in the area between August 9th and 11th , M1270 described his recollections of August 9th .
He was a member of anti-tank platoon of 2 Para Support Company at the time , and on his second tour in Northern Ireland .
Giving evidence via video link , M1270 described taking part in an ad hoc patrol to Mackie ’ s factory where the nightwatch man had been killed in a bomb attack .
Later that day , he said , the same patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he observed three gunmen in Moyard flats armed with rifles , and fired shots .
He said he assumed the gunmen were firing towards the Vere Foster school , but they switched their fire to his unit when they spotted them .
When asked whether he could not see where they were firing , he described being in a position against a wall , adding that to poke his head out to the left “ would have been suicide ” .
He also said he could not see the waste ground where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing a gunman crouching beside a metal dustbin and firing a shot at him which caused the dustbin to explode , before turning to the other two gunmen and seeing they had moved .
“ I did not hit the gunman but he would have been hit with shrapnel , ” he told the inquest , adding that he had not fired more than seven rounds in an exchange which lasted around two minutes .
Coming under fire again , but this time not being able to see the gunmen , M1270 said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he gave a “ watch and shoot ” order to the other soldiers , before briefing the Officer Commanding on what had happened .
“ There was firing going on all round us , ” he added .
Later he said he reported he had fired seven shots , which was noted , and was given seven bullets to replace those he had shot .
“ All weapons and ammunition were controlled , ” he said .
Asked when he gave a statement about the incident , he said he was not asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Military Police .
“ There were shooting incidents all over Belfast .
.
.
there was so much going on , we just didn ’ t have time to think , we would go from one incident to another so eventually everything started to merge .
.
.
after 47 years everything just merges in , you just get confused , ” he told the inquest .
Asked who he believes shot Fr Mullan and Mr Quinn , M1270 responded : “ It was difficult in as much as there was so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be almost impossible to hazard a guess .
“ I have tried to be as honest as I can but anything else I could say about their deaths would be pure speculation on my part.
” Karen Quinlivan , counsel for the Mullan and Quinn families , said she does not accept gunmen were present .
She put it to M1270 that the shots which killed Fr Mullan could have been fired either by him or one of the soldiers with him .
“ I disagree , ” he responded , and suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross fire ” .
Ms Quinlivan questioned M1270 ’ s recollection of events and put to him that he was trying to “ distance himself ” from events on the waste ground where the two men were shot dead .
She also queried his description of the position of IRA gunmen , putting to him that it “ made no sense ” and that he was “ not telling the truth ” .
“ What I have told you is the truth , ” he said .
Earlier another soldier , referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind a screen .
He was a member of 2 Para Support Company , and told the inquests that he has no memory of being in the area on August 9th .
M1354 rejected a suggestion by Ms Quinlivan that he was being “ deliberately unhelpful ” .
The Ballymurphy shootings came during a time of significant unrest , with rioting taking place across Northern Ireland following the introduction of internment in the early hours of August 9th .
Between August 9th and August 11th , 1971 , 10 people died in shootings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belfast , a sequence of events which have become known as the Ballymurphy massacre .
Their families say they were shot by the British army , that each of them was unarmed and innocent , and that the shootings were unjustified .
Barristers for the Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) have argued soldiers only ever opened fire when they perceived they were under threat .
The narrative became further clouded when the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force claimed their gunmen had also taken part .
Fresh inquests have been taking place at Belfast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Presiding coroner Siobhan Keegan is expected to deliver her findings later this year .
– PA

From left: Ciaran O’Cruadhlaoic, Pat Quinn, Patsy Mullan and Geraldine McGratten at an inquest hearing at Belfast coroner’s court into the killing of 10 people, including their relatives Frank Quinn and Fr Hugh Mullan, in disputed circumstances in west Belfast in August 1971. Photograph: Rebbeca Black/PA
A former paratrooper has rejected a suggestion that he could have fired the shots which killed a Catholic priest during disturbances in west Belfast almost 50 years ago.
Witness M1270, who has been granted anonymity, was giving evidence at Belfast Coroner’s Court about the events of August 9th in Ballymurphy.
Fr Hugh Mullan (38), was shot dead as he tended a wounded man, before Frank Quinn (19), was also killed, on an area of waste ground close to an army barracks at Vere Foster school that evening.
Appearing at a long-running series of fresh inquests into the deaths of 10 people in the area between August 9th and 11th, M1270 described his recollections of August 9th.
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He was a member of anti-tank platoon of 2 Para Support Company at the time, and on his second tour in Northern Ireland.
Giving evidence via video link, M1270 described taking part in an ad hoc patrol to Mackie’s factory where the nightwatch man had been killed in a bomb attack.
Later that day, he said, the same patrol was sent to Springmartin flats, where he observed three gunmen in Moyard flats armed with rifles, and fired shots.
He said he assumed the gunmen were firing towards the Vere Foster school, but they switched their fire to his unit when they spotted them.
When asked whether he could not see where they were firing, he described being in a position against a wall, adding that to poke his head out to the left “would have been suicide”.
He also said he could not see the waste ground where the two men were killed.
M1270 recalled seeing a gunman crouching beside a metal dustbin and firing a shot at him which caused the dustbin to explode, before turning to the other two gunmen and seeing they had moved.
“I did not hit the gunman but he would have been hit with shrapnel,” he told the inquest, adding that he had not fired more than seven rounds in an exchange which lasted around two minutes.
Coming under fire again, but this time not being able to see the gunmen, M1270 said the patrol stepped back into cover and he gave a “watch and shoot” order to the other soldiers, before briefing the Officer Commanding on what had happened.
“There was firing going on all round us,” he added.
Later he said he reported he had fired seven shots, which was noted, and was given seven bullets to replace those he had shot.
“All weapons and ammunition were controlled,” he said.
Asked when he gave a statement about the incident, he said he was not asked to make a statement by the Royal Military Police.
“There were shooting incidents all over Belfast . . . there was so much going on, we just didn’t have time to think, we would go from one incident to another so eventually everything started to merge . . . after 47 years everything just merges in, you just get confused,” he told the inquest.
Asked who he believes shot Fr Mullan and Mr Quinn, M1270 responded: “It was difficult in as much as there was so much fire on that day, it would be almost impossible to hazard a guess.
“I have tried to be as honest as I can but anything else I could say about their deaths would be pure speculation on my part.”
Karen Quinlivan, counsel for the Mullan and Quinn families, said she does not accept gunmen were present.
She put it to M1270 that the shots which killed Fr Mullan could have been fired either by him or one of the soldiers with him.
“I disagree,” he responded, and suggested the priest had been killed in “cross fire”.
Ms Quinlivan questioned M1270’s recollection of events and put to him that he was trying to “distance himself” from events on the waste ground where the two men were shot dead.
She also queried his description of the position of IRA gunmen, putting to him that it “made no sense” and that he was “not telling the truth”.
M1270 rejected this.
“What I have told you is the truth,” he said.
Earlier another soldier, referred to as M1354, gave evidence in court behind a screen.
He was a member of 2 Para Support Company, and told the inquests that he has no memory of being in the area on August 9th.
M1354 rejected a suggestion by Ms Quinlivan that he was being “deliberately unhelpful”.
The Ballymurphy shootings came during a time of significant unrest, with rioting taking place across Northern Ireland following the introduction of internment in the early hours of August 9th.
Between August 9th and August 11th, 1971, 10 people died in shootings at a number of locations in west Belfast, a sequence of events which have become known as the Ballymurphy massacre.
Their families say they were shot by the British army, that each of them was unarmed and innocent, and that the shootings were unjustified.
Barristers for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have argued soldiers only ever opened fire when they perceived they were under threat.
The narrative became further clouded when the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force claimed their gunmen had also taken part.
Fresh inquests have been taking place at Belfast Coroner’s Court since November 2018.
Hearings will continue on Tuesday.
Presiding coroner Siobhan Keegan is expected to deliver her findings later this year. – PA


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Nurse who took home vulnerable man’s property censured

A senior nurse who took home a piece of electrical equipment delivered to a residential unit for a vulnerable man , and who concealed she had done so for a time before eventually returning it , has been censured with conditions attached to her registration .
High Court president Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the nurse was “ lucky ” the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland ( NMBI ) had not asked him to confirm a more serious sanction .
This was the second time in two weeks the judge had had to address dishonesty by a nurse as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders against another who stole €9,000 from patients , he said .
Dishonesty by professionals such as nurses , doctors and solicitors “ can not be tolerated ” as it damages not only the individual relationship of trust with a patient or client , it also “ strikes at the very heart ” of the reputation of the profession involved .
It is a serious matter when a vulnerable person in a nursing unit has their property taken , he said .
This man did not get the “ little bit of enjoyment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior nurse decided to take it for herself .
The man persisted in asking about the equipment , the matter was eventually picked up by other staff and the nurse returned the device to him by post some weeks later .
If the man had not persisted in asking where the equipment was , “ who knows ” what would have happened , the judge said .
While told the nurse was depressed at the time , it was “ difficult to see how that could be an excuse for dishonesty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the remarks when granting an application by a solicitor for the NMBI for orders censuring the nurse and imposing conditions on her registration , including requiring her to continue attending for medical treatment and to produce a psychiatric report .
Because the nurse was found to suffer from a relevant medical disability , depression , she can not be identified .
The NMBI application arose from an incident in 2016 when the nurse took delivery of the equipment and took it home from the unit in her car .
The man was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contract between him and a company .
When the man complained he had not received it , the nurse failed to tell him she had taken possession of it .
The company confirmed the equipment was delivered and CCTV was used to establish that .
Some weeks later , the man received the equipment in the post after the nurse sent it back .
During a fitness to practice inquiry held in private , the nurse admitted allegations of professional misconduct and non-compliance with the code of professional conduct for nurses arising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , during a conversation with the man about his contract , she failed to treat him with respect and told him he was not entitled to the free equipment under the contract .
She was found guilty of professional misconduct and non-compliance with the code of conduct .
It was also found , at the time of the incident , she suffered from a relevant medical disability , depression , which may impair her ability to practice nursing .
Mr Justice Kelly was told she has made progress , is no longer clinically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility .
He said the NMBI had considered the relevant aggravating and mitigating factors and , while he saw no good reason not to confirm the sanction proposed by it , the nurse should regard herself as lucky it was not a more serious sanction .

A senior nurse who took home a piece of electrical equipment delivered to a residential unit for a vulnerable man, and who concealed she had done so for a time before eventually returning it, has been censured with conditions attached to her registration.
High Court president Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the nurse was “lucky” the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) had not asked him to confirm a more serious sanction.
This was the second time in two weeks the judge had had to address dishonesty by a nurse as last week he had made strike off orders against another who stole €9,000 from patients, he said.
Dishonesty by professionals such as nurses, doctors and solicitors “cannot be tolerated” as it damages not only the individual relationship of trust with a patient or client, it also “strikes at the very heart” of the reputation of the profession involved.
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It is a serious matter when a vulnerable person in a nursing unit has their property taken, he said. This man did not get the “little bit of enjoyment he was going to get” because a senior nurse decided to take it for herself.
The man persisted in asking about the equipment, the matter was eventually picked up by other staff and the nurse returned the device to him by post some weeks later.
If the man had not persisted in asking where the equipment was, “who knows” what would have happened, the judge said.
While told the nurse was depressed at the time, it was “difficult to see how that could be an excuse for dishonesty of such a specific type”. He made the remarks when granting an application by a solicitor for the NMBI for orders censuring the nurse and imposing conditions on her registration, including requiring her to continue attending for medical treatment and to produce a psychiatric report.
Because the nurse was found to suffer from a relevant medical disability, depression, she cannot be identified.
The NMBI application arose from an incident in 2016 when the nurse took delivery of the equipment and took it home from the unit in her car.
The man was to get the equipment for free under a contract between him and a company. When the man complained he had not received it, the nurse failed to tell him she had taken possession of it.
The company confirmed the equipment was delivered and CCTV was used to establish that. Some weeks later, the man received the equipment in the post after the nurse sent it back.
During a fitness to practice inquiry held in private, the nurse admitted allegations of professional misconduct and non-compliance with the code of professional conduct for nurses arising from the incident.
She also admitted, during a conversation with the man about his contract, she failed to treat him with respect and told him he was not entitled to the free equipment under the contract.
She was found guilty of professional misconduct and non-compliance with the code of conduct. It was also found, at the time of the incident, she suffered from a relevant medical disability, depression, which may impair her ability to practice nursing.
Mr Justice Kelly was told she has made progress, is no longer clinically depressed and is working in a different facility.
He said the NMBI had considered the relevant aggravating and mitigating factors and, while he saw no good reason not to confirm the sanction proposed by it, the nurse should regard herself as lucky it was not a more serious sanction.