theirishtimes--2020-02-12--Posters of PSNI officer injured in bombing condemned as ‘cruel and disgusting’

The North ’ s deputy chief constable has condemned as “ cruel and disgusting ” posters which used an image of a police officer injured in a dissident republican bombing to try to prevent people from joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland .
The posters appeared in Derry city centre on Wednesday morning , and have now been removed .
They featured a photograph of Peadar Heffron , a Catholic former police officer who was seriously injured when a bomb exploded under his car in 2010 .
Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson and Foyle MP and SDLP leader Colum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to intimidate the people of the city .
The PSNI said it was aware of posters circulating in the Derry area .
Deputy chief constable Mark Hamilton said the posters “ can only be described as cruel and disgusting and have clearly been created by those who fear a fully representative police service ” .
“ The cowards who hide behind this fake rhetoric and who ridicule the resolve , commitment and bravery of every person who works every day to keep each of you safe have nothing to offer our society and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I would urge anyone who comes across these posters , either online or physically , not to share or circulate this material further.
” On Tuesday the North ’ s Deputy First Minister , Sinn Féin ’ s Michelle O ’ Neill , and Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly revealed they had been warned by police that they were under threat of attack from dissident republicans because of their support for a new PSNI recruitment campaign .
Both Ms O ’ Neill and Mr Kelly attended the launch of the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their party have done so .
The chief constable , Simon Byrne , said their presence was a “ significant step ” towards making policing more representative and encouraging more Catholics to join the PSNI .
A banner bearing the slogan “ British State Media ” was also erected on the gates of the Andersonstown News offices in west Belfast after advertisements for the campaign were carried in the newspaper .
Mr Kelly described it as “ another sinister attempt to intimidate journalists and silence the media ” .
Ms Anderson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crass and grossly offensive ” and everyone “ should have the right to choose their career path free from any fear or intimidation ” .
The party , ” she said , “ is working to achieve an accountable , civic and representative policing service which polices with all the community .
“ Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer , they have no politics and no strategy to achieve anything .
It ’ s well past time they got off the backs of the community .
“ This tactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unrepresentative groups [ sic ] with little support in the community.
” Mr Eastwood said he strongly condemned the posters and the groups behind them .
“ Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer the people of the North and they must get off the backs of the local community , ” he said .
“ The SDLP is resolutely committed to a diverse and inclusive PSNI , which serves the whole of our community .
Anyone should have the right to follow their chosen career path without fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , DUP MLA for Foyle , said the use of the image of Mr Heffron was “ particularly depraved and repulsive ” .
“ The PSNI is a police service for everyone in Northern Ireland .
Constable Peadar Heffron served the entire community and these disgusting images can not undo his service or that of current police officers and staff , from whatever background they come , ” he said .
“ Dissident elements will not succeed in their attempts to take us backwards .
These posters , however , demonstrate once again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not just in opposition of those who would threaten or use violence , but pro-actively in support of choosing policing as a career.
” Chair of the North ’ s Policing Board , Professor Anne Connolly , said that as a Board they condemned those responsible for the “ deeply offensive posters ” .
“ The attempt to threaten and intimidate potential applicants to the Police Service in this way is vile , ” she said .
“ We welcome the widespread political and community condemnation that has been voiced in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to the latest PSNI recruitment campaign .
”

PSNI constable Peadar Heffron was injured by a booby-trap bomb that exploded under his car in 2010. File photograph: Paul Faith/PA Wire
The North's deputy chief constable has condemned as "cruel and disgusting" posters which used an image of a police officer injured in a dissident republican bombing to try to prevent people from joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The posters appeared in Derry city centre on Wednesday morning, and have now been removed.
They featured a photograph of Peadar Heffron, a Catholic former police officer who was seriously injured when a bomb exploded under his car in 2010.
Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson and Foyle MP and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said it was clearly an attempt to intimidate the people of the city.
READ MORE
The PSNI said it was aware of posters circulating in the Derry area.
Deputy chief constable Mark Hamilton said the posters "can only be described as cruel and disgusting and have clearly been created by those who fear a fully representative police service".
“The cowards who hide behind this fake rhetoric and who ridicule the resolve, commitment and bravery of every person who works every day to keep each of you safe have nothing to offer our society and should be condemned by all right-thinking people.
“I would urge anyone who comes across these posters, either online or physically, not to share or circulate this material further.”
On Tuesday the North's Deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, and Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly revealed they had been warned by police that they were under threat of attack from dissident republicans because of their support for a new PSNI recruitment campaign.
Both Ms O’Neill and Mr Kelly attended the launch of the campaign last week, the first time members of their party have done so.
The chief constable, Simon Byrne, said their presence was a "significant step" towards making policing more representative and encouraging more Catholics to join the PSNI.
A banner bearing the slogan "British State Media" was also erected on the gates of the Andersonstown News offices in west Belfast after advertisements for the campaign were carried in the newspaper.
Mr Kelly described it as “another sinister attempt to intimidate journalists and silence the media”.
‘Grossly offensive’
Ms Anderson said the posters erected in Derry were “crass and grossly offensive” and everyone “should have the right to choose their career path free from any fear or intimidation”.
The party,” she said, “is working to achieve an accountable, civic and representative policing service which polices with all the community.
“Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer, they have no politics and no strategy to achieve anything. It’s well past time they got off the backs of the community.
“This tactic is disgusting and disgraceful and comes from an unrepresentative groups [sic] with little support in the community.”
Mr Eastwood said he strongly condemned the posters and the groups behind them.
“Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer the people of the North and they must get off the backs of the local community,” he said.
“The SDLP is resolutely committed to a diverse and inclusive PSNI, which serves the whole of our community. Anyone should have the right to follow their chosen career path without fear of intimidation or attack.”
Gary Middleton, DUP MLA for Foyle, said the use of the image of Mr Heffron was "particularly depraved and repulsive".
"The PSNI is a police service for everyone in Northern Ireland. Constable Peadar Heffron served the entire community and these disgusting images cannot undo his service or that of current police officers and staff, from whatever background they come," he said.
“Dissident elements will not succeed in their attempts to take us backwards. These posters, however, demonstrate once again the importance of a united community stance, not just in opposition of those who would threaten or use violence, but pro-actively in support of choosing policing as a career.”
Chair of the North’s Policing Board, Professor Anne Connolly, said that as a Board they condemned those responsible for the “deeply offensive posters”.
“The attempt to threaten and intimidate potential applicants to the Police Service in this way is vile,” she said.
“We welcome the widespread political and community condemnation that has been voiced in response and for the support that is being given to the latest PSNI recruitment campaign.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-12--Man challenges direction to include his name on sex offenders’ register

A man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman has launched a High Court challenge seeking to overturn a District Court judge ’ s direction that his name be included on the sex offenders register .
John Keady pleaded guilty last month to a charge of sexual assault against a woman at the Heritage Hotel Killenard , Portarlington , Co Laois on December 9th , 2018 .
The offence was prosecuted summarily before Portlaoise District Court .
Keady ( 45 ) , with an address at Durabhan , Roscam , Galway , brought €5,000 to court as a token of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sentence of 10 months ’ imprisonment , all of which was suspended .
The court also directed that Keady be subject of notification requirements provided for under the 2001 Sex Offenders Act , known as the sex offenders ’ register , for a period of five years .
At the High Court this week , his counsel James Dwyer SC argued the notification requirements provided for in the 2001 Act did not apply because Keady had received a wholly suspended sentence and his victim was not mentally impaired or aged under 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The District Court judge had erred in law by holding the offence committed by Keady was subject of notification requirements under the 2001 Act and lacked jurisdiction to direct his name be placed on the register , counsel said .
In his judicial review proceedings against the DPP , Keady seeks to have quashed the direction placing him on the sex offenders ’ register .
Permission to bring the challenge was granted , on an ex-parte basis ( one side only represented ) , by Mr Justice Charles Meenan who returned the @ @ @ @

A man convicted of sexually assaulting a woman has launched a High Court challenge seeking to overturn a District Court judge’s direction that his name be included on the sex offenders register.
John Keady pleaded guilty last month to a charge of sexual assault against a woman at the Heritage Hotel Killenard, Portarlington, Co Laois on December 9th, 2018.
The offence was prosecuted summarily before Portlaoise District Court.
Keady (45), with an address at Durabhan, Roscam, Galway, brought €5,000 to court as a token of his remorse for the offence. He received a sentence of 10 months’ imprisonment, all of which was suspended.
READ MORE
The court also directed that Keady be subject of notification requirements provided for under the 2001 Sex Offenders Act, known as the sex offenders’ register, for a period of five years.
At the High Court this week, his counsel James Dwyer SC argued the notification requirements provided for in the 2001 Act did not apply because Keady had received a wholly suspended sentence and his victim was not mentally impaired or aged under 17 years at the time of the offence.
The District Court judge had erred in law by holding the offence committed by Keady was subject of notification requirements under the 2001 Act and lacked jurisdiction to direct his name be placed on the register, counsel said.
In his judicial review proceedings against the DPP, Keady seeks to have quashed the direction placing him on the sex offenders’ register. Permission to bring the challenge was granted, on an ex-parte basis (one side only represented), by Mr Justice Charles Meenan who returned the matter to April.


theirishtimes--2020-02-12--Reclusive man last seen five to six weeks before his death – inquest

A reclusive man who left his home less and less as time progressed was found dead after a neighbour raised the alarm .
Adrian Wainer ( 59 ) was last seen alive five to six weeks before he was found dead in his Dublin home .
The man , described as “ a very clever guy ” , lived alone at Ashlawn , Ballinteer , Dublin 14 .
His brother , Anthony Wainer , said the man had fallen out with his family .
“ He was a very clever guy , unfortunately not meant for living in this world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Court .
Adrian Wainer had inherited the family home and lived alone there following the death of his mother .
Neighbour Howard Farrell grew concerned when he had not seen Mr Wainer for some weeks .
“ He was on his own there for many years .
I only saw him occasionally and less and less in the last few years , ” Mr Howard said .
“ Other neighbours heard some bad coughing fits and then these stopped altogether , ” Mr Howard said .
“ At the scene I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen the occupant in six weeks .
The last time he had seen him was from a distance : Mr Wainer was standing at an upstairs window .
The front lawn had become overgrown , and this was unlike Mr Wainer , according to Mr Howard , ” Garda McDonnell said .
The Garda gained entry to the property and located the decomposed remains of Mr Wainer in an upstairs bedroom .
Dr James Moloney pronounced death at 2pm on September 18th , 2018 .
Anthony Wainer said he last saw his brother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallen out with us as a family .
I didn ’ t see him for quite a while before he passed away.
” He said his brother ’ s health was deteriorating generally over a period of time .
A post-mortem report found no evidence of injury , alcohol or drugs .
The cause of death was unascertained due to the advanced state of decomposition .
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a verdict of death due to natural causes .
“ He may have been neglecting himself somewhat , he was quite thin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if coughing was heard before his death , ” the coroner said .
“ The findings are consistent with death having occurred five to six weeks before he was found.
” “ We see many families where there isn ’ t a close connection , but it ’ s always a loss , ” the coroner said .

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a verdict of death due to natural causes. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
A reclusive man who left his home less and less as time progressed was found dead after a neighbour raised the alarm.
Adrian Wainer (59) was last seen alive five to six weeks before he was found dead in his Dublin home.
The man, described as “a very clever guy”, lived alone at Ashlawn, Ballinteer, Dublin 14.
His brother, Anthony Wainer, said the man had fallen out with his family.
READ MORE
“He was a very clever guy, unfortunately not meant for living in this world,” Anthony Wainer told Dublin Coroner’s Court.
Adrian Wainer had inherited the family home and lived alone there following the death of his mother.
Neighbour Howard Farrell grew concerned when he had not seen Mr Wainer for some weeks.
“He was on his own there for many years. I only saw him occasionally and less and less in the last few years,” Mr Howard said.
“Other neighbours heard some bad coughing fits and then these stopped altogether,” Mr Howard said.
He contacted Dundrum Garda Station on September 18th, 2018.
Garda Jason McDonnell attended the scene.
“At the scene I met Howard Farrell, who had not seen the occupant in six weeks. The last time he had seen him was from a distance: Mr Wainer was standing at an upstairs window. The front lawn had become overgrown, and this was unlike Mr Wainer, according to Mr Howard,” Garda McDonnell said.
The Garda gained entry to the property and located the decomposed remains of Mr Wainer in an upstairs bedroom. Dr James Moloney pronounced death at 2pm on September 18th, 2018.
A DNA test was required for formal identification.
Anthony Wainer said he last saw his brother in August 2016.
“He had fallen out with us as a family. I didn’t see him for quite a while before he passed away.”
He said his brother’s health was deteriorating generally over a period of time.
A post-mortem report found no evidence of injury, alcohol or drugs.
The cause of death was unascertained due to the advanced state of decomposition.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane returned a verdict of death due to natural causes.
“He may have been neglecting himself somewhat, he was quite thin, and he may have had pneumonia, if coughing was heard before his death,” the coroner said.
“The findings are consistent with death having occurred five to six weeks before he was found.”
“We see many families where there isn’t a close connection, but it’s always a loss,” the coroner said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-12--‘I have had a wonderful life’: Keelin Shanley remembered at funeral

Keelin Shanley ’ s fearless journalism , her curiosity to learn and tell the stories of others , and , most of all , her “ wicked ” sense of fun were celebrated at the RTÉ broadcaster ’ s funeral .
The award-winning journalist died on Saturday at the age of 51 after a long and intermittent battle with cancer .
She was remembered fondly at a “ celebration of a full life ” at a service in St Paul ’ s Church in Glenageary , south Dublin , not far from her home in Dun Laoghaire .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shanley , her husband Conor Ferguson thanked people for coming to “ celebrate what Keelin saw as a very full life ” .
He spoke about his wife ’ s “ humble gumption ” where she did not think she was different or special to others but was driven by a “ spirit to just get on with it.
” This made Keelin “ very dogged and determined in her work to do her best , ” he said .
Whether it was interviewing “ gangsters in Cabra ” for a programme or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting on sex trafficking in Romania or “ buying a crazy , falling down house in Dun Laoghaire and doing it up ” , Keelin never considered “ what if things go wrong ?
” he said .
“ She just loved her work .
She loved people and she loved stories , ” he added .
A “ long-lost ” cousin told Mr Ferguson in the days since her death that he had only met Ms Shanley once at a party but she was able to find out everything about him from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chatting to her for an hour and she got it all out of me , ” he recalled his cousin saying , eliciting laughter in a packed church .
Hundreds of people attended her funeral service , including President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe .
The chief mourners at the humanist ceremony were Mr Ferguson , their children Lucy ( 13 ) and Ben ( 10 ) , her father Derry and stepmother June , her brother Eoin and sisters Muireann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and her many friends and colleagues .
Among those in attendance from RTÉ were the chairwoman of the board Moya Doherty , director-general Dee Forbes , managing director of news and current affairs Jon Williams , RTÉ director of audience , channels and marketing Adrian Lynch and director of content Jim Jennings .
Scores of friends and colleagues attended from RTÉ , from Prime Time and the RTÉ newsroom to the legal and make-up departments , and across the broadcaster ’ s television , radio and online platforms , reflecting the breadth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter-century at the broadcaster .
Others in attendance from RTÉ included Ms Shanley ’ s co-presenter on RTÉ ’ s Six One News , Caitríona Perry , Ryan Tubridy , Bryan Dobson , Miriam O ’ Callaghan , Audrey Carville , David McCullagh , Mary Wilson , Gavin Jennings , Richard Downes , Robert Shortt and David Murphy .
In his tribute to his wife , Mr Ferguson talked about being overwhelmed by the outpouring of love shown after Ms Shanley ’ s death where he and his children found themselves “ at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He pointed out the irony that she was diagnosed with cancer on the day of the 2011 general election and died on the day of the 2020 general election .
Keelin was described as “ fearless and funny.
” Mr Ferguson said she showed great humour even in the final weeks of her illness following the deaths of high-profile RTÉ colleagues .
“ If anything , she said , bloody Gay Byrne , Marian Finucane , Larry Gogan - who ’ s going to give a crap when my time comes ; they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he recalled , again to laughter from mourners .
A bunch of red roses sat on the top of Ms Shanley ’ s coffin .
The celebrant of the ceremony Susie Kennedy said that Ms Shanley would “ be greatly missed in her public role as a journalist of great integrity , energy , professionalism , intelligence and compassion.
” She spoke of Ms Shanley ’ s “ positivity , her zest for living every minute of life to the full.
” “ Keelin was a woman of enormous humour , intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In a heartfelt and humorous tribute to his big sister , Ms Shanley ’ s brother Eoin said that Keelin told him a week ago : “ I have had a wonderful life.
” Ms Shanley ’ s friend and RTÉ colleague Niamh O ’ Connor said in her eulogy that Keelin had “ pioneered a form of social journalism ” with her reports and documentaries on poverty , health , inequality , homelessness and prescription drug use during the early 2000s .
“ For Keelin , telling important stories was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but wherever she was , and whatever story she was telling , her journalism at its core had compassion and humanity , ” she said .
Everyone who worked with her recognised from Keelin that “ the voices on the boardwalk were as deserving of a platform as those in Buswell ’ s , ” said Ms O ’ Connor .
“ Today , when we say goodbye to our wickedly funny , irreverent , brilliant friend I am sure I share this with many of you : I have never met anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have never met anyone as fearless as Keelin , ” she said .
A photograph of a laughing Ms Shanley swimming at the Forty Foot near her home in Dublin adorned the back of the funeral booklet .
It was an activity that her husband said she loved .
Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachná Ó Braonáin of the Hothouse Flowers played This Is The Sea by The Waterboys during the afternoon ceremony .
They were joined by Julie Feeney and Steve Wall , frontman with The Stunning , for a rendition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded the tribute to one of Ireland ’ s best-known journalists .

The remains of broadcaster and journalist Keelin Shanley are removed from St Paul’s Church, Glenageary following the funeral service. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Keelin Shanley's fearless journalism, her curiosity to learn and tell the stories of others, and, most of all, her "wicked" sense of fun were celebrated at the RTÉ broadcaster's funeral.
The award-winning journalist died on Saturday at the age of 51 after a long and intermittent battle with cancer. She was remembered fondly at a "celebration of a full life" at a service in St Paul's Church in Glenageary, south Dublin, not far from her home in Dun Laoghaire.
In a moving and often funny eulogy to Ms Shanley, her husband Conor Ferguson thanked people for coming to "celebrate what Keelin saw as a very full life".
He spoke about his wife’s “humble gumption” where she did not think she was different or special to others but was driven by a “spirit to just get on with it.”
READ MORE
Conor Ferguson, husband of the late Keelin Shanley at the funeral service on Wednesday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
This made Keelin “very dogged and determined in her work to do her best,” he said.
Whether it was interviewing "gangsters in Cabra" for a programme or visiting a lawless prison in Venezuela or reporting on sex trafficking in Romania or "buying a crazy, falling down house in Dun Laoghaire and doing it up", Keelin never considered "what if things go wrong?" he said.
“She just loved her work. She loved people and she loved stories,” he added.
‘National tragedy’
A “long-lost” cousin told Mr Ferguson in the days since her death that he had only met Ms Shanley once at a party but she was able to find out everything about him from their brief encounter.
“I was chatting to her for an hour and she got it all out of me,” he recalled his cousin saying, eliciting laughter in a packed church.
Hundreds of people attended her funeral service, including President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe.
The chief mourners at the humanist ceremony were Mr Ferguson, their children Lucy (13) and Ben (10), her father Derry and stepmother June, her brother Eoin and sisters Muireann, Emma and Niamh, her extended family and her many friends and colleagues.
Among those in attendance from RTÉ were the chairwoman of the board Moya Doherty, director-general Dee Forbes, managing director of news and current affairs Jon Williams, RTÉ director of audience, channels and marketing Adrian Lynch and director of content Jim Jennings.
From left to right: Katherine Zappone, Paschal Donohoe and Leo Varadkar at the funeral. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Scores of friends and colleagues attended from RTÉ, from Prime Time and the RTÉ newsroom to the legal and make-up departments, and across the broadcaster’s television, radio and online platforms, reflecting the breadth of Keelin’s work during her quarter-century at the broadcaster.
Others in attendance from RTÉ included Ms Shanley's co-presenter on RTÉ's Six One News, Caitríona Perry, Ryan Tubridy, Bryan Dobson, Miriam O'Callaghan, Audrey Carville, David McCullagh, Mary Wilson, Gavin Jennings, Richard Downes, Robert Shortt and David Murphy.
In his tribute to his wife, Mr Ferguson talked about being overwhelmed by the outpouring of love shown after Ms Shanley’s death where he and his children found themselves “at the centre of a national tragedy.”
He pointed out the irony that she was diagnosed with cancer on the day of the 2011 general election and died on the day of the 2020 general election.
Keelin was described as “fearless and funny.” Mr Ferguson said she showed great humour even in the final weeks of her illness following the deaths of high-profile RTÉ colleagues.
“If anything, she said, bloody Gay Byrne, Marian Finucane, Larry Gogan - who’s going to give a crap when my time comes; they’ll be worn out’,” he recalled, again to laughter from mourners.
A bunch of red roses sat on the top of Ms Shanley’s coffin.
The celebrant of the ceremony Susie Kennedy said that Ms Shanley would “be greatly missed in her public role as a journalist of great integrity, energy, professionalism, intelligence and compassion.” She spoke of Ms Shanley’s “positivity, her zest for living every minute of life to the full.”
“Keelin was a woman of enormous humour, intelligence, talent and creativity,” she said.
In a heartfelt and humorous tribute to his big sister, Ms Shanley’s brother Eoin said that Keelin told him a week ago: “I have had a wonderful life.”
Presenter Ryan Tubridy was among the mourners. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Musical tributes
Ms Shanley’s friend and RTÉ colleague Niamh O’Connor said in her eulogy that Keelin had “pioneered a form of social journalism” with her reports and documentaries on poverty, health, inequality, homelessness and prescription drug use during the early 2000s.
“For Keelin, telling important stories was like breathing or walking or talking, but wherever she was, and whatever story she was telling, her journalism at its core had compassion and humanity,” she said.
Everyone who worked with her recognised from Keelin that “the voices on the boardwalk were as deserving of a platform as those in Buswell’s,” said Ms O’Connor.
“Today, when we say goodbye to our wickedly funny, irreverent, brilliant friend I am sure I share this with many of you: I have never met anyone as life-affirming and positive as Keelin. I have never met anyone as fearless as Keelin,” she said.
A photograph of a laughing Ms Shanley swimming at the Forty Foot near her home in Dublin adorned the back of the funeral booklet. It was an activity that her husband said she loved.
Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachná Ó Braonáin of the Hothouse Flowers played This Is The Sea by The Waterboys during the afternoon ceremony.
They were joined by Julie Feeney and Steve Wall, frontman with The Stunning, for a rendition of Lou Reed's Perfect Day that concluded the tribute to one of Ireland's best-known journalists.


theirishtimes--2020-02-12--Cafe ordered to pay €3,200 to waiter over dismissal for eating croissant at work

A cafe has been ordered to pay €3,200 compensation to a waiter for unfairly dismissing him over eating a croissant while at work .
The cafe is counting the cost of the unfair dismissal after the Workplace Relations Commission ( WRC ) found that the manner of the dismissal was entirely contrary to the principle of fairness and natural justice .
The Kosovo-born waiter was sacked after his boss saw him eating the croissant behind the counter in full view of cafe customers on January 8th , 2019 .
The two sides gave conflicting versions of the sequence of events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated that after he tried to explain that he needed to eat something before taking medication , the head manager stated , “ You know what , you are finished , you can just go home ” .
The waiter – who required the medication for back pain – stated that when moments earlier the head manager had spotted him eating the croissant behind the counter , the head manager came down and said , “ What the f**k are you doing behind the counter ” .
The waiter stated that the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ get the f**k to the back ” .
Employed by the cafe since September 2017 , the waiter stated that he had paid for the croissant and that he was really embarrassed in how he was addressed by the head manager and dismissed in front of his work colleagues and customers who all know him .
The waiter stated that he had permission from the cafe ’ s floor manager to eat the croissant .
WRC adjudication officer , James Kelly stated that the decision was made by the cafe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of income and livelihood “ without being in full sight of all the facts ” .
Mr Kelly stated the obvious missing piece in the investigation by the employer was the waiter ’ s side of the story , which is entirely contrary to the principle of fairness and natural justice .
Mr Kelly stated that on balance , he found the manner in which the cafe failed to conduct any investigation in line with its own disciplinary procedure fails to comply with fair procedures and natural justice .
He stated : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complainant was unfairly dismissed.
” According to the cafe , the waiter did not get permission from the floor manager to eat the croissant and eating the croissant in full view of customers was a breach of the staff food policy .
The cafe stated that the head manager never verbally abused the waiter in front of the customers or staff .
The cafe told the WRC that due to continued issues with the waiter ’ s performance over the previous few months leading up to the events in January 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable , and the only course of action was for the waiter to be dismissed .
The cafe stated that the waiter was on a warning and that it was of the opinion that it went out of its way to help the waiter during the course of his employment and it even provided references for him to get accommodation .
It said that it provided him with additional help and training but there were countless problems reoccurring .

The two sides gave conflicting versions of the sequence of events around the croissant incident. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
A cafe has been ordered to pay €3,200 compensation to a waiter for unfairly dismissing him over eating a croissant while at work.
The cafe is counting the cost of the unfair dismissal after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that the manner of the dismissal was entirely contrary to the principle of fairness and natural justice.
The Kosovo-born waiter was sacked after his boss saw him eating the croissant behind the counter in full view of cafe customers on January 8th, 2019.
The two sides gave conflicting versions of the sequence of events around the croissant incident.
READ MORE
The waiter stated that after he tried to explain that he needed to eat something before taking medication, the head manager stated, “You know what, you are finished, you can just go home”.
The waiter – who required the medication for back pain – stated that when moments earlier the head manager had spotted him eating the croissant behind the counter, the head manager came down and said, “What the f**k are you doing behind the counter”.
The waiter stated that the head manager stepped inside the counter, and said, “get the f**k to the back”.
Employed by the cafe since September 2017, the waiter stated that he had paid for the croissant and that he was really embarrassed in how he was addressed by the head manager and dismissed in front of his work colleagues and customers who all know him.
The waiter stated that he had permission from the cafe’s floor manager to eat the croissant.
WRC adjudication officer, James Kelly stated that the decision was made by the cafe to end the waiter’s source of income and livelihood “without being in full sight of all the facts”.
Mr Kelly stated the obvious missing piece in the investigation by the employer was the waiter’s side of the story, which is entirely contrary to the principle of fairness and natural justice.
Mr Kelly stated that on balance, he found the manner in which the cafe failed to conduct any investigation in line with its own disciplinary procedure fails to comply with fair procedures and natural justice.
He stated: “In the circumstances, I find that the complainant was unfairly dismissed.”
According to the cafe, the waiter did not get permission from the floor manager to eat the croissant and eating the croissant in full view of customers was a breach of the staff food policy.
The cafe stated that the head manager never verbally abused the waiter in front of the customers or staff.
The cafe told the WRC that due to continued issues with the waiter’s performance over the previous few months leading up to the events in January 2019, it deemed that his performance was not acceptable, and the only course of action was for the waiter to be dismissed.
The cafe stated that the waiter was on a warning and that it was of the opinion that it went out of its way to help the waiter during the course of his employment and it even provided references for him to get accommodation.
It said that it provided him with additional help and training but there were countless problems reoccurring.


theirishtimes--2020-02-12--Injunction to be sought over Chapelizod housing scheme

A High Court injunction is to be sought to halt works which have begun for a 71-apartment social housing scheme in Chapelizod village , Dublin .
Last December , a residents group got permission from the court on a one side only represented basis to bring a judicial review challenge over the development at the Springvale site , opposite the local Roman Catholic Church .
The action is against the Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government , the State , and Dublin City Council .
The council has a building company on the site where , over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground cleared , earth moved and hard surfaces installed , among other works .
On Wednesday , John Kenny BL , for a company representing residents — Chapelizod Community for Democracy and Sustainability ( CCDS ) — said his clients got permission to bring the challenge in December and understood works would cease until the judicial review was determined .
This had not happened and it was now going to be necessary to bring injunction proceedings stopping the work , he said .
Mr Justice Charles Meenan , noting a stay on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of the judicial review application , gave liberty to bring the injunction application next week .
The CCDS is asking the court to quash the October 7th 2019 decision of the council to approve the development .
It is claimed the council failed to provide reasons or the responses of its chief executive/city manager to issues raised during public participation on the plan .
That , it is alleged , was in breach of the Planning and Development Act 2000 .
The CCDS claims the 2001 regulations arising from the 2000 Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that Section 179 ( 1 ) of the 2000 Act is unconstitutional .
It also claims the council ’ s decision to approve the plan was a breach of the EU Habitats Directive and of the directive governing environmental impact assessments ( EIAs ) .
Against the State and the Minister , it is also claimed there was a failure to adequately transpose the EIA directive .
The residents say the plan was approved without properly determining whether an appropriate assessment or EIA was needed .
The court was told in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in the past been used as a dump and there was no consideration of leachate from toxic materials and its interaction with the nearby River Liffey .
The council was obliged to analyse and assess whether there was a proven link between overcapacity in the Ringsend treatment plant , which will treat effluent from the development , and deleterious effects on the Natura 2000 sites in Dublin Bay , it was claimed .
The residents also argue the council failed to address in an EIA significant roosting sites for bats , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The site of Springvale allotments opposite the Church of the Nativity where Dublin City Council aims to ‘rapid build’ 71 social housing apartments. Photograph: Tom Honan
A High Court injunction is to be sought to halt works which have begun for a 71-apartment social housing scheme in Chapelizod village, Dublin.
Last December, a residents group got permission from the court on a one side only represented basis to bring a judicial review challenge over the development at the Springvale site, opposite the local Roman Catholic Church.
The action is against the Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government, the State, and Dublin City Council.
The council has a building company on the site where, over the last two months hoardings have been erected, ground cleared, earth moved and hard surfaces installed, among other works.
READ MORE
On Wednesday, John Kenny BL, for a company representing residents — Chapelizod Community for Democracy and Sustainability (CCDS) — said his clients got permission to bring the challenge in December and understood works would cease until the judicial review was determined.
This had not happened and it was now going to be necessary to bring injunction proceedings stopping the work, he said.
Mr Justice Charles Meenan, noting a stay on the works had not been sought at the time of the judicial review application, gave liberty to bring the injunction application next week.
The CCDS is asking the court to quash the October 7th 2019 decision of the council to approve the development.
It is claimed the council failed to provide reasons or the responses of its chief executive/city manager to issues raised during public participation on the plan. That, it is alleged, was in breach of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The CCDS claims the 2001 regulations arising from the 2000 Act are outside the power of the Minister and that Section 179(1) of the 2000 Act is unconstitutional.
It also claims the council’s decision to approve the plan was a breach of the EU Habitats Directive and of the directive governing environmental impact assessments (EIAs).
Against the State and the Minister, it is also claimed there was a failure to adequately transpose the EIA directive.
The residents say the plan was approved without properly determining whether an appropriate assessment or EIA was needed.
The court was told in December that the Springvale site had for some time in the past been used as a dump and there was no consideration of leachate from toxic materials and its interaction with the nearby River Liffey.
The council was obliged to analyse and assess whether there was a proven link between overcapacity in the Ringsend treatment plant, which will treat effluent from the development, and deleterious effects on the Natura 2000 sites in Dublin Bay, it was claimed.
The residents also argue the council failed to address in an EIA significant roosting sites for bats, a protected species, on the land.


theirishtimes--2020-02-12--Boy who fell through skylight settles court action for €75,000

A boy who , when he was a toddler , fell 10ft down into a tunnel after falling through a skylight has settled his High Court action for €75,000 .
Rory Veighey McCabe was aged just over two years and was playing on a grassed area at the Moyvalley Hotel , Co Kildare , when he dropped through the skylight , which was embedded in the ground .
The skylight was one of a number embedded in a lawn area to provide light to a tunnel used by staff to access the hotel kitchens from the outside of the hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wedding reception with his family , was playing with other children on the grass while wedding speeches were taking place .
Now aged 12 , the boy , through his mother Nicola Veighey , of Kilcock , Co Kildare , sued the Moyvalley Hotel and Leisure Company , owners of the Moyvalley Hotel , as a result of the accident on June 22nd , 2010 .
In his action , it was claimed the accessible lawn area of the hotel was allowed to have an unsecured skylight and this constituted a trip or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failure to warn the public and the boy ’ s parents of the existence of the skylight on the lawn surface and failure to remove a hazard from an area of the premises open to visitors John Kennedy SC , for the boy , told the court liability was not at issue in the case .
The toddler was not knocked out but suffered lacerations and a broken arm , he said .
He also lost three of his baby teeth as a result of the accident .
Counsel said Rory is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school .
Approving the settlement , Mr Justice Kevin Cross said the fall was very severe and nasty and the child was fortunate not to have suffered a brain injury .
Rory has probably forgotten all about it now , he remarked .
Mr Justice Cross said it was a very good settlement and he wished the boy well for the future .

Rory Veighey, through his mother Nicola Veighey, of Kilcock, Co Kildare, sued the Moyvalley Hotel and Leisure Company, owners of the Moyvalley Hotel, as a result of the accident on June 22nd, 2010. Photograph: Collins Courts
A boy who, when he was a toddler, fell 10ft down into a tunnel after falling through a skylight has settled his High Court action for €75,000.
Rory Veighey McCabe was aged just over two years and was playing on a grassed area at the Moyvalley Hotel, Co Kildare, when he dropped through the skylight, which was embedded in the ground. The skylight was one of a number embedded in a lawn area to provide light to a tunnel used by staff to access the hotel kitchens from the outside of the hotel.
Rory, who was attending a wedding reception with his family, was playing with other children on the grass while wedding speeches were taking place.
Now aged 12, the boy, through his mother Nicola Veighey, of Kilcock, Co Kildare, sued the Moyvalley Hotel and Leisure Company, owners of the Moyvalley Hotel, as a result of the accident on June 22nd, 2010.
READ MORE
In his action, it was claimed the accessible lawn area of the hotel was allowed to have an unsecured skylight and this constituted a trip or hazard. It was claimed there was failure to warn the public and the boy’s parents of the existence of the skylight on the lawn surface and failure to remove a hazard from an area of the premises open to visitors
John Kennedy SC, for the boy, told the court liability was not at issue in the case. The toddler was not knocked out but suffered lacerations and a broken arm, he said. He also lost three of his baby teeth as a result of the accident. Counsel said Rory is now in fifth class and doing well in school.
Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross said the fall was very severe and nasty and the child was fortunate not to have suffered a brain injury. Rory has probably forgotten all about it now, he remarked. Mr Justice Cross said it was a very good settlement and he wished the boy well for the future.


theirishtimes--2020-02-12--Woman died after inhaling deodorant, inquest told

A 35-year-old woman living in sheltered accommodation died after inhaling gas from cans of deodorant , an inquest heard .
Gardaí found up to 10 cans of aerosol deodorant in Lisa Kennedy ’ s room at the Depaul Hostel on Little Britain Street , Dublin 7 .
The woman was found unresponsive by her partner of two years Shane Moran on the morning of July 7th , 2018 .
“ I woke up beside her in our couple ’ s room at the hostel and I tried to wake her but there were no signs of life , ” Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in his statement the woman had been out with a friend the day before .
She came home at 7pm and they watched TV together before falling asleep around midnight .
Depaul Hostel staff member Victor Odiumuko told Dublin Coroner ’ s Court that he knocked on the couple ’ s door around 10am as part of a routine room check .
“ When I knocked Mr Moran answered .
He was sitting on the bed next to Lisa .
He said he had been trying to wake her .
I called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I became concerned and called my teammate and the decision was made to contact emergency services , ” he said .
Garda Sean Harrington responded to a call at 10.40am and found the deceased surrounded by empty deodorant cans .
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane asked if Ms Kennedy had been using aerosols .
“ It looked that way .
She had a cloth in her left hand .
There were up to 10 cans in close proximity to where she was and there was a strong smell of deodorant in the room .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Garda Harrington said .
The woman ’ s body was removed to the morgue for autopsy .
At post-mortem there was no evidence of injury .
A toxicology report found evidence of Xanax , Valium , methadone , mirtazapine and pregabalin in the woman ’ s system .
The cause of death was mixed drug toxicity .
“ It is the combined effects of a number of medications that were in the system but I think given the evidence , one couldn ’ t discount the aerosol inhalation in or around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event it is likely to be a combination of all of the substances , ” the coroner said , returning a verdict of misadventure .

Gardaí found up to 10 cans of aerosol deodorant in room where woman had been living in sheltered accommodation. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times
A 35-year-old woman living in sheltered accommodation died after inhaling gas from cans of deodorant, an inquest heard. Gardaí found up to 10 cans of aerosol deodorant in Lisa Kennedy’s room at the Depaul Hostel on Little Britain Street, Dublin 7.
The woman was found unresponsive by her partner of two years Shane Moran on the morning of July 7th, 2018.
“I woke up beside her in our couple’s room at the hostel and I tried to wake her but there were no signs of life,” Mr Moran said in a deposition.
He said in his statement the woman had been out with a friend the day before. She came home at 7pm and they watched TV together before falling asleep around midnight.
READ MORE
Depaul Hostel staff member Victor Odiumuko told Dublin Coroner’s Court that he knocked on the couple’s door around 10am as part of a routine room check.
“When I knocked Mr Moran answered. He was sitting on the bed next to Lisa. He said he had been trying to wake her. I called her name and got no response. I became concerned and called my teammate and the decision was made to contact emergency services,” he said.
Garda Sean Harrington responded to a call at 10.40am and found the deceased surrounded by empty deodorant cans.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane asked if Ms Kennedy had been using aerosols.
“It looked that way. She had a cloth in her left hand. There were up to 10 cans in close proximity to where she was and there was a strong smell of deodorant in the room. The window was locked from the inside,” Garda Harrington said.
The woman’s body was removed to the morgue for autopsy.
At post-mortem there was no evidence of injury. A toxicology report found evidence of Xanax, Valium, methadone, mirtazapine and pregabalin in the woman’s system.
The cause of death was mixed drug toxicity.
“It is the combined effects of a number of medications that were in the system but I think given the evidence, one couldn’t discount the aerosol inhalation in or around the time of death. In any event it is likely to be a combination of all of the substances,” the coroner said, returning a verdict of misadventure.


theirishtimes--2020-02-13--Mayo wins for a change - Winning €17m lottery ticket sold in West

The winner of Wednesday night ’ s EuroMillions jackpot worth €17 million has yet to come forward , the National Lottery has said .
A spokesman for the National Lottery confirmed on Thursday that the winning ticket was sold in Co Mayo .
This is the third EuroMillions jackpot to be won in the county since the EuroMillions began in 2004 .
The winning numbers are : 24 , 26 , 32 , 43 , 46 and the Lucky Star numbers are 06 and 10 .
It is also the first jackpot won in Ireland this year , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The spokesman for the National Lottery appealed to players across Mayo to “ check their tickets to see if they are Ireland ’ s newest multi-millionaire ” .
“ We ’ re delighted to announce that this €17 million golden EuroMillions ticket was sold in the green and red county , ” he said .
“ Mayo is a really lucky county when it comes to EuroMillions wins as amazingly this is the third Mayo jackpot win .
This means that 20 per cent of all Irish EuroMillions jackpot winners come from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jackpot was won in April 2014 when a prize worth €15 million was claimed on a ticket sold in Castlebar , Co. Mayo .
Three years later , Mayo got its second winner , again in Castlebar , when a syndicate from the West of Ireland won €29 million in July 2017 .
The spokesman said the National Lottery would announce the location of the store where the latest winning ticket was sold on Friday .
“ We are asking all our Mayo players to check their EuroMillions tickets carefully , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to remind our players that this €17 million wasn ’ t the only prize won in Mayo this week as another lucky EuroMillions player in Mayo scooped €500,000 after winning the EuroMillions Plus top prize .
“ This ticket was sold in Easons store on Main Street , Castlebar in Co Mayo .
Hopefully all this Mayo EuroMillions luck can rub off on the Gaelic football side in their quest for Sam .
“ If you do happen to be one of these lucky ticket-holders please try to remain calm and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket .
“ Keep this valuable piece of paper safe and contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 01 836 4444 and we will make arrangements for you to collect your prize .
”

The National Lottery has appealed to players across Mayo to check their tickets.
The winner of Wednesday night's EuroMillions jackpot worth €17 million has yet to come forward, the National Lottery has said.
A spokesman for the National Lottery confirmed on Thursday that the winning ticket was sold in Co Mayo. This is the third EuroMillions jackpot to be won in the county since the EuroMillions began in 2004.
The winning numbers are: 24, 26, 32, 43, 46 and the Lucky Star numbers are 06 and 10.
It is also the first jackpot won in Ireland this year, and the 15th Irish EuroMillions jackpot win overall.
READ MORE
The spokesman for the National Lottery appealed to players across Mayo to “check their tickets to see if they are Ireland’s newest multi-millionaire”.
“We’re delighted to announce that this €17 million golden EuroMillions ticket was sold in the green and red county,” he said.
“Mayo is a really lucky county when it comes to EuroMillions wins as amazingly this is the third Mayo jackpot win. This means that 20 per cent of all Irish EuroMillions jackpot winners come from the Heather County.”
The first Mayo EuroMillions jackpot was won in April 2014 when a prize worth €15 million was claimed on a ticket sold in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Three years later, Mayo got its second winner, again in Castlebar, when a syndicate from the West of Ireland won €29 million in July 2017.
The spokesman said the National Lottery would announce the location of the store where the latest winning ticket was sold on Friday.
“We are asking all our Mayo players to check their EuroMillions tickets carefully,” he said.
“Also we’d like to remind our players that this €17 million wasn’t the only prize won in Mayo this week as another lucky EuroMillions player in Mayo scooped €500,000 after winning the EuroMillions Plus top prize.
“This ticket was sold in Easons store on Main Street, Castlebar in Co Mayo. Hopefully all this Mayo EuroMillions luck can rub off on the Gaelic football side in their quest for Sam.
“If you do happen to be one of these lucky ticket-holders please try to remain calm and be sure to sign the back of the ticket.
“Keep this valuable piece of paper safe and contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 01 836 4444 and we will make arrangements for you to collect your prize.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-13--Criminal Assets Bureau targets drug dealing gang in Munster raids

Officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau have seized property , cash and documentation in a series of raids in west Cork , Cork city and Tipperary targeting the activities of a drug dealing gang operating in west Cork Around 70 officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau backed up by some 80 officers from the west Cork Division as well as specialist units from Cork City Division searched around 20 premises under warrant this morning .
The operation began when officers raided a number of business premises in the Bandon area including a pub and number of residential properties in west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city .
Officers have also carried out a number of raids in the Roscrea area of north Tipperary as part of the same investigation into the activities of the drug dealing gang which is based in west Cork .
It ’ s understood gardaí seized property at least six cars and €20,000 in cash in the raids while they also searched the offices of solicitors , accountants and estate agents and seized documentation in relation to a number of individuals .
Cab officers are also understood to have seized mobile phones and laptops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of large sums of money which they believe are the proceeds of drug dealing .
Gardaí are particularly focussed on the business activities of a man in his late 30s and a number of his relatives and associates amid suspicions that they are involved in the widespread distribution of drugs in west Cork .
The man recently treated a large number of associates to a weekend away at a west Cork hotel , triggering Garda concerns about his criminal activities and local officers have been keen for some time for Cab to investigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second major raid by Cab officers in the west Cork Division in the space of a few weeks and follows an unrelated and separate raid on the home of a 50 year old man in Aherla in Mid-Cork towards the end of January .
Gardaí suspected the man was involved in money laundering for an international crime gang and they seized a number of cars , three high value watches and €1,400 in cash as well as phones , laptops and documents .
During a visit to Cork in September 2018 Det Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau was carrying out investigations into some 30 people in Cork city and county suspected of benefitting from criminal activity .
Chief Supt Patrick Clavin told a Cork City Council Joint Policing Committee meeting at Cork City Hall that Cab was carrying out investigations into over 900 targets nationally .
He revealed that Cab was looking at a total of 16 targets in the Cork City Garda Division where some 11 Garda profilers were working and where Cab was carrying out seven full investigations and nine preliminary investigations .
In the Cork North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were involved in identifying possible beneficiaries of crime and Cab was currently carrying out three full investigations and one preliminary investigation , he said .
Meanwhile in the Cork West Garda Division , some seven Garda profilers were similarly involved in identifying possible beneficiaries and Cab is carrying out three investigations and seven preliminary investigations , he added .
“ Most criminality is drug related and the next after that would be burglaries , organised prostitution , smuggling such as cigarette smuggling , fuel smuggling and all those forms of criminality would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in Cork city and county , ” he said .

Some of the more than €20,000 in cash that was seized by gardaí and Cab officers during searches of a number of properties in Munster on Thursday. Photograph: An Garda
Officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) have seized property, cash and documentation in a series of raids in west Cork, Cork city and Tipperary targeting the activities of a drug dealing gang operating in west Cork.
Gardaí have expressed confidence that the raids will have a major impact on the activities of a leading drug supplier in Co Cork.
Chief Supt Con Cadogan said the operation, which involved over 120 officers raiding 21 premises in West Cork and Cork city, was the result of a 12 months investigation into the operations of one of the major drug gangs in the area.
A Kia Sportage which was seized during the raids on Thursday. Photograph: An Garda
A Rolex watch seized during the searches. Photograph: An Garda
“I think we had a very successful day here in West Cork today and I have no doubt it will have a very significant impact on the distribution, sale and supply of drugs in West Cork and, indeed, throughout Cork county,” he said.
READ MORE
Around 60 officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau backed up by some 65 officers from the West Cork Division and from Cork City Division began searching 21 premises under warrant before 6am on Thursday morning.
Among the units providing support to CAB officers were the Garda Emergency Response Unit, the Southern Region Garda Armed Support Unit, the Garda Dog Unit, the Cork Divisional Search Team and local detective and uniform gardaí.
Rental property
The raids, which lasted several hours, began when officers searched eleven residential dwellings including a rental property near Ballinascarthy in West Cork. Four business premises, including a garage in the Bandon area, were also searched.
Gardaí also searched the offices of a number of professional people including those of solicitors, accountants and estate agents as part of the targeted operation against a man in his late 30s and his criminal associates.
Among other locations searched was a room in a hotel where the man, whom gardaí believe is involved in supplying cocaine and cannabis in West Cork, regularly stays.
Officers also carried out a raid in the Roscrea area of North Tipperary as part of the same investigation into the activities of the target.
Gardaí have been looking at the suspect for over a year as he is not working and in receipt of social welfare and yet lives a lavish lifestyle, driving top of the range cars and taking his family on expensive holidays.
According to Garda sources, the man has a set up an elaborate drugs supply network using both Irish and Eastern European couriers to deliver cannabis and cocaine to smaller scale dealers in West Cork.
Gardaí seized a total of six cars with a total value of € 170,000 from the man and his relatives and associates while they also seized € 22,500 in cash and froze four bank accounts, containing a further € 26,000.
Among the cars seized were a 191 Renault Kadjar, a 182 Kia Sportage, a 142 Skoda Superb, a 171 Range Rover, a 162 Hyundai Santa Fe and 151 Volkswagen Passat as well as two Louis Vuitton bags and a Rolex watch.
Laptops and mobile phones
CAB officers are also understood to have seized mobile phones and laptops at a number of the locations as they seek to trace the movement of large sums of money they believe are the proceeds of the man’s drug dealing.
Two men were arrested by gardaí during the raids - one on foot of a court bench warrant and one for possessing drugs for sale or supply for an offence which occurred on a previous date.
Both men, one of whom is Irish and one of whom is Eastern European, are in their 20s and both were arrested in the Bandon area and are currently detained at Bandon Garda station.
Gardaí believe that the target of their raids is laundering the proceeds of his drug dealing through a number of businesses in the West Cork area which are run by relatives and associates.
According to Chief Supt Cadogan today’s raids emanated from a preliminary investigation conducted by a divisional asset profiler in West Cork who later assisted the CAB in their work on the suspect.
It is the second major raid by CAB officers in the West Cork Division in the space of a few weeks and follows an unrelated and separate raid on the home of a 50 year old man in Aherla in Mid-Cork towards the end of January.
Gardaí suspected the man was involved in money laundering for an international crime gang and they seized a number of cars, three high value watches and €1,400 in cash as well as phones, laptops and documents.


theirishtimes--2020-02-13--Man’s privacy breached when police kept DNA profile, ECHR rules

A man convicted of a drink-driving offence whose DNA profile was held indefinitely by police had his privacy rights breached , the European Court of Human Rights has ruled .
Judges found that the retention of Fergus Gaughran ’ s DNA profile , fingerprints and photography by the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) “ amounted to an interference ” with his private life .
A ruling said Mr Gaughran ’ s data was retained without “ reference to the seriousness of his offence ” and without evaluating the need to keep it indefinitely .
He had unsuccessfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his data at the High Court in Belfast in 2012 , and again in 2015 at the Supreme Court in London .
Mr Gaughran , from Newry , Northern Ireland , was arrested in October 2008 and taken to a police station , where officers from the PSNI lawfully obtained his fingerprints , a photograph and a DNA sample , from which a DNA profile was taken .
He pleaded guilty to the charge of driving with excess alcohol and was disqualified for a year and handed a $ 50 fine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at his request , but officers continued to retain on an indefinite basis the digital data extracted from his sample , his fingerprints and photograph .
Mr Gaughran unsuccessfully challenged the right of police to retain the information indefinitely at the UK ’ s highest court in 2015 , when justices ruled that the retention policy was “ proportionate ” .
He lodged an application to the ECHR in October 2015 , relying on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights , the right to respect for private and family life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seven judges unanimously found that Mr Gaughran ’ s right to privacy had been violated .
The ruling said : “ The Court found that the retention of the applicant ’ s DNA profile , fingerprints and photograph amounted to an interference with his private life which had pursued the legitimate purpose of the detection , and therefore , prevention of crime.
” The Strasbourg-based court said it had examined whether an interference in the applicant ’ s privacy rights had been justified .
But its ruling said : “ However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographs had been retained without reference to the seriousness of his offence and without regard to any continuing need to retain that data indefinitely.
” The court found that the PSNI was only able to delete biometric data and photographs in “ exceptional circumstances ” , which meant Mr Gaughran could not request a review of the retention of his data .
The judgment said : “ The Court found that the nature of those powers failed to strike a fair balance between the competing public and private interests .
“ The respondent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of appreciation and the retention at issue constituted a disproportionate interference with the applicant ’ s right to respect for private life , which could not be regarded as necessary in a democratic society .
“ There had accordingly been a violation of Article 8 of the Convention .
”

Fergus Gaughran’s DNA profile, fingerprints and photography was kept by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
A man convicted of a drink-driving offence whose DNA profile was held indefinitely by police had his privacy rights breached, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.
Judges found that the retention of Fergus Gaughran's DNA profile, fingerprints and photography by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) "amounted to an interference" with his private life.
A ruling said Mr Gaughran’s data was retained without “reference to the seriousness of his offence” and without evaluating the need to keep it indefinitely.
He had unsuccessfully challenged the PSNI's continued retention of his data at the High Court in Belfast in 2012, and again in 2015 at the Supreme Court in London.
READ MORE
Mr Gaughran, from Newry, Northern Ireland, was arrested in October 2008 and taken to a police station, where officers from the PSNI lawfully obtained his fingerprints, a photograph and a DNA sample, from which a DNA profile was taken.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of driving with excess alcohol and was disqualified for a year and handed a £50 fine.
His DNA sample was destroyed in 2015 at his request, but officers continued to retain on an indefinite basis the digital data extracted from his sample, his fingerprints and photograph.
Mr Gaughran unsuccessfully challenged the right of police to retain the information indefinitely at the UK’s highest court in 2015, when justices ruled that the retention policy was “proportionate”.
He lodged an application to the ECHR in October 2015, relying on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to respect for private and family life.
‘Interference with his private life’
In a judgment issued on Thursday, seven judges unanimously found that Mr Gaughran’s right to privacy had been violated.
The ruling said: “The Court found that the retention of the applicant’s DNA profile, fingerprints and photograph amounted to an interference with his private life which had pursued the legitimate purpose of the detection, and therefore, prevention of crime.”
The Strasbourg-based court said it had examined whether an interference in the applicant’s privacy rights had been justified.
But its ruling said: “However, the applicant’s biometric data and photographs had been retained without reference to the seriousness of his offence and without regard to any continuing need to retain that data indefinitely.”
The court found that the PSNI was only able to delete biometric data and photographs in “exceptional circumstances”, which meant Mr Gaughran could not request a review of the retention of his data.
The judgment said: “The Court found that the nature of those powers failed to strike a fair balance between the competing public and private interests.
“The respondent State had therefore overstepped the acceptable margin of appreciation and the retention at issue constituted a disproportionate interference with the applicant’s right to respect for private life, which could not be regarded as necessary in a democratic society.
“There had accordingly been a violation of Article 8 of the Convention.”
–PA


theirishtimes--2020-02-13--Man charged with murder of Lyra McKee appears in court

Supporters of a man charged with murdering journalist Lyra McKee scuffled with police outside court as he arrived for his first appearance in the dock .
Paul McIntyre from Derry , is accused of killing Ms McKee ( 29 ) who was shot dead by dissident republicans while observing a riot in Derry in April .
Supporters of the 52-year-old holding placards saying he is a “ political hostage ” and a “ British scapegoat ” scuffled with up to 40 police officers as they refused to move from the entrance to Derry Magistrates ’ Court on Thursday .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of a Range Rover and taken into the court building .
Ms McKee was standing near a police vehicle when she was hit by a bullet fired by a masked gunman towards officers .
The Belfast writer was living in Derry with her partner , Sara Canning , who also arrived at court on Thursday morning .
Ms Mckee ’ s sister Nichola Corner was among several people in the public gallery wearing T shirts emblazoned with her picture .
In a statement on Wednesday , Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night Lyra was killed , and while today is significant for the investigation the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing.
” Ms McKee was a gay rights activist and an articulate advocate of a new and more tolerant Northern Ireland and part of the generation which reached adulthood during peace time .
She wrote for publications including Private Eye and Buzzfeed .
Her funeral was attended by then prime minister Theresa May , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anne ’ s Cathedral in Belfast .
Catholic priest Fr Martin Magill received a standing ovation when he asked why it took her death to unite politicians .
Days later the British and Irish governments announced a new talks process aimed at restoring devolution .
Powersharing was resurrected last month and the first same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland took place this week .
McIntyre is also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and belonging to or professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation .
His address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Derry .
The New IRA said it carried out the killing of Ms McKee .
- PA

The man charged with the murder of 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee is alleged to have picked up the bullet casings after she was shot by an unknown gunman, a court has heard.
Paul McIntyre (52), with an address at Kinnego Park in Derry, appeared at the city’s Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
He is also accused of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and membership of a proscribed organisation.
A PSNI detective said she believed she could connect Mr McIntyre to the charges.
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Ms McKee was shot dead as she watched a riot in the Creggan area of the city on April 18th last year.
After Ms McKee’s murder, footage was circulated by the police that appeared to show a man firing a gun, and another man bending down to pick up the casings.
Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey told the court there was “scant” evidence to connect his client to the charges. The “totality” of the evidence, he said, rested on a comparison of clothing and a “split second snapshot” of poor quality mobile phone footage.
An application for bail was adjourned until February 27th and Mr McIntyre was remanded in custody.
Ms McKee’s partner Sara Canning, her sister Nichola Corner, and number of other relatives and supporters were in court for the hearing. Some wore t-shirts reading “Speak out for Lyra”.
Outside the court around 40 supporters of Mr McIntyre scuffled with police ahead of his arrival and at one point stood across the road to block it. They held placards reading “Paul McIntyre British scapegoat” and “British injustice is not justice”, as well as posters bearing the logo of the dissident republican political party Saoradh.
Protesters clash with the police outside Derry Magistrates Court as Paul McIntyre appeared in court on Thursday charged with the murder of Lyra Mckee. Photograph: Getty
They cheered as he raised his handcuffed arms aloft as he was led from an unmarked Land Rover into the court.
In the dock, Mr McIntyre spoke only to confirm his name and address.
Video footage
The police detective said that more than five hours of footage recorded by an MTV documentary crew who were in the area at the time, mobile phone images from the public, and witness and police statements were among the evidence which had been forwarded to the North’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS), which had then sought the opinion of senior counsel.
“In their opinion the test for prosecution had been met,” the PSNI detective said.
She opposed bail on the grounds of potential inference with witnesses, the risk of further offending, and police felt there was “a very real likelihood” that Mr McIntyre might flee the jurisdiction.
Defence solicitor Mr Harvey said Mr McIntyre had previously been granted bail in connection with charges of riotous behaviour and arson on the night Ms McKee was killed, and he had fully complied with stringent bail conditions.
The allegation against his client was, he said, that “Mr McIntyre is at this riot and a male shoots the gun and that Mr McIntyre, after the gun was shot, picks up the cases”.
He said the “totality” of the evidence against his client was an expert report which stated that clothing Mr McIntyre had been observed wearing earlier in the day was the same as the clothing as that worn by the individual, referred to as “Character Z”, who was later recorded picking up the bullet casings.
The report, he said, described Mr McIntyre as “a suitable candidate for the person who picks up the cases”.
On this basis, he said, “I would ask the court to consider whether there is evidence even to connect Mr McIntyre to the murder charge.”
He said that on more than 50 separate occasions, Mr McIntyre had denied that he was Character Z. When the charges were put to him, Mr Harvey said, he replied: “I didn’t murder anyone. If police speak to witnesses it will show it wasn’t me.”
Mr Harvey said two witnesses described the man who picked up the casings as between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in, whereas Mr McIntyre was 5ft 2in, a “massive discrepancy in height”.
The mobile phone footage, he said, lasted for “a matter of seconds”, and was of poor quality, not the high definition images filmed by MTV. The MTV crew had left the scene by this stage.
He also said there were insurmountable obstacles regarding joint enterprise in the charge of murder.
Lyra McKee: the 29-year-old journalist was shot dead in Derry in April 2019. Photograph: PA/Jess Lowe
Questioned by the District Judge, Mr Barney McElholm, in regard to Mr McIntyre’s clothing, Mr Harvey said the clothing in question was a pair of Adidas trainers, blue O’Neill’s tracksuit bottoms and a black cap.
“I am intrigued by the quote, ‘he is a suitable candidate for the person’ [identified in the footage],” Mr McElholm said. If this was to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, he said, “this needs expanding on.”
Mr McElholm said that the matters raised by Mr Harvey required closer examination, and for that reason he would adjourn the application for bail.
‘Vile posters’
“Whoever continues to put up graffiti in Creggan threatening witnesses and journalists and those vile posters [of Peadar Heffron] erected yesterday in parts of the city,” Judge McElholm said, “were doing Mr McIntyre no good whatsoever.”
“I am very conscious,” he said, “that a young a woman with her entire life ahead of her, a very promising life by all accounts, was murdered needlessly and pointlessly, like all other murders carried out in this country.
While it was “very important the murderers of Lyra McKee be brought to justice,” he said, we need to get the right people and every accused person before the court is allowed a fair trial.”
The application was adjourned for two weeks to address points raised in regard to biometric analysis, any additional witnesses, and whether there was an increased risk that Mr McIntyre might flee the jurisdiction.


theirishtimes--2020-02-13--Archbishop ‘very much open’ to relaxing celibacy rule due to priest shortage

Catholic Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin has said he is “ very much open ” to calls for a softening on the church ’ s clerical celibacy rules to cope with the declining number of priests .
Speaking after Pope Francis declined to deal with the issue in an eagerly awaited apostolic exhortation , the Archbishop of Armagh said the pontiff was not ruling it out but leaving it open for more discussion .
“ I think Pope Francis realises this is an issue where there is a lot of divided thinking , ” he told RTÉ Radio One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m very much open to the idea of this and I think Pope Francis is too .
He doesn ’ t shut the idea down , he leaves it open for further discussion within the church.
” In his latest apostolic exhortation , Beloved Amazon , the pope did not refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons .
Instead , the pontiff urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region .
The vast majority of villages in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every week because of the shortage of priests .
Some villages see a priest just once a year , it is estimated .
Last year a synod of 184 bishops on the future of the church in the Amazon concluded “ respected ” older , married men should be allowed to become priests .
Archbishop Martin played down suggestions that Ireland is facing priest shortages as dramatic as the Amazon .
“ I think it is considerably further than where the Amazon is now , ” he said .
“ Although I wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have a very major decline in vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.
” Archbishop Martin said if Ireland is to heed Pope Francis ’ call , it needs to officially recognise the role of lay people and the role of women in the church .
It is not “ simply about ordination to the priesthood ” , he said , but about lay men and women organising and administering parishes , making decisions up to diocesan level and “ even exercising the pastoral care that in the past priests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested more Irish priests should be going to the Amazon as missionaries .
“ I know that we think we are very short of priests but I think a church which loses it missionary spirit and its missionary zeal is a church which is dying , ” he said .
“ And I think that is what Pope Francis is saying to us .
Stay missionary , get out there , go and help these people.
” Earlier , Fr Paddy Byrne , parish priest of Abbeyliex and Raheen in Co Laois , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of priests in Ireland shared his sense of disappointment over the pope ’ s refusal to sanction a softening on celibacy rules .
“ We are not far away from the reality of what is being felt by the people of the Amazon region , ” he said .
“ They are hungry for the Eucharist and a now a self imposed famine is being put upon them.
” Fr Byrne said there are “ probably more bishops in Ireland at the moment than there are young men in formation for priesthood.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are facing the exact same ( as the Amazon ) , ” he said .
Ireland is facing into a spiritual “ famine ” because it is running out of priests , a Catholic cleric has said .

Catholic Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin has said he is "very much open" to calls for a softening on the church's clerical celibacy rules to cope with the declining number of priests.
Speaking after Pope Francis declined to deal with the issue in an eagerly awaited apostolic exhortation, the Archbishop of Armagh said the pontiff was not ruling it out but leaving it open for more discussion.
"I think Pope Francis realises this is an issue where there is a lot of divided thinking," he told RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland.
“I’m very much open to the idea of this and I think Pope Francis is too. He doesn’t shut the idea down, he leaves it open for further discussion within the church.”
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In his latest apostolic exhortation, Beloved Amazon, the pope did not refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons.
Instead, the pontiff urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region.
The vast majority of villages in the Amazon are unable to celebrate Mass every week because of the shortage of priests. Some villages see a priest just once a year, it is estimated.
Last year a synod of 184 bishops on the future of the church in the Amazon concluded “respected” older, married men should be allowed to become priests.
Archbishop Martin played down suggestions that Ireland is facing priest shortages as dramatic as the Amazon. "I think it is considerably further than where the Amazon is now," he said.
“Although I wouldn’t be blind to the fact that we have a very major decline in vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.”
Archbishop Martin said if Ireland is to heed Pope Francis’ call, it needs to officially recognise the role of lay people and the role of women in the church.
It is not “simply about ordination to the priesthood”, he said, but about lay men and women organising and administering parishes, making decisions up to diocesan level and “even exercising the pastoral care that in the past priests would have done.”
Archbishop Martin also suggested more Irish priests should be going to the Amazon as missionaries.
“I know that we think we are very short of priests but I think a church which loses it missionary spirit and its missionary zeal is a church which is dying,” he said.
“And I think that is what Pope Francis is saying to us. Stay missionary, get out there, go and help these people.”
Fr Paddy Byrne, parish priest of Abbeyliex and Raheen in Co Laois, said "about 85 per cent" of priests in Ireland shared his sense of disappointment over the pope's refusal to sanction a softening on celibacy rules.
“We are not far away from the reality of what is being felt by the people of the Amazon region,” he said.
“They are hungry for the Eucharist and a now a self imposed famine is being put upon them.”
Fr Byrne said there are “probably more bishops in Ireland at the moment than there are young men in formation for priesthood.”
“So if we don’t change we are facing the exact same (as the Amazon),” he said.
Ireland is facing into a spiritual “famine” because it is running out of priests, a Catholic cleric has said.
The We Are Church International group said Beloved Amazon "demonstrates that the Roman Catholic hierarchy lacks the courage and vision needed to address the real needs of the world and its people".
Its chair Colm Holmes praised Pope Francis for his "wonderful dreams for social, cultural and ecological issues in the Amazon" but found it "tremendously disappointing" that he could not bring the same vision "to how our church serves the people of the Amazon region, and indeed all people."
After seven years in office it seemed Pope Francis “talks the talk but does not walk the walk when it comes to enabling the church to fully address the real needs of its members,” Mr Holmes said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-13--‘Appalling wickedness and evil’ - Funeral of Keane Mulready-Woods takes place in Drogheda

There was a significant Garda presence on Thursday at the funeral of Keane Mulready-Woods , the teenager brutally murdered in Drogheda nearly a month ago .
Several hundred people were attending the 17-year-old ’ s funeral mass in the Holy Family Church in Ballsgrove , in the Co Louth town .
The funeral cortege followed by about 100 mostly young people , many wearing white teeshirts with a photograph of the teenager , arrived at the church shortly after 11am .
Mulready-Woods ’ s remains were brought to the ceremony in a white coffin .
Gardaí believe Mulready-Woods was killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body was dismembered in what is believed to be connected to the ongoing criminal feud in the Co Louth town .
There was a heavy Garda presence at the funeral including uniformed officers , marked Garda vehicles as well as armed and plain-clothes officers stationed in near the church and in surrounding streets .
In his homily , the script of which was supplied by the Catholic Press Office , Fr Phil Gaffney said the boy ’ s killers “ took upon themselves to be judge and jury , and executioner .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ This murder has brought about an unparalleled level of revulsion , not alone in Drogheda , but throughout our country and , indeed , far beyond , ” he added .
Fr Gaffney said that Keane Mulready-Woods “ had his troubles ” adding that he was “ young and naive enough to fall in with the wrong people , not knowing or anticipating the dire consequences .
“ I hope that his death will be a warning to other young teenagers who are been groomed by the ruthless criminals , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitably end in tragedy .
Keane ’ s association with them , sadly , led to the inhuman , unthinkable way in which his young life was to end.
” Addressing the boy ’ s friends , the priest said : “ I want to say a special word of condolence to Keane ’ s young friends .
I know how much his death will affect you .
He will be so pleased that you remember him with fondness and that you are shedding tears for him .
“ It is good that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will always remember him in prayer .
Just as his life was opening up , cruel fate took him away .
“ Please learn from his mistakes , getting involved with dangerous criminals , thinking some of them were his friends and yet they would sacrifice him in such a brutal manner .
“ But you can be sure that he has not dropped into nothingness or non-existence .
He has gone to God who will love and protect him until you see him again in the life of the world to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him for his faults and failings and to be merciful to him .
“ It goes without saying that you will never forget him .
You will always mourn for him .
You will always feel the searing pain of his loss and you will always cry for him especially in your intimate moments .
With tearful hearts , but with faith and hope , today you place him again in God ’ s hands from whom he came and to whom we are all destined to return .
May he rest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents Elizabeth and Barry , his sister Courtney and by his brothers Darren , Ryan and Jack .
Last month some 4,000 people marched through Drogheda and heard politicians excoriated for their alleged lack of action over illegal drugs .
“ We are about the business of taking back control of our town ” from the criminals , Lord Mayor , Councillor Paul Bell of the Labour Party told a crowd gathered in front of St Peter ’ s Church on West Street .
He said residents would not fail to rid “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of today , are convinced they are invincible .
”

The remains of Keane Mulready Woods leave The Church of the Holy Family after his funeral Mass. Photograph: Collins Dublin
Gang members involved in the Drogheda feud must stop the violence, and young people caught up in it need to learn from the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods, said the priest concelebrating the 17-year-old's funeral mass.
In his homily, Fr Phil Gaffney said a drug culture had now spread across Ireland and been normalised, adding the boy's killers "took upon themselves to be judge and jury, and executioner".
"What arrogance. What appalling wickedness and evil," he said of those who murdered and dismembered the boy last month in what was the third murder in a volatile gangland feud in Drogheda, Co Louth.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 4 Mourners at the funeral of Keane Mulready Woods. Photograph: Collins Dublin
“This murder has brought about an unparalleled level of revulsion, not alone in Drogheda, but throughout our country and, indeed, far beyond,” Fr Gaffney said.
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He said the boy “had his troubles” adding that he was “young and naive enough to fall in with the wrong people, not knowing or anticipating the dire consequences”.
“I hope that his death will be a warning to other young teenagers who are being groomed by the ruthless criminals; that the promise of money and gifts will inevitably end in tragedy,” he said.
“Keane’s association with them, sadly, led to the inhuman, unthinkable way in which his young life was to end.”
Addressing the boy’s friends at Thursday’s funeral at the Church of the Holy Family in Ballsgrove, Drogheda, the priest said he knew they had been deeply affected by his murder.
“Please learn from his mistakes, getting involved with dangerous criminals, thinking some of them were his friends and yet they would sacrifice him in such a brutal manner,” he said.
“Drugs have become extremely easy for young people to obtain. It isn’t just communities with deprived socio-economic backgrounds that are worse for illegal drug-taking, it has become socially acceptable across the country among people from all backgrounds.
“People who are taking drugs on a social basis have to realise that what they are doing is fuelling this situation of violence. The problem arises from the ‘normalisation’ of a drugs culture here in Ireland.
“Drug taking, ‘doing a line of coke’, has become as normal as having a drink. We need a nationwide response from our Government.”
Family
Keane is survived by his parents Elizabeth and Barry, his sister Courtney and by his brothers Darren, Ryan and Jack.
He was last seen alive in his native Drogheda on Sunday, January 12th at about 6pm. Gardaí believe he was killed in the town and dismembered that evening; his remains were found in two locations in north Dublin over the next two days.
There was a significant Garda presence on Thursday at the funeral. Several hundred people attended the funeral Mass.
The funeral cortege followed by about 100 mostly young people, many wearing white T-shirts with a photograph of the teenager, arrived at the church shortly after 11am. His remains were brought to the ceremony in a white coffin. There was a heavy Garda presence at the funeral. The Garda had requested that the media not enter the church during the funeral service, though reporters, photographers and TV camera crews gathered outside. While a number of press photographers and TV camera crews were taking photographs and footage as the cortege arrived, a young man broke off from the crowd and approached them.
He told those present to leave, adding if they were still outside the church when the service was over he would break their cameras.
After the service ended about 45 minutes later, when a larger group of photographers had gathered, two men ran over to the members of the media, calling them “scum”, only to be stopped by gardaí who moved in to prevent a confrontation.
Gardaí were set to retain a presence around any social gatherings on Thursday night after the burial of Mulready-Woods at Drogheda’s Calvary Cemetery.
Some of the people gathered for the funeral are also targets of the gang that killed the 17-year-old last month and there are fears they could be targeted at any time as part of the feud.


theirishtimes--2020-02-13--Storm Dennis to bring wet and windy weather this weekend

Weather conditions are going to deteriorate ahead of the arrival of Storm Dennis over the weekend , Met Éireann has warned .
Commuters are being advised of potentially icy roads and the prospect of “ wintry outbreaks ” of sleet and snow , especially on higher ground .
Met Éireann meteorologist Siobhán Ryan said weather conditions would “ go downhill ” as a low pressure system moves over Ireland from the mid-Atlantic .
“ During the evening hours , after dark , we ’ re going to see some wet and windy weather moving up countrywide .
There will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of tonight .
“ There will be come wintery precipitation mainly up over the north midlands and Ulster .
There will definitely be some snowfall and widespread falls of sleet at the very minimum .
“ There may be a requirement for a snow and ice warning tonight but it will probably be confined to Ulster.
” Ms Ryan said there would be a “ gradual deterioration ” in weather conditions on Friday ahead of the expected arrival of Storm Dennis over the weekend .
That will bring “ high volumes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as a “ sustained spell of high winds ” for 48 hours straight over the weekend .
It will be “ very windy , very wet and possibly stormy ” , Ms Ryan said .
Daytime maximum temperatures on Sunday will be 4 or 5 degrees with wintery showers along coastal areas .
The east of the country will stay mostly dry .
More persistent rain or sleet will pass over the country later in the day .
Showery and windy conditions will continue into next week .

A wind map from midday on Friday showing the anticipated movement of Storm Dennis off the west coast of Ireland. image: Magicseaweed
Met Éireann has warned of potential flooding over the weekend as Storm Dennis brings heavy rain and high winds across the country.
Parts of the coastal fringes of Connacht and Munster can expect up to 70mm of rain between Friday and Monday morning. The rest of the country will also experience heavy rain with falls of between 30mm and 40mm, some if it falling as sleet or snow on Saturday and Sunday night.
Forecaster Deirdre Lowe said "very heavy rain" will come after a spell of wet weather where river levels are high and she warned there could be flooding in the Shannon callows and in rivers in the south.
The last seven days have seen extremely wet weather as a result of Storm Ciara with some places getting four times the average amount of rain for the period.
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Forecasters in the United States say the storms are being caused by an unusually active jet stream. The US Government's National Weather Service's Ocean Prediction Center described the threat in a tweet: "Forecast charts show a very active N Atlantic low track producing multiple rounds of hazardous marine conditions including widespread hurricane force winds & phenomenal seas."
The forecast centre warned that ships in the Atlantic could be in danger as waves reach as high as 30 metres.
Storm Dennis is set to arrive on Saturday morning and will bring heavy rain and strong southerly winds. Temperatures will be around normal, but will drop to near freezing on Saturday night. Met Éireann will issue weather warnings wind and rain later on Thursday.
Orange level wind warnings are expected to be issued for the coastal counties of Connacht and for Donegal over the weekend.
"Coastal fringes will bear the brunt of it," said Ms Lowe. "It will be very windy on Sunday and some of the showers will turn wintery on Sunday and Monday.
“It doesn’t look as cold as Ciara, but there will be some falls of sleet and snow.”
Storm Dennis will bring a wet and windy day on Saturday with strong southerly winds and widespread heavy rain.
Temperatures during the day will reach 7 to 11 degrees and will fall overnight to between 1 and 3 degrees as the rain breaks up somewhat and skies clear. There will be widespread showers through the night.
The effects of Storm Dennis will continue to generate strong to near gale force winds on Sunday.
It will turn cooler with daytime temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with showers turning wintry on higher ground in the west.
Scattered showers will continue overnight on Sunday with some turning to sleet or possibly snow in the north and northwest. Temperatures will fall to 2 degrees.
Monday will still see windy weather which will bring showers to western coastal counties. It will be mainly dry with sunny spells further east. There will be highs of 7 to 9 degrees.
Showery and windy conditions will continue into next week.