theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Pandemic sees crime rates fall - but not domestic abuse, drugs and online fraud

The coronavirus pandemic has coincided with large drops in most categories of crime but significant increases in domestic violence , drug dealing and online fraud .
Most offences in the crimes against the person category have dropped dramatically since March including a 24 per cent decrease in assaults , threats to murder and harassment .
Minor assaults have also dropped by 30 per cent , compared to the same three month period in 2019 - likely largely due to the complete closure of pubs and nightclubs as a result of the pandemic .
Offences associated with alcohol and nightlife activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent decrease in drunkenness offences .
Instances of assaults in public places had been falling prior to the pandemic and in the first two months of 2020 were 10 per cent down on the same period last year , the Garda said .
This coincided with Operation Soteria , a pro-active Garda operation to reduce such attacks .
Theft offences have also fallen .
Between March and May there were 62 per cent fewer thefts from persons compared to the same period last year .
Shoplifting is down 39 per cent and robberies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been reported since March , a 44 per cent decrease on last year .
Car theft is down 43 per cent but bicycle thefts decreased by a much more modest 9 per cent .
There have been 510 car thefts and 1100 bicycle thefts since March .
Other serious offence categories which have seen large decreases include sexual offending ( down 38 per cent ) and fraud type offences which are down 21 per cent .
However there have been equally large jumps in some serious offending , including a 25 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a 10 per cent increase in violations of safety or barring orders .
There has also been an 18 per cent increase in Garda notifications to Tusla .
Gardaí are obliged to inform the Child and Family agency if a child is present during a domestic violence incident .
These figures likely reflect the increased amount of time people are spending in the home .
The pandemic is also likely responsible for a 25 per cent increase in assaults on gardaí and incidents of resisting arrest ; the enforcement of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more contact with the general public than normal .
There were 93 incidents of spitting or coughing against Gardaí between April 8th and June 6th , 2020 .
While fraud is down in general , online fraud is up by 55 per cent and phishing scams- fraudulent attempts to gain access to sensitive information such as credit card numbers- are up 45 per cent .
Drug offences are up by 10 per cent including an 18 per cent rise in possession for sale or supply .
Some of this is due to increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Garda checkpoints established to enforce the coronavirus movement restrictions .
There has also been an 8 per cent increase in weapons and explosives seizures and a 9 per cent increase in arson .
The figures are based on provisional data and are liable to change , the Garda warned .
“ During the Covid-19 crisis , Gardaí have shown their determination to continue to prevent and detect crime with significant seizures and arrests for drugs , organised crime , burglaries , and drug and drink driving , ” said Deputy Commissioner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have maintained our focus on protecting the vulnerable in the current situation .
For example , early on we put in place a specific operation to help victims of domestic abuse , as well as encouraging all victims of this crime to report any concerns they have to us .
“ An Garda Síochána ’ s mission is to keep people safe .
Every day , members of An Garda Síochána show their dedication and professional in challenging circumstances to deliver on that mission by protecting and supporting communities .
@

Garda checkpoints have been established to enforce the coronavirus movement restrictions. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins
The coronavirus pandemic has coincided with large drops in most categories of crime but significant increases in domestic violence, drug dealing and online fraud.
Most offences in the crimes against the person category have dropped dramatically since March including a 24 per cent decrease in assaults, threats to murder and harassment.
Minor assaults have also dropped by 30 per cent, compared to the same three month period in 2019 - likely largely due to the complete closure of pubs and nightclubs as a result of the pandemic.
Offences associated with alcohol and nightlife activities are down significantly including a 28 per cent decrease in drunkenness offences.
READ MORE
Instances of assaults in public places had been falling prior to the pandemic and in the first two months of 2020 were 10 per cent down on the same period last year, the Garda said.
This coincided with Operation Soteria, a pro-active Garda operation to reduce such attacks.
Theft offences have also fallen. Between March and May there were 62 per cent fewer thefts from persons compared to the same period last year.
Shoplifting is down 39 per cent and robberies 30 per cent. Two thousand burglaries have been reported since March, a 44 per cent decrease on last year.
Car theft is down 43 per cent but bicycle thefts decreased by a much more modest 9 per cent. There have been 510 car thefts and 1100 bicycle thefts since March.
Other serious offence categories which have seen large decreases include sexual offending (down 38 per cent) and fraud type offences which are down 21 per cent.
However there have been equally large jumps in some serious offending, including a 25 per cent increase in reports of domestic violence and a 10 per cent increase in violations of safety or barring orders.
There has also been an 18 per cent increase in Garda notifications to Tusla. Gardaí are obliged to inform the Child and Family agency if a child is present during a domestic violence incident.
These figures likely reflect the increased amount of time people are spending in the home.
The pandemic is also likely responsible for a 25 per cent increase in assaults on gardaí and incidents of resisting arrest; the enforcement of the coronavirus movement restrictions means gardaí have had far more contact with the general public than normal.
There were 93 incidents of spitting or coughing against Gardaí between April 8th and June 6th, 2020.
Gardaí have used spit-hoods - wire and mesh face coverings used to stop suspects spitting or coughing - 70 times so far, including three times on people aged under 18.
Commissioner Drew Harris previously to the Policing Authority the hoods should not be used on minors.
While fraud is down in general, online fraud is up by 55 per cent and phishing scams- fraudulent attempts to gain access to sensitive information such as credit card numbers- are up 45 per cent.
Drug offences are up by 10 per cent including an 18 per cent rise in possession for sale or supply.
Some of this is due to increased detection rates thanks to the large numbers of Garda checkpoints established to enforce the coronavirus movement restrictions.
There has also been an 8 per cent increase in weapons and explosives seizures and a 9 per cent increase in arson.
The figures are based on provisional data and are liable to change, the Garda warned.
"During the Covid-19 crisis, Gardaí have shown their determination to continue to prevent and detect crime with significant seizures and arrests for drugs, organised crime, burglaries, and drug and drink driving," said Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said.
“We have maintained our focus on protecting the vulnerable in the current situation. For example, early on we put in place a specific operation to help victims of domestic abuse, as well as encouraging all victims of this crime to report any concerns they have to us.
"An Garda Síochána's mission is to keep people safe. Every day, members of An Garda Síochána show their dedication and professional in challenging circumstances to deliver on that mission by protecting and supporting communities."


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Spotted flycatcher is less likely to be spotted with each passing year

Last year it was the mistle thrush that grabbed me – my affectionate attention , that is .
Each morning as I marched out to measure the rain , he was perched on the gable ’ s broadband aerial and facing the sea in a full-flow performance .
I ’ d stand beneath him , carefully still , admiring the measured , forceful phrasing , the avian oratory .
His song carries , by some accounts , a couple of kilometres .
And at length , his final , territorial peroration concluded , we could both move on .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them the compelling entry of a little bird whose song ( “ a few thin hasty notes ” , as my field guide allows ) is quite lost beyond my double-glazed bedroom window .
This looks out to a low-fringed glade of rough grass and shady trees , oak and alder intertwined .
For the spotted flycatcher , Muscicapa striata , it is the perfect arena for the ceaseless , urgent practice of his name .
Many birds catch insects in the air – our swallows are at it all the time – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He chooses a perch on a twig with a view – it can become a daily favourite – and makes repeated , looping forays to seize his prey .
The energy involved is impressive : a flurry of wings in a diving take-off , an arrow-swift glide to snap up the target , an instant turn and flurry of wings to propel him back to his original parch .
This manoeuvre , made over and over at different trajectories and distances and flashing in the sun , kept catching my eye as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mammoth third volume from Hilary Mantel propped up on a beanbag .
Distracted from Thomas Cromwell ’ s devious doings at Henry ’ s court , I gave way to tracking the flycatcher ’ s own , quite hypnotic , manoeuvres .
It was the first such visitor in many years , migrating from a humid zone of west Africa by way of northern Spain .
As perhaps the last of the summer ’ s arrivals in Ireland , what chance had drawn it to this one wooded acre on a sheep-shorn coastal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , last summer offered few flying insects : even the midges lay low .
The contrast this year , boosted by the sun , just about sustains the bird ’ s hard work , together with the swoops of the swallows .
Despite its name , mere flies are mostly for chicks in the nest , somewhere in a shadowy crevice .
But the energy for ceaseless interception demands meatier fare – butterflies , moths , craneflies , damselflies , even bees or wasps , their stings scraped off on the twig .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expect more tales of decline .
The British Trust for Ornithology reports an 89 per cent reduction in spotted flycatchers between 1967 and 2010 .
Ibis , the international journal of avian science , has added “ great conservation concern ” about the species .
In Ireland , a new survey of countryside birds suggests a continuing fall in breeding flycatchers , perhaps of a quarter over the past couple of decades , and notably in the east midlands .
Theories include predation of nests , perhaps even by grey squirrels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s winter habitats in Africa have suffered severe declines , so bigger answers may lie there , in climate change or deforestation .
The Countryside Bird Survey is important and readable .
Co-ordinated by BirdWatch Ireland , it ’ s the product of thousands of hours of fieldwork , mainly by volunteers , but also by the National Parks and Wildlife Service , which publishes it online ( npws.ie ) as Irish Wildlife Manual 115 .
It tracks the fortunes of the common and widespread breeding birds between 1998 and 2016 .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from the difficulty of finding them , is a measure of their loss .
The survey does correct a few popular notions about the loss of birds , not least my own casual belief that Ireland ’ s cuckoos shared in the UK ’ s long patterns of decline .
“ Perhaps surprisingly , in light of at least anecdotal evidence , ” says the report , “ the CBS shows a positive population trend of nearly 19 per cent.
” On average , cuckoos have been recorded in 74 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per year .
These could certainly , this spring , have included our own hillside .
One ( or more ? )
cuckoos has been giving forth , almost non-stop through late May , to the weaker , counterpoint chorus from collared doves .
One day I watched as a cuckoo , harried by a little mob of pipits , took refuge in the crest of the old Sitka spruce at our gate .
She re-emerged from the dark canopy almost immediately and fled stage-left , still pursued by pipits .
She may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistle thrush ’ s mate , indignantly at home on the nest .

Last year it was the mistle thrush that grabbed me – my affectionate attention, that is. Each morning as I marched out to measure the rain, he was perched on the gable’s broadband aerial and facing the sea in a full-flow performance.
I’d stand beneath him, carefully still, admiring the measured, forceful phrasing, the avian oratory. His song carries, by some accounts, a couple of kilometres. And at length, his final, territorial peroration concluded, we could both move on.
This year there have been distractions, among them the compelling entry of a little bird whose song (“ a few thin hasty notes”, as my field guide allows) is quite lost beyond my double-glazed bedroom window.
This looks out to a low-fringed glade of rough grass and shady trees, oak and alder intertwined. For the spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, it is the perfect arena for the ceaseless, urgent practice of his name.
READ MORE
Many birds catch insects in the air – our swallows are at it all the time – but none behaves quite like the flycatcher.
Distracted from Thomas Cromwell's devious doings at Henry's court, I gave way to tracking the flycatcher's own, quite hypnotic, manoeuvres
He chooses a perch on a twig with a view – it can become a daily favourite – and makes repeated, looping forays to seize his prey. The energy involved is impressive: a flurry of wings in a diving take-off, an arrow-swift glide to snap up the target, an instant turn and flurry of wings to propel him back to his original parch.
This manoeuvre, made over and over at different trajectories and distances and flashing in the sun, kept catching my eye as I lay reading in bed, the mammoth third volume from Hilary Mantel propped up on a beanbag. Distracted from Thomas Cromwell’s devious doings at Henry’s court, I gave way to tracking the flycatcher’s own, quite hypnotic, manoeuvres.
Rare visitor
It was the first such visitor in many years, migrating from a humid zone of west Africa by way of northern Spain. As perhaps the last of the summer’s arrivals in Ireland, what chance had drawn it to this one wooded acre on a sheep-shorn coastal hillside?
Here in a gloom-laden west, last summer offered few flying insects: even the midges lay low. The contrast this year, boosted by the sun, just about sustains the bird’s hard work, together with the swoops of the swallows. Despite its name, mere flies are mostly for chicks in the nest, somewhere in a shadowy crevice. But the energy for ceaseless interception demands meatier fare – butterflies, moths, craneflies, damselflies, even bees or wasps, their stings scraped off on the twig.
Other migrants from the flycatcher's winter habitats in Africa have suffered severe declines, so bigger answers may lie there, in climate change or deforestation
To read about birds these days is to expect more tales of decline. The British Trust for Ornithology reports an 89 per cent reduction in spotted flycatchers between 1967 and 2010. Ibis, the international journal of avian science, has added "great conservation concern" about the species.
In Ireland, a new survey of countryside birds suggests a continuing fall in breeding flycatchers, perhaps of a quarter over the past couple of decades, and notably in the east midlands. Theories include predation of nests, perhaps even by grey squirrels, but other migrants from the flycatcher’s winter habitats in Africa have suffered severe declines, so bigger answers may lie there, in climate change or deforestation.
Measuring loss
The Countryside Bird Survey is important and readable. Co-ordinated by BirdWatch Ireland, it's the product of thousands of hours of fieldwork, mainly by volunteers, but also by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which publishes it online (npws.ie) as Irish Wildlife Manual 115. It tracks the fortunes of the common and widespread breeding birds between 1998 and 2016. That this now excludes the lapwing and curlew, from the difficulty of finding them, is a measure of their loss.
The survey does correct a few popular notions about the loss of birds, not least my own casual belief that Ireland’s cuckoos shared in the UK’s long patterns of decline. “Perhaps surprisingly, in light of at least anecdotal evidence,” says the report, “the CBS shows a positive population trend of nearly 19 per cent.”
On average, cuckoos have been recorded in 74 of the survey’s spread of 1km squares per year. These could certainly, this spring, have included our own hillside. One (or more?) cuckoos has been giving forth, almost non-stop through late May, to the weaker, counterpoint chorus from collared doves.
One day I watched as a cuckoo, harried by a little mob of pipits, took refuge in the crest of the old Sitka spruce at our gate. She re-emerged from the dark canopy almost immediately and fled stage-left, still pursued by pipits. She may, of course, have met the mistle thrush’s mate, indignantly at home on the nest.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--What’s this pretty moth with the long snout? Readers’ nature queries

This insect with the most beautiful colours appeared on my patio one afternoon .
– Ann Keogh , Ballyconneely , Co Galway The elephant hawkmoth is indeed a beautiful native moth .
It got its name from the trunk-like snout of its caterpillar .
I have often noticed these objects on the beach at Gormanston .
They are rubbery and C-shaped .
– Finola O ’ Carroll , Greenanstown , Co Meath It ’ s part of the egg collar of the necklace shell , also known as the moon snail .
The eggs are laid in a collar of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is wound around the shell .
While walking near our home we found this flower .
– Clodagh Kenny , The Maharees , Co Kerry It ’ s the bee orchid , a native orchid that flowers erratically , often missing years .
We would like to know what kind of spider this is .
It ’ s friendly and lives under a plant pot in our garden .
– Harry ( 7 ) and Oisín ( 5 ) Conlon , Castleknock , Dublin 15 It ’ s the giant house spider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ web to catch flies .
We came across this red , black and white beetle just inside the door .
– Peter Bishton , Bray , Co Wicklow It ’ s the ant beetle , also known as the red-bellied clerid beetle .
It lives among trees and preys on bark beetles .
It is fairly rare in Ireland but has been reported in north Wicklow .
I took this photo of the Macetown Mill badger on my neighbour ’ s farm while he remains indoors cocooning from the coronavirus .
– Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love colourful moths and their willingness to be photographed , This is the largest one to come into my bathroom .
– Laurence Hamill , Newry , Co Down The cinnabar moth is certainly colourful .
Its caterpillar feeds on ragwort .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Include a postal address

This insect with the most beautiful colours appeared on my patio one afternoon. – Ann Keogh, Ballyconneely, Co Galway
The elephant hawkmoth is indeed a beautiful native moth. It got its name from the trunk-like snout of its caterpillar.
Egg collar of the necklace shell
I have often noticed these objects on the beach at Gormanston. They are rubbery and C-shaped. – Finola O'Carroll, Greenanstown, Co Meath
It's part of the egg collar of the necklace shell, also known as the moon snail. The eggs are laid in a collar of jelly impregnated with sand, which hardens and is wound around the shell.
Bee orchid
While walking near our home we found this flower. – Clodagh Kenny, The Maharees, Co Kerry
It's the bee orchid, a native orchid that flowers erratically, often missing years.
Giant house spider
We would like to know what kind of spider this is. It's friendly and lives under a plant pot in our garden. – Harry (7) and Oisín (5) Conlon, Castleknock, Dublin 15
It's the giant house spider. It must pop out to its web to catch flies.
READ MORE
Ant beetle
We came across this red, black and white beetle just inside the door. – Peter Bishton, Bray, Co Wicklow
It's the ant beetle, also known as the red-bellied clerid beetle. It lives among trees and preys on bark beetles. It is fairly rare in Ireland but has been reported in north Wicklow.
Badger
I took this photo of the Macetown Mill badger on my neighbour's farm while he remains indoors cocooning from the coronavirus. – Tom Bannon, Macetown, Co Meath
Cinnabar moth
I love colourful moths and their willingness to be photographed, This is the largest one to come into my bathroom. – Laurence Hamill, Newry, Co Down
The cinnabar moth is certainly colourful. Its caterpillar feeds on ragwort.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Belfast’s black taxis return: ‘Thank God. It’s a wee bit of normality’

In Belfast , the black taxis are back .
“ It ’ s my first time back in town since the lockdown , ” says passenger Anne Blake .
“ It ’ s great to see them back .
I thought , thank God .
It ’ s a wee bit of normality.
” “ As soon as I heard the taxis were back I was in town , ” adds Mary Magee .
“ I ’ ve been back four times , just doing a bit of shopping.
” The community taxi service – which runs set routes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fare basis similar to a bus service – returned to the city ’ s streets on Monday .
It was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic , the first time in the taxis ’ almost 50-year history that they had been off the road .
Friday marked a new watershed : the reopening of all the city centre shops – further good news for Brian Barr , transport manager with Belfast Taxis Community Interest Company ( CIC ) .
“ To west and north Belfast , it ’ s part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It enables a lot of people who live in the outer housing estates to travel freely without having to wait , or where there ’ s no public transport , or very little , it gives people freedom.
” At the depot on King Street in the city centre , socially distant queues are marked out with ropes and signs ; inside the taxis , capacity has been reduced from six to four , and passengers are asked to use hand sanitiser and wear masks .
A Perspex screen is around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , preferably contactless – and plastic curtains which can be drawn to protect passengers in the back .
The vehicle smells strongly of alcohol-based sanitiser .
Driver Hugh Jordan proudly demonstrates his own innovation for contactless cash payments , a length of flexible pipe “ meant to be for a sink ” .
Passengers can drop their money into the tray via the tube ; if he twists it the other way , he can use it to return their change .
The money is sparkling .
“ It ’ s been sanitised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is great , ” says Magee , pulling over the plastic .
“ They ’ re really looking after people.
” Home care worker Mairead Campbell agrees .
“ It ’ s great to have them back , they ’ re so handy .
They ’ ll stop wherever you are on the road .
“ I do feel sorry for the drivers , though , only being able to carry four passengers .
Years ago there would have been three more sitting on people ’ s knees , and two on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody to talk to when you ’ re in a black taxi.
” Jordan feels the same .
Like all the drivers , he is self-employed ; he is “ relieved ” to be back – not least , he says , because it will get him out of the house .
“ It ’ s different now , with masks and screens , but it ’ s still getting back to some sort of normality and being able to serve the community.
” This is important , explains retired driver Hugh Mullan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the black taxis kept going “ no matter what ” ; inside the depot is a plaque to eight colleagues .
“ Murdered in the service of their community , ” it reads .
As bus services were frequently suspended in nationalist areas during the Troubles , black taxis filled the public transport gap .
“ The black taxis have been very loyal to the people , and the people have been very loyal to them , ” Mullan notes .
But part of the taxi business will take longer to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , black taxi tours of west Belfast ’ s murals and peace walls .
Last year , Barr estimates it ran 50,000 tours .
“ We bring a lot into the wider economy of Belfast.
” The majority of visitors who use Taxitrax are from the UK and Ireland ; the summer can be salvaged , he says , if the tourism and hospitality industry is allowed to reopen at the same time as the Republic ’ s , on June 29th .
“ The whole island needs to open up for tourism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t , we will be left behind .
”

Anne Blake and Mary Magee share a Belfast black taxi which has been fitted with social distancing screens, payment windows and hand sanitiser as part restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Photograph: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker
In Belfast, the black taxis are back.
"It's my first time back in town since the lockdown," says passenger Anne Blake. "It's great to see them back. I thought, thank God. It's a wee bit of normality."
"As soon as I heard the taxis were back I was in town," adds Mary Magee. "I've been back four times, just doing a bit of shopping."
The community taxi service – which runs set routes in west and north Belfast on a shared fare basis similar to a bus service – returned to the city’s streets on Monday. It was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first time in the taxis’ almost 50-year history that they had been off the road.
READ MORE
Friday marked a new watershed: the reopening of all the city centre shops – further good news for Brian Barr, transport manager with Belfast Taxis Community Interest Company (CIC).
“To west and north Belfast, it’s part of our lives,” says Barr. “It enables a lot of people who live in the outer housing estates to travel freely without having to wait, or where there’s no public transport, or very little, it gives people freedom.”
Health service worker Mairead Campbell in the back of a Belfast black taxi which has been fitted with social distancing screens, payment windows and hand sanitiser as part of restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Photograph: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker
Years ago there would have been three more sitting on people's knees, and two on the floor
At the depot on King Street in the city centre, socially distant queues are marked out with ropes and signs; inside the taxis, capacity has been reduced from six to four, and passengers are asked to use hand sanitiser and wear masks.
A Perspex screen is around the driver – with a hatch for payment, preferably contactless – and plastic curtains which can be drawn to protect passengers in the back.
The vehicle smells strongly of alcohol-based sanitiser. Driver Hugh Jordan proudly demonstrates his own innovation for contactless cash payments, a length of flexible pipe “meant to be for a sink”.
Passengers can drop their money into the tray via the tube; if he twists it the other way, he can use it to return their change. The money is sparkling. “It’s been sanitised too,” he adds.
“This is great,” says Magee, pulling over the plastic. “They’re really looking after people.”
Home care worker Mairead Campbell agrees. “It’s great to have them back, they’re so handy. They’ll stop wherever you are on the road.
“I do feel sorry for the drivers, though, only being able to carry four passengers. Years ago there would have been three more sitting on people’s knees, and two on the floor. Plus you always find somebody to talk to when you’re in a black taxi.”
Jordan feels the same. Like all the drivers, he is self-employed; he is “relieved” to be back – not least, he says, because it will get him out of the house.
“It’s different now, with masks and screens, but it’s still getting back to some sort of normality and being able to serve the community.”
Back in black: Belfast black taxi driver Hugh Jordan. Photograph: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker
The black taxis have been very loyal to the people, and the people have been very loyal to them
This is important, explains retired driver Hugh Mullan. During the Troubles, he says, the black taxis kept going "no matter what"; inside the depot is a plaque to eight colleagues. "Murdered in the service of their community," it reads.
As bus services were frequently suspended in nationalist areas during the Troubles, black taxis filled the public transport gap.
“The black taxis have been very loyal to the people, and the people have been very loyal to them,” Mullan notes.
But part of the taxi business will take longer to return. Belfast Taxis CIC also runs Taxitrax, black taxi tours of west Belfast’s murals and peace walls. Last year, Barr estimates it ran 50,000 tours. “We bring a lot into the wider economy of Belfast.”
The majority of visitors who use Taxitrax are from the UK and Ireland; the summer can be salvaged, he says, if the tourism and hospitality industry is allowed to reopen at the same time as the Republic’s, on June 29th.
“The whole island needs to open up for tourism. If the South opens and we don’t, we will be left behind.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--UCD professor asked to resign from EU committee over Covid-19 claims

A University College Dublin ( UCD ) professor , who chairs the Eurosceptic Irish Freedom Party , has been asked to resign from a leading European Union scientific committee over online claims she made about the Covid-19 pandemic .
In an hour-long interview with a popular alt-right activist on May 10th , which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times , Prof Dolores Cahill promised to “ debunk the narrative ” of the pandemic .
Lockdown and social distancing is not needed to stop the spread of the virus , she said .
People who recover are then “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deaths and illnesses could have been prevented by extra vitamins , she claimed .
People with underlying health conditions , such as cystic fibrosis , could freely engage in society during the pandemic after spending a few weeks building up their immunity in this manner , she went on .
Opposing vaccinations , Ms Cahill said “ politicians and the media ” are using Covid-19 “ as a fear-mongering propaganda tool to try and take away rights from people and to make them more sick and to force vaccinations on us.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims made by Ms Cahill , a professor of translational medicine in UCD , could cause “ significant harm ” , if taken literally .
Following this , Ms Cahill was asked to resign as vice chair of the Scientific Committee of the Innovative Medicines Initiative ( IMI ) , a partnership between the European Commission and the drugs industry to promote new drugs .
“ Professor Cahill has been requested by the Chair of the Scientific Council of IMI and the Executive Director of IMI to step down from her function , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ While as a private person , Professor Cahill is entitled to express her points of view , these are not compatible with the scientific foundations of the Innovative Medicines Initiative , ” said a Commission spokesperson .
Ms Cahill ’ s claims have also caused Berlin ’ s Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics ( MPIMG ) , where she worked for eight years , to distance itself , saying it did not want to be associated in any way with the claims made .
The IMI echoed these sentiments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see her statements and that her views do not reflect those hold on Covid-19 by of IMI .
A former Max Planck colleague , Prof Hans Lehrach said he was “ really surprised ” by Ms Cahill ’ s comments : “ I have no idea why she says things like that , ” he said .
“ There is absolutely no proof that people recovering from the disease are immune for life , ” he said , reflecting the World Health Organisation ’ s understanding on the subject .
Vitamins and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Mr Lehrach said he would “ very much doubt ” that they would defend against the virus .
The vulnerable would be “ pretty insane ” to engage widely during the pandemic .
Ms Cahill also supported the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 , one that has been supported , too , by US president Donald Trump .
The drug , she said , is “ safe and effective ” in treating the disease .
However , Prof Lehrach said that he would be “ very careful ” with hydroxychloroquine as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a treatment and has been known to cause death due to heart complications .
The original interview has since been removed by YouTube , but versions can still be found easily online and have clocked up hundreds of thousands of views .
Ms Cahill has given a number of similar interviews since .
Ms Cahill is a member of the faculty at UCD school of medicine , where she is the module co-ordinator on a number of subjects , including one taught to first-year medicine students called Science Medicine and Society .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she is part of the university ’ s faculty , but refused to comment further on her claims , saying only that they are “ her own views ” .
Ms Cahill unsuccessfully contested the general election for the Irish Freedom Party in February , eliminated on the second count in Tipperary with a total of 527 votes .
She has not replied to requests for comment .

Prof Dolores Cahill claimed people who recover from Covid-19 are ‘immune for life’ after 10 days. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
A University College Dublin (UCD) professor, who chairs the Eurosceptic Irish Freedom Party, has been asked to resign from a leading European Union scientific committee over online claims she made about the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an hour-long interview with a popular alt-right activist on May 10th, which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, Prof Dolores Cahill promised to "debunk the narrative" of the pandemic.
Lockdown and social distancing is not needed to stop the spread of the virus, she said. People who recover are then “immune for life” after 10 days and deaths and illnesses could have been prevented by extra vitamins, she claimed.
People with underlying health conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, could freely engage in society during the pandemic after spending a few weeks building up their immunity in this manner, she went on.
READ MORE
Opposing vaccinations, Ms Cahill said “politicians and the media” are using Covid-19 “as a fear-mongering propaganda tool to try and take away rights from people and to make them more sick and to force vaccinations on us.”
However, the European Commission said the claims made by Ms Cahill, a professor of translational medicine in UCD, could cause "significant harm", if taken literally.
‘Not compatible’
Following this, Ms Cahill was asked to resign as vice chair of the Scientific Committee of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a partnership between the European Commission and the drugs industry to promote new drugs.
“Professor Cahill has been requested by the Chair of the Scientific Council of IMI and the Executive Director of IMI to step down from her function,” the commission told The Irish Times.
“While as a private person, Professor Cahill is entitled to express her points of view, these are not compatible with the scientific foundations of the Innovative Medicines Initiative,” said a Commission spokesperson.
Ms Cahill's claims have also caused Berlin's Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPIMG), where she worked for eight years, to distance itself, saying it did not want to be associated in any way with the claims made.
The IMI echoed these sentiments, saying that they were “shocked” to see her statements and that her views do not reflect those hold on Covid-19 by of IMI.
A former Max Planck colleague, Prof Hans Lehrach said he was "really surprised" by Ms Cahill's comments: "I have no idea why she says things like that," he said.
“There is absolutely no proof that people recovering from the disease are immune for life,” he said, reflecting the World Health Organisation’s understanding on the subject.
Vitamins and minerals do help the immune system, but Mr Lehrach said he would “very much doubt” that they would defend against the virus. The vulnerable would be “pretty insane” to engage widely during the pandemic.
Hydroxychloroquine treatment
Ms Cahill also supported the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19, one that has been supported, too, by US president Donald Trump. The drug, she said, is "safe and effective" in treating the disease.
However, Prof Lehrach said that he would be “very careful” with hydroxychloroquine as testing had proven that it is ineffective as a treatment and has been known to cause death due to heart complications.
The original interview has since been removed by YouTube, but versions can still be found easily online and have clocked up hundreds of thousands of views. Ms Cahill has given a number of similar interviews since.
Ms Cahill is a member of the faculty at UCD school of medicine, where she is the module co-ordinator on a number of subjects, including one taught to first-year medicine students called Science Medicine and Society.
When approached for comment, UCD confirmed that she is part of the university’s faculty, but refused to comment further on her claims, saying only that they are “her own views”.
Ms Cahill unsuccessfully contested the general election for the Irish Freedom Party in February, eliminated on the second count in Tipperary with a total of 527 votes. She has not replied to requests for comment.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Two Limerick men allegedly assaulted by man with bayonet in France

A French police investigation has begun after two Limerick men were allegedly assaulted by a man armed with a bayonet , in the west central part of the country .
The two men are being treated in hospital in Poitiers , Nouvelle-Aquitaine region , southwest of Paris , with injuries to their neck , thigh and chest , following the alleged attack , Friday .
It ’ s emerged the incident occurred at some stage after one of the men had been celebrating his 30th birthday with a group of friends .
The men , who both work for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work on a site in France , southwest of Paris , last week .
The partners of both men were travelling from their homes in London to France today , however reliable sources said they have been informed they can not currently visit the men in hospital , due to a visiting ban as part of Covid-19 restrictions .
Independent Limerick TD , Richard O ’ Donoghue , said the family had being experiencing difficulty in accessing information about the men ’ s situation , due to communication barriers as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Donoghue said a police investigation was underway , and that he had contacted the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Senator Mark Daly , senate spokesman for Foreign Affairs , Irish Overseas , and the Disapora , to help provide consular assistance to the families .
Mr O ’ Donoghue said the two men were being treated in a “ high dependency unit ” at Poitiers University Hospital for injuries to their neck , thigh and chest .
“ One of the men ’ s family that was attacked rang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it very hard to get through to anyone to find out how the lads were doing .
There ’ s no one allowed in to the hospital and I ’ m told the police want to speak to [ the men ] first to get their statements , ” Mr O ’ Donoghue said .
“ It was one of the young lads ’ 30th birthday over the weekend , and all we ’ ve been told is that there was an unprovoked attack .
I ’ m told they were attacked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a High Dependency Unit .
One of the lads has neck injuries and thigh injuries , and the other lad was told he has a punctured lung.
” “ The families are anxious to hear more , they are looking for help.
” On Friday evening , a Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said : “ We are aware of the case and providing consular assistance .
”

A French police investigation has begun after two Limerick men were allegedly assaulted by a man armed with a bayonet, in the west central part of the country.
The two men are being treated in hospital in Poitiers, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, southwest of Paris, with injuries to their neck, thigh and chest, following the alleged attack, Friday.
It’s emerged the incident occurred at some stage after one of the men had been celebrating his 30th birthday with a group of friends.
The men, who both work for a construction firm in London, were sent to work on a site in France, southwest of Paris, last week.
READ MORE
The partners of both men were travelling from their homes in London to France today, however reliable sources said they have been informed they cannot currently visit the men in hospital, due to a visiting ban as part of Covid-19 restrictions.
Communication barriers
Independent Limerick TD, Richard O’Donoghue, said the family had being experiencing difficulty in accessing information about the men’s situation, due to communication barriers as well as the French hospital visitor ban.
Mr O’Donoghue said a police investigation was underway, and that he had contacted the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Senator Mark Daly, senate spokesman for Foreign Affairs, Irish Overseas, and the Disapora, to help provide consular assistance to the families.
Mr O’Donoghue said the two men were being treated in a “high dependency unit” at Poitiers University Hospital for injuries to their neck, thigh and chest.
“One of the men’s family that was attacked rang me, and said they were finding it very hard to get through to anyone to find out how the lads were doing. There’s no one allowed in to the hospital and I’m told the police want to speak to [the men] first to get their statements,” Mr O’Donoghue said.
“It was one of the young lads’ 30th birthday over the weekend, and all we’ve been told is that there was an unprovoked attack. I’m told they were attacked with a bayonet.”
“They are both in a High Dependency Unit. One of the lads has neck injuries and thigh injuries, and the other lad was told he has a punctured lung.”
“The families are anxious to hear more, they are looking for help.”
On Friday evening, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the case and providing consular assistance.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Rory Gallagher paved way for Irish musicians internationally, says brother

Rory Gallagher was a pioneer who paved the way for other Irish musicians as few in the UK could conceive of an Irish rock outfit when he and Taste began touring there to rave reviews in the 1960s , according to his brother , Donal .
Donal Gallagher said that the UK was a challenging place for an Irish rock band to try and make a breakthrough even in the late 1960s as few there associated Ireland with Taste ’ s brand of scorching blues influenced rock .
“ Rory was the template for Irish musicians seeking to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Taste in 1967 and even trying to book digs , you would say you were an Irish rock band and you ’ d be laughed out of it .
“ If you went to book a guesthouse outside of London , the minute they heard your accent , they assumed you were a navvy and you ’ ld say , ‘ No , we ’ re a rock band ’ - there was a kind of disbelief at the idea of an Irish rock band.
” Speaking in advance of the 25th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 14th , 1995 at the age of 47 , as a result of complications following a liver transplant , Donal recalled how Rory was championed in the UK by jazz musician , Chris Barber .
Barber was closely involved with Harold Pendleton , who ran the Marquee Club on Wardour Street in Soho , and he ensured Rory and fellow Taste musicians , Richie McCracken and John Wilson were properly looked after at the venue .
“ Chris is now 90 but he was very good to Taste when they first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very hard - he explained that he had family ties to Northern Ireland , including through his wife the jazz singer , Ottilie Patterson .
“ He said ‘ I know more about your brother than you think because I ’ ve been hearing the word back from Belfast of how good he is ’ and that ’ s why he made sure Rory was looked after so we had guardian angels like Chris Barber.
” Donal , who has been back in Ireland since before the Covid-19 lockdown kicked in , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will visit his brother ’ s grave at St Oliver ’ s Cemetery in Cork on Sunday to mark the anniversary .
Rory often spoke about continuing playing into his 60s and beyond like his heroes , veteran bluesmen like Muddy Waters and Albert King , and Donal has no doubt that he would have continued playing and gigging if he had lived .
“ I think he would still be on the road playing the blues - you look at the other musicians , the classic example is Bob Dylan - and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy off the road - I don ’ t think he could have survived without performing .
“ It ’ s like the line in Shadowplay - ‘ a little bit of Jekyll , a lit Mr Hyde ’ - off stage , his personality was very quiet but onstage , he was a different person - the essence of Rory was the performance , connecting with the audience.
” Donal has been the guardian of his brother ’ s legacy for the past 25 years since Rory ’ s death and while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the flame , he is also happy that his own sons , Daniel and Eoin are taking up the baton .
“ I kind of work with the mentality that one day Rory is going to come back and ask how things have been minded in his absence so everything is done thinking ‘ How would Rory like that done ?
’ , be it an album cover or whatever .
“ Keeping the integrity of Rory is paramount - I get terrified any time a new album comes out - I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the posthumous albums , Wheels within Wheels and almost living through this dream .
“ It involved Rory coming back to his own apartment and asking me to put on the vinyl version of the album so I put it on the turntable and played it for him and at the end , he turned and nodded his head and said ‘ Yeah , that ’ s okay ’ .
“ But I ’ m passing the baton on to my sons , Daniel and Eoin - Daniel ’ s been very involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live material , Check Shirt Wizard - Live in 77 and it ’ s just spent three weeks at No 1 in the Billboard Blues Chart .
“ I don ’ t think Rory ever thought his life was going to be shortened .
.
.
since he died , I ’ ve been overseeing things but it ’ s gratifying to know the rest of the family have now picked up the challenge to keep his integrity intact .
”

Rory Gallagher died on June 14th, 1995 at the age of 47, as a result of complications following a liver transplant. Photograph: Fin Costello/Redferns
Rory Gallagher was a pioneer who paved the way for other Irish musicians as few in the UK could conceive of an Irish rock outfit when he and Taste began touring there to rave reviews in the 1960s, according to his brother, Donal.
Donal Gallagher said that the UK was a challenging place for an Irish rock band to try and make a breakthrough even in the late 1960s as few there associated Ireland with Taste's brand of scorching blues influenced rock.
“Rory was the template for Irish musicians seeking to make it internationally - I remember going to London with Taste in 1967 and even trying to book digs, you would say you were an Irish rock band and you’d be laughed out of it.
“If you went to book a guesthouse outside of London, the minute they heard your accent, they assumed you were a navvy and you’ld say, ‘No, we’re a rock band’ - there was a kind of disbelief at the idea of an Irish rock band.”
READ MORE
A reflective mood
Speaking in advance of the 25th anniversary of his brother's death on June 14th, 1995 at the age of 47, as a result of complications following a liver transplant, Donal recalled how Rory was championed in the UK by jazz musician, Chris Barber.
Barber was closely involved with Harold Pendleton, who ran the Marquee Club on Wardour Street in Soho, and he ensured Rory and fellow Taste musicians, Richie McCracken and John Wilson were properly looked after at the venue.
"Chris is now 90 but he was very good to Taste when they first arrived in London and were finding it very hard - he explained that he had family ties to Northern Ireland, including through his wife the jazz singer, Ottilie Patterson.
"He said 'I know more about your brother than you think because I've been hearing the word back from Belfast of how good he is' and that's why he made sure Rory was looked after so we had guardian angels like Chris Barber."
Donal, who has been back in Ireland since before the Covid-19 lockdown kicked in, is in reflective mood as he revealed he will visit his brother’s grave at St Oliver’s Cemetery in Cork on Sunday to mark the anniversary.
Rory often spoke about continuing playing into his 60s and beyond like his heroes, veteran bluesmen like Muddy Waters and Albert King, and Donal has no doubt that he would have continued playing and gigging if he had lived.
"I think he would still be on the road playing the blues - you look at the other musicians, the classic example is Bob Dylan - and in my time, Rory was never happy off the road - I don't think he could have survived without performing.
“It’s like the line in Shadowplay - ‘a little bit of Jekyll, a lit Mr Hyde’ - off stage, his personality was very quiet but onstage, he was a different person - the essence of Rory was the performance, connecting with the audience.”
Passing the baton
Donal has been the guardian of his brother’s legacy for the past 25 years since Rory’s death and while he has cherished his role as keeper of the flame, he is also happy that his own sons, Daniel and Eoin are taking up the baton.
“I kind of work with the mentality that one day Rory is going to come back and ask how things have been minded in his absence so everything is done thinking ‘How would Rory like that done?’, be it an album cover or whatever.
“Keeping the integrity of Rory is paramount - I get terrified any time a new album comes out - I remember trying to do the first of the posthumous albums, Wheels within Wheels and almost living through this dream.
“It involved Rory coming back to his own apartment and asking me to put on the vinyl version of the album so I put it on the turntable and played it for him and at the end, he turned and nodded his head and said ‘Yeah, that’s okay’.
“But I’m passing the baton on to my sons, Daniel and Eoin - Daniel’s been very involved in getting out this new album of live material, Check Shirt Wizard - Live in 77 and it’s just spent three weeks at No 1 in the Billboard Blues Chart.
“I don’t think Rory ever thought his life was going to be shortened . . . since he died, I’ve been overseeing things but it’s gratifying to know the rest of the family have now picked up the challenge to keep his integrity intact.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Cahersiveen asylum seeker with Covid-19 symptoms not tested for a month

A resident at the Cahersiveen direct provision centre who went into self-isolation in mid-March was not tested for coronavirus for nearly a month despite displaying symptoms upon arrival in the town , it is understood .
The Department of Justice revealed earlier this week that it was told on March 24th an asylum seeker at the newly-opened Skellig Star accommodation centre had gone into self-isolation after being transferred from Dublin the previous week .
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan had previously stated that no residents at the centre displayed any symptoms of Covid-19 for more than two weeks after arriving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not appear for “ well over a fortnight ” .
However , on Tuesday , the department said it had made an “ honest mistake ” and that following further investigation had discovered “ a form ” was sent to a justice official on March 24th stating that one resident in the Cahersiveen centre was self-isolating with suspected Covid-19 .
The department said the resident subsequently tested negative for the virus .
However , it has since emerged that this person , who spent two weeks in self-isolation , was not tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the centre told The Irish Times that the resident , who was suffering from a cough upon arrival in Cahersiveen and went into self-isolation , was not tested until mass testing was conducted at the Skellig Star around April 21st .
“ She was not tested in the beginning as direct provision centres were not priority at the time and the criteria was much higher , ” said the source .
“ The test we got can only show if you currently have the virus , not if you already had it.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the residents who went on to test positive for the virus had been transferred from the Travelodge hotel in Dublin where a guest was confirmed as suffering from Covid-19 .
Asked to comment on the decision not to carry out testing at the centre until mid-April despite being informed of a potential case , a department spokesman said the medical care details of any direct provision resident was “ a private matter to them ” and that testing was reported in a way that “ respects the rights of individuals and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outbreak of Covid-19 in a residential setting such as a direct provision centre , decisions around medical care would be a matter for the HSE public health team , said the spokesman .
A HSE spokeswoman said it could not comment on individual cases and referred the request back to the Department of Justice .
If there is a virus outbreak in a residential centre , an “ outbreak control team ” is set up to provide advice and guidance on self-isolation , cleaning , infection prevention and control and to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In mid-March individuals needed to experience either a fever and/or respiratory symptoms to qualify for a test .
Revised criteria introduced on March 25th meant patients needed to display two major coronavirus symptoms and fall into a priority group in order to be tested .
The Department of Justice says it has established a number of self-isolation facilities around the country for any direct provision resident who needed to quarantine .
All these facilities have their own bedroom and an en-suite bathroom and meals are delivered directly to their room to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Psychological support is provided to residents by on-site NGOs who are supported by a healthcare team , it added .
Cahersiveen ’ s community and business alliance called earlier this week for Mr Flanagan ’ s resignation and accused the minister of misleading members of the public and residents at the centre as to when the first suspected case of Covid-19 was reported .
The group also criticised the Minister for failing to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the hotel ahead of its opening for asylum seekers and for the lack of @ @ @ @ @ @

The Department of Justice revealed earlier this week that it was told on March 24th an asylum seeker at the newly-opened Skellig Star accommodation centre had gone into self-isolation after being transferred from Dublin the previous week.
A resident at the Cahersiveen direct provision centre who went into self-isolation in mid-March was not tested for coronavirus for nearly a month despite displaying symptoms upon arrival in the town, it is understood.
The Department of Justice revealed earlier this week that it was told on March 24th an asylum seeker at the newly-opened Skellig Star accommodation centre had gone into self-isolation after being transferred from Dublin the previous week.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan had previously stated that no residents at the centre displayed any symptoms of Covid-19 for more than two weeks after arriving from Dublin and that the first cases did not appear for "well over a fortnight".
However, on Tuesday, the department said it had made an “honest mistake” and that following further investigation had discovered “a form” was sent to a justice official on March 24th stating that one resident in the Cahersiveen centre was self-isolating with suspected Covid-19.
READ MORE
The department said the resident subsequently tested negative for the virus. However, it has since emerged that this person, who spent two weeks in self-isolation, was not tested until mid-April.
‘A private matter’
A source close to the centre told The Irish Times that the resident, who was suffering from a cough upon arrival in Cahersiveen and went into self-isolation, was not tested until mass testing was conducted at the Skellig Star around April 21st.
“She was not tested in the beginning as direct provision centres were not priority at the time and the criteria was much higher,” said the source. “The test we got can only show if you currently have the virus, not if you already had it.”
The department reiterated on Tuesday that none of the residents who went on to test positive for the virus had been transferred from the Travelodge hotel in Dublin where a guest was confirmed as suffering from Covid-19.
Asked to comment on the decision not to carry out testing at the centre until mid-April despite being informed of a potential case, a department spokesman said the medical care details of any direct provision resident was “a private matter to them” and that testing was reported in a way that “respects the rights of individuals and their confidentiality”.
In the context of an outbreak of Covid-19 in a residential setting such as a direct provision centre, decisions around medical care would be a matter for the HSE public health team, said the spokesman.
A HSE spokeswoman said it could not comment on individual cases and referred the request back to the Department of Justice. If there is a virus outbreak in a residential centre, an “outbreak control team” is set up to provide advice and guidance on self-isolation, cleaning, infection prevention and control and to support the management of positive patients, she said.
In mid-March individuals needed to experience either a fever and/or respiratory symptoms to qualify for a test. Revised criteria introduced on March 25th meant patients needed to display two major coronavirus symptoms and fall into a priority group in order to be tested.
Psychological support
The Department of Justice says it has established a number of self-isolation facilities around the country for any direct provision resident who needed to quarantine.
All these facilities have their own bedroom and an en-suite bathroom and meals are delivered directly to their room to support self-isolation, said a spokesman.
Psychological support is provided to residents by on-site NGOs who are supported by a healthcare team, it added.
Cahersiveen’s community and business alliance called earlier this week for Mr Flanagan’s resignation and accused the minister of misleading members of the public and residents at the centre as to when the first suspected case of Covid-19 was reported.
The group also criticised the Minister for failing to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the hotel ahead of its opening for asylum seekers and for the lack of consultation with the Cahersiveen community.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Queuing for sport - Decathlon opens first outlet in Republic with boundless enthusiasm

If only queuing was a sport , Decathlon might add to its list of accessories , along with the 72 other sports it caters for in its Ballymun flagship store .
The spectacle of Irish people patiently and , of course , socially distancing in queues has become commonplace in recent days .
We could enter a team in the Olympic games and stand a chance of winning a gold medal .
And we have had plenty of practice lately - when you have been locked down for months , maybe even queuing seems like an interesting activity .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10.30am there were upwards of 500 people waiting outside forming a line around the outside of the building and through the indoor football pitch which will open in the coming weeks along with the basketball court , the outdoor gym , the climbing wall and the cycling track .
This is one shop that parents will not have to drag their children to .
People clapped and cheered , and that was just the staff who came out a few minutes before opening time to greet the early arrivals .
Then , inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the door .
Decathlon ’ s English-born manager Kieran O ’ Shea waved his arms about to ratchet up the enthusiasm level .
He says the company looks for “ vitality and responsibility ” more than anything in its staff .
His name comes from his Irish-born grandfather .
“ I hope I ’ m doing him proud .
He would be here today but for Covid-19 restrictions , ” he said .
You would think the 67 employees owned the place and to a certain extent they do , explained the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grandgeorge as they all have shares in Decathlon .
He said Decathlon is here to stay in Ireland as they have bought , not leased , the site in Ballymun , investing €13 million in the 4,000 square metre store .
“ I know .
I spent the money , ” he added .
It as a three-year project to open its first shop in the Republic , which was due to be completed in April , but the opening was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Decathlon is called the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beside Ikea is no accident .
Decathlon is betting that , having spend hours in one vast windowless retail emporium , the enthusiasm of customers will not be dimmed for another one next door .
Decathlon has also borrowed many of Ikea ’ s techniques from - it designs and sells its own equipment , piling it high and selling it cheap .
Prices too are competitive , bicycles from €250 , six man tents for €150 , rowing machines for €150 ( already sold out ) and footballs for €5 .
Almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for club football shirts or branded runners , the biggest sellers in other sports shops , will have to look elsewhere .
Reese Doyle from Ballyfermot decided to come on a whim and was well pleased with his Triban hybrid bicycle which cost €260 .
“ I was inside my house today and I said I had nothing else to do .
I haven ’ t had a bike in about 10 years .
I need one for work .
I can ’ t rely on the buses , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now switching from public transport to cycling .
Michelle Kueirozdesa , a Brazilian native , was first in the queue .
She arrived with two friends before 8am .
“ We thought they were going to open at 9am , but it was good to get here early .
We are looking for some weights and stuff like this.
” Karen Wright arrived just before 8am with her daughter Noorsalem ( 11 ) to buy equestrian gear .
“ We live locally .
It ’ s wonderful that a whole new generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so positive , ” she said Decathlon has big plans for Ireland .
It plans to open new outlets in Cork and Galway with a view to opening a total of between six and nine shops in the Republic of Ireland , in addition to the outlet it already operates in Northern Ireland .

Some of those queuing outside Decathlon’s new outlet in Ballymun Dublin on Saturday. Photograph: Ronan McGreevy
If only queuing was a sport, Decathlon might add to its list of accessories, along with the 72 other sports it caters for in its Ballymun flagship store.
The spectacle of Irish people patiently and, of course, socially distancing in queues has become commonplace in recent days. We could enter a team in the Olympic games and stand a chance of winning a gold medal.
And we have had plenty of practice lately - when you have been locked down for months, maybe even queuing seems like an interesting activity.
Reese Doyle from Ballyfermot poses with his new bike. Photograph: Ronan McGreevy
By the time Decathlon opened its doors at 10.30am there were upwards of 500 people waiting outside forming a line around the outside of the building and through the indoor football pitch which will open in the coming weeks along with the basketball court, the outdoor gym, the climbing wall and the cycling track. This is one shop that parents will not have to drag their children to.
READ MORE
People clapped and cheered, and that was just the staff who came out a few minutes before opening time to greet the early arrivals. Then, inside, they clapped the first 150 customers through the door.
Decathlon’s English-born manager Kieran O’Shea waved his arms about to ratchet up the enthusiasm level. He says the company looks for “vitality and responsibility” more than anything in its staff.
His name comes from his Irish-born grandfather. “I hope I’m doing him proud. He would be here today but for Covid-19 restrictions,” he said.
You would think the 67 employees owned the place and to a certain extent they do, explained the company's Irish chief executive Bastien Grandgeorge as they all have shares in Decathlon.
He said Decathlon is here to stay in Ireland as they have bought, not leased, the site in Ballymun, investing €13 million in the 4,000 square metre store. "I know. I spent the money," he added.
It as a three-year project to open its first shop in the Republic, which was due to be completed in April, but the opening was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Decathlon is called the "Ikea of sports" and its location beside Ikea is no accident. Decathlon is betting that, having spend hours in one vast windowless retail emporium, the enthusiasm of customers will not be dimmed for another one next door.
Decathlon has also borrowed many of Ikea’s techniques from - it designs and sells its own equipment, piling it high and selling it cheap.
Prices too are competitive, bicycles from €250, six man tents for €150, rowing machines for €150 (already sold out) and footballs for €5.
Almost everything in stock is own-brand so customers looking for club football shirts or branded runners, the biggest sellers in other sports shops, will have to look elsewhere.
Reese Doyle from Ballyfermot decided to come on a whim and was well pleased with his Triban hybrid bicycle which cost €260. "I was inside my house today and I said I had nothing else to do. I haven't had a bike in about 10 years. I need one for work. I can't rely on the buses," he said reflecting the views of many people who are now switching from public transport to cycling.
Michelle Kueirozdesa, a Brazilian native, was first in the queue. She arrived with two friends before 8am. "We thought they were going to open at 9am, but it was good to get here early. We are looking for some weights and stuff like this."
Karen Wright arrived just before 8am with her daughter Noorsalem (11) to buy equestrian gear.
“We live locally. It’s wonderful that a whole new generation of people will associate Ballymun with something so positive,” she said
Decathlon has big plans for Ireland. It plans to open new outlets in Cork and Galway with a view to opening a total of between six and nine shops in the Republic of Ireland, in addition to the outlet it already operates in Northern Ireland.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Irish teenager who died in Australia was ‘fearless, enthusiastic and caring’

Cian English , the Irish teenager who died in Australia last month , was a “ fearless , enthusiastic and caring ” young man who “ oozed charisma and made everyone around him smile ” , his funeral service has heard .
Cian ( 19 ) , originally from Bullock Park in Carlow town , died in the early hours of Saturday , May 23rd after falling from a fourth floor balcony at the View Pacific resort in Surfers Paradise on the Australian Gold Coast .
The teenager fell to his death when he was allegedly being robbed at knife-point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid to Cian at a funeral service on Saturday held in the town of Leighlinbrdige on the banks of the river Barrow in his native Co Carlow .
Cian ’ s father , uncles and brother all spoke at the service which was held outdoors and attended by close friends and family .
A separate funeral service was held last week in Brisbane where the family have been living since 2011 .
Cian ’ s father Vincent recalled his son ’ s “ cheeky smile and glint in his eye ” and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He remembered how when the family was last in Ireland in December 2019 for the funeral of Vincent ’ s father , Cian offered support and help to everyone around him .
Vincent also thanked the Irish and Australian governments for securing special permission for the family to travel back to Ireland during the pandemic to bury Cian ’ s remains .
“ He ’ s up there with dad now , he ’ s looking after Cian for us , ” said Vincent .
“ I want to live the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the full .
I ’ m so proud of you and we love you.
” Cian ’ s older brother Dylan promised to carry out his brother ’ s legacy , saying “ everything I do now is for you ” .
“ Our memories can never be erased , you ’ ll always be in my heart and my mind and you are my forever hero , ” said Dylan .
Cian ’ s uncle Barry said the Irish teenager was “ completely selfless ” and had “ a fearlessness , enthusiasm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We can ’ t speak of him without bursting with pride and laughter.
” People “ gravitated towards ” Cian and “ his rapport with people aged 2-92 was effortless ” , said Barry .
“ He oozed charisma and made everyone around him smile.
” Another uncle , Trevor , remembered Cian ’ s love of swimming , water sports , underwater fishing , walking barefoot everywhere , cracking jokes and playing pranks .
“ I won ’ t say goodbye , just see you next time , ” read Trevor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written for his nephew .
“ I love you forever , our hero until the end of time.
” Cian had been living with his parents Siobhán and Vincent and brother Dylan in the suburb of Hawthorn in eastern Brisbane .
The family left Ireland 15 years ago , first to the Caribbean where Vincent English worked for Digicel and then to Australia in 2011 .
Three men - Jason Ryan Knowles ( 22 ) , Hayden Paul Kratzmann ( 20 ) and Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas ( 18 ) - have been charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remanded in custody until August 4th .
Two teenage girls , aged 15 and 16 , were subsequently charged with murder , armed robbery and two counts of deprivation of liberty .
They can not be named as both are minors .

Tributes were paid to Cian English at a funeral service on Saturday held in the town of Leighlinbrdige on the banks of the river Barrow in his native Co Carlow. Photograph: Sarah Slater
Cian English, the Irish teenager who died in Australia last month, was a "fearless, enthusiastic and caring" young man who "oozed charisma and made everyone around him smile", his funeral service has heard.
Cian (19), originally from Bullock Park in Carlow town, died in the early hours of Saturday, May 23rd after falling from a fourth floor balcony at the View Pacific resort in Surfers Paradise on the Australian Gold Coast. The teenager fell to his death when he was allegedly being robbed at knife-point following an apartment party.
Tributes were paid to Cian at a funeral service on Saturday held in the town of Leighlinbrdige on the banks of the river Barrow in his native Co Carlow.
Cian's father, uncles and brother all spoke at the service which was held outdoors and attended by close friends and family. A separate funeral service was held last week in Brisbane where the family have been living since 2011.
READ MORE
Cian’s father Vincent recalled his son’s “cheeky smile and glint in his eye” and how he lived his life to the full. He remembered how when the family was last in Ireland in December 2019 for the funeral of Vincent’s father, Cian offered support and help to everyone around him.
Vincent also thanked the Irish and Australian governments for securing special permission for the family to travel back to Ireland during the pandemic to bury Cian’s remains.
“He’s up there with dad now, he’s looking after Cian for us,” said Vincent. “I want to live the rest of my life like Cian, to the full. I’m so proud of you and we love you.”
‘Pride and laughter’
Cian’s older brother Dylan promised to carry out his brother’s legacy, saying “everything I do now is for you”. “Our memories can never be erased, you’ll always be in my heart and my mind and you are my forever hero,” said Dylan.
Cian’s uncle Barry said the Irish teenager was “completely selfless” and had “a fearlessness, enthusiasm and confidence in his approach to life. We can’t speak of him without bursting with pride and laughter.”
People “gravitated towards” Cian and “his rapport with people aged 2-92 was effortless”, said Barry. “He oozed charisma and made everyone around him smile.”
Another uncle, Trevor, remembered Cian’s love of swimming, water sports, underwater fishing, walking barefoot everywhere, cracking jokes and playing pranks.
“I won’t say goodbye, just see you next time,” read Trevor from a short poem he’d written for his nephew. “I love you forever, our hero until the end of time.”
Cian had been living with his parents Siobhán and Vincent and brother Dylan in the suburb of Hawthorn in eastern Brisbane. The family left Ireland 15 years ago, first to the Caribbean where Vincent English worked for Digicel and then to Australia in 2011.
Three men - Jason Ryan Knowles (22), Hayden Paul Kratzmann (20) and Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas (18) - have been charged with Cian’s murder and are remanded in custody until August 4th.
Two teenage girls, aged 15 and 16, were subsequently charged with murder, armed robbery and two counts of deprivation of liberty. They cannot be named as both are minors.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Coronavirus: Five more dead and 46 new cases, but spike due to lab delay

A further 5 people have died in the Republic from coronavirus , the Department of Health said on Saturday .
The daily update by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) reported 46 new cases bringing the total number of cases to 25,295 .
However , it said 22 of the 46 samples were taken on Monday and Tuesday and would normally have been reported on Thursday and Friday but , for technical reasons as part of normal laboratory practice at the National Virus Reference Laboratory ( NVRL ) , are being reported on Saturday .
“ Contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of these cases ” , it added .
A total of 1,705 number of people have died of Covid-19 .
Dr Tony Holohan , Chief Medical Officer , Department of Health , said ; “ Today ’ s increase in notifications of Covid-19 is not an increase in the daily incidence of the disease .
When the cases are analysed according to the date the samples were taken , it shows that they were spread out over a number of days .
All the indicators of the disease are stable or reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these every day.
” Of the total cases of the virus so far , 57 per cent are female and 43 per cent are male , the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years , 3,276 cases ( 13 per cent ) have been hospitalised .
Of those hospitalised , 416 cases have been admitted to hospital intensive care .
A total of 8,123 cases are associated with healthcare workers .
Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,179 ( 48 per cent of all cases ) followed by Cork with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then Kildare with 1,426 cases ( 6 % ) .
Of those for whom transmission status is known : community transmission accounts for 37 per cent , close contact accounts for 60 per cent , travel abroad accounts for 2 per cent .
Two further coronavirus-linked deaths were reported in Northern Ireland on Saturday , taking the total recorded by the Department of Health there to 541 .
There were three new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the North , bringing the total to 4,841 since the pandemic began .
Meanwhile , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their families in Northern Ireland on Saturday after three months of coronavirus lockdown .
They were able to meet with one other household to combat loneliness caused by the social-distancing restrictions , First Minister Arlene Foster said .
It means an isolated grandparent were able to see and hug their grandchildren again , and partners separated by the pandemic since March could meet up without needing to observe a two-metre distance .
People can also stay overnight if they wish under the new rule .
- additional reporting PA

Shoppers in Belfast after all shopping centres and retailers were given the green light to reopen in a significant relaxation of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
One more person has died in the Republic from coronavirus, the Department of Health said on Sunday
The daily update by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) reported eight new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 25,303.
There have now been a total 1,706 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic of Ireland.
On Saturday Nphet reported a further 5 people had died in the Republic from coronavirus and 46 new cases.
READ MORE
However, it said 22 of the 46 samples were taken on Monday and Tuesday and would normally have been reported on Thursday and Friday but, for technical reasons as part of normal laboratory practice at the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), are being reported on Saturday.
“Contact tracing has already been undertaken for the majority of these cases”, it added.
A total of 1,705 number of people have died of Covid-19.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Today’s increase in notifications of Covid-19 is not an increase in the daily incidence of the disease. When the cases are analysed according to the date the samples were taken, it shows that they were spread out over a number of days. All the indicators of the disease are stable or reducing. We will continue to closely monitor these every day.”
Of the total cases of the virus so far, 57 per cent are female and 43 per cent are male, the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years, 3,276 cases (13 per cent) have been hospitalised. Of those hospitalised, 416 cases have been admitted to hospital intensive care.
A total of 8,123 cases are associated with healthcare workers. Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,179 (48 per cent of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,533 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,426 cases (6%).
Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 37 per cent, close contact accounts for 60 per cent, travel abroad accounts for 2 per cent.
Northern Ireland
On Sunday the North’s Department of Health, in its daily bulletin, reported that there were no deaths in Northern Ireland from coronavirus. This was the fifth time in the past eight days that it recorded zero deaths. The death rate remains at 541.
On Sunday the department also reported just seven new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland taking the number of cases to 4,848. Two further coronavirus-linked deaths were reported in Northern Ireland on Saturday, taking the total recorded by the Department of Health there to 541.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Opening Ireland’s schools: Government accused of ‘getting ahead of medics’ and ‘scaring' people

Teachers have accused the Government of “ getting ahead of the medics ” after Minister for Education Joe McHugh indicated there are plans to fully reopen all schools by September using “ class bubbles ” with no requirement for social distancing between pupils .
The new drive for a resumption of full-time education will mean a radical departure from current public health advice .
Mr McHugh has insisted the guidelines , to be published later this month , will not put the health of school staff at risk .
But on Saturday general secretary of the Association of Teachers Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ With the greatest respect to Minister McHugh , I ’ m not aware he has medical expertise .
” Asti would work with medical experts in getting school reopened safely , he said , speaking on Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra on RTÉ Radio One .
“ We certainly will not accept a situation where the minister , on this occasion , has gotten ahead of the medics , ” he added .
“ There is no medical advice supporting what he came out with [ ON FRIDAY ] .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister had been “ congratulating himself ” on achieving consensus over the cancellation of Leaving and Junior Cert exams , but he would not get any consensus on reopening schools if he continues “ musing aloud in the absence of any medical advice ” , Mr Christie said .
A Department of Education study brought to Cabinet on Friday argued even if the current two-metre distancing requirement was reduced to one metre , primary school students would still only be allowed to attend school for 2½ days out of five .
In secondary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to attend only 50 per cent of the time .
Under the current two-metre rule , pupils in primary schools could only attend one day a week , while secondary students could attend for two days .
Mr Christie said Department of Education officials briefed the teachers ’ union as recently as Friday that it was ruling out the use of face coverings in schools when they do reopen .
“ It is very difficult to pin anything down here , ” he said .
Sinn Féin ’ s Pearse Doherty accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of people with a suggestion that students could not fully return to school after the summer under social distancing rules .
The minister sparked “ complete confusion and complete anxiety ” with his remarks while the government had “ absolutely no plan ” for reopening education , he told RTÉ Radio One .
“ What minister Joe McHugh said was completely incoherent , it was contradictory , ” he said .
Mr Doherty said the minister was supposed to announce a plan - three months after schools had shut down - for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but instead only voiced an “ ambition ” .
“ What the minister did yesterday was scare the bejaysus out of people , ” he said .
There has been no government engagement with individual schools and teachers and headmasters “ don ’ t have a clue what is coming down the line ” , he added .
Martin Heydon , chair of Fine Gael parliamentary party , suggested all students could return to school in September without any social distancing rules in place .
“ I ’ m saying we look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done with the pre-school area , where it was accepted that the the one metre and two metre [ distancing rule ] wasn ’ t workable and that we come up - with the public health experts and with all the stakeholders , the teachers , the parents and the students - with a tailored approach that suits that mechanism , ” he told RTÉ Radio One .
Mr Heydon said the Cabinet agreed on Friday to have the “ determination ” that every child will be back at school in September “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September ” .
Defending Mr McHugh ’ s announcement on Friday that social distancing in schools would mean hundreds of thousands of pupils not being able to attend , Mr Heydon said the government has “ time to plan ” between June and September for all students to return after the summer .
There would be “ much more clarity ” on the plans in “ two to three weeks time ” , the Kildare South TD said .

ASTI general secretary Kieran Christie: ‘With the greatest respect to Minister McHugh, I’m not aware he has medical expertise.’ Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times
Teachers have accused the Government of “getting ahead of the medics” after Minister for Education Joe McHugh indicated there are plans to fully reopen all schools by September using “class bubbles” with no requirement for social distancing between pupils.
The new drive for a resumption of full-time education will mean a radical departure from current public health advice. Mr McHugh has insisted the guidelines, to be published later this month, will not put the health of school staff at risk.
But on Saturday general secretary of the Association of Teachers Union Ireland (Asti) Kieran Christie said: "With the greatest respect to Minister McHugh, I'm not aware he has medical expertise. "
Asti would work with medical experts in getting school reopened safely, he said, speaking on Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra on RTÉ Radio One. "We certainly will not accept a situation where the minister, on this occasion, has gotten ahead of the medics," he added.
READ MORE
“There is no medical advice supporting what he came out with [ON FRIDAY]. It is as simple as that.”
The minister had been "congratulating himself" on achieving consensus over the cancellation of Leaving and Junior Cert exams, but he would not get any consensus on reopening schools if he continues "musing aloud in the absence of any medical advice", Mr Christie said.
“Teachers and parents simply won’t wear that,” he added.
A Department of Education study brought to Cabinet on Friday argued even if the current two-metre distancing requirement was reduced to one metre, primary school students would still only be allowed to attend school for 2½ days out of five.
In secondary schools, certain year groups would be able to attend only 50 per cent of the time. Under the current two-metre rule, pupils in primary schools could only attend one day a week, while secondary students could attend for two days.
‘Scaring the bejaysus’
Mr Christie said Department of Education officials briefed the teachers’ union as recently as Friday that it was ruling out the use of face coverings in schools when they do reopen.
“It is very difficult to pin anything down here,” he said.
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty accused Mr McHugh of "scaring the bejaysus" of people with a suggestion that students could not fully return to school after the summer under social distancing rules.
The minister sparked “complete confusion and complete anxiety” with his remarks while the government had “absolutely no plan” for reopening education, he told RTÉ Radio One.
“What minister Joe McHugh said was completely incoherent, it was contradictory ,” he said.
Mr Doherty said the minister was supposed to announce a plan - three months after schools had shut down - for getting children back to classes in September, but instead only voiced an “ambition”.
“What the minister did yesterday was scare the bejaysus out of people,” he said.
There has been no government engagement with individual schools and teachers and headmasters “don’t have a clue what is coming down the line”, he added.
‘Determination’
Martin Heydon, chair of Fine Gael parliamentary party, suggested all students could return to school in September without any social distancing rules in place.
“I’m saying we look at the model, like we have done with the pre-school area, where it was accepted that the the one metre and two metre [distancing rule] wasn’t workable and that we come up - with the public health experts and with all the stakeholders, the teachers, the parents and the students - with a tailored approach that suits that mechanism,” he told RTÉ Radio One.
Mr Heydon said the Cabinet agreed on Friday to have the “determination” that every child will be back at school in September “because everybody will be back at work in September”.
Defending Mr McHugh’s announcement on Friday that social distancing in schools would mean hundreds of thousands of pupils not being able to attend, Mr Heydon said the government has “time to plan” between June and September for all students to return after the summer.
There would be "much more clarity" on the plans in "two to three weeks time", the Kildare South TD said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Two arrested after €440,000 cocaine seizure in Co Clare

Two people have been arrested following the seizure of €440,000 worth of cocaine in Co Clare on Friday .
Gardaí @ @ @ @ @ city searched a property in Corbally , Co Clare , at about 11:35pm .
Cocaine @ @ @ @ @ seized .
A woman in her 40s was arrested and is being held at Henry @ @ @ @ @ under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act 1996 .
In @ @ @ @ @ morning , a man in his 40s was arrested in the Castletroy View area of @ @ @ @ @ held at the same Garda station .

Two people have been arrested following the seizure of €440,000 worth of cocaine in Co Clare on Friday.
Gardaí investigating organised criminality in Limerick city searched a property in Corbally, Co Clare, at about 11:35pm. Cocaine (pending analysis) was seized.
A woman in her 40s was arrested and is being held at Henry Street Garda station in Limerick under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
In a follow-up operation on Saturday morning, a man in his 40s was arrested in the Castletroy View area of Limerick. He is being held at the same Garda station.
READ MORE
Gardaí said investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-06-13--Teenager arrested in connection to suspected arson attack released

A teenage boy who was arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack on a garda ’ s home in Dundalk last week has been released without charge .
The male youth was arrested as part of the investigation into the attack on a home in Hawthorn Crescent , Bay Estate in Dundalk on June 7th .
A file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and investigations into the incident continue .
The garda , who is based in the Cavan/Monaghan division , was at his home with his heavily pregnant wife and two young children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a petrol bomb was thrown at the outside of the house last Sunday night .
The bomb ignited the outside of the house and nearby trees with the heat of the flames cracking the upstairs windows .
The family escaped after being alerted of the flames by a neighbour .
They are uninjured but “ very shaken ” , a source said .
Fire services arrived at the scene in the Bay Estate shortly after 11pm and doused the flames .
The fire station is located a four minutes ’ drive from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town , the house would be gone , no question , ” a source said .
It is the third attack on a garda ’ s home in the Dundalk area since 2018 .
Local gardaí have carried out a technical and forensic examination of the scene and are appealing for witnesses to come forward , particularly “ anyone who was in the Bay Estate area between 10.30pm and 11.30pm .
They are also appealing for information on a white van which was seen in the Bay Estate area at approximately 3pm on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is asked to contact the incident room at Dundalk Garda station on ( 042 ) 938 8400 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 , ” the garda said .
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said he was shocked to learn of the “ callous attack ” on the home of a member of An Garda Síochána .
“ This despicable act demonstrates a reckless disregard for human life and the laws of the land which seek to protect us all .
The fact that the attack was against the private family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his young family asleep inside , is both sinister and disgusting , ” he said .
“ Members of An Garda Síochána perform vital work , strongly supported by the communities they serve .
An attack on a garda is an attack on the entire community .
”

The garda was at his home with his heavily pregnant wife and two young children. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
A teenage boy who was arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack on a garda's home in Dundalk last week has been released without charge.
The male youth was arrested as part of the investigation into the attack on a home in Hawthorn Crescent, Bay Estate in Dundalk on June 7th.
A file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and investigations into the incident continue.
The garda, who is based in the Cavan/Monaghan division, was at his home with his heavily pregnant wife and two young children when what is believed to have been a petrol bomb was thrown at the outside of the house last Sunday night.
READ MORE
The bomb ignited the outside of the house and nearby trees with the heat of the flames cracking the upstairs windows.
The family escaped after being alerted of the flames by a neighbour. They are uninjured but “very shaken”, a source said.
Fire services arrived at the scene in the Bay Estate shortly after 11pm and doused the flames.
The fire station is located a four minutes’ drive from the house. “If it was across town, the house would be gone, no question,” a source said.
It is the third attack on a garda’s home in the Dundalk area since 2018.
Appeal for witnesses
Local gardaí have carried out a technical and forensic examination of the scene and are appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly “anyone who was in the Bay Estate area between 10.30pm and 11.30pm.
They are also appealing for information on a white van which was seen in the Bay Estate area at approximately 3pm on Sunday.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room at Dundalk Garda station on (042) 938 8400 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111,” the garda said.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said he was shocked to learn of the "callous attack" on the home of a member of An Garda Síochána.
“This despicable act demonstrates a reckless disregard for human life and the laws of the land which seek to protect us all. The fact that the attack was against the private family home of a garda member, with his young family asleep inside, is both sinister and disgusting,” he said.
“Members of An Garda Síochána perform vital work, strongly supported by the communities they serve. An attack on a garda is an attack on the entire community.”