theirishtimes--2020-12-18--‘The country simply cannot cope with this level of infection’ before Christmas, says Tony Holohan as

‘The country simply cannot cope with this level of infection’ before Christmas, says Tony Holohan as 582 new cases reported

The situation with Covid-19 is getting worse more rapidly than public health officials expected , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned on Friday , as a further 582 new cases of the virus were reported .
“ Over the past week , we have expressed significant concern that the level of infection was deteriorating day on day .
The data today adds further evidence that the situation is getting worse more rapidly than we expected .
“ The country simply can not cope with this level of infection as we head into Christmas week .
With vaccines offering hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable groups , we want to keep them alive and well so that they can receive it , ” he said .
“ Each one of us must do all we can to protect public health - cut your contacts , see only those you need to see .
Choose to socialise safely , outdoors if possible .
If you see a crowd , avoid it .
“ By choosing to act safely right now , together we can limit the impact this disease will have in the weeks and months to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can protect the vulnerable and prevent unnecessary deaths , ” he added .
A further six deaths of Covid-19 patients were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Friday .
This brings to 2,149 the total number of deaths in the pandemic .
Nphet also reported an additional 582 confirmed cases of the disease , bringing to 78,254 the total number of cases in the Republic .
This is the highest daily total since November 5th .
Of the new cases , 193 are in Dublin , 59 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 42 in Meath and 34 in Cork with the remaining 207 cases spread across all other remaining counties .
On Friday afternoon there were 198 Covid-19 patients in hospital , of which 34 were in ICU .
There have been 13 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours .
The surge in cases has pushed the 14-day incidence of the disease up above 100 again , to 100.8 cases per 100,000 people .
Donegal , Louth and Kilkenny have the highest county figures , while Leitrim and Clare have the lowest .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of Covid-19 outbreaks in private households , and just one recorded in a hospitality setting in the past week , latest figures show .
New data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) shows an additional 328 outbreaks - defined as two or more cases - occurred in family homes last week , an 18 per cent increase on the 279 reported the week before .
Private houses remain the most commonly reported outbreak location , according to the report .
There were also an additional 13 outbreaks among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitality sector , there was one outbreak recorded in a hotel , but none in restaurants or cafes .
If the Government heeds new advice from Nphet , restaurants and cafes would close on December 28th , save for takeaways .
Meanwhile , a further 19 outbreaks were reported in schools in the week to Saturday December 12th , bringing to 103 the number of open outbreaks associated with the settings .
There were also nine new acute hospital outbreaks and four more in nursing homes .
Nine new workplace outbreaks were also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or drink production company , one in the construction industry , three in manufacturing , and one in an office .
On Thursday , the Chief Medical Officer , Dr Tony Holohan , warned that the virus is spreading in social settings , including Christmas parties , workplaces , and funerals .
“ I can not stress enough how important it is to limit your interactions now .
The consequences of not doing so will be exponential growth in January , a substantial increase in hospitalisations and risk to life , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department in its figures published on Friday afternoon reported 12 more deaths from the virus taking its total to 1,166 .
An additional 510 new cases of the virus were also reported by it , taking the total to 60,797 .
There are 445 patients receiving Covid treatment in Northern Ireland hospitals with 31 in intensive care and 26 on ventilators .

In the last seven days 84,981 Covid-19 tests were carried out across the country, which had a positivity rate of 3.5 per cent. Photograph: Alan Betson
The situation with Covid-19 is getting worse more rapidly than public health officials expected, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned on Friday, as a further 582 new cases of the virus were reported.
“Over the past week, we have expressed significant concern that the level of infection was deteriorating day on day. The data today adds further evidence that the situation is getting worse more rapidly than we expected.
“The country simply cannot cope with this level of infection as we head into Christmas week. With vaccines offering hope in the coming months for our most vulnerable groups, we want to keep them alive and well so that they can receive it,” he said.
Hospital Report
“Each one of us must do all we can to protect public health - cut your contacts, see only those you need to see. Choose to socialise safely, outdoors if possible. If you see a crowd, avoid it.
READ MORE
“By choosing to act safely right now, together we can limit the impact this disease will have in the weeks and months to come - and in doing so, we can protect the vulnerable and prevent unnecessary deaths,” he added.
A further six deaths of Covid-19 patients were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Friday.
This brings to 2,149 the total number of deaths in the pandemic.
Nphet also reported an additional 582 confirmed cases of the disease, bringing to 78,254 the total number of cases in the Republic.
This is the highest daily total since November 5th.
Of the new cases, 193 are in Dublin, 59 in Wexford, 47 in Louth, 42 in Meath and 34 in Cork with the remaining 207 cases spread across all other remaining counties.
On Friday afternoon there were 198 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 34 were in ICU. There have been 13 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
The surge in cases has pushed the 14-day incidence of the disease up above 100 again, to 100.8 cases per 100,000 people. Donegal, Louth and Kilkenny have the highest county figures, while Leitrim and Clare have the lowest.
Meanwhile there has been a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 outbreaks in private households, and just one recorded in a hospitality setting in the past week, latest figures show.
New data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows an additional 328 outbreaks - defined as two or more cases - occurred in family homes last week, an 18 per cent increase on the 279 reported the week before.
Private houses remain the most commonly reported outbreak location, according to the report. There were also an additional 13 outbreaks among extended family members.
As for the hospitality sector, there was one outbreak recorded in a hotel, but none in restaurants or cafes. If the Government heeds new advice from Nphet, restaurants and cafes would close on December 28th, save for takeaways.
Meanwhile, a further 19 outbreaks were reported in schools in the week to Saturday December 12th, bringing to 103 the number of open outbreaks associated with the settings.
There were also nine new acute hospital outbreaks and four more in nursing homes.
Nine new workplace outbreaks were also recorded, including one in a food or drink production company, one in the construction industry, three in manufacturing, and one in an office.
On Thursday, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, warned that the virus is spreading in social settings, including Christmas parties, workplaces, and funerals.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is to limit your interactions now. The consequences of not doing so will be exponential growth in January, a substantial increase in hospitalisations and risk to life,” he said.
The North’s health department in its figures published on Friday afternoon reported 12 more deaths from the virus taking its total to 1,166.
An additional 510 new cases of the virus were also reported by it, taking the total to 60,797.
There are 445 patients receiving Covid treatment in Northern Ireland hospitals with 31 in intensive care and 26 on ventilators.


theirishtimes--2020-12-18--Here we go again, another set of bad Covid-19 figures prompting another round of restrictions

So here we go again .
Another set of bad Covid-19 figures prompting another round of restrictions , almost inevitably .
The Republic may have the lowest case numbers in the European Union at present but we have also had restrictions , including lockdown , imposed for longer than almost anywhere else .
Not only have we not found a way out of yo-yo restrictions but we are further away than ever from finding a lasting solution to the challenge of controlling the virus while keeping society open .
A vaccine can not come soon enough .
The Government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions has had so many tweaks now it is barely recognisable .
It seems set to suffer further neglect next week when the Cabinet decides on the latest call by public health officials for stricter measures to stop transmission .
Events of recent days show the decision-making process around Covid-19 is broken , with officials making a recommendation to Government , the Taoiseach half-disclosing it on television , and businesses and others who could be affected left to swing in the wind until Cabinet makes it mind up next Tuesday .
Public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough at the end of the second surge , and were not kept at that level for long enough .
Since then , we have been unable to stop them increasing again this month , once Level 5 restrictions were lifted .
The growth rate of the virus is about 2 per cent and indications from GPs and testing centres point in recent days to more people showing symptoms and testing positive .
As a result , the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) fears numbers could hit 1,200 cases a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level which prompted our most recent lockdown in late October .
Case numbers are only one metric in this pandemic , though ; one-quarter of those testing positive have no symptoms and most of those with symptoms will have only a mild illness .
The trends for serious infections are harder to interpret .
The number of Covid-19 patients in ICU and the number of deaths now are the same as they were in October .
Then , case numbers were four times higher , with 33 in ICU and five deaths a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of place in an average flu season and the health service has at no time been overwhelmed .
In Ireland , though not in other European countries this winter , trends in serious illness have not followed case numbers , for some reason .
This is still broadly the case despite higher incidence among older people since October .
There hasn ’ t been any excess mortality in Ireland since spring , a phenomenon that needs greater analysis .
And thanks to absence of flu , hospitals are quieter this winter than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where are the 330 or so new cases each day occurring ?
Once again , information is scant .
Nphet officials on Thursday talked of “ substantial outbreaks ” in workplaces , at Christmas parties and at funerals , but gave no details .
The figures in HSE reports paint a different picture , as usual .
Last week , the number of outbreaks linked to cafes and restaurants , and to pubs , was zero .
Just one was linked to a hotel , according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to determine precisely where a person contracted the disease .
Yet the absence of greater surveillance details suggests a system that is not keeping up with the patterns of transmission .
As chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan told Government this month , “ further progress is required in the timeliness and robustness of the public health response ” .
Nphet members are not slow to point the finger at the hospitality sector , yet we hear much less about the role of healthcare settings in driving transmission of the virus .
Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hospitals , many substantial , and 93 in nursing homes .
The two counties with the highest case numbers recently , Donegal and Kilkenny , saw large outbreaks in their local hospitals .
Undoubtedly many of these cases are brought in from the surrounding community .
But , equally , it is likely that people are picking up the virus from someone infected in a hospital , or nursing home .
It is small wonder , therefore , that Nphet has in recent days proposed the setting up of an infection control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other factor driving up cases in the Republic is the over-spill of infection from the North , where incidence is much higher .
The two jurisdictions are almost comically out of synch these days in terms of restrictions , despite repeated nods towards an all-Ireland approach .
The absence of any controls on cross-Border movement makes it harder to avoid the kind of blanket restrictions which are Nphet ’ s favourite way of controlling virus spread .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Cabinet will “ seriously consider ” Nphet ’ s proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close restaurants .
Spooked perhaps by what has happened in the rest of Europe , the Government seems less willing to resist Nphet than it was in the autumn .
The arrival of a vaccine will tilt the odds against the virus , but not before we may have to endure a few more rounds of this merry-go-round .
So it seems likely the current easing of measures will be curtailed , and that further restrictions , perhaps even another lockdown , will be introduced in January .
And what then ?
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns ?
Do we try to drive cases down to the low levels seen at the end of the summer , which means a longer lockdown and more economic carnage ?
Or do we settle for a more modest target , when this approach bought us just a month of easing of restrictions this time around ?
It does not sound like much of a choice .
But without faster testing , better control of outbreaks , stricter quarantine and other measures that have worked elsewhere , it ’ s all we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Hamilton Park Nursing Home resident 98-year-old Eddie Burtenshaw and Gladys, his wife of 70 years, hug for the first time in 10 months having previously seen each other only through Perspex partition. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography
So here we go again. Another set of bad Covid-19 figures prompting another round of restrictions, almost inevitably.
The Republic may have the lowest case numbers in the European Union at present but we have also had restrictions, including lockdown, imposed for longer than almost anywhere else.
Not only have we not found a way out of yo-yo restrictions but we are further away than ever from finding a lasting solution to the challenge of controlling the virus while keeping society open.
A vaccine cannot come soon enough.
READ MORE
The Government’s Covid-19 plan with multiple layers of restrictions has had so many tweaks now it is barely recognisable. It seems set to suffer further neglect next week when the Cabinet decides on the latest call by public health officials for stricter measures to stop transmission.
Events of recent days show the decision-making process around Covid-19 is broken, with officials making a recommendation to Government, the Taoiseach half-disclosing it on television, and businesses and others who could be affected left to swing in the wind until Cabinet makes it mind up next Tuesday.
Public health officials say case numbers did not fall enough at the end of the second surge, and were not kept at that level for long enough. Since then, we have been unable to stop them increasing again this month, once Level 5 restrictions were lifted.
The growth rate of the virus is about 2 per cent and indications from GPs and testing centres point in recent days to more people showing symptoms and testing positive.
As a result, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) fears numbers could hit 1,200 cases a day by early January, roughly the level which prompted our most recent lockdown in late October.
Case numbers are only one metric in this pandemic, though; one-quarter of those testing positive have no symptoms and most of those with symptoms will have only a mild illness.
The trends for serious infections are harder to interpret. The number of Covid-19 patients in ICU and the number of deaths now are the same as they were in October.
Then, case numbers were four times higher, with 33 in ICU and five deaths a day. These numbers would not be out of place in an average flu season and the health service has at no time been overwhelmed.
In Ireland, though not in other European countries this winter, trends in serious illness have not followed case numbers, for some reason. This is still broadly the case despite higher incidence among older people since October.
There hasn’t been any excess mortality in Ireland since spring, a phenomenon that needs greater analysis. And thanks to absence of flu, hospitals are quieter this winter than they have been for many years.
‘Substantial outbreaks’
Where are the 330 or so new cases each day occurring? Once again, information is scant. Nphet officials on Thursday talked of “substantial outbreaks” in workplaces, at Christmas parties and at funerals, but gave no details.
The figures in HSE reports paint a different picture, as usual. Last week, the number of outbreaks linked to cafes and restaurants, and to pubs, was zero. Just one was linked to a hotel, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
Of course, it is often difficult to determine precisely where a person contracted the disease. Yet the absence of greater surveillance details suggests a system that is not keeping up with the patterns of transmission.
As chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan told Government this month, "further progress is required in the timeliness and robustness of the public health response".
Nphet members are not slow to point the finger at the hospitality sector, yet we hear much less about the role of healthcare settings in driving transmission of the virus.
Since July, there have been 100 outbreaks in hospitals, many substantial, and 93 in nursing homes. The two counties with the highest case numbers recently, Donegal and Kilkenny, saw large outbreaks in their local hospitals.
Undoubtedly many of these cases are brought in from the surrounding community. But, equally, it is likely that people are picking up the virus from someone infected in a hospital, or nursing home.
It is small wonder, therefore, that Nphet has in recent days proposed the setting up of an infection control team to tackle hospital outbreaks.
Infection over-spill
The other factor driving up cases in the Republic is the over-spill of infection from the North, where incidence is much higher. The two jurisdictions are almost comically out of synch these days in terms of restrictions, despite repeated nods towards an all-Ireland approach. The absence of any controls on cross-Border movement makes it harder to avoid the kind of blanket restrictions which are Nphet’s favourite way of controlling virus spread.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Cabinet will "seriously consider" Nphet's proposals to restrict travel and mixing and to close restaurants. Spooked perhaps by what has happened in the rest of Europe, the Government seems less willing to resist Nphet than it was in the autumn.
The arrival of a vaccine will tilt the odds against the virus, but not before we may have to endure a few more rounds of this merry-go-round.
So it seems likely the current easing of measures will be curtailed, and that further restrictions, perhaps even another lockdown, will be introduced in January.
And what then? How do we escape the cycle of repeated lockdowns? Do we try to drive cases down to the low levels seen at the end of the summer, which means a longer lockdown and more economic carnage?
Or do we settle for a more modest target, when this approach bought us just a month of easing of restrictions this time around?
It does not sound like much of a choice. But without faster testing, better control of outbreaks, stricter quarantine and other measures that have worked elsewhere, it’s all we have as a policy at the moment.


theirishtimes--2020-12-18--‘We will have to struggle on’: Cork businesses brace for further restrictions

The decision to close restaurants and pubs before the new year will “ cause havoc ” to butchers , many of whom supply such premises and suffered a major financial hit during previous lockdowns .
Liam Bresnan , of Bresnan Butchers Limited in Douglas Village Shopping Centre and the English Market in Cork , said it delivers meat from its own farms to a number of high-quality restaurants in the city and county .
The butchers in Douglas only opened for business on December 1st having been closed for more than a year after a fire in a car park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centre .
“ We supply a lot of restaurants so it is going to create havoc .
We had geared up as you can imagine for Christmas and new year trade .
There is a supply chain as you can appreciate .
We will have to comply and that is it .
“ Last time around we froze stuff but restaurants did not want frozen products .
That stock was lost .
We were only one of many , ” said Mr Bresnan , whose family business first started trading in 1898 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ boutique , said that she was relieved to be back in business 15 months after a fire forced the closure of the centre in Douglas .
She traded in a pop-up shop in the nearby Woollen Mills over the last year and is wary of any further restrictions after the toughest time in her 11 years of business .
She said that the closure of restaurants and cafes will have a knock-on effect for trade at the centre .
“ It would be terrible on the centre to see the [ cafes ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have just got open .
We are only 18 days open today .
“ We have had everything thrown at us here with the fire and the flooding [ in 2012 and again last year ] .
The traders here have huge resilience .
The support has been unbelievable since I opened up .
This is a community shopping centre.
” Ms Creber is wary of the rising coronavirus case numbers but is hopeful to avoid a further Level 5 lockdown .
“ It is hard to plan .
In the business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You are thinking of seasons .
It is all over the place .
“ You are trying to figure out stock for next year .
If you buy stock you are obliged to take it even [ if further restrictions come in ] .
My suppliers have been so good to me .
To get open and to close again would be devastating.
” Douglas Village Shopping Centre manager Bartosz Mieszala was keenly anticipating the reopening of the onsite library on Friday afternoon .
The library was revamped and modernised during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their way , traders will battle on .
After a flood , a fire and a pandemic in recent years , he believes that the centre is almost bulletproof in terms of survival .
“ We are kind of used to stress – dealing with disasters and problems .
Most of the problems have a solution .
As bad as the pandemic is , it will end at some stage .
My advice always would be struggle on for a better future.
” Further restrictions will impact , he said “ but there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We will have to struggle on and look towards the light at the end of the tunnel .
”

Vicki Creber owner of Itso Me boutique in the centre. 'To close again would be devastating,' she says. Photograph: Olivia Kelly
The decision to close restaurants and pubs before the new year will “cause havoc” to butchers, many of whom supply such premises and suffered a major financial hit during previous lockdowns.
Liam Bresnan, of Bresnan Butchers Limited in Douglas Village Shopping Centre and the English Market in Cork, said it delivers meat from its own farms to a number of high-quality restaurants in the city and county.
The butchers in Douglas only opened for business on December 1st having been closed for more than a year after a fire in a car park onsite caused huge damage to the shopping centre.
“We supply a lot of restaurants so it is going to create havoc. We had geared up as you can imagine for Christmas and new year trade. There is a supply chain as you can appreciate. We will have to comply and that is it.
READ MORE
Liam Bresnan owner of Bresnan Butchers in Douglas Village Shopping Centre, Cork. The butchers only opened for business on December 1st having been closed for more than a year after a fire. Photograph: Olivia Kelly
“Last time around we froze stuff but restaurants did not want frozen products. That stock was lost. We were only one of many,” said Mr Bresnan, whose family business first started trading in 1898.
Relieved
Vicki Creber, owner of Itso Me boutique, said that she was relieved to be back in business 15 months after a fire forced the closure of the centre in Douglas.
She traded in a pop-up shop in the nearby Woollen Mills over the last year and is wary of any further restrictions after the toughest time in her 11 years of business.
She said that the closure of restaurants and cafes will have a knock-on effect for trade at the centre.
“It would be terrible on the centre to see the [cafes] close in the days after Christmas. They have just got open. We are only 18 days open today.
“We have had everything thrown at us here with the fire and the flooding [in 2012 and again last year]. The traders here have huge resilience. The support has been unbelievable since I opened up. This is a community shopping centre.”
Ms Creber is wary of the rising coronavirus case numbers but is hopeful to avoid a further Level 5 lockdown.
“It is hard to plan. In the business you are buying forward all the time. You are thinking of seasons. It is all over the place.
Devastating
“You are trying to figure out stock for next year. If you buy stock you are obliged to take it even [if further restrictions come in]. My suppliers have been so good to me. To get open and to close again would be devastating.”
Douglas Village Shopping Centre manager Bartosz Mieszala was keenly anticipating the reopening of the onsite library on Friday afternoon. The library was revamped and modernised during the closure.
Bartosz Mieszala, manager of the Douglas Village Shopping Centre. Photograph: Olivia Kelly
He said whatever restrictions come their way, traders will battle on. After a flood, a fire and a pandemic in recent years, he believes that the centre is almost bulletproof in terms of survival.
“We are kind of used to stress – dealing with disasters and problems. Most of the problems have a solution. As bad as the pandemic is, it will end at some stage. My advice always would be struggle on for a better future.”
Further restrictions will impact, he said “but there is nothing we can do about it. We will have to struggle on and look towards the light at the end of the tunnel.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-18--Man jailed for attacking ex-partner and throwing brick through window

A Dublin man has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison for attacking his former partner and smashing windows at her home .
Paul O ’ Shea ( 34 ) of Owensilla , Ballymun , Dublin , pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an assault which took place in his neighbourhood on May 17th of this year .
Garda John Fitzpatrick told Elva Duffy , prosecuting , that gardaí had been alerted at 4am .
The front-door window and an upstairs window had been smashed by O ’ Shea , who had been living on and off at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack .
O ’ Shea ’ s former partner , who already had a protection order against the accused , had been trying to get him to leave .
She described him as going “ on a mad one ” , throwing chairs and punching her in the head .
When she managed to get him out of the house , he threw a brick at her bedroom window and smashed her front door .
She told gardaí he had been kicking her and dragged her out to the front garden , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smashed a photo of her children and another one of her parents which she said “ meant the world to her ” .
When gardaí arrived on the scene , O ’ Shea ran off , calling his ex-partner a rat .
The court heard that the injured party had been incredibly afraid and that she was terrified of him .
She had marks on her left side where she had been kicked and her face was marked on the right side .
The damage that was done to her home was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not have the finances to replace the broken windows .
Gardaí had then carried out a search at O ’ Shea ’ s parents ’ house which was on the same street .
He tried escaping , climbing over a side fence but was arrested .
The accused has 64 previous convictions for theft , assaulting a police officer , robbery , damaging property , intoxication in a public place , sexual assault and threatening to kill or cause harm .
The court heard that O ’ Shea is 10 years younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a toxic relationship involving drug abuse .
Nicola Cox , defending , said that while this was a horrific offence , O ’ Shea had been labouring under a drug addiction at the time .
She said that her client was engaging with Merchants Quay rehabilitation services and that he was doing very well in custody and was drug free .
The court heard that when O ’ Shea takes drugs , he is very unpleasant to be around and that his parents have had to take a protection order against him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder in 2019 and would like assistance for depression .
He felt the drug abuse was medicinal and was his way of dealing with issues .
Judge Pauline Codd described “ violent name-calling ” which had left the victim in need of counselling .
She said O ’ Shea ’ s ex-partner felt she could not have her children over to the house for Christmas following the attack .
Aggravating factors included the fact that O ’ Shea was in breach of a court order and the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male upon a female which involved a disparity in terms of strength .
She noted the added insult of “ smashing up ” the front of the victim ’ s house .
Speaking about O ’ Shea ’ s personal circumstances , the judge said he had gained a level of insight into the effect of using drugs .
She sentenced him to 3½ years in prison , suspending the final year on the condition that he be of good behaviour particularly in relation to drugs .

Paul O’Shea’s partner, who already had a protection order against the accused, had been trying to get him to leave her home in Ballymun when he attacked her. File photograph: Collins Courts
A Dublin man has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison for attacking his former partner and smashing windows at her home.
Paul O'Shea (34) of Owensilla, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to an assault which took place in his neighbourhood on May 17th of this year.
Garda John Fitzpatrick told Elva Duffy, prosecuting, that gardaí had been alerted at 4am.
The front-door window and an upstairs window had been smashed by O’Shea, who had been living on and off at that address around the time of the attack.
READ MORE
O’Shea’s former partner, who already had a protection order against the accused, had been trying to get him to leave.
She described him as going “on a mad one”, throwing chairs and punching her in the head.
When she managed to get him out of the house, he threw a brick at her bedroom window and smashed her front door.
She told gardaí he had been kicking her and dragged her out to the front garden, calling her names and insulting her.
He smashed a photo of her children and another one of her parents which she said “meant the world to her”.
When gardaí arrived on the scene, O’Shea ran off, calling his ex-partner a rat.
The court heard that the injured party had been incredibly afraid and that she was terrified of him.
She had marks on her left side where she had been kicked and her face was marked on the right side.
The damage that was done to her home was a particular issue for the victim, who did not have the finances to replace the broken windows.
Gardaí had then carried out a search at O’Shea’s parents’ house which was on the same street. He tried escaping, climbing over a side fence but was arrested.
The accused has 64 previous convictions for theft, assaulting a police officer, robbery, damaging property, intoxication in a public place, sexual assault and threatening to kill or cause harm.
The court heard that O’Shea is 10 years younger than his former partner and that they had a toxic relationship involving drug abuse.
Nicola Cox, defending, said that while this was a horrific offence, O'Shea had been labouring under a drug addiction at the time.
She said that her client was engaging with Merchants Quay rehabilitation services and that he was doing very well in custody and was drug free.
The court heard that when O’Shea takes drugs, he is very unpleasant to be around and that his parents have had to take a protection order against him in the past.
The accused was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder in 2019 and would like assistance for depression. He felt the drug abuse was medicinal and was his way of dealing with issues.
Judge Pauline Codd described "violent name-calling" which had left the victim in need of counselling. She said O'Shea's ex-partner felt she could not have her children over to the house for Christmas following the attack.
Aggravating factors included the fact that O’Shea was in breach of a court order and the fact that it was an assault of a male upon a female which involved a disparity in terms of strength.
She noted the added insult of “smashing up” the front of the victim’s house.
Speaking about O’Shea’s personal circumstances, the judge said he had gained a level of insight into the effect of using drugs.
She sentenced him to 3½ years in prison, suspending the final year on the condition that he be of good behaviour particularly in relation to drugs.


theirishtimes--2020-12-18--Nphet advises restaurants be limited to takeaway and deliveries only after Christmas

The National Public Health Emergency Team has advised the Government to close restaurants and gastropubs to takeaway and deliveries only after Christmas to curb the spread of Covid-19 .
The team has recommended additional restrictions for the hospitality sector and reducing household visits from two to one other household from December 28th to reduce new infections .
The recommended restrictions would put the country back on enhanced Level 3 restrictions with a ban on inter-county travel again being introduced to reduce the movement of people .
Nphet advises that non-essential retail can remain open after Christmas .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ very minded ” to accept the advice of Nphet , set out in a letter received on Thursday , and to proceed with “ significant restrictions ” on the hospitality sector before New Year ’ s Eve .
Mr Martin stopped short of disclosed the date when the new restrictions might be introduced after Christmas ahead of the Government meeting next Tuesday to consider Nphet ’ s advice .
Following a virtual meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council , the Taoiseach said that Nphet was “ proposing significant restrictions on hospitality before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government is minded to go with that recommendation , but Government has to discuss this and we ’ ll ultimately decide on Tuesday , ” he said .
“ But certainly given the rising numbers over the last week - and they will increase again today - we are very minded to accept the advice that Nphet has given us in terms of bringing forward that date before New Year ’ s Eve , which will involve additional restrictions on hospitality.
” Mr Martin acknowledged that this was “ very serious ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands ready to support the hospitality sector during this very , very difficult period.
” “ We are much disposed to moving in accordance with the advice that we are receiving from Nphet , ” he said .
The Government may decide to delay restrictions to December 30th depending on the number of new cases between now and next week ’ s Cabinet meeting , but the expectation is restrictions will be introduced before New Year ’ s Eve due to concerns about social mixing that night .
It may decide to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for restaurants and gastropubs that can accommodate diners in heated outdoor areas , recognising the impact that the lockdowns and business closures have had on the sector over the course of the pandemic .
It is understood the Nphet letter expressed concern about the five- , seven- and 14-day incidence rates of the virus and the increased reproduction number of between 1.1 and 1.3 , meaning that the virus is spreading with between 11 and 13 new infections for every 10 cases .
Nphet raised concerns in the letter that infections are increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the second wave where new cases were mostly among younger people initially , and pointed to the risks of further spreading of the virus with family get-togethers over Christmas .
The public health team expressed worry about the situation with the high level of Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland as an example of how coronavirus infections can rise quickly .
Details of the Nphet ’ s recommendations emerged on the eve of a further relaxation of restrictions since the lifting of the six-week Level 5 restrictions at the start of December .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Friday , inter-county travel is permitted over Christmas until January 6th and people are allowed to have visitors to their home from two other households to allow for families and friends to mix over the festive period .

The Government may decide to keep open the possibility of permitting outdoor dining for restaurants and gastropubs that can accommodate diners in heated outdoor areas. File photograph Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
The National Public Health Emergency Team has advised the Government to close restaurants and gastropubs to takeaway and deliveries only after Christmas to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The team has recommended additional restrictions for the hospitality sector and reducing household visits from two to one other household from December 28th to reduce new infections.
The recommended restrictions would put the country back on enhanced Level 3 restrictions with a ban on inter-county travel again being introduced to reduce the movement of people.
Hospital Report
Nphet advises that non-essential retail can remain open after Christmas.
READ MORE
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Friday that the Government was “very minded” to accept the advice of Nphet, set out in a letter received on Thursday, and to proceed with “significant restrictions” on the hospitality sector before New Year’s Eve.
Mr Martin stopped short of disclosed the date when the new restrictions might be introduced after Christmas ahead of the Government meeting next Tuesday to consider Nphet’s advice.
Following a virtual meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, the Taoiseach said that Nphet was “proposing significant restrictions on hospitality before New Year’s Eve.”
“Government is minded to go with that recommendation, but Government has to discuss this and we’ll ultimately decide on Tuesday,” he said.
“But certainly given the rising numbers over the last week - and they will increase again today - we are very minded to accept the advice that Nphet has given us in terms of bringing forward that date before New Year’s Eve, which will involve additional restrictions on hospitality.”
Mr Martin acknowledged that this was “very serious” for the hospitality sector and the Government “stands ready to support the hospitality sector during this very, very difficult period.”
“We are much disposed to moving in accordance with the advice that we are receiving from Nphet,” he said.
The Government may decide to delay restrictions to December 30th depending on the number of new cases between now and next week’s Cabinet meeting, but the expectation is restrictions will be introduced before New Year’s Eve due to concerns about social mixing that night.
It may decide to keep open the possibility of permitting outdoor dining for restaurants and gastropubs that can accommodate diners in heated outdoor areas, recognising the impact that the lockdowns and business closures have had on the sector over the course of the pandemic.
It is understood the Nphet letter expressed concern about the five-, seven- and 14-day incidence rates of the virus and the increased reproduction number of between 1.1 and 1.3, meaning that the virus is spreading with between 11 and 13 new infections for every 10 cases.
Nphet raised concerns in the letter that infections are increasing across all age cohorts, in contrast to the second wave where new cases were mostly among younger people initially, and pointed to the risks of further spreading of the virus with family get-togethers over Christmas.
The public health team expressed worry about the situation with the high level of Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland as an example of how coronavirus infections can rise quickly.
Details of the Nphet’s recommendations emerged on the eve of a further relaxation of restrictions since the lifting of the six-week Level 5 restrictions at the start of December.
Under the latest relaxation phase on restrictions, from Friday, inter-county travel is permitted over Christmas until January 6th and people are allowed to have visitors to their home from two other households to allow for families and friends to mix over the festive period.


theirishtimes--2020-12-18--Gardaí chased man driving quad bike on wrong side of road into Áras grounds

A young father of three has been sentenced to four years in prison for dangerously driving a quad bike through busy traffic and for assaulting an elderly person a month later .
Christopher Warburton ( 26 ) of McKee Park in Dublin , pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment and assault causing harm .
Garda Ciarán Rogers told Caroline Cummings , prosecuting , that on December 22nd , 2017 , gardaí spotted Warburton , dressed in black , driving a red quad bike down Blackhorse Avenue in the middle of the road .
When they signalled for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by driving in circles in front of the patrol car .
He then accelerated at speed on the wrong side of the road towards Dunard Estate where he drove on the wrong side of the roundabout , forcing an oncoming vehicle to brake immediately and stop .
An unmarked patrol car signalled for the accused to stop but he continued to drive down Nephin Road .
Warburton then overtook a van and two cars , one of which had to brake suddenly to avoid driving into the path of the quad bike , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side of the road .
At the entrance to the Phoenix Park , at the Cabra gate , he pulled in front of a black Volkswagen Golf , which had to avoid driving into the rear of the quad bike .
In the Phoenix Park , the bike appeared to lose power , so the accused jumped off it and there was a brief struggle with one of the occupants of the unmarked Garda car .
Warburton tried to jump over a wall , kicking off the person who was trying to apprehend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Uachtaráin , where he was pursued by a member of the mounted police unit who managed to apprehend him .
Later , the accused told gardaí that he had panicked when he saw the squad car lights and that he had no idea where he had been running to .
Garda Philip Farrissey told the prosecution that on January 17th , 2018 , at College Green , Warburton had approached an elderly man , who appeared to be homeless and was intoxicated at the time , shouting abusively at passersby from behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man , as his friend recorded the incident on his phone .
The injured party fell down and injured his forehead , causing a laceration which started to bleed .
Warburton ran to meet the other male who had taken the video .
Two people with medical training came to the aid of the injured party and ambulance personnel attended the scene .
Keith Spencer , defending , spoke of Warburton ’ s difficulty with substance abuse which had impacted his early life .
The accused has 27 previous convictions for assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving , intimidation of a witness or juror , possession of drugs and threatening to kill or cause serious harm .
Judge Pauline Codd said that in the case of the endangerment , Warburton ’ s continual manner of driving , obligating gardaí to chase him , was an aggravating factor .
Regarding the assault causing harm charge , the judge said the incident , which she had seen footage of in court , involved the accused “ sneaking up behind a dishevelled man and hitting him a considerable blow ” .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ particularly obnoxious aspect ” of the incident .
The judge recognised that the accused had a background that was particularly difficult during which he suffered from emotional neglect .
She said it was clear from an assessment carried out on Warburton that he was suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) .
The judge pointed out that a probation report had indicated that the accused had a very high risk of reoffending .
She said Warburton had successfully rehabilitated and having engaged with the Merchants Quay project , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced the accused to four years and nine months , suspending the last nine months on the condition that Warburton engage in rehabilitation and residential treatment .
The accused was also banned from driving for three years .

On December 22nd, 2017, gardaí spotted Christopher Warburton driving a red quad bike down Blackhorse Avenue in the middle of the road. The chase ended in the Phoenix Park. File photograph: Alan Betson
A young father of three has been sentenced to four years in prison for dangerously driving a quad bike through busy traffic and for assaulting an elderly person a month later.
Christopher Warburton (26) of McKee Park in Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to endangerment and assault causing harm.
Garda Ciarán Rogers told Caroline Cummings, prosecuting, that on December 22nd, 2017, gardaí spotted Warburton, dressed in black, driving a red quad bike down Blackhorse Avenue in the middle of the road.
When they signalled for him to stop driving, he responded by driving in circles in front of the patrol car.
READ MORE
He then accelerated at speed on the wrong side of the road towards Dunard Estate where he drove on the wrong side of the roundabout, forcing an oncoming vehicle to brake immediately and stop.
An unmarked patrol car signalled for the accused to stop but he continued to drive down Nephin Road. Warburton then overtook a van and two cars, one of which had to brake suddenly to avoid driving into the path of the quad bike, which was being driven on the wrong side of the road.
At the entrance to the Phoenix Park, at the Cabra gate, he pulled in front of a black Volkswagen Golf, which had to avoid driving into the rear of the quad bike.
In the Phoenix Park, the bike appeared to lose power, so the accused jumped off it and there was a brief struggle with one of the occupants of the unmarked Garda car.
Warburton tried to jump over a wall, kicking off the person who was trying to apprehend him and entered the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin, where he was pursued by a member of the mounted police unit who managed to apprehend him.
Later, the accused told gardaí that he had panicked when he saw the squad car lights and that he had no idea where he had been running to.
Garda Philip Farrissey told the prosecution that on January 17th, 2018, at College Green, Warburton had approached an elderly man, who appeared to be homeless and was intoxicated at the time, shouting abusively at passersby from behind at 5.30pm.
The accused then punched the man, as his friend recorded the incident on his phone.
The injured party fell down and injured his forehead, causing a laceration which started to bleed. Warburton ran to meet the other male who had taken the video.
Two people with medical training came to the aid of the injured party and ambulance personnel attended the scene.
Keith Spencer, defending, spoke of Warburton’s difficulty with substance abuse which had impacted his early life.
The accused has 27 previous convictions for assault, driving without a licence, dangerous driving, intimidation of a witness or juror, possession of drugs and threatening to kill or cause serious harm.
Judge Pauline Codd said that in the case of the endangerment, Warburton's continual manner of driving, obligating gardaí to chase him, was an aggravating factor.
Regarding the assault causing harm charge, the judge said the incident, which she had seen footage of in court, involved the accused “sneaking up behind a dishevelled man and hitting him a considerable blow”.
She said the recording of the video was a “particularly obnoxious aspect” of the incident.
The judge recognised that the accused had a background that was particularly difficult during which he suffered from emotional neglect. She said it was clear from an assessment carried out on Warburton that he was suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The judge pointed out that a probation report had indicated that the accused had a very high risk of reoffending.
She said Warburton had successfully rehabilitated and having engaged with the Merchants Quay project, was now eight months drug free.
She sentenced the accused to four years and nine months, suspending the last nine months on the condition that Warburton engage in rehabilitation and residential treatment.
The accused was also banned from driving for three years.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--John Harbison involved in some of State’s most high-profile murder cases

Prof John Harbison served as the State pathologist for nearly 30 years and was involved in some of the most high profile murder cases in the State ’ s history over that period .
Prof Harbison , who died on Friday , became the State ’ s first forensic pathologist in 1974 and conducted postmortem examinations until 2003 .
He was the pathologist in many high-profile cases including the Kerry babies case , the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case , the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin , and the investigation into the Grangegorman killings .
In the Kerry babies case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murdering an infant found on a Co Kerry beach more than 35 years ago .
Around the same time Ms Hayes had given birth to a baby boy , Shane , who was either still-born or died soon after birth and was buried on the family farm .
Despite the two babies having different blood groups , gardaí alleged they were twins , and pursued a case against Ms Hayes .
While the charges against Ms Hayes and her family were dropped , a subsequent Tribunal of Inquiry into the affair cross-examined her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded Ms Hayes was not the mother of the baby on the beach , but was the mother of the baby on the farm .
It found that she had assaulted her newborn with a bath brush and choked him to death .
Giving evidence at the tribunal , prof Harbison said he was unable to determine if baby Shane was still-born or died shortly after his birth .
The autopsy had shown a bruise on the left side of baby ’ s neck , which he said could have been a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out any attempted strangulation as there had been no injury to the larynx .
Prof Harbison also dismissed the idea the baby had been struck on the head with a bath brush , as this would have fractured the skull , yet there was no evidence of this .
Following legal action against the State , the Hayes family on Friday secured declarations all findings of wrongdoing made against them by the tribunal were unfounded and incorrect .
Prof Harbison was also involved in the case of Sophie Toscan du Plantier , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was found dead in a laneway by her holiday home in Drinane , Schull , Co Cork in December 1996 .
At an inquest in April 1997 prof Harbison said Toscan du Plantier had died from multiple injuries including laceration of the brain and a fracture of the skull , caused by a blunt instrument .
There was a delay of more than 24 hours before Prof Harbison arrived at the scene to carry out a preliminary examination of the body , which was one of many points of controversy surrounding the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence as retired state pathologist in the case involving two women who were brutally murdered in 1997 by Mark Nash , in Grangegorman , Dublin .
Giving evidence at the trial prof Harbison said the injuries to the two women , Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan , was “ outside ” his experience of 26 years .
Prof Harbison was born in Howth , north Co Dublin , and studied medicine in Trinity College Dublin .
In 1991 , he was appointed professor of forensic medicine and toxicology at the Royal College of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , and is survived by his wife Kathleen , children Isobel and Austin , grandchildren Jack and Edith , brother Peter , son-in-law Conor , extended family and friends .
His funeral will be held on Monday .

Prof John Harbison became the State’s first forensic pathologist in 1974 and conducted postmortem examinations until 2003. Photograph: The Irish Times
Prof John Harbison served as the State pathologist for nearly 30 years and worked on some of the most high-profile murder cases in the State's history over that period.
Prof Harbison, who died on Friday, became the State’s first forensic pathologist in 1974 and conducted postmortem examinations until 2003.
He was the pathologist in many high-profile cases including the Kerry babies case, the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case, the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, and the investigation into the Grangegorman killings.
In the Kerry babies case, Joanne Hayes was wrongly accused of murdering an infant found on a Co Kerry beach more than 35 years ago.
READ MORE
Around the same time Ms Hayes had given birth to a baby boy, Shane, who was either still-born or died soon after birth and was buried on the family farm.
Despite the two babies having different blood groups, gardaí alleged they were twins, and pursued a case against Ms Hayes.
While the charges against Ms Hayes and her family were dropped, a subsequent Tribunal of Inquiry into the affair cross-examined her extensively over five days.
The inquiry concluded Ms Hayes was not the mother of the baby on the beach, but was the mother of the baby on the farm. It found that she had assaulted her newborn with a bath brush and choked him to death.
Giving evidence at the tribunal, Prof Harbison said he was unable to determine if baby Shane was still-born or died shortly after his birth.
The autopsy had shown a bruise on the left side of baby’s neck, which he said could have been a result of the delivery.
He had ruled out any attempted strangulation as there had been no injury to the larynx.
Prof Harbison also dismissed the idea the baby had been struck on the head with a bath brush, as this would have fractured the skull, yet there was no evidence of this.
Following legal action against the State, the Hayes family on Friday secured declarations all findings of wrongdoing made against them by the tribunal were unfounded and incorrect.
Prof Harbison was also involved in the case of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a 39-year-old film producer from Paris, who was found dead in a laneway by her holiday home in Drinane, Schull, Co Cork in December 1996.
At an inquest in April 1997 Prof Harbison said Toscan du Plantier had died from multiple injuries including laceration of the brain and a fracture of the skull, caused by a blunt instrument.
There was a delay of more than 24 hours before Prof Harbison arrived at the scene to carry out a preliminary examination of the body, which was one of many points of controversy surrounding the case.
In 2015, Prof Harbison gave evidence as retired state pathologist in the case involving two women who were brutally murdered in 1997 by Mark Nash, in Grangegorman, Dublin.
Giving evidence at the trial Prof Harbison said the injuries to the two women, Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan, was "outside" his experience of 26 years.
Prof Harbison was born in Howth, north Co Dublin, and studied medicine in Trinity College Dublin.
In 1991, he was appointed professor of forensic medicine and toxicology at the Royal College of Surgeons.
He died in his 80s on Friday, and is survived by his wife Kathleen, children Isobel and Austin, grandchildren Jack and Edith, brother Peter, son-in-law Conor, extended family and friends. His funeral will be held on Monday.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Roy Keane makes surprise visit to Co Cork school

A young Cork pupil ’ s dream came true when his sporting hero made a surprise visit to his school on Friday .
Children and staff at Dunderrow National School outside Kinsale , Co Cork , were “ in awe ” listening to football legend Roy Keane , who called in in response to a letter from fifth class student Noah Mehigan .
The former Manchester United and Ireland captain answered questions about his career from fifth- and sixth-class students .
The school wrote on its website that the sports star was “ an inspiration to all young sports people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work ” .
It said the children and staff were “ in awe ” listening carefully to Roy speaking about his career as a professional footballer .
Noah ’ s letter was part of a school assignment where fifth-class students wrote to their heroes around one month ago .
School principal Triona Hannon said it was a “ dream day ” for the students and the “ icing on the cake ” to end her first term as principal .
“ It was a complete surprise to the kids .
.
.
they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so shocked , ” she said .
Ms Hannon said former Ireland assistant manager was an “ inspiration ” to children and staff – even for those who are not football fans .
Keane spent about an hour answering questions about his professional football career from fifth- and sixth-class students .
She said he spoke about how he has been chasing his dreams since he was 10 years old .
“ They were so engaged .
You could have heard a pin drop .
.
.
he was so lovely and the children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ms Hannon said it was a “ surreal ” moment watching Keane walk away from the school following the talk , just as the pre-booked Santa Claus pulled up in a fire engine .
While the senior pupils got to meet Keane , the junior pupils were delighted with a visit from Santa , she said .
“ It really was a dream day .
.
.
I don ’ t know how we are going to top this , ” she said .
The trip to Dunderrow school was the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Roy Keane .
Last month the Cork native visited a soup kitchen charity , Cork Penny Dinners , to lend his support ahead of its busy Christmas period .

A young Cork pupil’s dream came true when his sporting hero made a surprise visit to his school on Friday.
Children and staff at Dunderrow National School outside Kinsale, Co Cork, were “in awe” listening to football legend Roy Keane, who called in in response to a letter from fifth class student Noah Mehigan.
The former Manchester United and Ireland captain answered questions about his career from fifth- and sixth-class students.
The school wrote on its website that the sports star was “an inspiration to all young sports people that you can achieve anything with hard work”.
READ MORE
It said the children and staff were “in awe” listening carefully to Roy speaking about his career as a professional footballer.
Noah’s letter was part of a school assignment where fifth-class students wrote to their heroes around one month ago.
School principal Triona Hannon said it was a “dream day” for the students and the “icing on the cake” to end her first term as principal. “It was a complete surprise to the kids . . . they recognised him straight away and really were so shocked,” she said.
Ms Hannon said former Ireland assistant manager was an “inspiration” to children and staff – even for those who are not football fans. Keane spent about an hour answering questions about his professional football career from fifth- and sixth-class students.
She said he spoke about how he has been chasing his dreams since he was 10 years old. “They were so engaged. You could have heard a pin drop . . . he was so lovely and the children were really inspired,” she added.
Ms Hannon said it was a “surreal” moment watching Keane walk away from the school following the talk, just as the pre-booked Santa Claus pulled up in a fire engine.
While the senior pupils got to meet Keane, the junior pupils were delighted with a visit from Santa, she said. “It really was a dream day . . . I don’t know how we are going to top this,” she said.
The trip to Dunderrow school was the latest in a series of surprise visits made by Roy Keane. Last month the Cork native visited a soup kitchen charity, Cork Penny Dinners, to lend his support ahead of its busy Christmas period.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Boeing ‘inappropriately coached’ pilots in 737 Max test, Senate report finds

Boeing officials “ inappropriately coached ” test pilots during recertification efforts after two fatal 737 Max crashes killed 346 people , according to a lengthy congressional report released on Friday night .
The report from the Senate Commerce Committee Republican staff raised questions about testing this year of a key safety system known as MCAS tied to both fatal crashes was contrary to proper protocol .
The committee concluded Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) and Boeing officials “ had established a pre-determined outcome to reaffirm a long-held human factor assumption related to pilot reaction time ...
It appears , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were attempting to cover up important information that may have contributed to the 737 Max tragedies.
” The report citing a whistleblower who alleged Boeing officials encouraged test pilots to “ remember , get right on that pickle switch ” prior to the exercise that resulted in pilot reaction in approximately four seconds , while another pilot in a separate test reacted in approximately 16 seconds .
The account was corroborated during an FAA staff interview , the committee added .
Numerous reports have found Boeing failed to adequately consider how pilots respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 737 Max .
Boeing said Friday it takes “ seriously the committee ?
s findings and will continue to review the report in full.
” The FAA said Friday it was “ carefully reviewing the document , which the committee acknowledges contains a number of unsubstantiated allegations.
” The agency added it is “ confident that the safety issues that played a role in the tragic ( 737 Max ) accidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have been addressed through the design changes required and independently approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Commerce Committee chairman Roger Wicker said the report “ details a number of significant examples of lapses in aviation safety oversight and failed leadership in the FAA.
” The committee also said “ multiple independent whistleblowers contacted the committee to allege FAA senior management was complicit in determining the 737 Max training certification level prior to any evaluation.
” Boeing resisted requiring simulator training for pilots before operating the 737 Max but reversed course in January .
The report also noted Southwest Airlines was able to operate more than 150,000 flights carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that required maintenance had been completed .
The Senate report said the Southwest flights “ put millions of passengers at potential risk.
” Southwest said Friday it was aware of the report and added “ we do not tolerate any relaxing of standards that govern ultimate safety across our operation.
” Boeing still faces an ongoing criminal probe into the Max .
The committee said its review was “ constrained due to the continued criminal investigation ” Last month , the FAA approved the 737 Max ’ s return to service and flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US 737 Max commercial flight with paying passengers is set for December 29th .
Last month , the Senate committee unanimously a bill to reform how FAA certifies new airplanes and grant new protections for whistleblowers , among other reforms , while the US House of Representatives unanimously passed a similar bill .
- Reuters

An aerial view of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft sitting parked at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington. According to US Senate investigators Boeing officials inappropriately coached test pilots during the 737 Max aircraft recertification process. Photograph: EPA
Boeing officials "inappropriately coached" test pilots during recertification efforts after two fatal 737 Max crashes killed 346 people, according to a lengthy congressional report released on Friday night.
The report from the Senate Commerce Committee Republican staff raised questions about testing this year of a key safety system known as MCAS tied to both fatal crashes was contrary to proper protocol.
The committee concluded Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing officials "had established a pre-determined outcome to reaffirm a long-held human factor assumption related to pilot reaction time ... It appears, in this instance, FAA and Boeing were attempting to cover up important information that may have contributed to the 737 Max tragedies."
The report citing a whistleblower who alleged Boeing officials encouraged test pilots to “remember, get right on that pickle switch” prior to the exercise that resulted in pilot reaction in approximately four seconds, while another pilot in a separate test reacted in approximately 16 seconds.
READ MORE
The account was corroborated during an FAA staff interview, the committee added.
Numerous reports have found Boeing failed to adequately consider how pilots respond to cockpit emergencies in its development of the 737 Max.
Boeing said Friday it takes “seriously the committee?s findings and will continue to review the report in full.”
The FAA said Friday it was “carefully reviewing the document, which the committee acknowledges contains a number of unsubstantiated allegations.”
The agency added it is "confident that the safety issues that played a role in the tragic (737 Max) accidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have been addressed through the design changes required and independently approved by the FAA and its partners."
Senate Commerce Committee chairman Roger Wicker said the report "details a number of significant examples of lapses in aviation safety oversight and failed leadership in the FAA."
The committee also said “multiple independent whistleblowers contacted the committee to allege FAA senior management was complicit in determining the 737 Max training certification level prior to any evaluation.”
Boeing resisted requiring simulator training for pilots before operating the 737 Max but reversed course in January.
The report also noted Southwest Airlines was able to operate more than 150,000 flights carrying 17.2 million passengers on jets without confirmation that required maintenance had been completed.
The Senate report said the Southwest flights “put millions of passengers at potential risk.”
Southwest said Friday it was aware of the report and added “we do not tolerate any relaxing of standards that govern ultimate safety across our operation.”
Boeing still faces an ongoing criminal probe into the Max. The committee said its review was “constrained due to the continued criminal investigation”
Last month, the FAA approved the 737 Max's return to service and flights have resumed in Brazil. The first US 737 Max commercial flight with paying passengers is set for December 29th.
Last month, the Senate committee unanimously a bill to reform how FAA certifies new airplanes and grant new protections for whistleblowers, among other reforms, while the US House of Representatives unanimously passed a similar bill. - Reuters


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Drugs worth almost €139,000 seized at mail centres

Illegal drugs worth almost €139,000 have been seized at mail centres in Dublin and Athlone .
Detector dog Sam helped Revenue officers at Dublin Mail Centre seize herbal cannabis , magic mushrooms , and cannabis-infused jellies , along with 4.5 litres of liquid amphetamines .
The drugs , worth an estimated €117,000 , were discovered on Friday in parcels from the United States , France , and the Netherlands which were declared as containing ornaments , sweets , clothing , and gifts .
The packages were heading for addresses in Dublin and Louth .
Meanwhile , on Thursday , Revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the assistance of detector dog Bailey , seized 1.7kg of various drugs worth nearly €21,400 .
Packages from America and the UK , containing heroin , MDMA , cocaine , and herbal cannabis , were en route to locations throughout the country .
A Revenue spokeswoman said investigations into the two seizures are ongoing .
These seizures are part of Revenue ’ s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs .
If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling , they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential @ @ @ @ @ @

Detector dog Sam who helped Revenue officers at Dublin Mail Centre seize herbal cannabis, magic mushrooms, and cannabis-infused jellies, along with 4.5 litres of liquid amphetamines.
Illegal drugs worth almost €139,000 have been seized at mail centres in Dublin and Athlone.
Detector dog Sam helped Revenue officers at Dublin Mail Centre seize herbal cannabis, magic mushrooms, and cannabis-infused jellies, along with 4.5 litres of liquid amphetamines.
The drugs, worth an estimated €117,000, were discovered on Friday in parcels from the United States, France, and the Netherlands which were declared as containing ornaments, sweets, clothing, and gifts. The packages were heading for addresses in Dublin and Louth.
Some of the illegal drugs seized in Dublin.
Packages containing heroin, MDMA, cocaine, and herbal cannabis were seized at the Athlone Mail Centre.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Revenue officers at Athlone Mail Centre, with the assistance of detector dog Bailey, seized 1.7kg of various drugs worth nearly €21,400.
READ MORE
Packages from America and the UK, containing heroin, MDMA, cocaine, and herbal cannabis, were en route to locations throughout the country.
Detector dog Bailey who held find the illegal drugs in Athlone.
A Revenue spokeswoman said investigations into the two seizures are ongoing.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs.
If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Thinking Anew: Here we are, a week before Christmas

And so we are here , a week before Christmas .
Unable to sing together – who would have believed it ?
But if we are reading these words we are here , nonetheless .
After a strange and serious year , full of loss and loneliness and separation and waiting and allowing time to pass , we are here .
I know only a handful of Hebrew words ( mostly through place-names in Scripture ) but I have been aware of a Hebrew word which can have great resonance for us at this time : Hineni .
Hineni means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abraham said to God when God asked him to demonstrate his faith : “ Hineni .
Here I am , your will be done ” .
It was the response from Moses when God called out to him from the burning bush : “ Hineni .
Here I am , at your disposal ” .
It was what Samuel spoke out to God in the Temple once he realised that it was not Eli calling him : “ Hineni .
Here I am , fully present to you ” .
And in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary replied to the angel Gabriel who was sharing with her God ’ s saving plan , asking her consent to carry God ’ s child : “ Hineni .
May your will be done in me ” .
A strange year it must have been for Mary too .
.
.
Hineni has a sense of devoted alertness to it , and it suggests a healthy taking-oneself-seriously because of the God who has , miraculously , taken an interest in us .
At Christmas we humbly inherit the Jewish revelation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in relationship .
“ Here I am ” is different , less passive , to saying “ I am here ” , although it may seem almost the same thing .
I imagine a baby in the womb whispering “ I am here ” , and then that baby being born and the drama and danger of taking their first actual breath : ‘ HERE I AM !
’ This corona-tide season has revealed to us things that we knew already that it is almost unbearable to be reminded of .
Over 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition , the end to which every enterprise and labour tends ” .
How bleak lockdown has been for those who are not safe at home , who do not have affection at home !
But we knew this already .
How terrible for those who don ’ t have enough space at home , enough warmth , enough light , enough food .
.
.
But this is nothing new .
The unfairness of life deepens .
We most certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although we continue to share the same storm .
Some of us are seeing out the storm in luxury yachts , others in stout fishing-boats .
Some are trapped in slave ships and others on make-shift rafts .
If our vessels were not water-tight before the storm we may not survive at all .
How , oh how , do we bear these structural injustices ?
As human beings , one of our deepest instincts is to gather together , in joy and in sorrow , to celebrate or mourn , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : weddings cancelled , funerals stripped back , generations unable to welcome the newborn .
The gift that is given at Christmas is that God himself chose to gather with us in our messy world , for better or for worse , for richer , for poorer , in sickness and in health , death itself having no more dominion .
We are no longer alone .
At Christmas , the hopes and fears of all the years are gathered up .
We look back , we pause , we give and receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways we can at this time .
We remember those who are no longer with us .
In the words of Maggie Ross , “ We gather what needs attention and let go of it in the love of God ” .
My prayer is that we are given what we need to make peace with where we find ourselves , this Christmas time .
We are here , and here we are .
In the words of Leonard Cohen : “ Hineni , hineni !
I ’ m ready , my Lord @ @

‘Unable to sing together – who would have believed it? But if we are reading these words we are here, nonetheless.’ Photograph: iStock
And so we are here, a week before Christmas. Unable to sing together – who would have believed it? But if we are reading these words we are here, nonetheless.
After a strange and serious year, full of loss and loneliness and separation and waiting and allowing time to pass, we are here.
I know only a handful of Hebrew words (mostly through place-names in Scripture) but I have been aware of a Hebrew word which can have great resonance for us at this time: Hineni. Hineni means Here I am.
This is what Abraham said to God when God asked him to demonstrate his faith: “Hineni. Here I am, your will be done”. It was the response from Moses when God called out to him from the burning bush: “Hineni. Here I am, at your disposal”.
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It was what Samuel spoke out to God in the Temple once he realised that it was not Eli calling him: “Hineni. Here I am, fully present to you”.
And in our gospel reading tomorrow, it is what Mary replied to the angel Gabriel who was sharing with her God’s saving plan, asking her consent to carry God’s child: “Hineni. May your will be done in me”. A strange year it must have been for Mary too . . .
Hineni has a sense of devoted alertness to it, and it suggests a healthy taking-oneself-seriously because of the God who has, miraculously, taken an interest in us.
At Christmas we humbly inherit the Jewish revelation of the personal God making himself known to us in relationship.
“Here I am” is different, less passive, to saying “I am here”, although it may seem almost the same thing. I imagine a baby in the womb whispering “I am here”, and then that baby being born and the drama and danger of taking their first actual breath: ‘HERE I AM!’
Ultimate ambition
This corona-tide season has revealed to us things that we knew already that it is almost unbearable to be reminded of.
Over 200 years ago, Samuel Johnson wrote: “To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labour tends”.
How bleak lockdown has been for those who are not safe at home, who do not have affection at home! But we knew this already. How terrible for those who don’t have enough space at home, enough warmth, enough light, enough food . . . But this is nothing new.
The unfairness of life deepens. We most certainly are not all in the same boat, although we continue to share the same storm. Some of us are seeing out the storm in luxury yachts, others in stout fishing-boats. Some are trapped in slave ships and others on make-shift rafts. If our vessels were not water-tight before the storm we may not survive at all. How, oh how, do we bear these structural injustices?
Weddings cancelled
As human beings, one of our deepest instincts is to gather together, in joy and in sorrow, to celebrate or mourn, and this has been taken away from us: weddings cancelled, funerals stripped back, generations unable to welcome the newborn. The gift that is given at Christmas is that God himself chose to gather with us in our messy world, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, death itself having no more dominion. We are no longer alone.
At Christmas, the hopes and fears of all the years are gathered up.
We look back, we pause, we give and receive the presence of each other in whatever ways we can at this time.
We remember those who are no longer with us.
In the words of Maggie Ross, “We gather what needs attention and let go of it in the love of God”. My prayer is that we are given what we need to make peace with where we find ourselves, this Christmas time.
We are here, and here we are. In the words of Leonard Cohen: “Hineni, hineni! I’m ready, my Lord”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Is this a field mouse with a long tail? Readers’ nature queries

I came across this mouse on the roadside .
It has a very long tail , longer than its body .
It it a field mouse ?
– Michael Kavanagh , Kilsallaghan , Co Dublin The size of its feet indicates that it ’ s a baby rat .
I looked out our kitchen window and saw this sparrowhawk feeding on a pigeon .
I think it might be a female .
– Martin Glynn , Knocklyon , Dublin 16 The female sparrowhawk is bigger than the male and so can take on a pigeon .
In November , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The noise from their wings was tremendous .
It always happens in November and is a real sight .
There were hundreds of them all flying together .
– Vanessa Drew , Ballymoney , Co Down Some weeks ago I saw 13 herons flying together east to west .
I have never seen so many together – usually it ’ s less than three .
– Conor Foley , Kilkenny Herons often roost together in sizeable numbers , but your flock may have been adults and juveniles from this year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end washed up above the tideline of Cushendun beach .
Is it a dogfish ?
– Frank McGreevy , Cushendun , Co Antrim Yes , it ’ s either the lesser or the large spotted dogfish , depending on the size .
On December 6th I saw this whale stranded on Thallabawn Beach , Co Mayo .
It was 3.5m to 4m long .
– Liam Cabot , Westport , Co Mayo It was a long-finned pilot whale , a member of the dolphin family .
Adults measure from 3.8m to 7m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harbour was very confiding as it meticulously conducted its ablutions .
– Francy Devine , Howth , Co Dublin It was in winter plumage .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Please include a postal address .

I came across this mouse on the roadside. It has a very long tail, longer than its body. It it a field mouse? – Michael Kavanagh, Kilsallaghan, Co Dublin
The size of its feet indicates that it's a baby rat.
A female sparrowhawk feeding on a pigeon
I looked out our kitchen window and saw this sparrowhawk feeding on a pigeon. I think it might be a female. – Martin Glynn, Knocklyon, Dublin 16
The female sparrowhawk is bigger than the male and so can take on a pigeon.
In November, a murmuration of starlings flew over the garden. The noise from their wings was tremendous. It always happens in November and is a real sight. There were hundreds of them all flying together. – Vanessa Drew, Ballymoney, Co Down
Some weeks ago I saw 13 herons flying together east to west. I have never seen so many together – usually it's less than three. – Conor Foley, Kilkenny
Herons often roost together in sizeable numbers, but your flock may have been adults and juveniles from this year's brood.
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A dogfish found on Cushendun beach
This little guy came to an end washed up above the tideline of Cushendun beach. Is it a dogfish? – Frank McGreevy, Cushendun, Co Antrim
Yes, it's either the lesser or the large spotted dogfish, depending on the size.
A long-finned pilot whale, a member of the dolphin family, found on Thallabawn Beach in Co Mayo
On December 6th I saw this whale stranded on Thallabawn Beach, Co Mayo. It was 3.5m to 4m long. – Liam Cabot, Westport, Co Mayo
It was a long-finned pilot whale, a member of the dolphin family. Adults measure from 3.8m to 7m long.
A red-throated diver in Howth Harbour
This red-throated diver in Howth Harbour was very confiding as it meticulously conducted its ablutions. – Francy Devine, Howth, Co Dublin
It was in winter plumage.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Another Life: None flies straighter or with more urgency than the wren

On my first Christmas in Ireland , in 1961 , I lived in a chilly holiday cottage in Tully , on Connemara ’ s Renvyle Peninsula .
Across the road , the village emporium had a slab of bacon on the counter , galvanised buckets hanging from the ceiling , and stamps on sale at the post office just beside the bar .
Here , on St Stephen ’ s Day , a pint in my hand , I faced four young entrants in cardboard masks , bearing a live wren on a holly twig in a 2lb jam jar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the wran , the king of all birds ” was stumbled through apologetically and secured the 50p I had left on the counter .
It did not , I regret , secure the freedom of the wren .
Such local , small-scale customs have generally disappeared from Ireland , leaving YouTube videos to celebrate surviving , if wrenless , community festivals , notably in Dingle and Dublin ’ s Sandymount .
As I write , their nature this Christmas seems uncertain .
Of all the myths , pagan or Christian , attaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the original “ cave dweller ” of Greek description ) , the one that appeals to me goes back to Aesop and explains the wren ’ s kingship as winning an avian competition in high flying .
The wren hitched a lift under the wing of an eagle and took off even higher at the peak of the raptor ’ s flight , to win the contest .
But there was punishment for such aeronautical mischief .
“ When they were going down , ” relates a tale recorded in Irish , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his beak .
He hurt him in the back and ever since he can not fly but from hedge to hedge and from bush to bush.
” Or , to quote a Ted Hughes poem : “ The wren is a nervous wreck/ Since he saw the sun from the back of an eagle./ He prefers to creep .
.
.
” Stripped of such fancies , the wren attends our western winter in a loyal whirr of wings .
In December dusks of dove-grey clouds adrift on flame , small birds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stone walls , as if remembering last-minute errands .
None flies straighter or with more urgency than the wren , which , as it sometimes seems to me , has the power of passing through the spokes of a bicycle wheel .
Or , as Michael Longley sees it , “ two wings criss-crossing/ through gaps and loop-holes , / a mote melting towards/ the corner of the eye.
” In the wren boys ’ refrain , “ Although he is little , his family ’ s great ” and that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone , the mid-winter of a good breeding year may find up to 20 million wrens in these islands , some six million of them in Ireland .
I include all islands , large and small , for the wren hunts insects and spiders among the lichen-crusted rocks of even the most inhospitable terrain – the Skelligs , say , or remote St Kilda west of Scotland .
On visits to north Mayo ’ s Inishkeas , wrens have flitted ahead of me along the tumbled walls .
With its tiny body and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to think of the wren as much of a traveller .
Indeed , the various races have arisen just because of their sedentary isolation .
The wrens of St Kilda and Shetland and the Hebridean wrens are all distinct from each other and from our own wren .
There is even a Fair Island wren : about 100 of them on their craggy little isle between Orkney and Shetland .
The bird ’ s adaptability and pioneering spirit has created almost 50 distinct races in different habitats around the world .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cactus or canyons .
The wren we know is of the same species as the rugged “ winter wren ” of North America .
This reached the Old World by way of the Bering Straits , leaving a chain of different races across the Aleutian Islands .
Once it reached Siberia there was no holding it , since no other bird was around with quite its talent for creeping into confined spaces for food and for surviving beneath a blanket of snow .
Guaranteed its niche , it spread west across Europe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the “ mouse ’ s brother ” ) .
At no more than 12 grams , the wren is Ireland ’ s second-smallest bird , next to the goldcrest .
Although this doesn ’ t lessen the power of one of the most vigorous and piercing voices among our songbirds , its size does make it feel the cold .
That can prompt it to remarkable togetherness at night , crowding into vacant nests , including its own , or piling into empty nest boxes , squeezing two or three at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the British Trust for Ornithology invited people to find out more , counting the entrants by eye at dusk or counting bird droppings in the box next day .
Results suggested most “ sleepovers ” numbered half a dozen birds , but the record , from a snowy Norfolk in February 1969 , was 63 .

On my first Christmas in Ireland, in 1961, I lived in a chilly holiday cottage in Tully, on Connemara’s Renvyle Peninsula. Across the road, the village emporium had a slab of bacon on the counter, galvanised buckets hanging from the ceiling, and stamps on sale at the post office just beside the bar.
Here, on St Stephen’s Day, a pint in my hand, I faced four young entrants in cardboard masks, bearing a live wren on a holly twig in a 2lb jam jar. Their recitation of “the wran, the wran, the king of all birds” was stumbled through apologetically and secured the 50p I had left on the counter. It did not, I regret, secure the freedom of the wren.
Such local, small-scale customs have generally disappeared from Ireland, leaving YouTube videos to celebrate surviving, if wrenless, community festivals, notably in Dingle and Dublin’s Sandymount. As I write, their nature this Christmas seems uncertain.
‘Cave dweller’
Of all the myths, pagan or Christian, attaching to Troglodytes troglodytes (so named as the original “cave dweller” of Greek description), the one that appeals to me goes back to Aesop and explains the wren’s kingship as winning an avian competition in high flying. The wren hitched a lift under the wing of an eagle and took off even higher at the peak of the raptor’s flight, to win the contest. But there was punishment for such aeronautical mischief.
READ MORE
"When they were going down," relates a tale recorded in Irish, "the eagle hit him on the back with his beak. He hurt him in the back and ever since he cannot fly but from hedge to hedge and from bush to bush." Or, to quote a Ted Hughes poem: "The wren is a nervous wreck/ Since he saw the sun from the back of an eagle./ He prefers to creep . . ."
Stripped of such fancies, the wren attends our western winter in a loyal whirr of wings. In December dusks of dove-grey clouds adrift on flame, small birds dash about between the hedges and dry stone walls, as if remembering last-minute errands.
None flies straighter or with more urgency than the wren, which, as it sometimes seems to me, has the power of passing through the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Or, as Michael Longley sees it, "two wings criss-crossing/ through gaps and loop-holes,/ a mote melting towards/ the corner of the eye."
In the wren boys’ refrain, “Although he is little, his family’s great” and that’s certainly true. Considered in sheer numbers alone, the mid-winter of a good breeding year may find up to 20 million wrens in these islands, some six million of them in Ireland.
Tumbled walls
I include all islands, large and small, for the wren hunts insects and spiders among the lichen-crusted rocks of even the most inhospitable terrain – the Skelligs, say, or remote St Kilda west of Scotland. On visits to north Mayo’s Inishkeas, wrens have flitted ahead of me along the tumbled walls.
With its tiny body and stubby, round wings, it is hard to think of the wren as much of a traveller. Indeed, the various races have arisen just because of their sedentary isolation. The wrens of St Kilda and Shetland and the Hebridean wrens are all distinct from each other and from our own wren. There is even a Fair Island wren: about 100 of them on their craggy little isle between Orkney and Shetland.
At no more than 12 grams, the wren is Ireland's second-smallest bird, next to the goldcrest
The bird’s adaptability and pioneering spirit has created almost 50 distinct races in different habitats around the world. Some prefer marshes, some gardens, some cactus or canyons. The wren we know is of the same species as the rugged “winter wren” of North America. This reached the Old World by way of the Bering Straits, leaving a chain of different races across the Aleutian Islands.
Once it reached Siberia there was no holding it, since no other bird was around with quite its talent for creeping into confined spaces for food and for surviving beneath a blanket of snow. Guaranteed its niche, it spread west across Europe and even reached Iceland (where it is called the “mouse’s brother”).
Piercing voice
At no more than 12 grams, the wren is Ireland’s second-smallest bird, next to the goldcrest. Although this doesn’t lessen the power of one of the most vigorous and piercing voices among our songbirds, its size does make it feel the cold. That can prompt it to remarkable togetherness at night, crowding into vacant nests, including its own, or piling into empty nest boxes, squeezing two or three at a time through the hole.
In 2010 the British Trust for Ornithology invited people to find out more, counting the entrants by eye at dusk or counting bird droppings in the box next day. Results suggested most "sleepovers" numbered half a dozen birds, but the record, from a snowy Norfolk in February 1969, was 63.