theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Presbyterian Church in Ireland selects new moderator

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has selected Rev David Bruce , secretary to the church ’ s council for mission in Ireland to be its next moderator .
Born in Banbridge , Co Down , Mr Bruce ( 62 ) was nominated by 14 of the Church ’ s 19 presbyteries on Tuesday evening when they met across Ireland to elect a successor to the current moderator Rt Rev Dr William Henry .
Mr Bruce will officially be elected and installed as moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at the start of this year ’ s general assembly of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderator-designate said : “ I am hugely honoured to be invited by the Church to fulfil this role , and humbled that anyone should imagine I am able to do it.
” Mr Bruce , who lives near Lisburn , and worships at Elmwood Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of the city , will be the denomination ’ s 175th Moderator since 1840 and the first in over 20 years to come from a position outside of parish ministry .
The moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland holds the post for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general assembly to general assembly .
The current moderator is Rev William Henry .
Of the church ’ s 19 presbyteries on the island those of Monaghan and Dublin , as well as Munster are in the Republic , while the presbyteries of Derry and Donegal are cross-border .
All others are in Northern Ireland .

Rev David Bruce, who lives near Lisburn, worships at Elmwood Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of the city. Photograph: Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has selected Rev David Bruce, secretary to the church’s council for mission in Ireland to be its next moderator.
Born in Banbridge, Co Down, Rev Bruce (62) was nominated by 14 of the Church’s 19 presbyteries on Tuesday evening when they met across Ireland to elect a successor to the current moderator Rt Rev Dr William Henry.
Rev Bruce will officially be elected and installed as moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at the start of this year’s general assembly of the church on June 1st.
The moderator-designate said: “I am hugely honoured to be invited by the Church to fulfil this role, and humbled that anyone should imagine I am able to do it.”
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Rev Bruce, who lives near Lisburn, and worships at Elmwood Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of the city, will be the denomination’s 175th Moderator since 1840 and the first in over 20 years to come from a position outside of parish ministry.
“With the UK having left the European Union last week and [as] we enter this transition phase, a new set of political relationships will be formed, both on this island and beyond. As members of an all-Ireland church we will remain fully committed to our people and their witness on both sides of the Irish border,” Rev Bruce added.
The moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland holds the post for one year, from June, or from general assembly to general assembly. The current moderator is Rev William Henry.
Of the church’s 19 presbyteries on the island those of Monaghan and Dublin, as well as Munster are in the Republic, while the presbyteries of Derry and Donegal are cross-border. All others are in Northern Ireland.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Turf Club’s security head claims defamation over yard inspection letter

The head of security of the horse racing regulatory body , the Turf Club , has claimed he was defamed in a letter about his role in an inspection of the yard of horse trainer Liz Doyle .
Ms Doyle is a daughter of former Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle who was also present during the inspection , the High Court heard .
Chris Gordon ( 60 ) is suing the Irish Race Horse Trainers ’ Association ( IRTA ) over a letter to a senior steward of the Turf Club in which he says it was falsely alleged he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Doyle junior into an admission of wrongdoing .
The court heard the letter arose after Ms Doyle ’ s yard at Kitestown House , Co Wexford , was inspected in March 2014 by Department of Agriculture and Turf Club officials as part of an investigation related to the use of performance enhancing drugs in racehorses .
In High Court proceedings before a judge and jury , Mr Gordon also claims he was further defamed when the IRTA chairman Noel Meade , in an interview with the Irish Field in August 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some officials during inspections carried out at horse trainers ’ premises as part of this investigation .
Mr Meade claimed there was a “ little Hitler syndrome ” where trainers were treated almost as guilty from the start and they didn ’ t like being “ treated like criminals ” .
Mr Gordon , a former garda superintendent who became the security head following early retirement from the force in 2010 , claims he was further defamed when the IRTA published a petition to its members seeking to have him removed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is further alleged IRTA committee member Michael Grassick made false claims about Mr Gordon ’ s conduct during inspections of two other trainers ’ premises .
It is also claimed Mr Meade , Mr Grassick and another IRTA committee member , Michael Halford , met with representatives of the Turf Club and maliciously published statements seeking Mr Gordon ’ s removal .
Mr Gordon says , as a result , the Turf Club , now known as the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board , held an inquiry which concluded Mr Gordon had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations were made with malice and meant , among other things , he engaged in unprofessional behaviour , corrupt practices and abused his position .
It also pleads qualified privilege which protects a statement published to someone with an interest in receiving such information as long as it is not motivated by malice .
Opening the case , Tom Hogan SC , instructed by Sean Costello Solicitors , said the inspection of Ms Doyle ’ s yard was the first of a number after the Turf Club and Department of Agriculture decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of anabolic steroids in the industry .
It followed the conviction in 2013 of John Hughes , a retired department vet , for possession of 6kg of Nitrotain at his Carlow home .
Using the book of evidence in the case against Hughes , Turf Club and department officials went over a number of documents provided by Hughes , counsel said .
Some of the information related to bank lodgment payment slips and beside those payments were the initials of people , he said .
During the meeting with the officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw one payment of €200 beside an initial “ LV ” .
Mr Egan wrote in the margin of the book of evidence “ Liz Doyle ” with a question mark beside it after it was suggested it might be her , counsel said .
On March 26th , 2014 , an inspection took place of Ms Doyle ’ s yard when she and her mother asked to see the bank lodgment slip .
Mr Gordon showed them the page in the book of evidence but he did not know at that time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liz Doyle ” in the margin .
Ms Doyle denied the entry referred to her and this was accepted .
The inspection ended otherwise uneventfully , counsel said .
Afterwards , Ms Doyle complained about what had happened to Mr Gordon .
Her mother also contacted Mr Egan and she did not accept his explanation he had handwritten the name in , counsel said .
Mr Egan later wrote saying Liz Doyle was in good standing with the Turf Club .
The hearing continues .

In High Court proceedings Chris Gordon also claims he was further defamed in an interview with the Irish Field in August 2014. File Photograph: Collins Courts.
The head of security of the horse racing regulatory body, the Turf Club, has claimed he was defamed in a letter about his role in an inspection of the yard of horse trainer Liz Doyle.
Ms Doyle is a daughter of former Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle who was also present during the inspection, the High Court heard. Chris Gordon (60) is suing the Irish Race Horse Trainers' Association (IRTA) over a letter to a senior steward of the Turf Club in which he says it was falsely alleged he (Mr Gordon) attempted to entrap Ms Doyle junior into an admission of wrongdoing.
The court heard the letter arose after Ms Doyle’s yard at Kitestown House, Co Wexford, was inspected in March 2014 by Department of Agriculture and Turf Club officials as part of an investigation related to the use of performance enhancing drugs in racehorses.
In High Court proceedings before a judge and jury, Mr Gordon also claims he was further defamed when the IRTA chairman Noel Meade, in an interview with the Irish Field in August 2014, said members were angered by the conduct of some officials during inspections carried out at horse trainers’ premises as part of this investigation.
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Mr Meade claimed there was a “little Hitler syndrome” where trainers were treated almost as guilty from the start and they didn’t like being “treated like criminals”.
Mr Gordon, a former garda superintendent who became the security head following early retirement from the force in 2010, claims he was further defamed when the IRTA published a petition to its members seeking to have him removed as security chief on grounds of misconduct.
It is further alleged IRTA committee member Michael Grassick made false claims about Mr Gordon’s conduct during inspections of two other trainers’ premises.
It is also claimed Mr Meade, Mr Grassick and another IRTA committee member, Michael Halford, met with representatives of the Turf Club and maliciously published statements seeking Mr Gordon’s removal.
Mr Gordon says, as a result, the Turf Club, now known as the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board, held an inquiry which concluded Mr Gordon had done nothing wrong.
He claims the allegations were made with malice and meant, among other things, he engaged in unprofessional behaviour, corrupt practices and abused his position.
The IRTA denies the claims.
It also pleads qualified privilege which protects a statement published to someone with an interest in receiving such information as long as it is not motivated by malice.
Opening the case, Tom Hogan SC, instructed by Sean Costello Solicitors, said the inspection of Ms Doyle’s yard was the first of a number after the Turf Club and Department of Agriculture decided to share intelligence to carry out investigations into the use of anabolic steroids in the industry.
It followed the conviction in 2013 of John Hughes, a retired department vet, for possession of 6kg of Nitrotain at his Carlow home.
Using the book of evidence in the case against Hughes, Turf Club and department officials went over a number of documents provided by Hughes, counsel said.
Some of the information related to bank lodgment payment slips and beside those payments were the initials of people, he said.
During the meeting with the officials, Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan saw one payment of €200 beside an initial “LV”. Mr Egan wrote in the margin of the book of evidence “Liz Doyle” with a question mark beside it after it was suggested it might be her, counsel said.
On March 26th, 2014, an inspection took place of Ms Doyle’s yard when she and her mother asked to see the bank lodgment slip.
Mr Gordon showed them the page in the book of evidence but he did not know at that time that Mr Egan had written in “Liz Doyle” in the margin. Ms Doyle denied the entry referred to her and this was accepted. The inspection ended otherwise uneventfully, counsel said.
Afterwards, Ms Doyle complained about what had happened to Mr Gordon. Her mother also contacted Mr Egan and she did not accept his explanation he had handwritten the name in, counsel said.
Mr Egan later wrote saying Liz Doyle was in good standing with the Turf Club. The hearing continues.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Lift issue fixed in further eight NCT centres

Full vehicle inspections are to resume at eight National Car Test Service ( NCTS ) centres this week following the replacement of vehicle lifts used when carrying out underbody checks .
An element of the national car test ( NCT ) had been suspended nationwide last week due to safety fears over the lifts .
The decision was taken after the NCTS and Road Safety Authority ( RSA ) were made aware of a defect with a similar make and model of lift used to elevate vehicles .
In a statement on Tuesday , the NCTS said lifts would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waterford , Limerick , Letterkenny , Killarney , Cork , and in Swords and Fonthill in Dublin .
Lifts were being replaced at six locations last week – Ballinasloe , Athlone , Skibbereen , Ballina , Enniscorthy and Deansgrange , south Dublin .
A spokeswoman for the NCTS said the service commissioned a condition survey of all vehicle lifts by the manufacturers when it was made aware of the problem .
This assessment is expected to be completed by the end of this week .
She said the NCTS and the manufacturer would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remaining lifts within the network over the coming weeks ” after the survey .
She said the NCTS and RSA were “ continuing to look into other measures to minimise customer inconvenience and will provide further updates in the coming days ” .
Motorists are advised to book and attend their NCT as normal and that checks , apart from the underbody inspection , would be conducted .
Motorists will have to return to have the underbody check when the lifts are operational .
There is no charge in these situations as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elements of the test .

Full vehicle inspections are to resume at eight National Car Test Service (NCTS) centres this week following the replacement of vehicle lifts used when carrying out underbody checks.
Full vehicle inspections are to resume at eight National Car Test Service (NCTS) centres this week following the replacement of vehicle lifts used when carrying out underbody checks.
An element of the national car test (NCT) had been suspended nationwide last week due to safety fears over the lifts.
The decision was taken after the NCTS and Road Safety Authority (RSA) were made aware of a defect with a similar make and model of lift used to elevate vehicles.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NCTS said lifts would be replaced at eight centres – Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Letterkenny, Killarney, Cork, and in Swords and Fonthill in Dublin.
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Lifts were being replaced at six locations last week – Ballinasloe, Athlone, Skibbereen, Ballina, Enniscorthy and Deansgrange, south Dublin.
‘Remaining lifts’
A spokeswoman for the NCTS said the service commissioned a condition survey of all vehicle lifts by the manufacturers when it was made aware of the problem. This assessment is expected to be completed by the end of this week.
She said the NCTS and the manufacturer would “immediately begin a programme of repairing the remaining lifts within the network over the coming weeks” after the survey.
She said the NCTS and RSA were “continuing to look into other measures to minimise customer inconvenience and will provide further updates in the coming days”.
Motorists are advised to book and attend their NCT as normal and that checks, apart from the underbody inspection, would be conducted. Motorists will have to return to have the underbody check when the lifts are operational.
There is no charge in these situations as long as the vehicle passed all other elements of the test.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--What should you do if you receive a video of child abuse?

The sentencing of a woman on Tuesday for possessing child abuse material sent to her against her wishes raises several questions about the responsibilities of the public when they see illegal material .
Omo Delpin Omorouyi ( 28 ) was handed a four month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a two minute video depicting the rape of a child .
The court heard , and the judge agreed , that she received the video “ innocently ” from a man she knew only by his first name .
Omorouyi deleted it as soon as she realised it showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked its sender why he was sending her child pornography and instructed him not to text her again .
Because she had started playing the video it had automatically been downloaded into her phone ’ s memory where it remained until gardaí examined the device .
This , according to the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) , was enough to make her guilty of possession .
When gardaí uncovered the video on Omorouyi ’ s phone during an unrelated fraud investigation they were obliged to send a file to the DPP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obliged to prosecute .
The director has wide discretion not to bring cases if they would not be in the public interest .
In 2018 it chose to do so in 81 cases , or two per cent of all cases where no prosecution was directed .
For example , several years ago it received a criminal complaint that a garda was in possession of child abuse material .
The garda had used a potentially illegal image while delivering a lecture on how to spot such material and a colleague had reported him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director decided not to prosecute .
This raises the question of why Omorouyi found herself before the courts .
“ Any of us could find ourselves the recipient of this kind of awful material , ” her barrister submitted .
“ On the one hand , she didn ’ t look for [ the video ] .
On the other hand , she did not report it and apart from her reported shock did not react in a proper manner , ” said a garda who works in child protection .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she knowingly possessed it.
” Ireland has some of the strictest child pornography law in Europe and the DPP and Garda are typically eager to see it enforced to the fullest extent .
Cases like Omorouyi ’ s are “ not bad ” as a way of warning people about this , the garda said .
The prosecution will be devastating for Omorouyi , who was granted asylum in Ireland a decade ago after being trafficked into Dublin .
With her conviction she will not be allowed to work in her chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case bears some striking similarities to the UK prosecution of Novlett Robyn Williams .
She was the London Metropolitan Police ’ s most senior black female officer before being dismissed last year following a child pornography conviction .
Williams had received a disturbing video on WhatsApp from her sister .
The jury accepted she had not viewed the video but found she was aware of its presence on her phone and never alerted the police .
So what should the ordinary member of the public do if sent child abuse imagery through no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , Garda Headquarters was not overly helpful .
A spokeswoman pointed to a frequently asked questions ( FAQ ) section on the Garda website which directs the public to report suspected online child abuse imagery to the Hotline.ie service .
However Hotline is designed to assess images and videos found on the internet , not material shared in private messaging services like WhatsApp .
Individual gardaí contacted by The Irish Times said the best approach for people to protect themselves and , more importantly , help at risk children is to notify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive illegal material , something not done by Omorouyi .
“ What if it ’ s a local child or a child at risk ?
It might be the missing puzzle piece for an officer somewhere to rescue a child .
How are you to know ?
” one said .
As this week ’ s case illustrates , deleting the material and keeping quiet will not be a defence if gardaí coming knocking at a later date .

The court heard, and the judge agreed, that the woman received the video ‘innocently’ from a man she knew only by his first name. Photograph: iStock
The sentencing of a woman on Tuesday for possessing child abuse material sent to her against her wishes raises several questions about the responsibilities of the public when they see illegal material.
Omo Delpin Omorouyi (28) was handed a four month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a two minute video depicting the rape of a child.
The court heard, and the judge agreed, that she received the video “innocently” from a man she knew only by his first name.
Omorouyi deleted it as soon as she realised it showed the rape of a child. She asked its sender why he was sending her child pornography and instructed him not to text her again.
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Because she had started playing the video it had automatically been downloaded into her phone's memory where it remained until gardaí examined the device. This, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), was enough to make her guilty of possession.
When gardaí uncovered the video on Omorouyi’s phone during an unrelated fraud investigation they were obliged to send a file to the DPP. But the DPP was not necessarily obliged to prosecute.
The director has wide discretion not to bring cases if they would not be in the public interest. In 2018 it chose to do so in 81 cases, or two per cent of all cases where no prosecution was directed.
For example, several years ago it received a criminal complaint that a garda was in possession of child abuse material.
The garda had used a potentially illegal image while delivering a lecture on how to spot such material and a colleague had reported him. After assessing the facts, the director decided not to prosecute.
This raises the question of why Omorouyi found herself before the courts. “Any of us could find ourselves the recipient of this kind of awful material,” her barrister submitted.
“On the one hand, she didn’t look for [the video]. On the other hand, she did not report it and apart from her reported shock did not react in a proper manner,” said a garda who works in child protection. “The law is there and she breached it as she knowingly possessed it.”
Ireland has some of the strictest child pornography law in Europe and the DPP and Garda are typically eager to see it enforced to the fullest extent. Cases like Omorouyi's are "not bad" as a way of warning people about this, the garda said.
The prosecution will be devastating for Omorouyi, who was granted asylum in Ireland a decade ago after being trafficked into Dublin .
With her conviction she will not be allowed to work in her chosen field of childcare.
Omorouyi’s case bears some striking similarities to the UK prosecution of Novlett Robyn Williams. She was the London Metropolitan Police’s most senior black female officer before being dismissed last year following a child pornography conviction.
Williams had received a disturbing video on WhatsApp from her sister. The jury accepted she had not viewed the video but found she was aware of its presence on her phone and never alerted the police.
So what should the ordinary member of the public do if sent child abuse imagery through no fault of their own? Asked on Tuesday, Garda Headquarters was not overly helpful.
A spokeswoman pointed to a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section on the Garda website which directs the public to report suspected online child abuse imagery to the Hotline.ie service. However Hotline is designed to assess images and videos found on the internet, not material shared in private messaging services like WhatsApp.
Individual gardaí contacted by The Irish Times said the best approach for people to protect themselves and, more importantly, help at risk children is to notify gardaí as soon as possible if they receive illegal material, something not done by Omorouyi.
“What if it’s a local child or a child at risk? It might be the missing puzzle piece for an officer somewhere to rescue a child. How are you to know?” one said.
As this week’s case illustrates, deleting the material and keeping quiet will not be a defence if gardaí coming knocking at a later date.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--‘Cash for ash’ report to be published on March 13th

The report into the calamitous Renewable Heat Incentive ( RHI ) scheme is to be published on Friday , March 13th , a spokesman for the independent inquiry headed by Sir Patrick Coghlin confirmed on Tuesday .
Sir Patrick , a retired senior Northern Ireland judge , will make a statement about the so-called “ cash for ash ” inquiry at Stormont when the report is published .
It was estimated that potentially the botched eco-friendly wood pellet burning scheme could cost the Northern Ireland taxpayer up to £490 million .
Rows between the DUP and Sinn Féin over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin McGuinness standing down as deputy first minister three years ago , thus collapsing the Northern Executive .
The RHI scheme was introduced in 2012 when first minister Arlene Foster was the minister of enterprise , trade and investment .
It was shut down in 2016 while cuts to the subsidies were introduced in 2017 and 2019 .
It was designed to encourage firms , businesses and farmers to switch from fossil-fuel heating to biomass systems such as wood-burning boilers .
But under the Northern Ireland scheme for every £1 that users spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Close to 2,000 people in Northern Ireland availed of the scheme which because of its generosity was known as “ cash for ash ” or “ the more you burn the more you earn ” .
Between 2013 and 2015 whistleblower Janette O ’ Hagan made a number of fruitless attempts to warn politicians and civil servants about the botched system .
In one instance it was estimated that a farmer stood to make £1 million over the 20-year term of the scheme for heating an empty shed .

The RHI scheme was introduced in 2012 when first minister Arlene Foster was the minister of enterprise, trade and investment. File image: Tom Honan/The Irish Times
The report into the calamitous Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme is to be published on Friday, March 13th, a spokesman for the independent inquiry headed by Sir Patrick Coghlin confirmed on Tuesday.
Sir Patrick, a retired senior Northern Ireland judge, will make a statement about the so-called "cash for ash" inquiry at Stormont when the report is published.
It was estimated that potentially the botched eco-friendly wood pellet burning scheme could cost the Northern Ireland taxpayer up to £490 million.
Rows between the DUP and Sinn Féin over the renewable energy scheme led to the late Martin McGuinness standing down as deputy first minister three years ago, thus collapsing the Northern Executive.
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The RHI scheme was introduced in 2012 when first minister Arlene Foster was the minister of enterprise, trade and investment.
It was shut down in 2016 while cuts to the subsidies were introduced in 2017 and 2019.
It was designed to encourage firms, businesses and farmers to switch from fossil-fuel heating to biomass systems such as wood-burning boilers.
But under the Northern Ireland scheme for every £1 that users spent they got back £1.60 in subsidies.
Close to 2,000 people in Northern Ireland availed of the scheme which because of its generosity was known as “cash for ash” or “the more you burn the more you earn”.
Between 2013 and 2015 whistleblower Janette O’Hagan made a number of fruitless attempts to warn politicians and civil servants about the botched system.
In one instance it was estimated that a farmer stood to make £1 million over the 20-year term of the scheme for heating an empty shed.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Garda tells Adrian Donohoe murder trial he was ‘completely terrified’

A former detective garda feared for his life when an armed robber pointed a gun at him and shouted : “ I ’ m going to kill you , I ’ m going to f***ing shoot you , ” during a raid that left his colleague dead from a gunshot wound to the head , the Central Criminal Court has heard .
Joe Ryan also described to the court the moment he realised his partner Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe had been fatally wounded : “ I could see a serious wound to his face .
He was lying in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain matter on the tarmac .
I knew he was dead but I felt for a pulse anyway .
But it was obvious he was dead.
” Joe Ryan on Tuesday told the trial of Aaron Brady , who denies the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe , that he was “ terrified ” as he was penned into his car by two gunmen , one holding a shotgun , the other a handgun .
Mr Ryan remembered thinking to himself that he would rather be shot with the handgun as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Aaron Brady ( 28 ) from New Road , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th , 2013 at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth .
Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location .
Mr Ryan told Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area since 1992 and in 2013 it was part of the weekly duty for armed detectives to escort credit union employees around north Louth with bags of money to a safe deposit box in Dundalk .
On the night in question he was driving with Det Gda Donohoe in the passenger seat .
They took over the escort at Cooley Credit Union and headed to Lordship Credit Union following a Nissan Qashqai belonging to a female credit union employee .
It was a “ dark , wet and quite miserable ” night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of them were difficult to pass through .
There was nothing unusual about the night and he checked to see if anyone was following them but saw nobody .
They arrived at Lordship at 21.25 .
After waiting about five minutes the lights in the car park were switched off and a man came out of the credit union carrying a money bag and got into his car , a Nissan Micra .
As the Qashqai approached the car park exit and the other car prepared to join the convoy behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exit .
The witness said he turned to his colleague and said : “ What the hell is going on here ?
” .
Det Gda Donohoe got out of the car and there was a banging noise from behind , which he later realised must have been the windows of the car behind being smashed .
Looking to his right he saw two men approaching .
They were running and shouting and the first one had a long-barrelled shotgun up to his shoulder pointing in the direction of the gardaí .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were being attacked.
” He released his seatbelt and reached for his holstered handgun and realised the shotgun had been fired when he heard a loud bang and saw a flash just before his door was opened and he saw the shotgun being pointed at him .
It was moving up and down , he said , pointing at his legs and body .
He assumed the shot that he heard was a warning shot and he did not see his colleague at this point , telling Mr Grehan : “ All my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The person holding the shotgun told him : “ I ’ m going to kill you , I ’ m going to f***ing shoot you , ” and asked him for money and keys .
The second person was holding a handgun , something like a Glock or a Sig , and pointing it at him , he said .
He told Mr Grehan : “ They threatened me and they were looking for money and keys and basically saying they were going to kill me .
I said , ‘ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t shoot.
‘ ” He added that he remembered thinking : “ I would prefer to be shot by the 9mm [ handgun ] than the shotgun .
I would have a better chance of survival if I was going to be shot ...
I was completely terrified and in fear for my life.
” The two gunmen then ran off and got into the car parked at the exit and another man jumped over the wall .
In total , he saw four raiders plus the driver of the car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Ryan drew his weapon but the raiders had left and the threat was gone .
He said : “ I realised there was no immediate threat to life and decided not to discharge my firearm.
” As he moved towards the Qashqai he saw Det Gda Donohoe on the ground .
He said : “ I could see a serious wound to his face .
He was lying facing the front of the car on his back .
He was lying in a pool of blood .
I could see brain matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dead but I felt for a pulse anyway .
But it was obvious he was dead.
” He called for help on the car radio .
Judging by their build and “ the way they carried themselves ” he said he believed the raiders to be in their early to mid-20s .
The man with the shotgun , he said , was taller and thinner than the man with the handgun , who looked more athletic .
Both men wore balaclavas and dark tracksuits .
He also observed that the man with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him as “ the main threat ” .
His accent , the witness said , was difficult to place .
It wasn ’ t a strong Northern Irish accent or a Dublin accent , he said .
The person holding the handgun , he said , was smaller and he estimated he was five feet seven inches tall .
His accent was “ more of a border accent ” .
The jury was then played audio of the garda radio call and a 999 call during which Mr Ryan spoke with garda control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael O ’ Higgins SC for the defence that in a statement following the shooting he described the person with the shotgun as being six feet one inch tall and of slim build .
He told Mr O ’ Higgins that he had difficulty placing the accent of the person with the shotgun as he was shouting and , he said , it ’ s more difficult to place an accent if someone is shouting .
In earlier evidence on Tuesday Gda Alan Lynch told Mr Grehan that he was on patrol that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier that evening they had provided an escort for one of the credit union employees before Det Gda Donohoe and his colleague Det Gda Joe Ryan took over .
At 21.30 a call came over the garda radio “ to the effect that Gda Ryan was seeking urgent attention .
You could tell from his voice that he was highly distressed .
You knew something terrible had happened.
” Gda Lynch and Gda Golden made their way to Lordship and set up a road block and traffic diversion about 100 yards from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial continues in front of Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women .

A former detective garda feared for his life when an armed robber pointed a gun at him and shouted: "I'm going to kill you, I'm going to f***ing shoot you," during a raid that left his colleague dead from a gunshot wound to the head, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Joe Ryan also described to the court the moment he realised his partner Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe had been fatally wounded: “I could see a serious wound to his face. He was lying in a pool of blood. I could see brain matter on the tarmac. I knew he was dead but I felt for a pulse anyway. But it was obvious he was dead.”
Joe Ryan on Tuesday told the trial of Aaron Brady, who denies the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe, that he was “terrified” as he was penned into his car by two gunmen, one holding a shotgun, the other a handgun.
Mr Ryan remembered thinking to himself that he would rather be shot with the handgun as he would have a better chance of survival.
READ MORE
Aaron Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
Mr Ryan told Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution that he was a garda in the Dundalk area since 1992 and in 2013 it was part of the weekly duty for armed detectives to escort credit union employees around north Louth with bags of money to a safe deposit box in Dundalk.
On the night in question he was driving with Det Gda Donohoe in the passenger seat. They took over the escort at Cooley Credit Union and headed to Lordship Credit Union following a Nissan Qashqai belonging to a female credit union employee.
It was a “dark, wet and quite miserable” night, he said. Roads were flooded and some of them were difficult to pass through. There was nothing unusual about the night and he checked to see if anyone was following them but saw nobody.
They arrived at Lordship at 21.25. After waiting about five minutes the lights in the car park were switched off and a man came out of the credit union carrying a money bag and got into his car, a Nissan Micra.
As the Qashqai approached the car park exit and the other car prepared to join the convoy behind the Qashqai a car pulled up and blocked the exit. The witness said he turned to his colleague and said: “What the hell is going on here?”. Det Gda Donohoe got out of the car and there was a banging noise from behind, which he later realised must have been the windows of the car behind being smashed.
Looking to his right he saw two men approaching. They were running and shouting and the first one had a long-barrelled shotgun up to his shoulder pointing in the direction of the gardaí. He said: “I realised we were being attacked.”
He released his seatbelt and reached for his holstered handgun and realised the shotgun had been fired when he heard a loud bang and saw a flash just before his door was opened and he saw the shotgun being pointed at him. It was moving up and down, he said, pointing at his legs and body.
He assumed the shot that he heard was a warning shot and he did not see his colleague at this point, telling Mr Grehan: “All my focus was on my right hand side.” The person holding the shotgun told him: “I’m going to kill you, I’m going to f***ing shoot you,” and asked him for money and keys. The second person was holding a handgun, something like a Glock or a Sig, and pointing it at him, he said.
He told Mr Grehan: “They threatened me and they were looking for money and keys and basically saying they were going to kill me. I said, ‘I don’t have any money, don’t shoot.‘” He added that he remembered thinking: “I would prefer to be shot by the 9mm [handgun] than the shotgun. I would have a better chance of survival if I was going to be shot... I was completely terrified and in fear for my life.”
The two gunmen then ran off and got into the car parked at the exit and another man jumped over the wall. In total, he saw four raiders plus the driver of the car. Having gotten out of his car Mr Ryan drew his weapon but the raiders had left and the threat was gone.
He said: “I realised there was no immediate threat to life and decided not to discharge my firearm.” As he moved towards the Qashqai he saw Det Gda Donohoe on the ground. He said: “I could see a serious wound to his face. He was lying facing the front of the car on his back. He was lying in a pool of blood. I could see brain matter on the tarmac. I knew he was dead but I felt for a pulse anyway. But it was obvious he was dead.” He called for help on the car radio.
Judging by their build and “the way they carried themselves” he said he believed the raiders to be in their early to mid-20s. The man with the shotgun, he said, was taller and thinner than the man with the handgun, who looked more athletic.
Both men wore balaclavas and dark tracksuits. He also observed that the man with the shotgun was right handed and described him as “the main threat”. His accent, the witness said, was difficult to place. It wasn’t a strong Northern Irish accent or a Dublin accent, he said. The person holding the handgun, he said, was smaller and he estimated he was five feet seven inches tall. His accent was “more of a border accent”.
The jury was then played audio of the garda radio call and a 999 call during which Mr Ryan spoke with garda control. Under cross-examination Mr Ryan agreed with Michael O’Higgins SC for the defence that in a statement following the shooting he described the person with the shotgun as being six feet one inch tall and of slim build. He told Mr O’Higgins that he had difficulty placing the accent of the person with the shotgun as he was shouting and, he said, it’s more difficult to place an accent if someone is shouting.
In earlier evidence on Tuesday Gda Alan Lynch told Mr Grehan that he was on patrol that evening with now deceased garda Tony Golden. Earlier that evening they had provided an escort for one of the credit union employees before Det Gda Donohoe and his colleague Det Gda Joe Ryan took over.
At 21.30 a call came over the garda radio “to the effect that Gda Ryan was seeking urgent attention. You could tell from his voice that he was highly distressed. You knew something terrible had happened.” Gda Lynch and Gda Golden made their way to Lordship and set up a road block and traffic diversion about 100 yards from the scene of the shooting.
The trial continues in front of Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Why did Jason Corbett’s killers have their convictions overturned?

Thomas and Molly Martens managed to secure a retrial on their murder convictions for killing Limerick man Jason Corbett because they were prevented from fully arguing their case that they had used lethal force against the the father of two in an act of self defence .
This was the majority ruling of three US appeals court judges in North Carolina , weighing up the appeal from the father and daughter that they did not receive a fair trial in 2017 .
The ruling overturns the murder convictions of the former FBI agent and his daughter .
Four and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corbett , his second wife and his father-in-law have succeeded in having their case sent for a new trial .
Three appeals judges , two ruling and one partly agreed and partly disagreeing , found that evidentiary errors were “ so prejudicial ” that they inhibited the ability of the 69-year-old retired FBI agent and his 35-year-old daughter to “ present a full and meaningful defence ” .
Their case boiled down to whether they had lawfully used deadly force to defend themselves and the judges found that “ critical ” evidence was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pair should , the judges ruled , have been entitled to have certain evidence presented to the jury during their three-week murder trial in the summer of 2017 .
Some of the evidence related to statements made by Jack and Sarah Corbett , Mr Corbett ’ s children from his first marriage , in the days immediately after their father ’ s killing .
Other evidence related to what happened after Thomas Martens discovered - according to his testimony - his son-in-law attempting to choke his daughter in their bedroom of their North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1st-2nd , 2015 and the ensuing struggle between the men .
That altercation resulted in Mr Corbett receiving , according to prosecutors , at least 12 blows to the head with a brick and a baseball bat , resulting in death by blunt force head trauma .
One piece of evidence identified by the appeals court that was struck out at trial was Thomas Martens ’ s testimony that he heard his daughter scream , “ Don ’ t hurt my dad , ” after he fell face first to the ground in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseball bat .
The appeals judges said this evidence was admissible and should not have been excluded because it was directly relevant to whether Martens used lawful deadly force to defend himself .
Because of its exclusion , the judges said , the state ’ s prosecutors were able to make the case that the retired FBI agent was the aggressor , arguing that Thomas Martens assumed some degree of aggression after a period when he was “ no longer under a continuous assault ” .
While this entitled Martens to a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the appeals court judges said , “ very likely confused the issues for the jury in Molly ’ s case as well ” .
In addition , the judges said the jury may not have convicted Thomas and Molly Martens of second-degree murder in August 2017 had there not been an “ erroneous ” exclusion of hearsay statements made by Jason ’ s children Jack and Sarah to social workers about their father ’ s alleged violent conduct prior to the night of his death .
Their statements detail instances of alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Molly Martens - relayed to them by her - and evidence around what they understood had happened on the night of their father ’ s killing .
The appeals court also found the trial judge improperly admitted “ unreliable ” expert testimony on untested stains on Thomas Martens ’ s boxer shorts and Molly Martens ’ s pajamas that state prosecutors said showed blood splatters putting Thomas in close proximity to Mr Corbett when he received the blows to this head .
The Martens , currently serving 20 to 25 years in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody pending the procedural steps in the cause .
Because this was a majority rather than a unanimous ruling by the three appeals court judges - one judge disagreed in part - prosecutors can ask the court to review their ruling or look to new evidence .
Prosecutors have until around March 10th to make this request or to petition North Carolina ’ s supreme court to review the decision to grant the defendants a new trial .

Molly Martens and her father Thomas Martens pictured during their trial in 2017. Photographs: Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch
Thomas and Molly Martens managed to secure a retrial on their murder convictions for killing Limerick man Jason Corbett because they were prevented from fully arguing their case that they had used lethal force against the the father of two in an act of self defence.
This was the majority ruling of three US appeals court judges in North Carolina, weighing up the appeal from the father and daughter that they did not receive a fair trial in 2017.
The ruling overturns the murder convictions of the former FBI agent and his daughter.
Four and a half years after the murder of Mr Corbett, his second wife and his father-in-law have succeeded in having their case sent for a new trial.
READ MORE
Three appeals judges, two ruling and one partly agreed and partly disagreeing, found that evidentiary errors were “so prejudicial” that they inhibited the ability of the 69-year-old retired FBI agent and his 35-year-old daughter to “present a full and meaningful defence”.
Their case boiled down to whether they had lawfully used deadly force to defend themselves and the judges found that “critical” evidence was improperly excluded from the jury.
The pair should, the judges ruled, have been entitled to have certain evidence presented to the jury during their three-week murder trial in the summer of 2017.
Some of the evidence related to statements made by Jack and Sarah Corbett, Mr Corbett’s children from his first marriage, in the days immediately after their father’s killing.
Other evidence related to what happened after Thomas Martens discovered - according to his testimony - his son-in-law attempting to choke his daughter in their bedroom of their North Carolina home on the night of August 1st-2nd, 2015 and the ensuing struggle between the men.
That altercation resulted in Mr Corbett receiving, according to prosecutors, at least 12 blows to the head with a brick and a baseball bat, resulting in death by blunt force head trauma.
Daughter’s ‘scream’
One piece of evidence identified by the appeals court that was struck out at trial was Thomas Martens’s testimony that he heard his daughter scream, “Don’t hurt my dad,” after he fell face first to the ground in the struggle with Mr Corbett for the baseball bat.
The appeals judges said this evidence was admissible and should not have been excluded because it was directly relevant to whether Martens used lawful deadly force to defend himself.
Because of its exclusion, the judges said, the state’s prosecutors were able to make the case that the retired FBI agent was the aggressor, arguing that Thomas Martens assumed some degree of aggression after a period when he was “no longer under a continuous assault”.
While this entitled Martens to a new trial, this “instructional error”, the appeals court judges said, “very likely confused the issues for the jury in Molly’s case as well”.
In addition, the judges said the jury may not have convicted Thomas and Molly Martens of second-degree murder in August 2017 had there not been an “erroneous” exclusion of hearsay statements made by Jason’s children Jack and Sarah to social workers about their father’s alleged violent conduct prior to the night of his death.
Their statements detail instances of alleged past domestic violence between Mr Corbett and Molly Martens - relayed to them by her - and evidence around what they understood had happened on the night of their father’s killing.
The appeals court also found the trial judge improperly admitted “unreliable” expert testimony on untested stains on Thomas Martens’s boxer shorts and Molly Martens’s pajamas that state prosecutors said showed blood splatters putting Thomas in close proximity to Mr Corbett when he received the blows to this head.
The Martens, currently serving 20 to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder, will remain in custody pending the procedural steps in the cause.
Because this was a majority rather than a unanimous ruling by the three appeals court judges - one judge disagreed in part - prosecutors can ask the court to review their ruling or look to new evidence.
Prosecutors have until around March 10th to make this request or to petition North Carolina’s supreme court to review the decision to grant the defendants a new trial.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Childcare facilities set to close for a day as workers protest over ‘crisis’

Hundreds of childcare facilities are set to shut on Wednesday as thousands of staff and parents take part in a “ day of protest ” over pay and conditions in the sector .
Protest organisers expect up to 10,000 workers , parents and providers to take part in a march that is due to leave Parnell Square at 12.15pm and finish at Government Buildings .
The Together for Early Years Alliance says underfunding of the sector has reached crisis point , and is resulting in poorly-paid staff and unsustainable services .
Elaine Dunne , of the Federation of Childhood Providers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the “ first of many ” unless the next government tackles funding issues .
“ We ’ re being forced to fight back .
We ’ re doing this for parents , children and the providers .
We need proper levels of EU funding…Personally I want to see another protest on March 5th , but we ’ re due to decide that later this week.
” The action is set to cause widespread disruption for working parents , but the organisers say many mothers and fathers support their actions and want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from parents has been tremendous , ” said Darragh O ’ Connor of Siptu .
“ They know the childcare system isn ’ t working for them either ; they are paying some of the highest fees in Europe .
They want change as much as workers on the minimum wage.
” Sessional services and part-time services – such as those providing the “ free ” pre-school year – are among the most likely to close as a result of the protest .
Most larger childcare chains providing full-time care are due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day will not receive State funding , but Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said these can make up the day on another date and get paid .
In practice , some childcare services – with the co-operation of parents – are technically remaining open , but will close when no children turn up in the morning .
This , they say , will allow services to be paid for the day .
While many larger childcare chains have requested that staff not take part in protests , many workers are choosing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being timed to coincide with the closing phase of the general election .
Ms Zappone ’ s has said she shares concerns about the need for greater investment in the sector .
Her spokesman said investment in the childcare sector had increased 140 per cent in the last five budgets , and that this had increased capacity in the sector and doubled the number of children who benefit from childcare subsidies .

Protest organisers expect up to 10,000 workers, parents and providers to take part in a march that is due to leave Parnell Square, Dublin, at 12.15pm, and finish at Government Buildings. File photograph: Cyril Byrne
Hundreds of childcare facilities are set to shut on Wednesday as thousands of staff and parents take part in a “day of protest” over pay and conditions in the sector.
Protest organisers expect up to 10,000 workers, parents and providers to take part in a march that is due to leave Parnell Square at 12.15pm and finish at Government Buildings.
The Together for Early Years Alliance says underfunding of the sector has reached crisis point, and is resulting in poorly-paid staff and unsustainable services.
Elaine Dunne, of the Federation of Childhood Providers, said she expected the protest would be the "first of many" unless the next government tackles funding issues.
READ MORE
“We’re being forced to fight back. We’re doing this for parents, children and the providers. We need proper levels of EU funding…Personally I want to see another protest on March 5th, but we’re due to decide that later this week.”
The action is set to cause widespread disruption for working parents, but the organisers say many mothers and fathers support their actions and want to attend the demonstration.
"The response from parents has been tremendous," said Darragh O'Connor of Siptu. "They know the childcare system isn't working for them either; they are paying some of the highest fees in Europe. They want change as much as workers on the minimum wage."
Sessional services and part-time services – such as those providing the “free” pre-school year – are among the most likely to close as a result of the protest. Most larger childcare chains providing full-time care are due to remain open.
Funding
Services that close for the day will not receive State funding, but Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said these can make up the day on another date and get paid.
In practice, some childcare services – with the co-operation of parents – are technically remaining open, but will close when no children turn up in the morning. This, they say, will allow services to be paid for the day.
While many larger childcare chains have requested that staff not take part in protests, many workers are choosing to take part anyway. The protest is being timed to coincide with the closing phase of the general election.
Ms Zappone’s has said she shares concerns about the need for greater investment in the sector.
Her spokesman said investment in the childcare sector had increased 140 per cent in the last five budgets, and that this had increased capacity in the sector and doubled the number of children who benefit from childcare subsidies.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Patricia O’Connor murder trial: Jury watch CCTV of family’s movements

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering a retired hospital worker , whose dismembered remains were found scattered at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains , have been watching CCTV footage of her family ’ s movements outside her home on the day of the alleged killing .
The trial also heard that gardaí watched a total of 343 hours of footage from the front and back of the Rathfarnham house , which was captured on a neighbour ’ s camera over a two-week period in 2017 .
The jurors spent Tuesday watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where father-of-three Kieran Greene is on trial charged with murdering Patricia O ’ Connor .
Mr Greene ( 34 ) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs O ’ Connor ( 61 ) at her home in Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 on May 29th , 2017 .
The deceased ’ s daughter Louise O ’ Connor ( 41 ) and granddaughter Stephanie O ’ Connor ( 22 ) , both of Millmount Court , Dundrum Road , Dublin 14 , and Louise O ’ Connor ’ s ex-partner Keith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardens , Tallaght , Dublin 24 are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene , knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence , to wit the murder of Mrs O ’ Connor on May 29 , 2017 .
The trial has heard that the body of Mrs O ’ Connor was dismembered into 15 separate parts that were found at nine different locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14 , 2017 .
Former Depute State Pathologist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head .
Giving evidence on Tuesday , Garda David Hamblyn told prosecuting counsel , Gerardine Small BL , that he went to Sam Lin ’ s house at Mountainview Park on June 14th , 2017 .
Mr Lin gave Gda Hamblyn his DVR system and he compiled a montage of CCTV footage .
Garda Alan Thompson told Ms Small that he viewed CCTV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 at 7am until June 12th , 2017 at 2pm and noted any activity .
In total , he viewed 343 hours of footage , he remarked .
CCTV footage commencing on May 29th at 10.28am was then played for the jury , showing movements at the front and rear of Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s house .
It is the prosecution ’ s case that Mr Greene murdered Mrs O ’ Connor at some point after 18.35 on May 29th , when she is last seen entering the house from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 29th , Louise O ’ Connor , Stephanie and some children can be seen walking down the driveway and turning left , said Gda Thompson , adding that Stephanie can be seen wearing a maroon jacket , maroon leggings and boots .
At 6.54pm , the witness said Louise can be seen returning to the house and walking up the driveway .
A minute later , she walks down the driveway with a cream handbag and turns left .
At 6.56pm , Patricia O ’ Connor ’ s husband Gus O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left , he said .
The witness said Mr Greene can be seen opening the curtains and back door at the rear of the house at 8.44pm , before closing the door again .
At 8.51pm , Louise O ’ Connor , Stephanie and some children can be seen leaving Tesco at Nutgrove and returning to Mountainview at 9pm , he said .
Louise , Stephanie and Mr Greene are seen in the back garden at 9.15pm that night , he continued .
Evidence has been given that when gardaí asked Louise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house to go to the park , she replied that she wanted “ to get peace from my mum ” .
Gardai asked Louise whether they had left the house to get “ permanent peace ” .
“ No , she [ Patricia O ’ Connor ] was freaking out over the cat , ” she replied .
At 9.34pm , a female , not identified to the jury , can be seen leaving the front of the house and walking quickly down the driveway before turning left , said Gda Thompson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coat with dark trousers and has a black suitcase in her right hand .
A minute later , Louise O ’ Connor walks down the driveway to the footpath and looks left before going back inside the house .
She does this again at 10pm , said the witness .
At 10.05pm , Gda Thompson said a female with a suitcase appears at the left-hand side of the house and goes in the back door .
She closes the back door a minute later .
It is the prosecution ’ s case that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage can Stephanie O ’ Connor be seen as herself leaving Mountainview Park on the night of May 29th and that , in order to cover up the alleged murder , she dressed up as her grandmother as “ a ruse ” to pretend that Mrs O ’ Connor had stormed out of the house .
Gda Thompson said Gus O ’ Connor is seen walking up the driveway with a dog at 10.23pm .
Gus and Louise are then seen talking at the back of the house at 10.59pm , before going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going into the early hours of May 30th and later that day .
At 00.39am , Mr Greene is seen emerging from the left side of the house carrying two long-handled objects , he said .
At 00.40am , Gda Thompson said a Toyota Corolla car is driven out of the driveway and reverses back in .
Ten minutes later , a male is seen carrying a spade and puts it into the car before the car is driven away at 2.09am , he remarked .
At 2.16am , Gda Thompson said Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service Station in Templeogue and puts €40 worth of fuel into the car .
He pays for the fuel and buys an LED lamp before returning to the car and driving off .
At 5.54am , the Toyota Corolla reverses into the driveway of Mountainview and a male gets out of the car , he continues .
At 6.10am , Gda Thompson said Mr Greene goes into the garden and is holding a pair of shoes .
He places the shoes on a bin at the side of the house .
A few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have black bin bags on him and puts items of clothing into them , he said .
He is seen tearing a black bin bag from the roll and places it on the bin .
He then pours water from a watering can onto the ground and brushes it .
At 8.57am , Mr Greene leaves the house to bring his two sons to school .
He is later seen walking out the back of the house carrying blankets or clothes and places them on the bin bag , he said .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying a black sack down his driveway which he puts into the passenger side of the car , he said .
At 1.39pm that day , Keith Johnston walks up the driveway to the house and is later seen with a piece of timber in the garden .
He looks like he is fixing a kitchen press door at 2.35pm , said Gda Thompson .
The following afternoon , it appears Mr Johnston is cutting a plank of wood in the garden using an orange electric saw , he said , and Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mr Johnston are seen carrying a plank of wood into the rear of the house at 5.50pm that evening .
The trial has heard that while in custody , Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner ’ s mother , six months after he was charged with her murder .
Evidence has been given that Mr Greene walked into Rathfarnham Garda station on June 12th , 2017 and told a detective that he had done “ something terrible ” and dismembered the body of Mrs O ’ Connor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused man told gardai on December 9th that he had taken “ the rap ” and felt he was being set-up , as his girlfriend Louise O ’ Connor subsequently started going back out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston .
Mother-of-five Louise O ’ Connor has pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O ’ Connor disguising herself as Patricia O ’ Connor at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 on May 29 , 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O ’ Connor was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as Mrs O ’ Connor at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29th , 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead .
Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie ’ s , Mr Price , B & Q and Shoe Zone , Tallaght , Dublin 24 on June 9th , 2017 , which were to be used in the concealment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connor .
Mr Johnston also denies engaging in the refurbishment of a bathroom at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 between May 31st , 2017 and June 9th , 2017 , in order to destroy or conceal any evidence relating to the murder of Mrs O ’ Connor .
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women .

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering a retired hospital worker, whose dismembered remains were found scattered at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, have been watching CCTV footage of her family's movements outside her home on the day of the alleged killing.
The trial also heard that gardaí watched a total of 343 hours of footage from the front and back of the Rathfarnham house, which was captured on a neighbour's camera over a two-week period in 2017.
The jurors spent Tuesday watching CCTV evidence at the Central Criminal Court, where father-of-three Kieran Greene is on trial charged with murdering Patricia O'Connor. Mr Greene (34) has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29th, 2017.
The deceased's daughter Louise O'Connor (41) and granddaughter Stephanie O'Connor (22), both of Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14, and Louise O'Connor's ex-partner Keith Johnston (43), of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24 are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Kieran Greene, knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence, to wit the murder of Mrs O'Connor on May 29, 2017.
READ MORE
The trial has heard that the body of Mrs O’Connor was dismembered into 15 separate parts that were found at nine different locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017.
Former Depute State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, has given evidence that Mrs O’Connor’s head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
Giving evidence on Tuesday, Garda David Hamblyn told prosecuting counsel, Gerardine Small BL, that he went to Sam Lin’s house at Mountainview Park on June 14th, 2017. Mr Lin gave Gda Hamblyn his DVR system and he compiled a montage of CCTV footage.
Garda Alan Thompson told Ms Small that he viewed CCTV footage of the house between May 29th, 2017 at 7am until June 12th, 2017 at 2pm and noted any activity. In total, he viewed 343 hours of footage, he remarked.
CCTV footage commencing on May 29th at 10.28am was then played for the jury, showing movements at the front and rear of Mrs O’Connor’s house.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Greene murdered Mrs O’Connor at some point after 18.35 on May 29th, when she is last seen entering the house from the rear garden.
At 6.53pm on May 29th, Louise O’Connor, Stephanie and some children can be seen walking down the driveway and turning left, said Gda Thompson, adding that Stephanie can be seen wearing a maroon jacket, maroon leggings and boots.
At 6.54pm, the witness said Louise can be seen returning to the house and walking up the driveway. A minute later, she walks down the driveway with a cream handbag and turns left.
At 6.56pm, Patricia O’Connor’s husband Gus O’Connor walks down the driveway and turns left, he said.
The witness said Mr Greene can be seen opening the curtains and back door at the rear of the house at 8.44pm, before closing the door again.
At 8.51pm, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie and some children can be seen leaving Tesco at Nutgrove and returning to Mountainview at 9pm, he said. Louise, Stephanie and Mr Greene are seen in the back garden at 9.15pm that night, he continued.
Evidence has been given that when gardaí asked Louise in her interviews why she had left the house to go to the park, she replied that she wanted “to get peace from my mum”. Gardai asked Louise whether they had left the house to get “permanent peace”. “No, she [Patricia O’Connor] was freaking out over the cat,” she replied.
At 9.34pm, a female, not identified to the jury, can be seen leaving the front of the house and walking quickly down the driveway before turning left, said Gda Thompson. The female is wearing a dark green coat with dark trousers and has a black suitcase in her right hand.
A minute later, Louise O’Connor walks down the driveway to the footpath and looks left before going back inside the house. She does this again at 10pm, said the witness.
At 10.05pm, Gda Thompson said a female with a suitcase appears at the left-hand side of the house and goes in the back door. She closes the back door a minute later.
It is the prosecution’s case that at no point in time in CCTV footage can Stephanie O’Connor be seen as herself leaving Mountainview Park on the night of May 29th and that, in order to cover up the alleged murder, she dressed up as her grandmother as “a ruse” to pretend that Mrs O’Connor had stormed out of the house.
Gda Thompson said Gus O’Connor is seen walking up the driveway with a dog at 10.23pm. Gus and Louise are then seen talking at the back of the house at 10.59pm, before going inside.
The jury then saw footage going into the early hours of May 30th and later that day. At 00.39am, Mr Greene is seen emerging from the left side of the house carrying two long-handled objects, he said.
At 00.40am, Gda Thompson said a Toyota Corolla car is driven out of the driveway and reverses back in. Ten minutes later, a male is seen carrying a spade and puts it into the car before the car is driven away at 2.09am, he remarked.
At 2.16am, Gda Thompson said Mr Greene is seen driving into Texaco Spawell Service Station in Templeogue and puts €40 worth of fuel into the car. He pays for the fuel and buys an LED lamp before returning to the car and driving off.
At 5.54am, the Toyota Corolla reverses into the driveway of Mountainview and a male gets out of the car, he continues.
At 6.10am, Gda Thompson said Mr Greene goes into the garden and is holding a pair of shoes. He places the shoes on a bin at the side of the house.
A few minutes later, Mr Greene appears to have black bin bags on him and puts items of clothing into them, he said. He is seen tearing a black bin bag from the roll and places it on the bin. He then pours water from a watering can onto the ground and brushes it.
At 8.57am, Mr Greene leaves the house to bring his two sons to school. He is later seen walking out the back of the house carrying blankets or clothes and places them on the bin bag, he said.
On June 1st, Mr Greene is seen carrying a black sack down his driveway which he puts into the passenger side of the car, he said. At 1.39pm that day, Keith Johnston walks up the driveway to the house and is later seen with a piece of timber in the garden. He looks like he is fixing a kitchen press door at 2.35pm, said Gda Thompson.
The following afternoon, it appears Mr Johnston is cutting a plank of wood in the garden using an orange electric saw, he said, and Mr Greene is standing there. Mr Greene and Mr Johnston are seen carrying a plank of wood into the rear of the house at 5.50pm that evening.
The trial has heard that while in custody, Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner’s mother, six months after he was charged with her murder.
Evidence has been given that Mr Greene walked into Rathfarnham Garda station on June 12th, 2017 and told a detective that he had done “something terrible” and dismembered the body of Mrs O’Connor on his own. However, the accused man told gardai on December 9th that he had taken “the rap” and felt he was being set-up, as his girlfriend Louise O’Connor subsequently started going back out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston.
Mother-of-five Louise O’Connor has pleaded not guilty to agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O’Connor disguising herself as Patricia O’Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O’Connor was dead.
Stephanie O’Connor has pleaded not guilty to disguising herself as Mrs O’Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29th, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead.
Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie’s, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9th, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O’Connor.
Mr Johnston also denies engaging in the refurbishment of a bathroom at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 between May 31st, 2017 and June 9th, 2017, in order to destroy or conceal any evidence relating to the murder of Mrs O’Connor.
The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Greens reject view that Irish voters don’t care about climate issues

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has rejected a view that a huge proportion of Irish people are not ready to embrace radical action to address the climate crisis and this was why it has not become a major election issue .
He said that while some parties might believe this to be the case , “ I don ’ t think the Irish people are in that place ” and that people in Ireland want to “ become leaders ” on climate action .
Speaking as his party published its climate policy at the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun , Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laggards on the subject of climate change and it was easier for them to focus on other issues in the campaign .
If one in 10 people voted for the Greens , it would have a transformative effect , he added , “ because we will be able to hold those parties to account.
” Mr Ryan said “ every flyer being put through my door by rival parties is climate central , everyone cycling everywhere , organic this , flowers and birdboxes galore ” .
However , he said they were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy , transport , land use and agriculture .
Dublin West candidate Roderic O ’ Gorman said Sinn Féin ’ s climate manifesto included calls for fossil fuel divestment and a ban on fracking , which he said had already happened , and sought too little funding given the scale of action needed .
He said Sinn Féin ’ s opposition to carbon taxes ran contrary to evidence showing that the levies play a part in shifting away from carbon-intensive activities , especially within industry .
Dublin Central candidate Neasa Hourigan said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on climate change , while failing to “ reorient the country to the new climate reality , and Europe ’ s Green New Deal ” , with the opportunities and extensive funding that would provide .
The Greens ’ policy commits to “ a massive extension and upgrading of the rail network ” including extensive electrification of existing lines and development of light rail systems in Cork and Galway .
Upgrades would be concentrated in commuter belt counties surrounding Dublin , while rural transport would be overhauled and made affordable .
Also included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which uses waste heat , especially from industry , to warm nearby homes and make them more energy efficient while also moving away from fossil fuel use .

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan: ‘Every flyer being put through my door by rival parties is climate central, everyone cycling everywhere, organic this, flowers and birdboxes galore.’ Photograph: Nick Bradshaw for The Irish Times
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has rejected a view that a huge proportion of Irish people are not ready to embrace radical action to address the climate crisis and this was why it has not become a major election issue.
He said that while some parties might believe this to be the case, “I don’t think the Irish people are in that place” and that people in Ireland want to “become leaders” on climate action.
Speaking as his party published its climate policy at the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, Dublin, Mr Ryan said Fine Gael were laggards on the subject of climate change and it was easier for them to focus on other issues in the campaign.
If one in 10 people voted for the Greens, it would have a transformative effect, he added, "because we will be able to hold those parties to account."
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Mr Ryan said “every flyer being put through my door by rival parties is climate central, everyone cycling everywhere, organic this, flowers and birdboxes galore”.
However, he said they were not willing to fundamentally change the systems of energy, transport, land use and agriculture.
Dublin West candidate Roderic O'Gorman said Sinn Féin's climate manifesto included calls for fossil fuel divestment and a ban on fracking, which he said had already happened, and sought too little funding given the scale of action needed. He said Sinn Féin's opposition to carbon taxes ran contrary to evidence showing that the levies play a part in shifting away from carbon-intensive activities, especially within industry.
Lacked vision
Dublin Central candidate Neasa Hourigan said the Fine Gael manifesto lacked vision and ambition on climate change, while failing to "reorient the country to the new climate reality, and Europe's Green New Deal", with the opportunities and extensive funding that would provide.
The Greens’ policy commits to “a massive extension and upgrading of the rail network” including extensive electrification of existing lines and development of light rail systems in Cork and Galway.
Upgrades would be concentrated in commuter belt counties surrounding Dublin, while rural transport would be overhauled and made affordable.
Also included is an extensive programme of district heating, which uses waste heat, especially from industry, to warm nearby homes and make them more energy efficient while also moving away from fossil fuel use.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Man held over Essex deaths alleged to have been involved in prior migrant transport

A Northern Irish man , wanted in the UK to face multiple counts of manslaughter after 39 Vietnamese nationals were found dead in a lorry in Essex last October , is alleged to have been involved in transporting illegal migrants on two other occasions , a High Court judgement has outlined .
It is also alleged the trailer at the centre of the Essex tragedy was used on one of those two prior occasions .
The judgment also states there is evidence that the sealed refrigeration unit in which the 39 people were found dead was not turned on and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceased died from oxygen starvation .
The temperature inside the unit rose to 38.5 degrees before it “ steadily reduced ” while “ bloody hand prints ” were later found in the inside of the unit .
The UK authorities want Eamon Ronald Harrison ( 23 ) from Mayobridge , Co Down , to face 39 counts of manslaughter , conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK ’ s Modern Slavery Act .
It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer , in which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain , the court previously heard .
On January 24th , Mr Justice Binchy said he found there was nothing to preclude him from ordering the surrender of Mr Harrison but outlined that his lengthy and “ detailed ” written judgement explaining his decision was not yet ready .
He held off making the order to give Mr Harrison ’ s legal team to consider his judgement .
On Tuesday , Mr Harrison appeared in the High Court and Siobhan Stack SC , for Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judgement .
Mr Justice Binchy listened to submissions from Ms Stack and Ronan Kennedy SC , for the Department of Justice , and remanded Mr Harrison in custody to appear again next Wednesday at 10am .
In court on Tuesday , Ms Stack argued that the additional information the court received from the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK on December 4th last , on foot of a request from the High Court on November 21st , was of a “ different quality ” to the information that was set out in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this contrast calls into question “ the appropriateness of all the information in this case ” and said the “ warrant was sparse in the extreme ” .
Ms Stack also said that the matter is one of exceptional public importance and that , as a matter of public interest , the matter should be heard in a higher court .
The barrister said : “ This is a matter for a higher court to rule on.
” The barrister also argued this morning that the additional information is “ inadmissible ” as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issuing judicial authority , the UK Central Authority , as opposed to the CPS .
She also said “ manifest error has been met ” and suggested an improper use of law would be grounds for an appeal .
Ronan Kennedy SC , for the Minister for Justice , argued that no public interest matter arises and no point of law of exceptional importance arises in order to allow for an appeal .
He said : “ We say that the legal principles applicable are clear , unambiguous and the respondent can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of persuading the court to certify a point.
” In respect of the additional information provided to the court by the CPS , Mr Kennedy said : “ The court had to consider the additional information and determine what weight to attach to it .
And to suggest that it somehow fell from the sky , in my respectful submission , doesn ’ t hold up to any scrutiny.
” Mr Kennedy argued that the extradition order “ ought to be made without further delay ” .
Meanwhile , Mr Justice Binchy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the allegations against Mr Harrison .
He said it ’ s alleged that he drove the trailer unit in which the deceased were being transported to Zeebrugge on October 22nd , 2019 , arriving at 1.54pm , with the cargo recorded as “ biscuits ” .
He added : “ When paramedics arrived at the scene [ in Essex ] , they found 39 bodies in the back of the trailer and all were dead .
Mr [ Maurice ] Robinson was arrested on suspicion of murder .
After Mr Robinson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ another named man ] made a number of phone calls to the respondent [ Eamon Harrison ] .
It is stated in the additional information that [ this man ] recruited Mr Robinson and the respondent in his haulage business .
“ While the results of postmortem examinations are awaited , early indications are that all of the deceased died from hypoxia ( starvation of oxygen ) .
Hyperthermia may also have been a factor in their deaths .
The refrigeration unit in the trailer was not switched on .
The temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10.35am hours on Tuesday 22nd October , the temperature in the unit rose consistently until 10.55pm on that day when it reached its highest level of 38.5 degrees .
Thereafter it steadily reduced .
Bloody hand prints were observed on the inside of the lorry door.
” Mr Binchy also noted that “ other information regarding the activities ” of Mr Harrison have been provided .
He said it ’ s alleged that Mr Harrison is believed to have been involved in the “ transportation of illegal migrants from Zeebrugge Port to Purfleet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and again on 17th/18th October , 2019 .
On the latter occasion , the same trailer as that used to transport the deceased migrants on 22nd/23rd October , 2019 was used .
The respondent [ Mr Harrison ] was identified as being the driver ” .
Mr Justice Binchy added : “ It is stated that on 9th May , 2018 , the respondent [ Mr Harrison ] was stopped at Coquelles , France , driving a trailer unit in which 18 Vietnamese migrants were discovered .
”

The judgment states there is evidence that the sealed refrigeration unit in which the 39 people were found dead was not turned on and early indications are that all of the deceased died from oxygen starvation. Photograph: Ben Stansall / AFP
A Northern Irish man, wanted in the UK to face multiple counts of manslaughter after 39 Vietnamese nationals were found dead in a lorry in Essex last October, is alleged to have been involved in transporting illegal migrants on two other occasions, a High Court judgement has outlined.
It is also alleged the trailer at the centre of the Essex tragedy was used on one of those two prior occasions.
The judgment also states there is evidence that the sealed refrigeration unit in which the 39 people were found dead was not turned on and early indications are that all of the deceased died from oxygen starvation.
The temperature inside the unit rose to 38.5 degrees before it “steadily reduced” while “bloody hand prints” were later found in the inside of the unit.
READ MORE
The UK authorities want Eamon Ronald Harrison (23) from Mayobridge, Co Down, to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK's Modern Slavery Act.
It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer, in which the 39 people were found dead, to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain, the court previously heard.
On January 24th, Mr Justice Binchy said he found there was nothing to preclude him from ordering the surrender of Mr Harrison but outlined that his lengthy and “detailed” written judgement explaining his decision was not yet ready. He held off making the order to give Mr Harrison’s legal team to consider his judgement.
Appeal
On Tuesday, Mr Harrison appeared in the High Court and Siobhan Stack SC, for Mr Harrison, requested permission to appeal the judgement. Mr Justice Binchy listened to submissions from Ms Stack and Ronan Kennedy SC, for the Department of Justice, and remanded Mr Harrison in custody to appear again next Wednesday at 10am.
In court on Tuesday, Ms Stack argued that the additional information the court received from the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK on December 4th last, on foot of a request from the High Court on November 21st, was of a “different quality” to the information that was set out in the European Arrest Warrant. She argued that this contrast calls into question “the appropriateness of all the information in this case” and said the “warrant was sparse in the extreme”.
Ms Stack also said that the matter is one of exceptional public importance and that, as a matter of public interest, the matter should be heard in a higher court. The barrister said: “This is a matter for a higher court to rule on.”
The barrister also argued this morning that the additional information is “inadmissible” as it should have been provided by the issuing judicial authority, the UK Central Authority, as opposed to the CPS.
She also said “manifest error has been met” and suggested an improper use of law would be grounds for an appeal.
Ronan Kennedy SC, for the Minister for Justice, argued that no public interest matter arises and no point of law of exceptional importance arises in order to allow for an appeal. He said: “We say that the legal principles applicable are clear, unambiguous and the respondent cannot impute uncertainty into the law for the purpose of persuading the court to certify a point.”
Allegations
In respect of the additional information provided to the court by the CPS, Mr Kennedy said: “The court had to consider the additional information and determine what weight to attach to it. And to suggest that it somehow fell from the sky, in my respectful submission, doesn’t hold up to any scrutiny.” Mr Kennedy argued that the extradition order “ought to be made without further delay”.
Meanwhile, Mr Justice Binchy’s judgment outlines further details of the allegations against Mr Harrison. He said it’s alleged that he drove the trailer unit in which the deceased were being transported to Zeebrugge on October 22nd, 2019, arriving at 1.54pm, with the cargo recorded as “biscuits”.
He added: “When paramedics arrived at the scene [in Essex], they found 39 bodies in the back of the trailer and all were dead. Mr [Maurice] Robinson was arrested on suspicion of murder. After Mr Robinson’s arrest, on the same day, [another named man] made a number of phone calls to the respondent [Eamon Harrison]. It is stated in the additional information that [this man] recruited Mr Robinson and the respondent in his haulage business.
“While the results of postmortem examinations are awaited, early indications are that all of the deceased died from hypoxia (starvation of oxygen). Hyperthermia may also have been a factor in their deaths. The refrigeration unit in the trailer was not switched on. The temperature records in the trailer indicate that from 10.35am hours on Tuesday 22nd October, the temperature in the unit rose consistently until 10.55pm on that day when it reached its highest level of 38.5 degrees. Thereafter it steadily reduced. Bloody hand prints were observed on the inside of the lorry door.”
Mr Binchy also noted that “other information regarding the activities” of Mr Harrison have been provided. He said it’s alleged that Mr Harrison is believed to have been involved in the “transportation of illegal migrants from Zeebrugge Port to Purfleet Port on 10th/11th October, 2019, and again on 17th/18th October, 2019. On the latter occasion, the same trailer as that used to transport the deceased migrants on 22nd/23rd October, 2019 was used. The respondent [Mr Harrison] was identified as being the driver”.
Mr Justice Binchy added: “It is stated that on 9th May, 2018, the respondent [Mr Harrison] was stopped at Coquelles, France, driving a trailer unit in which 18 Vietnamese migrants were discovered.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Man threatened to burn down house before raping ex-partner, court told

A man imprisoned his ex-partner and three-year-old child and threatened to burn the house down before assaulting and raping the woman , a court has heard .
The man pleaded guilty to carrying out a number of offences , including assaulting the woman and fracturing her jaw during the May 2016 incident .
However , he continues to deny he raped her , a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing was told .
He was found guilty of raping the woman by unanimous jury verdict following a trial in December last year .
He will be sentenced on February 24th .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court , the woman said she had changed since enduring the “ horrific ” false imprisonment and sexual assault at the hands of her ex-partner .
“ I ’ m not me any more and I don ’ t know if I ever will be again , ” she said .
“ I was at your mercy and you showed me none.
” She said she continues to have nightmares of being raped in a burning home as her child screams “ mammy ” .
She no longer leaves her home unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to work and has lost friends who were intimidated by the man , she said .
She already dreads him being released from custody .
The 32-year-old man , who can not be named to protect his victim ’ s anonymity , pleaded guilty in July 2018 to assaulting the woman , damaging her phone and producing a carjack handle in the course of an assault at her home in May 14th , 2016 .
He also pleaded guilty to harassing her between May 14th , 2016 and June 30th , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 2018 and was found guilty by a jury of falsely imprisoning the woman , threatening to kill her , threatening to burn her house down and producing knives in the course of the assault .
He was found guilty of rape following a separate trial last year .
A local garda told Paul Carroll SC , prosecuting , that the man and woman had been in a relationship and had a child together , before breaking up .
The man had spent a number of years in prison during this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in question , the man arrived at the woman ’ s home saying he had some money for the child , who was also present .
He had been drinking and continued to drink vodka while in the house , the court heard .
He started making advances on the woman , which she rejected , and then became “ enraged ” , the court heard .
He locked all the doors and windows in the house , started punching the fridge and damaging kitchen implements before he threatened to burn the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
He flicked lighter fuel at her in front of the child , as the woman begged him to stop .
He then put a bread knife to her face , saying he was going to kill her .
He smashed her phone and jumped on it to ensure it was unusable .
The man then started assaulting the woman — beating her with a car jack handle to the face and hitting her with a dog lead – while the upset child repeatedly asked him to stop .
The man eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the garda said .
The woman brought the child upstairs to sleep and lay down .
The man then came in to the room and raped the woman while their child slept beside them .
As he raped her , he told her : “ I ’ m going to f**k up your insides , ” the court heard .
The following morning , the woman managed to get a sim card into another phone in the house and alerted her sister , who came over to the house immediately .
The man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to harass the woman over the following six-week period , phoning her over 100 times .
During his trial , he took the stand and told the jury the woman was “ having a go at him ” .
He has 28 previous convictions , including assault and false imprisonment .
Defence barrister Patrick McGrath SC said that although his client continues to deny raping the woman , he accepts that his behaviour that night was “ completely out of order ” .
He also continues to deny falsely imprisoning her , threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the house down , the court heard .
The man has not seen his child since he was taken into custody in 2016 , which causes him great distress , Mr McGrath said .
He had a troubled childhood which included little contact with his father , who also spent time in prison .
He has a history of drug and alcohol issues and has received little to no education .
Mr Justice Michael adjourned the matter to consider sentence .

A man imprisoned his ex-partner and three-year-old child and threatened to burn the house down before assaulting and raping the woman, a court has heard.
The man pleaded guilty to carrying out a number of offences, including assaulting the woman and fracturing her jaw during the May 2016 incident. However, he continues to deny he raped her, a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing was told.
He was found guilty of raping the woman by unanimous jury verdict following a trial in December last year. He will be sentenced on February 24th.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, the woman said she had changed since enduring the “horrific” false imprisonment and sexual assault at the hands of her ex-partner.
READ MORE
“I’m not me any more and I don’t know if I ever will be again,” she said. “I was at your mercy and you showed me none.”
She said she continues to have nightmares of being raped in a burning home as her child screams “mammy”.
She no longer leaves her home unless she has to, has been unable to return to work and has lost friends who were intimidated by the man, she said. She already dreads him being released from custody.
The 32-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect his victim’s anonymity, pleaded guilty in July 2018 to assaulting the woman, damaging her phone and producing a carjack handle in the course of an assault at her home in May 14th, 2016.
He also pleaded guilty to harassing her between May 14th, 2016 and June 30th, 2016.
The man stood trial in July 2018 and was found guilty by a jury of falsely imprisoning the woman, threatening to kill her, threatening to burn her house down and producing knives in the course of the assault.
He was found guilty of rape following a separate trial last year.
A local garda told Paul Carroll SC, prosecuting, that the man and woman had been in a relationship and had a child together, before breaking up. The man had spent a number of years in prison during this time, the court heard.
On the day in question, the man arrived at the woman’s home saying he had some money for the child, who was also present. He had been drinking and continued to drink vodka while in the house, the court heard.
He started making advances on the woman, which she rejected, and then became “enraged”, the court heard.
He locked all the doors and windows in the house, started punching the fridge and damaging kitchen implements before he threatened to burn the house down with all three of them in it.
He flicked lighter fuel at her in front of the child, as the woman begged him to stop. He then put a bread knife to her face, saying he was going to kill her. He smashed her phone and jumped on it to ensure it was unusable.
The man then started assaulting the woman — beating her with a car jack handle to the face and hitting her with a dog lead – while the upset child repeatedly asked him to stop.
The man eventually stopped and things calmed down temporarily, the garda said. The woman brought the child upstairs to sleep and lay down. The man then came in to the room and raped the woman while their child slept beside them.
As he raped her, he told her: “I’m going to f**k up your insides,” the court heard.
The following morning, the woman managed to get a sim card into another phone in the house and alerted her sister, who came over to the house immediately. The man then fled the scene.
He continued to harass the woman over the following six-week period, phoning her over 100 times. During his trial, he took the stand and told the jury the woman was “having a go at him”.
He has 28 previous convictions, including assault and false imprisonment.
Defence barrister Patrick McGrath SC said that although his client continues to deny raping the woman, he accepts that his behaviour that night was “completely out of order”.
He also continues to deny falsely imprisoning her, threatening to kill her and threatening to burn the house down, the court heard.
The man has not seen his child since he was taken into custody in 2016, which causes him great distress, Mr McGrath said.
He had a troubled childhood which included little contact with his father, who also spent time in prison. He has a history of drug and alcohol issues and has received little to no education.
Mr Justice Michael adjourned the matter to consider sentence.