theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Weather warning issued for parts of the country for this weekend

Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for parts of the west and north of the country for Saturday night , with very windy weather expected in these areas .
The status yellow wind warning was issued for Connacht and counties Clare and Donegal on Friday and is set to be in effect from 10pm on Saturday until 8am on Sunday .
Met Éireann said that the areas included in the warning can expect very windy weather during the period in question , with south to southwest winds , veering westerly , forecast to reach mean speeds of 50 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also expected in these areas on Saturday night .
The UK Met Office has also issued a wind warning for counties Antrim and Derry for this weekend .
This status yellow warning is in effect from midnight on Sunday until 4pm that day .
In terms of the national outlook for the weekend , Met Éireann said that there will be outbreaks of rain and drizzle overnight on Friday , with lowest temperatures during the night ranging from 10 to 14 degrees .
Saturday will begin mostly cloudy and misty , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day .
These outbreaks will give way to a spell of persistent rain in the north and west by evening , as south and southwest winds begin to freshen .
Maximum temperatures during the day will be between 16 and 20 degrees .
Saturday night will see strong winds and gales developing on coasts .
Outbreaks of rain overnight will push eastwards , with some heavy falls in Atlantic coastal counties .
Minimum temperatures overnight will be between 9 and 12 degrees .
Sunday will have a very windy start , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with sunny spells .
The day will see scattered blustery showers , most frequent in the northwest of the country .
Highest temperatures during the day will range from 14 to 18 degrees .
Sunday night will see clear spells and isolated showers , with lowest temperatures between 8 and 11 degrees .

Very windy weather is forecast for parts of the north and west this weekend. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for parts of the west and north of the country for Saturday night, with very windy weather expected in these areas.
The status yellow wind warning was issued for Connacht and counties Clare and Donegal on Friday and is set to be in effect from 10pm on Saturday until 8am on Sunday.
Met Éireann said that the areas included in the warning can expect very windy weather during the period in question, with south to southwest winds, veering westerly, forecast to reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h. Gusts of 90 to 110km/h are also expected in these areas on Saturday night.
The UK Met Office has also issued a wind warning for counties Antrim and Derry for this weekend. This status yellow warning is in effect from midnight on Sunday until 4pm that day.
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In terms of the national outlook for the weekend, Met Éireann said that there will be outbreaks of rain and drizzle overnight on Friday, with lowest temperatures during the night ranging from 10 to 14 degrees.
Saturday will begin mostly cloudy and misty, with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle during the day. These outbreaks will give way to a spell of persistent rain in the north and west by evening, as south and southwest winds begin to freshen. Maximum temperatures during the day will be between 16 and 20 degrees.
Saturday night will see strong winds and gales developing on coasts. Outbreaks of rain overnight will push eastwards, with some heavy falls in Atlantic coastal counties. Minimum temperatures overnight will be between 9 and 12 degrees.
Sunday will have a very windy start, but it will be brighter than recent days, with sunny spells. The day will see scattered blustery showers, most frequent in the northwest of the country. Highest temperatures during the day will range from 14 to 18 degrees.
Sunday night will see clear spells and isolated showers, with lowest temperatures between 8 and 11 degrees.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--More than 50 people to be allowed in large churches under new guidelines

Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has welcomed the new coronavirus guidance issued by the Government on Friday night in relation to places of worship .
The new guidance allows for religious services with attendance of more than 50 people in certain circumstances in churches with the size to allow such capacity safely .
Details were released on Friday after a meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on Covid-19 .
An assessment will have to be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend within the requirements of social distancing .
The premises will also have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cordons or other markings , with a maximum of 50 people in each section .
There will have to be a minimum of 4m between those sections .
There can be strictly no movement of people between the sections before , during or after the service .
Each area must have its own entrance or exit route and there will need to be separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact , such as for the distribution of Holy Communion .
The premises will also need to be well-ventilated .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that there are staggered exit times for the congregation .
The use of face coverings in such indoor settings will also be “ strongly recommended ” .
Dr Martin said parishes will work diligently to observe the new norms to ensure people can attend Mass safely .
Dr Martin also asked parishioners to note that the use of face coverings is “ strongly recommended for indoor settings ” .
He said that while these norms do limit a more joyful return to the public celebration of the sacraments people have longed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vital for the common good of all .
This weekend will see the first public Sunday Masses since Ireland went into lockdown in March amid the Covid-19 pandemic .

Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has welcomed the new coronavirus guidance issued by the Government on Friday night in relation to places of worship.
The new guidance allows for religious services with attendance of more than 50 people in certain circumstances in churches with the size to allow such capacity safely. Details were released on Friday after a meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on Covid-19.
An assessment will have to be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend within the requirements of social distancing.
The premises will also have to be subdivided into distinct sections, either by cordons or other markings, with a maximum of 50 people in each section. There will have to be a minimum of 4m between those sections. There can be strictly no movement of people between the sections before, during or after the service.
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Each area must have its own entrance or exit route and there will need to be separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact, such as for the distribution of Holy Communion. The premises will also need to be well-ventilated. Those providing religious services will also be asked to ensure that there are staggered exit times for the congregation. The use of face coverings in such indoor settings will also be “strongly recommended”.
Dr Martin said parishes will work diligently to observe the new norms to ensure people can attend Mass safely. Dr Martin also asked parishioners to note that the use of face coverings is “strongly recommended for indoor settings”.
He said that while these norms do limit a more joyful return to the public celebration of the sacraments people have longed for, they are important steps forward and vital for the common good of all.
This weekend will see the first public Sunday Masses since Ireland went into lockdown in March amid the Covid-19 pandemic.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Man’s sex assault conviction quashed as trial juror was related to victim in separate case

The Court of Appeal has quashed a man ’ s sex assault conviction and directed a retrial , after it transpired that one of the jurors who convicted him was related to his victim in another case .
The man had gone on trial at a circuit criminal court last year , charged with one count of sexual assault .
He was already serving a sentence for defiling a child , an offence to which he had previously pleaded guilty .
The jury in the sex assault trial had returned a unanimous verdict of guilty .
As the jury members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the convicted man approached his legal team and said that one of the jurors was related to the victim in the defilement case .
They had not been present during the trial as it was conducted “ in camera ” , or behind closed doors .
The judge was informed , and he instructed gardaí to investigate .
They did so and confirmed the relationship .
The man ’ s legal team appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal on Friday .
Desmond Dockery SC , acting for the man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued for his client ’ s right under the Constitution to be tried by an unbiased jury .
The State did not argue against the appellant ’ s submissions , but Patrick Reynolds BL submitted that a retrial be ordered if the court decided to quash the conviction .
President of the Court of Appeal Judge George Birmingham , presiding with Judge Patrick McCarthy and Judge Isobel Kennedy , described the situation as “ very unusual ” .
They quashed the conviction , directed a retrial and remanded the man in custody to @ @ @ @ @

The Court of Appeal has quashed a man’s sex assault conviction and directed a retrial, after it transpired that one of the jurors who convicted him was related to his victim in another case.
The man had gone on trial at a circuit criminal court last year, charged with one count of sexual assault. He was already serving a sentence for defiling a child, an offence to which he had previously pleaded guilty.
The jury in the sex assault trial had returned a unanimous verdict of guilty. As the jury members then left the courtroom, two relatives of the convicted man approached his legal team and said that one of the jurors was related to the victim in the defilement case. They had not been present during the trial as it was conducted “in camera”, or behind closed doors.
The judge was informed, and he instructed gardaí to investigate. They did so and confirmed the relationship.
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The man’s legal team appealed his conviction to the Court of Appeal on Friday. Desmond Dockery SC, acting for the man, submitted that the conviction was unsafe and argued for his client’s right under the Constitution to be tried by an unbiased jury.
The State did not argue against the appellant’s submissions, but Patrick Reynolds BL submitted that a retrial be ordered if the court decided to quash the conviction.
President of the Court of Appeal Judge George Birmingham, presiding with Judge Patrick McCarthy and Judge Isobel Kennedy, described the situation as "very unusual".
They quashed the conviction, directed a retrial and remanded the man in custody to the same circuit court.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Transgender Cork farmer (65) surprised at positive response to telling her story

A 65-year-old north Cork farmer has spoken of her surprise and delight at the hugely positive response she received after telling how she has started to transition from male to female on RTÉ ’ s Liveline programme .
Erica Coates , who was born Eric , said she was prompted to ring Joe Duffy upon hearing how a 22-year-old man was having difficulty transitioning to female .
“ I was surprised at the response I ’ ve got .
To be honest I was surprised that Liveline wanted me on in the first place .
I would a very private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as nervous as hell but Joe Duffy is very professional and it was just like having a chat , one to one with someone .
“ I decided to ring in after hearing about that other person and it would be bred in me from my ancestors that if somebody has a problem , you help them out and the way I looked at it , if you could save one life by putting out a positive message , it would be worth it .
“ But since I came off the radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t stopped between calls and texts and emails .
All these people ringing up to say fair play , well done and congratulations .
It ’ s all been positive so I ’ m delighted , ” said Erica .
Erica , who lives with her three dogs , Sydney , Jacob and Kirstie at the family farm at Kildinan , midway between Rathcormac , Watergrasshill , Glenville and Ballyhooly in north Cork , told how she only realised she was transgender when she saw a transgender person on the Late Late Show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a child I knew there was something a bit different about me .
I always wanted to leave my hair long and loved the idea of having earrings and jewellery but I never knew anything about transgender , ” said Erica who is a tillage and beef farmer on her 65 acre holding .
“ It ’ s a good few years ago now but I was watching the Late Late one night and there was a person came on and told their story about making the change .
I was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them that ticked all my boxes .
I had just kept it to myself totally for years and years.
” Erica took the plunge in July last year when she went into Debenhams in Cork city and met an assistant on the Lancome counter to ask about make-up .
The woman was so friendly and helpful that she announced that she was a transgender to her .
“ She was the first person in the world that I said it to her , a complete stranger .
I was getting that way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit by bit but that was the day the gate opened and from then on , I was just going across that bridge and I wasn ’ t going to go back and that was it .
“ It was like a sentence over me , my body was free but my mind was inside in solitary confinement , sentenced for life , and the sentence came off and the gate was opened that day , ” said Erica who now wears dresses and skirts in feminine colours and pink wellies around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , psychologist and the Cork Transgender Peer Support Group , Erica had a confirmed diagnosis of gender dysphoria and is currently transitioning to female and all the time drawing huge encouragement from her neighbours and friends in Kildinan and beyond .
“ A lot of people have said to me that from the time I came out and crossed that bridge , they told me ‘ You ’ ve totally changed completely – you ’ re always happy now ’ ...
I wake in the morning and see my nails done and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something and I can ’ t explain it , but it just feels so right .
”

‘All my life since I was a child I knew there was something a bit different about me. I always wanted to leave my hair long and loved the idea of having earrings and jewellery but I never knew anything about transgender,’ said Erica. Photograph: iStock
A 65-year-old north Cork farmer has spoken of her surprise and delight at the hugely positive response she received after telling how she has started to transition from male to female on RTÉ's Liveline programme.
Erica Coates, who was born Eric, said she was prompted to ring Joe Duffy upon hearing how a 22-year-old man was having difficulty transitioning to female.
“I was surprised at the response I’ve got. To be honest I was surprised that Liveline wanted me on in the first place. I would a very private shy kind of person and I was as nervous as hell but Joe Duffy is very professional and it was just like having a chat, one to one with someone.
“I decided to ring in after hearing about that other person and it would be bred in me from my ancestors that if somebody has a problem, you help them out and the way I looked at it, if you could save one life by putting out a positive message, it would be worth it.
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“But since I came off the radio this afternoon, the phone hasn’t stopped between calls and texts and emails. All these people ringing up to say fair play, well done and congratulations. It’s all been positive so I’m delighted,” said Erica.
Erica, who lives with her three dogs, Sydney, Jacob and Kirstie at the family farm at Kildinan, midway between Rathcormac, Watergrasshill, Glenville and Ballyhooly in north Cork, told how she only realised she was transgender when she saw a transgender person on the Late Late Show.
“All my life since I was a child I knew there was something a bit different about me. I always wanted to leave my hair long and loved the idea of having earrings and jewellery but I never knew anything about transgender,” said Erica who is a tillage and beef farmer on her 65 acre holding.
“It’s a good few years ago now but I was watching the Late Late one night and there was a person came on and told their story about making the change. I was in my 50s at the time and listening to them that ticked all my boxes. I had just kept it to myself totally for years and years.”
Erica took the plunge in July last year when she went into Debenhams in Cork city and met an assistant on the Lancome counter to ask about make-up. The woman was so friendly and helpful that she announced that she was a transgender to her.
“She was the first person in the world that I said it to her, a complete stranger. I was getting that way, slowly but surely, more feminine bit by bit but that was the day the gate opened and from then on, I was just going across that bridge and I wasn’t going to go back and that was it.
“It was like a sentence over me, my body was free but my mind was inside in solitary confinement, sentenced for life, and the sentence came off and the gate was opened that day,” said Erica who now wears dresses and skirts in feminine colours and pink wellies around the farm.
With support from her GP, psychologist and the Cork Transgender Peer Support Group, Erica had a confirmed diagnosis of gender dysphoria and is currently transitioning to female and all the time drawing huge encouragement from her neighbours and friends in Kildinan and beyond.
“A lot of people have said to me that from the time I came out and crossed that bridge, they told me ‘You’ve totally changed completely – you’re always happy now’ ... I wake in the morning and see my nails done and I wear a dress or a skirt or something and I can’t explain it, but it just feels so right.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Teenager arrested after allegedly driving over 210km/h during Garda chase

A teenager has been arrested after allegedly failing to stop for gardaí and fleeing across the country for 65km while driving at speeds up to in excess of 210km/h .
A driver was initially recorded at a speed check driving over the speed limit at 183km/h and when what gardaí described as a “ managed pursuit ” began , he sped away .
Though conditions were wet at the time , the driver continued from Co Limerick , where he was first recorded speeding , through Co Tipperary and Co Laois , while pursued by gardaí .
The driver eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardaí first became aware of the driver speeding .
The incident occurred on Wednesday night , though news of it emerged only on Friday , with Tipperary gardaí confirming the details .
“ At around 9.30pm gardaí from the Thurles Roads Policing Unit were operating a speed checkpoint on the M7 at Birdhill when they detected a car travelling at 183km/h , ” the Garda said .
“ A managed pursuit from a safe distance ensued with the offending car increasing its speed to over 210km/h at times .
Gardaí witnessed numerous instances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Assistance was requested by gardaí in Laois but before they arrived , the car stopped in Borris-in-Ossory , some 65km away from where it was initially detected.
” A person who was described as a male in his late teens was arrested and has been charged following the incident .
He was set to appear before the courts at a later date .

A teenager has been arrested after allegedly failing to stop for gardaí and fleeing across the country for 65km while driving at speeds up to in excess of 210km/h. File photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times
A teenager has been arrested after allegedly failing to stop for gardaí and fleeing across the country for 65km while driving at speeds up to in excess of 210km/h.
A driver was initially recorded at a speed check driving over the speed limit at 183km/h and when what gardaí described as a “managed pursuit” began, he sped away.
Though conditions were wet at the time, the driver continued from Co Limerick, where he was first recorded speeding, through Co Tipperary and Co Laois, while pursued by gardaí. The driver eventually stopped at a location 65km from where gardaí first became aware of the driver speeding.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night, though news of it emerged only on Friday, with Tipperary gardaí confirming the details.
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"At around 9.30pm gardaí from the Thurles Roads Policing Unit were operating a speed checkpoint on the M7 at Birdhill when they detected a car travelling at 183km/h," the Garda said. "A managed pursuit from a safe distance ensued with the offending car increasing its speed to over 210km/h at times. Gardaí witnessed numerous instances of dangerous driving in wet conditions.
"Assistance was requested by gardaí in Laois but before they arrived, the car stopped in Borris-in-Ossory, some 65km away from where it was initially detected."
A person who was described as a male in his late teens was arrested and has been charged following the incident. He was set to appear before the courts at a later date.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Covid-19: Mother and daughters moved into nursing home to tend to elderly residents

A mother and two daughters moved into a Dublin nursing home for more than six weeks at the height of the Covid pandemic to look after residents .
Healthcare assistants Claire Guinan and her two daughters , mother-of-one Lauren and Megan , work at Loughshinny Residential Home , a 123-bed complex opened last year in Skerries in north Dublin .
Lauren left a three-year-old daughter at home , who she saw only on video calls during her six-week stay .
Saying they had decided to stay for the safety of the home ’ s residents and their own families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really strange not going home .
My husband was at home .
Lauren ’ s partner was at home .
They were out of work , too .
Six weeks is a long time for a young child to be away from her mammy.
” The trio ’ s stay had to be extended after Lauren was diagnosed with Covid-19 in mid-April after Defence Forces medics tested Loughshinny residents and staff .
“ We were hoping at that point to go home if we got a negative result .
But I got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I had no symptoms .
I was completely unaware that I had contracted Covid .
I could not believe it.
” Staff diagnosed as positive were immediately moved “ away from residents and other personnel ” .
Having lost her sense of taste and smell , but without a high temperature , she began 14 days of isolation in the home .
“ I was upstairs .
They used to come around , stand on chairs and talk to me through the window .
My partner came down and parked his car around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the window.
” The days passed slowly , helped by Netflix and books .
Looking back , the three say the time was “ tough ” , especially when they saw residents to whom they were close struggling .
“ It was so difficult to see families standing at the windows , looking at their loved ones through a window .
We could not open the windows , ” said Lauren Like other nursing homes , visits ended in early March so many residents were lonely .
Staff did not want them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gearing up in PPE and going in ” .
On occasions , some of the most frail did not recognise PPE-equipped staff , who on occasion wept as they left their rooms .
Each of the residents who died were remembered .
“ We would remember how they did this or that .
It would help you a little bit , ” said Claire .
Saying that he was “ immensely proud ” of his team , Bartra Healthcare CEO Declan Carlyle said they had put themselves and their families second to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as being above and beyond the call of duty did not do them justice , he added .
Referring to a dispute with the Health Service Executive over the number of Covid-19-related confirmed and probable deaths at the nursing home , he said he very much regretted the hurt and mistrust that has been brought about by the confusion involved .
The HSE has criticised The Irish Times for publishing those figures which it said represented a snapshot in time that was constantly being superseded as more accurate data becomes available .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its fight against the virus but , despite its efforts and similar to many other high quality care centres , the virus managed to enter .
Those involved in deflecting responsibility simply caused further distress and hurt for all involved .
“ We patiently await the review and the learnings that will arise.
” He said their efforts would continue and , in time , they would gather with the community to remember “ those loved ones lost to this awful virus ” .
Saying that some of her friends thought she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nursing home at the height of the crisis , Megan Guinan said she has no regrets .
“ It is an important job .
Someone needed to be there .
The residents needed people to be here and that is what we did .
We were here .
”

Clare Guinan (centre) and her daughters Megan and Lauren who moved into Bartra Healthcare’s Loughshinny Nursing Home four weeks ago to help protect the residents against Covid-19. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell/The Irish Times
A mother and two daughters moved into a Dublin nursing home for more than six weeks at the height of the Covid pandemic to look after residents.
Healthcare assistants Claire Guinan and her two daughters, mother-of-one Lauren and Megan, work at Loughshinny Residential Home, a 123-bed complex opened last year in Skerries in north Dublin.
Lauren left a three-year-old daughter at home, who she saw only on video calls during her six-week stay.
Saying they had decided to stay for the safety of the home’s residents and their own families, Claire Guinan said: “It was really strange not going home. My husband was at home. Lauren’s partner was at home. They were out of work, too. Six weeks is a long time for a young child to be away from her mammy.”
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The trio's stay had to be extended after Lauren was diagnosed with Covid-19 in mid-April after Defence Forces medics tested Loughshinny residents and staff. "We were hoping at that point to go home if we got a negative result. But I got a positive result. I was asymptomatic. I had no symptoms. I was completely unaware that I had contracted Covid. I could not believe it."
Staff diagnosed as positive were immediately moved “away from residents and other personnel”.
Having lost her sense of taste and smell, but without a high temperature, she began 14 days of isolation in the home. “I was upstairs. They used to come around, stand on chairs and talk to me through the window. My partner came down and parked his car around the back and talked to me through the window.”
The days passed slowly, helped by Netflix and books.
Looking back, the three say the time was “tough”, especially when they saw residents to whom they were close struggling.
“It was so difficult to see families standing at the windows, looking at their loved ones through a window. We could not open the windows,” said Lauren
Like other nursing homes, visits ended in early March so many residents were lonely. Staff did not want them to be, so they “were constantly gearing up in PPE and going in”.
On occasions, some of the most frail did not recognise PPE-equipped staff, who on occasion wept as they left their rooms.
Each of the residents who died were remembered. “We would remember how they did this or that. It would help you a little bit,” said Claire.
Saying that he was "immensely proud" of his team, Bartra Healthcare CEO Declan Carlyle said they had put themselves and their families second to the wellbeing of residents. Describing their actions as being above and beyond the call of duty did not do them justice, he added. Referring to a dispute with the Health Service Executive over the number of Covid-19-related confirmed and probable deaths at the nursing home, he said he very much regretted the hurt and mistrust that has been brought about by the confusion involved. The HSE has criticised The Irish Times for publishing those figures which it said represented a snapshot in time that was constantly being superseded as more accurate data becomes available.
Mr Carlyle said Bartra had spared no cost in its fight against the virus but, despite its efforts and similar to many other high quality care centres, the virus managed to enter. Those involved in deflecting responsibility simply caused further distress and hurt for all involved. “We patiently await the review and the learnings that will arise.” He said their efforts would continue and, in time, they would gather with the community to remember “those loved ones lost to this awful virus”.
Saying that some of her friends thought she was "crazy" for moving into the nursing home at the height of the crisis, Megan Guinan said she has no regrets.
“It is an important job. Someone needed to be there. The residents needed people to be here and that is what we did. We were here.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Schools in affluent areas of south Dublin resisting special classes, say campaigners

Campaigners have expressed frustration that primary schools in affluent parts of south Dublin are resisting attempts to set up special classes for children with autism .
The Department of Education on Friday published a list of 39 schools which will be compelled to set up special classes for more than 80 children with autism and other special needs who do not have a school place .
However , campaigners say the list includes only a handful of schools in postal districts such Dublin 2 , 4 , 6 and 6W where , they say , there is an acute shortages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group said that while it welcomed plans to compel schools in the region to open special classes , many parents were upset that there will still be none in their area .
It said the process for identifying schools was flawed and questioned why some schools did not engage in the process and whether site visits were conducted to establish if schools had space for new classes .
“ Schools will say we don ’ t have the space , we can ’ t do this , we can ’ t do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it in other areas so why can ’ t they do it in ours ?
” asked Include Autism chairperson Miriam Kenny .
She said the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education had a chance to end the practice of “ continuing discrimination in many south Dublin schools for once and for all.
” “ Instead they have completely fudged it , not addressed the underlying issue and a vast majority of schools will continue to discriminate while at the same time talk about inclusion , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive of autism charity AsIAm , said it welcomed the fact that the legislative process has led to a number of schools volunteering to open autism classes in September and further 39 being compelled to do so .
“ Every school has a duty to cater for all students and for too long , too many students in south county Dublin have been discriminated against , ” he said .
He agreed that it appeared that some areas were continuing to fail to play their part or to be challenged seriously in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of inclusion is for every child to be able to be educated in their local community and this principle should always be maintained , irrespective of your post code.
” He also expressed concern that the announcement did not provide clarity for 38 students in south Dublin who have been identified as requiring a special school place , rather than a special class .
These children tend to have a more complex condition and required extra support .
“ There is a clear identified need from the NCSE ’ s review and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents still do not know if their child will have a special school placement in September .
We urgently need clarity from the department in this regard , ” he said .

Campaigners have expressed frustration that primary schools in affluent parts of south Dublin are resisting attempts to set up special classes for children with autism.
The Department of Education on Friday published a list of 39 schools which will be compelled to set up special classes for more than 80 children with autism and other special needs who do not have a school place.
However, campaigners say the list includes only a handful of schools in postal districts such Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 6W where, they say, there is an acute shortages of places.
The Involve Autism campaign group said that while it welcomed plans to compel schools in the region to open special classes, many parents were upset that there will still be none in their area.
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It said the process for identifying schools was flawed and questioned why some schools did not engage in the process and whether site visits were conducted to establish if schools had space for new classes.
"Schools will say we don't have the space, we can't do this, we can't do that, but they seem to be able to do it in other areas so why can't they do it in ours?" asked Include Autism chairperson Miriam Kenny.
She said the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education had a chance to end the practice of "continuing discrimination in many south Dublin schools for once and for all."
“Instead they have completely fudged it, not addressed the underlying issue and a vast majority of schools will continue to discriminate while at the same time talk about inclusion,” she said.
Adam Harris, chief executive of autism charity AsIAm, said it welcomed the fact that the legislative process has led to a number of schools volunteering to open autism classes in September and further 39 being compelled to do so.
“Every school has a duty to cater for all students and for too long, too many students in south county Dublin have been discriminated against,” he said.
He agreed that it appeared that some areas were continuing to fail to play their part or to be challenged seriously in this regard by the authorities.
“The purpose of inclusion is for every child to be able to be educated in their local community and this principle should always be maintained, irrespective of your post code.”
He also expressed concern that the announcement did not provide clarity for 38 students in south Dublin who have been identified as requiring a special school place, rather than a special class.
These children tend to have a more complex condition and required extra support.
“There is a clear identified need from the NCSE’s review and yet in the month of July, parents still do not know if their child will have a special school placement in September. We urgently need clarity from the department in this regard,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Cork residents begin legal action against landlord over ‘lockdown parties’

A group of residents living near University College Cork have begun legal action against a landlord over what they allege is his failure to control noise at two of his properties where they allege students are holding Covid-19 lockdown parties into the early hours of the morning .
Members of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association have been campaigning for the past two months to get students to stop holding parties where they allege up to 50 people have attended in contravention of Government guidelines on Covid-19 .
On Friday two residents took a case to Cork District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private prosecutions under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 against a landlord with two properties in the area whom they allege is allowing breaches of noise levels .
Sadie O ’ Mahony of Gurtharda , Highfield Avenue , College Road , Cork and Mairead O ’ Callaghan of Lucerne , Connaught Avenue , Cork both brought private prosecutions against landlord , Fachtna O ’ Reilly of Birchley , Model Farm Road , Carrigrohane in respect of separate properties .
Ms O ’ Mahony alleges Mr O ’ Reilly is “ the person making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following noise , namely loud music , persistent shouting and rowdy and aggressive behaviour during the day , late into the night and into the early hours of the morning ” at 11 Highfield Avenue , College Road .
Ms O ’ Callaghan alleges Mr O ’ Reilly is “ the person making , causing , or responsible for the following noise , namely loud music , persistent shouting and rowdy and aggressive behaviour during the day , late into the night and into the early hours of the morning ” at 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allege that “ the noise is so loud/so continuous/so repeated or of such duration or pitch/ occurring at such times as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to the complainant , any person in any premises in the neighbourhood or any person lawfully using a public place.
” On Friday , before solicitor David McCoy could open the case for Ms O ’ Mahony and Ms O ’ Callaghan , Judge Con O ’ Leary said he wanted to explain to the two residents bringing the case that he once owned an apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owned by Mr O ’ Reilly .
“ I don ’ t want someone to say afterwards that we ( the judge and the landlord ) were friends , ” said Judge O ’ Leary , adding that he no longer owned the property but he believed that it was best that he adjourned the matter for another judge to hear it , lest it be perceived he was not objective .
Solicitor for Mr O ’ Reilly , Eamonn Murray , suggested the case would be best dealt with by referring it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PRTB ) rather than dealing with it under environmental legislation and he asked Judge O ’ Leary to make an order to that effect , referring to the PRTB .
But Judge O ’ Leary said that it would not be appropriate for him to make such an order , given he was recusing himself from the case and it was an application Mr Murray could make before Judge Olann Kelleher who would hear the case at 2pm on Tuesday at the Anglesea Street Courthouse .
Mr Murray applied for a longer adjournment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he did not “ live in a bubble ” and was aware from prolonged press coverage about residents ’ concerns about the issue and he was anxious the matter be dealt with as quickly as possible and he adjourned it until Tuesday .
“ There is another weekend to be gone through .
In the meantime I can not do anything about that , ” said Judge O ’ Leary to the residents as they left the court and he assured them that Judge Kelleher would hear the matter on Tuesday as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A group of residents living near University College Cork have begun legal action against a landlord over what they allege is his failure to control noise at two of his properties where they allege students are holding Covid-19 lockdown parties into the early hours of the morning.
Members of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association have been campaigning for the past two months to get students to stop holding parties where they allege up to 50 people have attended in contravention of Government guidelines on Covid-19.
On Friday two residents took a case to Cork District Court where they were seeking to bring private prosecutions under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 against a landlord with two properties in the area whom they allege is allowing breaches of noise levels.
Sadie O’Mahony of Gurtharda, Highfield Avenue, College Road, Cork and Mairead O’Callaghan of Lucerne, Connaught Avenue, Cork both brought private prosecutions against landlord, Fachtna O’Reilly of Birchley, Model Farm Road, Carrigrohane in respect of separate properties.
READ MORE
Ms O’Mahony alleges Mr O’Reilly is “the person making, causing, or responsible for the following noise, namely loud music, persistent shouting and rowdy and aggressive behaviour during the day, late into the night and into the early hours of the morning” at 11 Highfield Avenue, College Road.
Ms O’Callaghan alleges Mr O’Reilly is “the person making, causing, or responsible for the following noise, namely loud music, persistent shouting and rowdy and aggressive behaviour during the day, late into the night and into the early hours of the morning” at 4 Dunedin, Connaught Avenue.
They both allege that “the noise is so loud/so continuous/so repeated or of such duration or pitch/ occurring at such times as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to the complainant, any person in any premises in the neighbourhood or any person lawfully using a public place.”
On Friday, before solicitor David McCoy could open the case for Ms O’Mahony and Ms O’Callaghan, Judge Con O’Leary said he wanted to explain to the two residents bringing the case that he once owned an apartment in the same area as a property owned by Mr O’Reilly.
“I don’t want someone to say afterwards that we (the judge and the landlord) were friends,” said Judge O’Leary, adding that he no longer owned the property but he believed that it was best that he adjourned the matter for another judge to hear it, lest it be perceived he was not objective.
Solicitor for Mr O’Reilly, Eamonn Murray, suggested the case would be best dealt with by referring it to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) rather than dealing with it under environmental legislation and he asked Judge O’Leary to make an order to that effect, referring to the PRTB.
But Judge O’Leary said that it would not be appropriate for him to make such an order, given he was recusing himself from the case and it was an application Mr Murray could make before Judge Olann Kelleher who would hear the case at 2pm on Tuesday at the Anglesea Street Courthouse.
Mr Murray applied for a longer adjournment but Judge O’Leary said that he did not “live in a bubble” and was aware from prolonged press coverage about residents’ concerns about the issue and he was anxious the matter be dealt with as quickly as possible and he adjourned it until Tuesday.
“There is another weekend to be gone through. In the meantime I cannot do anything about that,” said Judge O’Leary to the residents as they left the court and he assured them that Judge Kelleher would hear the matter on Tuesday as he knew none of the parties involved.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Gardaí to start checking if pubs are ‘ignoring’ Covid-19 guidelines

Gardai are to conduct Covid-19 compliance checks on pubs “ ignoring ” the rules across the State this weekend .
The operation begins on Friday evening amid concern some establishments are flouting regulations designed to suppress the disease .
Bars which serve a substantial meal with drink were allowed to open their doors earlier this week as socialising restrictions eased .
Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said : “ It now appears that just a few days after their introduction some licensed premises and their customers are ignoring the public health guidelines .
“ By doing so , they are putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with at risk of getting Covid-19 .
“ This is not acceptable and we are now expanding our planned checks.
” Pubs operating as restaurants were able to open on Monday , while others must remain closed until July 20th Senior gardai , industry representative bodies and members of the public have expressed concern some premises and their customers have not adhered to the guidelines .
The deputy commissioner added : “ When licensed premises were initially shut under the public health guidelines An Garda Siochana checked thousands of licensed premises to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast , vast majority did .
“ Our intention in this latest phase was to conduct a large number of spot-checks of licensed premises.
” Taoiseach Micheal Martin chaired a meeting on Friday of Government ministers and promised “ strong enforcement ” .
A Government statement expressed concern that pubs operating as restaurants should continue to operate in accordance with public health guidelines .
“ The Government will review a report on compliance from the relevant state authorities , including An Garda Siochana , the public health , and health and safety authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” it said .
“ Strong enforcement measures will be taken against premises that are not operating in accordance with public health guidelines.
” New guidance has also been developed for religious services with attendance of more than 50 permitted in certain circumstances .
An assessment will have to be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend within the requirements of social distancing .
The premises will also have to be subdivided into distinct sections , either by cordons or other markings , with a maximum of 50 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a minimum of four metres between those sections .
There can be strictly no movement of people between the sections before , during or after the service .
Each area must have its own entrance or exit route and there will need to be separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact such as for the distribution of Holy Communion .
The premises will also need to be well-ventilated .
Those providing religious services will also be asked to ensure that there are staggered exit times .
The use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also be “ strongly recommended.
” It also said the main item on the agenda was the framework for international travel .
“ Recommendations will now be referred for discussion and decision by the Government at the cabinet meeting on Monday next , ” it said .
Earlier the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) reported another two people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died .
This brings to the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic to 1,740 .
Nphet also reported a further nine new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total number of confirmed cases here to 25,498 .
Dr Ronan Glynn , Acting Chief Medical Officer said ; “ Ireland ’ s 14 day incidence of Covid-19 is now less than 3 cases per 100,000 .
This is amongst the lowest in Europe and demonstrates that the disease remains suppressed in our communities .
The key to maintaining this status is responsible individual behaviours and avoiding any complacency.
” “ HIQA ’ s report on mortality today demonstrates that we have comprehensively recorded deaths relating to Covid-19 in Ireland by following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistently recorded and published data on all deaths where a person had Covid-19 or was suspected to have Covid-19 .
This reporting gives us a robust understanding of the impact of the disease in Ireland and continues to inform our response.
” Dr Glynn was referring to a report which said Ireland ’ s official death toll from Covid-19 may have been overstated , according to a new report that says there was a 13 per cent increase in deaths during the pandemic .
Between 1,100 and 1,200 more deaths than would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 11th and June 16th , according to the report by the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) .
However , this is substantially lower than the 1,709 Covid-19 deaths officially reported toNPHET over this period .

Only pubs serving hot meals, costing a minimum of €9, can reopen and customers can stay for a maximum of 105 minutes. Photograph: iStock
Gardai are to conduct Covid-19 compliance checks on pubs “ignoring” the rules across the State this weekend.
The operation begins on Friday evening amid concern some establishments are flouting regulations designed to suppress the disease. Bars which serve a substantial meal with drink were allowed to open their doors earlier this week as socialising restrictions eased.
Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said: “It now appears that just a few days after their introduction some licensed premises and their customers are ignoring the public health guidelines. “By doing so, they are putting themselves and everyone they then come into contact with at risk of getting Covid-19. “This is not acceptable and we are now expanding our planned checks.” Pubs operating as restaurants were able to open on Monday, while others must remain closed until July 20th
Senior gardai, industry representative bodies and members of the public have expressed concern some premises and their customers have not adhered to the guidelines.
READ MORE
The deputy commissioner added: “When licensed premises were initially shut under the public health guidelines An Garda Siochana checked thousands of licensed premises to ensure they remained closed, which the vast, vast majority did. “Our intention in this latest phase was to conduct a large number of spot-checks of licensed premises.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin chaired a meeting on Friday of Government ministers and promised “strong enforcement”. A Government statement expressed concern that pubs operating as restaurants should continue to operate in accordance with public health guidelines.
“The Government will review a report on compliance from the relevant state authorities, including An Garda Siochana, the public health, and health and safety authorities, at its meeting on Monday,” it said.
“Strong enforcement measures will be taken against premises that are not operating in accordance with public health guidelines.”
Churches
New guidance has also been developed for religious services with attendance of more than 50 permitted in certain circumstances.
An assessment will have to be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend within the requirements of social distancing.
The premises will also have to be subdivided into distinct sections, either by cordons or other markings, with a maximum of 50 people in that area. There will have to be a minimum of four metres between those sections. There can be strictly no movement of people between the sections before, during or after the service.
Each area must have its own entrance or exit route and there will need to be separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact such as for the distribution of Holy Communion. The premises will also need to be well-ventilated. Those providing religious services will also be asked to ensure that there are staggered exit times. The use of face coverings in such indoor settings will also be “strongly recommended.”
It also said the main item on the agenda was the framework for international travel. “Recommendations will now be referred for discussion and decision by the Government at the cabinet meeting on Monday next,” it said.
Suppressed
Earlier the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported another two people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died. This brings to the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic to 1,740.
Nphet also reported a further nine new cases of the disease, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 25,498 .
Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer said; “Ireland’s 14 day incidence of Covid-19 is now less than 3 cases per 100,000. This is amongst the lowest in Europe and demonstrates that the disease remains suppressed in our communities. The key to maintaining this status is responsible individual behaviours and avoiding any complacency.”
“HIQA’s report on mortality today demonstrates that we have comprehensively recorded deaths relating to Covid-19 in Ireland by following the recommended WHO approach.
“We have consistently recorded and published data on all deaths where a person had Covid-19 or was suspected to have Covid-19. This reporting gives us a robust understanding of the impact of the disease in Ireland and continues to inform our response.”
Dr Glynn was referring to a report which said Ireland’s official death toll from Covid-19 may have been overstated, according to a new report that says there was a 13 per cent increase in deaths during the pandemic.
Between 1,100 and 1,200 more deaths than would have been expected on historical patterns occurred between March 11th and June 16th, according to the report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).
However, this is substantially lower than the 1,709 Covid-19 deaths officially reported toNPHET over this period.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Gardaí investigate after tree is felled at site of fatal road incident

Gardaí are investigating a “ criminal damage ” incident in which a tree was cut down at the scene of a double fatal road traffic collision in Limerick city .
The tree , which was situated on Hyde Road , was felled last Wednesday night .
It is understood those behind the felling closed the road to traffic while the tree was being cut down .
The tree , along with a section of Hyde Road , had been cordoned off on Friday , June 26th , as part of a Garda investigation into a collision on Hyde Road in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Reilly and cyclist Saad Al Werfally , aged in his 30s , both died .
The car Mr O ’ Reilly was driving at the time left the road and hit the tree during the incident .
The investigation into the collision is continuing and gardaí have appealed for witnesses and anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward .
A few discarded remnants of a shrine left at the tree , which included flowers , rosary beads , candles , and a large photograph of Mr O ’ Reilly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Garda spokesman said : “ Gardaíare investigating a criminal damage incident in which a tree was cut down on Hyde Road at around 11.30pm on July 1st , 2020 .
“ The road was closed for a short time and reopened.
” Gardaí said that “ no arrests have been made ” and that “ the investigation is ongoing ” .
A spokesman for Limerick City and County Council said : “ Limerick City and County Council was unaware that this tree was being removed .
”

Gardaí are investigating a ‘criminal damage’ incident in which a tree was cut down in Limerick city. File photograph: Frank Miller
Gardaí are investigating a “criminal damage” incident in which a tree was cut down at the scene of a double fatal road traffic collision in Limerick city.
The tree, which was situated on Hyde Road, was felled last Wednesday night.
It is understood those behind the felling closed the road to traffic while the tree was being cut down.
The tree, along with a section of Hyde Road, had been cordoned off on Friday, June 26th, as part of a Garda investigation into a collision on Hyde Road in which 17-year-old motorist Patrick "Pio" O'Reilly and cyclist Saad Al Werfally, aged in his 30s, both died.
READ MORE
The car Mr O’Reilly was driving at the time left the road and hit the tree during the incident.
The investigation into the collision is continuing and gardaí have appealed for witnesses and anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward.
A few discarded remnants of a shrine left at the tree, which included flowers, rosary beads, candles, and a large photograph of Mr O’Reilly, are all that remains at the spot.
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardaíare investigating a criminal damage incident in which a tree was cut down on Hyde Road at around 11.30pm on July 1st, 2020.
“The road was closed for a short time and reopened.”
Gardaí said that “no arrests have been made” and that “the investigation is ongoing”.
A spokesman for Limerick City and County Council said: "Limerick City and County Council was unaware that this tree was being removed."


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Unflappable ‘Dr Tony’ became public face of Covid-19 crisis response

In a Q & A zoom call with a group of children in May , Dr Tony Holohan was asked what the most rewarding part of his job was as chief medical officer during the Covid-19 crisis .
“ The sense that we have helped people , ” he replied .
To these kids - and to the rest of the country - the Dublin-born , Limerick-raised doctor had become “ Dr Tony ” , the unflappable doc who calmed nerves during the coronavirus pandemic .
The chief medical officer was thrust from a largely backroom role in the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation with his daily televised press briefings .
He was on the frontline of a very public fight to stem the spread of the virus and prevent Covid-19 infections and deaths soaring with his sober announcements followed closely every day .
The infection curve could only have been flattened by radical public action and Dr Holohan became the measured voice of science required to explain with confidence why people would have to adhere to the most severe restrictions ever imposed on their everyday lives .
When his own health was in doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit funny ” during one of his daily briefings at the end of March - he became the news .
Many in the public sighed relief when he returned less than 48 hours later after being checked out in a Dublin hospital .
His announcement at the department ’ s Covid-19 press briefing on Thursday evening that he is stepping back from his job to spend time with his wife Emer Feely , who has terminal cancer , and their two children brought an outpouring of praise and sympathy for one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors .
It marks the end to a tumultuous four months of the day-to-day fire-fighting for Dr Holohan in his job , his busiest time in a two-decade career as a public health official .
William Gerard Anthony Holohan became deputy chief medical officer in 2001 and was promoted to chief medical officer at the Department of Health in 2008 .
A graduate of Monaleen national school and Limerick ’ s CBS Sexton Street - the alma mater of businessman JP McManus - Holohan told those children during that Q & A in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house full of sisters ” where he was “ kind of the spokesman ” - a precursor of his later role .
He played GAA football and hurling as a kid and has remained a passionate sports fan and part-time coach , supporting his football club Templeogue Synge Street GAA and Faughs GAA hurling , also in Templeogue .
Away from sport , he stays fit by cycling home along the Grand Canal - an activity he has used to observe and remark on public behaviour during the pandemic .
He graduated from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in general practice at first , before turning to public health medicine and graduating with a masters in the discipline in 1996 .
Dr Holohan was one of the public health officials tasked with reviewing and reorganising the country ’ s health service in the early 2000s that led to the creation of the HSE in 2005 .
Working closely with then minister for health Mary Harney - and a regular at her side during briefings - he was picked from a competitive field to become “ CMO ” during her tenure at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a public health crisis , dealing with the fallout from the pig-meat dioxins scandal on his first day in the job in December 2008 .
The following year , he had to manage the government ’ s response to the global swine flu outbreak .
In 2018 , Dr Holohan found himself at the centre of controversy around the HSE ’ s failure to disclose incorrect results of old smear tests in the CervicalCheck screening programme to affected women and their families .
There were calls on him and other senior health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was also heavily criticised by politicians Alan Kelly TD , now Labour leader , and David Cullinane , now Sinn Féin ’ s spokesman on health , over his awareness of issues around the tests dating back to 2016 and his failure to tell health ministers at that time .
Dr Holohan denied any wrongdoing and refused to stand down .
Leo Varadkar , who had been minister for health before becoming taoiseach , and his successor as health minister Simon Harris ultimately backed him .
The pandemic has been a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Holohan has responded to criticism of his team ’ s decisions on restrictions - and the pace of how they are introduced or lifted - with fact-based analysis in the face of great political and public pressure .
For now , he is stepping back as the public face of the State ’ s response team .
He hands over his CMO duties to his deputy as he focuses now on the care of his own family rather than the country .
Dr Ronan Glynn , the deputy chief medical officer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has taken over as acting CMO while Dr Holohan is away from the role .
Dr Glynn sits to Dr Holohan ’ s left during the regular National Public Health Emergency Team briefings at the Department of Health and usually provides details on the how virus is behaving as well as detailed information on “ at risk ” groups , clusters and health guidance in specific settings .
In Dr Holohan ’ s occasional absence , he has chaired the briefing from time to time .
Dr Glynn qualified as a physiotherapist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor from the University of Aberdeen in 2007 and completed a PhD in oncology at NUI Galway in 2012 .
He obtained a masters in public health from UCD in 2015 .
He worked as a cancer researcher from 2008 to 2010 and as a specialist registrar for the HSE from 2010 to 2018 .
His focus as acting CMO will be on reopening the country during the Covid-19 pandemic while taking measures to avoid a second wave of the virus sweeping across the country .

In a Q&A zoom call with a group of children in May, Dr Tony Holohan was asked what the most rewarding part of his job was as chief medical officer during the Covid-19 crisis. “The sense that we have helped people,” he replied.
To these kids - and to the rest of the country - the Dublin-born, Limerick-raised doctor had become “Dr Tony”, the unflappable doc who calmed nerves during the coronavirus pandemic.
The chief medical officer was thrust from a largely backroom role in the Department of Health into the living rooms of the nation with his daily televised press briefings.
He was on the frontline of a very public fight to stem the spread of the virus and prevent Covid-19 infections and deaths soaring with his sober announcements followed closely every day.
READ MORE
The infection curve could only have been flattened by radical public action and Dr Holohan became the measured voice of science required to explain with confidence why people would have to adhere to the most severe restrictions ever imposed on their everyday lives.
When his own health was in doubt - when he said he felt “a bit funny” during one of his daily briefings at the end of March - he became the news. Many in the public sighed relief when he returned less than 48 hours later after being checked out in a Dublin hospital.
His announcement at the department's Covid-19 press briefing on Thursday evening that he is stepping back from his job to spend time with his wife Emer Feely, who has terminal cancer, and their two children brought an outpouring of praise and sympathy for one of the Ireland's best known medical doctors.
It marks the end to a tumultuous four months of the day-to-day fire-fighting for Dr Holohan in his job, his busiest time in a two-decade career as a public health official.
William Gerard Anthony Holohan became deputy chief medical officer in 2001 and was promoted to chief medical officer at the Department of Health in 2008.
A graduate of Monaleen national school and Limerick's CBS Sexton Street - the alma mater of businessman JP McManus - Holohan told those children during that Q&A in May that he came from a "house full of sisters" where he was "kind of the spokesman" - a precursor of his later role.
He played GAA football and hurling as a kid and has remained a passionate sports fan and part-time coach, supporting his football club Templeogue Synge Street GAA and Faughs GAA hurling, also in Templeogue. Away from sport, he stays fit by cycling home along the Grand Canal - an activity he has used to observe and remark on public behaviour during the pandemic.
He graduated from UCD medical school in 1991 and trained in general practice at first, before turning to public health medicine and graduating with a masters in the discipline in 1996.
Dr Holohan was one of the public health officials tasked with reviewing and reorganising the country’s health service in the early 2000s that led to the creation of the HSE in 2005.
Working closely with then minister for health Mary Harney - and a regular at her side during briefings - he was picked from a competitive field to become "CMO" during her tenure at the department.
He was immediately thrown into a public health crisis, dealing with the fallout from the pig-meat dioxins scandal on his first day in the job in December 2008. The following year, he had to manage the government’s response to the global swine flu outbreak.
In 2018, Dr Holohan found himself at the centre of controversy around the HSE’s failure to disclose incorrect results of old smear tests in the CervicalCheck screening programme to affected women and their families. There were calls on him and other senior health officials to resign from patient advocates.
He was also heavily criticised by politicians Alan Kelly TD, now Labour leader, and David Cullinane, now Sinn Féin’s spokesman on health, over his awareness of issues around the tests dating back to 2016 and his failure to tell health ministers at that time.
Dr Holohan denied any wrongdoing and refused to stand down. Leo Varadkar, who had been minister for health before becoming taoiseach, and his successor as health minister Simon Harris ultimately backed him.
The pandemic has been a crisis of a far different magnitude. Throughout Dr Holohan has responded to criticism of his team’s decisions on restrictions - and the pace of how they are introduced or lifted - with fact-based analysis in the face of great political and public pressure.
For now, he is stepping back as the public face of the State’s response team. He hands over his CMO duties to his deputy as he focuses now on the care of his own family rather than the country.
Dr Ronan Glynn, the deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health since October 2018, has taken over as acting CMO while Dr Holohan is away from the role.
Dr Ronan Glynn sits to Dr Holohan’s left during the regular National Public Health Emergency Team briefings at the Department of Health. Photograph: Collins
Dr Glynn sits to Dr Holohan’s left during the regular National Public Health Emergency Team briefings at the Department of Health and usually provides details on the how virus is behaving as well as detailed information on “at risk” groups, clusters and health guidance in specific settings.
In Dr Holohan’s occasional absence, he has chaired the briefing from time to time.
Dr Glynn qualified as a physiotherapist from UCD in 2002, a medical doctor from the University of Aberdeen in 2007 and completed a PhD in oncology at NUI Galway in 2012.
He obtained a masters in public health from UCD in 2015. He worked as a cancer researcher from 2008 to 2010 and as a specialist registrar for the HSE from 2010 to 2018.
His focus as acting CMO will be on reopening the country during the Covid-19 pandemic while taking measures to avoid a second wave of the virus sweeping across the country.


theirishtimes--2020-07-03--Q&A: How close are we to having a Covid-19 vaccine?

The remarkable global effort to produce a range of Covid-19 vaccines in parallel with developing new treatments – many of which are adapting proven medications for other diseases – is gathering pace .
The scale of scientific endeavour is unprecedented , not just in terms of finding a new vaccine , but in the level of co-operation between scientists ; in quickly sharing results , data and critical genetic details ; indications of variations in the form of what is known as SARS-CoV-2 .
Then there is verification of the work of others , enabling promising work to push on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It heightens the chances of success on both vaccine and antiviral fronts .
A rough assessment of timings on potential vaccines would suggest early optimism needs to be tempered and early 2021 is the most likely time one will become available - and only then to some countries .
Should we plan for a vaccine in 2021 ?
The realists among the ranks of virologists , immunologists and vaccine developers , who are familiar with all too frequent experience of failure , would say all this is very much on the optimistic side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Neill always refers to a horse racing metaphor ; you may be leading the Grand National and have just one fence to clear , and fall at the last hurdle .
The world also has to face up to the fact that there may never be an effective vaccine .
But he is quick to add that the ability to contain the novel virus through a combination of therapies is very likely – as was the case with Aids .
Likewise , there are already treatments emerging that will act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
The one discordant note undermining this tremendous team play is wealthy countries buying up treatments , as seen with the US recently purchasing all the next three months ’ projected production of the drug remdesivir from US manufacturer Gilead – it cuts recovery times , though it is not yet clear if the drug improves survival rates .
There remains the risk that more wealthy countries aligned to powerful pharma companies will do the same when a vaccine emerges , and national interests will dominate over the need to give it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being said , and acknowledging the case for doing things differently , there are other strategies being born out of desperation – in the form of 10 million cases and 500,000 fatalities and no indication of peak – that are likely to counter that threat .
What is the emerging picture on leading vaccine candidates ?
There are more than 145 candidate vaccines in development , with 17 in human trials .
Some have been shown to generate a strong immune response in animals .
Those conducting vaccine trials are “ chasing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Brazil and the US .
Places where there are high levels of Covid-19 are the best to test efficacy and safety .
The extent of that research is likely to mean a range of vaccines of differing type and effectiveness will emerge – the first to come on stream might not be the magic bullet hoped for .
But , given the whole world will need protection , a variety of vaccines from different sources is not such a bad thing .
Johnson & Johnson has indicated , for example , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were able to push up the start for testing in healthy volunteers to later this month .
The vaccine uses a common-cold virus to deliver a coronavirus antigen into cells to stimulate the immune system to fight off an infection .
This type of “ vector ” using weakened virus is already proven effective and safe in 65,000 humans .
Its chief scientific officer Dr Paul Stoffels outlined to BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme this week how the clinical trial process is being accelerated in the case of Covid-19 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies are already scaling up manufacture of the vaccine to have it ready in the quickest possible time - much different to traditional approaches of the past .
If one element fails , all others are then stopped , he confirmed .
The vaccine is already in production in the US and Europe with a view to 1 billion doses being available early next year .
Meanwhile , the US government is spending billions of dollars in supporting the five best candidates in the hope of having the best one available in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make significant progress towards clearing each stage of a robust trials process Oxford University is regarded as making most progress , and “ offers the best chance of having something protective against the virus as we go into winter ” , MPs have been told .
It is being tested in Brazil and South Africa , where the case numbers are high .
Astra Zeneca , the company partnering with Oxford , is to start a trial with 30,000 people in the US .
European countries are lining up behind this project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed with Pfizer in Germany , has confirmed positive trial results , generating immune defences in participants that were stronger than those of the average recovered Covid-19 patient .
It uses messenger RNA ( mRNA ) technology , which is faster than traditional methods .
Moderna ’ s mRNA vaccine trial in the US showed participants developed similar levels of immunity to recovered coronavirus patients , with only minor side effects .
Rather than using pathogens to induce an immune response , mRNA vaccines use genetic material that carries instructions for cells to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no marketable mRNA vaccine has been produced to date .
China is using a vaccine developed with CanSino Biologics on army personnel though little is known about the type of vaccine involved and extent of deployment .
All these factors confirm great progress but there is no clarity on timelines , which underlines the importance of having treatments in the meantime .
Uncertainty over the extent to which having the disease confers immunity and protection against re-infection is an added complication pointing to the acute need for Covid medications/therapies .
So what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process of finding new treatments is quicker with lower regulatory hurdles to clear , though it has to be said a widely available medication approved for routine use has not materialised yet .
Numerous trials are in progress with prompt endorsement of effectiveness or rejection .
There has been too much haste on occasion , as in the case of hydroxychloroquine , though some trials are continuing to use this anti-malaria drug and some recent results are more positive .
Early indications on dexamethasone – a cheap steroid – suggest it reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilator .
A run on dexamethasone ensued as physicians quickly made it part of their standard of care for the sickest patients .
This drug , however , looks to be only effective in patients already in a critical state .
Remdesivir reduces the duration of infection in hospitalised patients but not mortality .
It does not come cheap , costing $ 2,340 ( €2,080 ) per treatment in the US .
Other drugs such as daclatasvir , used to treat Hepatitis C ; imatinib to treat leukaemia and favipiravir to treat influenza @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these drugs could be deployed as they are no longer patented , meaning they would be easily and cheaply made available .
A long-established therapy using “ convalescent plasma ” , in this instance made from antibodies from people who have had Covid-19 , continues to show promise , and it can be manufactured in a laboratory .
Likewise , T cells may be sufficient to control infection in the absence of antibodies .
T cell responses have been detected in most Covid-19 patients , and first-in-human vaccine trials have reported potent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that T cells ’ memory of Sars-CoV-2 may last longer than antibodies .
There is also significant work being done on monoclonal antibodies which mimic natural antibodies and can be isolated and manufactured in large quantities to treat patients .
When it comes to vaccines , was there adequate preparedness for a pandemic ?
For scientists and doctors who have had to wrestle with the rapid spread of Covid-19 across the world , it is a game of constant catch-up .
The insidious nature of the novel virus compounds their difficulties .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a daily basis revealing details emerge so the medical response is being constantly perfected .
The bottom line as of now , however , is a safe and effective vaccine remains the best way to achieve herd immunity on a global scale .
The lessons for future preparedness are clear .
Immunologist Sir John Bell of Oxford University has criticised the lack of pandemic planning in the UK and particularly the absence of manufacturing capacity for vaccines .
It is , however , a global problem that will have to be addressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This pandemic was “ not a one-off ” that would not recur for centuries , he told a House of Commons committee .
That warning was echoed by Dr Stoffels who outlined the need to have a range of vaccines in place , especially in relation to coronaviruses like Covid-19 and flu , before outbreaks lead to a difficult-to-control pandemic .

A model of Covid-19, known as coronavirus, is seen ahead during a US Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the plan to research, manufacture and distribute a coronavirus vaccine. Photograph: Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images
The remarkable global effort to produce a range of Covid-19 vaccines in parallel with developing new treatments – many of which are adapting proven medications for other diseases – is gathering pace.
The scale of scientific endeavour is unprecedented, not just in terms of finding a new vaccine, but in the level of co-operation between scientists; in quickly sharing results, data and critical genetic details; indications of variations in the form of what is known as SARS-CoV-2. Then there is verification of the work of others, enabling promising work to push on.
That is the reassuring bit. It heightens the chances of success on both vaccine and antiviral fronts. A rough assessment of timings on potential vaccines would suggest early optimism needs to be tempered and early 2021 is the most likely time one will become available - and only then to some countries.
Should we plan for a vaccine in 2021?
The realists among the ranks of virologists, immunologists and vaccine developers, who are familiar with all too frequent experience of failure, would say all this is very much on the optimistic side.
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Trinity College Dublin immunologist Prof Luke O'Neill always refers to a horse racing metaphor; you may be leading the Grand National and have just one fence to clear, and fall at the last hurdle.
The world also has to face up to the fact that there may never be an effective vaccine. But he is quick to add that the ability to contain the novel virus through a combination of therapies is very likely – as was the case with Aids. Likewise, there are already treatments emerging that will act as a bridge to getting a vaccine in place.
The one discordant note undermining this tremendous team play is wealthy countries buying up treatments, as seen with the US recently purchasing all the next three months' projected production of the drug remdesivir from US manufacturer Gilead – it cuts recovery times, though it is not yet clear if the drug improves survival rates.
There remains the risk that more wealthy countries aligned to powerful pharma companies will do the same when a vaccine emerges, and national interests will dominate over the need to give it to those requiring it most.
That being said, and acknowledging the case for doing things differently, there are other strategies being born out of desperation – in the form of 10 million cases and 500,000 fatalities and no indication of peak – that are likely to counter that threat.
What is the emerging picture on leading vaccine candidates?
There are more than 145 candidate vaccines in development, with 17 in human trials. Some have been shown to generate a strong immune response in animals.
Those conducting vaccine trials are "chasing the disease around the world", notably in Brazil and the US. Places where there are high levels of Covid-19 are the best to test efficacy and safety.
The extent of that research is likely to mean a range of vaccines of differing type and effectiveness will emerge – the first to come on stream might not be the magic bullet hoped for. But, given the whole world will need protection, a variety of vaccines from different sources is not such a bad thing.
Johnson & Johnson has indicated, for example, its vaccine appeared so promising in preclinical studies they were able to push up the start for testing in healthy volunteers to later this month.
The vaccine uses a common-cold virus to deliver a coronavirus antigen into cells to stimulate the immune system to fight off an infection. This type of “vector” using weakened virus is already proven effective and safe in 65,000 humans.
Its chief scientific officer Dr Paul Stoffels outlined to BBC Radio 4's Today programme this week how the clinical trial process is being accelerated in the case of Covid-19 with elements run in parallel, while drug companies are already scaling up manufacture of the vaccine to have it ready in the quickest possible time - much different to traditional approaches of the past.
If one element fails, all others are then stopped, he confirmed. The vaccine is already in production in the US and Europe with a view to 1 billion doses being available early next year.
Meanwhile, the US government is spending billions of dollars in supporting the five best candidates in the hope of having the best one available in the shortest possible time.
Other vaccines continue to make significant progress towards clearing each stage of a robust trials process
Oxford University is regarded as making most progress, and “offers the best chance of having something protective against the virus as we go into winter”, MPs have been told.
It is being tested in Brazil and South Africa, where the case numbers are high. Astra Zeneca, the company partnering with Oxford, is to start a trial with 30,000 people in the US. European countries are lining up behind this project.
BioNTech's vaccine, being developed with Pfizer in Germany, has confirmed positive trial results, generating immune defences in participants that were stronger than those of the average recovered Covid-19 patient. It uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which is faster than traditional methods.
Moderna’s mRNA vaccine trial in the US showed participants developed similar levels of immunity to recovered coronavirus patients, with only minor side effects. Rather than using pathogens to induce an immune response, mRNA vaccines use genetic material that carries instructions for cells to produce proteins that fight disease. However, no marketable mRNA vaccine has been produced to date.
China is using a vaccine developed with CanSino Biologics on army personnel though little is known about the type of vaccine involved and extent of deployment.
All these factors confirm great progress but there is no clarity on timelines, which underlines the importance of having treatments in the meantime. Uncertainty over the extent to which having the disease confers immunity and protection against re-infection is an added complication pointing to the acute need for Covid medications/therapies.
So what are the promising treatments?
Fortunately, the process of finding new treatments is quicker with lower regulatory hurdles to clear, though it has to be said a widely available medication approved for routine use has not materialised yet.
Numerous trials are in progress with prompt endorsement of effectiveness or rejection. There has been too much haste on occasion, as in the case of hydroxychloroquine, though some trials are continuing to use this anti-malaria drug and some recent results are more positive.
Early indications on dexamethasone – a cheap steroid – suggest it reduced deaths by one-third in patients on a ventilator. A run on dexamethasone ensued as physicians quickly made it part of their standard of care for the sickest patients. This drug, however, looks to be only effective in patients already in a critical state.
Remdesivir reduces the duration of infection in hospitalised patients but not mortality. It does not come cheap, costing $2,340 (€2,080) per treatment in the US.
Other drugs such as daclatasvir, used to treat Hepatitis C; imatinib to treat leukaemia and favipiravir to treat influenza are showing promise. “Cocktails” of these drugs could be deployed as they are no longer patented, meaning they would be easily and cheaply made available.
A long-established therapy using “convalescent plasma”, in this instance made from antibodies from people who have had Covid-19, continues to show promise, and it can be manufactured in a laboratory.
Likewise, T cells may be sufficient to control infection in the absence of antibodies. T cell responses have been detected in most Covid-19 patients, and first-in-human vaccine trials have reported potent T cell activation. It is possible that T cells’ memory of Sars-CoV-2 may last longer than antibodies.
There is also significant work being done on monoclonal antibodies which mimic natural antibodies and can be isolated and manufactured in large quantities to treat patients.
When it comes to vaccines, was there adequate preparedness for a pandemic?
For scientists and doctors who have had to wrestle with the rapid spread of Covid-19 across the world, it is a game of constant catch-up. The insidious nature of the novel virus compounds their difficulties. The picture is incomplete. That said, on a daily basis revealing details emerge so the medical response is being constantly perfected.
The bottom line as of now, however, is a safe and effective vaccine remains the best way to achieve herd immunity on a global scale. The lessons for future preparedness are clear.
Immunologist Sir John Bell of Oxford University has criticised the lack of pandemic planning in the UK and particularly the absence of manufacturing capacity for vaccines. It is, however, a global problem that will have to be addressed through sustained funding over many years.
This pandemic was “not a one-off” that would not recur for centuries, he told a House of Commons committee.
That warning was echoed by Dr Stoffels who outlined the need to have a range of vaccines in place, especially in relation to coronaviruses like Covid-19 and flu, before outbreaks lead to a difficult-to-control pandemic.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--‘Unseasonably' windy weather set to buffet Ireland

Met Éireann has issued a weather advisory for the weekend due to “ unseasonably windy ” weather from Saturday night .
The advisory , which forecasts strong and gusty westerly winds at times , will come into effect from 9pm on Saturday and will remain until 8pm on Sunday .
The national forecaster has also issued a blight warning , with weather conditions conducive to the spread of blight becoming more widespread over the weekend .
A status yellow marine gale warning is also in place , with southwest winds expected to reach gale force 8 on Irish coastal waters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howth Head and on the Irish Sea .
Elsewhere , the UK Met Office issued a wind warning for counties Antrim and Derry for the weekend .
This status yellow warning is in effect from midnight on Sunday until 4pm that day .
In terms of the national outlook for the weekend , Met Éireann said Saturday will begin mostly cloudy and misty , with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle during the day .
These outbreaks will give way to a spell of persistent rain in the north and west by Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of between 15 and 20 degrees .
Saturday night will see strong winds and gales developing on coasts .
Outbreaks of rain overnight will push eastwards , with some heavy falls in Atlantic coastal counties .
Minimum temperatures overnight will be between 9 and 11 degrees .
Sunday will be an unseasonably windy day with a mix of sunny spells and blustery showers .
The showers will be heaviest and most frequent in Connacht , Ulster and west Munster , with some thundery downpours possible .
Maximum temperatures during the day will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the coolest weather in Atlantic coastal areas .
On Sunday night , showers will become more or less confined to Ulster and north Connacht and along the Atlantic coasts , with mainly dry and clear conditions developing elsewhere .
Lowest temperatures of between 9 and 11 degrees are forecasted during the night .
Showers will likely persist in Ulster and near some Atlantic coasts on Monday , but it will be mainly dry elsewhere with sunny spells .
Maximum temperatures will range from 13 or 14 degrees in the northwest to 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south in moderate northwest breezes .
Most areas will be dry on Monday night with clear spells , just a few light showers near west and northwest coasts and lows of 7 to 10 degrees .

A wind warning has been issued for 19 counties as “unseasonably windy” weather sweeps across Ireland on Sunday.
Met Éireann issued the status yellow warning for Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath and Clare as well as for all of Connacht. The warning is valid from 11am to 6pm. In the North a similar warning is in place for Counties Antrim and Derry until 4pm.
“Later this morning and through the afternoon, westerly winds will reach mean wind speeds of 50 to 60km/h, with gusts of 80 to 100km/h associated with any thundery downpours. Some disruption may occur”, the Met Éireann warning published on Sunday morning said.
Yesterday the forecaster issued a weather advisory for the weekend due to “unseasonably windy” weather.
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The national forecaster has also issued a blight warning, with weather conditions conducive to the spread of blight becoming more widespread over the weekend.
A status yellow marine gale warning is also in place, with southwest winds expected to reach gale force 8 on Irish coastal waters from Loop Head to Bloody Foreland to Howth Head and on the Irish Sea.
Outlook
Today will be cooler than of late, with temperatures of between 13 and 17 degrees. Monday will be showery with temperatures not expected to pass 18 degrees.
While current indications are for a lot of dry weather from Wednesday over Ulster, Connacht and north Leinster with sunny spells, it will be cloudier further south with outbreaks of rain.
“There is significant uncertainty in the further outlook at this stage, but the overall pattern appears to maintain a changeable Atlantic regime”, the forecaster added.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Man (21) arrested after shooting at gardaí in Cork city

A 21-year-old man has been arrested for questioning after shooting at gardaí , injuring a uniformed officer in Cork city before being pursued along the main Cork-Dublin motorway , where he again shot at officers before he was tasered and apprehended .
The incident appears to have been triggered by a domestic incident on Military Road on Cork ’ s northside at about 11.40pm on Friday night , when the man fired a number of shots from a handgun at his estranged partner ’ s flat before gardaí arrived at the scene .
The man then fired a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind a parked car , but one officer received a minor graze wound to the arm before the man jumped into his former partner ’ s car and took off at speed in the direction of Glanmire .
The man made his way to the main Cork-Dublin N8 motorway , pursued by members of the Armed Support Unit from Cork , and he rammed through the Toll Plaza at speed before the North Cork Roads Policing Unit deployed a stinger device to try and bring the car to a halt .
The stinger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man ’ s car but he continued driving on his wheel rims for another 3km before he crashed into the central median and exited the vehicle and began shooting at members of the ASU .
Members of the ASU returned fire , hitting the vehicle a number of times before the man dropped his gun and began running up the road away from the officers who successfully tasered him on the roadway at Curraghprevin between Rathcormac and Fermoy .
Members of the ASU handcuffed and arrested him and conveyed him to Fermoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to three days .
Gardaí recovered a firearm at the scene near Curraghprevin and it has been sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit for a technical examination , while gardaí are carrying out an examination of the vehicle to see whether or not the man may have had a second weapon .
Gardaí closed off both Military Road , which is near the St Luke ’ s area of the city and the M8 Cork Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Junction 17 , and put diversions in place to allow a technical examiners carry out forensic examinations at both locations .
It ’ s understood that the 21-year-old suspect was known previously to Garda for minor road traffic matters , but that he had never featured for anything as serious as a shooting and gardaí have today begun investigating whether the man may have some mental health issues in recent weeks .
Gardaí will also investigate how exactly the man obtained the firearm , believed to be a pellet gun , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Síochána Ombudsman Commission after members of the ASU discharged their weapons in the course of their interaction with the suspect .
It ’ s the second time in the space of less than two months that members of the ASU in Cork have discharged their weapons and follows an incident in Mallow on May 21st when gardaí say an officer discharged his weapon at a car that failed to stop at a checkpoint and was driven at an unarmed officer .
One man was subsequently taken to hospital for minor injuries and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a second man with the incident also being referred to GSOC for investigation as a result of one of the parties suffering an injury in the interaction with gardaí .

The incident appears to have been triggered by a domestic incident on Military Road on Cork’s northside at about 11.40pm on Friday night. File photograph: Eric Luke
A 21-year-old man is due to appear in court in Cork on Monday morning after gardaí say he shot at them with a handgun and injured a uniformed officer.
He was arrested on the main Cork-Dublin motorway following a near 30km chase.
The man, originally from Mallow in north Cork, is due to appear at Cork District Court on firearms, endangerment and car theft charges following the 30 minute-long chase which started in Cork city and ended near Fermoy when members of the Armed Support Unit tasered him.
Gardaí recovered a firearm at the scene near Curraghprevin, between Rathcormac and Fermoy, and it has been sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit for a technical examination. Gardaí are also carrying out an examination of the vehicle to see whether or not the man may have had a second weapon.
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The incident appears to have begun following a domestic incident on Military Road on Cork’s northside at around 11.40pm on Friday night. The man is accused of firing a number of shots from a handgun at his estranged partner’s flat before gardaí arrived at the scene.
The man was brought to Cork University Hospital for treatment for some head and other injuries sustained in the car crash before being discharged on Saturday afternoon.
He is being held at Fermoy Garda station under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.