theirishtimes--2020-06-17--Schools ‘working towards’ reopening in late-August

Primary school teachers are “ planning and working towards ” a reopening of schools at the end of August , the general secretary of the Irish National Teachers ’ Organisation ( INTO ) has said .
John Boyle said the closure of schools on March 12th was the right decision but that “ it ’ s time to get our children back to school and get our teachers back in front of them ” .
Mr Boyle told RTÉ ’ s Prime Time on Tuesday night that it was an ambitious goal to reopen schools at the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and there was 11 weeks to “ plan and prepare for it ” .
Mr Boyle said , while he expects primary schools to reopen at the end of August , he couldn ’ t answer whether that would be a full reopening for students .
“ I don ’ t think the Department [ of Education and Skills ] has any intention to ignore public health advice .
They ’ ve shown since the beginning of this pandemic that they ’ ve taken all their decisions based on that , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll definitely weigh up risk versus the importance of the children having their learning and development .
We are not going to be objecting to schools reopening but we have to acknowledge that the primary sector is somewhat different .
“ The children in primary school stay in the same classroom all day , they ’ re overcrowded classrooms , that ’ s a challenge and the fact that they ’ re with the adults for so long in the day may be challenging .
But at the same time it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the class next door and even within the class it may be easier .
Mr Boyle said primary schools were currently underfunded and overcrowded but that the department is “ committing to fund the cleaning , to fund whatever is necessary really , for us to return safely ” .
He added that “ a lot of work is going on behind the scenes ” in terms of how to reopen schools safely and in line with public health advice .
“ Our members are looking forward to going back but they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is the end of the school term , a lot of the preparations for the September in the primary school sector happens in the last two weeks of June , ” he said .

A lot of the preparations for September in the primary school sector ‘happens in the last two weeks of June’. File image: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Primary school teachers are “planning and working towards” a reopening of schools at the end of August, the general secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has said.
John Boyle said the closure of schools on March 12th was the right decision but that "it's time to get our children back to school and get our teachers back in front of them".
Mr Boyle told RTÉ’s Prime Time on Tuesday night that it was an ambitious goal to reopen schools at the end of the summer but that it is “achievable” and there was 11 weeks to “plan and prepare for it”.
Mr Boyle said, while he expects primary schools to reopen at the end of August, he couldn’t answer whether that would be a full reopening for students.
READ MORE
“I don’t think the Department [of Education and Skills] has any intention to ignore public health advice. They’ve shown since the beginning of this pandemic that they’ve taken all their decisions based on that,” Mr Boyle said.
“They’ll definitely weigh up risk versus the importance of the children having their learning and development. We are not going to be objecting to schools reopening but we have to acknowledge that the primary sector is somewhat different.
“The children in primary school stay in the same classroom all day, they’re overcrowded classrooms, that’s a challenge and the fact that they’re with the adults for so long in the day may be challenging. But at the same time it’s probably easier to keep them apart from the class next door and even within the class it may be easier.
“We’re planning and working towards a full reopening.”
Mr Boyle said primary schools were currently underfunded and overcrowded but that the department is “committing to fund the cleaning, to fund whatever is necessary really, for us to return safely”. He added that “a lot of work is going on behind the scenes” in terms of how to reopen schools safely and in line with public health advice.
“Our members are looking forward to going back but they want support this week and next week because this is the end of the school term, a lot of the preparations for the September in the primary school sector happens in the last two weeks of June,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-17--Thunderstorms and heavy showers leave 1,500 without power

Around 1,500 homes , farms and businesses were without power across the country on Wednesday after overnight storms .
ESB Networks said the largest fault is in Drumcondra , north Dublin where 600 homes were without power on Wednesday morning .
“ The faults are primarily as a result of lightning damage to the electricity network and crews are mobilised in each of the locations to restore supply as quickly as possible , ” a spokesman for ESB Networks said .
“ Real time updates are available on www.powercheck.ie .
We apologise to customers impacted for the obvious inconvenience this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will affect the east of Ireland today but there will be lots of dry weather elsewhere , Met Éireann has said .
Bright or sunny spells will develop as the day progresses , mainly in the east and south , but further showers or thunderstorms will occur .
Highest temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees generally but a little cooler in coastal parts of the west and north .
Winds mostly light , northerly or variable in direction .
A yellow rainfall warning is in place for Dublin , Kildare , Longford , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until 2pm on Wednesday .
Highest temperatures will be between 16 and 20 degrees on Wednesday , with cooler conditions in coastal parts of the west and north .
It will be mild and misty on Wednesday night with lowest temperatures between nine and 13 degrees .
Thursday will be generally cloudy at first with conditions brightening up throughout the morning .
Scattered showers will be most frequent in Leinster and Ulster with more persistent rain pushing to north Leinster and Ulster later in the day .
Highest temperatures will be between 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country will experience persistent rain on Thursday night with generally dry conditions elsewhere .
Lowest temperatures will be between nine and 13 degrees .
Outbreaks of rain in Ulster and north Leinster will clear early on Friday morning to give a bright day with sunny spells and scattered showers .
Winds will be light to moderate southwesterly with afternoon highs of 16 to 19 degrees .
Friday night will be mostly dry with clear spells at first but becoming increasingly cloudy from the west .
Meanwhile , the announcement of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant reduction in water use in the Greater Dublin region , Irish Water has said , but the potential for drought remains in many areas .
Water usage has declined from an average of 615 million litres a day at the start of the month to 560 million litres a day at present .
Irish Water said the drop-off may also be linked to the State experiencing cooler and wetter weather of late .
“ Irish Water would like to thank the public for their cooperation and the efforts they have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardens over the last week and to appeal to them to continue supporting us in safeguarding water for essential uses , ” a spokeswoman for the utility firm said .
Irish Water said no further water restrictions were being planned at this stage but there was no prospect of the hosepipe ban being lifted as a result of heavy rain falling in some areas in recent days .

Bright or sunny spells will develop as the day progresses. Photograph: Getty Images
Around 1,500 homes, farms and businesses were without power across the country on Wednesday after overnight storms.
ESB Networks said the largest fault is in Drumcondra, north Dublin where 600 homes were without power on Wednesday morning.
“The faults are primarily as a result of lightning damage to the electricity network and crews are mobilised in each of the locations to restore supply as quickly as possible,” a spokesman for ESB Networks said.
"Real time updates are available on www.powercheck.ie. We apologise to customers impacted for the obvious inconvenience this has caused."
READ MORE
Thunderstorms and heavy showers will affect the east of Ireland today but there will be lots of dry weather elsewhere, Met Éireann has said.
Bright or sunny spells will develop as the day progresses, mainly in the east and south, but further showers or thunderstorms will occur.
Highest temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees generally but a little cooler in coastal parts of the west and north. Winds mostly light, northerly or variable in direction.
A yellow rainfall warning is in place for Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan until 2pm on Wednesday.
Liz Walsh, meterologist with Met Eireann said 11.5mm of rain was recorded at Dublin Airport in just one hour on Wednesday morning.
Thursday will be generally cloudy at first with conditions brightening up throughout the morning. Scattered showers will be most frequent in Leinster and Ulster with more persistent rain pushing to north Leinster and Ulster later in the day. Highest temperatures will be between 17 and 21 degrees.
The northern half of the country will experience persistent rain on Thursday night with generally dry conditions elsewhere. Lowest temperatures will be between nine and 13 degrees.
Outbreaks of rain in Ulster and north Leinster will clear early on Friday morning to give a bright day with sunny spells and scattered showers.
Winds will be light to moderate southwesterly with afternoon highs of 16 to 19 degrees.
Friday night will be mostly dry with clear spells at first but becoming increasingly cloudy from the west.
Meanwhile, the announcement of a six-week nationwide hosepipe ban has led to a significant reduction in water use in the Greater Dublin region, Irish Water has said, but the potential for drought remains in many areas.
Water usage has declined from an average of 615 million litres a day at the start of the month to 560 million litres a day at present. Irish Water said the drop-off may also be linked to the State experiencing cooler and wetter weather of late.
“Irish Water would like to thank the public for their cooperation and the efforts they have made to conserve water in their homes and gardens over the last week and to appeal to them to continue supporting us in safeguarding water for essential uses,” a spokeswoman for the utility firm said.
Irish Water said no further water restrictions were being planned at this stage but there was no prospect of the hosepipe ban being lifted as a result of heavy rain falling in some areas in recent days.


theirishtimes--2020-06-17--Some 17% of schoolchildren never use sunscreen

Nearly 90 per cent of Irish young people have experienced sunburn in their lifetime , thereby potentially putting themselves at risk of developing skin cancer , according to a report .
About 74 per cent of 10-17 year olds said they had experienced sunburn at least once in the past year , the report by the Institute of Public Health and NUI Galway found .
The report found eight out of 10 schoolchildren reported wearing sunscreen , while seven out of 10 reported using sunglasses on sunny days .
However , the adoption of other sun protection measures , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peak UV hours , was less consistent .
Just 32 per cent of schoolchildren reported that they avoided peak UV hours of the day .
About 50 per cent said they wore protective clothing to cover arms and legs when in the sun , while 17 per cent reported never using sunscreen .
Girls were more likely to wear sunscreen , sunglasses and clothes that cover arms and legs as well as avoiding peak UV hours on sunny days .
Boys were more likely to wear hats on sunny days .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they had used a sunbed in the past 12 months .
Providing a sunbed service to anyone under the age of 18 has been illegal since 2014 but the report says it is not clear how much under-age use is occurring in commercial premises .
Childhood sunburn , unprotected sun exposure and the use of sunbeds increase the risk of developing skin cancers later in life .
Repeated episodes of severe sunburn during childhood doubles the risk of developing melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – in later life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute of Public Health said the frequency of sunburn found in the report was concerning and showed a need for focused action and research on skin cancer prevention .
“ Being outside and keeping active is good for children ’ s physical and mental health , but they also need to be sun smart .
We need to ensure that people are not over exposed to the sun , avoid peak UV hours , use sunscreen , and wear sunglasses , hats , and clothing to cover arms and legs.
” Prof Saoirse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Health Promotion Research Centre , said the findings provided a vital insight into children ’ s sun behaviours in Ireland .
“ This is the first time that children ’ s sun behaviours have been comprehensively recorded in Ireland , and it ’ s clear that this area requires focused development to protect children .
This survey data will be important for planning future awareness programmes and targeting resources to those children and families who most need it .
”

Report’s co-author, Dr Helen McAvoy, said the frequency of sunburn was concerning and showed a need for focused action and research on skin cancer prevention. Photograph: iStock
Nearly 90 per cent of Irish young people have experienced sunburn in their lifetime, thereby potentially putting themselves at risk of developing skin cancer, according to a report.
About 74 per cent of 10-17 year olds said they had experienced sunburn at least once in the past year, the report by the Institute of Public Health and NUI Galway found.
The report found eight out of 10 schoolchildren reported wearing sunscreen, while seven out of 10 reported using sunglasses on sunny days.
However, the adoption of other sun protection measures, like covering up, wearing hats and avoiding peak UV hours, was less consistent.
READ MORE
Just 32 per cent of schoolchildren reported that they avoided peak UV hours of the day. About 50 per cent said they wore protective clothing to cover arms and legs when in the sun, while 17 per cent reported never using sunscreen.
Girls were more likely to wear sunscreen, sunglasses and clothes that cover arms and legs as well as avoiding peak UV hours on sunny days. Boys were more likely to wear hats on sunny days.
The report also found 3 per cent of children said they had used a sunbed in the past 12 months. Providing a sunbed service to anyone under the age of 18 has been illegal since 2014 but the report says it is not clear how much under-age use is occurring in commercial premises.
Childhood sunburn, unprotected sun exposure and the use of sunbeds increase the risk of developing skin cancers later in life. Repeated episodes of severe sunburn during childhood doubles the risk of developing melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – in later life.
Focused action
Co-author Dr Helen McAvoy of the Institute of Public Health said the frequency of sunburn found in the report was concerning and showed a need for focused action and research on skin cancer prevention.
“Being outside and keeping active is good for children’s physical and mental health, but they also need to be sun smart. We need to ensure that people are not over exposed to the sun, avoid peak UV hours, use sunscreen, and wear sunglasses, hats, and clothing to cover arms and legs.”
Prof Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, from NUI Galway's Health Promotion Research Centre, said the findings provided a vital insight into children's sun behaviours in Ireland.
“This is the first time that children’s sun behaviours have been comprehensively recorded in Ireland, and it’s clear that this area requires focused development to protect children. This survey data will be important for planning future awareness programmes and targeting resources to those children and families who most need it.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-17--Number of hate crimes fall 26% on previous year

The number of hate crimes recorded in the Republic declined significantly last year after increasing for the previous five years , according to Garda data obtained by The Irish Times .
Unpublished figures from An Garda Síochána show there were 250 crimes recorded in 2019 that were judged to have a hate-based motive , a decrease of 26 per cent on the previous year ’ s 340 crimes .
The data does not capture hate speech , such as racial or homophobic verbal abuse or name calling , as that is not a criminal offence here .
The figures for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 90 hate crimes recorded by the Garda to June 15th .
However , most crime types have plummeted so far this year due to the Covid-19 lockdown introduced in March .
The figures recorded for 2013-2017 were 113 , 115 , 164 , 290 and 324 respectively .
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said the crimes that were coming to the attention of the Garda were “ only the tip of the iceberg ” .
“ This is partly due to a feeling that it might not be taken seriously , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse , ” said Pippa Willoughby , the council ’ s advocacy manager .
The issue was especially crucial now , she said , following the Black Lives Matter protests in Ireland and so many people speaking about their own experiences of racism .
Minster for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan told The Irish Times a process had already begun within his department to formulate legislation that would “ deal with ” hate speech and hate crimes , with a public consultation programme launched last October .
A new Anti-Racism Committee was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government on strengthening Ireland ’ s approach to hate crime and hate speech .
In reply to queries , Garda Headquarters said a major programme of reform was now under way to bring about an increase in the reporting of hate crime so “ accurate and reliable data ” could be provided and intelligence-led policing could be put in place to prevent and detect the crimes .
Garda Headquarters added that last October a working definition of hate crime was introduced in a bid to protect all minorities as Irish society became more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate crime as “ any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to , in whole or in part , be motivated by hostility or prejudice , based on actual or perceived age , disability , race , colour , nationality , ethnicity , religion , sexual orientation or gender ” .
A new version of the Garda ’ s Pulse database was set for launch in September to classify better both hate-based crimes and other hate incidents that were not criminal offences .
This would be accompanied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprehensive hate crime data would be available before year-end .

Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan said there a process had already begun within his department to formulate legislation that would ‘deal with’ hate speech and hate crimes. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
The number of hate crimes recorded in the Republic declined significantly last year after increasing for the previous five years, according to Garda data obtained by The Irish Times.
Unpublished figures from An Garda Síochána show there were 250 crimes recorded in 2019 that were judged to have a hate-based motive, a decrease of 26 per cent on the previous year’s 340 crimes.
The data does not capture hate speech, such as racial or homophobic verbal abuse or name calling, as that is not a criminal offence here.
The figures for 2020 show an even steeper decline, with 90 hate crimes recorded by the Garda to June 15th. However, most crime types have plummeted so far this year due to the Covid-19 lockdown introduced in March. The figures recorded for 2013-2017 were 113, 115, 164, 290 and 324 respectively.
READ MORE
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said the crimes that were coming to the attention of the Garda were “only the tip of the iceberg”.
“This is partly due to a feeling that it might not be taken seriously, as well as the retraumatisation of relaying the abuse,” said Pippa Willoughby, the council’s advocacy manager.
The issue was especially crucial now, she said, following the Black Lives Matter protests in Ireland and so many people speaking about their own experiences of racism.
Legislation
Minster for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan told The Irish Times a process had already begun within his department to formulate legislation that would “deal with” hate speech and hate crimes, with a public consultation programme launched last October.
A new Anti-Racism Committee was also established in June 2019, to advise Government on strengthening Ireland’s approach to hate crime and hate speech.
In reply to queries, Garda Headquarters said a major programme of reform was now under way to bring about an increase in the reporting of hate crime so “accurate and reliable data” could be provided and intelligence-led policing could be put in place to prevent and detect the crimes.
Garda Headquarters added that last October a working definition of hate crime was introduced in a bid to protect all minorities as Irish society became more diverse.
The Garda now defines a hate crime as “any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to, in whole or in part, be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on actual or perceived age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender”.
A new version of the Garda’s Pulse database was set for launch in September to classify better both hate-based crimes and other hate incidents that were not criminal offences. This would be accompanied by enhanced training for gardaí. More comprehensive hate crime data would be available before year-end.


theirishtimes--2020-06-16--Limit of 90 minutes on pub and restaurant visits proposed

Pubs reopening at the end of the month will be required to serve a substantial meal costing at least €9 , according to new guidelines to be published in the coming days .
Fáilte Ireland has also said new guidance for food businesses from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) will include a potential reduction in social distancing measures from two metres to one metre in certain circumstances .
The tourism development agency said it was working with officials in the Department of Transport and Tourism to seek clarity on the guidance .
Sources confirmed on Wednesday the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit their length of stay in the pub or restaurant to a maximum of 90 minutes .
Previously the Government had said a relaxation of the two-metre social distancing rule in certain cases to allow the hospitality sector reopen was under consideration .
In a statement on Tuesday , Fáilte Ireland said it would publish its own guidelines for pubs reopening as restaurants on June 29th in the coming days .
A spokeswoman for Fáilte Ireland said pubs and bars would be required to serve a “ substantial meal ” to customers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that “ might be expected to be served as a main midday or evening meal or as a main course in either such meal ” .
The guidance from Fáilte Ireland to pubs will be that meals provided should cost at least €9 , the tourism body said .
Adrian Cummins , chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland , said on Wednesday it would “ wholeheartedly welcome ” the move from two to one metres ” .
On the suggestion customers would be restricted to 90 minutes in any premises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely hard to police ” and added he doesn ’ t think it is “ achievable ” .
“ We ’ re in a better position to viably reopen on Monday week .
We do have concerns following media reports today with regard to the 90 minute limit in restaurants and the restrictions on walk-ins .
We would like to see the medical advice around those until we make further comment , ” he added .
“ The big question everyone is talking about is how is this going to be policed because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not law.
” Padraig Cribben , chief executive of the Vintners ’ Federation of Ireland , welcomed the draft guidelines but said “ from a viability point of view , it ’ s going to be very challenging ” .
Mr Cribben told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland it was important to point out the restrictions only applied to pubs that would serve food , and not the normal “ wet pub ” – but that a one-metre restriction was still considerably better than the alternative of two metres .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even at one metre seating capacity will be reduced by 35 per cent .
But it is better than two metres.
” Pubs were initially intended to be permitted to reopen on August 10th under the Government ’ s five-phase plan , but this roadmap was condensed to four phases in recent weeks .
Under the accelerated plan pubs will be allowed to reopen at the end of this month if they operate as restaurants serving food .
Previously Dr Tony Holohan , the State ’ s chief medical officer , had said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several people meeting up “ for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts ” .
Pubs reopening as restaurants would not need a restaurant licence to do so , the Government has said .
The deaths of a further three people with coronavirus were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Tuesday , along with 14 more cases of the virus .
This brings the number of deaths from Covid-19 in the State to 1,709 , and the number of known cases to 25,334 .

A spokeswoman for the tourism body said pubs and bars would be required to serve a ‘substantial meal’ to customers. Photograph: iStock
Pubs reopening at the end of the month will be required to serve a substantial meal costing at least €9, according to new guidelines to be published in the coming days.
Fáilte Ireland has also said new guidance for food businesses from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) will include a potential reduction in social distancing measures from two metres to one metre in certain circumstances.
The tourism development agency said it was working with officials in the Department of Transport and Tourism to seek clarity on the guidance.
Sources confirmed on Wednesday the guidelines also recommend customers pre-book visits and limit their length of stay in the pub or restaurant to a maximum of 90 minutes.
READ MORE
Previously the Government had said a relaxation of the two-metre social distancing rule in certain cases to allow the hospitality sector reopen was under consideration.
In a statement on Tuesday, Fáilte Ireland said it would publish its own guidelines for pubs reopening as restaurants on June 29th in the coming days.
A spokeswoman for Fáilte Ireland said pubs and bars would be required to serve a “substantial meal” to customers.
A substantial meal will be defined as one that “might be expected to be served as a main midday or evening meal or as a main course in either such meal”.
The guidance from Fáilte Ireland to pubs will be that meals provided should cost at least €9, the tourism body said.
Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said on Wednesday it would “wholeheartedly welcome” the move from two to one metres”.
On the suggestion customers would be restricted to 90 minutes in any premises, he said this would be “extremely hard to police” and added he doesn’t think it is “achievable”.
“We’re in a better position to viably reopen on Monday week. We do have concerns following media reports today with regard to the 90 minute limit in restaurants and the restrictions on walk-ins. We would like to see the medical advice around those until we make further comment,” he added.
“The big question everyone is talking about is how is this going to be policed because they are only guidelines – it’s not law.”
Padraig Cribben, chief executive of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, welcomed the draft guidelines but said “from a viability point of view, it’s going to be very challenging”.
Mr Cribben told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland it was important to point out the restrictions only applied to pubs that would serve food, and not the normal “wet pub” – but that a one-metre restriction was still considerably better than the alternative of two metres.
“It will still be very restrictive, even at one metre seating capacity will be reduced by 35 per cent. But it is better than two metres.”
Pubs were initially intended to be permitted to reopen on August 10th under the Government’s five-phase plan, but this roadmap was condensed to four phases in recent weeks.
Under the accelerated plan pubs will be allowed to reopen at the end of this month if they operate as restaurants serving food.
Previously Dr Tony Holohan, the State's chief medical officer, had said pubs operating as restaurants would not mean several people meeting up "for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts".
Pubs reopening as restaurants would not need a restaurant licence to do so, the Government has said.
The deaths of a further three people with coronavirus were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Tuesday, along with 14 more cases of the virus.
This brings the number of deaths from Covid-19 in the State to 1,709, and the number of known cases to 25,334.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Irish medics likely to start treating Covid-19 patients with dexamethasone

Irish medical specialists treating severely ill Covid-19 patients are likely to immediately start administering the widely-available steroid drug shown in the UK to significantly reduce death rates , according to a leading intensive care specialist .
Prof John Laffey of NUI Galway school of medicine said this was possible because dexamethasone , an anti-inflammatory medication , had a proven safety record and inflammation was often associated with severe cases of Covid-19 .
He was commenting after preliminary data from a clinical trial suggested the drug reduced the risk of dying in Covid-19 patients on ventilators by as much as 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 per cent .
Prof Laffey said it was reassuring that “ it ’ s a big study done by a high-end bunch of people .
If it gets past peer review , it will change practice ” .
Its use could be scaled up quickly as it was common , inexpensive and widely deployed in hospitals , he said .
What was “ really encouraging ” was the fact that the drug was evaluated in a randomised control trial , which were the most robust , said infectious diseases consultant Prof Paddy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital Dublin .
In addition , it was focused on mortality and achieved a reduction in deaths , especially with severely ill people in ICU .
With the first wave of the pandemic they were trying to dampen inflammation using steroids .
“ This confirms our clinical approach .
.
.
but people now will be more likely to get steroids as a consequence.
” The downside was an absence of full results .
While he could understand why preliminary findings were issued in a press release , the data was scant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday Minister for Health Simon Harris said he has asked public health experts to contact the HSE regarding plans to make the drug available to treat Covid-19 patients here .
Mr Harris cautioned “ we are awaiting full details of the study ” .
The HSE “ looks forward with interest to studying the completed , peer-reviewed report , and note the potential evident from this early report , ” a spokeswoman said .
While the HSE is not currently advocating widespread use of steroids in the treatment of Covid-19 , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of this latest information , and use steroids only where clinically indicated , she added .

Preliminary data from a clinical trial suggested dexamethasone reduced the risk of dying in Covid-19 patients on ventilators by as much as 35 per cent and patients on oxygen by 20 per cent. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Irish medical specialists treating severely ill Covid-19 patients are likely to immediately start administering the widely-available steroid drug shown in the UK to significantly reduce death rates, according to a leading intensive care specialist.
Prof John Laffey of NUI Galway school of medicine said this was possible because dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory medication, had a proven safety record and inflammation was often associated with severe cases of Covid-19.
He was commenting after preliminary data from a clinical trial suggested the drug reduced the risk of dying in Covid-19 patients on ventilators by as much as 35 per cent and patients on oxygen by 20 per cent.
Prof Laffey said it was reassuring that “it’s a big study done by a high-end bunch of people. If it gets past peer review, it will change practice”.
READ MORE
Its use could be scaled up quickly as it was common, inexpensive and widely deployed in hospitals, he said.
What was "really encouraging" was the fact that the drug was evaluated in a randomised control trial, which were the most robust, said infectious diseases consultant Prof Paddy Mallon of St Vincent's University Hospital Dublin.
In addition, it was focused on mortality and achieved a reduction in deaths, especially with severely ill people in ICU. With the first wave of the pandemic they were trying to dampen inflammation using steroids. “This confirms our clinical approach . . . but people now will be more likely to get steroids as a consequence.”
The downside was an absence of full results. While he could understand why preliminary findings were issued in a press release, the data was scant, he stressed.
‘Awaiting full details’
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday Minister for Health Simon Harris said he has asked public health experts to contact the HSE regarding plans to make the drug available to treat Covid-19 patients here. Mr Harris cautioned “we are awaiting full details of the study” .
The HSE “looks forward with interest to studying the completed, peer-reviewed report, and note the potential evident from this early report,” a spokeswoman said.
While the HSE is not currently advocating widespread use of steroids in the treatment of Covid-19, it is advising that clinicians be alert and aware of this latest information, and use steroids only where clinically indicated, she added.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--‘One nurse for 76 patients’: Taoiseach warned about care home staff shortages

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was asked directly to help nursing homes suffering staff shortages in Covid-19 outbreaks with one member of the public claiming that just one nurse was caring for 76 patients in a home .
Records released by his department show he received several emails during the pandemic raising concerns about staff levels at care homes that were badly depleted by clusters of infection .
One person emailed Mr Varadkar on April 26th saying they were unable to get information from management at one nursing home where their partner ’ s mother tested positive for the virus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortages meant that her “ hourly bed checks ” were now two hours apart .
“ This , we were told , was because there was one nurse managing two floors of 38 patients on each .
One nurse caring for 76 patients , ” the individual said in the email to Mr Varadkar .
The home is not identified in the redacted correspondence released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act .
The person emailing Mr Varadkar said they were awaiting news from the home on whether a doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a fall the night before in a new room on “ a Covid floor of the home ” .
“ Can you please advise us ?
We are lost , ” the individual wrote .
Another person emailed Mr Varadkar three days later pleading with him “ to help the nursing home sector with staff ” .
“ It is becoming critical now with staff out sick with the virus .
Please don ’ t let this situation evolve as it did in Spain and Italy in their nursing homes , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and procedures to nursing homes is inadequate at this point .
Nursing homes need staff .
Please help .
Please don ’ t leave them to their fate .
Please imagine if this was your mother or father or child in a nursing home at this time .
I beg of you , please help.
” A director of nursing at one care home who was out sick with Covid-19 symptoms , copied the Taoiseach on an email sent to regulator Hiqa , Nursing Homes Ireland and the HSE seeking urgent help and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were “ becoming a humanitarian crisis ” .
“ Staff are working long hours and will reach burnout very soon if help is not forthcoming , ” the director of nursing said , complaining that the home was “ getting little help from all the agencies including Hiqa , NHI and the HSE ” .
Another person sought “ urgent action ” from Martin Fraser , secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach , on March 25th to help nursing homes to replace staff out sick with Covid-19 or isolating by making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premium to low-paid care workers .
“ We have seen reports in the media of nursing homes in Spain with elderly people left unattended and lying dead in their beds for days ... it is horrific – but in Ireland we are facing the same situation within weeks , ” wrote the individual in an email .
A student worker in a nursing home complained to the Taoiseach at the end of April that she and other students were “ risking their lives and their families ” in their work during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €350 a week under the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme .
Among the other letters sent to Mr Varadkar were several praising his speeches in March and his handling of the crisis along with requests to ease lockdown measures , including the 2km travel limit to allow “ mostly solo ” outdoor pursuits such as sailing and mountaineering .
Another writer asked the Taoiseach to end “ this poxy lockdown ” in an expletive-filled email because they were “ sick and tired of sitting in my house with me family ” .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ d much appreciate it and if ye don ’ t , well I ’ m telling ye now I ’ ll cause upraw [ sic ] because u try living with my family for weeks on end , ” she wrote .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was asked directly to help nursing homes suffering staff shortages in Covid-19 outbreaks with one member of the public claiming that just one nurse was caring for 76 patients in a home.
Records released by his department show he received several emails during the pandemic raising concerns about staff levels at care homes that were badly depleted by clusters of infection.
One person emailed Mr Varadkar on April 26th saying they were unable to get information from management at one nursing home where their partner’s mother tested positive for the virus. The woman had experienced a fall and staff shortages meant that her “hourly bed checks” were now two hours apart.
“This, we were told, was because there was one nurse managing two floors of 38 patients on each. One nurse caring for 76 patients,” the individual said in the email to Mr Varadkar.
READ MORE
The home is not identified in the redacted correspondence released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.
The person emailing Mr Varadkar said they were awaiting news from the home on whether a doctor had visited the elderly resident as she had a fall the night before in a new room on “a Covid floor of the home”.
“Can you please advise us? We are lost,” the individual wrote.
Another person emailed Mr Varadkar three days later pleading with him “to help the nursing home sector with staff”.
"It is becoming critical now with staff out sick with the virus. Please don't let this situation evolve as it did in Spain and Italy in their nursing homes," the individual wrote.
“Giving advice and procedures to nursing homes is inadequate at this point. Nursing homes need staff. Please help. Please don’t leave them to their fate. Please imagine if this was your mother or father or child in a nursing home at this time. I beg of you, please help.”
‘Humanitarian crisis’
A director of nursing at one care home who was out sick with Covid-19 symptoms, copied the Taoiseach on an email sent to regulator Hiqa, Nursing Homes Ireland and the HSE seeking urgent help and said that Covid-19 outbreaks in nursing homes were "becoming a humanitarian crisis".
“Staff are working long hours and will reach burnout very soon if help is not forthcoming,” the director of nursing said, complaining that the home was “getting little help from all the agencies including Hiqa, NHI and the HSE”.
“Our elderly residents deserve better.”
Another person sought "urgent action" from Martin Fraser, secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach, on March 25th to help nursing homes to replace staff out sick with Covid-19 or isolating by making more funding available to homes and a premium to low-paid care workers.
“We have seen reports in the media of nursing homes in Spain with elderly people left unattended and lying dead in their beds for days ... it is horrific – but in Ireland we are facing the same situation within weeks,” wrote the individual in an email.
‘Poxy lockdown’
A student worker in a nursing home complained to the Taoiseach at the end of April that she and other students were “risking their lives and their families” in their work during the pandemic but had friends staying at home earning €350 a week under the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme.
Among the other letters sent to Mr Varadkar were several praising his speeches in March and his handling of the crisis along with requests to ease lockdown measures, including the 2km travel limit to allow “mostly solo” outdoor pursuits such as sailing and mountaineering.
Another writer asked the Taoiseach to end “this poxy lockdown” in an expletive-filled email because they were “sick and tired of sitting in my house with me family”.
“If ye would like to lift the lockdown, I’d much appreciate it and if ye don’t, well I’m telling ye now I’ll cause upraw [sic] because u try living with my family for weeks on end,” she wrote.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Greens wary over lack of detail in ‘vague’ programme for government

Julie O ’ Donoghue has spent much of the week reading and rereading the programme for government document negotiated by some of her Green Party colleagues .
She could see how much work went into it , but the more she read , the more she found herself concerned by the vagueness of the language .
“ There are some good elements in it , but I would see shortcomings , ” she said .
“ The language is quite vague and lacking specifics , ” she told The Irish Times , noting especially that the carbon tax proposals leans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Greens ’ policies in that are “ progressive ” , argues O ’ Donoghue , favouring that revenue collected from carbon taxes would be returned to people to encourage behaviour change .
Equally , she wanted stronger pledges to tackle the EU/Latin America Mercosur trade deal , not just “ an economic sustainability assessment to inform future action ” .
“ That , to me , is weak .
Mercosur would be disastrous for the environment and for rural communities , ” said O ’ Donoghue , a secondary school teacher who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general election .
Eliminated on the third count , O ’ Donoghue now says her instinct is that it will take a lot of persuasion in order to get two-thirds of the party membership to endorse the coalition programme .
“ I would like to hear from our three TDs who have abstained – our finance spokesperson has abstained , and that has caused huge concern for me with the fear of austerity post-Covid .
“ We need reassurances that people aren ’ t going to be hurt by this .
I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest .
But I will make a final decision after the convention on Thursday.
” Rosin Garvey became the first female Green elected to Clare County Council on the back of the rural stronghold of north Clare .
“ Farmers got me elected , ” she says unequivocally .
Noting Saoirse McHugh ’ s warning that the programme is filled with “ woolly , almost management speak ” , Garvey nevertheless says the Greens have an obligation to support the programme and will .
“ I trust our membership .
There is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t vote for this we could be waiting another five years .
We either think there is an emergency or there isn ’ t .
“ If we believe that we have to support this programme , and fight all we can to get everything done we need to do .
What is the alternative ?
Go back to the ballot box and get crucified ?
” The Greens can win over sceptics amongst farmers and rural dwellers , says Garvey , whose father , Flan served as a former Fianna Fáil councillor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think farmers have been given a raw deal .
Eighteen cents for a litre of milk ?
I go in and pay €1.10 for that same litre ?
There is something radically wrong with that .
She warns that global climate-change fines will cost Ireland a fortune .
“ I have done the numbers .
If I thought it would cripple rural Ireland I would object to it .
The Greens are a social justice party and actually support farmers.
” She says the possibilities of coalition outweigh the disadvantages .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and FF was never our ambition .
But we are in the middle of a pandemic.
” Voters want a government formed , she says .
“ If we turn around now and say ‘ sorry , we are not happy with this ’ , then we are a laughing stock .
We will be completely destroyed .
”

Julie O'Donoghue (centre) canvassing with Kieran O'Donovan, Aidan Casey, Julie O'Donoghue, Maria Casey and Stephanie Browne during the general election in February 2020.
Julie O’Donoghue has spent much of the week reading and rereading the programme for government document negotiated by some of her Green Party colleagues.
She could see how much work went into it, but the more she read, the more she found herself concerned by the vagueness of the language. “There are some good elements in it, but I would see shortcomings,” she said.
"The language is quite vague and lacking specifics," she told The Irish Times, noting especially that the carbon tax proposals leans heavily towards Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael ideology.
The Greens’ policies in that are “progressive”, argues O’Donoghue, favouring that revenue collected from carbon taxes would be returned to people to encourage behaviour change.
READ MORE
Equally, she wanted stronger pledges to tackle the EU/Latin America Mercosur trade deal, not just "an economic sustainability assessment to inform future action".
"That, to me, is weak. Mercosur would be disastrous for the environment and for rural communities," said O'Donoghue, a secondary school teacher who ran for the Greens in the February general election.
Eliminated on the third count, O’Donoghue now says her instinct is that it will take a lot of persuasion in order to get two-thirds of the party membership to endorse the coalition programme.
“I would like to hear from our three TDs who have abstained – our finance spokesperson has abstained, and that has caused huge concern for me with the fear of austerity post-Covid.
“We need reassurances that people aren’t going to be hurt by this. I believe I will vote no, to be honest. But I will make a final decision after the convention on Thursday.”
Farmers
Rosin Garvey became the first female Green elected to Clare County Council on the back of the rural stronghold of north Clare. “Farmers got me elected,” she says unequivocally.
Noting Saoirse McHugh’s warning that the programme is filled with “woolly, almost management speak”, Garvey nevertheless says the Greens have an obligation to support the programme and will.
“I trust our membership. There is a climate emergency. If we don’t vote for this we could be waiting another five years. We either think there is an emergency or there isn’t.
“If we believe that we have to support this programme, and fight all we can to get everything done we need to do. What is the alternative? Go back to the ballot box and get crucified?”
The Greens can win over sceptics amongst farmers and rural dwellers, says Garvey, whose father, Flan served as a former Fianna Fáil councillor for over 20 years.
“I think farmers have been given a raw deal. Eighteen cents for a litre of milk? I go in and pay €1.10 for that same litre? There is something radically wrong with that.
She warns that global climate-change fines will cost Ireland a fortune. "I have done the numbers. If I thought it would cripple rural Ireland I would object to it. The Greens are a social justice party and actually support farmers."
She says the possibilities of coalition outweigh the disadvantages. “We all have reservations. Propping up FG and FF was never our ambition. But we are in the middle of a pandemic.”
Voters want a government formed, she says. “If we turn around now and say ‘sorry, we are not happy with this’, then we are a laughing stock. We will be completely destroyed.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Two more nursing homes query their inclusion on HSE list of Covid-19 deaths

Two further nursing homes have questioned their inclusion on an internal Health Service Executive ( HSE ) list quantifying the number of deaths associated with Covid-19 in nursing homes across the country .
St Francis ’ Nursing Home in Ballinasloe , Co Galway , and Claremount Nursing Home in Claremorris , Co Mayo , both said they have had no deaths associated with the virus in their facilities .
The data ascribed one and four deaths respectively to the two homes .
The data , which was produced by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) division of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s board , covered some 1,030 deaths across 167 facilities .
The entire list was published in May by The Irish Times .
Since then around one in seven homes named have said they had fewer deaths than reported in the data , or none at all .
The data was produced by the HPSC , which provides official figures on deaths linked to the virus .
The document was shared with the board of the HSE as a cumulative list .
The emergence of these latest homes brings the total querying their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nursing Homes Ireland ( NHI ) , which represents the owners of private nursing homes , expressed concern at what the group claimed was the publication of “ damaging , inaccurate data ” that had “ caused considerable upset and anger for nursing home residents , families and staff ” .
“ The HSE has informed NHI this data was never intended for publication , and not published through official channels , ” said Tadhg Daly , chief executive of the nursing homes group .
In a statement the HSE said it continually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deaths , including in nursing homes and other residential care settings , through its computerised infectious disease reporting system .
“ This confidential , preliminary data is used as management information only in order to get a snapshot of what is happening in residential settings across the country at a particular point in time , ” a spokeswoman for the HSE said , adding that such data assisted the service to co-ordinate responses to outbreaks , manage scarce resource and decide how to assist and support residential settings .
“ [ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , and is constantly being updated and superseded as newer and more accurate data becomes available.
” The spokeswoman pointed out that residential settings differ greatly , with some settings providing care to those with very complex needs , while others may have few residents requiring such medical care .
“ We would strongly caution against the use of such data to compare the impact of Covid-19 within residential care settings.
” Ireland has seen a significant number of its total deaths from the virus associated with long-term residential care facilities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparisons are complicated due to differences in measurement techniques – for example , HPSC data includes confirmed , probable and possible deaths associated with the virus .
More than 15 per cent of Irish deaths are ranked as either probable or possible cases , according to more recent HPSC data .
Other countries do not include probable or possible cases in their totals .

Ireland has seen a significant number of its total deaths from coronavirus associated with long-term residential care facilities, including nursing homes
Two further nursing homes have questioned their inclusion on an internal Health Service Executive (HSE) list quantifying the number of deaths associated with Covid-19 in nursing homes across the country.
St Francis’ Nursing Home in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and Claremount Nursing Home in Claremorris, Co Mayo, both said they have had no deaths associated with the virus in their facilities.
The data ascribed one and four deaths respectively to the two homes. The data, which was produced by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) division of the HSE and presented to the organisation’s board, covered some 1,030 deaths across 167 facilities. The entire list was published in May by The Irish Times.
Since then around one in seven homes named have said they had fewer deaths than reported in the data, or none at all.
READ MORE
(June 4th, 2020: Nursing homes dispute accuracy of HSE data on Covid-19 deaths)
The data was produced by the HPSC, which provides official figures on deaths linked to the virus. The document was shared with the board of the HSE as a cumulative list.
The emergence of these latest homes brings the total querying their inclusion on the list to 26.
Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), which represents the owners of private nursing homes, expressed concern at what the group claimed was the publication of “damaging, inaccurate data” that had “caused considerable upset and anger for nursing home residents, families and staff”.
“The HSE has informed NHI this data was never intended for publication, and not published through official channels,” said Tadhg Daly, chief executive of the nursing homes group.
Reporting
system
In a statement the HSE said it continually gathers data on Covid-19 outbreaks, cases and deaths, including in nursing homes and other residential care settings, through its computerised infectious disease reporting system.
“This confidential, preliminary data is used as management information only in order to get a snapshot of what is happening in residential settings across the country at a particular point in time,” a spokeswoman for the HSE said, adding that such data assisted the service to co-ordinate responses to outbreaks, manage scarce resource and decide how to assist and support residential settings.
“[The data] simply represents a snapshot in time, and is constantly being updated and superseded as newer and more accurate data becomes available.”
The spokeswoman pointed out that residential settings differ greatly, with some settings providing care to those with very complex needs, while others may have few residents requiring such medical care.
“We would strongly caution against the use of such data to compare the impact of Covid-19 within residential care settings.”
Comparisons
Ireland has seen a significant number of its total deaths from the virus associated with long-term residential care facilities, including nursing homes. However, international comparisons are complicated due to differences in measurement techniques – for example, HPSC data includes confirmed, probable and possible deaths associated with the virus.
More than 15 per cent of Irish deaths are ranked as either probable or possible cases, according to more recent HPSC data. Other countries do not include probable or possible cases in their totals.


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--Revealed 100 years on: the letters of a British general kidnapped by the IRA

It is the War of Independence story like no other .
The British general captured by the IRA during a day ’ s fishing on Blackwater , who later became friends with his captors over tennis and croquet , whiskey and the saving of the hay .
One hundred years ago next week , the IRA captured Brig Gen Cuthbert Lucas while he and two other British army officers were fishing on the river Blackwater in Co Cork .
Letters between husband and wife ( the ones to him addressed only as c/o the IRA ) , along with Lucas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now been digitised and made available online on Thursday by his granddaughter Ruth Wheeler .
The abduction of the senior British general – who led the garrison at nearby Fermoy – on June 26th , 1920 , made international headlines , leaving then secretary of state for war Winston Churchill “ purple with rage ” .
Lucas was captured alongside two of his staff officers .
Lucas spoke the Arabic he had learned on colonial service to urge his colleagues to overpower their kidnappers .
They did .
One was badly injured , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRA at the side of the road to care for his wounded comrade .
For 34 days , Lucas was spirited across Limerick and Clare , while the British army scoured the land .
What happened next demonstrated that humanity and humour can co-exist even amidst the ancient enmities which existed during the War of Independence .
Lucas and his captors struck up a rapport .
He exercised by playing tennis , croquet and saving the hay .
As a prisoner of war , he insisted on having a bottle of whiskey .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who went on to become chief-of-staff in the Free State army , recalled : “ He was an expensive luxury as he drank a bottle of whiskey every day which I hated like hell to pay for.
” Two of his other captors went on to have high-profile careers afterwards .
Liam Lynch became the leading anti-Treaty general in the Civil War and was killed in 1923 .
Seán Moylan went on to serve as a cabinet minister in later Fianna Fáil governments , holding the posts of minister for agriculture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He died suddenly in 1957 .
Lucas played bridge with his captors until 2am .
They were amazed at his skill in dealing despite him having lost two fingers in the first World War .
Even more extraordinarily , he wrote to – and received letters from – his pregnant wife , Joan .
Better known as Poppy or Pip , she was so alarmed when she heard about his kidnapping that she went into premature labour .
The couple ’ s first child was born while Lucas was in captivity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I expect you have heard by now , I have been taken prisoner , ” he writes to his wife .
“ Well , old thing , you are not to worry .
I am being well looked after and well treated , but very bored .
“ I ’ m afraid I shan ’ t be with you when the event [ the birth of their first child , Bill ] takes place , but don ’ t worry as I really am alright.
” She wrote back , addressing her letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their destination .
Wheeler first brought the letters to public attention last year on the BBC ’ s Antiques Roadshow .
They were valued then at £5,000 , but she insists that she has no intention of selling them .
“ The important thing is to share a wonderful true story which brings out some of the best in humanity , ” she says , “ Soldiers from different sides of a bitter conflict , staying loyal to their callings .
“ Yet they enjoyed together games of croquet and tennis ; salmon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course a whiskey , along with a lot of good humour and mutual respect .
“ None of these men , including Lucas , were saints and many will have strong views about the sides they represented .
However , at least for this short period of their lives , they displayed qualities that we all can celebrate.
” On July 30th , Lucas was facilitated by his kidnappers to escape .
His captors had concluded that he was preventing them from carrying out other operations and they had made their point .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not end .
He was picked up by soldiers in a Crossley Tender which was involved a few minutes later in the Oola ambush which led to the deaths of two Black and Tans .
Lucas later went public to declare that he had been “ treated like a gentleman by gentlemen ” , a remark which did not go down well with the British military establishment .
The letters , Wheeler hopes , will contribute to greater Anglo-Irish understanding .
“ I am so passionate about the story because it is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letters and diaries can be viewed at chtl.co.uk

General Lucas with his wife Joan aka Poppy: The IRA captured the general while he and two other British army officers were fishing on the river Blackwater in Co Cork.
It is the War of Independence story like no other. The British general captured by the IRA during a day's fishing on Blackwater, who later became friends with his captors over tennis and croquet, whiskey and the saving of the hay.
One hundred years ago next week, the IRA captured Brig Gen Cuthbert Lucas while he and two other British army officers were fishing on the river Blackwater in Co Cork.
Letters between husband and wife (the ones to him addressed only as c/o the IRA), along with Lucas's secret captivity diary, have now been digitised and made available online on Thursday by his granddaughter Ruth Wheeler.
The abduction of the senior British general – who led the garrison at nearby Fermoy – on June 26th, 1920, made international headlines, leaving then secretary of state for war Winston Churchill "purple with rage".
READ MORE
Lucas was captured alongside two of his staff officers. Lucas spoke the Arabic he had learned on colonial service to urge his colleagues to overpower their kidnappers. They did.
One was badly injured, and the other was left by the IRA at the side of the road to care for his wounded comrade. For 34 days, Lucas was spirited across Limerick and Clare, while the British army scoured the land.
What happened next demonstrated that humanity and humour can co-exist even amidst the ancient enmities which existed during the War of Independence.
Lucas and his captors struck up a rapport. He exercised by playing tennis, croquet and saving the hay. As a prisoner of war, he insisted on having a bottle of whiskey.
‘Expensive luxury’
One of his captors, Michael Brennan, who went on to become chief-of-staff in the Free State army, recalled: "He was an expensive luxury as he drank a bottle of whiskey every day which I hated like hell to pay for."
Two of his other captors went on to have high-profile careers afterwards. Liam Lynch became the leading anti-Treaty general in the Civil War and was killed in 1923.
Seán Moylan went on to serve as a cabinet minister in later Fianna Fáil governments, holding the posts of minister for agriculture, minister for education and minister for lands. He died suddenly in 1957.
Lucas played bridge with his captors until 2am. They were amazed at his skill in dealing despite him having lost two fingers in the first World War. Even more extraordinarily, he wrote to – and received letters from – his pregnant wife, Joan.
Better known as Poppy or Pip, she was so alarmed when she heard about his kidnapping that she went into premature labour. The couple’s first child was born while Lucas was in captivity.
In one, he wrote: “I expect you have heard by now, I have been taken prisoner,” he writes to his wife. “Well, old thing, you are not to worry. I am being well looked after and well treated, but very bored.
“I’m afraid I shan’t be with you when the event [the birth of their first child, Bill] takes place, but don’t worry as I really am alright.”
She wrote back, addressing her letters c/o The IRA. They always reached their destination.
Antiques Roadshow
Wheeler first brought the letters to public attention last year on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. They were valued then at £5,000, but she insists that she has no intention of selling them.
“The important thing is to share a wonderful true story which brings out some of the best in humanity,” she says, “Soldiers from different sides of a bitter conflict, staying loyal to their callings.
“Yet they enjoyed together games of croquet and tennis; salmon poaching; card games, and of course a whiskey, along with a lot of good humour and mutual respect.
“None of these men, including Lucas, were saints and many will have strong views about the sides they represented. However, at least for this short period of their lives, they displayed qualities that we all can celebrate.”
On July 30th, Lucas was facilitated by his kidnappers to escape. His captors had concluded that he was preventing them from carrying out other operations and they had made their point.
Even then Lucas's adventure did not end. He was picked up by soldiers in a Crossley Tender which was involved a few minutes later in the Oola ambush which led to the deaths of two Black and Tans.
Lucas later went public to declare that he had been “treated like a gentleman by gentlemen”, a remark which did not go down well with the British military establishment.
The letters, Wheeler hopes, will contribute to greater Anglo-Irish understanding.
“I am so passionate about the story because it is so amazing,” she says.
[ chtl.co.uk ]


theirishtimes--2020-06-18--People of colour in Ireland need allies ‘not bystanders’

Last Thursday , Dr Ebun Joseph held an online conversation with young people of colour living in Ireland .
On Thursday , she is doing it again , but this time she hopes that young white Irish people will join in .
“ We need allies .
Bystanders are of no use to us , ” says Joseph , an author , inter-cultural consultant and creator of the black studies module in University College Dublin , the first to be created in any of the State ’ s universities .
Joseph wants people to say “ I believe you ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience of racism : “ It ’ s not an invitation to critique what they have said .
It ’ s not even an invitation to tell them of how many non-racist people you know .
“ When you hear people give out about racism , it is not an invitation to analyse it and tell them they ’ re wrong , ” she says , adding that she is well accustomed to “ the blowback ” black people in Ireland can experience .
Recounting some of her own experiences she laughs when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her , though they are not funny .
She is viciously and frequently trolled online .
She is called vile names .
She is frequently told to go home .
“ I am home !
” she replies .
There ’ s a racist parody Twitter account pretending to be her .
“ At one point it got so bad that I was putting a chair behind my door because I was afraid people were going to come into my house and kill me.
” Last Thursday , she hosted a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and eight other black academics and writers discussed the idea of “ Bringing Allyship Alive in Ireland ” – basically a discussion of how white people can help .
On Thursday she is holding another one .
There ’ s a tendency to view black Irish people as “ permanent strangers ” , she says , expected to remain silently grateful to be allowed to contribute here .
This has a huge emotional impact .
Some young Irish-born people of colour leave for the UK once adults , or they are expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they stay : “ After George Floyd ’ s death people in Ireland were looking at it like , ‘ It ’ s in the US ’ .
And I was like , ‘ This is not just in the US .
Right here in Ireland , we feel people ’ s knees on our neck , even me , with all my education… ’ Yes , you ’ re not physically killing us , but you ’ re emotionally and mentally killing people.
” It is not enough to be “ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people need to be actively “ anti-racist ” .
“ White supremacy and racism were not created by black people .
The way people see it , it ’ s black people that have a problem .
But no , it ’ s white people who have a problem .
“ It ’ s not , ‘ How do you deal with your racism ?
’ They should say , ‘ How do we deal with ‘ our racism ’ ?
” She adds that some white Irish people go through a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear about race and racism ” .
“ They hear it first as an indictment of themselves and nobody wants to hear anything bad about themselves… In order not to sit with that uncomfortable feeling , they run away from it , they push back by denying the experience.
” Racism is not about “ the KKK , that you have a white hood on your head ” , Joseph says .
“ No .
Racism is every day .
It ’ s normal .
It ’ s written into our policies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Even if you do nothing , just be white , all you need to do is show up and automatically you are favoured .
Whiteness makes you a benefactor of the racist structures that have been put in place.
” Thursday ’ s webinar can be found here

Last Thursday, Dr Ebun Joseph held an online conversation with people of colour living in Ireland. On Thursday, she is doing it again, but this time she hopes that white Irish people will join in.
“We need allies. Bystanders are of no use to us,” says Joseph, an author, inter-cultural consultant and creator of the black studies module in University College Dublin, the first to be created in any of the State’s universities.
Joseph wants people to say “I believe you” when a person of colour recounts their experience of racism: “It’s not an invitation to critique what they have said. It’s not even an invitation to tell them of how many non-racist people you know.
“When you hear people give out about racism, it is not an invitation to analyse it and tell them they’re wrong,” she says, adding that she is well accustomed to “the blowback” black people in Ireland can experience.
READ MORE
Recounting some of her own experiences she laughs when she lists the things that have happened to her, though they are not funny. She is viciously and frequently trolled online. She is called vile names. She is frequently told to go home. “I am home!” she replies.
There’s a racist parody Twitter account pretending to be her. *
Last Thursday, she hosted a free “townhall webinar” in which she and eight other black academics and writers discussed the idea of “Bringing Allyship Alive in Ireland” – basically a discussion of how white people can help. On Thursday she is holding another one.
‘Permanent strangers’
There’s a tendency to view black Irish people as “permanent strangers”, she says, expected to remain silently grateful to be allowed to contribute here. This has a huge emotional impact.
Some young Irish-born people of colour leave for the UK once adults, or they are expected to shrug off racist bullying in school if they stay: “After George Floyd’s death people in Ireland were looking at it like, ‘It’s in the US’ . And I was like, ‘This is not just in the US. Right here in Ireland, we feel people’s knees on our neck, even me, with all my education… ’ Yes, you’re not physically killing us, but you’re emotionally and mentally killing people.”
It is not enough to be “not racist”, she argues. White people need to be actively “anti-racist”. “White supremacy and racism were not created by black people. The way people see it, it’s black people that have a problem. But no, it’s white people who have a problem.
“It’s not, ‘How do you deal with your racism?’ They should say, ‘How do we deal with ‘our racism’?” She adds that some white Irish people go through a series of stages “before they can actually hear about race and racism”.
“They hear it first as an indictment of themselves and nobody wants to hear anything bad about themselves… In order not to sit with that uncomfortable feeling, they run away from it, they push back by denying the experience.”
Racism is not about “the KKK, that you have a white hood on your head”, Joseph says. “No. Racism is every day. It’s normal. It’s written into our policies and how we operate on a daily basis.
“Even if you do nothing, just be white, all you need to do is show up and automatically you are favoured. Whiteness makes you a benefactor of the racist structures that have been put in place.”
A lot of the systemic racial equalities stem, she says, not from an overt desire to exclude black people but an implicit desire on the part of employers to hire people just like them. “Group favouritism,” she says, “is when we favour people who look like us. It’s [like when] you go to the pub and you reserve the seat beside you for your partner while everyone else has to stand waiting… That's how discrimination operates.”
Urging people to expand their networks, she says: "Add one [person of colour] to the people you follow on Twitter or Linked In. Add one to your organisation.” She laughs. “And then add one more because it’s very isolating to be the only one in there.”
People of colour should not be "just reduced" to telling stories about their worst experiences and that they are also represented more widely in Irish life. Talking about experiences of racism is painful, she says. "It's very embarrassing sometimes.
"You don't want to be the object of other people's pity. 'Oh my God, poor you'… So the black friend you have, they are not your teacher [on racism]. Ask me and that's fine, because that's my job as an educator. I thrive on providing information…
"But listen and find information. There are good books out there... If you work in an organisation, make sure you get somebody in who is equipped to teach you. Attend a black studies module.” And keep learning, she says. “You can’t do an hour of cultural bias training and expect to be an anti-racist… You can’t come and talk to us and then go to your all-white meetings to solve the problem.”
Talented young people of colour should steer away from places where they do not see themselves represented there, Joseph says, so organisations (including media organisations) should go beyond mentoring them to actively sponsor and champion them.
She benefited from such sponsorship herself, she says, thanks to the UCD academic Kathleen Lynch. “Come to a school in Lucan or Blanchardstown where the [classes] are very mixed. Stop going to Dublin 4 to talk about journalism. Go to Tallaght, to Blanchardstown... Talk to the young people there about your journey and what they need to do and tell them how possible it is for them to do it… Amplify black voices.”
[ here ]
* This article was amended on June 18th, 2020


theirishtimes--2020-06-17--Nearly 20% risk patients with suicidal ideation will self-harm inside five years, study finds

Almost one-fifth of people who go to hospital with suicidal ideation will return having self-harmed within five years , Irish researchers have found .
The authors of a study published this month in the Lancet argue “ early intervention for those with suicidal thinking is critical ” given the subsequent risk of self-harm .
The research was led by Dr Eve Griffin at the National Suicide Research Foundation ( NSRF ) along with the school of public health at University College Cork ( UCC ) and the North ’ s Public Health Agency .
The study , based on data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , showed that more than 1,000 patients who presented at hospitals with suicidal ideation for the first time between 2014 and 2019 returned to hospitals having self-harmed .
The researchers examined 9,792 cases and found there was a 40 per cent risk people would present again with suicidal ideation and an 18 per cent risk they would self-harm .
The risk of self-harm within 12 months was 10 per cent and the study also found the risk of “ transition from ideation to self-harm ” was greatest after the first or second time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk dropping after further presentations .
Dr Griffin , a research fellow at the NSRF , which is based at UCC , said it was “ quite a unique study ” in that it is one of the first to focus on ideation rather than solely on self-harm .
Dr Griffin said people who attend hospital with suicidal ideation had “ quite a distinct profile ” from those who self-harm , yet there were no formal clinical guidelines specifically addressing how hospital staff should treat those patients .
Given the risk of future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with suicidal ideation should be treated seriously ” , yet she said there was anecdotal evidence that that was not always the case .
Responses to self-harm vary significantly in hospitals across the Republic , with the National Self-Harm Registry ’ s annual report for 2018 finding admittance to a hospital bed varied from 10 per cent of patients to 63 per cent .
About 13 per cent of patients left the emergency department before a next care recommendation could be made .
Of those discharged , one-third were referred for an outpatient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a referral .
Dr Griffin said it appears “ sometimes the treatment you receive is more about where you present than why you present ” .
In 2018 , the University of Limerick hospital group , which includes University Hospital Limerick ( UHL ) , had the lowest rate of admittance for self-harm patients , while Limerick city had the highest rate of self-harm among women and the second-highest rate among men .
Last week , a Limerick out-of-hours information service called for an independent investigation into “ the treatment of vulnerable people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health services in the midwest ” .
Haven Hub founder Leona O ’ Callaghan said : “ In our experiences since opening last year as a service and engaging with many families and service users , there is a systematic failure in procedures that is seriously jeopardising the safety and lives of those at risk of suicide.
” A spokesman for HSE Mid West , which oversees mental health services in Limerick , said : “ We always encourage people who need support to contact their GP in the first instance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ department [ at ] UHL provides a consultant-led liaison psychiatry service where each person who presents with self-harm receives a timely assessment from a mental health specialist and [ is ] then linked to the appropriate care service .
Decisions in relation to individual cases are the responsibility of the assessing clinician .
In addition , the staffing of the service by [ an ] experienced clinical nurse specialist has led to the rate of inappropriate admissions being much reduced .
“ Upon presentation to an emergency department with an episode of deliberate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit is not always the appropriate action or indeed in the best interests of the person presenting.
” A separate 2016 study involving the NSRF concluded there was no strong evidence to suggest medical admission reduces the risk of repeat self-harm .
In 2018 , 9,785 people presented at emergency departments in the Republic having self-harmed , a 7 per cent increase on 2017 .
The registry in the North recorded 6,107 cases .
The registry in the Republic , operated by the NSRF , stopped collecting data on self-harm due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she expected information to be available again from next month .
She said she would like to see data on suicidal ideation recorded routinely in Ireland .
If you are affected by anything in this article , Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo @ samaritans.ie or jo @ samaritans.org .
Pieta House can be reached at freephone 1800 247 247 .

The research was led by Dr Eve Griffin at the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF). Photograph: Getty Images
Almost one-fifth of people who go to hospital with suicidal ideation will return having self-harmed within five years, Irish researchers have found.
The authors of a study published this month in the Lancet argue "early intervention for those with suicidal thinking is critical" given the subsequent risk of self-harm.
The research was led by Dr Eve Griffin at the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) along with the school of public health at University College Cork (UCC) and the North's Public Health Agency.
The study, based on data from the Northern Ireland Registry of Self-harm, showed that more than 1,000 patients who presented at hospitals with suicidal ideation for the first time between 2014 and 2019 returned to hospitals having self-harmed.
READ MORE
The researchers examined 9,792 cases and found there was a 40 per cent risk people would present again with suicidal ideation and an 18 per cent risk they would self-harm.
The risk of self-harm within 12 months was 10 per cent and the study also found the risk of “transition from ideation to self-harm” was greatest after the first or second time they went to hospital, with the risk dropping after further presentations.
Dr Griffin, a research fellow at the NSRF, which is based at UCC, said it was “quite a unique study” in that it is one of the first to focus on ideation rather than solely on self-harm.
Dr Griffin said people who attend hospital with suicidal ideation had “quite a distinct profile” from those who self-harm, yet there were no formal clinical guidelines specifically addressing how hospital staff should treat those patients.
Anecdotal evidence
Given the risk of future presentation, “every individual who presents with suicidal ideation should be treated seriously”, yet she said there was anecdotal evidence that that was not always the case.
Responses to self-harm vary significantly in hospitals across the Republic, with the National Self-Harm Registry’s annual report for 2018 finding admittance to a hospital bed varied from 10 per cent of patients to 63 per cent.
About 13 per cent of patients left the emergency department before a next care recommendation could be made.
Of those discharged, one-third were referred for an outpatient appointment and one-fifth were sent home without a referral.
Dr Griffin said it appears “sometimes the treatment you receive is more about where you present than why you present”.
In 2018, the University of Limerick hospital group, which includes University Hospital Limerick (UHL), had the lowest rate of admittance for self-harm patients, while Limerick city had the highest rate of self-harm among women and the second-highest rate among men.
Last week, a Limerick out-of-hours information service called for an independent investigation into “the treatment of vulnerable people at risk of suicide by emergency and mental health services in the midwest”. Haven Hub founder Leona O’Callaghan said: “In our experiences since opening last year as a service and engaging with many families and service users, there is a systematic failure in procedures that is seriously jeopardising the safety and lives of those at risk of suicide.”
A spokesman for HSE Mid West, which oversees mental health services in Limerick, said: “We always encourage people who need support to contact their GP in the first instance.
‘Timely assessment’
“The crisis service in the emergency department [at] UHL provides a consultant-led liaison psychiatry service where each person who presents with self-harm receives a timely assessment from a mental health specialist and [is] then linked to the appropriate care service. Decisions in relation to individual cases are the responsibility of the assessing clinician. In addition, the staffing of the service by [an] experienced clinical nurse specialist has led to the rate of inappropriate admissions being much reduced.
“Upon presentation to an emergency department with an episode of deliberate self-harm, admission to an acute psychiatric unit is not always the appropriate action or indeed in the best interests of the person presenting.”
A separate 2016 study involving the NSRF concluded there was no strong evidence to suggest medical admission reduces the risk of repeat self-harm.
In 2018, 9,785 people presented at emergency departments in the Republic having self-harmed, a 7 per cent increase on 2017. The registry in the North recorded 6,107 cases.
The registry in the Republic, operated by the NSRF, stopped collecting data on self-harm due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Dr Griffin said she expected information to be available again from next month. She said she would like to see data on suicidal ideation recorded routinely in Ireland.
If you are affected by anything in this article, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie or jo@samaritans.org. Pieta House can be reached at freephone 1800 247 247.


theirishtimes--2020-06-17--Elderly care will require ‘significant changes’ to manage Covid-19

There will have to be “ very significant changes ” to how vulnerable older people are cared for in the Covid-19 pandemic , the head of the Health Service Executive will warn .
Paul Reid , chief executive of the HSE , will tell the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Thursday the elderly care sector will need to change in order to tackle further outbreaks of the virus or other diseases .
“ It is clear that there is a requirement for very significant changes in relation to the model of care that are used in this country to care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Reid will say .
“ These changes require a concerted effort across policy makers , regulators , providers and clinical experts to achieve a safe and sustainable model of care into the future.
” He will tell TDs in his opening statement that the areas requiring significant development include overall governance arrangements for private nursing homes , the HSE ’ s Covid response teams and the funding model for long-term care and alternatives to long-term care .
Nursing homes have endured the worst of the pandemic , accounting for more than half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the State since March .
Three new coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Wednesday along with a further eight cases of the virus .
This brings to 25,341 the number of known cases of the disease .
Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Dáil the reproduction number for the virus remains at 0.7 – below the key metric of one – showing that the outbreak is being extinguished .
The team will meet on Thursday to decide which parts of the lockdown restrictions can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next reopening phases on June 29th and July 20th .
In a sign nursing homes are making progress against the virus , Department of Health secretary general Jim Breslin will tell the Covid-19 committee that 50 per cent of nursing home clusters are “ closed ” , meaning that they have been Covid-free for 28 days or longer .
“ This has been an extremely challenging time for the residents , staff and families .
Some 18 per cent of the 30,000 residents of nursing homes have had a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has emerged that a request from Nursing Homes Ireland , which represents private nursing home owners , to become a member of the State ’ s Covid-19 working group on nursing homes in March was rejected because of potential conflicts of interest as it would consider financial supports .
In a document released to the Covid committee , the chair of the working group made up of a number of State agencies said in a letter in late March it would instead consult with private homes .
Private operators , which account for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have criticised their exclusion from public health teams considering measures to help the sector manage outbreaks during the pandemic .
More than 95,900 tests have been completed in long-term care settings following a NPHET recommendation in mid-April , Mr Breslin will tell the committee .
“ Our commitment to recording all deaths associated with Covid-19 , whether laboratory confirmed or probable , wherever they occur , means our figures are more accurate than in many countries , ” he will say .
Mr Harris said yesterday the number of clusters in nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also questioned in the Dáil about the public pay sector deal under which workers are hoping to receive a pay rise in October .
He said his “ clear view ” is that all agreements reached by the State “ should be honoured by the State ” .

Paul Reid, chief executive of the HSE, believes the elderly care sector will need to change in order to tackle further outbreaks of the virus or other diseases. Photograph: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA Wire
There will have to be "very significant changes" to how vulnerable older people are cared for in the Covid-19 pandemic, the head of the Health Service Executive will warn.
Paul Reid, chief executive of the HSE, will tell the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Thursday the elderly care sector will need to change in order to tackle further outbreaks of the virus or other diseases.
“It is clear that there is a requirement for very significant changes in relation to the model of care that are used in this country to care for our most vulnerable older people,” Mr Reid will say.
“These changes require a concerted effort across policy makers, regulators, providers and clinical experts to achieve a safe and sustainable model of care into the future.”
READ MORE
He will tell TDs in his opening statement that the areas requiring significant development include overall governance arrangements for private nursing homes, the HSE’s Covid response teams and the funding model for long-term care and alternatives to long-term care.
Nursing homes have endured the worst of the pandemic, accounting for more than half of the 1,710 deaths from the virus in the State since March.
Three new coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Wednesday along with a further eight cases of the virus. This brings to 25,341 the number of known cases of the disease.
Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Dáil the reproduction number for the virus remains at 0.7 – below the key metric of one – showing that the outbreak is being extinguished.
The team will meet on Thursday to decide which parts of the lockdown restrictions can be lifted more quickly than planned in the next reopening phases on June 29th and July 20th.
‘Extremely challenging’
In a sign nursing homes are making progress against the virus, Department of Health secretary general Jim Breslin will tell the Covid-19 committee that 50 per cent of nursing home clusters are "closed", meaning that they have been Covid-free for 28 days or longer.
“This has been an extremely challenging time for the residents, staff and families. Some 18 per cent of the 30,000 residents of nursing homes have had a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19,” he will say.
It has emerged that a request from Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents private nursing home owners, to become a member of the State’s Covid-19 working group on nursing homes in March was rejected because of potential conflicts of interest as it would consider financial supports.
In a document released to the Covid committee, the chair of the working group made up of a number of State agencies said in a letter in late March it would instead consult with private homes.
Private operators, which account for 80 per cent of nursing homes, have criticised their exclusion from public health teams considering measures to help the sector manage outbreaks during the pandemic.
Testing
More than 95,900 tests have been completed in long-term care settings following a NPHET recommendation in mid-April, Mr Breslin will tell the committee.
“Our commitment to recording all deaths associated with Covid-19, whether laboratory confirmed or probable, wherever they occur, means our figures are more accurate than in many countries,” he will say.
Mr Harris said yesterday the number of clusters in nursing homes is “significantly decreasing.”
He was also questioned in the Dáil about the public pay sector deal under which workers are hoping to receive a pay rise in October. He said his “clear view” is that all agreements reached by the State “should be honoured by the State”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-17--Keane-Collopy gang targeted ahead of leaders’ jail releases

A major crime gang targeted across three counties on Wednesday is led by two men set for release from jail in coming months and was also involved a decade-long feud in Limerick with the McCarthy-Dundon gang .
Members of the Keane-Collopy gang were targeted by more than 200 Garda members and Defence Forces personnel , including the Army helicopter , in raids at 67 private homes , businesses and lands in Limerick , Clare and Tipperary .
Operation Coronation , which was established to tackle the gang , resulted in Wednesday ’ s Garda raids with two cocaine presses seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including some sterling and UAE dirham as well as Irish punts .
One vehicle , valued at €50,000 , was seized along with jewellery and watches valued €100,000 ; the deeds to a property in Dubai ; financial documents ; €23,500 in cannabis , heroin and cocaine .
And €119,000 was frozen in two bank accounts .
The gang is comprised of older men , in their 30s and 40s , who were part of the gang during the Limerick feud as well as a group of young men who have come of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago .
One of its former leaders , Kieran Keane ( 36 ) , was shot dead by the McCarthy-Dundon gang in January 2013 , in a killing that sparked the lengthy feud .
Two of its key members are coming to the end of eight-year prison sentences for drug dealing : Kieran Collopy ( 44 ) of St Ita ’ s Street , St Mary ’ s Park ; and Brian Collopy ( 47 ) of Kilonan , Ballysimon .
At their sentencing in July 2016 , Limerick Circuit Court heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the drugs pyramid ” in Limerick city .
Brian Collopy had been released from prison just 11 months before he was arrested in connection with the €40,000 heroin haul he is currently serving eight years for .
He had travelled to Europe once each month , for about a week each time , for suspected drugs trafficking business in the 11 months he was at liberty .
Brian Collopy has also survived attempts on his life , though he has suffered gunshot wounds , and had his house in Limerick seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settlement .
He had previously been jailed for six years in 2011 for threatening to kill Willie Moran , a former criminal associate of the seven Collopy brothers who was due to give evidence against two of them in a court case .
Kieran Collopy and Damien Collopy were each jailed for five years in 2011 for threatening Mr Moran .
Vincent Collopy ( 40 ) was extradited from Bulgaria and also jailed for three years in 2016 for threatening Mr Moran .
Another brother , Philip Collopy ( 29 ) , shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pistol in 2009 while teaching younger men how to use it and died from his injuries .
He had also been involved in the murder of a former associate and enforcer Eddie Ryan , who was shot dead in the Moose Bar in Limerick city in November 2000 .
A seventh brother , Kenneth Collopy ( 29 ) , Killonan , Ballysimon , was jailed for life for the murder of Daniel Fitzgerald ( 25 ) in Limerick in 2009 .

A major crime gang targeted across three counties on Wednesday is led by two men set for release from jail in coming months and was also involved a decade-long feud in Limerick with the McCarthy-Dundon gang.
Members of the Keane-Collopy gang were targeted by more than 200 Garda members and Defence Forces personnel, including the Army helicopter, in raids at 67 private homes, businesses and lands in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.
Operation Coronation, which was established to tackle the gang, resulted in Wednesday’s Garda raids with two cocaine presses seized as well as approximately €220,000 in cash including some sterling and UAE dirham as well as Irish punts. One vehicle, valued at €50,000, was seized along with jewellery and watches valued €100,000; the deeds to a property in Dubai; financial documents; €23,500 in cannabis, heroin and cocaine. And €119,000 was frozen in two bank accounts. The gang is comprised of older men, in their 30s and 40s, who were part of the gang during the Limerick feud as well as a group of young men who have come of age since the feud ended almost 10 years ago.
Lengthy feud
One of its former leaders, Kieran Keane (36), was shot dead by the McCarthy-Dundon gang in January 2013, in a killing that sparked the lengthy feud.
READ MORE
Two of its key members are coming to the end of eight-year prison sentences for drug dealing: Kieran Collopy (44) of St Ita's Street, St Mary's Park; and Brian Collopy (47) of Kilonan, Ballysimon.
At their sentencing in July 2016, Limerick Circuit Court heard the men were at the “top end of the drugs pyramid” in Limerick city.
Brian Collopy had been released from prison just 11 months before he was arrested in connection with the €40,000 heroin haul he is currently serving eight years for. He had travelled to Europe once each month, for about a week each time, for suspected drugs trafficking business in the 11 months he was at liberty.
Brian Collopy has also survived attempts on his life, though he has suffered gunshot wounds, and had his house in Limerick seized by Cab as part of a near-€500,000 settlement.
Death threat
He had previously been jailed for six years in 2011 for threatening to kill Willie Moran, a former criminal associate of the seven Collopy brothers who was due to give evidence against two of them in a court case.
Kieran Collopy and Damien Collopy were each jailed for five years in 2011 for threatening Mr Moran.
Vincent Collopy (40) was extradited from Bulgaria and also jailed for three years in 2016 for threatening Mr Moran.
Another brother, Philip Collopy (29), shot himself in the head with a Glock pistol in 2009 while teaching younger men how to use it and died from his injuries. He had also been involved in the murder of a former associate and enforcer Eddie Ryan, who was shot dead in the Moose Bar in Limerick city in November 2000.
A seventh brother, Kenneth Collopy (29), Killonan, Ballysimon, was jailed for life for the murder of Daniel Fitzgerald (25) in Limerick in 2009.