theirishtimes--2020-09-12--CAO offers: ‘It was always going to be hard to find a solution to suit everyone’

When Lorna Griffin received her text from the CAO at noon on Friday , it was not the news she had been hoping for .
The 19-year-old from Kerry , who had taken a year out after her Leaving Cert to save for college , had not been offered pharmacy at University College Cork ( UCC ) .
The grade inflation phenomenon of 2020 had been damaging enough to mean her 577 points were , unusually , not enough .
“ For pharmacy , I don ’ t think it ’ s gone over 566 for a long time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 577 , exactly my points , ” she said .
This year it hit 590 .
“ I am just really disappointed , to be honest .
.
.
I am more disappointed with how the Government dealt with us [ pre-2020 students ] .
” Griffin said emails from her and others had been ignored – a “ copy and paste ” response simply said nothing could be done to help them in the points race which this year took a bizarre twist .
“ I think I am going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I get pharmacy in the second or third round , ” she said .
“ I just don ’ t think I can wait another year all on my own , working , [ with ] all of my friends in college.
” Carolyn Hulbert ( 20 ) , from Dublin , was in a similar position but with a more positive outcome .
She had applied for occupational therapy in Trinity College Dublin with the 530 points she earned in 2019 .
Grade inflation put it out of reach by just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her second choice : clinical speech and language studies .
She does not believe the additional college places made the difference .
“ It doesn ’ t level the playing field .
The majority of those would have gone to people who did their Leaving Cert this year .
I actually thought I wasn ’ t going to get anything today.
” With most students getting one of their top three chosen courses , the experiences of this year ’ s Leaving Cert students were often positive .
Grade inflation or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculated points were more than enough to cement him a place at the 356-point international business and language course at TU Dublin .
With 12-hour study days , the prospect of waiting for August to sit his exams was not a pleasant one .
“ I was still nervous .
I was excited when I got the offer on my phone because you don ’ t believe it till you see it , ” said the student of St John ’ s College in Ballyfermot , Dublin .
“ The general feeling [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was happy with what they got.
” In Longford , 18-year-old Ellen Kenny received 625 points which easily secured her a place studying philosophy , politics , economics and sociology at TCD , which required 589 .
“ I know I have been very lucky , that I was graded very fairly , ” she said .
“ It was always going to be hard or nearly impossible to find a solution to suit everyone .
”

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris at Government Buildings on Friday as more than 53,000 students have received an offer in the CAO’s first round. Photograph: Damien Eagers/Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire
When Lorna Griffin received her text from the CAO at noon on Friday, it was not the news she had been hoping for.
The 19-year-old from Kerry, who had taken a year out after her Leaving Cert to save for college, had not been offered pharmacy at University College Cork (UCC). The grade inflation phenomenon of 2020 had been damaging enough to mean her 577 points were, unusually, not enough.
“For pharmacy, I don’t think it’s gone over 566 for a long time, and only last year it went up to 577, exactly my points,” she said. This year it hit 590.
“I am just really disappointed, to be honest . . . I am more disappointed with how the Government dealt with us [pre-2020 students].”
READ MORE
Griffin said emails from her and others had been ignored – a “copy and paste” response simply said nothing could be done to help them in the points race which this year took a bizarre twist.
‘Accept’
“I think I am going to accept [the offer] and hope that I get pharmacy in the second or third round,” she said.
“I just don’t think I can wait another year all on my own, working, [with] all of my friends in college.”
Carolyn Hulbert (20), from Dublin, was in a similar position but with a more positive outcome. She had applied for occupational therapy in Trinity College Dublin with the 530 points she earned in 2019.
I was excited when I got the offer on my phone because you don't believe it till you see it
Grade inflation put it out of reach by just three points, but she was happy with her second choice: clinical speech and language studies. She does not believe the additional college places made the difference.
“It doesn’t level the playing field. The majority of those would have gone to people who did their Leaving Cert this year. I actually thought I wasn’t going to get anything today.”
Positive
With most students getting one of their top three chosen courses, the experiences of this year’s Leaving Cert students were often positive.
Grade inflation or not, 19-year-old Ethan Mooney’s 600 calculated points were more than enough to cement him a place at the 356-point international business and language course at TU Dublin. With 12-hour study days, the prospect of waiting for August to sit his exams was not a pleasant one.
"I was still nervous. I was excited when I got the offer on my phone because you don't believe it till you see it," said the student of St John's College in Ballyfermot, Dublin. "The general feeling [among his year] was that everyone was happy with what they got."
In Longford, 18-year-old Ellen Kenny received 625 points which easily secured her a place studying philosophy, politics, economics and sociology at TCD, which required 589.
“I know I have been very lucky, that I was graded very fairly,” she said. “It was always going to be hard or nearly impossible to find a solution to suit everyone.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-12--UCD president defends college’s handling of sexual harassment case

University College Dublin ’ s president , Prof Andrew Deeks , has faced strong criticism of the university ’ s handling of the Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin sexual harassment case from members of its governing authority , The Irish Times has learned .
The authority spent an hour on Thursday morning discussing the fallout from the Ní Shúilleabháin controversy and heard calls for a permanent expert group to handle any future cases of sexual harassment on campus .
Prof Deeks defended the university ’ s handling of the case , claiming that the full facts had not been put into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidentialities involved , sources have told The Irish Times .
“ To an extent he [ Prof Deeks ] was saying it wasn ’ t an institutional failing , ” said one source , “ He didn ’ t think that the university had failed , but it was more complex.
” However , a second source present during the meeting of the governing authority characterised Prof Deeks as having “ tried to spin it as a success story for UCD HR ” .
The authority is made up of political , academic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the proceedings , speaking on condition of anonymity , said “ anger and disappointment ” was expressed .
Prof Deeks was put under pressure after raising the issue at the start of the meeting , especially by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu , who made a lengthy criticism of the university ’ s response .
“ It was the first time since I ’ ve been on the board that the lord mayor attended a meeting ; she certainly made her mark , ” one source at the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Ní Shúilleabháin was expressed by several members of the governing authority , including Students ’ Union president Conor Anderson , welfare officer Ruairí Power and faculty member Emma Teeling .
An independent review group must be established to examine sexual harassment allegations , a number of governors declared , though such a body must include independent non-UCD representatives .
Students would feel more comfortable if a mechanism was found so that they could report , or raise concerns about , harassment that bypassed college staff , The Irish Times understands from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deeks told the meeting that a review of UCD ’ s dignity and respect policy was already under way , but indicated that he was open to ideas around expanding it , or examining another complementary process .
However , a number of members were unhappy afterwards , with some saying there had been “ a good bit of grandstanding going on ” .
Others were unhappy about the discussion of an individual case .
In a statement prompted by news of the resignation last October of Prof Kathleen James-Chakraborty from UCD ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the group has prepared a plan to address the problems identified .
“ It became clear through the work of the group that our policies and procedures in these areas were not adequate , and so a programme was initiated to revise them , ” Prof Orla Healy declared , saying that consultation has begun .
The university ’ s challenge now is to ensure that the changes , once introduced , make clear that UCD will “ not tolerate unacceptable behaviour ” , improve the ways complaints are handled and offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to “ appropriately ” .
“ We are not yet where we want to be , but we are working hard to get there , and I am very grateful to all who are contributing to this effort , ” said Prof Healy .
The gender equality plan will be published later this month .
Besides improving reporting methods , the report recommends extra “ dignity and respect ” training for line managers , and for all staff who may witness misbehaviour by others .
Anonymous reporting of allegations is recommended , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero tolerance approach towards harassment will be “ reinforced ” , she said .
People affected will be encouraged to come forward , while UCD should be able to launch investigations , even if a complaint is not made .
Extra supports will be given to those who complain about sexual harassment and sexual misconduct , even if a formal complaint is not made , under the proposals , while UCD will clarify the rules that govern the reporting of informal complaints to the Garda .

UCD president Prof Andrew Deeks: put under pressure at meeting of governing authority, especially by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu. File photograph: Cyril Byrne
University College Dublin's president, Prof Andrew Deeks, has faced strong criticism of the university's handling of the Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin sexual harassment case from members of its governing authority, The Irish Times has learned.
The authority spent an hour on Thursday morning discussing the fallout from the Ní Shúilleabháin controversy and heard calls for a permanent expert group to handle any future cases of sexual harassment on campus.
Prof Deeks defended the university’s handling of the case, claiming that the full facts had not been put into the public domain due to the sensitivities and confidentialities involved, sources have told The Irish Times.
“To an extent he [Prof Deeks] was saying it wasn’t an institutional failing,” said one source, “He didn’t think that the university had failed, but it was more complex.”
READ MORE
However, a second source present during the meeting of the governing authority characterised Prof Deeks as having “tried to spin it as a success story for UCD HR”.
The authority is made up of political, academic, non-academic and student representatives. Sources familiar with the proceedings, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “anger and disappointment” was expressed.
Prof Deeks was put under pressure after raising the issue at the start of the meeting, especially by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu, who made a lengthy criticism of the university's response.
“It was the first time since I’ve been on the board that the lord mayor attended a meeting; she certainly made her mark,” one source at the meeting told The Irish Times.
Support for Ms Ní Shúilleabháin was expressed by several members of the governing authority, including Students' Union president Conor Anderson, welfare officer Ruairí Power and faculty member Emma Teeling.
Review group
An independent review group must be established to examine sexual harassment allegations, a number of governors declared, though such a body must include independent non-UCD representatives.
Students would feel more comfortable if a mechanism was found so that they could report, or raise concerns about, harassment that bypassed college staff, The Irish Times understands from a number of those who attended.
Prof Deeks told the meeting that a review of UCD’s dignity and respect policy was already under way, but indicated that he was open to ideas around expanding it, or examining another complementary process.
However, a number of members were unhappy afterwards, with some saying there had been “a good bit of grandstanding going on”. Others were unhappy about the discussion of an individual case.
In a statement prompted by news of the resignation last October of Prof Kathleen James-Chakraborty from UCD's Gender Equality Action Group, UCD said the group has prepared a plan to address the problems identified.
"It became clear through the work of the group that our policies and procedures in these areas were not adequate, and so a programme was initiated to revise them," Prof Orla Healy declared, saying that consultation has begun.
Confidence
The university’s challenge now is to ensure that the changes, once introduced, make clear that UCD will “not tolerate unacceptable behaviour”, improve the ways complaints are handled and offer confidence to all that they will be responded to “appropriately”.
“We are not yet where we want to be, but we are working hard to get there, and I am very grateful to all who are contributing to this effort,” said Prof Healy. The gender equality plan will be published later this month.
Besides improving reporting methods, the report recommends extra “dignity and respect” training for line managers, and for all staff who may witness misbehaviour by others. Anonymous reporting of allegations is recommended, too.
The university’s existing zero tolerance approach towards harassment will be “reinforced”, she said. People affected will be encouraged to come forward, while UCD should be able to launch investigations, even if a complaint is not made.
Extra supports will be given to those who complain about sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, even if a formal complaint is not made, under the proposals, while UCD will clarify the rules that govern the reporting of informal complaints to the Garda.


theirishtimes--2020-09-12--High Court grants pregnant woman permission to challenge deportation order

A pregnant woman and her Irish citizen fiance have secured High Court permission to challenge the State ’ s decision to deport her .
The State has agreed not to deport the woman pending the case returning to court .
The woman , from Angola , failed in her bid to get asylum here and was informed last month a deportation order had been made against her .
She is five to six months pregnant and it is claimed her child will be adversely affected by the proposed deportation .
Represented by Michael Conlon SC , instructed by solicitor Brian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek various declarations against the Minister for Justice , Ireland and the Attorney General aimed at preventing her deportation .
These include a declaration the execution of the deportation would be disproportionate and in breach of the rights of the couple and their unborn child under the Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights .
Counsel submitted deportation would be disproportionate and infringe rights , including to family unity and the right of the Irish citizen father to the company of his child .
The couple met some years ago in Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a year ago .
They would have been married by now were it not for the Covid-19 restrictions , counsel said .
She came here several years ago but her application for international protection was denied .
She fears if returned to Angola she will be harmed or killed .
If deported , she would also be the child ’ s only source of support , counsel said .
Permission to bring the challenge was granted by Mr Justice Charles Meenan .
Mr Conlon hoped to have the matter heard in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The woman, who failed in her bid to get asylum here, fears if returned to Angola she will be harmed or killed
A pregnant woman and her Irish citizen fiance have secured High Court permission to challenge the State's decision to deport her. The State has agreed not to deport the woman pending the case returning to court.
The woman, from Angola, failed in her bid to get asylum here and was informed last month a deportation order had been made against her. She is five to six months pregnant and it is claimed her child will be adversely affected by the proposed deportation.
Represented by Michael Conlon SC, instructed by solicitor Brian Burns, the woman and her partner seek various declarations against the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General aimed at preventing her deportation. These include a declaration the execution of the deportation would be disproportionate and in breach of the rights of the couple and their unborn child under the Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights.
Disproportionate
Counsel submitted deportation would be disproportionate and infringe rights, including to family unity and the right of the Irish citizen father to the company of his child. The couple met some years ago in Ireland, live together, and got engaged more than a year ago.
READ MORE
They would have been married by now were it not for the Covid-19 restrictions, counsel said. She came here several years ago but her application for international protection was denied.
She fears if returned to Angola she will be harmed or killed. If deported, she would also be the child’s only source of support, counsel said.
Permission to bring the challenge was granted by Mr Justice Charles Meenan. Mr Conlon hoped to have the matter heard in advance of the child's birth.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--‘Draconian’ restrictions around Covid-19 condemned by HSE doctor

Covid-19 is “ much less severe ” than the average annual flu and current “ draconian ” restrictions are no longer justified , according to a senior Health Service Executive doctor .
People at low risk from the virus should be exposed to it so they can develop herd immunity and reduce the risk to vulnerable groups , according to Dr Martin Feeley , clinical director of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group .
“ That is what is happening and yet the policy seems to be to prevent it , ” he says .
“ This should have been allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the annual flu season , to reduce the workload on the health service during winter months.
” Any assessment of Ireland ’ s strategy to combat the virus should take into account the cost to people ’ s quality of life , according to the former vascular surgeon , who points out that “ you can ’ t postpone youth ” .
“ The financial cost can be seen in any walk or drive through cities , towns and villages .
Mortgage repayments and other financial setbacks are virtually all suffered by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the over-65 , who are guaranteed their pension , as indeed are the salaries of the individuals who decide to inflict these draconian measures , ” the 70 year old told The Irish Times .
Dr Feeley is critical of the media and public “ obsession ” with daily case numbers , when so few people are being admitted to hospital or ICU .
“ The number of deaths among recent cases is less than one in a thousand .
This data reflects a disease much less severe than the average annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these cases , ie , with the gravity appropriate to reporting deaths from a major catastrophe , borders on hysteria .
Opening a newscast with the number of people testing positive for a condition less dangerous than the flu , which many don ’ t even know they have , is scaremongering.
” Flu and Covid-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses , caused by different viruses .
Both can be transmitted by a person before they show symptoms .
Covid-19 is generally more contagious and more associated with “ super-spreader ” events .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and those with underlying conditions .
However , young children are at a higher risk of serious illness from flu .
There is a vaccine for flu but none as yet for Covid-19 .
Dr Feeley says that while the initial measures taken by the Government were “ totally acceptable and justifiable ” , this is no longer the case , given what we now know about the disease .
Covid-19 is “ profoundly different ” from the Spanish flu pandemic of a century ago , he maintains , saying that that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely targeted the young .
“ Experience has taught us that at-risk and vulnerable individuals are identifiable with remarkable accuracy ; and protective measures , hygiene , masks , social distancing and cocooning are effective.
” Dr Feeley notes that virus-related deaths among people aged under 65 who do not have underlying conditions are uncommon , and transmission by children while possible is also uncommon .
The presence of a “ chronic illness ” is the “ all-important factor ” in determining a person ’ s Covid-19 risk , he points out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is at risk , as with no other disease.
” “ The best-kept secret regarding Covid-19 is the vulnerability of individuals who are overweight , ” he asserts .
Separately , another doctor , Alan Farrell , has written to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health taking issue with the Government ’ s approach to Covid-19 .
“ From a medical perspective I am not seeing an impact from Covid on the ground .
What I am seeing is delayed diagnoses for other conditions – breast cancer , skin cancer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and depression , an increase in loneliness in the elderly , recently a fractured humerus in an elderly lady that has been like that for months as she was afraid to go outside.
” In a paper written with engineer Ivor Cummins , Dr Farrell argues that excess mortality from Covid-19 is “ not very much greater ” than the excess mortality observed during the 2018 flu season .
Most people are already immune to the virus , due to cross-immunity from prior coronaviruses , while the wearing of masks is an ineffective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say .

Dr Martin Feeley says any assessment of Ireland’s strategy should take into account the cost to people’s quality of life. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Covid-19 is "much less severe" than the average annual flu and current "draconian" restrictions are no longer justified, according to a senior Health Service Executive doctor.
People at low risk from the virus should be exposed to it so they can develop herd immunity and reduce the risk to vulnerable groups, according to Dr Martin Feeley, clinical director of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
“That is what is happening and yet the policy seems to be to prevent it,” he says. “This should have been allowed to happen during the summer months before the annual flu season, to reduce the workload on the health service during winter months.”
Any assessment of Ireland’s strategy to combat the virus should take into account the cost to people’s quality of life, according to the former vascular surgeon, who points out that “you can’t postpone youth”.
READ MORE
“The financial cost can be seen in any walk or drive through cities, towns and villages. Mortgage repayments and other financial setbacks are virtually all suffered by the young worker or business person and not by the over-65, who are guaranteed their pension, as indeed are the salaries of the individuals who decide to inflict these draconian measures,” the 70 year old told The Irish Times.
Dr Feeley is critical of the media and public “obsession” with daily case numbers, when so few people are being admitted to hospital or intensive care units. “The number of deaths among recent cases is less than one in a thousand. This data reflects a disease much less severe than the average annual flu.
‘Borders on hysteria’
“The media reaction to these cases, ie, with the gravity appropriate to reporting deaths from a major catastrophe, borders on hysteria. Opening a newscast with the number of people testing positive for a condition less dangerous than the flu, which many don’t even know they have, is scaremongering.”
Flu and Covid-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, caused by different viruses. Both can be transmitted by a person before they show symptoms. Covid-19 is generally more contagious and more associated with “super-spreader” events. Its effects are most severe among older people and those with underlying conditions. However, young children are at a higher risk of serious illness from flu.
There is a vaccine for flu but none as yet for Covid-19.
Dr Feeley says that while the initial measures taken by the Government were “totally acceptable and justifiable”, this is no longer the case, given what we now know about the disease.
Covid-19 is “profoundly different” from the Spanish flu pandemic of a century ago, he maintains, saying that that was “an indiscriminate killer” that largely targeted the young.
“Experience has taught us that at-risk and vulnerable individuals are identifiable with remarkable accuracy; and protective measures, hygiene, masks, social distancing and cocooning are effective.”
‘Best-kept secret’
Dr Feeley notes that virus-related deaths among people aged under 65 who do not have underlying conditions are uncommon, and transmission by children while possible is also uncommon.
The presence of a “chronic illness” is the “all-important factor” in determining a person’s Covid-19 risk, he points out. “You can identify with amazing accuracy who is at risk, as with no other disease.”
“The best-kept secret regarding Covid-19 is the vulnerability of individuals who are overweight,” he asserts.
Separately, another doctor, Alan Farrell, has written to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health taking issue with the Government’s approach to Covid-19.
“From a medical perspective I am not seeing an impact from Covid on the ground. What I am seeing is delayed diagnoses for other conditions – breast cancer, skin cancer in young people, an onslaught of anxiety and depression, an increase in loneliness in the elderly, recently a fractured humerus in an elderly lady that has been like that for months as she was afraid to go outside.”
In a paper written with engineer Ivor Cummins, Dr Farrell argues that excess mortality from Covid-19 is “not very much greater” than the excess mortality observed during the 2018 flu season.
Most people are already immune to the virus, due to cross-immunity from prior coronaviruses, while the wearing of masks is an ineffective “politically driven endeavour”, they say.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--Thinking Anew – Living in peace with the natural world

My father was the gentlest of souls .
I remember one summer morning , breakfasting in our kitchen in West Kerry when a fly was buzzing about .
It was so annoying that I got a newspaper to kill it .
The deed done , my father looked at me and said : “ Michael , why did you not open the window and let it out .
That would have been a far better approach ” .
That was about 20 years ago , when my father would have been 91 .
The incident has stayed with me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ encyclical on the care of our common home , Pope Francis has asked us to pray for our planet .
Laudato Si , which is the name of his encyclical , deals with environmental issues and the urgent need for us to behave responsibly .
The year runs from May 24th until May 24th , 2021 , the feast of St Francis of Assisi .
The Department of Communications , Climate Action and Environment has published a waste action plan for a circular economy .
The document shifts focus away from disposal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , instead of considering means of waste disposal , better still to think about creating an environment where there is less material to waste .
It makes great sense , and chimes with Pope Francis ’ s thoughts on taking care of the planet we all share .
We buy much more than we need .
We waste 1.3 million tonnes of food every year .
The recent document points out that approximately 40 per cent of this comes from food processing operations and 60 per cent from the household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water we waste .
Irish Water contacted me in March to inform me that I was using approximately 1,700 litres of water per day .
Unknown to me there was a leak in an old lead pipe in my garden .
It ’ s now repaired and it ’ s a great feeling of satisfaction for me to know that Irish Water is at least saving over 1,400 litres a day on my account .
Water is a precious gift .
What mega-quantities of water must be pouring down our drains every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my leak , I was told of a case where a pipe in Dublin was wasting 5,000 litres an hour .
Pope Francis in Laudato Si points out that a greater scarcity of water will lead to an increase in the cost of food and the various products which depend on its use .
The Pope is opposed to the privatisation of the resource and argues that access to safe , drinkable water is a basic and universal human right .
Tomorrow ’ s Gospel ( Matthew 18 : 21–35 ) is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slaves to settle their accounts with him .
One of his slaves pleads with him to have patience .
The king duly agrees and has pity on him .
But then that slave goes off and demands those who owe him money pay up .
When they don ’ t pay up he shows no mercy towards them .
He who has been shown such mercy is merciless to others .
It is never right be merciless , whether it is to people or nature .
In the second reading in tomorrow ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 7 - 9 ) reminds us : “ We do not live to ourselves ” .
The theme in tomorrow ’ s liturgy is that of forgiveness .
We all do wrong , we all commit sin .
Forgiveness is bound up with relationships .
But we are not just related with other human beings .
We are also in relationship with our environment .
We owe it great respect .
How arrogant and short-sighted of us to think that we are at the centre of the universe .
We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far too long we have seen ourselves as the masters of the human race .
We ’ re not .
Jesuit priest Brian Grogan writes about how our ancestors lived in loving relationships with the natural world and God : “ They sensed the presence of God in everything , and called it ‘ Neart Dé ’ , the power of God .
They cared for nature.
” He goes on to explain how they were grateful to God for the goodness of nature and they were generous to the poor .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if we are kind to animals , we will be kind to humans .
It was another reminder to me how every aspect of the universe is linked .
We should feel so privileged to love and respect all of God ’ s creation .

Pope Francis greeting well-wishers this week. To mark the fifth anniversary of his encyclical on the care of our common home, Laudato Si, Pope Francis has asked us to pray for our planet. Photograph: EPA
My father was the gentlest of souls. I remember one summer morning, breakfasting in our kitchen in West Kerry when a fly was buzzing about. It was so annoying that I got a newspaper to kill it. The deed done, my father looked at me and said: “Michael, why did you not open the window and let it out. That would have been a far better approach”. That was about 20 years ago, when my father would have been 91. The incident has stayed with me.
To mark the fifth anniversary of the encyclical on the care of our common home, Pope Francis has asked us to pray for our planet. Laudato Si, which is the name of his encyclical, deals with environmental issues and the urgent need for us to behave responsibly. The year runs from May 24th until May 24th, 2021, the feast of St Francis of Assisi.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has published a waste action plan for a circular economy. The document shifts focus away from disposal of waste on to the production chain. In other words, instead of considering means of waste disposal, better still to think about creating an environment where there is less material to waste. It makes great sense, and chimes with Pope Francis’s thoughts on taking care of the planet we all share.
We buy much more than we need. We waste 1.3 million tonnes of food every year. The recent document points out that approximately 40 per cent of this comes from food processing operations and 60 per cent from the household and commercial sector.
READ MORE
Think of the water we waste. Irish Water contacted me in March to inform me that I was using approximately 1,700 litres of water per day. Unknown to me there was a leak in an old lead pipe in my garden. It’s now repaired and it’s a great feeling of satisfaction for me to know that Irish Water is at least saving over 1,400 litres a day on my account. Water is a precious gift. What mega-quantities of water must be pouring down our drains every day? When Irish Water came to survey my leak, I was told of a case where a pipe in Dublin was wasting 5,000 litres an hour.
Pope Francis in Laudato Si points out that a greater scarcity of water will lead to an increase in the cost of food and the various products which depend on its use. The Pope is opposed to the privatisation of the resource and argues that access to safe, drinkable water is a basic and universal human right.
Tomorrow’s Gospel (Matthew 18: 21–35) is the story of the king who wants his slaves to settle their accounts with him. One of his slaves pleads with him to have patience. The king duly agrees and has pity on him. But then that slave goes off and demands those who owe him money pay up. When they don’t pay up he shows no mercy towards them. He who has been shown such mercy is merciless to others. It is never right be merciless, whether it is to people or nature. In the second reading in tomorrow’s liturgy St Paul (Romans 14: 7 - 9) reminds us: “We do not live to ourselves”.
The theme in tomorrow’s liturgy is that of forgiveness. We all do wrong, we all commit sin. Forgiveness is bound up with relationships. But we are not just related with other human beings. We are also in relationship with our environment. We owe it great respect. How arrogant and short-sighted of us to think that we are at the centre of the universe. We don’t own the planet. And for far too long we have seen ourselves as the masters of the human race. We’re not.
Jesuit priest Brian Grogan writes about how our ancestors lived in loving relationships with the natural world and God: "They sensed the presence of God in everything, and called it 'Neart Dé', the power of God. They cared for nature." He goes on to explain how they were grateful to God for the goodness of nature and they were generous to the poor.
My dear father would often say to me that if we are kind to animals, we will be kind to humans. It was another reminder to me how every aspect of the universe is linked. We should feel so privileged to love and respect all of God’s creation.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--CAO First Round Offers: Wait is over for thousands of applicants

A long and difficult year has finally come to a close .
Almost 80,000 applicants were able to view their college offers from 2pm on the Central Applications Office ( CAO ) website yesterday , almost a month later than would normally be the case .
One positive that stands out from the last six months is the resilience the Leaving Cert class of 2020 displayed while navigating their last year in secondary school .
The sudden pivot to remote and distant learning , the postponement of exams , the introduction of calculated grades and , most recently , worries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not have been easy for any of them .
This year ’ s third-level student experience will also be substantially different to previous years .
A crucial difference is that colleges and universities have had more time than schools had to develop their own blended or hybrid approach to the delivery of education .
It is also worth considering that the class of 2020 has gained some of the experience and tools required to quickly adapt to this mode of learning .
Of course college is about more than academia .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is where you meet new people , explore your interests , engage in activism , and join sports clubs or societies .
The following are some steps you might take as you prepare for the next stage of your education .
You should have read the CAO Handbook by now and taken note of the important deadlines and restrictions that may apply to you or your course .
If you received the offer you had hoped for , you have reviewed your options and are happy to accept your allocated course , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept your offer , you will receive an acknowledgement email , and you can check that your acceptance has been recorded on the ‘ My Application ’ facility .
Note : Round One acceptances must be submitted by 3pm on 16th September .
The choices you listed on your CAO form should approximate your interests and accepting a lower-preference course now will not prevent you from receiving an offer of a course higher up on your list in a later round .
If you don ’ t accept an offer , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other offers in later rounds .
Note : Round Two offers will be made available online on 23rd September from 10am and acceptances must be submitted by 12pm just two days later , on September 25th .
Perhaps you didn ’ t get any of the choices you listed on your CAO application form or have had a very late change of mind .
There are plenty of other routes that you can take .
Some 30,000 places are filled annually in further education colleges throughout the country .
These have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government response to the need for additional places .
Apprenticeships offer an opportunity to earn while you learn , while many further education courses provide high-level tuition and on-the-job experience , with plenty offering an alternative route to attaining a degree in college .
Quality and Qualifications Ireland ( QQI ) is the national agency responsible for qualifications and quality assurance in further education and training and higher education .
Details of courses on offer are available through QQI ’ s qualifax.ie website .
4 .
Familiarise yourself with the campus If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you should visit the campus to get a feel for it .
The coronavirus pandemic has transformed higher education and its impact is likely to be with us for some time yet .
College life will be different to previous years as institutions adapt to facilitate social distancing measures .
A lot of work has gone into ensuring that students have the best possible experience and third-level institutions have invested heavily in developing online and remote teaching programmes .
In most cases , lectures will be delivered remotely while students will attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tutorials and lab work .
While the new student experience is likely to be substantially different , students will expect that the integrity of academic programmes will not be compromised by the transition to online .
Communication will be key and will probably require more of an effort from students and lecturers alike but don ’ t worry , you will have plenty of opportunities to meet new people , join college societies and participate in college life .
Most institutions will provide tours and induction days .
Find out about these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for student accommodation has always been one of the more challenging aspects of the start of the academic year .
This year , it should be somewhat different .
With most colleges holding lectures partly or fully online there should be less of a need to be present on campus as often .
The absence of international students should also ease pressure on what was an overheated market .
Colleges will try to group days where students are expected to be present in order to avoid undue travel costs .
If you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of call should be the college .
Your college and students ’ union should also have a list of reasonably priced rooms and digs .
Privately-run student residences are also an option but can be expensive .
Be sure to check your lease : some private accommodation can exceed the student academic year .
Note : All property providers have to be registered so ask to see the property service provider ’ s licence and note the licence number before checking it against the Register of Licensed Property Services Providers .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered but wish to postpone it for a year before immersing yourself in college life , then you will need to act straight away .
Contact the admissions office of the university or college in question straight away .
Give your name as it appears on your CAO application , quote your CAO application number and the course code of the offer you wish to defer , and set out why you wish to do so .
Note : there is no guarantee that an application for deferral will be granted this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applications .
No matter what you want to do at this juncture , there are plenty of options available for you to choose from .
If you are unsure , log in to The Irish Times ’ CAO helpdesk today or over the weekend and ask our guidance counsellors about your options .
The helpdesk will operate at irishtimes.com/helpdesk from midday until 8pm on Friday , from 10am until 7pm on Saturday and from 10am until 1pm on Sunday to answer any questions students or their parents might have about the college applications @

If you are accepting a place in college, you should visit the campus to get a feel for itsteps to take as you prepare for the next stage of your education
A long and difficult year has finally come to a close. Almost 80,000 applicants were able to view their college offers from 2pm on the Central Applications Office (CAO) website yesterday, almost a month later than would normally be the case.
One positive that stands out from the last six months is the resilience the 2020 Leaving Cert class displayed while navigating their last year in secondary school. The sudden pivot to remote and distant learning, the postponement of exams, the introduction of calculated grades and, most recently, worries about grade inflation and college points, cannot have been easy for any of them.
This year’s third-level student experience will also be substantially different to previous years. A crucial difference is that colleges and universities have had more time than schools had to develop their own blended or hybrid approach to the delivery of education. It is also worth considering that the class of 2020 has gained some of the experience and tools required to quickly adapt to this mode of learning.
Of course college is about more than academia. It is about acquiring transversal skills: it is where you meet new people, explore your interests, engage in activism, and join sports clubs or societies.
READ MORE
The following are some steps you might take as you prepare for the next stage of your education.
1. Don’t miss the deadline
You should have read the CAO Handbook by now and taken note of the important deadlines and restrictions that may apply to you or your course. If you received the offer you had hoped for, you have reviewed your options and are happy to accept your allocated course, then the process is straightforward. If you accept your offer, you will receive an acknowledgement email, and you can check that your acceptance has been recorded on the 'My Application' facility. Note: Round One acceptances must be submitted by 3pm on 16th September.
2. Other choices
The choices you listed on your CAO form should approximate your interests and accepting a lower-preference course now will not prevent you from receiving an offer of a course higher up on your list in a later round. If you don't accept an offer, however, you run the risk of not receiving any other offers in later rounds. Note: Round Two offers will be made available online on 23rd September from 10am and acceptances must be submitted by 12pm just two days later, on September 25th.
3. Other options
Perhaps you didn't get any of the choices you listed on your CAO application form or have had a very late change of mind. There are plenty of other routes that you can take. Some 30,000 places are filled annually in further education colleges throughout the country. These have been added to this year as part of the Government response to the need for additional places. Apprenticeships offer an opportunity to earn while you learn, while many further education courses provide high-level tuition and on-the-job experience, with plenty offering an alternative route to attaining a degree in college. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national agency responsible for qualifications and quality assurance in further education and training and higher education. Details of courses on offer are available through QQI's qualifax.ie website.
4. Familiarise yourself with the campus
If you are taking a place in college, you should visit the campus to get a feel for it. The coronavirus pandemic has transformed higher education and its impact is likely to be with us for some time yet. College life will be different to previous years as institutions adapt to facilitate social distancing measures. A lot of work has gone into ensuring that students have the best possible experience and third-level institutions have invested heavily in developing online and remote teaching programmes. In most cases, lectures will be delivered remotely while students will attend campus in smaller groups for face-to-face sessions, tutorials and lab work. While the new student experience is likely to be substantially different, students will expect that the integrity of academic programmes will not be compromised by the transition to online. Communication will be key and will probably require more of an effort from students and lecturers alike but don’t worry, you will have plenty of opportunities to meet new people, join college societies and participate in college life. Most institutions will provide tours and induction days. Find out about these and attend if possible.
5. Consider accommodation options
The hunt for student accommodation has always been one of the more challenging aspects of the start of the academic year. This year, it should be somewhat different. With most colleges holding lectures partly or fully online there should be less of a need to be present on campus as often. The absence of international students should also ease pressure on what was an overheated market. Colleges will try to group days where students are expected to be present in order to avoid undue travel costs. If you need somewhere to live, your first port of call should be the college. Your college and students' union should also have a list of reasonably priced rooms and digs. Privately-run student residences are also an option but can be expensive. Be sure to check your lease: some private accommodation can exceed the student academic year. Note: All property providers have to be registered so ask to see the property service provider's licence and note the licence number before checking it against the Register of Licensed Property Services Providers.
6. Defer for a year
If you are happy with the course you were offered but wish to postpone it for a year before immersing yourself in college life, then you will need to act straight away. Contact the admissions office of the university or college in question straight away. Give your name as it appears on your CAO application, quote your CAO application number and the course code of the offer you wish to defer, and set out why you wish to do so. Note: there is no guarantee that an application for deferral will be granted this year due to an anticipated coronavirus-related spike in applications.
6. Don’t panic
No matter what you want to do at this juncture, there are plenty of options available for you to choose from. If you are unsure, log in to The Irish Times' CAO helpdesk today or over the weekend and ask our guidance counsellors about your options. The helpdesk will operate at irishtimes.com/helpdesk from midday until 8pm on Friday, from 10am until 7pm on Saturday and from 10am until 1pm on Sunday to answer any questions students or their parents might have about the college applications.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--Gardaí make an arrest in investigation of ATM and cyber crime

A 34-year-old man was arrested in Dublin on Friday in connection with an ongoing Garda investigation targeting international criminal organisations @ @ @ @ @ .
Detectives from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau ( GNECB ) carried out an @ @ @ @ @ during which the man was arrested .
The investigation into transaction reversal frauds was reported @ @ @ @ @ January 2020 after 18 ATM machines were targeted , resulting in the theft of money @ @ @ @ @ and damage to the machines .
The man , a Romanian national , is currently @ @ @ @ @ Garda Station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act , 2007 .
He can @ @ @ @ @ seven days .
The GNECB said it is continuing to work closely with British police @ @ @ @ @ organisations engaged in cyber enabled fraud in this jurisdiction .

Investigation into transaction reversal frauds was reported by a financial institution in January 2020
A 34-year-old man was arrested in Dublin on Friday in connection with an ongoing Garda investigation targeting international criminal organisations committing cyber frauds in Ireland.
Detectives from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) carried out an operation in the city , during which the man was arrested.
The investigation into transaction reversal frauds was reported by a financial institution in January 2020 after 18 ATM machines were targeted, resulting in the theft of money from customer’s accounts and damage to the machines.
The man, a Romanian national, is currently being detained at Store Street Garda Station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. He can be held for up to seven days.
READ MORE
The GNECB said it is continuing to work closely with British police and Europol in targeting criminal organisations engaged in cyber enabled fraud in this jurisdiction.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--CAO points climb to record high across many courses

CAO points for entry into many college courses climbed to record highs on foot of grade inflation in this year ’ s Leaving Cert .
Overall , points were up across about two-thirds of honours degree or level eight courses this year .
At university level , points were up on average of 20-35 points .
A total of seven courses have now climbed above the previous all-time high of 600 points .
They include dentistry at UCC ( 613 points , up 23 ) , UCD ’ s economics and finance ( 613 points , up 12 ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , up 24 ) , Trinity College Dublin ’ s management science ( 613 points , up 24 ) , dental science ( 613 points , up 23 ) , law and business ( 602 points , up 26 ) , law and political science ( 602 points , up 35 ) .
Some of the biggest increases saw rises of more than 100 points over last year .
They include TU Dublin ’ s pharmaceutical science in ( up 116 points ) , computing with a language ( up 113 points ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( up 89 points ) and University of Limerick ’ s paramedic studies ( up 79 points ) .
In all , about 78 per cent of college applicants are understood to have received an offer from one of their top three choices this year at honours degree or level eight level .
This is a similar proportion to last year .
This rises to about 98 per cent for applicants seeking a top three choice at ordinary degree/advanced diploma , or level six/seven .
Overall , college applications were up this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospects such as law , veterinary medicine , dentistry and physiotherapy .
By contrast , the greatest decrease in applications were for areas such as arts , humanities and languages .
Most higher education figures say the points increases are greater than expected , despite frantic efforts by the Government to ease upward pressure by creating thousands of extra third-level places .
However , Government figures say the points increases would have been higher still were it not for a last-minute move to create an additional 2,000-plus third-level places created in recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent more places this year compared to last .
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said the additional places mean significantly more applicants have received offers of places at this stage this year and more students will be admitted to college in the coming weeks than in any previous year .
“ I do recognise the strong competition for places this year .
I have worked with the sector to increase places to the greatest extent possible .
I welcome the fact that the proportion of applicants receiving an offer of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between years , despite this strong competition , ” he said .
Mr Harris said he had examined three options to address concerns that those who had sat their exams in the past could lose out due to grade inflation .
Ring-fencing college places or regrading past students in line with the average inflation rate in 2020 were not possible and the best thing to do was put in as many additional places as possible , he said .
The Minister pointed out that 85 per cent of that cohort received offers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticised the Government ’ s management of third-level offers and called for “ flexibility ” in appeals .
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh said : “ Many hard-working students have been badly let down by the Government .
Substantial increases in entrance points will mean many students will not get the courses that they want .
Prior Leaving Cert students will be particularly disadvantaged.
” Labour ’ s education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD said flexibility was needed to ensure students were not unfairly treated .
He said that where somebody had got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the teacher has assessed them as getting a H1 but the system threw up a H2 .
“ If that ’ s the only reason they ’ re not getting their preferred course in this year 2020 I ’ m quite sure the Government could use their imagination with third-level institutions to find a way for that to be overcome .
”

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said the creation of additional places mean significantly more applicants have received offers at this stage. Photograph:Gareth Chaney/Collins
CAO points for entry into many college courses climbed to record highs on foot of grade inflation in this year's Leaving Cert.
Overall, points were up across about two-thirds of honours degree or level eight courses this year.
At university level, points were up on average of 20-35 points. A total of seven courses have now climbed above the previous all-time high of 600 points.
They include dentistry at UCC (613 points, up 23), UCD’s economics and finance (613 points, up 12), actuarial and financial studies (601 points, up 24), Trinity College Dublin’s management science (613 points, up 24), dental science (613 points, up 23), law and business (602 points, up 26), law and political science (602 points, up 35).
READ MORE
Some of the biggest increases saw rises of more than 100 points over last year.
They include TU Dublin’s pharmaceutical science in (up 116 points), computing with a language (up 113 points), UCC’s law and french (up 89 points) and University of Limerick’s paramedic studies (up 79 points).
In all, about 78 per cent of college applicants are understood to have received an offer from one of their top three choices this year at honours degree or level eight level. This is a similar proportion to last year.
This rises to about 98 per cent for applicants seeking a top three choice at ordinary degree/advanced diploma, or level six/seven.
Extra places
Overall, college applications were up this year for areas of study with strong job prospects such as law, veterinary medicine, dentistry and physiotherapy.
By contrast, the greatest decrease in applications were for areas such as arts, humanities and languages.
Most higher education figures say the points increases are greater than expected, despite frantic efforts by the Government to ease upward pressure by creating thousands of extra third-level places.
However, Government figures say the points increases would have been higher still were it not for a last-minute move to create an additional 2,000-plus third-level places created in recent weeks. In all, there are 12 per cent more places this year compared to last.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said the additional places mean significantly more applicants have received offers of places at this stage this year and more students will be admitted to college in the coming weeks than in any previous year.
“I do recognise the strong competition for places this year. I have worked with the sector to increase places to the greatest extent possible. I welcome the fact that the proportion of applicants receiving an offer of one of their top three preferences is stable between years, despite this strong competition,” he said.
Call for ‘flexibility’
Mr Harris said he had examined three options to address concerns that those who had sat their exams in the past could lose out due to grade inflation.
Ring-fencing college places or regrading past students in line with the average inflation rate in 2020 were not possible and the best thing to do was put in as many additional places as possible, he said. The Minister pointed out that 85 per cent of that cohort received offers of their top three choices.
Opposition parties criticised the Government ’s management of third-level offers and called for “flexibility” in appeals.
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh said: “Many hard-working students have been badly let down by the Government. Substantial increases in entrance points will mean many students will not get the courses that they want. Prior Leaving Cert students will be particularly disadvantaged.”
Labour’s education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD said flexibility was needed to ensure students were not unfairly treated.
He said that where somebody had got the required points of 500 or 550 and the teacher has assessed them as getting a H1 but the system threw up a H2.
“If that’s the only reason they’re not getting their preferred course in this year 2020 I’m quite sure the Government could use their imagination with third-level institutions to find a way for that to be overcome.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--Teenager accused of murder told gardaí he was trying to break up fight, court hears

A teenager on trial charged with murder told gardaí that he was panicking and trying to break up a fight when he stabbed the 18-year-old deceased during a melee in a Dublin park , the Central Criminal Court has heard .
The 17-year-old accused , who can not be identified because he is a minor , said in a voluntary statement at a garda station that the deceased Azzam Raguragui “ started the whole thing ” .
He told gardaí that he didn ’ t know why he brought a knife with him and said he never intended to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at him and he took the first thing he could find in his pocket to “ scare him [ Azzam ] off ” .
He added : “ I didn ’ t intend to kill him at all.
” The accused has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to the murder of Azzam Raguragui on May 10th , 2019 at Finsbury Park , Dundrum , Dublin 14 .
Detective Sergeant John White told prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC that the accused gave a voluntary statement at a garda station one day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed that the accused told gardaí that he doesn ’ t smoke , drink or do drugs because he wants to stay fit for football .
He detailed his movements on the afternoon of the stabbing saying he met up with friends and went to Finsbury Park in Dundrum .
When they arrived , he said , they could see a large group of “ lads ” at the other end of the park .
He recognised some of them and said hello .
“ All was fine and friendly , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a problem with another of the accused ’ s friends and he wanted to “ have a little chat ” with him .
When that friend arrived , the accused told gardaí , Azzam spoke with him and they walked together away from the group but then two of Azzam ’ s friends walked up behind and struck the accused ’ s friend .
He said three of them “ jumped on him and started punching and kicking him and he fell to the ground ” .
He added : “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then started on us .
They were a lot bigger and stronger than us and we couldn ’ t stop them.
” He said he was frightened and tried to pull members of the other group off his friends but “ it was pointless because of their size.
” After Azzam ran at him , the accused said he grabbed “ the first thing in my jacket to smack him with , which was a knife that was in my jacket from earlier in the day.
” He said he had no intention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azzam with it and he thought it “ landed in his chest ” .
He struck him two or three times , he told gardaí .
Following the stabbing he remembered Azzam running away while the accused ran after him “ to keep him running away as he was the ringleader ” .
He further recalled Azzam shouting at him : “ Remember my face , remember my face.
” The accused then ran away and said that as he looked back he could see blood on Azzam ’ s hands .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threw the knife away .
He further told gardaí that he , “ was only trying to break the fight up as [ his friend ] was getting beaten up .
We were all a lot smaller .
I panicked thinking I would be next on the ground getting beaten up.
” He said he wanted to scare Azzam off with the knife but had no intention of using it .
“ Azzam started the whole thing and then went for me .
I just panicked.
” He told gardaí he had never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he didn ’ t know why he brought it with him that day .
He added : “ I didn ’ t mean to hurt anyone .
I was afraid they would really hurt us.
” He said he was sorry it had happened and sorry for Mr Raguragui ’ s family .
He later led gardaí to where he had thrown the knife .
Earlier the jury watched CCTV footage of the movements of the two groups of teens before and after the fight .
Detective Garda Steven Dunican told Mr Dwyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CCTV footage into a montage for the jury .
The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women .

A teenager on trial charged with murder told gardaí that he was panicking and trying to break up a fight when he stabbed the 18-year-old deceased during a melee in a Dublin park, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
The 17-year-old accused, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, said in a voluntary statement at a garda station that the deceased Azzam Raguragui “started the whole thing”.
He told gardaí that he didn’t know why he brought a knife with him and said he never intended to use it. He said the deceased ran at him and he took the first thing he could find in his pocket to “scare him [Azzam] off”. He added: “I didn’t intend to kill him at all.”
The accused has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to the murder of Azzam Raguragui on May 10th, 2019 at Finsbury Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Detective Sergeant John White told prosecution counsel James Dwyer SC that the accused gave a voluntary statement at a garda station one day after Mr Raguragui’s death.
READ MORE
He agreed that the accused told gardaí that he doesn’t smoke, drink or do drugs because he wants to stay fit for football. He detailed his movements on the afternoon of the stabbing saying he met up with friends and went to Finsbury Park in Dundrum. When they arrived, he said, they could see a large group of “lads” at the other end of the park. He recognised some of them and said hello.
“All was fine and friendly,” he said, but Mr Raguragui said there was a problem with another of the accused’s friends and he wanted to “have a little chat” with him. When that friend arrived, the accused told gardaí, Azzam spoke with him and they walked together away from the group but then two of Azzam’s friends walked up behind and struck the accused’s friend. He said three of them “jumped on him and started punching and kicking him and he fell to the ground”.
He added: “We ran to break it up but they then started on us. They were a lot bigger and stronger than us and we couldn’t stop them.” He said he was frightened and tried to pull members of the other group off his friends but “it was pointless because of their size.”
After Azzam ran at him, the accused said he grabbed “the first thing in my jacket to smack him with, which was a knife that was in my jacket from earlier in the day.” He said he had no intention of using the knife but he struck Azzam with it and he thought it “landed in his chest”. He struck him two or three times, he told gardaí.
Following the stabbing he remembered Azzam running away while the accused ran after him “to keep him running away as he was the ringleader”. He further recalled Azzam shouting at him: “Remember my face, remember my face.”
The accused then ran away and said that as he looked back he could see blood on Azzam’s hands. He was frightened, he said, and threw the knife away. He further told gardaí that he, “was only trying to break the fight up as [his friend] was getting beaten up. We were all a lot smaller. I panicked thinking I would be next on the ground getting beaten up.”
He said he wanted to scare Azzam off with the knife but had no intention of using it. “Azzam started the whole thing and then went for me. I just panicked.” He told gardaí he had never used a knife before on anyone and he didn’t know why he brought it with him that day. He added: “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I was afraid they would really hurt us.”
He said he was sorry it had happened and sorry for Mr Raguragui’s family. He later led gardaí to where he had thrown the knife. Earlier the jury watched CCTV footage of the movements of the two groups of teens before and after the fight. Detective Garda Steven Dunican told Mr Dwyer that he had condensed 100 hours of CCTV footage into a montage for the jury.
The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--Garda superintendent fails to get injunction allowing him to return to work

The High Court has dismissed a Garda superintendent ’ s application to have his suspension lifted , entitling him to return to work .
Mr Justice Senan Allen ruled Supt Edmund Anthony O ’ Neill was not entitled to an injunction sought pending the outcome of his challenge over his suspension .
He is being paid while suspended .
His suspension by the Garda Commissioner was justified , the judge said .
Supt O ’ Neill , who was part of a team of officers who secured five murder convictions in the Limerick city gangland feud , denies the allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims they are false and “ preposterous and mischievous in the extreme ” .
He was first suspended more than a year ago when he was arrested and questioned over allegations he leaked confidential information and was in the presence of another senior officer who allegedly snorted cocaine .
He is currently the subject of disciplinary and criminal investigations .
Supt O ’ Neill , the court noted , has been critical of the progress of those investigations .
In his action he seeks orders including an injunction restraining his continued suspension , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
The Garda Commissioner and the State opposed the injunction .
The superintendent , stationed at Roxboro Road , Limerick , says he was arrested after he was awoken in his bedroom on the morning of May 15th , 2019 , to find several gardaí around him .
He was taken to Athlone Garda station where he was questioned .
There were headlines in the national media that day about the arrest , and he was later released and served with a suspension notice .
It is claimed he told a garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Investigation that a listening device had been placed on his car .
That garda has since been charged with serious criminal conduct .
Supt O ’ Neill rejects that claim , and says he fully co-operated with the investigation over the alleged leaking of information .
It was also alleged he was present in the Hurler ’ s Bar , Limerick , on January 9th , 2019 , when a garda inspector colleague was alleged to have taken cocaine in his presence .
In relation to that allegation , he denies the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been charged , and it was reasonable to conclude there was no evidence of cocaine use , he claims .
Mr Justice Allen agreed the suspension was justified , and said he was satisfied to reject Supt O ’ Neill ’ s application for an injunction in its entirety .
The superintendent had failed to make a strong case likely to succeed at the full hearing of the dispute .
The judge said the suspension was not invalidated by the fact the views of Supt O ’ Neill ’ s divisional officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the media that he had been arrested .
Details of his previous service , his involvement in the community , his sporting career , his arrest and the search of his home “ were completely irrelevant to the validity of his suspension ” .

Mr Justice Senan Allen agreed the suspension was justified, and said he was satisfied to reject Supt O’Neill’s application for an injunction in its entirety. Photograph: Getty Images
The High Court has dismissed a Garda superintendent's application to have his suspension lifted, entitling him to return to work.
Mr Justice Senan Allen ruled Supt Edmund Anthony O'Neill was not entitled to an injunction sought pending the outcome of his challenge over his suspension. He is being paid while suspended.
His suspension by the Garda Commissioner was justified, the judge said.
Supt O'Neill, who was part of a team of officers who secured five murder convictions in the Limerick city gangland feud, denies the allegations for which he was suspended, and claims they are false and "preposterous and mischievous in the extreme".
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He was first suspended more than a year ago when he was arrested and questioned over allegations he leaked confidential information and was in the presence of another senior officer who allegedly snorted cocaine. He is currently the subject of disciplinary and criminal investigations.
Supt O’Neill, the court noted, has been critical of the progress of those investigations. In his action he seeks orders including an injunction restraining his continued suspension, which he claims has adversely affected his health. The Garda Commissioner and the State opposed the injunction.
The superintendent, stationed at Roxboro Road, Limerick, says he was arrested after he was awoken in his bedroom on the morning of May 15th, 2019, to find several gardaí around him. He was taken to Athlone Garda station where he was questioned.
There were headlines in the national media that day about the arrest, and he was later released and served with a suspension notice. It is claimed he told a garda being investigated by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation that a listening device had been placed on his car. That garda has since been charged with serious criminal conduct.
Supt O’Neill rejects that claim, and says he fully co-operated with the investigation over the alleged leaking of information.
Colleague
It was also alleged he was present in the Hurler’s Bar, Limerick, on January 9th, 2019, when a garda inspector colleague was alleged to have taken cocaine in his presence.
In relation to that allegation, he denies the officer took cocaine. The officer has not been charged, and it was reasonable to conclude there was no evidence of cocaine use, he claims.
Mr Justice Allen agreed the suspension was justified, and said he was satisfied to reject Supt O’Neill’s application for an injunction in its entirety. The superintendent had failed to make a strong case likely to succeed at the full hearing of the dispute.
The judge said the suspension was not invalidated by the fact the views of Supt O’Neill’s divisional officer were not canvassed nor by any disclosures to the media that he had been arrested. Details of his previous service, his involvement in the community, his sporting career, his arrest and the search of his home “were completely irrelevant to the validity of his suspension”.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--Bohemian FC raises €10,000 from sale of ‘Refugees Welcome’ jersey

Bohemian FC has raised €10,000 from sales of its second strip this season , which carries the message “ Refugees Welcome ” .
The money will be spent on 35 laptops , which will be donated to students in direct provision centres to allow them to learn remotely amid the Covid-19 crisis .
The club sold more than 400 of the shirts in June in 20 different countries , including many to the US in the wake of the George Floyd killing .
Bohs donated 100 per cent of the profits from the “ Refugees Welcome ” jersey to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MASI ) .
The club had also been involved in bringing residents of direct provision centres to games .
Before the coronavirus pandemic , it had a prominent banner that said “ Refugees Welcome ” displayed at home games .
Bohs , who are currently second in the League of Ireland table behind Shamrock Rovers , have been struggling financially without any supporters at games for the last six months as a result of the Covid-19 crisis .
Bohs chief operating officer Daniel Lambert said the Covid-19 pandemic has been a “ tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club decided to forge ahead with the MASI donation because “ we wanted to shine a light on something that is important both locally and globally .
“ We are delighted to show solidarity with people in that position .
We made the decision to allow our shirt to be used as a platform , alongside Amnesty International , to highlight a very real and pressing issue in Ireland today .
“ Football is a universal language , and it can be a vehicle for great good in our society .
”

Bohemian FC has raised €10,000 from sales of its second strip this season, which carries the message “Refugees Welcome”.
The money will be spent on 35 laptops, which will be donated to students in direct provision centres to allow them to learn remotely amid the Covid-19 crisis.
The club sold more than 400 of the shirts in June in 20 different countries, including many to the US in the wake of the George Floyd killing.
#Bohs away jersey drive assists Direct Provision residents to pursue educational opportunities remotely: https://t.co/yyHJi5GNCI pic.twitter.com/D6oF9lihTh — Bohemian FC ⚫ (@bfcdublin) September 10, 2020
Bohs donated 100 per cent of the profits from the "Refugees Welcome" jersey to the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI).
READ MORE
The club had also been involved in bringing residents of direct provision centres to games. Before the coronavirus pandemic, it had a prominent banner that said “Refugees Welcome” displayed at home games.
Bohs, who are currently second in the League of Ireland table behind Shamrock Rovers, have been struggling financially without any supporters at games for the last six months as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
Bohs chief operating officer Daniel Lambert said the Covid-19 pandemic has been a "tough time for everybody", but the club decided to forge ahead with the MASI donation because "we wanted to shine a light on something that is important both locally and globally.
"We are delighted to show solidarity with people in that position. We made the decision to allow our shirt to be used as a platform, alongside Amnesty International, to highlight a very real and pressing issue in Ireland today.
“Football is a universal language, and it can be a vehicle for great good in our society.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--Five takeaways from this year’s CAO results

In normal years , CAO points don ’ t jump around all that much ; they tend to creep up or down based on supply and demand for individual courses .
This year , everything was different .
Grade inflation under the new calculated grades process sent points for many courses soaring .
Overall , points were up across about two-thirds of CAO level-eight or honours degree courses .
At Trinity , for example , points were up for 80 per cent of its courses by an average by about 27 points ; at UCD , most courses were up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the biggest individual points increases were recorded at Technological University Dublin .
Its early childhood care and education course jumped by a whopping 104 points , while its DNA and forensic analysis soared by 100 points .
The scale of these increases is particularly tough for students who had been anticipating a more modest points rise .
The Government was desperate to find additional higher education places in recent weeks as soon as it realised the scale of grade inflation that was coming down the tracks .
Minister for Higher Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places in the last week alone ; in total , there was a unprecedented 12 per cent increase in the overall number of third-level places this year .
Still , CAO points rose significantly .
We can only imagine how high the points would have been otherwise .
UCD engineering is a good example .
It had 265 places on its course last year .
Thanks to additional places added recently , it gained 54 places .
Yet points jumped by 20 points to 531 .
If the points increases were dramatic this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places , they would have been off the charts .
This year about 20,000 college applicants applied on the basis of results they secured in previous years .
They include mature students , students who took a gap year to work or travel , and people who dropped out of courses and were looking for a fresh start .
About half of these were competing for points alongside the class of 2020 this year .
Due to grade inflation this year , their results were significantly devalued .
Many with up to 600 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoo-ins for their courses , ended up missing them narrowly .
On the plus side , an examination of CAO data shows that about 80 per cent of these deferred applicants got an offer from one their top-three choices ; this is a similar proportion to the class of 2020 .
College applications were up this year for areas such as law , veterinary medicine , dentistry and physiotherapy as students flocked towards areas of study with strong job prospects .
By contrast , the number of students applying for courses in areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were down .
In the current environment – as was the case during the recession – students are gravitating towards courses with a clearly defined career pathway and away from those where prospects are less defined .
There has been unease within higher education circles over the prospect of students seeking deferrals in large numbers .
With the majority of coursework being taught online , the fear is many students may opt to take a year out and hope college life is closer to normal next year .
Some may also risk that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be run next year , which would place them at an advantage due to the grade inflation of this year .
After all , almost 10,000 students who sat the Leaving Cert last year reapplied this year – and that was under normal circumstances .
It all adds up to a lot of uncertainty over what will be happening over the coming weeks and months .

The Government was desperate to find additional higher education places in recent weeks as soon as it realised the scale of grade inflation that was coming down the tracks. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
1. Grade inflation sends points soaring
In normal years, CAO points don't jump around all that much; they tend to creep up or down based on supply and demand for individual courses. This year, everything was different.
Grade inflation under the new calculated grades process sent points for many courses soaring. Overall, points were up across about two-thirds of CAO level-eight or honours degree courses.
At Trinity, for example, points were up for 80 per cent of its courses by an average by about 27 points; at UCD, most courses were up by an average of 35 points.
READ MORE
Some of the biggest individual points increases were recorded at Technological University Dublin. Its early childhood care and education course jumped by a whopping 104 points, while its DNA and forensic analysis soared by 100 points.
The scale of these increases is particularly tough for students who had been anticipating a more modest points rise.
2. Extra places helped ease the pressure
The Government was desperate to find additional higher education places in recent weeks as soon as it realised the scale of grade inflation that was coming down the tracks.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris delivered more than 2,000 addition places in the last week alone; in total, there was a unprecedented 12 per cent increase in the overall number of third-level places this year.
Still, CAO points rose significantly. We can only imagine how high the points would have been otherwise.
UCD engineering is a good example. It had 265 places on its course last year. Thanks to additional places added recently, it gained 54 places. Yet points jumped by 20 points to 531.
If the points increases were dramatic this year, in the absence of additional places, they would have been off the charts.
3. Bitter pill for previous year’s applicants
This year about 20,000 college applicants applied on the basis of results they secured in previous years. They include mature students, students who took a gap year to work or travel, and people who dropped out of courses and were looking for a fresh start.
About half of these were competing for points alongside the class of 2020 this year. Due to grade inflation this year, their results were significantly devalued.
Many with up to 600 points, who might have considered themselves shoo-ins for their courses, ended up missing them narrowly.
On the plus side, an examination of CAO data shows that about 80 per cent of these deferred applicants got an offer from one their top-three choices; this is a similar proportion to the class of 2020.
4. Job-ready courses
College applications were up this year for areas such as law, veterinary medicine, dentistry and physiotherapy as students flocked towards areas of study with strong job prospects.
By contrast, the number of students applying for courses in areas such as arts, humanities and languages were down.
In the current environment – as was the case during the recession – students are gravitating towards courses with a clearly defined career pathway and away from those where prospects are less defined.
5. Uncertainty over next year
There has been unease within higher education circles over the prospect of students seeking deferrals in large numbers.
With the majority of coursework being taught online, the fear is many students may opt to take a year out and hope college life is closer to normal next year. Some may also risk that a “normal” Leaving Cert will be run next year, which would place them at an advantage due to the grade inflation of this year.
After all, almost 10,000 students who sat the Leaving Cert last year reapplied this year – and that was under normal circumstances.
It all adds up to a lot of uncertainty over what will be happening over the coming weeks and months.


theirishtimes--2020-09-11--New Government plan to safeguard ‘reasonable quality of life’ - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government ’ s strategy for living with Covid-19 over the next six months would focus on ensuring economic activity could continue and giving citizens “ a reasonable quality of life ” .
Speaking in Co Cork , the Taoiseach said “ there is not going to be a knee-jerk reaction ” to rising infection rates in Dublin as he played down suggestions of a regional lockdown in the capital .
The Government was still working in tandem with acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn and other members of the National Public Health Emergency Team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , to be published on Tuesday , Mr Martin said .
He said the Government had learned a lot over the past six months since Covid-19 arrived in Ireland in terms of the measures that work to help curb its spread and he emphasised that everyone had a part to play in terms of how they behave .
“ We will be publishing a national plan in relation to dealing with Covid over the next six months in all its aspects and obviously in that framework , consideration has to be given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs and making sure citizens have a reasonable quality of life .
“ Fundamentally , what will drive the plan is personal behaviour and all of us , collectively and individually , have to focus on personal behaviour because if we want our children to stay at school and sporting competitions to be completed , it ’ s personal behaviour that will enable that to happen .
“ That really is the key message from here onwards : We must be resilient .
People are fatigued , I understand that , people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love to go back to the normality we once experienced but the virus is around for a while and will be around for a while .
“ We have got to be clever , we have got to be smart and we have to be resilient in terms of how we deal with it .
The overarching objective must be public health but equally to protect livelihoods and keep people working and then have a decent quality of life for our children and our people overall.
” Speaking in Clonakilty where he announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Global Shares , Mr Martin took issue with comments by Fianna Fáil backbench TD Marc McSharry who had called on him to stop Dr Glynn from appearing on TV every evening .
According to The Irish Examiner , Mr MacSharry told Mr Martin at a teleconference meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party that Dr Glynn ’ s appearance on TV every evening to provide updates on Covid 19 was “ scaring the bejaysus out of people ” .
But Mr Martin said that he would “ seriously disagree ” with the approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish people wanted to be informed about Covid-19 and the countries that were best dealing with the pandemic were those listening to public health experts .
“ That is something I can ’ t quite comprehend because the Irish people want to hear from the Chief Medical Officer , they value and respect Ronan Glynn and indeed his predecessor , Tony Holohan .
Why ?
Because in a global pandemic , people want information and they want reassurance .
“ And those societies that value public health advice have done best so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to relegate the views of public health experts , disappear them or take them off the screens have not done as well in terms of mortality or their whole dealing with Covid-19.
” On the financial impact of Covid-19 , Mr Martin acknowledged the importance of Cork and Shannon Airports to regional economies and pledged the Government would take account of European Commission proposals on safe international travel in the national strategy .
Asked what the Government would do to support the airports , Mr Martin said : “ We are conscious of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a framework in which the member states of the European Union would manage travel in terms of green , orange and red zones and we are very minded to give that positive consideration .
“ We are still currently reflecting on that and that will form part of our response on Tuesday .
Obviously we are conscious also of the supports that may be needed in the aviation sector and the respective ministers are giving that due consideration as well .
”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin stands at the Éamon De Valera bust with former TD Máirín Quill at the Cork Public Museum where he officially opened a new exhibition on Friday. Photograph: Darragh Kane
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government’s strategy for living with Covid-19 over the next six months would focus on ensuring economic activity could continue and giving citizens “a reasonable quality of life”.
Speaking in Co Cork, the Taoiseach said “there is not going to be a knee-jerk reaction” to rising infection rates in Dublin as he played down suggestions of a regional lockdown in the capital.
The Government was still working in tandem with acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn and other members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on developing a mid-term plan, to be published on Tuesday, Mr Martin said.
He said the Government had learned a lot over the past six months since Covid-19 arrived in Ireland in terms of the measures that work to help curb its spread and he emphasised that everyone had a part to play in terms of how they behave.
READ MORE
“We will be publishing a national plan in relation to dealing with Covid over the next six months in all its aspects and obviously in that framework, consideration has to be given to the economic situation, to protecting jobs and making sure citizens have a reasonable quality of life.
“Fundamentally, what will drive the plan is personal behaviour and all of us, collectively and individually, have to focus on personal behaviour because if we want our children to stay at school and sporting competitions to be completed, it’s personal behaviour that will enable that to happen.
“That really is the key message from here onwards: We must be resilient. People are fatigued, I understand that, people are fed up with restrictions and they would love to go back to the normality we once experienced but the virus is around for a while and will be around for a while.
“We have got to be clever, we have got to be smart and we have to be resilient in terms of how we deal with it. The overarching objective must be public health but equally to protect livelihoods and keep people working and then have a decent quality of life for our children and our people overall.”
Backbench criticism
Speaking in Clonakilty where he announced 150 new jobs at financial company, Global Shares, Mr Martin took issue with comments by Fianna Fáil backbench TD Marc McSharry who had called on him to stop Dr Glynn from appearing on TV every evening.
According to The Irish Examiner, Mr MacSharry told Mr Martin at a teleconference meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party that Dr Glynn’s appearance on TV every evening to provide updates on Covid 19 was “scaring the bejaysus out of people”.
But Mr Martin said that he would “seriously disagree” with the approach advocated by Mr MacSharry as he believed Irish people wanted to be informed about Covid-19 and the countries that were best dealing with the pandemic were those listening to public health experts.
"That is something I can't quite comprehend because the Irish people want to hear from the Chief Medical Officer, they value and respect Ronan Glynn and indeed his predecessor, Tony Holohan. Why? Because in a global pandemic, people want information and they want reassurance.
“And those societies that value public health advice have done best so far in this global pandemic- those that endeavour to relegate the views of public health experts, disappear them or take them off the screens have not done as well in terms of mortality or their whole dealing with Covid-19.”
On the financial impact of Covid-19, Mr Martin acknowledged the importance of Cork and Shannon Airports to regional economies and pledged the Government would take account of European Commission proposals on safe international travel in the national strategy.
Asked what the Government would do to support the airports, Mr Martin said: “We are conscious of the European Commission’s publication recently of a framework in which the member states of the European Union would manage travel in terms of green, orange and red zones and we are very minded to give that positive consideration.
“We are still currently reflecting on that and that will form part of our response on Tuesday. Obviously we are conscious also of the supports that may be needed in the aviation sector and the respective ministers are giving that due consideration as well.”