theirishtimes--2020-08-05--‘Pat Hume did so much...Derry people know that, and remember that’

It is not only John Hume who has secured his place in the history of this island , Fr Paul Farren told mourners at his funeral on Wednesday , but also his wife Pat .
“ When the history of Ireland is written , if Pat Hume ’ s name is not beside John ’ s , it will be an incomplete history , ” he said in his homily .
There seems little chance of that .
They had been a partnership for 60 years ; she was a constant presence , from her role as the manager of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his advocate and protector during the final years of his illness .
“ She was with John in everything , ” said the SDLP leader , Colum Eastwood .
“ In the first election he fought , Pat was by his side , and when John was away , somebody had to be here , running the constituency office , looking after the house and the children , and anybody who needed help .
“ The people of Derry see her as a saint , and she contributed an enormous amount to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met Pat in Borderland , one of the famous “ ballrooms of romance ” just over the Border from Derry in Co Donegal and the “ starting point for many a Derry family ” , as their son John Jr noted .
They married in 1960 , and enjoyed “ a December honeymoon in a freezing B & B in Gardiner Street in Dublin .
Thankfully for Mum , the quality of the accommodation got better as the marriage went on.
” Yet Pat often had her work cut out .
“ None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or indeed putting many – any ?
– dinners on the table , ” John Jr recalled .
But it was both his parents , Pat as well as John , whom he credited for teaching “ us all our values and [ giving ] us all our moral compass .
And for that we will be forever in their debt , ” he said .
So too are many others .
Local people watching the funeral from outside the cathedral gates were keen to remember Pat as well as John .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pupil of Pat ’ s ; another was a friend .
“ Pat Hume is a great lady , ” was an oft-repeated remark .
“ Pat Hume did so much , ” said another .
“ The Derry people know that , and remember that.
” So too did Fr Farren remember her in his homily ; prayers were offered “ especially for you , Pat ” .
She had “ stood behind John to defend him and support him ” , Fr Farren said , and “ beside him to love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most difficult times and when his health failed and his mind got weaker she walked in front of him to lead him ” .
“ Pat encircled John with love , compassion and support and it was your presence that made his work possible .
”

It is not only John Hume who has secured his place in the history of this island, Fr Paul Farren told mourners at his funeral on Wednesday, but also his wife Pat.
“When the history of Ireland is written, if Pat Hume’s name is not beside John’s, it will be an incomplete history,” he said in his homily.
There seems little chance of that. They had been a partnership for 60 years; she was a constant presence, from her role as the manager of his constituency office in the early years to his advocate and protector during the final years of his illness.
“She was with John in everything,” said the SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood. “In the first election he fought, Pat was by his side, and when John was away, somebody had to be here, running the constituency office, looking after the house and the children, and anybody who needed help.
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“The people of Derry see her as a saint, and she contributed an enormous amount to the peace process in Ireland.”
John met Pat in Borderland, one of the famous “ballrooms of romance” just over the Border from Derry in Co Donegal and the “starting point for many a Derry family”, as their son John Jr noted.
They married in 1960, and enjoyed “a December honeymoon in a freezing B&B in Gardiner Street in Dublin. Thankfully for Mum, the quality of the accommodation got better as the marriage went on.”
Yet Pat often had her work cut out. “None of us remember him changing nappies, or indeed putting many – any? – dinners on the table,” John Jr recalled.
But it was both his parents, Pat as well as John, whom he credited for teaching “us all our values and [giving] us all our moral compass. And for that we will be forever in their debt,” he said.
Local respect
So too are many others. Local people watching the funeral from outside the cathedral gates were keen to remember Pat as well as John. One woman described how she had been a pupil of Pat’s; another was a friend. “Pat Hume is a great lady,” was an oft-repeated remark. “Pat Hume did so much,” said another. “The Derry people know that, and remember that.”
So too did Fr Farren remember her in his homily; prayers were offered “especially for you, Pat”.
She had “stood behind John to defend him and support him”, Fr Farren said, and “beside him to love him and accompany him even in the most difficult times and when his health failed and his mind got weaker she walked in front of him to lead him”.
“Pat encircled John with love, compassion and support and it was your presence that made his work possible.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-05--Report calls for more robust Covid-19 testing and contact tracing

Changes to make the current system of testing and contact tracing for Covid-19 more robust and efficient are recommended in an Oireachtas report .
All travellers arriving from overseas should have their temperature checked , and healthcare workers should be tested regularly so asymptomatic carriers can be identified , according to the report .
The HSE ’ s target turnaround time for end-to-end testing should be one day at most , the special committee on Covid-19 has found , while the 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers should be monitored more closely .
The report welcomes the work of the HSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service model and says the detail of this plan will be crucial to public health outcomes .
“ The committee understands that the system that was put in place in March was done in a hurry and a lot of contingency measures had to be taken given the risk of a pandemic sweeping the State , ” says committee chairman Michael McNamara .
“ Because of the efforts of all our people , those measures were not needed , but what became clear to the committee is that another lockdown would be unsustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State to live with and treat outbreaks of Covid as they arise.
” The report also warns the test and trace system is facing two severe “ stress tests ” in the coming months : travel into and within the State , and the flu season .
“ We will need a system that has capacity to deal with a sudden surge in demand which will happen if we get a flu epidemic in the autumn given the overlap on symptoms between the flu and Covid-19 , and our already over-crowded hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy McNamara says .
Other recommendations state that ensuring a sufficient supply of testing equipment should remain a priority , while detailed anonymised data about infections – including geographical and demographic information – should be made public as quickly as possible .
The dangers of unofficial , private virus tests which may not be reliable and could give false confidence , should be emphasised in messaging to the public , the report says .
The report also calls for an ongoing assessment of the technical performance of the HSE ’ s Covid Tracker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the testing and contact tracing issues , and received 15 written submissions from experts in the area .

The special committee on Covid-19 recommends that the 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers should be monitored more closely. Photograph: Stephen Collins/ Collins Photos
Changes to make the current system of testing and contact tracing for Covid-19 more robust and efficient are recommended in an Oireachtas report.
All travellers arriving from overseas should have their temperature checked, and healthcare workers should be tested regularly so asymptomatic carriers can be identified, according to the report.
The HSE’s target turnaround time for end-to-end testing should be one day at most, the special committee on Covid-19 has found, while the 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers should be monitored more closely.
The report welcomes the work of the HSE to design a new test and trace service model and says the detail of this plan will be crucial to public health outcomes.
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“The committee understands that the system that was put in place in March was done in a hurry and a lot of contingency measures had to be taken given the risk of a pandemic sweeping the State,” says committee chairman Michael McNamara.
“Because of the efforts of all our people, those measures were not needed, but what became clear to the committee is that another lockdown would be unsustainable. Testing and contact tracing will allow the State to live with and treat outbreaks of Covid as they arise.”
The report also warns the test and trace system is facing two severe “stress tests” in the coming months: travel into and within the State, and the flu season.
“We will need a system that has capacity to deal with a sudden surge in demand which will happen if we get a flu epidemic in the autumn given the overlap on symptoms between the flu and Covid-19, and our already over-crowded hospitals and A&E departments,” deputy McNamara says.
Testing equipment
Other recommendations state that ensuring a sufficient supply of testing equipment should remain a priority, while detailed anonymised data about infections – including geographical and demographic information – should be made public as quickly as possible.
The dangers of unofficial, private virus tests which may not be reliable and could give false confidence, should be emphasised in messaging to the public, the report says.
The report also calls for an ongoing assessment of the technical performance of the HSE’s Covid Tracker app.
The committee held three meetings on the testing and contact tracing issues, and received 15 written submissions from experts in the area.


theirishtimes--2020-08-05--Jury in trial of man accused of Adrian Donohoe murder begins considering verdict

The jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has begun considering its verdicts at the Central Criminal Court .
Aaron Brady ( 29 ) from New Road , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th , 2013 at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth .
Mr Brady has also pleaded not ) guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location .
Presiding judge Mr Justice Michael White on Wednesday advised the five men and seven women to begin by considering the charge of robbery .
He said that if they find Mr Brady not guilty of that charge it would be illogical to find him guilty of the murder charge .
The judge added that if they find him guilty of robbery they must then consider the capital murder charge , which he said is “ tricky ” because there are multiple possible verdicts .
Mr Justice White told the jury that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not just participate in the robbery but that he shot Det Gda Donohoe .
If the jury is not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Brady shot the garda then they should bring a not guilty verdict , he said .
If they are satisfied that Mr Brady shot the detective , the judge said : “ For capital murder you have to be satisfied he knew he was a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty or that he was reckless to that.
” The jury could find Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder if they decide that he was the shooter but did not know that he was shooting a garda and was not reckless to whether he was a garda .
The judge also pointed out that the defence had raised manslaughter as an alternative verdict .
Mr Justice White explained that manslaughter is an unlawful killing without the intention to kill or cause serious injury .
He added : “ If that ’ s your assessment , it ’ s a matter for you entirely ladies and gentlemen , then you write down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or murder but guilty of manslaughter ’ .
” The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Thursday to continue its deliberations .

The jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe has begun considering its verdicts at the Central Criminal Court.
Aaron Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not ) guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Michael White on Wednesday advised the five men and seven women to begin by considering the charge of robbery. He said that if they find Mr Brady not guilty of that charge it would be illogical to find him guilty of the murder charge.
The judge added that if they find him guilty of robbery they must then consider the capital murder charge, which he said is “tricky” because there are multiple possible verdicts. Mr Justice White told the jury that the prosecution is saying that Mr Brady did not just participate in the robbery but that he shot Det Gda Donohoe. If the jury is not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Brady shot the garda then they should bring a not guilty verdict, he said.
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If they are satisfied that Mr Brady shot the detective, the judge said: “For capital murder you have to be satisfied he knew he was a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty or that he was reckless to that.” The jury could find Mr Brady guilty of murder but not capital murder if they decide that he was the shooter but did not know that he was shooting a garda and was not reckless to whether he was a garda.
The judge also pointed out that the defence had raised manslaughter as an alternative verdict. Mr Justice White explained that manslaughter is an unlawful killing without the intention to kill or cause serious injury. He added: “If that’s your assessment, it’s a matter for you entirely ladies and gentlemen, then you write down, ‘not guilty of capital murder or murder but guilty of manslaughter’.”
The jury will return to the Central Criminal Court on Thursday to continue its deliberations.


theirishtimes--2020-08-05--Coronavirus: 50 new cases as Glynn says phase four delay disappointing for many

Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has acknowledged the “ disappointment ” caused by the decision not to proceed to phase four of the Government ’ s road-map to lifting Covid-19 restrictions .
However , Dr Glynn insisted the priority of public officials must be to control the spread of the virus in communities “ and to protect the progress that we have achieved to date ” .
A further 50 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported on Wednesday by the National Public Health Emergency Team .
This brings to the 26,303 the total number of confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in a row , no new deaths were reported by NPHET , leaving the overall death toll during the pandemic at 1,763 .
In line with the trend seen in recent weeks , most of the latest cases are among younger people and men , and most are related to previously confirmed cases .
Of the new cases , 42 are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case .
However , four new cases involve community transmission , meaning the source of the infection is unclear .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are aged under 45 years .
There were 31 cases among men and 19 among women .
Co Wexford recorded the highest number of new cases , with 11 .
There were also 10 new cases in Kildare , six in Dublin , five in Donegal and 18 spread across nine other counties ( Carlow , Cork , Limerick , Louth , Meath , Offaly , Sligo , Tipperary and Wicklow ) .
“ Covid-19 is an extremely contagious virus and we have seen a significant increase in its spread across multiple counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this very closely , ” Dr Glynn said .
“ Our focus over the coming weeks will be on continuing every effort to slow the spread of the virus so that our schools can reopen , our healthcare services resume , and our nursing homes are protected.
” Meanwhile , only eight counties recorded no increase in Covid-19 cases over the past week , according to HSE figures .
There was no change in the number of Covid-19 cases in the week up to last Sunday in counties Carlow , Kilkenny , Longford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wexford and Wicklow , data from the HSE ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows .
The biggest increase in cases were recorded in counties Dublin and Kildare , each with an additional 46 cases .
A further 31 cases occurred in county Laois , and 11 more in Co Limerick .
Public health officials have indicated that many of the new cases relate to outbreaks in food processing plants , or among at-risk groups .
Over the past week , travel accounted for an additional 14 cases , the HPSC epidemiological reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause of an infection is not apparent - was involved in an additional 59 cases , with the rate of occurrence of community transmission picking up pace during the week .
Overall , the was an increase of 319 cases during the week .
Meanwhile , the number of patients waiting for admission to hospital rose on Wednesday to 210 , the highest level since the pandemic started , according to the daily TrolleyWatch count by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation .
Cork University Hospital had 36 patients waiting for admission while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ INMO figures show .
Just 45 adult critical care beds were free in hospitals nationally on Tuesday , according to the later operations report from the HSE .
Another six children ’ s beds and 21 private beds were available for critical care patients .
A total of 268 beds were occupied , just five of them by Covid-19 patients .
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland on Wednesday , it emerged more than 6,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus .
The latest figures published by the North ’ s Department of Health revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total to 6,006 .
However no new fatalities have been recorded in Northern Ireland for almost three weeks , leaving the total death toll at 556 — according to the departmental figures which are based on those who previously tested positive for the virus .

Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has acknowledged the “disappointment” caused by the decision not to proceed to phase four of the Government’s road-map to lifting Covid-19 restrictions.
However, Dr Glynn insisted the priority of public officials must be to control the spread of the virus in communities “and to protect the progress that we have achieved to date”.
A further 50 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported on Tuesday by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
This brings to the 26,303 the total number of confirmed cases in the State.
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For the 10th day in a row, no new deaths were reported by NPHET, leaving the overall death toll during the pandemic at 1,763.
In line with the trend seen in recent weeks, most of Tuesday’s cases were among younger people and men, and most were related to previously confirmed cases.
Of the new cases, 42 were associated with outbreaks or were close contacts of a confirmed case. However, four new cases involved community transmission, meaning the source of the infection was unclear.
Some 81 per cent of the new cases were aged under 45 years. There were 31 cases among men and 19 among women.
Co Wexford recorded the highest number of new cases, with 11. There were also 10 new cases in Kildare, six in Dublin, five in Donegal and 18 spread across nine other counties (Carlow, Cork, Limerick, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary and Wicklow).
“Covid-19 is an extremely contagious virus and we have seen a significant increase in its spread across multiple counties over recent days. We are monitoring this very closely,” Dr Glynn said.
“Our focus over the coming weeks will be on continuing every effort to slow the spread of the virus so that our schools can reopen, our healthcare services resume, and our nursing homes are protected.”
No increase in eight counties
Meanwhile, only eight counties recorded no increase in Covid-19 cases over the past week, according to HSE figures.
There was no change in the number of Covid-19 cases in the week up to last Sunday in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Longford, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow, data from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows.
The biggest increase in cases were recorded in Cos Dublin and Kildare, each with an additional 46 cases. A further 31 cases occurred in county Laois, and 11 more in Co Limerick.
Public health officials have indicated that many of the new cases relate to outbreaks in food processing plants, or among at-risk groups.
Over the past week, travel accounted for an additional 14 cases, the HPSC epidemiological reports indicate.
Community transmission - where the cause of an infection is not apparent - was involved in an additional 59 cases, with the rate of occurrence of community transmission picking up pace during the week. Overall, the was an increase of 319 cases during the week.
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, it emerged more than 6,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus.
The latest figures published by the North’s Department of Health revealed 10 more cases of Covid-19 bring the total to 6,006.However no new fatalities have been recorded in Northern Ireland for almost three weeks, leaving the total death toll at 556 — according to the departmental figures which are based on those who previously tested positive for the virus.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Kieran Greene appeals conviction for murdering Patricia O’Connor

A 35-year-old man sentenced to life in prison for murdering a retired grandmother , whose dismembered remains were found scattered at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains , has lodged an appeal against his conviction .
Father-of-three Kieran Greene was sentenced to life in prison on June 22nd for murdering Patricia O ’ Connor ( 61 ) having been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of inflicting “ catastrophic injuries ” on the retired hospital worker in a sustained attack in the bathroom of her Rathfarnham home .
The jury accepted the prosecution ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death with a hurley and that his claim of self-defence “ did not hold any water ” .
They rejected Greene ’ s claim that Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s husband , Augustine ‘ Gus ’ O ’ Connor , had killed his wife using a crowbar and he [ Greene ] had taken the blame .
It was the State ’ s contention that there was no evidence of a single defensive wound on Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s body and Greene bore an “ ill-will ” and “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deceased .
The Courts Service has confirmed that Greene has made the appeal against his conviction .
The defendant had 28 days following sentencing in which to submit his appeal .
The Court of Appeal will also hear an appeal by Keith Johnston against his conviction and sentence .
It is understood that the three other defendants — Louise O ’ Connor ( 41 ) , Stephanie O ’ Connor ( 22 ) and Augustine ‘ Gus ’ O ’ Connor ( 76 ) have not lodged appeals .
Johnston ( 43 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene , knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O ’ Connor on May 29th , 2017 .
The handyman was sentenced to three years in prison by trial judge Mr Justice Paul McDermott last June .
Handing down sentence , Mr Justice McDermott said that Johnston , a “ trusted member ” of Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s extended family who helped her murderer buy DIY tools which he knew were to be used in the dismemberment of the grandmother ’ s remains , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea ” and it was clear that he intended that her remains would never be found .
His actions were a callous disregard and total disrespect for Mrs O ’ Connor , he said .
Johnston with a last address at Avonbeg Gardens , Tallaght , Dublin 24 was found guilty of assisting Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie ’ s , Mr Price , B & Q and Shoe Zone , Tallaght , Dublin 24 on June 9th , 2017 , which were to be used in the concealment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connor .
Johnston is the ex-partner of the deceased ’ s daughter , Louise O ’ Connor , and is father to two of her five children including Stephanie O ’ Connor .
The deceased ’ s daughter Louise O ’ Connor , her granddaughter Stephanie O ’ Connor and Stephanie ’ s father Keith Johnston were each found guilty in February of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Louise ’ s former partner Kieran Greene , knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O ’ Connor on May 29th , 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Connor was originally part of the trial but shortly before it began in January , he pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as a missing person to gardaí at Rathfarnham Garda station , Dublin 14 on June 1st , 2017 , knowing she was already dead .
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison .
The judge jailed Stephanie O ’ Connor for one-and-a-half years in prison and her mother Louise O ’ Connor to two-and-a-half years .
Mother-of-five Louise O ’ Connor , with a last address at Millmount Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found guilty of agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O ’ Connor disguising herself as Patricia O ’ Connor at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 on May 29th , 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O ’ Connor was dead .
Stephanie O ’ Connor also with a last address at Millmount Court , Dundrum Road , Dublin 14 was found guilty of disguising herself as Patricia O ’ Connor at Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conceal the fact that she was already dead .
The seven-week trial heard that the body of Mrs O ’ Connor was dismembered into 15 separate parts that were found at nine different locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th , 2017 .
Former deputy state pathologist , Dr Michael Curtis , gave evidence in the trial that Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement and the cause of death was blunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had pleaded not guilty to murdering the gardening enthusiast at her home in Mountainview Park , Rathfarnham , Dublin 14 on May 29th 2017 and had given two accounts of Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s death .
In an interview with gardaí in June 2017 , Greene said he was in the bathroom when Mrs O ’ Connor attacked him with a hurley .
Greene maintained that he had disarmed Mrs O ’ Connor and acted in self-defence by hitting her with a hurley and as a result of that she may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only one involved in the physical altercation and had acted alone in removing her body from the house , burying her in a shallow grave in Co Wexford and subsequently dismembering her .
The trial heard that six months after he was charged with her murder , Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner ’ s mother .
While on remand in Cloverhill Prison in December 2017 , Greene told gardai that he had taken “ the rap ” and felt he was being set-up , as his girlfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston .
In his December interview Greene claimed that , although there was an altercation , he was not responsible for Mrs O ’ Connor ’ s death , that her husband Augustine ‘ Gus ’ O ’ Connor had killed her with a crowbar and that other family members had been involved .

A 35-year-old man sentenced to life in prison for murdering a retired grandmother, whose dismembered remains were found scattered at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, has lodged an appeal against his conviction.
Father-of-three Kieran Greene was sentenced to life in prison on June 22nd for murdering Patricia O'Connor (61) having been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of inflicting "catastrophic injuries" on the retired hospital worker in a sustained attack in the bathroom of her Rathfarnham home.
The jury accepted the prosecution’s case that Greene bludgeoned the grandmother to death with a hurley and that his claim of self-defence “did not hold any water”. They rejected Greene’s claim that Mrs O’Connor’s husband, Augustine ‘Gus’ O’Connor, had killed his wife using a crowbar and he [Greene] had taken the blame.
It was the State’s contention that there was no evidence of a single defensive wound on Mrs O’Connor’s body and Greene bore an “ill-will” and “a particular animus or bad feeling” against the deceased.
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The Courts Service has confirmed that Greene has made the appeal against his conviction. The defendant had 28 days following sentencing in which to submit his appeal.
The Court of Appeal will also hear an appeal by Keith Johnston against his conviction and sentence. It is understood that the three other defendants — Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) have not lodged appeals.
Johnston (43) was found guilty last February of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Greene, knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O’Connor on May 29th, 2017. The handyman was sentenced to three years in prison by trial judge Mr Justice Paul McDermott last June.
Handing down sentence, Mr Justice McDermott said that Johnston, a “trusted member” of Mrs O’Connor’s extended family who helped her murderer buy DIY tools which he knew were to be used in the dismemberment of the grandmother’s remains, had taken part in a “grotesque idea” and it was clear that he intended that her remains would never be found. His actions were a callous disregard and total disrespect for Mrs O’Connor, he said.
Johnston with a last address at Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was found guilty of assisting Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie’s, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9th, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O’Connor. Johnston is the ex-partner of the deceased’s daughter, Louise O’Connor, and is father to two of her five children including Stephanie O’Connor.
The deceased’s daughter Louise O’Connor, her granddaughter Stephanie O’Connor and Stephanie’s father Keith Johnston were each found guilty in February of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Louise’s former partner Kieran Greene, knowing or believing him to have murdered Mrs O’Connor on May 29th, 2017.
Patricia’s husband Augustine O’Connor was originally part of the trial but shortly before it began in January, he pleaded guilty to reporting his wife as a missing person to gardaí at Rathfarnham Garda station, Dublin 14 on June 1st, 2017, knowing she was already dead. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The judge jailed Stephanie O’Connor for one-and-a-half years in prison and her mother Louise O’Connor to two-and-a-half years.
Mother-of-five Louise O’Connor, with a last address at Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14 was found guilty of agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O’Connor disguising herself as Patricia O’Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29th, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O’Connor was dead.
Stephanie O’Connor also with a last address at Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14 was found guilty of disguising herself as Patricia O’Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead.
The seven-week trial heard that the body of Mrs O’Connor was dismembered into 15 separate parts that were found at nine different locations over a 30km range in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th, 2017.
Former deputy state pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, gave evidence in the trial that Mrs O’Connor’s head was struck a minimum of three blows with a solid implement and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
Greene had pleaded not guilty to murdering the gardening enthusiast at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29th 2017 and had given two accounts of Mrs O’Connor’s death. In an interview with gardaí in June 2017, Greene said he was in the bathroom when Mrs O’Connor attacked him with a hurley.
Greene maintained that he had disarmed Mrs O’Connor and acted in self-defence by hitting her with a hurley and as a result of that she may have died. He claimed he was the only one involved in the physical altercation and had acted alone in removing her body from the house, burying her in a shallow grave in Co Wexford and subsequently dismembering her.
The trial heard that six months after he was charged with her murder, Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner’s mother. While on remand in Cloverhill Prison in December 2017, Greene told gardai that he had taken “the rap” and felt he was being set-up, as his girlfriend Louise O’Connor subsequently started going back out with her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston.
In his December interview Greene claimed that, although there was an altercation, he was not responsible for Mrs O’Connor’s death, that her husband Augustine ‘Gus’ O’Connor had killed her with a crowbar and that other family members had been involved.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Garda transformed domestic violence response amid lockdown surge - report

Domestic violence surged by 25 per cent during the Covid-19 lockdown period but the Garda met the challenge by transforming the way it responded to the violence , the Policing Authority has said .
Some groups working with victims of domestic violence told the authority about “ significant interventions ” made by gardaí which they believed prevented domestic violence killings .
One group said the service now being supplied by the Garda was the “ best ever ” .
The authority said the Garda anticipated the lockdown would result in a spike in domestic violence attacks and established Operation Faoiseamh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that operation a total of 8,229 contacts or attempted contacts had been made with domestic violence victims and some 107 prosecutions had been commenced , including for breaching barring and safety orders .
The authority commended the Garda ’ s performance in responding to domestic violence in its half yearly review of how the force was meeting the objectives set out in its policing plan .
However , there was still a “ lack of understanding of the dynamics and dimensions of domestic abuse ” in some parts of the Garda organisation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , especially in getting closer to communities across the country , was regarded as very positive , some important goals set by the force for itself had not been met in the first six months of the year , partly due to the pandemic .
For example , training had been suspended for some projects including the roll-out of new domestic abuse risk assessment practices .
There were also shortfalls in the planned better resourcing of Garda Síochána Analysis Service , which provides data to improve resource allocation in the force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime trends .
The Garda had also planned to produce a costed policing plan , based on more reliable data , but this was now “ unlikely to be achieved ” this year .
There was also no workforce plan document that would set out the Garda ’ s staffing requirements across all parts of the force .
However , chairman of the Policing Authority Bob Collins said one of the positive features of the pandemic , and which was most commented on by groups and individuals that head dealings with Garda members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone ” taken by members of the force .
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has previously said none of his members had to be told to change their “ tone ” or had to be advised on what tone to take .
Instead , he said when Garda members had more time to engage with the community again during the pandemic - as most crime types plummeted - policing had “ found itself again ” in the Republic .
Mr Collins said a key challenge for the Garda organisation in the months and years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress made in policing during the pandemic period .
“ There has been a real change in tone by individual gardaí , sometimes quite spontaneously , in their relationship to people and the response has been phenomenally good from people , ” he said on RTE Radio 1 .
He added when the “ intensity of the current emergency decreases , that that same sense of engagement with people , that same sense of mutual respect , humanity , recognition , understanding will continue to be part of the way which the Garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins acknowledged that some young people felt that they did not have the “ same warm experience ” with the gardaí and it was a challenge for the gardaí to find new ways to engage with such groups .
For people who had difficult relations with the gardaí in the past , there was a barrier , they did not have the “ warm , glowing Covid policing experience ” that the vast majority had experienced , he said .
It was important to maintain the level of engagement achieved during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @

Domestic violence surged by 25 per cent during the Covid-19 lockdown period but the Garda met the challenge by transforming the way it responded to the violence, the Policing Authority has said.
Some groups working with victims of domestic violence told the authority about “significant interventions” made by gardaí which they believed prevented domestic violence killings. One group said the service now being supplied by the Garda was the “best ever”.
The authority said the Garda anticipated the lockdown would result in a spike in domestic violence attacks and established Operation Faoiseamh to deal with the increase.
The Policing Authority commended the Garda’s performance in responding to domestic violence in its half-yearly review. Photograph: Alan Betson
Under that operation, a total of 8,229 contacts or attempted contacts had been made with domestic violence victims, and some 107 prosecutions had been commenced, including for breaching barring and safety orders.
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The authority commended the Garda’s performance in responding to domestic violence in its half-yearly review of how the force was meeting the objectives set out in its policing plan. However, there was still a “lack of understanding of the dynamics and dimensions of domestic abuse” in some parts of the Garda organisation.
While the Garda’s work during the pandemic, especially in getting closer to communities across the country, was regarded as very positive, some important goals set by the force for itself had not been met in the first six months of the year, partly due to the pandemic.
For example, training had been suspended for some projects including the roll-out of new domestic abuse risk assessment practices. There were also shortfalls in the planned better resourcing of Garda Síochána Analysis Service, which provides data to improve resource allocation in the force and more efficient policing responses to changing crime trends.
The Garda had also planned to produce a costed policing plan, based on more reliable data, but this was now “unlikely to be achieved” this year. There was also no workforce plan document that would set out the Garda’s staffing requirements across all parts of the force.
Change in ‘tone’
However, chairman of the Policing Authority Bob Collins said one of the positive features of the pandemic, and was most commented on by groups and individuals who had dealings with Garda members, was the positive change in “tone” taken by members of the force.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has previously said none of his members had to be told to change their “tone” or had to be advised on what tone to take. Instead, he said when Garda members had more time to engage with the community again during the pandemic – as most crime types plummeted – policing had “found itself again” in the Republic.
Mr Collins said a key challenge for the Garda organisation in the months and years ahead was trying to retain the clear progress made in policing during the pandemic period.
“There has been a real change in tone by individual gardaí, sometimes quite spontaneously, in their relationship to people and the response has been phenomenally good from people,” he said on RTÉ Radio 1.
He added that when the “intensity of the current emergency decreases, that same sense of engagement with people, that same sense of mutual respect, humanity, recognition, understanding will continue to be part of the way which the Garda Síochána delivers its services”.
Mr Collins acknowledged that some young people felt they did not have the “same warm experience” with the gardaí and it was a challenge for the gardaí to find new ways to engage with such groups.
For people who had difficult relations with the gardaí in the past, there was a barrier, they did not have the “warm, glowing Covid policing experience” that the vast majority had experienced, he said.
It was important to maintain the level of engagement achieved during the pandemic, said Mr Collins.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Heroin worth €3 million seized in Dublin, two men questioned

Heroin with a street value of €3 million has been seized in Dublin in a joint operation between gardaí and @ @ @ @ @ the Garda said the Revenue ’ s Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and @ @ @ @ @ ) , participated in a joint intelligence led operation on Wednesday .
“ During the @ @ @ @ @ 22kg of suspected heroin , with an estimated street value of €3 million ( subject @ @ @ @ @ , was seized in the Dublin 15 area , ” it said .
Two men @ @ @ @ @ , were arrested and are being questioned in Blanchardstown Garda Station under the provisions of @ @ @ @ @ Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act , 1996 .
Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Willis , @ @ @ @ @ Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau said : “ The outcome of co-operation between @ @ @ @ @ Garda Síochána , has resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of heroin from @ @ @ @ @ suffering the consequences of drug trafficking ” .

Part of the consignment of heroin seized in Dublin on Wednesday. Photograph: Revenue’s Customs Service
Two well-known figures in Irish domestic soccer have been arrested over the discovery of a consignment of heroin valued at €3 million.
One of the men has a conviction for a firearms offence involving a replica gun and is also a suspect in a conspiracy that resulted in the shooting of Dubliner Robert Delaney in 2008 .
Mr Delaney has been in a permanent vegetative state in hospital since the shooting almost 12 years ago. He was working as a postman when targeted over intervening in a row outside a pub,
The suspects were arrested following a joint operation between the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and Revenue's Custom Service led to the multimillion euro narcotics seizure.
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Gardaí believe the drugs had recently entered the country. The haul was monitored, leading to the arrest of the two suspects – aged 40s and 30s – in the Dublin 15 area.
The arrested men were being questioned in Blanchardstown Garda station under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act.
Det Chief Supt Angela Willis, head of GNDOCB, said the operation had "resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of heroin from circulation within communities that are suffering the consequences of drug trafficking".
In 2008 father-of-two Robert Delaney intervened in a dispute outside a Dublin pub. One of the men he challenged is the older suspect who is in custody over the heroin find. That man has links to people previously in the Provisional IRA.
Over a period of months after the incident outside the Dublin pub Mr Delaney was followed, intimidated and in October of that year was shot at his home in Tallaght. When a caller rang the bell to his apartment Mr Delaney looked over the balcony to see who it was and was met with a shotgun blast to the face.
‘No hope of recovery’
He suffered catastrophic injuries and has no hope of recovery.
The gunman who attempted to murder him, Daniel Gaynor from Dublin, carried out shootings for money. Gardaí believe he was paid €10,000 to shoot Mr Delaney.
Gaynor was shot dead in Finglas, north Dublin, in August 2010. Several crime gangs co-operated to kill him because he had worked as a killer for the Real IRA.
Detectives believe the older man now in custody conspired with an older close associate previously involved with the Provisional IRA, and other men, to shoot Mr Delaney in revenge for his 2008 pub-row intervention.
The man was arrested by gardaí investigating the attack on Mr Delaney, but was released without charge.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Covid-19: Temperature scans at airports ‘ineffective, with low detection rates’

Temperature scanning at ports and airports is ineffective in identifying incoming passengers infectious with Covid-19 and in limiting the spread of the disease , according to a new report .
Thermal screening is high-cost , resource intensive , and detection rates are low , the report by the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) states .
There have been numerous calls for the screening of incoming passengers at points of entry to the State as a way of curbing the spread of Covid-19 .
Mass screening has been used in some countries in other infectious disease outbreaks – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries during the 2009 swine flu pandemic .
However , the evidence review by Hiqa says this type of screening is likely to be ineffective in limiting the spread of Covid-19 .
“ Detection rates are very low due to large proportion of cases that have no symptoms , are infectious before showing any symptoms or who do not present with fever , ” the report says .
The report says not all cases present with fever , a substantial proportion are asymptomatic and about 25 per cent of symptomatic cases never develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases may “ evade detection ” by taking common medicines that reduce body temperature .
Using thermal screening could result in a false sense of safety and reduce the number of trained healthcare staff available to work in other areas of pandemic management , the report says .
The report finding on the effectiveness of thermal screening relates to point-of-entry only and its applicability to other settings , such as schools , is uncertain , the authors say .
Separately , Hiqa has published an evidence summary on potential immunity following infection with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of available international research finds that antibodies were detected in nearly all people up to three months after infections , and over 90 per cent of patients had developed a neutralising antibody response , which protects against further infection .
However , a handful of new studies suggest it may be possible to be re-infected with Sars-CoV-2 , the virus that causes Covid-19 .
“ It remains unclear whether long-term immunity to Sars-CoV-2 is possible , ” according to Dr Máirín Ryan , Hiqa ’ s deputy CEO and director of health technology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland are required to complete a passenger locator form indicating where they will stay for the following 14 days , and to self-isolate at this address for the period .

Temperature scanning at ports and airports is ineffective in identifying incoming passengers infectious with Covid-19 and in limiting the spread of the disease, according to a new report.
Thermal screening is high cost and resource intensive, and detection rates are low, the report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) states.
There have been numerous calls for the screening of incoming passengers at points of entry to the State as a way of curbing the spread of Covid-19. Mass screening has been used in some countries in other infectious disease outbreaks – such as in Australia and some Asian countries during the 2009 swine flu pandemic.
However, the evidence review by Hiqa says this type of screening is likely to be ineffective in limiting the spread of Covid-19.
READ MORE
“Detection rates are very low due to large proportion of cases that have no symptoms, are infectious before showing any symptoms or who do not present with fever,” the report says.
The report says not all cases present with fever, a substantial proportion are asymptomatic and about 25 per cent of symptomatic cases never develop a fever.
In addition, some cases may “evade detection” by taking common medicines that reduce body temperature.
Using thermal screening could result in a false sense of safety and reduce the number of trained healthcare staff available to work in other areas of pandemic management, the report says.
The report finding on the effectiveness of thermal screening relates to point-of-entry only and its applicability to other settings, such as schools, is uncertain, the authors say.
Immunity
Separately, Hiqa has published an evidence summary on potential immunity following infection with Covid-19 or other coronaviruses.
Its review of available international research finds that antibodies were detected in nearly all people up to three months after infections, and more than 90 per cent of patients had developed a neutralising antibody response, which protects against further infection.
However, a handful of new studies suggest it may be possible to be re-infected with Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
“It remains unclear whether long-term immunity to Sars-CoV-2 is possible,” according to Dr Máirín Ryan, Hiqa’s deputy chief executive and director of health technology assessment.
Currently, passengers arriving in Ireland are required to complete a passenger locator form indicating where they will stay for the following 14 days, and to self-isolate at this address for the period.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Legal definition of media must include social media, says expert

The legal definition of media must be expanded to include social media to ensure the identities of people involved in sex crime cases are protected , the chairman of an expert group has said .
An expert group appointed by the government after the 2018 Belfast rape trial published a report on the justice system ’ s handling of sex crimes on Thursday .
The group , led by barrister and NUI Galway law lecturer Tom O ’ Malley , made a number of recommendations including that pretrial hearings be established , that sex crime victims should not be allocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that anonymity be extended to suspects of sexual assaults .
Speaking on RTÉ radio ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney show , Mr O ’ Malley also highlighted issues with what was being published on social media during high-profile trials .
“ The law as it stands is very clear - it ’ s a criminal offence for print or broadcast media to publish information that they should not reveal such as the identities of the parties , it seems to me to be completely contradictory if social media were to have any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Malley said .
“ What matters is not the medium through which the information is transmitted , it ’ s the fact that the information is transmitted to the public .
We ’ re asking that the definitions of media ( which date from legislation from 1981 and 1990 ) be reviewed so they are sufficiently comprehensive and all embracing to cover social media.
” The law lecturer said social media has made a difference to the issue of disclosure .
“ As a matter of constitutional law , the prosecution must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial all of the information that it has in its possession that might either weaken its own case or strengthen the defence case , ” he said .
“ At one time that used to be simple and quite straight forward because there wouldn ’ t have been a lot of information there – it could be letters , diary entries , nowadays it is social media information , text messages , Facebook messages , internet usage and so on.
” Additional information in the social media age “ imposes a huge burden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defence , he added .
“ It can lead to delays in trials , just the sheer , physical work of collecting this information.
” Meanwhile , the chief executive officer of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre , Noeline Blackwell , has welcomed the recommendation of pretrial hearings in sex crime cases at which “ side issues ” could be addressed .
Any barrister planning to question a complainant about their sexual history would need to apply to do so at a pretrial hearing , at which complainants would be legally represented .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morning Ireland that pretrial applications discussing the complainants ’ sexual history were important to ensure that a complainant was not hit by an application that is “ disconcerting at the very least , and horrifying to say the most ” at the last minute .
Information and support were key areas identified in the report that need to be implemented quickly , she said .
Very often “ the loneliest person ” on the journey to prosecution for a sexual offence was the victim , who was often left lacking in support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Blackwell .
Proposals to establish a clear pathway before a case is set down for hearing , were very welcome , she added , “ so that when it comes to hearing , somebody will get heard on the day ” and that anonymity would be granted in respect of all sexual assault cases .
The victim was entitled to a hearing that allowed them to tell their story clearly without being “ retraumatised ” .
It was important that there be recognition of how different sexual offences were from other crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Helen McEntee told the same programme that her plan was that within 10 weeks she would put in place measures to implement the recommendations of the report with input from NGOs involved and the authorities .
Some of the recommendations she hoped to move on “ very quickly ” .
Ms McEntee said it was important that victims know that they would be supported and that they would know the supports available to them .
The current delays in the system needed to be addressed , she added , and issues such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in schools and universities .
The Council of the Bar of Ireland has also welcomed the recommendations by the expert group .
The council described the report as a “ vital and important analysis ” of the current criminal justice system ’ s approach to sexual offences , adding that it will be “ foundational ” in ensuring that the approach to such cases is “ effective , humane and respects the fundamental tenets of fairness before the law ” .
However , the council cautioned that “ provision of adequate resources and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the successful reform of the current system ” .
It said that it looked forward to engaging with the working group , the department and relevant stakeholders to ensure that its recommendations are “ speedily and effectively brought to fruition ” .

The report also recommends that suspects charged with sex crimes should not be named when their cases are before the courts unless and until they are convicted. File photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times
The legal definition of media must be expanded to include social media to ensure the identities of people involved in sex crime cases are protected, the chairman of an expert group has said.
An expert group appointed by the government after the 2018 Belfast rape trial published a report on the justice system’s handling of sex crimes on Thursday.
The group, led by barrister and NUI Galway law lecturer Tom O'Malley, made a number of recommendations including that pretrial hearings be established, that sex crime victims should not be allocated their own legal representation during trials and that anonymity be extended to suspects of sexual assaults.
Speaking on RTÉ radio's Today with Sarah McInerney show, Mr O'Malley also highlighted issues with what was being published on social media during high-profile trials.
READ MORE
“The law as it stands is very clear - it’s a criminal offence for print or broadcast media to publish information that they should not reveal such as the identities of the parties, it seems to me to be completely contradictory if social media were to have any exceptions from that,” Mr O’Malley said.
“What matters is not the medium through which the information is transmitted, it’s the fact that the information is transmitted to the public. We’re asking that the definitions of media (which date from legislation from 1981 and 1990) be reviewed so they are sufficiently comprehensive and all embracing to cover social media.”
The law lecturer said social media has made a difference to the issue of disclosure.
“As a matter of constitutional law, the prosecution must hand over to the defence prior to trial all of the information that it has in its possession that might either weaken its own case or strengthen the defence case,” he said.
"At one time that used to be simple and quite straight forward because there wouldn't have been a lot of information there – it could be letters, diary entries, nowadays it is social media information, text messages, Facebook messages, internet usage and so on."
Additional information in the social media age “imposes a huge burden” on both the prosecution and the defence, he added.
“It can lead to delays in trials, just the sheer, physical work of collecting this information.”
‘Side issues’
Meanwhile, the chief executive officer of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell, has welcomed the recommendation of pretrial hearings in sex crime cases at which "side issues" could be addressed.
Any barrister planning to question a complainant about their sexual history would need to apply to do so at a pretrial hearing, at which complainants would be legally represented.
Ms Blackwell told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland that pretrial applications discussing the complainants' sexual history were important to ensure that a complainant was not hit by an application that is "disconcerting at the very least, and horrifying to say the most" at the last minute.
Information and support were key areas identified in the report that need to be implemented quickly, she said.
Very often “the loneliest person” on the journey to prosecution for a sexual offence was the victim, who was often left lacking in support, information and basic legal advice, said Ms Blackwell.
Proposals to establish a clear pathway before a case is set down for hearing, were very welcome, she added, “so that when it comes to hearing, somebody will get heard on the day” and that anonymity would be granted in respect of all sexual assault cases. The victim was entitled to a hearing that allowed them to tell their story clearly without being “retraumatised”.
It was important that there be recognition of how different sexual offences were from other crimes, she said.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told the same programme that her plan was that within 10 weeks she would put in place an implementation plan for the the recommendations of the report setting out timelines with input from NGOs involved and the authorities.
Some of the recommendations she hoped to move on “very quickly”. Ms McEntee said it was important that victims know that they would be supported and that they would know the supports available to them.
The current delays in the system needed to be addressed, she added, and issues such as consent needed to be addressed further than in schools and universities.
The Council of the Bar of Ireland has also welcomed the recommendations by the expert group.
The council described the report as a “vital and important analysis” of the current criminal justice system’s approach to sexual offences, adding that it will be “foundational” in ensuring that the approach to such cases is “effective, humane and respects the fundamental tenets of fairness before the law”.
However, the council cautioned that “provision of adequate resources and funding for the recommendations will be critical to the successful reform of the current system”.
It said that it looked forward to engaging with the working group, the department and relevant stakeholders to ensure that its recommendations are “speedily and effectively brought to fruition”.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--All sex crime suspects should keep anonymity unless they are convicted, report recommends

Suspects charged with sex crimes should not be named when their cases are before the courts unless and until they are convicted , a group appointed by government after the 2018 Belfast rape trial has recommended .
While those charged in the Republic with rape and other sex offences on the so-called upper end of the scale currently have anonymity during trials , suspects charged with some other sexual assaults can be named .
In a report due for publication today the expert group , chaired by barrister and NUI Galway law lecturer Tom O ’ Malley , recommends that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named , as long as naming them did not identify their victims .
At the same time , victims would retain anonymity unless they wanted to waive it so the person who attacked them could be named in the media .
Mr O ’ Malley was asked to carry out his study by then minister for justice Charlie Flanagan , shortly after rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted of raping a woman at a house party in Belfast .
The group has decided against recommending that sex crime victims be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying such a move would destabilise how court cases were run .
However , it said new pretrial hearings should be established , at which complainants would be legally represented .
Any barrister planning to question a complainant about their sexual history would need to apply to do so at a pretrial hearing .
The report adds judges and others involved in the justice system should have to undergo “ specialist training which equips them with an understanding of the experience of victims of sexual crime ” .

Former Ireland and Ulster rugby player Paddy Jackson: he was unanimously acquitted in Belfast Crown Court of raping a woman. An expert group was appointed after the 2018 trial. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Suspects charged with sex crimes should not be named when their cases are before the courts unless and until they are convicted, a group appointed by government after the 2018 Belfast rape trial has recommended.
While those charged in the Republic with rape and other sex offences on the so-called upper end of the scale currently have anonymity during trials, suspects charged with some other sexual assaults can be named.
In a report due for publication today the expert group, chaired by barrister and NUI Galway law lecturer Tom O’Malley, recommends that if suspects were convicted they could be named, as long as naming them did not identify their victims. At the same time, victims would retain anonymity unless they wanted to waive it so the person who attacked them could be named in the media.
Belfast house party
Mr O’Malley was asked to carry out his study by then minister for justice Charlie Flanagan, shortly after rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted of raping a woman at a house party in Belfast.
READ MORE
The group has decided against recommending that sex crime victims be allocated their own legal representation during trials, saying such a move would destabilise how court cases were run.
However, it said new pretrial hearings should be established, at which complainants would be legally represented. Any barrister planning to question a complainant about their sexual history would need to apply to do so at a pretrial hearing.
The report adds judges and others involved in the justice system should have to undergo “specialist training which equips them with an understanding of the experience of victims of sexual crime”.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Garda taking too long to set up unit to investigate sex crimes, says expert group

The Government has been advised by an expert group on sex crime investigation and prosecution that it is taking too long for the Garda to establish long-promised specialist units to investigate such crimes .
More units need to be rolled out immediately , the administration has been told .
While the first Divisional Protective Services Units ( DPSUs ) – planned for all 28 Garda divisions for the specialist investigation of sexual crimes – was launched in 2017 , several Garda divisions were still not catered for , the report said .
It was now imperative that all units become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
The group , chaired by senior counsel and legal academic Tom O ’ Malley , was established by former minister for justice Charlie Flanagan in August 2018 , shortly after rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted of raping a woman at a house party in Belfast .
The report notes that at the conclusion of the 42-day Belfast trial , concerns arose about the conduct of such trials , including the treatment of complainants , on both sides of the Border .
However , it concludes that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republic , some of the issues of concern that arose in the North could not have arisen because the public were allowed into rape trials in Northern Ireland but not south of the Border .
It added that because of the “ legal protections ” in place in the Republic it was “ most improbable that a complainant ’ s identity would become known by informal means , as was alleged to have happened during the Northern Ireland trial ” .
The group has decided against recommending substantive changes in a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rape , and other sex crime , trials were conducted .
The report , titled Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences , says complainants should not have their own legal representation during trials .
Such trials were a “ binary ” process between the prosecution and defence that must be balanced fairly .
“ The introduction of separate legal representation for one category of witness throughout the entire trial would risk upsetting that well-established balance , ” the group concludes .
While some victims in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal issues in court – including the underwear they were wearing at the time they were attacked or their previous sexual encounters – the group decided against recommending any major changes that would limit such lines of questioning .
“ An outright ban on such questioning could create the risk of an occasional miscarriage of justice and would , therefore , be unacceptable , ” the group says in its report to Government .
It added that during trials in all but very few sex crime cases – such as possessing child pornography @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be granted anonymity unless and until they were convicted .
The stigma of being charged largely remained even in the event of an acquittal .
Avoiding this stigma for people never convicted outweighed any suggestion that by naming all accused persons , any other victims they may have targeted would come forward and make complaints against them .
It added the legal definition of banning the “ publishing ” or “ broadcasting ” of details that identified suspects or victims should be changed to include posts by the public on social media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for gardaí when they were gathering data from the phones of complainants in sex crime cases .
Much of the information on mobile phones and information sent and received by messaging apps was deeply personal and was not relevant to the investigations under way .
The group noted while dedicated interview suites were in place at locations across the country where gardaí could interview sex crime victims and vulnerable witnesses , some regions of the country had no such suites .
“ Many victims may find it difficult , if not impossible in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to avail themselves of this special facility , ” the report said , adding large numbers of gardaí still had little or no training in dealing with victims , saying Garda management needed to address that situation .
It was also imperative that the locations of sex assault interview suites were kept secret , as people who knew what the building was used for could see victims walking into it .
The interview suites and the services provided there should be reviewed by an independent agency .

Paddy Jackson (left) and Stuart Olding: The expert group was established in August 2018, shortly after rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted of raping a woman at a house party in Belfast. Photograph: Niall Carson/ PA Wire
The Government has been advised by an expert group on sex crime investigation and prosecution that it is taking too long for the Garda to establish long-promised specialist units to investigate such crimes.
More units need to be rolled out immediately, the administration has been told.
While the first Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSUs) – planned for all 28 Garda divisions for the specialist investigation of sexual crimes – was launched in 2017, several Garda divisions were still not catered for, the report said.
It was now imperative that all units become operational as a “matter of urgency”.
READ MORE
The group, chaired by senior counsel and legal academic Tom O’Malley, was established by former minister for justice Charlie Flanagan in August 2018, shortly after rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted of raping a woman at a house party in Belfast.
The report notes that at the conclusion of the 42-day Belfast trial, concerns arose about the conduct of such trials, including the treatment of complainants, on both sides of the Border.
However, it concludes that had the Belfast trial taken place in the Republic, some of the issues of concern that arose in the North could not have arisen because the public were allowed into rape trials in Northern Ireland but not south of the Border.
It added that because of the “legal protections” in place in the Republic it was “most improbable that a complainant’s identity would become known by informal means, as was alleged to have happened during the Northern Ireland trial”.
The group has decided against recommending substantive changes in a number of areas that have often proven contentious when rape, and other sex crime, trials were conducted.
The report, titled Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences, says complainants should not have their own legal representation during trials.
Such trials were a “binary” process between the prosecution and defence that must be balanced fairly.
“The introduction of separate legal representation for one category of witness throughout the entire trial would risk upsetting that well-established balance,” the group concludes.
While some victims in sex crime cases have been cross-examined about personal issues in court – including the underwear they were wearing at the time they were attacked or their previous sexual encounters – the group decided against recommending any major changes that would limit such lines of questioning.
“An outright ban on such questioning could create the risk of an occasional miscarriage of justice and would, therefore, be unacceptable,” the group says in its report to Government.
Anonymity
It added that during trials in all but very few sex crime cases – such as possessing child pornography or paying for sex – suspects should be granted anonymity unless and until they were convicted.
The stigma of being charged largely remained even in the event of an acquittal.
Avoiding this stigma for people never convicted outweighed any suggestion that by naming all accused persons, any other victims they may have targeted would come forward and make complaints against them.
It added the legal definition of banning the “publishing” or “broadcasting” of details that identified suspects or victims should be changed to include posts by the public on social media.
Furthermore, it added protocols were required for gardaí when they were gathering data from the phones of complainants in sex crime cases.
Much of the information on mobile phones and information sent and received by messaging apps was deeply personal and was not relevant to the investigations under way.
The group noted while dedicated interview suites were in place at locations across the country where gardaí could interview sex crime victims and vulnerable witnesses, some regions of the country had no such suites.
“Many victims may find it difficult, if not impossible in some cases, to travel long distances in order to avail themselves of this special facility,” the report said, adding large numbers of gardaí still had little or no training in dealing with victims, saying Garda management needed to address that situation.
It was also imperative that the locations of sex assault interview suites were kept secret, as people who knew what the building was used for could see victims walking into it.
The interview suites and the services provided there should be reviewed by an independent agency.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--How Pavlov’s doggedness led to a breakthrough in psychology

We are approaching the 171st anniversary ( September 26th ) of the birth of famous Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov ( 1849-1936 ) .
Pavlov did pioneering work elucidating the mechanism of the digestion of food for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1904 .
But he is more widely remembered for his discovery of the “ conditioned reflex ” , work that greatly influenced the development of behaviourism in psychology .
Pavlov ’ s work is engagingly described by George Johnson in The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments ( The Folio Society , 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Russian Orthodox priest , studied for the priesthood in the late 1860s .
However , spurred by deep interest in the biological world and enthused by Darwin ’ s book On the Origin of Species , he left the seminary in 1870 and entered the University of St Petersburg to study chemistry .
He concentrated on physiology , earning a doctorate of medicine in 1879 .
In 1891 Pavlov was appointed head of physiology at the new Institute for Experimental Medicine .
Here he used sophisticated surgical techniques to study how food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pavlov favoured the “ chronic ” approach in his physiological studies , where the animal , usually a dog , had its stomach , oesophagus or salivary gland manipulated under anaesthesia in order to allow fluid collection and analysis .
Observations and measurements began when the animal fully recovered from this operation .
In the common “ acute ” approach in physiological experiments the animal was operated on in order to view some biological process in action , following which the animal was sacrificed .
To collect and analyse saliva , Pavlov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a saliva gland to the outside of the cheek , anchoring it there with a stitch .
Saliva began to flow as food was placed on the dog ’ s tongue , lubricating the food to facilitate its passage to the stomach .
Here , and later in the duodenum , nerve sensors analyse the food signalling the body to secrete the appropriate digestive fluids needed to digest whatever the dog had eaten .
After winning the Nobel Prize for this work in 1904 Pavlov moved from digestion to study “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his studies of digestion , Pavlov noted several things that spurred him to move on .
For example , dogs would start to salivate as Pavlov approached and before food was placed on the tongue .
Also , if the dog was given something unsavoury , for example mustard oil , saliva would still flow but consisted mostly of water to wash away the offensive agent and there were no gastric secretions .
Salivation and stomach action were closely linked to reflexes in the autonomic nervous system .
Pavlov wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process .
He sounded a metronome as he gave a dog food .
After a while the dog salivated on hearing the metronome , even when no food was present – previously he salivated only on seeing and/or eating the food .
Pavlov called this a “ conditioned reflex ” to distinguish it from an “ innate reflex ” such as salivating at the sight of food or jerking your hand away from fire .
Innate reflexes are hard-wired , whereas the conditioned reflex must be learned .
Pavlov named this learning “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditioned reflex is repressed if it consistently gives the wrong result – if the metronome repeatedly sounds but no food appears , the dog eventually stops salivating at the sound .
Pavlov believed that conditioned reflexes explain the behaviour of psychotic people – they withdraw from the world because they associate all stimuli with possible injury .
Pavlov ’ s discoveries opened the way for the tailored modification of behaviour and played a large role in the behaviourist theory of psychology introduced in America by John Watson in 1913 .
Behaviourism holds that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and response .
It is now recognised as providing only a partial account of human behaviour but it has made significant contributions to psychology , for example behaviour modification therapy to treat certain phobias .
Lenin came to power in 1917 in Russia .
Pavlov did not believe in communism and was outspoken : “ For the kind of social experiment you are making I would not sacrifice a frog ’ s hind legs.
” However , his world renown protected him from persecution and he worked in his laboratory until his death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emeritus professor of biochemistry at UCC

Pavlov sounded a metronome as he gave a dog food. After a while the dog salivated on hearing the metronome, even when no food was present. Photograph: Nick Vedros/Image Bank
We are approaching the 171st anniversary (September 26th) of the birth of famous Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936). Pavlov did pioneering work elucidating the mechanism of the digestion of food for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1904.
But he is more widely remembered for his discovery of the "conditioned reflex", work that greatly influenced the development of behaviourism in psychology. Pavlov's work is engagingly described by George Johnson in The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments (The Folio Society, 2008).
Ivan Pavlov, son of a Russian Orthodox priest, studied for the priesthood in the late 1860s. However, spurred by deep interest in the biological world and enthused by Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species, he left the seminary in 1870 and entered the University of St Petersburg to study chemistry. He concentrated on physiology, earning a doctorate of medicine in 1879.
In 1891 Pavlov was appointed head of physiology at the new Institute for Experimental Medicine. Here he used sophisticated surgical techniques to study how food is digested and absorbed by the body. Pavlov favoured the “chronic” approach in his physiological studies, where the animal, usually a dog, had its stomach, oesophagus or salivary gland manipulated under anaesthesia in order to allow fluid collection and analysis.
READ MORE
Observations and measurements began when the animal fully recovered from this operation. In the common “acute” approach in physiological experiments the animal was operated on in order to view some biological process in action, following which the animal was sacrificed.
To collect and analyse saliva, Pavlov relocated the opening of the duct leading to a saliva gland to the outside of the cheek, anchoring it there with a stitch. Saliva began to flow as food was placed on the dog’s tongue, lubricating the food to facilitate its passage to the stomach.
Here, and later in the duodenum, nerve sensors analyse the food signalling the body to secrete the appropriate digestive fluids needed to digest whatever the dog had eaten. After winning the Nobel Prize for this work in 1904 Pavlov moved from digestion to study “the highest parts of the nervous system”.
In his studies of digestion, Pavlov noted several things that spurred him to move on. For example, dogs would start to salivate as Pavlov approached and before food was placed on the tongue. Also, if the dog was given something unsavoury, for example mustard oil, saliva would still flow but consisted mostly of water to wash away the offensive agent and there were no gastric secretions. Salivation and stomach action were closely linked to reflexes in the autonomic nervous system.
Pavlov wanted to see if external signals could affect this process. He sounded a metronome as he gave a dog food. After a while the dog salivated on hearing the metronome, even when no food was present – previously he salivated only on seeing and/or eating the food. Pavlov called this a “conditioned reflex” to distinguish it from an “innate reflex” such as salivating at the sight of food or jerking your hand away from fire.
Conditioning
Innate reflexes are hard-wired, whereas the conditioned reflex must be learned. Pavlov named this learning “conditioning”. He also found the conditioned reflex is repressed if it consistently gives the wrong result – if the metronome repeatedly sounds but no food appears, the dog eventually stops salivating at the sound.
Pavlov believed that conditioned reflexes explain the behaviour of psychotic people – they withdraw from the world because they associate all stimuli with possible injury. Pavlov's discoveries opened the way for the tailored modification of behaviour and played a large role in the behaviourist theory of psychology introduced in America by John Watson in 1913.
Behaviourism holds that everything mental can be reduced to stimuli and response. It is now recognised as providing only a partial account of human behaviour but it has made significant contributions to psychology, for example behaviour modification therapy to treat certain phobias.
Lenin came to power in 1917 in Russia. Pavlov did not believe in communism and was outspoken: "For the kind of social experiment you are making I would not sacrifice a frog's hind legs." However, his world renown protected him from persecution and he worked in his laboratory until his death aged 87.
William Reville is an emeritus professor of biochemistry at UCC


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--No time limits and no pre-booking: what the unpublished pub reopening guidelines reveal

Draft guidelines prepared for the planned reopening of pubs would have seen no limit on the length of time drinkers could spend in a pub .
Nor would customers have been required to prebook a time slot as long as physical distancing was observed .
The guidelines for so-called “ wet pubs ” , seen by The Irish Times , were drawn up by Fáilte Ireland in expectation of the August 10th reopening date going ahead .
The Government this week decided against moving to phase four of its reopening plan , meaning pubs that do not serve food will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prebooking and time-limited slots of 105 minutes ' duration would not be a requirement “ if physical distancing of two metres is strictly maintained ” .
If physical distancing was reduced to one metre , prebooked time-limited slots must be in place for customers , which are a maximum of 105 minutes ' duration plus a minimum of 15 minutes between bookings in order to allow for cleaning and to ensure customers could leave and enter without mixing .
In terms of physical distancing , customers would also be asked to stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups of people who were not from the same household .
A designated employee should also be stationed at front of house to control physical-distancing measures , the document states .
“ It is the responsibility of supervisors and managers to ensure that customers do not congregate in groups .
Customers should be seated at a table except when using the toilet , paying and departing .
“ Prominent signage must explain current physical-distancing practices .
This must be accompanied by clear and visible markings that illustrate the safe distancing protocol throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the capacity must be reviewed and the amount of seating and stools would have to be reduced to ensure the recommended physical-distancing measures were adhered to .
The guidelines state that before reopening , bars and public houses would need to “ review how they work and introduce new practices and procedures to ensure everyone stays safe ” .
Pub owners would also be told to create an action plan , once pubs reopen , that “ must reassure employees and customers that safeguarding their health and safety is of the utmost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appoint at least one lead worker representative charged with ensuring that Covid-19 measures are strictly adhered to in their workplace ” .
The guidelines also recommend phased shifts and small teams that have the same combination of people .
“ This will assist should contact tracing be required.
” Employers would also be asked where possible to identify an area on the premises where any customer or employee showing possible Covid-19 symptoms could be isolated from other people .
In terms of cleaning , the following items must be cleaned after every use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seating , trays , bill or tip trays and pens .
The guidelines have not yet been published as there have been discussions with industry representatives about customers being allowed to sit at the bar .
However , in its advice to Government , the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) said all customers in pubs would have to sit at tables , and not the bar , when pubs eventually do reopen .
NPHET also said the wearing of face coverings should be mandatory for members of staff in bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee and member of the public .
NPHET also recommended that , when pubs were eventually reopened , all premises would have to close daily at 10.30pm .

Draft guidelines prepared for the planned reopening of pubs would have seen no limit on the length of time drinkers could spend in a pub.
Nor would customers have been required to prebook a time slot as long as physical distancing was observed.
The guidelines for so-called “wet pubs”, seen by The Irish Times, were drawn up by Fáilte Ireland in expectation of the August 10th reopening date going ahead.
The Government this week decided against moving to phase four of its reopening plan, meaning pubs that do not serve food will remain closed.
READ MORE
The draft guidelines state that prebooking and time-limited slots of 105 minutes' duration would not be a requirement “if physical distancing of two metres is strictly maintained”.
If physical distancing was reduced to one metre, prebooked time-limited slots must be in place for customers, which are a maximum of 105 minutes' duration plus a minimum of 15 minutes between bookings in order to allow for cleaning and to ensure customers could leave and enter without mixing.
In terms of physical distancing, customers would also be asked to stand at least two metres away from other groups of people who were not from the same household.
A designated employee should also be stationed at front of house to control physical-distancing measures, the document states.
“It is the responsibility of supervisors and managers to ensure that customers do not congregate in groups. Customers should be seated at a table except when using the toilet, paying and departing.
“Prominent signage must explain current physical-distancing practices. This must be accompanied by clear and visible markings that illustrate the safe distancing protocol throughout the premises.”
In terms of smoking areas, the capacity must be reviewed and the amount of seating and stools would have to be reduced to ensure the recommended physical-distancing measures were adhered to.
Action plan
The guidelines state that before reopening, bars and public houses would need to “review how they work and introduce new practices and procedures to ensure everyone stays safe”.
Pub owners would also be told to create an action plan, once pubs reopen, that “must reassure employees and customers that safeguarding their health and safety is of the utmost importance”.
They must also “appoint at least one lead worker representative charged with ensuring that Covid-19 measures are strictly adhered to in their workplace”.
The guidelines also recommend phased shifts and small teams that have the same combination of people. “This will assist should contact tracing be required.”
Employers would also be asked where possible to identify an area on the premises where any customer or employee showing possible Covid-19 symptoms could be isolated from other people.
In terms of cleaning, the following items must be cleaned after every use: tables, stools, chairs and seating, trays, bill or tip trays and pens.
The guidelines have not yet been published as there have been discussions with industry representatives about customers being allowed to sit at the bar.
However, in its advice to Government, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said all customers in pubs would have to sit at tables, and not the bar, when pubs eventually do reopen.
NPHET also said the wearing of face coverings should be mandatory for members of staff in bars unless there was a partition between the employee and member of the public.
NPHET also recommended that, when pubs were eventually reopened, all premises would have to close daily at 10.30pm.