theirishtimes--2020-05-29--Covid-19: People should keep record of who they meet to help contact tracers

People have been asked to keep a record of who they meet over the bank holiday weekend to help contact tracers curtail the spread of the coronavirus should they be identified as being infected .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) on Friday night urged people to comply with social distancing and other rules to slow transmission , even on the bank holiday weekend , with good weather forecast .
“ We do recognise that people are out and about that bit more , particularly with the bank holiday weekend and particularly with the good weather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy chief medical officer .
“ If they are meeting people , in as much as possible , if they keep a record of who they are meeting , that will help in the event they ’ re a confirmed case - that will help public health teams and the contact tracers to make contact more quickly and ensure insofar as possible that the spread is stopped , ” he said .
Dr Tony Holohan , the chief medical officer , urged vigilance as the country heads into the last week of phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Moving into next week , I would urge everyone to look back at the progress we have made over the past number of weeks and maintain our efforts to suppress Covid-19 into the future.
” The public health officials were speaking after Nphet confirmed that another six people have died with Covid-19 in the State , alongside a further 39 diagnoses of the disease .
In total , 1,645 Covid-19 related deaths have taken place in the State , with 24,876 cases now having been diagnosed .
As of midnight on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centre ( HPSC ) shows that the median age of the 24,837 confirmed cases at that stage was 48 years .
There have been 3,270 hospitalisations , of which 404 cases have been admitted to the intensive care unit ( ICU ) .
Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,023 , followed by Cork with 1,464 and then Kildare with 1,416 cases .
Dr Holohan said : “ It is encouraging to see ICU and hospital admissions declining , the number of new cases remaining stable and a 90 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about plans announced by the government on Friday to facilitate the return of childcare , including the introduction of so-called “ play pods ” in childcare facilities , he said such steps “ represent calculated risks ” .
“ We ’ ve been taking reassurances from what we ’ ve observed in other countries that have commenced earlier than us arrangements in terms of childcare and return to schools .
There hasn ’ t been significant change in terms of the transmission of the disease resulting from those.
” As public health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holohan said he was preparing to add a loss of taste and smell to the list of symptoms that will make someone eligible for a test for Covid-19 .
He said that , following advice on the matter from the European Centre for Disease Control ( ECDC ) , the new criteria would likely be introduced by the middle of next week .
As the country prepares to enter the last week before the scheduled relaxing of restrictions on June 8th , he said there were encouraging signs , but that data which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key role in determining his advice on moving to phase two .
“ We think we need to be presented with three weeks [ DATA ] to satisfy ourselves that we haven ’ t seen an increase in transmission of the infection resulting from any of the changes we have made , ” he said .
“ We haven ’ t seen anything yet , that ’ s encouraging , but we ’ ve another week to go yet .
”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says that he is not surprised that Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary has raised concerns over quarantine measures, but he does not believe that airline travel will return to normal "in the near term." Video: RTÉ
People have been asked to keep a record of who they meet over the bank holiday weekend to help contact tracers curtail the spread of the coronavirus should they be identified as being infected.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on Friday night urged people to comply with social distancing and other rules to slow transmission, even on the bank holiday weekend, with good weather forecast.
“We do recognise that people are out and about that bit more, particularly with the bank holiday weekend and particularly with the good weather,” said Dr Ronan Glynn, the deputy chief medical officer.
“If they are meeting people, in as much as possible, if they keep a record of who they are meeting, that will help in the event they’re a confirmed case - that will help public health teams and the contact tracers to make contact more quickly and ensure insofar as possible that the spread is stopped,” he said.
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Dr Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, urged vigilance as the country heads into the last week of phase one of the relaxation of lockdown. “Moving into next week, I would urge everyone to look back at the progress we have made over the past number of weeks and maintain our efforts to suppress Covid-19 into the future.”
The public health officials were speaking after Nphet confirmed that another six people have died with Covid-19 in the State, alongside a further 39 diagnoses of the disease. In total, 1,645 Covid-19 related deaths have taken place in the State, with 24,876 cases now having been diagnosed.
As of midnight on Wednesday, data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows that the median age of the 24,837 confirmed cases at that stage was 48 years.
There have been 3,270 hospitalisations, of which 404 cases have been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Dublin has the highest number of cases at 12,023, followed by Cork with 1,464 and then Kildare with 1,416 cases.
Dr Holohan said: “It is encouraging to see ICU and hospital admissions declining, the number of new cases remaining stable and a 90 per cent recovery rate in the community.”
‘Calculated risks’
Asked about plans announced by the government on Friday to facilitate the return of childcare, including the introduction of so-called “play pods” in childcare facilities, he said such steps “represent calculated risks”.
“We’ve been taking reassurances from what we’ve observed in other countries that have commenced earlier than us arrangements in terms of childcare and return to schools. There hasn’t been significant change in terms of the transmission of the disease resulting from those.”
As public health officials learn more about the disease, Dr Holohan said he was preparing to add a loss of taste and smell to the list of symptoms that will make someone eligible for a test for Covid-19. He said that, following advice on the matter from the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), the new criteria would likely be introduced by the middle of next week.
As the country prepares to enter the last week before the scheduled relaxing of restrictions on June 8th, he said there were encouraging signs, but that data which will only emerge next week will play a key role in determining his advice on moving to phase two.
“We think we need to be presented with three weeks [DATA]to satisfy ourselves that we haven’t seen an increase in transmission of the infection resulting from any of the changes we have made,” he said.
“We haven’t seen anything yet, that’s encouraging, but we’ve another week to go yet.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-29--‘The pint man is back’: Belfast pub resumes delivery service after legal challenge

A Belfast pub has been given the go-ahead to resume its pint delivery service after the police said they were satisfied it was not in breach of licensing laws .
“ Pints are unpaused , ” Hatfield House Bar in south Belfast posted on its Facebook page on Friday .
“ The pint man is back and ready to deliver freshly poured pints of Guinness directly to your door.
” The manager of Hatfield House in south Belfast , Ritchie Keenan , told The Irish Times he was “ relieved ” and the decision would save jobs .
Their customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy .
The phones are ringing off the hook.
” Hatfield House began its pint delivery service in April .
Pints were ordered and paid for in advance , and then poured at the customer ’ s door from a van fitted with Guinness taps .
The drinks were then left on the doorstep , to avoid contact between staff and customers .
The pub suspended the service after the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) said it did not comply with licensing laws .
The bar took a legal challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing was listed for the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Friday .
However progress had been made between the parties , and David Scoffield QC , for Hatfield House , told the court that he was “ happy to say that that has culminated in a letter which was sent on behalf of the respondent over lunchtime which sets out some of the detail of some of the matters that have been discussed and invites my client to confirm a number of issues , most of which have been confirmed already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be any difficulty with .
“ Once that confirmation has been received , we ’ re told that the PSNI will have no objection to a draft beer delivery service being commenced.
” Another hearing will take place next Friday to review progress and potential final disposal .
In a statement issued by the PSNI on Friday , Chief Supt Jonathan Roberts said the PSNI was now satisfied that “ with the development and implementation of changes in the service and appropriate undertakings in respect of insurance and health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sale , this service could comply with the applicable legislation .
“ While PSNI and our licensing officers across Northern Ireland are happy to work with any licensees considering introducing a similar service , we would advise them to ensure that any such proposed service meets all current legislative requirements and they have the correct licence in place , ” he said .
Earlier this month the so-called “ Guinness Express ” operated by by O ’ Flaherty ’ s Pub in Buncrana , Co Donegal , was forced by gardaí to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of clarity ” over licensing laws .
Pubs in the State can now operate delivery services , subject to certain restrictions , after Garda Headquarters sought legal advice on pubs delivering drinks and selling takeaway beverages from their premises .

A Belfast pub has been given the go-ahead to resume its pint delivery service after the police said they were satisfied it was not in breach of licensing laws.
"Pints are unpaused," Hatfield House Bar in south Belfast posted on its Facebook page on Friday. "The pint man is back and ready to deliver freshly poured pints of Guinness directly to your door."
The manager of Hatfield House in south Belfast, Ritchie Keenan, told The Irish Times he was "relieved" and the decision would save jobs. Their customers, he said, were "very happy. The phones are ringing off the hook."
Hatfield House began its pint delivery service in April. Pints were ordered and paid for in advance, and then poured at the customer’s door from a van fitted with Guinness taps. The drinks were then left on the doorstep, to avoid contact between staff and customers.
READ MORE
The pub suspended the service after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it did not comply with licensing laws.
The bar took a legal challenge against the PSNI, and an interim hearing was listed for the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Friday.
‘No objection’
However progress had been made between the parties, and David Scoffield QC, for Hatfield House, told the court that he was “happy to say that that has culminated in a letter which was sent on behalf of the respondent over lunchtime which sets out some of the detail of some of the matters that have been discussed and invites my client to confirm a number of issues, most of which have been confirmed already in discussions, which we anticipate there won’t be any difficulty with.
“Once that confirmation has been received, we’re told that the PSNI will have no objection to a draft beer delivery service being commenced.”
Another hearing will take place next Friday to review progress and potential final disposal.
In a statement issued by the PSNI on Friday, Chief Supt Jonathan Roberts said the PSNI was now satisfied that "with the development and implementation of changes in the service and appropriate undertakings in respect of insurance and health and safety legislation and bespoke terms and conditions of sale, this service could comply with the applicable legislation.
"While PSNI and our licensing officers across Northern Ireland are happy to work with any licensees considering introducing a similar service, we would advise them to ensure that any such proposed service meets all current legislative requirements and they have the correct licence in place," he said.
Earlier this month the so-called "Guinness Express" operated by by O'Flaherty's Pub in Buncrana, Co Donegal, was forced by gardaí to temporarily halt deliveries amid a "lack of clarity" over licensing laws.
Pubs in the State can now operate delivery services, subject to certain restrictions, after Garda Headquarters sought legal advice on pubs delivering drinks and selling takeaway beverages from their premises.


theirishtimes--2020-05-29--Woman loses damages claim over BreastCheck screening

A woman who sued for damages over her BreastCheck screening at a mobile unit has lost her High Court action .
Liability for the substantial costs of the 14-day action by Siobhán Freeney will be decided at a later date .
Ms Justice Niamh Hyland found Ms Freeney ’ s cancer was a true interval cancer in that it showed normal or benign features in the screening mammogram .
Therefore , the reporting of that 2015 mammogram as normal was not negligent , the judge ruled .
Having regard to Ms Freeney ’ s clinical presentation and the guidelines on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HSE had acted appropriately in not identifying Ms Freeney for clinical recall following her screening in June 2015 .
Ms Freeney , she noted , is at present cancer free .
Represented by Jeremy Maher SC , instructed by solicitor Cian O ’ Carroll , Ms Freeney ( 59 ) , Clonattin , Gorey , Co Wexford had sued the HSE alleging failure to refer her for further assessment including ultrasound examination on June 17th , 2015 .
She further claimed there was failure to advise , treat and care for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and careful manner and to use reasonable care , skill and judgment when reviewing her June 17th , 2015 mammogram .
She claimed failure to identify that features in her mammogram of her right breast were suspicious of cancer and she was allegedly deprived of the opportunity of timely and effective investigation and management of her condition .
All the claims were denied .
In a judgment on Friday delivered electronically , Ms Justice Hyland said Ms Freeney was undoubtedly very breast-aware going for her mammograms at two yearly intervals and checking her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June 2015 that was reported as clear .
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2015 after she identified symptoms and went to her GP and was referred for further assessment .
The judge said this was undoubtedly a very difficult time for Ms Freeney as was her subsequent treatment over the following months .
She underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy of her right breast but , happily , her treatment was successful and Ms Freeney is at present free of cancer , the judge said .
Ms Justice Hyland found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Freeney had at the screening identified what she felt was an existing issue and not a new area of concern , referred to cysts and did not identify she felt a lump and had identified she felt something in her right breast .
The judge concluded a note had correctly been made of what Ms Freeney said , rather than making a clinical recall , since Ms Freeney had not identified symptoms requiring recall under the guidelines .
Accordingly , the allegation of negligence was not made out , the judge held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fact , Ms Freeney did not alert the radiographer to a new cyst or abnormality and the radiographer correctly did not therefore consider her symptom to come within the guidelines and so did not clinically recall Ms Freeney .
The radiologists were therefore entitled to proceed on the assumption the cyst felt by Ms Freeney was not new and therefore not a basis for recall , she said .

A woman who sued for damages over her BreastCheck screening at a mobile unit has lost her High Court action. Liability for the substantial costs of the 14-day action by Siobhán Freeney will be decided at a later date.
Ms Justice Niamh Hyland found Ms Freeney’s cancer was a true interval cancer in that it showed normal or benign features in the screening mammogram. Therefore, the reporting of that 2015 mammogram as normal was not negligent, the judge ruled.
Having regard to Ms Freeney’s clinical presentation and the guidelines on clinical recall, the judge also found the HSE had acted appropriately in not identifying Ms Freeney for clinical recall following her screening in June 2015.
Ms Freeney, she noted, is at present cancer free. Represented by Jeremy Maher SC, instructed by solicitor Cian O’Carroll, Ms Freeney (59), Clonattin, Gorey, Co Wexford had sued the HSE alleging failure to refer her for further assessment including ultrasound examination on June 17th, 2015.
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She further claimed there was failure to advise, treat and care for her in a proper skilful, diligent, and careful manner and to use reasonable care, skill and judgment when reviewing her June 17th, 2015 mammogram. She claimed failure to identify that features in her mammogram of her right breast were suspicious of cancer and she was allegedly deprived of the opportunity of timely and effective investigation and management of her condition.
All the claims were denied.
In a judgment on Friday delivered electronically, Ms Justice Hyland said Ms Freeney was undoubtedly very breast-aware going for her mammograms at two yearly intervals and checking her breasts regularly. She had a mammogram in June 2015 that was reported as clear. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2015 after she identified symptoms and went to her GP and was referred for further assessment.
The judge said this was undoubtedly a very difficult time for Ms Freeney as was her subsequent treatment over the following months. She underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy of her right breast but, happily, her treatment was successful and Ms Freeney is at present free of cancer, the judge said.
Ms Justice Hyland found, on the balance of probabilities, Ms Freeney had at the screening identified what she felt was an existing issue and not a new area of concern, referred to cysts and did not identify she felt a lump and had identified she felt something in her right breast. The judge concluded a note had correctly been made of what Ms Freeney said, rather than making a clinical recall, since Ms Freeney had not identified symptoms requiring recall under the guidelines.
Accordingly, the allegation of negligence was not made out, the judge held. She found, as a matter of fact, Ms Freeney did not alert the radiographer to a new cyst or abnormality and the radiographer correctly did not therefore consider her symptom to come within the guidelines and so did not clinically recall Ms Freeney.
The radiologists were therefore entitled to proceed on the assumption the cyst felt by Ms Freeney was not new and therefore not a basis for recall, she said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-29--Covid-19: Childcare criteria to include parents who need it for work from June 29th

The eligibility criteria for children returning to childcare on June 29th has been broadened , but only if it is needed for parents returning to work or education , the Department of Children has announced .
While the Government ’ s roadmap for reopening the State previously suggested that childcare would be limited to children of those deemed to be essential workers , under the new guidelines , the children of most workers will be eligible to return to childcare .
In a situation where a capacity constraint emerges , preference will be given to the children of frontline workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be given to a range of children , including vulnerable children and those with disabilities .
According to guidelines posted by the department on Friday night , childcare services will also be “ encouraged to support ” children who were previously enrolled , prior to the Covid crisis forcing the closure of creches around the country .
Children will be grouped into “ pods ” of between six and 12 , as childcare facilities begin to reopen from June 29th , Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said .
As the sector reopens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there would be some transmission of the coronavirus , but infection control guidelines would reduce that risk , Ms Zappone said .
It was “ not possible ” to say how many of the 4,500 childcare providers would be in a position to reopen at the end of June , she said on Friday .
Children will be divided into groups , known as “ pods ” , who they will remain with through the day , when creches and other childcare facilities reopen .
The same staff and children should remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where possible , the department has told providers .
Speaking on Friday , Ms Zappone said guidelines could see six children per pod for those under one years of age , and 12 per pod for children older than two years of age .
There was “ no evidence base ” for the maximum number per pod , but practice would be to keep them as small as practicable , Ms Zappone said .
Initially the Government had intended that childcare providers would only be available on June 29th for the children of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department announced this would be widened to include several other groups .
These would include vulnerable children who were homeless , experiencing poverty , or child welfare issues , and children with disabilities .
The availability of places would be subject to “ local capacity ” among providers , the department said .
Providers would also be encouraged to accommodate children of parents who required childcare to allow them to return to work .
“ If capacity issues emerge , priority should be given to the children of essential or frontline workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be able to resume caring for children in their homes from June 29th .
Large rooms will be allowed to accommodate more than one “ pod ” of children when childcare facilities reopen , according to guidance sent to providers in recent days .
The guidelines state a large room may contain more than one “ pod ” , provided there are partitions that prevent physical contact between the groups , and the room still complies with fire safety requirements .
Toys should not be shared between different pods and the groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop-offs by parents , and in outdoor areas , the document outlines .
Children older than six “ will be asked to keep a distance between each other and avoid physical contact to the greatest extent possible , ” it states .
Each pod should have two staff members per group to allow for breaks without the need for “ floating staff ” to fill in , the guidance states .
Personal protective equipment ( PPE ) is not required to be worn when staff are interacting with children , however when not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health advice around the wearing of face coverings , the guidance states .
The document , dated May 27th , states childcare providers ’ requirements to stagger start and finish times to avoid congregated gatherings may “ impact capacity ” .
Further guidance for how childcare providers should respond to Covid-19 cases is to be published by the department next week .

It was “not possible” to say how many of the 4,500 childcare providers would be in a position to re-open at the end of June, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said. Photograph: iStock
The eligibility criteria for children returning to childcare on June 29th has been broadened, but only if it is needed for parents returning to work or education, the Department of Children has announced.
While the Government’s roadmap for reopening the State previously suggested that childcare would be limited to children of those deemed to be essential workers, under the new guidelines, the children of most workers will be eligible to return to childcare.
In a situation where a capacity constraint emerges, preference will be given to the children of frontline workers such as healthcare professionals.
Preference will also be given to a range of children, including vulnerable children and those with disabilities.
READ MORE
According to guidelines posted by the department on Friday night, childcare services will also be “encouraged to support” children who were previously enrolled, prior to the Covid crisis forcing the closure of creches around the country.
Children will be grouped into "pods" of between six and 12, as childcare facilities begin to reopen from June 29th, Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said.
As the sector reopens it will be “inevitable” that there would be some transmission of the coronavirus, but infection control guidelines would reduce that risk, Ms Zappone said.
It was “not possible” to say how many of the 4,500 childcare providers would be in a position to reopen at the end of June, she said on Friday.
Children will be divided into groups, known as “pods”, who they will remain with through the day, when creches and other childcare facilities reopen.
The same staff and children should remain in the same “pod” each day where possible, the department has told providers.
Speaking on Friday, Ms Zappone said guidelines could see six children per pod for those under one years of age, and 12 per pod for children older than two years of age.
There was “no evidence base” for the maximum number per pod, but practice would be to keep them as small as practicable, Ms Zappone said.
Initially the Government had intended that childcare providers would only be available on June 29th for the children of essential workers. In a statement the department announced this would be widened to include several other groups.
These would include vulnerable children who were homeless, experiencing poverty, or child welfare issues, and children with disabilities.
The availability of places would be subject to “local capacity” among providers, the department said.
Providers would also be encouraged to accommodate children of parents who required childcare to allow them to return to work.
“If capacity issues emerge, priority should be given to the children of essential or frontline workers,” the department said.
Childminders will also be able to resume caring for children in their homes from June 29th.
Large rooms will be allowed to accommodate more than one “pod” of children when childcare facilities reopen, according to guidance sent to providers in recent days.
The guidelines state a large room may contain more than one “pod”, provided there are partitions that prevent physical contact between the groups, and the room still complies with fire safety requirements.
Toys should not be shared between different pods and the groups should be kept apart during pick-ups and drop-offs by parents, and in outdoor areas, the document outlines.
Children older than six “will be asked to keep a distance between each other and avoid physical contact to the greatest extent possible,” it states.
Each pod should have two staff members per group to allow for breaks without the need for “floating staff” to fill in, the guidance states.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is not required to be worn when staff are interacting with children, however when not caring for children staff should follow public health advice around the wearing of face coverings, the guidance states.
The document, dated May 27th, states childcare providers’ requirements to stagger start and finish times to avoid congregated gatherings may “impact capacity”. Further guidance for how childcare providers should respond to Covid-19 cases is to be published by the department next week.


theirishtimes--2020-05-29--Coronavirus: Three more deaths, 17 new cases reported in North

Three further coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the North ’ s Department of Health ( DoH ) on Friday , bringing the total number of fatalities recorded by the DoH to 521 .
An additional 1,083 people were tested in the last 24 hour period .
Seventeen tested positive for coronavirus , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,696 .
Earlier on Friday , new statistics showed people living in care homes have accounted for more than half of all coronavirus-related deaths in Northern Ireland .
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( NISRA ) recorded 380 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year until May 22nd , which represents 53.1 per cent of the total fatalities .
Of those deaths , 318 ( 83.7 per cent ) took place in care homes .
The remainder occurred in hospital but the deceased ’ s usual place of residence was recorded as a care home .
It is the first time data on deaths in care homes has been broken down to include people who died in care homes and those who were ordinarily resident in care homes but who died in hospital .
The figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in care homes fell to less than a third last week , the first time in more than a month that the percentage of deaths in care homes has been below that in hospitals .
In the week ending May 22nd , 13 out of 47 Covid-19 related deaths - 27.7 per cent - took place in care homes , compared to 51.6 per cent the previous week .
According to NISRA there have been a total of 716 deaths in Northern Ireland in which coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is 30 per cent higher than the total recorded in the figures released daily by the North ’ s Department of Health ( DoH ) .
Northern Ireland releases two sets of data on coronavirus fatalities .
The DoH figures include all deaths recorded by Health and Social Care ( HSC ) Trusts where there has been a positive test for coronavirus .
These are mainly hospital deaths .
The NISRA figures are released weekly and are based on death registration .
They cover deaths in all settings and include all fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether or not there was a positive test for Covid-19 .
Of the 716 deaths involving Covid-19 recorded by NISRA up to May 22nd , 353 ( 49.3 per cent ) were in hospitals , with 318 ( 44.4 per cent ) in care homes , eight ( 1.1 per cent ) in hospices and 37 ( 5.2 per cent ) in residential addresses or other locations .
The 326 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 76 separate establishments .
According to NISRA the greatest number of coronavirus-related deaths were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death certificate of 209 ( 29.6 per cent ) of deaths .
The lowest figure was in Fermanagh and Omagh , with 16 such deaths .

An adaditional 1,083 people were tested in the last 24 hour period. Seventeen tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,696. Photograph: iStock
Three further coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the North's Department of Health (DoH) on Friday, bringing the total number of fatalities recorded by the DoH to 521.
An additional 1,083 people were tested in the last 24 hour period. Seventeen tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,696.
Earlier on Friday, new statistics showed people living in care homes have accounted for more than half of all coronavirus-related deaths in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) recorded 380 such deaths among care home residents in the year until May 22nd, which represents 53.1 per cent of the total fatalities.
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Of those deaths, 318 (83.7 per cent) took place in care homes. The remainder occurred in hospital but the deceased’s usual place of residence was recorded as a care home.
It is the first time data on deaths in care homes has been broken down to include people who died in care homes and those who were ordinarily resident in care homes but who died in hospital.
Two data sets
The figures also showed that the percentage of coronavirus-related deaths in care homes fell to less than a third last week, the first time in more than a month that the percentage of deaths in care homes has been below that in hospitals.
In the week ending May 22nd, 13 out of 47 Covid-19 related deaths - 27.7 per cent - took place in care homes, compared to 51.6 per cent the previous week.
According to NISRA there have been a total of 716 deaths in Northern Ireland in which coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate since the beginning of the outbreak.
This is 30 per cent higher than the total recorded in the figures released daily by the North’s Department of Health (DoH).
Northern Ireland releases two sets of data on coronavirus fatalities. The DoH figures include all deaths recorded by Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts where there has been a positive test for coronavirus. These are mainly hospital deaths.
The NISRA figures are released weekly and are based on death registration. They cover deaths in all settings and include all fatalities which mention coronavirus on the death certificate, whether or not there was a positive test for Covid-19.
Of the 716 deaths involving Covid-19 recorded by NISRA up to May 22nd, 353 (49.3 per cent) were in hospitals, with 318 (44.4 per cent) in care homes, eight (1.1 per cent) in hospices and 37 (5.2 per cent) in residential addresses or other locations.
The 326 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 76 separate establishments.
According to NISRA the greatest number of coronavirus-related deaths were in Belfast, where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 209 (29.6 per cent) of deaths. The lowest figure was in Fermanagh and Omagh, with 16 such deaths.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Testing of Covid-19 tracing app to begin but no date for launch

Testing will begin within days on a new smartphone app that is being developed to help trace the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland .
The Health Service Executive ( HSE ) , which originally said the app was due to be launched in April , hired Waterford-based Nearform to develop the app , but has yet to confirm a revised date for its public launch .
At the end of March , the HSE said it would be ready for use by the general public , on a voluntary opt-in basis , within ten days , before pushing back the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then again to the end of May .
In a statement confirming further delays , the HSE has confirmed testing of the app will begin next week before a report into any potential data protection issues is drawn up , ahead of an as yet still to be announced launch date .
Approval for wider public use will also be needed from the Data Protection Commissioner , health authorities and the Government .
The app is expected to use Bluetooth technology to allow a rapid identification of when someone has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
Once someone is diagnosed with the virus , their phone can send a notification to others they have been close with , but the system will rely on people downloading it voluntarily and giving permission for this information to be gathered on their phone .
Earlier this month , Minister for Health Simon Harris said at least one-quarter of the population will have to use the contact tracing app in order for it to have a significant impact on the rate of infection .
The app has been designed to retain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centrally collected , because of data protection concerns .
The HSE has been working with Apple and Google to ensure the app will work on phones , typically less than five years old .
Take-up of similar contact tracing apps has been disappointing in some other countries , but the technology is seen as a useful supplement to manual tracing of contacts of people who become infected .
Up to 2,000 volunteers are expected to install and use the app for a period of time under the trial and testing period .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 16 years .
One issue with the app has been its inter-operability between countries and “ the specific challenge of North-South travel in Ireland and across the Irish Sea ” , Mr Harris has said in recent weeks .
In a statement , the HSE said the app will “ assist in national contact tracing efforts in the months ahead ” and will be launched once “ it is fully operational and the necessary approvals ” have been received .
“ The app is being prepared for field testing which is due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement added .
The National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Friday night that another six people had died with Covid-19 in the State , alongside a further 39 diagnoses of the disease .
In total , 1,645 Covid-19-related deaths have taken place in the State , with 24,876 cases now having been diagnosed .
Gardaí are expected to operate a scaled-down operation this bank holiday weekend to enforce movement restrictions to help curb the spread of the virus , switching its focus from roads to parks , beaches and beauty spots .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a smaller scale to those mounted on the Easter and May bank holiday weekends , which included extra checkpoints and foot patrols to ensure people were only travelling for essential reasons .

The app has been designed to retain data on the person’s smartphone rather than being centrally collected due to data protection concerns. Photograph: Getty Images
Testing will begin within days on a new smartphone app that is being developed to help trace the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland.
The Health Service Executive (HSE), which originally said the app was due to be launched in April, hired Waterford-based Nearform to develop the app, but has yet to confirm a revised date for its public launch.
At the end of March, the HSE said it would be ready for use by the general public, on a voluntary opt-in basis, within ten days, before pushing back the launch date to the end of April, and then again to the end of May.
In a statement confirming further delays, the HSE has confirmed testing of the app will begin next week before a report into any potential data protection issues is drawn up, ahead of an as yet still to be announced launch date.
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Approval for wider public use will also be needed from the Data Protection Commissioner, health authorities and the Government.
The app is expected to use Bluetooth technology to allow a rapid identification of when someone has come into close contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case.
Once someone is diagnosed with the virus, their phone can send a notification to others they have been close with, but the system will rely on people downloading it voluntarily and giving permission for this information to be gathered on their phone.
One quarter
Earlier this month, Minister for Health Simon Harris said at least one-quarter of the population will have to use the contact tracing app in order for it to have a significant impact on the rate of infection.
The app has been designed to retain data on the smartphone rather than being centrally collected, because of data protection concerns.
The HSE has been working with Apple and Google to ensure the app will work on phones, typically less than five years old.
Take-up of similar contact tracing apps has been disappointing in some other countries, but the technology is seen as a useful supplement to manual tracing of contacts of people who become infected.
Up to 2,000 volunteers are expected to install and use the app for a period of time under the trial and testing period. It will only be available to those aged over 16 years.
One issue with the app has been its inter-operability between countries and “the specific challenge of North-South travel in Ireland and across the Irish Sea”, Mr Harris has said in recent weeks.
In a statement, the HSE said the app will “assist in national contact tracing efforts in the months ahead” and will be launched once “it is fully operational and the necessary approvals” have been received.
“The app is being prepared for field testing which is due to commence next week,” the statement added.
Six deaths
The National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Friday night that another six people had died with Covid-19 in the State, alongside a further 39 diagnoses of the disease.
In total, 1,645 Covid-19-related deaths have taken place in the State, with 24,876 cases now having been diagnosed.
Gardaí are expected to operate a scaled-down operation this bank holiday weekend to enforce movement restrictions to help curb the spread of the virus, switching its focus from roads to parks, beaches and beauty spots.
The operation is expected to be on a smaller scale to those mounted on the Easter and May bank holiday weekends, which included extra checkpoints and foot patrols to ensure people were only travelling for essential reasons.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--‘Dramatic increase’ in littering and dumping in north Dublin

Fingal County Council has said it is “ alarmed ” at what it described as a “ dramatic increase this week in littering and dumping ” in public spaces across the local authority .
The council is appealing to park and beach users to respect public health guidelines , and also to take their litter home .
The chief executive of Fingal County Council and its director of operations met with senior gardaí on Thursday to raise their concerns .
Gardaí agreed to increase patrols across the county , and also appealed to people to stay within 5km of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Brien said recent incidents , especially in coastal areas , are “ causing concern ” .
“ I would appeal to people to remember we are still in the middle of a pandemic and that public health guidelines in relation to social distancing and travel are still in place .
Those guidelines must be respected , even on a Bank Holiday weekend with nice weather , because lives are at stake , ” he said .
The chief executive of Fingal County Council , Ann Marie Farrelly , said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An Garda Síochána over the weekend and will be ready to act on their advice if we have incidents of overcrowding or anti-social behaviour.
” Fingal County Council ’ s Director of Operations , David Storey , said the council is concerned about people entering parks after closing time , and said that park rangers have found “ significant levels of littering and dumping taking place overnight ” .
“ Our parks close at 9pm each evening and the gardaí will have extra night-time patrols over the weekend to prevent gatherings at night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks to a high standard but we need people to act responsibly and safely , especially at this time because of Covid-19 , ” he said .

Fingal County Council has said it is "alarmed" at what it described as a "dramatic increase this week in littering and dumping" in public spaces across the local authority.
The council is appealing to park and beach users to respect public health guidelines, and also to take their litter home. The chief executive of Fingal County Council and its director of operations met with senior gardaí on Thursday to raise their concerns. Gardaí agreed to increase patrols across the county, and also appealed to people to stay within 5km of their homes.
Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said recent incidents, especially in coastal areas, are “causing concern”.
"I would appeal to people to remember we are still in the middle of a pandemic and that public health guidelines in relation to social distancing and travel are still in place. Those guidelines must be respected, even on a Bank Holiday weekend with nice weather, because lives are at stake," he said.
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The chief executive of Fingal County Council, Ann Marie Farrelly, said: "We will be working very closely with An Garda Síochána over the weekend and will be ready to act on their advice if we have incidents of overcrowding or anti-social behaviour."
Fingal County Council's Director of Operations, David Storey, said the council is concerned about people entering parks after closing time, and said that park rangers have found "significant levels of littering and dumping taking place overnight".
“Our parks close at 9pm each evening and the gardaí will have extra night-time patrols over the weekend to prevent gatherings at night. We work hard to maintain our parks to a high standard but we need people to act responsibly and safely, especially at this time because of Covid-19,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Microsoft sacks journalists to replace them with robots

Dozens of journalists have been sacked after Microsoft decided to replace them with artificial intelligence software .
Staff who maintain the news homepages on Microsoft ’ s MSN website and its Edge browser – used by millions every day – have been told that they will be no longer be required because robots can now do their jobs .
Around 27 individuals employed by PA Media – formerly the Press Association – were told on Thursday that they would lose their jobs in a month ’ s time after Microsoft decided to stop employing humans to select , edit and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employees were told Microsoft ’ s decision to end the contract with PA Media was taken at short notice as part of a global shift away from humans in favour of automated updates for news .
One staff member who worked on the team said : “ I spend all my time reading about how automation and AI is going to take all our jobs , and here I am – AI has taken my job.
” The individual added that the decision to replace humans with software was risky , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ very strict editorial guidelines ” which ensured that users were not presented with violent or inappropriate content when opening their browser , of particular importance for younger users .
The team working on the Microsoft site did not report original stories but still exercised editorial control , selecting stories produced by other news organisations – including the Guardian – and editing content and headlines where appropriate to fit the format .
The articles were then hosted on Microsoft ’ s website , with the tech company sharing advertising revenue with the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also ensured that headlines were clear and appropriate for the format , while encouraging a spread of political opinions and avoiding untrustworthy stories , while highlighting interesting articles from smaller outlets .
Some of the journalists now facing redundancy had longstanding experience in the industry , while for others it offered a foot in the door and a job in an industry which has seen wave after wave of cuts .
They now face a tough challenge to get jobs elsewhere when the whole industry is looking to cut costs .
Other teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected by Microsoft ’ s decision to automate the curation of its news sites .
In common with other news organisations , PA Media is facing tough financial challenges and has had to furlough some staff and ask others to take pay cuts .
The company has expanded outside its traditional news agency business , recently buying stock image business Alamy shortly before the pandemic devastated the media industry .
A spokesperson for the company said : “ We are in the process of winding down the Microsoft team working at PA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support the individuals concerned .
We are proud of the work we have done with Microsoft and know we delivered a high-quality service.
” A Microsoft spokesperson said : “ Like all companies , we evaluate our business on a regular basis .
This can result in increased investment in some places and , from time to time , re-deployment in others .
These decisions are not the result of the current pandemic.
” Many tech companies are experimenting with uses for Artificial Intelligence in journalism , with the likes of Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uses , although efforts to automate the writing of articles have not been adopted widely .
–Guardian

Dozens of journalists have been fired after Microsoft decided to replace them with artificial intelligence software.
Dozens of journalists have been sacked after Microsoft decided to replace them with artificial intelligence software.
Staff who maintain the news homepages on Microsoft’s MSN website and its Edge browser – used by millions every day – have been told that they will be no longer be required because robots can now do their jobs.
Around 27 individuals employed by PA Media – formerly the Press Association – were told on Thursday that they would lose their jobs in a month’s time after Microsoft decided to stop employing humans to select, edit and curate news articles on its homepages.
Employees were told Microsoft’s decision to end the contract with PA Media was taken at short notice as part of a global shift away from humans in favour of automated updates for news.
READ MORE
One staff member who worked on the team said: “I spend all my time reading about how automation and AI is going to take all our jobs, and here I am – AI has taken my job.”
The individual added that the decision to replace humans with software was risky, as the existing staff were careful to stick to “very strict editorial guidelines” which ensured that users were not presented with violent or inappropriate content when opening their browser, of particular importance for younger users.
The team working on the Microsoft site did not report original stories but still exercised editorial control, selecting stories produced by other news organisations – including the Guardian – and editing content and headlines where appropriate to fit the format. The articles were then hosted on Microsoft’s website, with the tech company sharing advertising revenue with the original publishers.
Manual curation of news stories also ensured that headlines were clear and appropriate for the format, while encouraging a spread of political opinions and avoiding untrustworthy stories, while highlighting interesting articles from smaller outlets.
Experience
Some of the journalists now facing redundancy had longstanding experience in the industry, while for others it offered a foot in the door and a job in an industry which has seen wave after wave of cuts. They now face a tough challenge to get jobs elsewhere when the whole industry is looking to cut costs. Other teams around the world are expected to be affected by Microsoft’s decision to automate the curation of its news sites.
In common with other news organisations, PA Media is facing tough financial challenges and has had to furlough some staff and ask others to take pay cuts. The company has expanded outside its traditional news agency business, recently buying stock image business Alamy shortly before the pandemic devastated the media industry.
A spokesperson for the company said: “We are in the process of winding down the Microsoft team working at PA, and we are doing everything we can to support the individuals concerned. We are proud of the work we have done with Microsoft and know we delivered a high-quality service.”
A Microsoft spokesperson said: “Like all companies, we evaluate our business on a regular basis. This can result in increased investment in some places and, from time to time, re-deployment in others. These decisions are not the result of the current pandemic.”
Many tech companies are experimenting with uses for Artificial Intelligence in journalism, with the likes of Google funding investment in projects to understand its uses, although efforts to automate the writing of articles have not been adopted widely. –Guardian


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Man and woman arrested and €30k worth of drugs seized in Co Dublin

A man and woman have been arrested and €30,000 worth of drugs have been seized following a search of a @ @ @ @ @ , Co Dublin on Friday .
Cannabis worth €20,000 and cocaine worth €10,000 were discovered @ @ @ @ @ property in the Loughlinstown Drive area of Loughlinstown .
Knives , batons and pepper spray @ @ @ @ @ man and woman , both in their 30s , were arrested at the scene .
@ @ @ @ @ Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1996 at Dún Laoghaire Garda Station .

A man and woman have been arrested and €30,000 worth of drugs have been seized following a search of a house by gardaí in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin on Friday. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
A man and woman have been arrested and €30,000 worth of drugs have been seized following a search of a house by gardaí in Loughlinstown, Co Dublin on Friday.
Cannabis worth €20,000 and cocaine worth €10,000 were discovered in a vehicle at the property in the Loughlinstown Drive area of Loughlinstown. Knives, batons and pepper spray were also seized.
The man and woman, both in their 30s, were arrested at the scene.
They are being detained under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1996 at Dún Laoghaire Garda Station.
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Investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Gangways between trawlers should be properly fixed –MCIB

Fishing crews should always ensure gangways between trawlers are properly fixed , the Marine Casualty Investigation Board ( MCIB ) has recommended after investigating the death of a fisherman in Co Donegal .
John McCarthy , who was in his late 50s and from Castletownbere in West Cork , drowned after falling between trawlers as he returned to his fishing vessel , the MVF Menhaden in Killybegs Harbour in Co Donegal on March 14th 2019 .
In its report on the tragedy , the MCIB noted at the time the MFV Menhaden was moored outside another boat , the MV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside another trawler , the MVF Olgarry .
According to MCIB report , which doesn ’ t name Mr McCarthy but refers to him as ‘ the casualty ’ , CCTV footage shows him climbing the gangway from the quay on to starboard side of the MVF Olgarry at around 12.55am on March 14th .
The CCTV footage showed Mr McCarthy crossing to the port side of the MVF Olgarry behind the wheelhouse but he did not reappear on footage forward of the wheelhouse where the gangway to the MV Grip Transporter was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised the alarm at around 10.30am that morning that he was missing and a search was launched and his body was recovered from the shore at the east side of Killybegs harbour at around 1.40pm .
According to the MCIB report , the evidence indicates that Mr McCarthy entered the water while travelling from the MFV Olgarry to the MV Grip Transporter at approximately 1am .
“ Weather conditions were poor at the time with a lot of movement between the vessels , ” said the MCIB , adding that there was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gangway rigged between the two boats .
The MCIB investigators established that Mr McCarthy had met up with a crew member of the MFV Menhaden ’ s sister ship , MFV Sea Spray in the Harbour Bar at 10.45pm and they later went to Hughie ’ s Bar and on to the Cope Bar .
In the Cope Bar , Mr McCarthy ’ s colleague asked for a room for the two of them and he escorted Mr McCarthy to the room at 12.30am before returning to the bar but when he went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr McCarthy was gone .
It was only when the crewman from the MFV Sea Spray returned to his trawler at 10.30am the next day and was asked about Mr McCarthy that people realized that Mr McCarthy was missing and a search was launched .
The MCIB report stated that while the cause of Mr McCarthy ’ s death was to be determined by an inquest at Coroner ’ s Court , a toxicology report indicated high levels of alcohol in Mr McCarthy ’ s system .
“ The casualty most likely fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MFV Olgarry and the MV Grip Transporter .
Contributory factors included alcohol consumption , weather conditions and the lack of personal protective equipment.
” The MCIB recommended that the Minister for Transport issue a Marine Notice reminding fishing vessel crews of the dangers associated with boarding and transiting across vessels and that all gangways should be properly rigged .
The MCIB also recommended that the Minister for Transport issue a Marine Notice reminding fishing vessel crews of the dangers associated with boarding and transiting across vessels under the influence of alcohol .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the engineer on the MFV Menhaden and had been fishing with its skipper , Larry Murphy for almost 40 years , regularly making the trip north to fish for herring and mackerel off Donegal .

Fishing crews should always ensure gangways between trawlers are properly fixed, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB)has recommended after investigating the death of a fisherman in Co Donegal. File image: Dara Mac Donaill
Fishing crews should always ensure gangways between trawlers are properly fixed, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB)has recommended after investigating the death of a fisherman in Co Donegal.
John McCarthy, who was in his late 50s and from Castletownbere in West Cork, drowned after falling between trawlers as he returned to his fishing vessel, the MVF Menhaden in Killybegs Harbour in Co Donegal on March 14th 2019.
In its report on the tragedy, the MCIB noted at the time the MFV Menhaden was moored outside another boat, the MV Grip Transporter which in turn was moored outside another trawler, the MVF Olgarry.
According to MCIB report, which doesn’t name Mr McCarthy but refers to him as ‘the casualty’, CCTV footage shows him climbing the gangway from the quay on to starboard side of the MVF Olgarry at around 12.55am on March 14th.
READ MORE
The CCTV footage showed Mr McCarthy crossing to the port side of the MVF Olgarry behind the wheelhouse but he did not reappear on footage forward of the wheelhouse where the gangway to the MV Grip Transporter was rigged.
Mr McCarthy’s crewmates raised the alarm at around 10.30am that morning that he was missing and a search was launched and his body was recovered from the shore at the east side of Killybegs harbour at around 1.40pm.
According to the MCIB report, the evidence indicates that Mr McCarthy entered the water while travelling from the MFV Olgarry to the MV Grip Transporter at approximately 1am.
“Weather conditions were poor at the time with a lot of movement between the vessels,” said the MCIB, adding that there was no CCTV footage showing Mr McCarthy using the gangway rigged between the two boats.
The MCIB investigators established that Mr McCarthy had met up with a crew member of the MFV Menhaden’s sister ship, MFV Sea Spray in the Harbour Bar at 10.45pm and they later went to Hughie’s Bar and on to the Cope Bar.
In the Cope Bar, Mr McCarthy’s colleague asked for a room for the two of them and he escorted Mr McCarthy to the room at 12.30am before returning to the bar but when he went back to the room at 1.15am, Mr McCarthy was gone.
Return
It was only when the crewman from the MFV Sea Spray returned to his trawler at 10.30am the next day and was asked about Mr McCarthy that people realized that Mr McCarthy was missing and a search was launched.
The MCIB report stated that while the cause of Mr McCarthy’s death was to be determined by an inquest at Coroner’s Court, a toxicology report indicated high levels of alcohol in Mr McCarthy’s system.
“The casualty most likely fell into the water when transiting between the MFV Olgarry and the MV Grip Transporter. Contributory factors included alcohol consumption, weather conditions and the lack of personal protective equipment.”
The MCIB recommended that the Minister for Transport issue a Marine Notice reminding fishing vessel crews of the dangers associated with boarding and transiting across vessels and that all gangways should be properly rigged.
The MCIB also recommended that the Minister for Transport issue a Marine Notice reminding fishing vessel crews of the dangers associated with boarding and transiting across vessels under the influence of alcohol.
A native of Bere Island, Mr McCarthy was the engineer on the MFV Menhaden and had been fishing with its skipper, Larry Murphy for almost 40 years, regularly making the trip north to fish for herring and mackerel off Donegal.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Man (44) returned for trial on 20 charges including sexual activity with minor

A 44-year-old man has been returned for trial by judge and jury on 20 charges of sexual offences , including engaging in sexual activity with a teenage boy and using the boy for sexual exploitation .
Garfield Ebbs of Fairfield Green , Farranree , Cork made his second court appearance when he attended at Cork District Court today where gardaí served him with the book of evidence against him .
Mr Ebbs is charged with five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 17 , contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Law ( Sex Offences ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 1st , 2018 and May 25th , 2019 .
He is also charged with another five counts that he engaged in sexual exploitation , contrary to Section 3 ( 2 ) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 in Cork , again between September 1st , 2018 and May 25th , 2029 And Mr Ebbs is also charged with a further five counts that he obtained a child under 17 for the purpose of sexual exploitation , contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Law ( Sex Offences ) Act 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dates .
And he is also charged a further five counts that he met a child under 17 for the purposes of sexual exploitation , contrary to Section 7 of Criminal Law ( Sex Offences ) 2017 , again in Cork between the same dates .
Today Sgt Gearoid Davis said the DPP had directed Mr Ebbs be tried on indictment before a judge and jury on all 20 counts and he asked for him to be sent forward to the next sittings of Cork Circuit Criminal Court on June 15th .
Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Ebbs , who was represented in court by solicitor , Frank Buttimer , to appear at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on June 15th .
Sgt Davis said the DPP had directed that two other charges against Mr Ebbs that he paid a prostitute for sexual activity on November 25th , 2019 and January 7th , 2020 should be dealt by summary prosecution at district court level .
He applied to have those two charges adjourned until September and Judge Kelleher remanded Mr Ebbs on continuing bail to appear on those two charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At a previous sitting , Det Garda Craig Peterson of the Protective Services Unit at Anglesea Street Garda Station in Cork told how he met Mr Ebbs at Gurranebraher Garda Station on the afternoon of April 25th by appointment .
He told how arrested Mr Ebbs at 4.30pm on that date for the purpose of charge and he then charged him with each of the 22 offences and Mr Ebbs made no reply to any of the charges when they were put to him after caution .

Sgt Gearoid Davis said the DPP had directed Mr Ebbs be tried on indictment before a judge and jury
A 44-year-old man has been returned for trial by judge and jury on 20 charges of sexual offences, including engaging in sexual activity with a teenage boy and using the boy for sexual exploitation.
Garfield Ebbs of Fairfield Green, Farranree, Cork made his second court appearance when he attended at Cork District Court on Friday where gardaí served him with the book of evidence against him.
Mr Ebbs is charged with five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 17, contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Law (Sex Offences) Act 2017 at locations in Cork between September 1st, 2018 and May 25th, 2019.
He is also charged with another five counts that he engaged in sexual exploitation, contrary to Section 3(2) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 in Cork, again between September 1st, 2018 and May 25th, 2029
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And Mr Ebbs is also charged with a further five counts that he obtained a child under 17 for the purpose of sexual exploitation, contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Law (Sex Offences) Act 2017, again in Cork between the same dates.
And he is also charged a further five counts that he met a child under 17 for the purposes of sexual exploitation, contrary to Section 7 of Criminal Law (Sex Offences) 2017, again in Cork between the same dates.
On Friday, Sgt Gearoid Davis said the DPP had directed Mr Ebbs be tried on indictment before a judge and jury on all 20 counts and he asked for him to be sent forward to the next sittings of Cork Circuit Criminal Court on June 15th.
Judge Olann Kelleher granted the application and returned Mr Ebbs, who was represented in court by solicitor, Frank Buttimer, to appear at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on June 15th.
Sgt Davis said the DPP had directed that two other charges against Mr Ebbs that he paid a prostitute for sexual activity on November 25th, 2019 and January 7th, 2020 should be dealt by summary prosecution at district court level.
He applied to have those two charges adjourned until September and Judge Kelleher remanded Mr Ebbs on continuing bail to appear on those two charges at Cork District Court on September 8th.
At a previous sitting, Det Garda Craig Peterson of the Protective Services Unit at Anglesea Street Garda Station in Cork told how he met Mr Ebbs at Gurranebraher Garda Station on the afternoon of April 25th by appointment.
He told how arrested Mr Ebbs at 4.30pm on that date for the purpose of charge and he then charged him with each of the 22 offences and Mr Ebbs made no reply to any of the charges when they were put to him after caution.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Two arrests after man stabbed in row at Limerick house

Two people have been arrested after a man was stabbed in a house in Limerick city yesterday afternoon .
The @ @ @ @ @ ) and woman ( 20s ) were arrested after a man in his 40s was @ @ @ @ @ a house in the Windmill Street area of the city after 4pm on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ are being questioned at Henry Street Garda station .
The injured man was treated in @ @ @ @ @ as a non-life threatening injury .

Two people are being questioned about a stabbing in Limerick city. Photograph: Collins
Two people have been arrested after a man was stabbed in a house in Limerick city yesterday afternoon.
The man (in his 30s) and woman (20s) were arrested after a man in his 40s was stabbed during an altercation at a house in the Windmill Street area of the city after 4pm on Friday.
The arrested man and woman are being questioned at Henry Street Garda station.
The injured man was treated in hospital for what was described as a non-life threatening injury.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Making sense of conflicting data around Covid-19 deaths

Numbers can illuminate , or numbers can confuse .
The true scale of Covid-19 deaths is contested globally .
Equally @ @ @ @ @ mortality rates put the State high on some tables , and low on others .
@ @ @ @ @ of a big problem with Covid-19 data ?
Yes , there is a dazzling array @ @ @ @ @ amazing diagrams showing that disease curve , and brilliantly illustrative graphics .
Often , however @ @ @ @ @ political friction .

Numbers can illuminate, or numbers can confuse. The true scale of Covid-19 deaths is contested globally. Equally so in Ireland, where mortality rates put the State high on some tables, and low on others.
What is at the heart of a big problem with Covid-19 data?
Yes, there is a dazzling array of colour-coded interactive maps, amazing diagrams showing that disease curve, and brilliantly illustrative graphics. Often, however, they cause confusion and political friction.
Confronted by a mountain of constantly updating data, it is extremely challenging for a non-specialist to get an accurate read on the Covid-19 pandemic. Accuracy is the issue.
Without complete data, comparisons between countries cannot be entirely valid, whether for cases, test numbers or deaths. League tables, however, always create a temptation to make judgments.
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The problems are compounded by different countries being at different stages of dealing with the virus: the rising (exponential) phase, the flattening the curve stage, and the declining cases/deaths phase.
Why does accuracy matter?
Having data that can be relied upon is critical. Properly done, it helps to restrict spread, to identify clusters, to inform doctors and politicians about where problems will come, and when.
Now, accurate data, not opinions, is needed to guide the route out of lockdown, minimising the risks of a second wave of coronavirus coming in the autumn, or later.
Equally, accurate data is required to persuade people to make difficult decisions about their own lifestyles, and to stick with them even when boredom and frustration has set in.
Yet statistics are rarely perfect, especially in complex field of public health. So it becomes an exercise in probability, an evaluation of risk. It is not about producing perfect accuracy.
DCU professor of health systems Anthony Staines points to the big ongoing argument in the United States about people dying from coronavirus and dying with coronavirus.
If a person becomes seriously ill from Covid-19, gets kidney disease, and dies – while another is already dying and gets the disease, “the last little kick” provided by Covid-19 can push them over the edge.
“Everybody dies because their heart stops but that is not recorded as a cardiac death,” he adds. So when it comes to Covid-19, doctors know how to weigh up contributory factors and direct cause of death.
So what exactly is the problem with Covid-19 mortality rates?
Covid deaths have been subjected to distortions: some inadvertent; others deliberate. In the early stages of the pandemic, health services were overwhelmed, deaths were reported late – rates were clearly under-stated.
Some countries used different counting rules. Some counted Covid-19 deaths only if people died of it in hospitals, others excluded Covid-19 if there were serious underlying conditions.
Governments are always sensitive about international league tables, but they are even more prickly when it comes to Covid-19 mortality league tables, if they are featuring in the lower rungs.
"You don't need to be a genius to understand why Boris Johnson has ceased to publish details of how well Britain is doing compared to the rest of the Europe," the Guardian's economics editor Larry Elliott noted.
The accuracy of the UK’s numbers improved once the Office for National Statistics began issuing daily figures including deaths outside of hospitals, especially where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate as a factor.
Russian deaths could be 60 per cent higher than reported because health authorities are only including deaths of coronavirus-positive patients if pathologists said the virus directly caused death.
Distortion came in the form of nationalist leaders such as Donald Trump and Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro suppressing figures for propaganda purposes; insisting they had control of things.
Repeatedly, the US president claimed falsely that cases were inflated. The opposite was true. People who died at home or in a long-term care facility without making it to the hospital were initially not counted as Covid-19 deaths.
Moreover, the US’s community cases were much higher than reported, due to inadequate testing, while large numbers of people were dying at home without a doctor in attendance.
Many deaths were simply listed as “respiratory failure”, “pneumonia” or “multisystem organ failure”. This happened elsewhere, too, especially in the early stages where the virus was circulating unknown to anyone.
The true picture will take a year to emerge. Only then will it be truly known which countries backed the wrong horse by relying too much on herd immunity or less-aggressive testing and tracing.
It will also become clear if Sweden’s less restrictive approach will be considered enlightened or misguided. It had the highest coronavirus death rate in the world per capita over the past week after continuing to shun lockdown.
How should we read Irish Covid-19 death rates?
Let’s address the confusing, apparently bad indications first.
On "deaths per million", the Republic of Ireland is ranked at eighth in the world with 330 (as of May 25th); worse than US and Brazil. However, when it is based on deaths per 100,000, Ireland is in tenth place, with 31.9 cases.
Yet, if a "case fatality rate" measurement is used – the proportion of deaths compared to the total number of people diagnosed with Covid-19 for a certain period of time – Ireland stands at 29th place with 6.4 per cent. [https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/]
Ireland is among the top 10 EU countries for all Covid-19 deaths. But if only deaths in hospitals are counted, then Ireland falls to 13th. Currently, Ireland is among the world’s worst for deaths in nursing homes.
But the data coming from other countries is clearly suspect, so most comparisons are invalid. [https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality] Death tolls are influenced by the speed of the virus's spread, along with different reporting and testing rules. "Data sources may use country figures related to cases and populations recorded at different points in time," the Department of Health explains.
Putting those inevitable contradictions aside, Ireland has always followed detailed WHO guidance and advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
A death due to Covid-19, for example, “may not be attributed to another disease [such as cancer] and should be counted independently of pre-existing conditions that are suspected of triggering a severe case of Covid-19”.
Many countries are continuing to ignore deaths outside hospitals, says Staines. The UK wanted the lowest possible number reported. “Other countries were downright worse; they have told fairy tales,” he declared.
Undercounting is happening globally. “Excess deaths” – above and beyond what we would have expected to see under “normal” conditions – are about double official Covid-19 death counts.
So are Irish death rates reliable?
In short, yes, but with caveats. From the outset, NPHET reported all Covid-19 laboratory-confirmed deaths, in both hospital and community settings, unlike other countries that reported hospital deaths only.
In mid-April, Ireland broadened mortality reporting and included “probable” Covid-19 deaths as well as laboratory-confirmed ones, in line with changing WHO guidance.
However, registrations of deaths in Ireland can take three months. At one point, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan asked for quicker reporting in the interests of accuracy.
A mortality paper prepared by NPHET concludes mortality in Ireland "has been within the lower range in overall terms compared with other health systems across Europe".
In 11 countries where it is possible to adjust for population density, Ireland ranks third lowest and has a markedly lower mortality curve than the three highest-ranked countries (Spain, France and Italy).
What indicates reliability?
Writing in publicpolicy.ie, Dr Patrick Malone at UCD's Geary Institute analysed the actual and estimated number of Covid-19 deaths, concluding that Ireland's figures are robust, with reconcilable limitations.
During March and April, the daily number of new deaths rose steadily, peaking at 70 deaths in mid-April. “The exceptional number of deaths on April 24th was due to the inclusion of 185 ‘probable’ deaths to the official figures on this date,” wrote Dr Malone. “These represent deaths where a laboratory test has not been done but where a doctor believes a death is associated with Covid-19.”
Since then, the daily toll has fallen. However, the statistics clearly illustrated the pain felt in nursing homes and community residential centres, which have become the epicentre of the pandemic, not hospitals.
Confirming the reality, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan reported on May 18th that residential care clusters had jumped to 459. Of these, 258 had happened in nursing homes.
Residential care facilities accounted for 6,190 cases; 4,820 of these in nursing homes. Some 62.6 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths (969) were associated with residential care settings; 54.5 per cent (843) occurred in nursing homes alone.
When there is an inquiry – which is likely, given the scale of deaths, and in the interests of finding what we did right and what we got wrong – these will be the terrible statistics that tell much of the story.
Where does independent analysis on RIP.ie come in?
Under the State's regulations, deaths must be reported to the General Register Office within three months, which is slow by international standards. Ireland's official mortality statistics were last published in June.
"This is a very long window compared to other countries," says UCC economist Seamus Coffey, "That led me to wondering whether the RIP.ie website could serve as an informal real-time proxy of mortality for Ireland."
The RIP.ie figures are “a good proxy” for overall mortality, he believes, and show that official preliminary figures “are likely capturing close to the full extent of Covid-19 deaths in the country”.
“April 2020 was a particularly bad month for mortality since modern records began in 1960; it was the worst April in that period. 2020 now has more deaths than recent years,” Coffey adds.
And it can be believed that Covid-19 is responsible for the excess deaths because the number of excess deaths and the number of Covid-19 deaths are not so far apart, even allowing for the delay in registering deaths.
“Ireland has been reporting every death. The data is reliable; you can hang your hat on them [the figures],” says Staines, who highlights the “astronomical number of excess deaths” that have taken place in the UK.
Though not perfect, the Irish data offers reliable indicators. In his view, though, the numbers argue for a full-scale attempt to “crush” Covid-19, not just to contain it.
So, is there a better way to get a snapshot of Covid-19 deaths?
Financial Times data analyst John Burn-Murdoch says deaths-per-head tables are misleading, "because it tends to make smaller countries look like they are doing worse". Ireland clearly falls into that category.
Instead, he developed “an excess mortality tracker” that compares a country’s excess deaths and differences between mortality rates this year and previously.
The tracker revealed the UK had 54,000 more deaths than usual in March and April compared to 30,000 reported Covid-19 deaths at the time. His numbers this week prompted Spain to revise its own figures.
Applying the excess deaths standard, how should we to read differences between Northern Ireland and the Republic?
Comparing Covid-19 death rates north and south of the Border is a statistical minefield. It prompted social policy specialist Prof Mike Tomlinson to crunch the data and conclude Northern Ireland fatalities are "well above" those in the Republic – by the order of 41 to 50 per cent.
This prompted a sharp war of words in Northern Ireland. A casual comparison of “official” figures – deaths per million population – would suggest the Republic’s rate was much higher than the North’s.
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency data showed there were 599 excess deaths for the North by May 8th. While there are no comparable details for the South, he turned to Coffey's RIP.ie analysis.
“Coffey has shown that there is a remarkably close relationship between the official count of registered deaths and RIP.ie notices going back over five years,” Tomlinson notes.
What is revealed when you dig deeper on comparisons between the UK and Ireland?
Fully accepting the pitfalls that exist with international league tables, Dr Rory Dwyer, a critical care consultant at Beaumont Hospital, has, however, drawn other lessons from the numbers.
His analysis of raw figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and figures from a UK audit indicate that 23 per cent of patients in Irish ICU wards died, compared to 46 per cent in the UK.
The median age is the same in both countries – 60 years. So were the same type of patients “equally sick”? Dr Dwyer looked at ventilator numbers. Again, the differences are stark: 33 per cent (Ireland) mortality to 58 per cent (UK).
Trying to explain the gap, Dwyer believes Irish ICU units were not overwhelmed, though some came close. “It was really because of lockdown, and everybody geared up and was able to cope with what arrived.”
In the meantime, Dr Patrick Malone believes timely data on excess deaths, clusters and outbreaks are “very useful information in making crucial decisions about opening up the economy and in lifting restrictions”.
When will there be total clarity on Irish Covid-19 deaths?
The real measure of higher mortality during this time will be in figures from the Central Statistics Office later this year. They will take into account all deaths registered.
By then, detailed international numbers and the true human cost of the pandemic will be known. Politicians and countries that made wrong choices will be exposed. However, those same numbers will also offer lessons for the future.


theirishtimes--2020-05-30--Fortnite is keeping teenagers from falling through the cracks

Right now , Thomas McCarthy ’ s day job partly involves playing video games online for hours a day .
He ’ s not very good at these games , he says .
He ’ s doing it to keep in touch with the kids he works with in his real job , as a youth worker at the Core Youth Service in Inchicore .
At Core they deal with about 200 young people .
McCarthy ’ s official title is “ skills-based co-ordinator ” .
He is funded via the local drug and alcohol task force and works specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of drug addiction and associated risks such as early school-leaving , crime and gang grooming .
He has a list of about 30 kids , he says .
“ All are at risk.
” Durin the lockdown , he has kept in touch with them by getting them together for Fifa , Fortnite and Zoom sessions with him and another youth worker , where they talk as they play .
He contacted me when there was heavy media coverage of the Leaving Cert – a conversation that was not relevant to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis , his job involved a combination of outreach “ street work ” and group work at Core ’ s youth centre .
At Core there ’ s a bright recreational space with pool tables and table tennis tables where young people can just hang out .
They also established a workshop and find that getting the kids into fixing and building bikes is another crucial way to get them engaged .
“ They ’ re mad for the bikes .
.
I ’ ve built about 20 fixies at this stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them .
[ But ] the bikes are just a tool to get the young people in the door.
” Cycling is huge for these kids .
Core has a fleet of mountain bikes , a trailer and a minibus and the youngsters regularly go for cycles through the Phoenix Park .
They sometimes go for longer trips .
They ’ ve gone to the Achill Greenway in Co Mayo a couple of times , and last year a group of them went to Morocco to undertake bike workshops with kids who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have also participated in jiu jitsu , rugby and football programmes , and McCarthy runs a “ reduce the use ” programme to help young people with habitual drug use .
Doing activities like this creates a low-pressure space where kids can speak about their feelings or worries with trustworthy adults like McCarthy .
A lot of what they do is about keeping kids in some form of education .
Some of these kids end up getting expelled .
“ We try holding them in a learning space with tutors and skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school , ” says McCarthy .
“ I spent a whole day yesterday talking to teachers and home school liaisons .
The schools are saying that they ’ re sending [ homework ] home .
Some kids aren ’ t doing it .
Other kids don ’ t have the resources – good wifi or laptops .
We understand there needs to be a focus on the Leaving Cert but the kids we have hanging on by the fingernails are the ones that will drop out .
Five or six months of no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disadvantaged kids who need directed learning.
” Without these activities and a safe place to go , McCarthy worries about them .
Consequently , he ’ s goggle-eyed from playing Fortnite while simultaneously minding his young daughter .
“ Are you talking to your young people ?
” she asks when I call .
Staff at Core are attempting everything they can think of to keep the kids connected .
The week I ring they held a St Pat ’ s football club-themed quiz night on Zoom with the help of a community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They also hold film nights where they watch a film followed by a quiz about the film ( the winner gets a pizza sent to their home ) .
“ The movie this week was Michael Inside , about a kid who went to prison because of the choices he made .
We pick films that would have an impact .
Everything we do is messaging.
” He talks generally about the kids , careful that he doesn ’ t identify or stigmatise any of them .
Some have parents with drug issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been led astray by peers .
Some are in unsuitable accommodation that is very difficult to quarantine in .
He mentions an undocumented family where a 19-year-old child of addicts has been left to look after her younger siblings in unsuitable homeless accommodation .
“ We get food delivered for them every Friday , just something to look forward to .
It ’ s the most compassionate thing we can do .
The oldest is in college .
Her sister was doing the Junior Cert .
We also got them a laptop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study.
” Not all of these young people are socially isolating , he says .
“ I was going out to Lidl the other day and drove past five or six of the young people I work with.
” For some , he says , “ it ’ s safer outside than inside because there ’ s violence and toxicity in the house.
” McCarthy is worried .
“ All we ’ re doing at the moment is holding them , giving them something to get involved in , trying to keep a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is undermining everything that we ’ ve done .
So the video games are necessary , he says .
“ If you ask a direct question , they get emotional and get uncomfortable and don ’ t talk to you .
If you ’ re playing Fifa or Fortnite and you have them on the headset you can start a bit of a conversation .
A young person rarely rings you up directly to tell you something is wrong .
They start with something else and they get to it .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some of them ; the relationship has got to a point where they talk about anything.
” He has to think about each young person ’ s individual needs .
Some struggle with boredom .
Some with loneliness .
Some with diet issues .
There ’ s one kid that the others won ’ t play with .
“ He ’ s always on his own and gets isolated even on the internet .
It ’ s very sad when you think of it .
We play together as a team .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other but there ’ s always an underlying current of what I ’ m trying to achieve , a conversation about what ’ s going on in their life and offering support .
I might be playing for two or three hours .
I ’ m wrecked after it.
” Is it hard to explain to his family that this is actually work ?
He laughs .
“ It ’ s hard to explain to myself , sometimes.
” Core values : the kids in the programme Michael 15-year-old Michael lives with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s been going to Core since he was 11 and has built his own bike at the bike workshops .
He misses football and he misses the youth centre .
“ There ’ s pool tables and a ping-pong table .
.
.
You miss it when it ’ s closed .
You can drop in and have a chat with Thomas any time there ’ s something on your mind .
He helps us to keep on the straight road.
” But , says Michael , McCarthy is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help him with everything.
” April April is 19 and recently left the care system .
She lives in Tallaght now and is studying animal welfare in Dún Laoghaire but , inspired by the people she has met at Core , she has decided to do a course in youth and community development in Liberties College .
In more normal times she cycles from Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire and then to Inchicore to volunteer at the youth service .
She ’ s a junior leader on the bike programme and went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morocco last year .
“ If I didn ’ t have those supports and services , I ’ d not be the same person .
You might feel really alone and have no one to confide in [ and ] 90 per cent of the time they say , ‘ Let ’ s sort it out.
’ They dissect a problem and help find a solution .
A lot of people are missing out on a lot of supports now because of the lockdown.
” Mark Fifteen-year-old Mark lives with his mother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They were playing Fortnite with McCarthy before I call .
What do they talk about ?
“ He asks what ’ s going on a daily basis and he asks are we doing our homework.
” Is Mark doing his homework ?
“ They ’ re sending me work to do on the laptop but I can ’ t do it because I ’ ve got no laptop .
Thomas rang the school and told them.
” He misses the bike programme .
He went on a cycling trip to Achill Island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it ?
“ The views .
The mountains.
” Colm Colm is 16 and is getting very tired of the lockdown .
“ In my opinion I think things need to go back to normal .
I miss going down to the boys at the youth project , messing and playing football.
” He lives with his mother and two younger siblings and has been going to Core since he was 11 .
“ It changed my perspective on people .
I used laugh at people – now I feel sympathy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a different one where things are going well .
He can talk to McCarthy , he says .
“ I trust him .
But I also slag him and he slags me back ...
He comes out with freaky shit .
He ’ s gas .
I called him last Sunday .
Thomas doesn ’ t work on a Sunday but he was still there .
He still picked up the phone.
” Core Youth Service is open to donations , including donations of laptops and tablets .

‘If you’re playing Fifa or Fortnite and you have them on the headset you can start a bit of a conversation,’ says Thomas McCarthy of Core youth services.
Right now, Thomas McCarthy’s day job partly involves playing video games online for hours a day. He’s not very good at these games, he says. He’s doing it to keep in touch with the kids he works with in his real job, as a youth worker at the Core Youth Service in Inchicore.
At Core they deal with about 200 young people. McCarthy’s official title is “skills-based co-ordinator”. He is funded via the local drug and alcohol task force and works specifically with young people considered to be at risk of drug addiction and associated risks such as early school-leaving, crime and gang grooming . He has a list of about 30 kids, he says. “All are at risk.”
They're mad for the bikes... But the bikes are just a tool to get the young people in the door
Durin the lockdown, he has kept in touch with them by getting them together for Fifa, Fortnite and Zoom sessions with him and another youth worker, where they talk as they play. He contacted me when there was heavy media coverage of the Leaving Cert – a conversation that was not relevant to the young people he works with.
Before the crisis, his job involved a combination of outreach “street work” and group work at Core’s youth centre. At Core there’s a bright recreational space with pool tables and table tennis tables where young people can just hang out. They also established a workshop and find that getting the kids into fixing and building bikes is another crucial way to get them engaged.
READ MORE
“They’re mad for the bikes . . I’ve built about 20 fixies at this stage. We do six- or seven-week programmes with them. [But] the bikes are just a tool to get the young people in the door.”
Mountain bikes
Cycling is huge for these kids. Core has a fleet of mountain bikes, a trailer and a minibus and the youngsters regularly go for cycles through the Phoenix Park. They sometimes go for longer trips. They’ve gone to the Achill Greenway in Co Mayo a couple of times, and last year a group of them went to Morocco to undertake bike workshops with kids who had even less than they do. They have also participated in jiu jitsu, rugby and football programmes, and McCarthy runs a “reduce the use” programme to help young people with habitual drug use.
Doing activities like this creates a low-pressure space where kids can speak about their feelings or worries with trustworthy adults like McCarthy. A lot of what they do is about keeping kids in some form of education. Some of these kids end up getting expelled.
“We try holding them in a learning space with tutors and skills programmes until they can go back into school,” says McCarthy. “I spent a whole day yesterday talking to teachers and home school liaisons. The schools are saying that they’re sending [homework] home. Some kids aren’t doing it. Other kids don’t have the resources – good wifi or laptops. We understand there needs to be a focus on the Leaving Cert but the kids we have hanging on by the fingernails are the ones that will drop out. Five or six months of no schoolwork is a long time for very disadvantaged kids who need directed learning.”
The movie this week was Michael Inside, about a kid who went to prison because of the choices he made
Without these activities and a safe place to go, McCarthy worries about them. Consequently, he’s goggle-eyed from playing Fortnite while simultaneously minding his young daughter. “Are you talking to your young people?” she asks when I call.
Quiz night
Staff at Core are attempting everything they can think of to keep the kids connected. The week I ring they held a St Pat’s football club-themed quiz night on Zoom with the help of a community worker at St Pat’s. They also hold film nights where they watch a film followed by a quiz about the film (the winner gets a pizza sent to their home). “The movie this week was Michael Inside, about a kid who went to prison because of the choices he made. We pick films that would have an impact. Everything we do is messaging.”
He talks generally about the kids, careful that he doesn’t identify or stigmatise any of them. Some have parents with drug issues. Others have very supportive families but have been led astray by peers. Some are in unsuitable accommodation that is very difficult to quarantine in.
He mentions an undocumented family where a 19-year-old child of addicts has been left to look after her younger siblings in unsuitable homeless accommodation. “We get food delivered for them every Friday, just something to look forward to. It’s the most compassionate thing we can do. The oldest is in college. Her sister was doing the Junior Cert. We also got them a laptop and some old tablets so they could study.”
All we're doing at the moment is holding them, giving them something to get involved in, trying to keep a connection
Not all of these young people are socially isolating, he says.
“I was going out to Lidl the other day and drove past five or six of the young people I work with.”
For some, he says, “it’s safer outside than inside because there’s violence and toxicity in the house.”
McCarthy is worried. “All we’re doing at the moment is holding them, giving them something to get involved in, trying to keep a connection. But [the lockdown] is undermining everything that we’ve done.
Necessary
So the video games are necessary, he says. “If you ask a direct question, they get emotional and get uncomfortable and don’t talk to you. If you’re playing Fifa or Fortnite and you have them on the headset you can start a bit of a conversation. A young person rarely rings you up directly to tell you something is wrong. They start with something else and they get to it. I’ve been working four or five years with some of them; the relationship has got to a point where they talk about anything.”
He has to think about each young person’s individual needs. Some struggle with boredom. Some with loneliness. Some with diet issues. There’s one kid that the others won’t play with.
“He’s always on his own and gets isolated even on the internet. It’s very sad when you think of it. We play together as a team. We have a bit of crack slagging each other but there’s always an underlying current of what I’m trying to achieve, a conversation about what’s going on in their life and offering support. I might be playing for two or three hours. I’m wrecked after it.”
Is it hard to explain to his family that this is actually work?
He laughs. “It’s hard to explain to myself, sometimes.”
Core values: the kids in the programme
Michael
15-year-old Michael lives with his father, his grandmother and uncle. He's been going to Core since he was 11 and has built his own bike at the bike workshops. He misses football and he misses the youth centre. "There's pool tables and a ping-pong table . . . You miss it when it's closed. You can drop in and have a chat with Thomas any time there's something on your mind. He helps us to keep on the straight road." But, says Michael, McCarthy is "very bad at Fortnite. I have to help him with everything."
April
April is 19 and recently left the care system. She lives in Tallaght now and is studying animal welfare in Dún Laoghaire but, inspired by the people she has met at Core, she has decided to do a course in youth and community development in Liberties College. In more normal times she cycles from Tallaght to Dún Laoghaire and then to Inchicore to volunteer at the youth service. She's a junior leader on the bike programme and went on the bike programme's trip to Morocco last year.
“If I didn’t have those supports and services, I’d not be the same person. You might feel really alone and have no one to confide in [and] 90 per cent of the time they say, ‘Let’s sort it out.’ They dissect a problem and help find a solution. A lot of people are missing out on a lot of supports now because of the lockdown.”
Mark
Fifteen-year-old Mark lives with his mother, his younger brother and his twin brother. They were playing Fortnite with McCarthy before I call. What do they talk about? "He asks what's going on a daily basis and he asks are we doing our homework."
Is Mark doing his homework? “They’re sending me work to do on the laptop but I can’t do it because I’ve got no laptop. Thomas rang the school and told them.”
He misses the bike programme. He went on a cycling trip to Achill Island last year. What did he like about it? “The views. The mountains.”
Colm
Colm is 16 and is getting very tired of the lockdown. "In my opinion I think things need to go back to normal. I miss going down to the boys at the youth project, messing and playing football."
He lives with his mother and two younger siblings and has been going to Core since he was 11. “It changed my perspective on people. I used laugh at people – now I feel sympathy for them.”
McCarthy helped him get enrolled in a different one where things are going well. He can talk to McCarthy, he says. “I trust him. But I also slag him and he slags me back... He comes out with freaky shit. He’s gas. I called him last Sunday. Thomas doesn’t work on a Sunday but he was still there. He still picked up the phone.”
Core Youth Service is open to donations, including donations of laptops and tablets.
[ core-ys.com ]