theirishtimes--2020-10-17--One hundred years ago: The first IRA prisoner dies on hunger strike

One hundred years ago today , Michael Fitzgerald , a high-ranking IRA officer , became the first republican to die on hunger strike during the Irish War of Independence .
While greatly eclipsed in historical and republican memory by the lord mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney who died a week later , Fitzgerald was still fondly remembered by his contemporaries and within his own community .
One such individual was his old comrade in the Cork IRA , Liam Lynch .
At the outset of the Civil War , in which he led the anti-Treaty IRA as its chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his Free State captors , “ … when I die tell my people I want to be buried with Fitzgerald of Fermoy… The greatest friend I ever had on this Earth ” .
Born to a large brood in his native Ballyoran , north Cork , in December 1881 , Fitzgerald grew up in an area affected by land agitation and personally sought out tales of the 1867 Fenian Rising from locals .
Settling in the village of Clondulane as a mill worker , Fitzgerald was heavily involved in the local GAA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and was centrally involved in the centenary of the 1798 rebellion in Fermoy .
On 1917 , radicalised by the events of Easter Week , Fitzgerald joined the Fermoy company of the newly revitalised Irish Volunteers as their quartermaster .
On January 6th , 1919 , at the outset of the War of Independence , Fitzgerald became officer commanding of the Fermoy battalion of Cork No 2 Brigade , otherwise known as the North Cork Brigade .
Arms as always remained a high priority .
On Easter Sunday , April 20th 1919 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Araglen company who engaged in an arms raid on the Araglen RIC Barracks .
The sole policeman on duty was held unharmed until the departure of the volunteers following the raiding of the barracks .
This raid added to the battalion ’ s arsenal a further six rifles , a Webley revolver and a considerable amount of ammunition .
Early in June 1919 , Fitzgerald was arrested at his place of employment , the flour mills in Clondulane .
His arrest was the result of raids and searches by both army and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Araglen barracks .
A further raid on the house where Fitzgerald stayed revealed a quantity of ammunition .
Being held in 24 hour solitary confinement in Cork Jail – a fate shared by other republican prisoners at the time – took its psychological toll on the genial Fitzgerald , who was released towards the end of August .
On September 7th , 1919 , Liam Lynch led members of the Cork No 2 Brigade in what because known as the Fermoy ambush ; an attempt by the volunteers to seize arms belonging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shropshire regiment as they made their way to a local church .
As part of the operation , Fitzgerald was in one of the cars that collected the seized arms .
The successful ambush in Fermoy saw the death of Private William Jones , a member of the South Shropshire regiment .
Fitzgerald returned to his residence on Clondulane that evening , where he was arrested by soldiers and police in the early hours of the following morning .
Fitzgerald , along with four others , was confined to cells in the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Private Jones ’ death the following morning in which the verdict was determined by the jury to be unpremeditated , around 200 members of Jones ’ regiment attacked business premises and residences in Fermoy that night .
From September , men arrested for their part in the ambush , including Fitzgerald , were remanded at weekly intervals and often paraded for identification purposes , in a convoluted legal process that continued until the following April when he was finally charged with the murder of Private Jones .
At a court sitting in Derry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fitzgerald and two others were deemed to be responsible for the killing of Jones and remanded again to Cork Jail .
On August 11th , Fitzgerald , along with ten others ( and a day later joined by MacSwiney , subsequently deported to Brixton Prison ) , began a hunger strike in protest at the republicans ’ continued imprisonment .
Hunger strike had been used as another tool in republicans ’ battle with the British authorities at both Mountjoy Jail and Wormwood Scrubs prisons the previous April , but nobody had died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was soon to find the British authorities were determined not to concede on this occasion .
By the beginning of the hunger strike , Fitzgerald had been eleven months in custody .
One week into his strike , Fitzgerald told a visiting friend : “ This strike is a fight to the finish .
We shall continue to refuse food until our demands are met otherwise we ’ ll never leave this place alive.
” By September 22nd , Fitzgerald was emaciated and his body badly wasted .
On September 30th , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the severe ulceration of his stomach .
For several days , he could not keep down water .
A weakened Fitzgerald at this time said to a relative : “ I have no complaint to make .
They have offered me medical assistance which I refused .
I am sorry to be such a cause of pain and anxiety to my relatives and friends .
I am looking forward to death as a release from this suffering .
I beg God for mercy and for strength to sustain me in this struggle.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prison was his fiancée Ciss Condon .
Friends of Fitzgerald attempted to arrange for the couple to be married in the prison , Fitzgerald even securing a wedding ring which he kept under his pillow .
However , the authorities got wind of this attempt , and threatened that if the wedding were to take place , all further visits to the striking prisoners would be halted .
Not wanting to deprive the other prisoners of this privilege , Fitzgerald and Condon agreed to not proceed with the marriage .
By October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drink of water , and his sight and hearing began to fade .
Over the next few days he was in a semi-conscious state and on the 15th lapsed into unconsciousness .
On the morning of October 17th , the 67th day of his hunger strike , Michael Fitzgerald died surrounded by priests and nuns reciting the rosary , joined by crowds gathered outside the prison .
Fitzgerald was 38-years-old .
His comrade in Cork Jail , Joseph Murphy , would follow on October 25th , along with MacSwiney in Britxon on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of October 18th , Fitzgerald was taken from the jail to St Peter and Paul ’ s church in Cork city .
During the following morning mass , the ceremony was briefly interrupted by a contingent of British soldiers , their officer telling the officiating priest only a hundred mourners could follow the coffin on departure , and not in military formation .
From Cork City , Fitzgerald ’ s coffin was taken to Fermoy for a funeral service in St Patrick ’ s Church .
Arrangements were made for Liam Lynch , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his respects on the night prior to the burial .
Contemporary news reports in October 1920 refer to an impressive crowd in the town to see off Fitzgerald who was buried in what became the Republican plot in the local Kilkrumper cemetery .
After the dispersal of the crowd , a firing party of the Fermoy Battalion fired three volleys over Fitzgerald ’ s grave as a tribute to their late commanding officer .
Fitzgerald ’ s memory remained cherished by his comrades in the Cork IRA and a memorial to his memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of note , by April 1923 , at the latter ’ s request , Fitzgerald was to be joined in the Republican Plot with the remains of his onetime comrade-in-arms , Liam Lynch .
Gerard Shannon is a historian who resides in Skerries , Co Dublin .
He is currently developing a biography of IRA chief-of-staff Liam Lynch to see publication by Merrion Press in 2022 .

One hundred years ago today, Michael Fitzgerald, a high-ranking IRA officer, became the first republican to die on hunger strike during the Irish War of Independence.
While greatly eclipsed in historical and republican memory by the lord mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney who died a week later, Fitzgerald was still fondly remembered by his contemporaries and within his own community.
One such individual was his old comrade in the Cork IRA, Liam Lynch. At the outset of the Civil War, in which he led the anti-Treaty IRA as its chief of staff, a mortally wounded Lynch requested of his Free State captors, "… when I die tell my people I want to be buried with Fitzgerald of Fermoy… The greatest friend I ever had on this Earth".
Born to a large brood in his native Ballyoran, north Cork, in December 1881, Fitzgerald grew up in an area affected by land agitation and personally sought out tales of the 1867 Fenian Rising from locals.
READ MORE
Settling in the village of Clondulane as a mill worker, Fitzgerald was heavily involved in the local GAA and Gaelic League in the surrounding area, and was centrally involved in the centenary of the 1798 rebellion in Fermoy.
On 1917, radicalised by the events of Easter Week, Fitzgerald joined the Fermoy company of the newly revitalised Irish Volunteers as their quartermaster. On January 6th, 1919, at the outset of the War of Independence, Fitzgerald became officer commanding of the Fermoy battalion of Cork No 2 Brigade, otherwise known as the North Cork Brigade.
Arms as always remained a high priority. On Easter Sunday, April 20th 1919, Fitzgerald took charge of members of the Araglen company who engaged in an arms raid on the Araglen RIC Barracks.
Rifles
The sole policeman on duty was held unharmed until the departure of the volunteers following the raiding of the barracks. This raid added to the battalion’s arsenal a further six rifles, a Webley revolver and a considerable amount of ammunition.
Early in June 1919, Fitzgerald was arrested at his place of employment, the flour mills in Clondulane. His arrest was the result of raids and searches by both army and police in the area following the raid at Araglen barracks. A further raid on the house where Fitzgerald stayed revealed a quantity of ammunition.
Being held in 24 hour solitary confinement in Cork Jail – a fate shared by other republican prisoners at the time – took its psychological toll on the genial Fitzgerald, who was released towards the end of August.
On September 7th, 1919, Liam Lynch led members of the Cork No 2 Brigade in what because known as the Fermoy ambush; an attempt by the volunteers to seize arms belonging to members of the locally based South Shropshire regiment as they made their way to a local church.
As part of the operation, Fitzgerald was in one of the cars that collected the seized arms. The successful ambush in Fermoy saw the death of Private William Jones, a member of the South Shropshire regiment.
Fitzgerald returned to his residence on Clondulane that evening, where he was arrested by soldiers and police in the early hours of the following morning. Fitzgerald, along with four others, was confined to cells in the local RIC barracks.
Following the inquest into Private Jones’ death the following morning in which the verdict was determined by the jury to be unpremeditated, around 200 members of Jones’ regiment attacked business premises and residences in Fermoy that night.
From September, men arrested for their part in the ambush, including Fitzgerald, were remanded at weekly intervals and often paraded for identification purposes, in a convoluted legal process that continued until the following April when he was finally charged with the murder of Private Jones.
Cork Jail
At a court sitting in Derry that July, though others were acquitted, Fitzgerald and two others were deemed to be responsible for the killing of Jones and remanded again to Cork Jail.
On August 11th, Fitzgerald, along with ten others (and a day later joined by MacSwiney, subsequently deported to Brixton Prison), began a hunger strike in protest at the republicans' continued imprisonment.
Hunger strike had been used as another tool in republicans’ battle with the British authorities at both Mountjoy Jail and Wormwood Scrubs prisons the previous April, but nobody had died.
Fitzgerald, leading the strike, was soon to find the British authorities were determined not to concede on this occasion. By the beginning of the hunger strike, Fitzgerald had been eleven months in custody.
One week into his strike, Fitzgerald told a visiting friend: “This strike is a fight to the finish. We shall continue to refuse food until our demands are met otherwise we’ll never leave this place alive.”
By September 22nd, Fitzgerald was emaciated and his body badly wasted. On September 30th, he took a turn for the worse due to the severe ulceration of his stomach. For several days, he could not keep down water.
A weakened Fitzgerald at this time said to a relative: “I have no complaint to make. They have offered me medical assistance which I refused. I am sorry to be such a cause of pain and anxiety to my relatives and friends. I am looking forward to death as a release from this suffering. I beg God for mercy and for strength to sustain me in this struggle.”
One frequent visitor to Fitzgerald in the prison was his fiancée Ciss Condon. Friends of Fitzgerald attempted to arrange for the couple to be married in the prison, Fitzgerald even securing a wedding ring which he kept under his pillow.
However, the authorities got wind of this attempt, and threatened that if the wedding were to take place, all further visits to the striking prisoners would be halted. Not wanting to deprive the other prisoners of this privilege, Fitzgerald and Condon agreed to not proceed with the marriage.
Sight and hearing
By October 10th, Fitzgerald was unable to take a drink of water, and his sight and hearing began to fade. Over the next few days he was in a semi-conscious state and on the 15th lapsed into unconsciousness.
On the morning of October 17th, the 67th day of his hunger strike, Michael Fitzgerald died surrounded by priests and nuns reciting the rosary, joined by crowds gathered outside the prison.
Fitzgerald was 38-years-old. His comrade in Cork Jail, Joseph Murphy, would follow on October 25th, along with MacSwiney in Britxon on the same date.
On the evening of October 18th, Fitzgerald was taken from the jail to St Peter and Paul’s church in Cork city. During the following morning mass, the ceremony was briefly interrupted by a contingent of British soldiers, their officer telling the officiating priest only a hundred mourners could follow the coffin on departure, and not in military formation.
From Cork City, Fitzgerald’s coffin was taken to Fermoy for a funeral service in St Patrick’s Church. Arrangements were made for Liam Lynch, then on the run, to pay his respects on the night prior to the burial.
Contemporary news reports in October 1920 refer to an impressive crowd in the town to see off Fitzgerald who was buried in what became the Republican plot in the local Kilkrumper cemetery.
After the dispersal of the crowd, a firing party of the Fermoy Battalion fired three volleys over Fitzgerald’s grave as a tribute to their late commanding officer.
Fitzgerald’s memory remained cherished by his comrades in the Cork IRA and a memorial to his memory eventually erected in Fermoy town centre. Of note, by April 1923, at the latter’s request, Fitzgerald was to be joined in the Republican Plot with the remains of his onetime comrade-in-arms, Liam Lynch.
Gerard Shannon is a historian who resides in Skerries, Co Dublin. He is currently developing a biography of IRA chief-of-staff Liam Lynch to see publication by Merrion Press in 2022.


theirishtimes--2020-10-17--Man accused of attacking six women in Belfast apologises, court hears

A man accused of a series of attacks on women in Belfast has made full admissions and offered apologies to the victims , a court heard today .
Dermott McIlveen ( 38 ) also expressed “ extreme regret and remorse ” for the spate of stabbings and assaults on Monday night , his lawyer said .
Four women sustained knife wounds while two others were punched by a man on a bicycle in parts of central and south Belfast .
Police said none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries but were left deeply traumatised .
Patrols were stepped up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a major operation to locate the attacker .
Mr McIlveen , of Carrigart Avenue in the west of the city , was subsequently arrested and charged with five counts of assault causing actual bodily harm , attempted grievous bodily harm with intent , and possession of an offensive weapon – namely a knife .
Appearing remotely at Belfast Magistrates ’ Court from a PSNI custody suite , he spoke only to confirm that he understood the allegations against him .
Defence solicitor Brian Archer said Mr McIlveen was not making an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosed : “ Mr McIlveen has made full admissions to all offences during interview .
“ He has expressed extreme regret and remorse , and offers apologies to the victims.
” Mr Archer added that he has made arrangements for his client to undergo a full mental health assessment .
District Judge John Meehan remanded Mr McIlveen in custody to appear again on November 13th .

Dermott McIlveen (38) expressed ‘extreme regret and remorse’, his lawyer said.
A man accused of a series of attacks on women in Belfast has made full admissions and offered apologies to the victims, a court heard today.
Dermott McIlveen (38) also expressed “extreme regret and remorse” for the spate of stabbings and assaults on Monday night, his lawyer said.
Four women sustained knife wounds while two others were punched by a man on a bicycle in parts of central and south Belfast.
Police said none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries but were left deeply traumatised.
READ MORE
Patrols were stepped up and CCTV images of the suspect released as part of a major operation to locate the attacker.
Mr McIlveen, of Carrigart Avenue in the west of the city, was subsequently arrested and charged with five counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of an offensive weapon – namely a knife.
Appearing remotely at Belfast Magistrates’ Court from a PSNI custody suite, he spoke only to confirm that he understood the allegations against him.
Defence solicitor Brian Archer said Mr McIlveen was not making an application for bail.
The lawyer also disclosed: “Mr McIlveen has made full admissions to all offences during interview.
“He has expressed extreme regret and remorse, and offers apologies to the victims.”
Mr Archer added that he has made arrangements for his client to undergo a full mental health assessment.
District Judge John Meehan remanded Mr McIlveen in custody to appear again on November 13th.


theirishtimes--2020-10-17--Man attempting to swim around Ireland from Donegal reaches Down

A Donegal swimmer who is aiming to become the first to circumnavigate Ireland has paid tribute to the support of local people as he arrived in Co Down .
Henry O ’ Donnell ( 56 ) started his marathon swim at Carrickfin beach in Co Donegal last month with the aid of fins and a wetsuit after four years of training .
The father-of-six is raising money for charities the Irish Cancer Society and Water Safety Ireland during his epic challenge .
Mr O ’ Donnell said he has been swimming between three to 10 miles a day , depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging stretches of water including Tory Island , Malin Head and the sound of Rathlin where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Irish Sea .
“ Each day when I go out to swim I try to swim as far as I can ... it ’ s different distances each day , ” he said .
“ I have a tracking system on and the public can track it online.
” He will now continue south and expects to arrive in the waters around Dublin in around three weeks time , with the aim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr O ’ Donnell said he has been warmly welcomed from the chilly waters by local people all along his route .
“ The welcome has been amazing and the support of everybody , ” he said .
He added : “ These are two very important charities for the island of Ireland because people benefit from both .
Mr O ’ Donnell arrived on the north Down coast shortly after the death of sea swimmer Mary Feeney , an artist who was originally from his native Donegal .
He joined a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I dedicated the swim the day before yesterday to Mary Feeney , we will remember her , ” he said .
Marie-Therese Davis Hanson and her husband Stephen were among members of swimming group the Brompton Belles and Beaux who greeted Mr O ’ Donnell at Bangor Marina .
They presented him with a club woolly hat , declaring him an honorary beaux .
“ We heard about Henry ’ s challenge and thought it was a fantastic cause so we thought we ’ d come down to welcome him and share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him out in any way we can on his swim , ” Ms Davis-Hanson said .
Mr O ’ Donnell is no stranger to challenges , having previously become the first Irishman to swim the 14km around Tory Island , and later completed the 38km Donegal Coastal Challenge Swim in 1997 .
– PA His progress can be tracked on the challenge website http : //finswim2020.com/

A Donegal swimmer who is aiming to become the first to circumnavigate Ireland has paid tribute to the support of local people as he arrived in Co Down.
Henry O’Donnell (56) started his marathon swim at Carrickfin beach in Co Donegal last month with the aid of fins and a wetsuit after four years of training.
The father-of-six is raising money for charities the Irish Cancer Society and Water Safety Ireland during his epic challenge.
Mr O’Donnell said he has been swimming between three to 10 miles a day, depending on conditions.
READ MORE
He has conquered some challenging stretches of water including Tory Island, Malin Head and the sound of Rathlin where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Irish Sea.
“Each day when I go out to swim I try to swim as far as I can... it’s different distances each day,” he said.
“I have a tracking system on and the public can track it online.”
He will now continue south and expects to arrive in the waters around Dublin in around three weeks time, with the aim of completing the swim within a year.
Mr O’Donnell said he has been warmly welcomed from the chilly waters by local people all along his route.
“The welcome has been amazing and the support of everybody,” he said.
He added: “These are two very important charities for the island of Ireland because people benefit from both.
“Two very worthy causes.”
Mr O'Donnell arrived on the north Down coast shortly after the death of sea swimmer Mary Feeney, an artist who was originally from his native Donegal.
He joined a vigil in her memory in Bangor.
“I dedicated the swim the day before yesterday to Mary Feeney, we will remember her,” he said.
Marie-Therese Davis Hanson and her husband Stephen were among members of swimming group the Brompton Belles and Beaux who greeted Mr O’Donnell at Bangor Marina.
They presented him with a club woolly hat, declaring him an honorary beaux.
“We heard about Henry’s challenge and thought it was a fantastic cause so we thought we’d come down to welcome him and share some of our knowledge, and help him out in any way we can on his swim,” Ms Davis-Hanson said.
Mr O'Donnell is no stranger to challenges, having previously become the first Irishman to swim the 14km around Tory Island, and later completed the 38km Donegal Coastal Challenge Swim in 1997. – PA
His progress can be tracked on the challenge website http://finswim2020.com/


theirishtimes--2020-10-17--Northern Ireland records 1,031 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths

There have been 1,031 new Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland in the last 24-hour reporting period , the Department of @ @ @ @ @ the total to 26,208 .
This includes 6,891 new positive cases notified in the last @ @ @ @ @ 231 patients with Covid-19 being treated in hospital , with 27 in intensive care .
@ @ @ @ @ on Saturday , taking the toll recorded by the department to 610 .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ new Covid-19 cases , its highest daily total yet , ahead of the introduction of @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus .
Two more deaths were reported on Friday , bringing @ @ @ @ @ to 608 .
- PA

There have been 1,031 new Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland in the last 24-hour reporting period, the Department of Health has announced, bringing the total to 26,208.
This includes 6,891 new positive cases notified in the last seven days.
There are 231 patients with Covid-19 being treated in hospital, with 27 in intensive care.
Hospital Report
There were two deaths reported on Saturday, taking the toll recorded by the department to 610.
READ MORE
On Friday, Northern Ireland recorded 1,299 new Covid-19 cases, its highest daily total yet, ahead of the introduction of new restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the virus.
Two more deaths were reported on Friday, bringing the official number of fatalities to 608. - PA


theirishtimes--2020-10-17--Coronavirus: Eight further deaths and 1,276 new Covid-19 cases reported

Eight further deaths and 1,276 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the State this evening .
One of the deaths occurred in June , two were in September and five in October .
There have now been a total of 1,849 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland .
Northern Ireland has recorded 1,031 new Covid-19 cases and two more deaths .
Of the cases notified in the Republic today 644 are men and 631 are women .
with 69 per cent under 45 years of age .
The median age is 31 years .
A total of 278 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cork ; 108 in Meath ; 107 in Galway ; 80 in Wexford , and the remaining 554 cases were spread across 21 counties .
As of 2pm today 260 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised , of which 30 are in ICU , with 12 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours .
Earlier , it emerged that the confirmed number of cases in hospital and intensive care units ( ICUs ) remains steady despite the recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases .
As of 8am on Saturday morning , there were 260 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) .
This was 16 more than the 244 that were in hospital at 8am on Friday morning .
However , the number of patients with Covid-19 is very fluid .
There were 19 admissions and 18 discharges in the 24 hours .
The number of people in ICU has also remained steady over the last week with 30 people in intensive care units as of 8am .
There was one admission and one discharge from ICUs .
There are currently 31 ICU beds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently 31 patients with Covid-19 in Cavan General Hospital , 23 in Cork University Hospital and 19 in Tallaght .
Reacting to the latest hospital figures , HSE chief executive Paul Reid said he had spoken to hospital managers and consultants .
Their feedback was that they were “ coping but under pressure ” and trying to protect non-Covid care .
He also stated there was concern among hospital managers that increased community transmission would lead to health service staff getting sick “ at a key time when we need them ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reiterated that the key to getting the virus under control is the behaviour of each of us .
Speaking on the Saturday on RTÉ ’ s Katie Hannon Show , HSE infectious disease specialist Dr Anne Dee said “ we are looking at a very difficult period ahead ” and that we could still be looking at a similar situation in Italy earlier on in the year when hospitals were overwhelmed with cases .
Dr Dee said the recent data suggests that Covid-19 is going back into the older age group .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a position of not being able to cope and our health services being overwhelmed , ” she said .
“ The trajectory is very frighteningly upwards .
In the last couple of weeks we have seen Covid-19 in households .
We are seeing it now going back into nursing homes .
A lot of it goes back to mixing and socialising with alcohol , ” he said .
“ We need to call a halt at this point and get it back under control.
” Speaking during the week , the HSE ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the stabilisation of numbers in ICU units is as a result of the virus affecting a younger cohort of the population .
He also stated that doctors have better treatments for the disease which prevents people going into ICUs .
He predicted that the numbers in hospitals and ICUs will increase as community transmission increases and the virus gets into the older age groups that are more vulnerable to the disease .

The number of people in ICU has remained steady over the last week with 30 people in intensive care units as of 8am. File photograph: Alan Betson
Eight further deaths and 1,276 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the State this evening.
One of the deaths occurred in June, two were in September and five in October. There have now been a total of 1,849 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland.
Northern Ireland has recorded 1,031 new Covid-19 cases and two more deaths.
Of the cases notified in the Republic today 644 are men and 631 are women. with 69 per cent under 45 years of age.
READ MORE
The median age is 31 years. A total of 278 new cases were recorded in Dublin; 149 in Cork; 108 in Meath; 107 in Galway; 80 in Wexford, and the remaining 554 cases were spread across 21 counties.
As of 2pm today 260 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 30 are in ICU, with 12 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
Earlier, it emerged that the confirmed number of cases in hospital and intensive care units (ICUs) remains steady despite the recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases.
As of 8am on Saturday morning, there were 260 people in hospital as a result of Covid-19, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE).
This was 16 more than the 244 that were in hospital at 8am on Friday morning. However, the number of patients with Covid-19 is very fluid. There were 19 admissions and 18 discharges in the 24 hours.
The number of people in ICU has also remained steady over the last week with 30 people in intensive care units as of 8am. There was one admission and one discharge from ICUs. There are currently 31 ICU beds available across the system.
There are currently 31 patients with Covid-19 in Cavan General Hospital, 23 in Cork University Hospital and 19 in Tallaght.
Reacting to the latest hospital figures, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said he had spoken to hospital managers and consultants.
Their feedback was that they were “coping but under pressure” and trying to protect non-Covid care.
He also stated there was concern among hospital managers that increased community transmission would lead to health service staff getting sick “at a key time when we need them”, he said in a tweet.
He reiterated that the key to getting the virus under control is the behaviour of each of us.
Speaking on the Saturday on RTÉ's Katie Hannon Show, HSE infectious disease specialist Dr Anne Dee said "we are looking at a very difficult period ahead" and that we could still be looking at a similar situation in Italy earlier on in the year when hospitals were overwhelmed with cases.
Dr Dee said the recent data suggests that Covid-19 is going back into the older age group.
“Very quickly we could find ourselves in a position of not being able to cope and our health services being overwhelmed,” she said.
“The trajectory is very frighteningly upwards. In the last couple of weeks we have seen Covid-19 in households. We are seeing it now going back into nursing homes. A lot of it goes back to mixing and socialising with alcohol,” he said.
“We need to call a halt at this point and get it back under control.”
Speaking during the week, the HSE's national clinical advisor Dr Colm Henry said the stabilisation of numbers in ICU units is as a result of the virus affecting a younger cohort of the population.
He also stated that doctors have better treatments for the disease which prevents people going into ICUs.
He predicted that the numbers in hospitals and ICUs will increase as community transmission increases and the virus gets into the older age groups that are more vulnerable to the disease.


theirishtimes--2020-10-17--Reasons to be optimistic for a Covid-19 vaccine by Christmas, says expert

Epidemiologist Professor Luke O ’ Neill has said he is confident a vaccine for Covid-19 will be available by the end of the year .
Prof O ’ Neill , a biochemist at Trinity College Dublin , suggested the data coming from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is very promising .
Pfizer has said it expects emergency authorisation use in the United States for its Covid-19 vaccine by the third week of November .
Prof O ’ Neill said the statement from Pfizer was very promising .
He pointed out that , separately , Barclay ’ s Investment Bank has looked at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved by Christmas and five more in the middle of next year .
In a statement last month , the bank predicted the Pfizer vaccine has an 85 per cent chance of approval and it will be followed swiftly by others .
The bank also believes the majority of the populations of the US , the European Union and the UK will be vaccinated by the end of the third quarter next year .
“ It ’ s a sign that people are looking at this in a positive way , ” Prof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1 .
“ Some might work better than the other .
The question is who ’ s will be the most efficacious .
The more we have the better.
” He revealed that there are hundreds of millions of Covid-19 vaccines already available as pharmaceutical companies are anticipating success .
“ Can you imagine before Christmas if the headline is that the vaccine shows efficacy ?
They are going to ramp up production in the coming months.
” In addition antigen tests are being developed which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are positive or negative for Covid-19 .
He predicted that these antigen tests will be more widely available in the next two to three months and will make a return to normal life more certain .
Prof O ’ Neill said there is some other good news about Covid-19 with the efficiency of treatment seeing the numbers who die in ICUs dropping from 39 per cent to 12 per cent globally .
“ The signs are that they are getting much better at treating patients , ” he said .
However , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but should stop short of introducing Level 5 restrictions , especially those only allowing people to travel within five kilometres of home .
“ They have to do something to get the numbers down .
I can ’ t see a full Level 5 , but what happens next ?
What is the plan when we come out of it ?
” In the letter published on Friday , Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said the company should know whether or not the vaccine is effective by the end of October , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier or later based on changes in the infection rates ” among trial participants .
“ To ensure public trust and clear up a great deal of confusion , I believe it is essential for the public to understand our estimated timelines , ” he added .
To receive emergency authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration , Pfizer will have to submit safety data on at least half of the trial participants , outlining how they reacted for two months following the final dose .
“ So let me be clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply for emergency authorisation use in the US soon after the safety milestone is achieved in the third week of November , ” Mr Bourla said .

Prof Luke O’Neill, a biochemist at Trinity College Dublin, suggested the data coming from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is very promising. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Epidemiologist Professor Luke O’Neill has said he is confident a vaccine for Covid-19 will be available by the end of the year.
Prof O'Neill, a biochemist at Trinity College Dublin, suggested the data coming from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is very promising.
Pfizer has said it expects emergency authorisation use in the United States for its Covid-19 vaccine by the third week of November.
Prof O'Neill said the statement from Pfizer was very promising. He pointed out that, separately, Barclay's Investment Bank has looked at the data and is predicting three vaccines approved by Christmas and five more in the middle of next year.
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In a statement last month, the bank predicted the Pfizer vaccine has an 85 per cent chance of approval and it will be followed swiftly by others.
The bank also believes the majority of the populations of the US, the European Union and the UK will be vaccinated by the end of the third quarter next year.
"It's a sign that people are looking at this in a positive way," Prof O'Neill told The Brendan O'Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1.
“Some might work better than the other. The question is who’s will be the most efficacious. The more we have the better.”
He revealed that there are hundreds of millions of Covid-19 vaccines already available as pharmaceutical companies are anticipating success.
“Can you imagine before Christmas if the headline is that the vaccine shows efficacy? They are going to ramp up production in the coming months.”
In addition antigen tests are being developed which will be able to indicate immediately if people are positive or negative for Covid-19.
He predicted that these antigen tests will be more widely available in the next two to three months and will make a return to normal life more certain.
Prof O’Neill said there is some other good news about Covid-19 with the efficiency of treatment seeing the numbers who die in ICUs dropping from 39 per cent to 12 per cent globally.
“The signs are that they are getting much better at treating patients,” he said.
However, he added that the Government needs more restrictions but should stop short of introducing Level 5 restrictions, especially those only allowing people to travel within five kilometres of home.
“They have to do something to get the numbers down. I can’t see a full Level 5, but what happens next? What is the plan when we come out of it?”
In the letter published on Friday, Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said the company should know whether or not the vaccine is effective by the end of October, but cautioned that this data "may come earlier or later based on changes in the infection rates" among trial participants.
“To ensure public trust and clear up a great deal of confusion, I believe it is essential for the public to understand our estimated timelines,” he added.
To receive emergency authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer will have to submit safety data on at least half of the trial participants, outlining how they reacted for two months following the final dose.
“So let me be clear, assuming positive data, Pfizer will apply for emergency authorisation use in the US soon after the safety milestone is achieved in the third week of November,” Mr Bourla said.


theirishtimes--2020-10-18--Five deaths and 1,012 new Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland

Five deaths from Covid-19 were recorded in Northern Ireland on Sunday , with 1,012 new coronavirus cases in the last @ @ @ @ @ North ’ s Department of Health has announced some 7,090 new positive cases have been @ @ @ @ @ days .
There are 228 patients with Covid-19 being treated in hospital , with 30 @ @ @ @ @ five deaths reported on Sunday takes the toll recorded by the department to 615 .
@ @ @ @ @ and 1,031 new cases were announced .
On Friday , two deaths were reported and @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 cases , its highest daily total yet .
- PA

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Steve Aiken has described Covid-19 as an “equal opportunities killer” after DUP agriculture Minister Edwin Poots claimed the incidence of the virus was far higher in nationalist areas than it was in unionist ones.
Five deaths from Covid-19 were recorded in Northern Ireland on Sunday, along with a further 1,012 new cases.
With the incidence of coronavirus now regularly running at more than 1,000 cases a day in the North, Mr Aiken said Mr Poots should consider his position as Minister for “undermining” the Northern Executive’s collective response to the pandemic.
On Friday, Mr Poots gave interviews to the BBC and UTV in which he expressed “grave reservations” about the new Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Northern Executive of which he is a member.
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This was on the same day that the North’s five Executive party leaders, including DUP First Minister Arlene Foster, issued a statement “appealing to everyone to please get behind this effort to fight back against Covid-19 and save lives”.
Mr Poots, in addition to voicing reservations about decision-making over business and school closures, also said that “a lot of the problems started” after the funeral of leading republican Bobby Storey in west Belfast in June. This led to allegations that Sinn Féin had breached the rules on crowds and social distancing, which the party continues to deny.
“People in that community saw the breaking of the rules. That is why there is a difference between nationalist and unionist areas, and the difference is around six to one,” said Mr Poots.
He also was accused of targeting the GAA community when he referred to certain sporting activities and post match celebrations. Asked was he referring to the GAA, he said that he was “not labelling one particular group of people, but if people feel the cap fits, that’s up to them”.
The Department of Health figures do show that in the mainly nationalist area of Derry and Strabane the incidence rate is far higher than in the 10 other council areas in Northern Ireland.
Over the past seven days, Derry and Strabane experienced 845 cases per 100,000 of the population compared to the next highest area of Belfast where the rate is 523 cases per 100,000.
But generally whether such a conclusion can be drawn across the North is open to question. For instance in Newry, Mourne and Down, which is predominantly nationalist, the virus rate is 331 cases per 100,000 which compares with the mainly unionist Lisburn and Castlereagh area where the rate is 333 cases per 100,000.
The lowest rate of infection is in the mainly unionist area of Mid and East Antrim – 157 cases per 100,000. But also relatively low is the mainly nationalist Fermanagh and Omagh council area where the rate is 223 cases per 100,000.
The SDLP, UUP, Alliance and Sinn Féin parties accused Mr Poots of undermining the collective message from the Executive with Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin saying the Minister was “trying to politicise and sectarianise the issue”.
UUP leader Steve Aiken said Mr Poots should consider his position, a view he repeated on BBC’s Inside Politics programme on Sunday.
Asked about Mr Poots' comment about the virus being higher in nationalist areas Mr Aiken said: "I don't think the virus recognises post codes, it doesn't recognise gender, it doesn't recognise religions, it doesn't recognise political affiliation. Coronavirus is an equal opportunities killer."
The DUP education Minister Peter Weir on the same programme said people had “a right to express their opinions” , claiming there was no doubt that the Bobby Storey funeral “led to a drop in compliance” with the Covid-19 regulations.
Sunday’s figures brought the Northern Ireland death toll to 615. On Saturday there were 1,031 positive cases and two deaths in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland has now recorded 27,220 confirmed cases of Covid, with 7,090 of them in the past seven days, an average of more than 1,000 daily cases in the past week.
There are 228 patients in Northern Ireland hospitals receiving Covid treatment with 30 of them in intensive care units and 23 on ventilators.
Meanwhile, PSNI made a number of arrests and issued fines at an anti-lockdown protest that was held at Stormont on Sunday afternoon. The crowd were demonstrating against the Covid regulations including mask-wearing.
PSNI assistant chief constable Alan Todd said more than 300 people took part in the protest. “The numbers in attendance and the lack of social distancing in the crowd were in stark contrast with assurances given to police by the organisers in the days leading up to the event,” he said.
“Police engaged with the organisers before and during the protest in an attempt to encourage them to disperse and comply with the health protection regulations,” he added. “Unfortunately both the organisers and participants did not cooperate with these requests and continued in breach of the regulations.”
Mr Todd said officers therefore moved to enforce the regulations resulting in the issue of fixed penalty notices and a number of arrests.
“As I have said previously, in other times, we would work with organisers and protestors to facilitate lawful and peaceful protests. However, these are not ordinary times,” he said.
Mr Todd said everyone has a responsibility to adhere to the rules “to protect our society”.
Also on Sunday, the Northern Ireland Prison Service confirmed that four of its staff at the Hydebank Wood facility for women and young offenders had tested positive for Covid-19.
A further 14 staff who tested negative are self-isolating and two prisoners have also been put into isolation as a precaution.


theirishtimes--2020-10-18--Life under Level 4: What will be closed under tighter restrictions next week?

It is likely that the entire country will move to at least Level 4 restrictions next week , Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has signalled .
The Government will agree further nationwide restrictions tomorrow to stem the spread of coronavirus infections after the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) twice called for the State to move the Level 5 , the highest level on the State ’ s Living With Covid plan .
Most counties are currently on Level 3 , with three of the Border counties - Donegal , Monaghan and Cavan - on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move to at least Level 4 restrictions , Mr Harris said the Level 3 measure “ has not worked in terms of getting the virus to where it needs to get to ” , and the trajectory of the virus is concerning health officials .
Here is what Level 4 looks like : Can I travel outside my county ?
You can not leave your county apart from work , education and other essential purposes .
Under Level 4 , the advice is that only essential or other designated workers should go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my home ?
No .
You are not allowed to have visitors to your home or garden under Level 4 .
No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings also .
Are organised indoor or outdoor gatherings allowed to take place such as conferences , events in theatres or other arts events ?
No organised indoor gatherings should take place .
Outdoor gatherings of up to 15 people can take place .
Museums , galleries and other cultural attractions all remain closed under Level 4 .
Up to six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reception .
Can Mass still take place ?
Religious services will be held online , while places of worship remain open for private prayer .
Does this mean funerals can ’ t take place ?
Funerals can still take place with a maximum of 25 mourners .
What about sport or matches ?
Outdoor non-contact training can take place but only in pods of up to 15 .
In terms of indoors , there is to be individual training only .
No exercise or dance classes can take place .
No matches or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an exemption for professional and elite sport/inter-county/horse-racing , with matches and events allowed to take place behind closed doors .
No .
Gyms , leisure centres and swimming pools all close under Level 4 .
What about pubs and restaurants ?
Bars , cafes and restaurants , including those in hotels , can offer takeaway food or delivery .
There is to be no indoor dining with outdoor dining limited to a maximum of 15 people .
In terms of wet pubs , it is limited to a maximum of 15 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar accommodation ?
These can remain open only to existing guests and those with “ essential non-social and non-tourist purposes ” .
Essential retail and businesses that are primarily outdoors only can remain open and face coverings must continue to be worn .
All other retail and personal services close .
Schools and crèches will remain open with protective measures .
Further , higher and adult education moves primarily online with appropriate protective measures in place for essential attendance on site .
Do over-70s and medically vulnerable people have to cocoon ?
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home .
Specific guidance is also due to be issued regarding these groups .
Visits to long-term residential care facilities are suspended under Level 4 aside from “ critical and compassionate circumstances ” .
Face coverings must continue to be worn on public transport .
People should only use public transport if they are essential workers or for essential purposes only .
People are advised to walk or cycle where possible .
Public transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent .

It is likely that the entire country will move to at least Level 4 restrictions next week.
It is likely that the entire country will move to at least Level 4 restrictions, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has signalled.
The Government will agree further nationwide restrictions tomorrow to stem the spread of coronavirus infections after the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) twice called for the State to move the Level 5, the highest level on the State’s Living With Covid plan.
Most counties are currently on Level 3, with three of the Border counties - Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan - on Level 4.
But signalling a likely move to at least Level 4 restrictions, Mr Harris said the Level 3 measure “has not worked in terms of getting the virus to where it needs to get to”, and the trajectory of the virus is concerning health officials.
READ MORE
Here is what Level 4 looks like:
Can I travel outside my county?
You cannot leave your county apart from work, education and other essential purposes. Under Level 4, the advice is that only essential or other designated workers should go to work.
Can I have any visitors to my home?
No. You are not allowed to have visitors to your home or garden under Level 4. No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings also.
Are organised indoor or outdoor gatherings allowed to take place such as conferences, events in theatres or other arts events?
No organised indoor gatherings should take place. Outdoor gatherings of up to 15 people can take place.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions all remain closed under Level 4.
What about weddings?
Up to six guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception.
Can religious services still take place?
Religious services will be held online, while places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Does this mean funerals can’t take place?
Funerals can still take place with a maximum of 25 mourners.
What about sport or matches?
Outdoor non-contact training can take place but only in pods of up to 15. In terms of indoors, there is to be individual training only. No exercise or dance classes can take place.
No matches or events can take place either. There is an exemption for professional and elite sport/inter-county/horse-racing, with matches and events allowed to take place behind closed doors.
Can gyms stay open?
No. Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools all close under Level 4.
What about pubs and restaurants?
Bars, cafes and restaurants, including those in hotels, can offer takeaway food or delivery. There is to be no indoor dining with outdoor dining limited to a maximum of 15 people.
In terms of wet pubs, it is limited to a maximum of 15 people outdoors. Wet pubs in Dublin remain closed.
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
What happens to hotels and similar accommodation?
These can remain open only to existing guests and those with “essential non-social and non-tourist purposes”.
Are retail outlets and hairdressers/barbers staying open?
Essential retail and businesses that are primarily outdoors only can remain open and face coverings must continue to be worn. All other retail and personal services close.
Will schools and creches remain open?
Schools and creches will remain open with protective measures. Further, higher and adult education moves primarily online with appropriate protective measures in place for essential attendance on site.
Do over-70s and medically vulnerable people have to cocoon?
Those aged over 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home. Specific guidance is also due to be issued regarding these groups.
Can I visit a relative in a nursing home?
Visits to long-term residential care facilities are suspended under Level 4 aside from “critical and compassionate circumstances”.
What about public transport?
Face coverings must continue to be worn on public transport. People should only use public transport if they are essential workers or for essential purposes only. People are advised to walk or cycle where possible. Public transport capacity will be restricted to 25 per cent.


theirishtimes--2020-10-18--Boats search for ‘tired’ dolphin Fungie ‘missing’ almost a week

Fisher folk and Fungie-watchers are hoping a change in the wind to the southwest may bring the famous bottlenose back to Dingle Harbour .
He has now been “ missing ” from the area for almost a week .
Fungie-watchers since 1991 Jeannine Masset and Rudi Schamhart , who raised the alert on Thursday , said “ it is really very hard on everyone ” .
“ Needless to say that we are heartbroken but also over-exhausted for we did not sleep in four days , ” they wrote on their ‘ Fungie Forever ’ Facebook page .
They took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but now most Fungie-watchers have accepted the gravity of the situation and Dolphin tour boats and other vessels are out searching .
Besides the search they have been responding to hundreds of messages .
They raised the alert he was missing and told Dingle Boat Tours ’ Tom Hand and Mary and Mike O ’ Neill , who took them on a long search to places they could not go with their own small boat .
Their last photo of Fungie was posted on Saturday , October 10th and one the previous day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the cliffs in the harbour .
They also reported their belief that he looked tired on October 7th .
“ It was very clear the last weeks that Fungie was tired of the busy season .
His whole behaviour showed that , ” they say .
Jimmy Flannery of Dingle Sea Seafari Tours , a founder member of the fishermen ’ s group which set up the Fungie tours in 1989 said in his 33 years running trips to Fungie , four to five hours a day , this “ is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of being in Dingle ” .
Mr Flannery said he believes the “ easterly wind ” is a factor as he is always less active at such times .
He also thinks there is rich feeding outside the harbour at this time and Fungie may have gone out for food .

Fungie may have gone outside the harbour for food, says Jimmy Flannery of Dingle Sea Seafari Tours.
Fisher folk and Fungie-watchers are hoping a change in the wind to the southwest may bring the famous bottlenose back to Dingle Harbour.
He has now been “missing” from the area for almost a week.
Fungie-watchers since 1991 Jeannine Masset and Rudi Schamhart, who raised the alert on Thursday, said “it is really very hard on everyone”.
“Needless to say that we are heartbroken but also over-exhausted for we did not sleep in four days,” they wrote on their ‘Fungie Forever’ Facebook page.
READ MORE
They took some criticism for raising the alarm, but now most Fungie-watchers have accepted the gravity of the situation and Dolphin tour boats and other vessels are out searching.
Besides the search they have been responding to hundreds of messages.
They raised the alert he was missing and told Dingle Boat Tours’ Tom Hand and Mary and Mike O’Neill, who took them on a long search to places they could not go with their own small boat.
Their last photo of Fungie was posted on Saturday, October 10th and one the previous day shows him taking a short cut close to the cliffs in the harbour.
They also reported their belief that he looked tired on October 7th. “It was very clear the last weeks that Fungie was tired of the busy season. His whole behaviour showed that,” they say.
Jimmy Flannery of Dingle Sea Seafari Tours, a founder member of the fishermen’s group which set up the Fungie tours in 1989 said in his 33 years running trips to Fungie, four to five hours a day, this “is the most he has gone missing in 37 years of being in Dingle”.
Mr Flannery said he believes the “easterly wind” is a factor as he is always less active at such times.
He also thinks there is rich feeding outside the harbour at this time and Fungie may have gone out for food.


theirishtimes--2020-10-18--Tributes paid to Auschwitz survivor (97) who settled in west Cork

Warm tributes have been paid to an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor who lived in West Cork for almost 40 years but passed away last weekend at the age of 97 .
Walter Bujakowski , who was originally from Biala Podlaska in Eastern Poland , survived Auschwitz and later moved to London where he met and married Kathleen Hurley from Drimoleague .
The couple lived in London for a number of years where Mr Bujakowski worked as an accountant for construction firm , Taylor Woodrow before they moved to West Cork in 1981 settling in Lahana , Drimoleague .
Mr Bujakowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday and was buried at Drimoleague Church Cemetery on Tuesday in a private ceremony in keeping with HSE guidelines on Covid-19 .
Mr Bujakowski rarely spoke of his war time experiences but he did tell his life story to Cliodhna O ’ Riordan from Kilmichael who made a documentary about him for her degree in Fine Art at the Crawford College of Art and Design .
Ms O ’ Riordan ’ s mother , Frances recalled how Mr Bujakowski told how he and his father had left their home to join the Polish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had invaded Poland from the east on September 17th 1939 .
They managed to escape and returned home and Mr Bujakowski left to join the Polish Underground in the winter of 1939 but was captured by the Germans who had invaded Poland from the west on September 1st 1939 .
“ Wally told how he was sent to three separate prisons before he was sent to Auschwitz in June 1940 - Auschwitz was an old Polish Army barracks and he was forced to work on turning it into a concentration camp , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He was Prisoner 708 and he remembered being forced to put up barbed wire on the fence around the camp - he was there for a year and a half but his father paid a lot of money to get him released and he came back home.
” But Mr Bujakowski was arrested again by the Germans and was sent to work as a labourer in Germany before being sent back to Auschwitz for a period before being sent to a concentration camp near Hamburg in north-west Germany .
“ He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombed Hamburg - he said there was something like 3,000 planes bombed the city in one week and although they were 20 miles away , they could see the bombing it was so bright.
” “ There were over 50,000 civilians killed in those raids and Wally was one of a party of 100 or so from the concentration camp send to help remove the dead from the cellars - he said they were taking out 40-50 bodies a day.
” Mr Bujakowski was later transferred to another camp and from there to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repairing bombed rail lines but he managed to escape in 1945 after German guards told them the Americans were advancing .
He managed to join up with a group of French prisoners of war ( POW ) and stayed with them until the war ended at which stage he travelled to Italy where there were a large number of Polish POWs .
From there he travelled to England .
According to Ms O ’ Riordan , Mr Bujakowski joined the British army and did various tours of duty in Hong Kong , Kenya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cyprus before returning to the UK where he met his future wife , Kathleen Hurley .
According to Ms O ’ Riordan , Mr Bujakowski , a Catholic , was happy to move to Ireland because it too was a Catholic country and he often said that nearby Skibbereen reminded him of his home town of Biala Podlaska .
Survived by Kathleen who is now in her late 80s , Mr Bujakowksi was very popular locally and his near neighbour , Kevin McCarthy this week paid a fond tribute to his late friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very gifted individual .
“ Wally ’ s story is an extraordinary story , surviving the concentration camps but he was very reluctant to talk about it - he might talk about it the odd time but very rarely - he was a very private man , ” said Mr McCarthy .
“ He was a gifted man with his hands whether it was stone work or wood work - he had own his lathe and he used to turn wood and he was a great gardener as well - he was very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also a fine cook and enjoyed photography .
“ He was big into his cameras and he was a fine photographer with a good eye for a photo - we will all miss him , ” he said .

Walter Bujakowski, who was originally from Biala Podlaska in Eastern Poland, survived Auschwitz and later moved to London where he met and married Kathleen Hurley from Drimoleague.
Warm tributes have been paid to an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor who lived in West Cork for almost 40 years but passed away last weekend at the age of 97.
Walter Bujakowski, who was originally from Biala Podlaska in Eastern Poland, survived Auschwitz and later moved to London where he met and married Kathleen Hurley from Drimoleague.
The couple lived in London for a number of years where Mr Bujakowski worked as an accountant for construction firm, Taylor Woodrow before they moved to West Cork in 1981 settling in Lahana, Drimoleague.
Mr Bujakowski died in the Mercy University Hospital last Sunday and was buried at Drimoleague Church Cemetery on Tuesday in a private ceremony in keeping with HSE guidelines on Covid-19.
READ MORE
Mr Bujakowski rarely spoke of his war time experiences but he did tell his life story to Cliodhna O'Riordan from Kilmichael who made a documentary about him for her degree in Fine Art at the Crawford College of Art and Design.
Ms O'Riordan's mother, Frances recalled how Mr Bujakowski told how he and his father had left their home to join the Polish Army but were captured by the Russians who had invaded Poland from the east on September 17th 1939.
They managed to escape and returned home and Mr Bujakowski left to join the Polish Underground in the winter of 1939 but was captured by the Germans who had invaded Poland from the west on September 1st 1939.
“Wally told how he was sent to three separate prisons before he was sent to Auschwitz in June 1940 - Auschwitz was an old Polish Army barracks and he was forced to work on turning it into a concentration camp,” said Ms O’Riordan.
“He was Prisoner 708 and he remembered being forced to put up barbed wire on the fence around the camp - he was there for a year and a half but his father paid a lot of money to get him released and he came back home.”
But Mr Bujakowski was arrested again by the Germans and was sent to work as a labourer in Germany before being sent back to Auschwitz for a period before being sent to a concentration camp near Hamburg in north-west Germany.
“He was there in July 1943 when the RAF bombed Hamburg - he said there was something like 3,000 planes bombed the city in one week and although they were 20 miles away, they could see the bombing it was so bright.”
“There were over 50,000 civilians killed in those raids and Wally was one of a party of 100 or so from the concentration camp send to help remove the dead from the cellars - he said they were taking out 40-50 bodies a day.”
Mr Bujakowski was later transferred to another camp and from there to Berlin where he was forced to work repairing bombed rail lines but he managed to escape in 1945 after German guards told them the Americans were advancing.
He managed to join up with a group of French prisoners of war (POW) and stayed with them until the war ended at which stage he travelled to Italy where there were a large number of Polish POWs. From there he travelled to England.
According to Ms O'Riordan, Mr Bujakowski joined the British army and did various tours of duty in Hong Kong, Kenya, Rhodesia, Sudan, Malta and Cyprus before returning to the UK where he met his future wife, Kathleen Hurley.
According to Ms O'Riordan, Mr Bujakowski, a Catholic, was happy to move to Ireland because it too was a Catholic country and he often said that nearby Skibbereen reminded him of his home town of Biala Podlaska.
Survived by Kathleen who is now in her late 80s, Mr Bujakowksi was very popular locally and his near neighbour, Kevin McCarthy this week paid a fond tribute to his late friend, describing him as a quiet but very gifted individual.
“Wally’s story is an extraordinary story, surviving the concentration camps but he was very reluctant to talk about it - he might talk about it the odd time but very rarely - he was a very private man,” said Mr McCarthy.
“He was a gifted man with his hands whether it was stone work or wood work - he had own his lathe and he used to turn wood and he was a great gardener as well - he was very talented.”
Mr McCarthy said Mr Bujakowski was also a fine cook and enjoyed photography. “He was big into his cameras and he was a fine photographer with a good eye for a photo - we will all miss him,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-10-18--Delight in Healy-Rae heartland as winning EuroMillions quick-pick sold

There was considerable delight in the Healy-Rae heartland this weekend after it emerged that the family-owned shop in Kerry had sold a winning ticket in the EuroMillions draw .
While the jackpot of just under €55 million went unclaimed in Friday night ’ s draw , the Mace in Kilgarvan where TD Michael Healy-Rae is postmaster sold Ireland ’ s top prize winning ticket , a quick-pick worth €34,496 .
In addition to housing the shop where the golden ticket was sold , the complex is also home to the local post office , sorting office , constituency offices for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who owns the neighbouring pub - as well as a petrol station and a cafe .
The winner matched the first five numbers in the draw before drawing an agonising blank on the all-important Lucky Star numbers that would have secured them the top prize .
Almost as soon as the shop was announced as a winner , people in the town started speculating as to who might be the holder of the ticket .
There are less than 200 people living in Kilgarvan , according to the most recent figures , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , the chances are high the winner is local .
The speculation as to who it might be is likely to continue for sometime , however , with locals suggesting the winner will play their cards close to their chest .
“ It ’ s such a small area that I ’ d say whoever won it will want to keep it to themselves but we are all happy out to have sold the winning ticket , ” said staff member James O ’ Connell on Sunday morning .

There was considerable delight in the Healy-Rae heartland this weekend after it emerged that the family-owned shop in Kerry had sold a winning ticket in the EuroMillions draw.
While the jackpot of just under €55 million went unclaimed in Friday night’s draw, the Mace in Kilgarvan where TD Michael Healy-Rae is postmaster sold Ireland’s top prize winning ticket, a quick-pick worth €34,496.
In addition to housing the shop where the golden ticket was sold, the complex is also home to the local post office, sorting office, constituency offices for Mr Healy-Rae and his brother Danny - who owns the neighbouring pub - as well as a petrol station and a cafe.
The winner matched the first five numbers in the draw before drawing an agonising blank on the all-important Lucky Star numbers that would have secured them the top prize.
READ MORE
Almost as soon as the shop was announced as a winner, people in the town started speculating as to who might be the holder of the ticket.
There are less than 200 people living in Kilgarvan, according to the most recent figures, and with Covid-19-related travel restrictions in place across the country, the chances are high the winner is local.
The speculation as to who it might be is likely to continue for sometime, however, with locals suggesting the winner will play their cards close to their chest.
“It’s such a small area that I’d say whoever won it will want to keep it to themselves but we are all happy out to have sold the winning ticket,” said staff member James O’Connell on Sunday morning.


theirishtimes--2020-10-19--Coronavirus: Schools safer than wider community, officials say

The coronavirus infection rate in schools is running at about a third of the rate in the community , showing that schools are safer from the virus , health officials have told Government .
Figures presented to Government over the weekend show there has been an overall positive rate of 2.5 per cent of Covid-19 cases in creches and schools compared with 7.3 per cent overall across testing in the wider community .
The HSE data shows that when broken down further , in primary and secondary schools , the positive rate on mass testing falls to 1.8-1.9 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher unions for clarity on what additional controls would be introduced in schools if the Government were to move to Level 4 or 5 under the Living with Covid plan .
David Geary , assistant general secretary of the Irish National Teachers ’ Organisation ( INTO ) , said the Government roadmap referred to precautionary measures being introduced with Level 4 restrictions and a need to take stock with Level 5 but it was not clear what this might mean .
“ We would also like to see the latest public health evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Teachers ’ Union of Ireland ( TUI ) general secretary Michael Gillespie said his members sought “ clarity , consistency and certainty ” from Government on “ the additional protective measures available under levels 4 and 5 ” .
These were “ never clarified ” , he said .
The Government said on Saturday after meetings with officials that Ministers were briefed that “ children were safer in schools , transmission rates are low and that the continued opening of schools is very important to the development and wellbeing of children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are based on mass testing of close contacts among students and teachers where Covid-19 cases have been detected since schools reopened up to Friday morning .
The number of swabs taken in mass testing in schools rose to 2,500 last week from 1,500 the week before , reflecting the higher level of transmission in the community but the positive rate from mass testing in schools has remained consistent since they reopened .
One health official said the figures showed children do not spread the virus to other children in classes to any great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures in a controlled environment such as a school and the fact children were not primary sources of transmission .
As part of testing in schools , the HSE tested 10,453 people as a result of 437 cases identified in creches and schools .
It detected 258 cases , representing a positive rate of 2.5 per cent .
Within these figures , out of 115 Covid-19 “ index ” cases identified in secondary schools , 2,716 tests were carried out and a further 49 cases detected , giving a positive rate of 1.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in primary schools led to the testing of 5,317 schoolchildren and teachers , resulting in 102 additional cases being detected , a positive rate of 1.9 per cent .
In creches and other childcare settings , the discovery of 92 Covid-19 cases led to tests on 1,865 infants and childcare workers and 97 further cases being detected , a positive rate of 5.2 per cent .
Out of these additional cases , 23 were adults and 74 were children .
In special education facilities , some 19 coronavirus cases led to a further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 new cases being detected , a positive rate of 1.8 per cent .
The latest Health Protection Surveillance Centres figures showed there were 25 Covid-19 outbreaks detected in schools during the week ending October 10th .
This brought to 73 the number of outbreaks in schools , with 61 outbreaks still open .
An outbreak remains open until 28 days have passed without a new case emerging .
Minister of State at the Department of Higher Education Niall Collins said on Sunday the Government was “ very clear ” that “ our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the feedback and the advice from the public health experts .
So for the foreseeable future there are no changes to our primary and our secondary school regime.
” Stressing the value of keeping schools open , the Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon tweeted on Sunday : “ I urge Cabinet to remain true to their policy of keeping all schools open for the sake of the social , emotional and educational needs of the children of Ireland.
” For the TUI , Mr Geary said “ teachers want the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health advice ” but were uncertain about the higher level restrictions .
“ We are concerned at Level 5 and would need to know the rationale behind introducing it .
That is not forthcoming , ” he said .
Both the TUI and INTO said they believed contact tracing involving schools could be better handled .
Mr Geary said that in some primary schools , “ parents contacted teachers about instances of contact tracing involving the school before those doing the tracing , though this is improving ” .
Association of Secondary Teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday there was “ fear and trepidation among teachers and the students this week about the prospect of society moving into Level 5 and schools remaining open ” .

One health official said the figures showed children did not spread the virus to other children in classes to any great extent. Illustration: iStock
The coronavirus infection rate in schools is running at about a third of the rate in the community, showing that schools are safer from the virus, health officials have told Government.
Figures presented to Government over the weekend show there has been an overall positive rate of 2.5 per cent of Covid-19 cases in creches and schools compared with 7.3 per cent overall across testing in the wider community.
The HSE data shows that when broken down further, in primary and secondary schools, the positive rate on mass testing falls to 1.8-1.9 per cent.
The figures come amid calls from teacher unions for clarity on what additional controls would be introduced in schools if the Government were to move to Level 4 or 5 under the Living with Covid plan.
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David Geary, assistant general secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), said the Government roadmap referred to precautionary measures being introduced with Level 4 restrictions and a need to take stock with Level 5 but it was not clear what this might mean.
“We would also like to see the latest public health evidence on Covid-19 and schools,” he said.
Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) general secretary Michael Gillespie said his members sought “clarity, consistency and certainty” from Government on “the additional protective measures available under levels 4 and 5”. These were “never clarified”, he said.
The Government said on Saturday after meetings with officials that Ministers were briefed that “children were safer in schools, transmission rates are low and that the continued opening of schools is very important to the development and wellbeing of children and young people”.
Mass testing
The figures are based on mass testing of close contacts among students and teachers where Covid-19 cases have been detected since schools reopened up to Friday morning.
The number of swabs taken in mass testing in schools rose to 2,500 last week from 1,500 the week before, reflecting the higher level of transmission in the community but the positive rate from mass testing in schools has remained consistent since they reopened.
One health official said the figures showed children do not spread the virus to other children in classes to any great extent, demonstrating the efficacy of protective measures in a controlled environment such as a school and the fact children were not primary sources of transmission.
As part of testing in schools, the HSE tested 10,453 people as a result of 437 cases identified in creches and schools. It detected 258 cases, representing a positive rate of 2.5 per cent.
Within these figures, out of 115 Covid-19 “index” cases identified in secondary schools, 2,716 tests were carried out and a further 49 cases detected, giving a positive rate of 1.8 per cent.
Some 211 Covid-19 case in primary schools led to the testing of 5,317 schoolchildren and teachers, resulting in 102 additional cases being detected, a positive rate of 1.9 per cent.
In creches and other childcare settings, the discovery of 92 Covid-19 cases led to tests on 1,865 infants and childcare workers and 97 further cases being detected, a positive rate of 5.2 per cent.
Out of these additional cases, 23 were adults and 74 were children.
In special education facilities, some 19 coronavirus cases led to a further 555 people being mass-tested, resulting in 10 new cases being detected, a positive rate of 1.8 per cent.
Open outbreaks
The latest Health Protection Surveillance Centres figures showed there were 25 Covid-19 outbreaks detected in schools during the week ending October 10th.
This brought to 73 the number of outbreaks in schools, with 61 outbreaks still open. An outbreak remains open until 28 days have passed without a new case emerging.
Minister of State at the Department of Higher Education Niall Collins said on Sunday the Government was “very clear” that “our schools are not a problem – that’s the feedback and the advice from the public health experts. So for the foreseeable future there are no changes to our primary and our secondary school regime.”
Stressing the value of keeping schools open, the Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon tweeted on Sunday: “I urge Cabinet to remain true to their policy of keeping all schools open for the sake of the social, emotional and educational needs of the children of Ireland.”
For the TUI, Mr Geary said “teachers want the schools open and will obey the public health advice” but were uncertain about the higher level restrictions.
“We are concerned at Level 5 and would need to know the rationale behind introducing it. That is not forthcoming,” he said.
Both the TUI and INTO said they believed contact tracing involving schools could be better handled. Mr Geary said that in some primary schools, “parents contacted teachers about instances of contact tracing involving the school before those doing the tracing, though this is improving”.
Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland general secretary Kieran Christie said on Saturday there was “fear and trepidation among teachers and the students this week about the prospect of society moving into Level 5 and schools remaining open”.


theirishtimes--2020-10-19--Judicial Council unable to deal with judges’ behaviour for another nine months

Long-awaited procedures to deal with the behaviour and ethics of judges may not become operational for another nine months , according to the Department of Justice .
While the Judicial Council has been operational since December 2019 , the parts of the legislation that give the council powers to hold disciplinary hearings , or receive complaints against a judge , have yet to commence .
The absence of any such legal provision was the reason why a non-statutory review was conducted on the controversy arising from Mr Justice Séamus Woulfe ’ s attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct committee was established by the council on June 30th last .
Under the provisions of the Judicial Council Act , it now has a maximum of 12 months to produce guidelines concerning judicial conduct and ethics .
The outer limit for the submission is June 20th , 2021 and the guidelines then need to be adopted by the Judicial Council .
Once that happens , Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will make “ orders without delay ” bringing into operation those disciplinary provisions .
The department said there was nothing to preclude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of June next year .
“ The Minister would like these guidelines completed as soon as possible , ” said a spokesman .
The lack of a statutory mechanism to deal with judicial conduct first came to public prominence in 1998 following the involvement of then Supreme Court judge Hugh O ’ Flaherty in re-listing a case .
However , it took more than 20 years for the long-promised Judicial Council to be established .
Once the Act is fully operational , any complaint against a judge can be investigated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and any appropriate action taken .
In her report on Mr Woulfe ’ s attendance at the dinner , former chief justice Susan Denham came to the conclusion that requesting the resignation of the judge would be “ unjust and appropriate ” .
However , the report also said it had not been advisable for him to attend the golfing outing and the dinner in Clifden , nor had he been “ sufficiently vigilant ” in going to such an event , at the time of the coronavirus pandemic .
Her report is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involving Chief Justice Frank Clarke .
A meeting between Mr Justice Clarke and Mr Justice Woulfe which had been rescheduled for last Friday has been postponed again on medical grounds .
Mr Justice Clarke has emphasised the urgency of resolving the issue .
Mr Justice Woulfe has been the recipient of further criticism in recent weeks following the release of the transcript of his interview for the Denham report where he complained about being vilified in the media .
Labour justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said everybody in politics had to be very careful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judiciary under the separation of powers .
However , he said politicians of successive governments had been “ very tardy in not putting into place a mechanism for judicial accountability ” .
“ The pace of it was very slow .
We now have the legislative framework .
It ’ s now a matter for the judges to set their own standards and make sure it is very high.
” Mr Howlin added that “ some people will be somewhat disquieted by the transcript ” in which Mr Justice Woulfe complained of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also felt sorry for the organisers of the event who “ had been pilloried ” as though it was “ like a Ku Klux Klan ” .
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said she was “ surprised ” by the content of the transcripts and was surprised Mr Justice Woulfe was unaware of developments in the State ’ s response to Covid-19 in the week of the dinner .
“ I do not think from reading the transcripts that he actually understands what the outcry was about , ” she said last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , it then makes it very difficult to relay decisions .
“ The public was angry for very good reasons .
They had spent months not being able to go to funerals and then they say different standards apply to people in prominent positions in Irish life .
That , to me , was a very obvious reason .
”

Former chief justice Susan Denham reported on the conduct of Supreme Court judge Séamus Woulfe in the absence of the Judicial Council’s powers. Photograph: RollingNews.ie
Long-awaited procedures to deal with the behaviour and ethics of judges may not become operational for another nine months, according to the Department of Justice.
While the Judicial Council has been operational since December 2019, the parts of the legislation that give the council powers to hold disciplinary hearings, or receive complaints against a judge, have yet to commence.
The absence of any such legal provision was the reason why a non-statutory review was conducted on the controversy arising from Mr Justice Séamus Woulfe’s attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Co Galway in August.
A judicial conduct committee was established by the council on June 30th last. Under the provisions of the Judicial Council Act, it now has a maximum of 12 months to produce guidelines concerning judicial conduct and ethics.
READ MORE
The outer limit for the submission is June 20th, 2021 and the guidelines then need to be adopted by the Judicial Council. Once that happens, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will make “orders without delay” bringing into operation those disciplinary provisions.
The department said there was nothing to preclude the guidelines from being completed earlier than the end of June next year. “The Minister would like these guidelines completed as soon as possible,” said a spokesman.
Hugh O’Flaherty
The lack of a statutory mechanism to deal with judicial conduct first came to public prominence in 1998 following the involvement of then Supreme Court judge Hugh O'Flaherty in re-listing a case.
However, it took more than 20 years for the long-promised Judicial Council to be established.
Once the Act is fully operational, any complaint against a judge can be investigated by the council on a statutory basis, and any appropriate action taken.
In her report on Mr Woulfe’s attendance at the dinner, former chief justice Susan Denham came to the conclusion that requesting the resignation of the judge would be “unjust and appropriate”.
However, the report also said it had not been advisable for him to attend the golfing outing and the dinner in Clifden, nor had he been "sufficiently vigilant" in going to such an event, at the time of the coronavirus pandemic.
Her report is now the subject of an informal resolution involving Chief Justice Frank Clarke. A meeting between Mr Justice Clarke and Mr Justice Woulfe which had been rescheduled for last Friday has been postponed again on medical grounds. Mr Justice Clarke has emphasised the urgency of resolving the issue.
Mr Justice Woulfe has been the recipient of further criticism in recent weeks following the release of the transcript of his interview for the Denham report where he complained about being vilified in the media.
Separation of powers
Labour justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said everybody in politics had to be very careful to keep a clear dividing with the judiciary under the separation of powers.
However, he said politicians of successive governments had been “very tardy in not putting into place a mechanism for judicial accountability”.
“The pace of it was very slow. We now have the legislative framework. It’s now a matter for the judges to set their own standards and make sure it is very high.”
Mr Howlin added that “some people will be somewhat disquieted by the transcript” in which Mr Justice Woulfe complained of “hysteria”. The judge said he also felt sorry for the organisers of the event who “had been pilloried” as though it was “like a Ku Klux Klan”.
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said she was "surprised" by the content of the transcripts and was surprised Mr Justice Woulfe was unaware of developments in the State's response to Covid-19 in the week of the dinner.
“I do not think from reading the transcripts that he actually understands what the outcry was about,” she said last week. “If you do not understand that, it then makes it very difficult to relay decisions.
“The public was angry for very good reasons. They had spent months not being able to go to funerals and then they say different standards apply to people in prominent positions in Irish life. That, to me, was a very obvious reason.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-18--Anglican archbishops say UK Brexit law will have ‘enormous moral’ impact

The UK Internal Market Bill will have “ enormous moral , as well as political and legal , consequences ” if passed into law , the four Anglican primates of the UK and Ireland have said .
“ If carefully negotiated terms are not honoured and laws can be ‘ legally ’ broken , on what foundations does our democracy stand ?
” they asked .
The Bill would “ profoundly affect the future of our countries and the relationships between them , ” they say in a letter published in Monday ’ s Financial Times .
In the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Archbishop John McDowell , Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby , Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church Archbishop Mark Strange , Archbishop of Wales John Davies and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell , the church leaders said they wished “ to highlight the grave responsibility of peers in the House of Lords today ” , as the Bill is debated there .
Archbishop Welby and Archbishop Cottrell , as well as 24 other Anglican bishops , have seats as Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords .
In their letter , the archbishops said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of writing together because the decisions implemented in this Bill will profoundly affect the future of our countries and the relationships between them ” .
“ This will not be a return to a trade regime that existed before UK joined the EU ; it will be an entirely novel system , replacing one that evolved slowly and by careful negotiation over decades , ” they said .
The Scottish parliament and Welsh Senedd “ have made clear that the Bill ’ s weakening of both the principles and the effect of devolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if the Bill is made law without consent from devolved legislatures ( as will happen if it is not amended to address their concerns ) , this will further undermine trust and goodwill among those who govern the different parts of the United Kingdom , ” they said .
The archbishops noted how the Bill “ asks the country ’ s highest law-making body to equip a government minister to break international law .
This has enormous moral , as well as political and legal , consequences ” .
“ We believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is particularly disturbing for all of us who feel a sense of duty and responsibility to the Good Friday [ Belfast ] Agreement – that international treaty on which peace and stability within and between the UK and Ireland depends.
” They noted how the “ UK negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU to ‘ protect the 1998 agreement in all its dimensions ’ .
One year on , in this Bill , the UK government is not only preparing to break the protocol , but also to breach a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by limiting the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights in Northern Ireland law .
“ If carefully negotiated terms are not honoured and laws can be ‘ legally ’ broken , on what foundations does our democracy stand ?
” They concluded by urging lawmakers “ to consider this Bill in the light of values and principles we would wish to characterise relationships across these islands long after the transition period ” .

Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop John McDowell is one of four church leaders who have signed the letter, which is published in Monday’s Financial Times
The UK Internal Market Bill will have "enormous moral, as well as political and legal, consequences" if passed into law, the four Anglican primates of the UK and Ireland have said.
“If carefully negotiated terms are not honoured and laws can be ‘legally’ broken, on what foundations does our democracy stand?” they asked. The Bill would “profoundly affect the future of our countries and the relationships between them,” they say in a letter published in Monday’s Financial Times.
In the letter, signed by Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop John McDowell, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church Archbishop Mark Strange, Archbishop of Wales John Davies and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the church leaders said they wished "to highlight the grave responsibility of peers in the House of Lords today", as the Bill is debated there.
Archbishop Welby and Archbishop Cottrell, as well as 24 other Anglican bishops, have seats as Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords.
READ MORE
It is particularly disturbing for all of us who feel a sense of duty and responsibility to the Belfast Agreement
In their letter, the archbishops said they were “taking the rare step of writing together because the decisions implemented in this Bill will profoundly affect the future of our countries and the relationships between them”.
“This will not be a return to a trade regime that existed before UK joined the EU; it will be an entirely novel system, replacing one that evolved slowly and by careful negotiation over decades,” they said.
‘Undermine trust’
The Scottish parliament and Welsh Senedd "have made clear that the Bill's weakening of both the principles and the effect of devolved policymaking is of constitutional significance. Moreover, if the Bill is made law without consent from devolved legislatures (as will happen if it is not amended to address their concerns), this will further undermine trust and goodwill among those who govern the different parts of the United Kingdom, " they said.
The archbishops noted how the Bill “asks the country’s highest law-making body to equip a government minister to break international law. This has enormous moral, as well as political and legal, consequences”.
“We believe this would create a disastrous precedent. It is particularly disturbing for all of us who feel a sense of duty and responsibility to the Good Friday [Belfast] Agreement – that international treaty on which peace and stability within and between the UK and Ireland depends.”
They noted how the "UK negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU to 'protect the 1998 agreement in all its dimensions'. One year on, in this Bill, the UK government is not only preparing to break the protocol, but also to breach a fundamental tenet of the agreement: namely by limiting the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights in Northern Ireland law.
“If carefully negotiated terms are not honoured and laws can be ‘legally’ broken, on what foundations does our democracy stand?”
They concluded by urging lawmakers “to consider this Bill in the light of values and principles we would wish to characterise relationships across these islands long after the transition period”.


theirishtimes--2020-10-18--Fifty-six Covid-19 cases linked to man who failed to isolate after trip abroad

A man who failed to restrict his movements after returning to Ireland from a trip abroad led to at least 56 people being infected with coronavirus , including up to 10 households and a sports team .
The sobering “ real example ” of how Covid-19 can quickly spread within the community was revealed Monday in a report published by the Department of Public Health , Mid West , as the region surpassed its 3,000th case .
“ In total , 56 cases were infected from the index case , affecting up to 10 private households and a sports team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ index case “ was abroad on his holidays but he did not restrict his movements as per the current HSE guidelines when he got home ” .
At first he had “ mild symptoms including a runny nose and a mild sore throat ” , and his “ temperature was normal ” .
“ He felt reassured by this and socialised with a group of friends and he later tested positive for Covid-19 .
However , by this stage he had already infected a number of his friends ; three of these friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Another friend who he infected felt unwell and contacted her GP to arrange a Covid-19 test .
She had the test in the morning but by afternoon she felt a bit better and decided to go to a friend ’ s party .
“ After the party , she got her test result and it was positive .
By attending the party while waiting for her test result , she ended up infecting a number of other people.
” As the index case “ has a close extended family who visit each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to some extended family members also getting infected with Covid-19 .
“ One of his extended family members who had no symptoms played a match with his local team and a number of his teammates were infected as a result.
” The team members then went on to infect “ a number of people ” .
There were 1,894 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the region up to and including midnight September 19th , of which 293 had been hospitalised and one in five were healthcare workers .
That figure has jumped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four weeks .
Up to August 1st there were 93 deaths in the region , of which 80 were classed as “ confirmed cases ” and 13 were “ probable or possible cases ” .
The median age at death was 83 years ; six ( 6.5 per cent ) of the cases who died were admitted to intensive care units ; and the majority of cases ( 88.2 per cent ) who died had an underlying clinical condition .
The report also highlighted “ the significant underinvestment in an appropriate national IT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management system for public health ” .
It said the department had “ struggled in the absence of an appropriate IT infrastructure ” and that “ to ensure that we can tackle Covid-19 in an effective , timely and efficient manner , processes , communication , staffing and ICT all need to be improved going forward ” .

A man who failed to restrict his movements after returning to Ireland from a trip abroad led to at least 56 people being infected with coronavirus, including up to 10 households and a sports team.
The sobering “real example” of how Covid-19 can quickly spread within the community was revealed Monday in a report published by the Department of Public Health, Mid West, as the region surpassed its 3,000th case.
“In total, 56 cases were infected from the index case, affecting up to 10 private households and a sports team,” the report stated.
Hospital Report
The index case “was abroad on his holidays but he did not restrict his movements as per the current HSE guidelines when he got home”.
READ MORE
At first he had “mild symptoms including a runny nose and a mild sore throat”, and his “temperature was normal”.
“He felt reassured by this and socialised with a group of friends and he later tested positive for Covid-19. However, by this stage he had already infected a number of his friends; three of these friends went on to infect their families.
“Another friend who he infected felt unwell and contacted her GP to arrange a Covid-19 test. She had the test in the morning but by afternoon she felt a bit better and decided to go to a friend’s party.
“After the party, she got her test result and it was positive. By attending the party while waiting for her test result, she ended up infecting a number of other people.”
As the index case “has a close extended family who visit each other’s houses regularly, this led to some extended family members also getting infected with Covid-19.
“One of his extended family members who had no symptoms played a match with his local team and a number of his teammates were infected as a result.”
The team members then went on to infect “a number of people”.
Confirmed cases
There were 1,894 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the region up to and including midnight September 19th, of which 293 had been hospitalised and one in five were healthcare workers.
That figure has jumped by more than 1,100 in the past four weeks.
Up to August 1st there were 93 deaths in the region, of which 80 were classed as “confirmed cases” and 13 were “probable or possible cases”.
The median age at death was 83 years; six (6.5 per cent) of the cases who died were admitted to intensive care units; and the majority of cases (88.2 per cent) who died had an underlying clinical condition.
The report also highlighted “the significant underinvestment in an appropriate national IT [information technology] case and outbreak management system for public health”.
It said the department had “struggled in the absence of an appropriate IT infrastructure” and that “to ensure that we can tackle Covid-19 in an effective, timely and efficient manner, processes, communication, staffing and ICT all need to be improved going forward”.