theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Dublin homes within walking distance of park are worth more, conference told

Having a house or an apartment in Dublin which is within walking distance of a park significantly adds to its property value , an environment conference has been told .
There was a case for the increased property values to be reflected in higher local property taxes , and for the additional revenues be used for park developments in the capital , suggested TCD economist Dr Ronan Lyons .
An analysis of 40,000 transactions and proximity to parks and green spaces including water shows parks have the most positive effect .
It suggests Dublin Parks have an aggregate value of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing stock .
If increased property tax was applied , it would generate €6 million a year in extra revenue , which could be ringfenced for park development , he told the conference hosted by the ESRI and EPA .
“ We found a 10 per cent increase in park space within 2 kilometres ( i.e.walking distance ) of a dwelling is associated with a 5.5 per cent in that dwelling ’ s value , ” Dr Lyons added .
While the research was on-going and the findings were preliminary , the value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , though there was no evidence of an additional effect on housing beside the Phoenix Park , while congestion issues often arose living within 200 metres of a park .
With urban development , he said , it was often regarded as a choice between “ fat cites ” and “ tall cities ” .
Dublin has been “ quite fat over the past 30 years , and unnecessarily so ” .
There was a policy shift happening ; keeping the same footprint but allowing for more density , but “ non @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and blue [ WATER ] space need to be front and centre ” .
The grey ( buildings ) to green ratio had to be rebalanced .
Prof Mark Scott of UCD School of Architecture said Dublin parks suffered during the period of austerity .
A re-positioning recognising their role in promoting health was warranted .
As density was being increased the issue of green buildings , green walls and green roofs would all become important , but parks should apply the “ 8-80 approach ” by catering for everybody from aged 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a policy of installing sports pitches which generally favours males .
Planning regulator Niall Cussen said there was a marked difference in where people were living – extending over a wider area in Ireland – and working ; in more concentrated areas where the knowledge economy was based , including a high level of social interaction , innovation and access to learning .
That said , there was a renaissance in planning that factored in all elements including health and wellbeing .
People wanted to live closer to physical amenities , their employment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car-based commutes , and generating more time for families ” .

An analysis of 40,000 transactions and proximity to parks and green spaces including water shows parks have the most positive effect. Photograph: iStock
Having a house or an apartment in Dublin which is within walking distance of a park significantly adds to its property value , an environment conference has been told.
There was a case for the increased property values to be reflected in higher local property taxes, and for the additional revenues be used for park developments in the capital, suggested TCD economist Dr Ronan Lyons.
An analysis of 40,000 transactions and proximity to parks and green spaces including water shows parks have the most positive effect.
It suggests Dublin Parks have an aggregate value of €3.4 billion when capitalised into the nearby housing stock. If increased property tax was applied, it would generate €6 million a year in extra revenue, which could be ringfenced for park development, he told the conference hosted by the ESRI and EPA.
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“We found a 10 per cent increase in park space within 2 kilometres (i.e.walking distance) of a dwelling is associated with a 5.5 per cent in that dwelling’s value,” Dr Lyons added.
While the research was on-going and the findings were preliminary, the value of green space was clear, he said, though there was no evidence of an additional effect on housing beside the Phoenix Park, while congestion issues often arose living within 200 metres of a park.
With urban development, he said, it was often regarded as a choice between “fat cites” and “tall cities”. Dublin has been “quite fat over the past 30 years, and unnecessarily so”.
There was a policy shift happening; keeping the same footprint but allowing for more density, but “non economic factors” such as “green and blue [WATER]space need to be front and centre”. The grey (buildings) to green ratio had to be rebalanced.
Prof Mark Scott of UCD School of Architecture said Dublin parks suffered during the period of austerity. A re-positioning recognising their role in promoting health was warranted.
As density was being increased the issue of green buildings, green walls and green roofs would all become important, but parks should apply the “8-80 approach” by catering for everybody from aged 8 to 80, rather than for instance a policy of installing sports pitches which generally favours males.
Planning regulator Niall Cussen said there was a marked difference in where people were living – extending over a wider area in Ireland – and working; in more concentrated areas where the knowledge economy was based, including a high level of social interaction, innovation and access to learning.
That said, there was a renaissance in planning that factored in all elements including health and wellbeing. People wanted to live closer to physical amenities, their employment, culture and heritage; “avoiding car-based commutes, and generating more time for families”.


theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Man who denies murdering he father says he was his mate

A man who admits killing but denies murdering his father during an argument about drinking at home told gardaí that he loved and was proud of his dad , whom he described as looking like American singer Kenny Rogers .
“ He wasn ’ t just my father , he was a mate , ” the accused man told interviewing detectives .
In garda interviews the accused man Mark Tims said that when he struck his father with a cup and kicked him while he lay on the ground he was “ enraged ” .
He said he “ lashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ always dragging me down .
No matter if he was in the wrong , he was always right .
He was always right.
” He said he had self-harmed before because his father had “ got to ” him and described how his father had once struck him with a piece of weight-lifting equipment .
Mr Tims ( 48 ) has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to the murder of his father Anthony “ Tony ” Tims at the home they shared at Rowlagh Green , Clondalkin , Dublin 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial at the Central Criminal Court has previously heard that a row erupted when Anthony Tims returned home from the pub on his 74th birthday and the accused told him he had “ cremated ” his breakfast that morning and he didn ’ t want him to cook his breakfast again .
A witness has told that trial that Anthony Tims then told his son he was a “ disappointment ” and he wished he ’ d never been born before the accused man , who was “ in a rage ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punched him twice in the head and kicked him when he fell to the ground .
Det Garda Aine O ’ Sullivan on Friday told prosecuting counsel Michael Delaney SC that she interviewed Mr Tims at Lucan Garda station on July 15th , 2018 .
She agreed that Mr Tims told her that on the evening his father died his dad was “ narky ” and annoyed that Mark was drinking in the family home .
He said his mind “ closed down and then it went blank ” as his father kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If my father had a bad day , I had a bad day .
When he gets narky he just gives out , gives out , gives out .
He rips into me.
” He remembered striking his dad with a cup .
His dad fell to the ground and , he said , he stomped on him once and kicked him twice in the back .
He said : “ The stomp was hard enough .
Really quick .
I was reacting without thinking .
If I was thinking it wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Describing the same incident in a later interview he said : “ I stomped down on him , I turned away , then came back and kicked him two times and went to the fridge .
Went to the door , two to three feet and kicked him again.
” He said he kicked his father a total of three times .
Talking about his relationship with his father Mr Tims described how on one occasion his father got to him so much that he harmed himself .
He showed gardaí a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described his dad using a piece of weightlifting equipment to hit him when he was young .
He said that when his father started on him he would usually just walk away to give him time to calm down .
His dad would tell him he didn ’ t want him in the house and threaten to call the guards .
He said he would try to hurt him and sometimes got to him .
On one previous occasion the accused said he hit his dad a “ clatter ” and felt terrible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could control himself but on this occasion he said : “ My head was boiling .
I lashed out.
” He added : “ He always dragged me down .
No matter if he was in the wrong , he was right .
He was always right.
” His father could be “ brutal , very harsh ” and , “ If you weren ’ t up to his standard he would call you an asshole.
” He added : “ After all the arguments I still loved him.
” The accused said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of his life and he feels orphaned from his entire family .
He added : “ This is eating me up .
I ’ m finding it very hard.
” He told gardaí he had “ lashed out ” and remembered that he couldn ’ t concentrate or focus .
“ I was just enraged , ” he said .
After kicking his father he saw blood and thought , “ what the f**k are you doing ” .
He grabbed his insulin , which he takes for diabetes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When gardaí asked why he then went to a park where he spent the next 24 hours instead of handing himself in he said he , “ needed to get a drink to get my head around this.
” He added : “ Me and my father had many arguments over the years but I loved my father.
” He said his father looked like American singer Kenny Rogers and added : “ I felt proud to have him as my dad.
” At the end of the interview he told gardaí @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m sorry for this .
He wasn ’ t just my father , he was a mate.
” Gda O ’ Sullivan agreed with defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC that Mr Tims was co-operative and courteous throughout the interviews and answered every question put to him .

A man who admits killing but denies murdering his father during an argument about drinking at home told gardaí that he loved and was proud of his dad, whom he described as looking like American singer Kenny Rogers.
“He wasn’t just my father, he was a mate,” the accused man told interviewing detectives.
In garda interviews the accused man Mark Tims said that when he struck his father with a cup and kicked him while he lay on the ground he was “enraged”.
He said he “lashed out” at his father who was “always dragging me down. No matter if he was in the wrong, he was always right. He was always right.”
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He said he had self-harmed before because his father had “got to” him and described how his father had once struck him with a piece of weight-lifting equipment. Mr Tims (48) has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to the murder of his father Anthony “Tony” Tims at the home they shared at Rowlagh Green, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on July 13th, 2018.
The trial at the Central Criminal Court has previously heard that a row erupted when Anthony Tims returned home from the pub on his 74th birthday and the accused told him he had “cremated” his breakfast that morning and he didn’t want him to cook his breakfast again. A witness has told that trial that Anthony Tims then told his son he was a “disappointment” and he wished he’d never been born before the accused man, who was “in a rage”, put his father in a headlock, punched him twice in the head and kicked him when he fell to the ground.
Det Garda Aine O’Sullivan on Friday told prosecuting counsel Michael Delaney SC that she interviewed Mr Tims at Lucan Garda station on July 15th, 2018.
She agreed that Mr Tims told her that on the evening his father died his dad was “narky” and annoyed that Mark was drinking in the family home. He said his mind “closed down and then it went blank” as his father kept at him.
He said: “If my father had a bad day, I had a bad day. When he gets narky he just gives out, gives out, gives out. He rips into me.”
He remembered striking his dad with a cup. His dad fell to the ground and, he said, he stomped on him once and kicked him twice in the back. He said: “The stomp was hard enough. Really quick. I was reacting without thinking. If I was thinking it wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
Describing the same incident in a later interview he said: “I stomped down on him, I turned away, then came back and kicked him two times and went to the fridge. Went to the door, two to three feet and kicked him again.” He said he kicked his father a total of three times. Talking about his relationship with his father Mr Tims described how on one occasion his father got to him so much that he harmed himself. He showed gardaí a mark on his wrist. He also described his dad using a piece of weightlifting equipment to hit him when he was young. He said that when his father started on him he would usually just walk away to give him time to calm down.
His dad would tell him he didn’t want him in the house and threaten to call the guards. He said he would try to hurt him and sometimes got to him.
On one previous occasion the accused said he hit his dad a “clatter” and felt terrible afterwards.
Most of the time he could control himself but on this occasion he said: “My head was boiling. I lashed out.” He added: “He always dragged me down. No matter if he was in the wrong, he was right. He was always right.”
His father could be “brutal, very harsh” and, “If you weren’t up to his standard he would call you an asshole.” He added: “After all the arguments I still loved him.”
The accused said he will have to carry this for the rest of his life and he feels orphaned from his entire family. He added: “This is eating me up. I’m finding it very hard.” He told gardaí he had “lashed out” and remembered that he couldn’t concentrate or focus. “I was just enraged,” he said. After kicking his father he saw blood and thought, “what the f**k are you doing”. He grabbed his insulin, which he takes for diabetes, and his bike and went out the door. When gardaí asked why he then went to a park where he spent the next 24 hours instead of handing himself in he said he, “needed to get a drink to get my head around this.”
He added: “Me and my father had many arguments over the years but I loved my father.” He said his father looked like American singer Kenny Rogers and added: “I felt proud to have him as my dad.” At the end of the interview he told gardaí he wanted to add: “I’m sorry for this. He wasn’t just my father, he was a mate.”
Gda O’Sullivan agreed with defence counsel Vincent Heneghan SC that Mr Tims was co-operative and courteous throughout the interviews and answered every question put to him.


theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Court hopes to make final ruling on McNamara and Lowe insolvency arrangement

The High Court hopes to make a final ruling within six weeks on an application for approval of personal insolvency arrangements ( PIA ) allowing musician Frank McNamara and his wife , barrister Theresa Lowe , deal with debts of €3.7 million .
Mr Justice Denis McDonald said last August he was minded to approve the PIA but wanted certain matters concerning Mr McNamara ’ s inheritance from his parent ’ s estate clarified .
He also said he was not prepared to allow matters to proceed any further until an affidavit addressing those issues was presented to the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €2.26 million by the couple , is opposed to the proposed PIA .
The fund ’ s debt is secured against the couple ’ s family home in Dunshaughlin , Co Meath , valued at €550,000 .
The matter was mentioned before the court several times after the August decision .
On Friday , Tanager , represented by Rudi Neuman Shanahan BL , voiced another concern about the proposed PIA .
Tanager wondered if there was a potential tax liability of €4,000 , not included in the PIA , by Mr McNamara over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a third party .
Counsel said the possible tax liability arose from a sum of €28,000 gifted to Mrs Lowe and the money being moved from her account to Mr McNamara ’ s who , counsel said , then distributed funds to their four children .
Counsel described this as being like the famous quote from the Father Ted TV series : “ The money was just resting in my account.
” Keith Farry BL , for the couple , said all issues raised by the court had been fully dealt with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval for the PIA should be finalised .
Even if there was a tax liability due , that should not prevent the court approving the PIA , he argued .
Paraphrasing the Mrs Doyle character from Father Ted , he said that , in raising a potential tax issue , the fund was going “ on and on and on ” in another attempt to prevent the PIAs being approved .
Mr Justice McDonald said he needed time to consider the matter and would deliver a decision in the next five to six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The PIA would see the couple write off approximately €2.9 million of their debts and allow them keep their home .
In addition to the debt to Tanager , the couple owe money to parties including Bank of Ireland , Banco de Sabadell SA , and Revenue .
Mr McNamara ( 59 ) worked as musical director on the Late Late Show for 20 years while Ms Lowe ( 56 ) was a TV presenter before qualifying as a barrister .
Under the PIA , which will see the couple return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments on their mortgage to Tanager from a total income of €5,600 per month .
A lump-sum payment of €100,000 would also be made along with a promise of €30,000 from a life insurance policy in seven years .
The money will come from a €181,000 inheritance from Mr McNamara ’ s parents ’ estate and the sale of five acres next to their home .
The judge had noted in his August judgment the creditors will do better under the PIA than bankruptcy .

Paraphrasing the Mrs Doyle character from Father Ted, Keith Farry BL said that, in raising a potential tax issue, the fund was going “on and on and on” in another attempt to prevent the PIAs being approved. Above, Theresa Lowe and Frank McNamara. Photograph: Tom Honan for The Irish Times
The High Court hopes to make a final ruling within six weeks on an application for approval of personal insolvency arrangements (PIA) allowing musician Frank McNamara and his wife, barrister Theresa Lowe, deal with debts of €3.7 million.
Mr Justice Denis McDonald said last August he was minded to approve the PIA but wanted certain matters concerning Mr McNamara’s inheritance from his parent’s estate clarified.
He also said he was not prepared to allow matters to proceed any further until an affidavit addressing those issues was presented to the court.
Financial fund Tanager DAC, owed €2.26 million by the couple, is opposed to the proposed PIA.
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The fund’s debt is secured against the couple’s family home in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, valued at €550,000.
The matter was mentioned before the court several times after the August decision.
On Friday, Tanager, represented by Rudi Neuman Shanahan BL, voiced another concern about the proposed PIA.
Tanager wondered if there was a potential tax liability of €4,000, not included in the PIA, by Mr McNamara over a sum of money gifted to him by a third party.
Counsel said the possible tax liability arose from a sum of €28,000 gifted to Mrs Lowe and the money being moved from her account to Mr McNamara’s who, counsel said, then distributed funds to their four children.
Counsel described this as being like the famous quote from the Father Ted TV series: “The money was just resting in my account.”
Keith Farry BL, for the couple, said all issues raised by the court had been fully dealt with, everything had been done properly and approval for the PIA should be finalised.
Even if there was a tax liability due, that should not prevent the court approving the PIA, he argued.
Paraphrasing the Mrs Doyle character from Father Ted, he said that, in raising a potential tax issue, the fund was going “on and on and on” in another attempt to prevent the PIAs being approved.
Mr Justice McDonald said he needed time to consider the matter and would deliver a decision in the next five to six weeks on whether to approve the PIA.
The PIA would see the couple write off approximately €2.9 million of their debts and allow them keep their home.
In addition to the debt to Tanager, the couple owe money to parties including Bank of Ireland, Banco de Sabadell SA, and Revenue.
Mr McNamara (59) worked as musical director on the Late Late Show for 20 years while Ms Lowe (56) was a TV presenter before qualifying as a barrister.
Under the PIA, which will see the couple return to solvency, they will continue to make payments on their mortgage to Tanager from a total income of €5,600 per month.
A lump-sum payment of €100,000 would also be made along with a promise of €30,000 from a life insurance policy in seven years.
The money will come from a €181,000 inheritance from Mr McNamara’s parents’ estate and the sale of five acres next to their home.
The judge had noted in his August judgment the creditors will do better under the PIA than bankruptcy.


theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Varadkar offers Drogheda gardaí additional resources

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he has spoken with gardaí in Drogheda to offer assistance such as CCTV monitoring and additional resources in light of the murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods .
Mr Varadkar travelled to Drogheda to meet senior gardaí in the town investigating the feud between two criminal gangs and to receive an update on the investigation .
Speaking in Birr yesterday afternoon , he said : “ I met with the gardaí alongside Mr Flanagan for over an hour today .
Initially they gave us a confidential briefing on the situation and the actions they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because it was confidential I think you ’ ll understand why I can ’ t divulge the details .
“ And then we had a discussion on Garda resources in order to offer them any additional assistance that they needed , and in particular the kind of thing we talked about was getting the CCTV in the town working again and also making sure that they ’ re supplemented with additional resources from other parts of the country.
” Meanwhile the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has criticised a Fianna Fáil proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gangland figures in the same way members of the Provisional IRA were tackled Stronger laws would be introduced so the “ belief ” of a Garda chief superintendent that an individual was involved in gangland crime could be used as evidence in criminal trials , the party ’ s justice spokesman Jim O ’ Callaghan said .
Mr Flanagan said that “ at no stage has any issue being raised of a type that Fianna Fáil are now raising ” .
“ This is ill thought out .
I will examine the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it ’ s constitutional , we can have a look at it.
” Mr Varadkar said that gardaí “ say to me that they they have adequate laws , we don ’ t need a new law against murder or new law against drug dealing , or a new law against directing a criminal organization because those things are already against the law , and what we need is convictions.
” Of the Fianna Fáil contention that Fine Gael has not taken crime seriously , Mr Varadkar said “ they wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not forget that they are the party that stopped garda recruitment and really denuded gardai all over the country of resources .
”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pledged to put the people responsible for the murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda’s gangland feud behind bars.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he has spoken with gardaí in Drogheda to offer assistance such as CCTV monitoring and additional resources in light of the murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods.
Mr Varadkar travelled to Drogheda to meet senior gardaí in the town investigating the feud between two criminal gangs and to receive an update on the investigation.
Speaking in Birr yesterday afternoon, he said: "I met with the gardaí alongside Mr Flanagan for over an hour today. Initially they gave us a confidential briefing on the situation and the actions they're taking to bring the perpetrators to justice. Because it was confidential I think you'll understand why I can't divulge the details.
“And then we had a discussion on Garda resources in order to offer them any additional assistance that they needed, and in particular the kind of thing we talked about was getting the CCTV in the town working again and also making sure that they’re supplemented with additional resources from other parts of the country.”
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Meanwhile the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has criticised a Fianna Fáil proposal to reform criminal legislation to deal with gangland figures in the same way members of the Provisional IRA were tackled
Stronger laws would be introduced so the “belief” of a Garda chief superintendent that an individual was involved in gangland crime could be used as evidence in criminal trials, the party’s justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan said.
Mr Flanagan said that “at no stage has any issue being raised of a type that Fianna Fáil are now raising”.
“This is ill thought out. I will examine the matter if it’s workable. And if it’s constitutional, we can have a look at it.”
Mr Varadkar said that gardaí “say to me that they they have adequate laws, we don’t need a new law against murder or new law against drug dealing, or a new law against directing a criminal organization because those things are already against the law, and what we need is convictions.”
Of the Fianna Fáil contention that Fine Gael has not taken crime seriously, Mr Varadkar said "they wouldn't they, but let's not forget that they are the party that stopped garda recruitment and really denuded gardai all over the country of resources."


theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Immigration campaigner revokes bequest to UCC over Khan family support

Immigration campaigner Áine Ní Chonaill has said she is revoking a bequest worth “ several hundreds of thousands ” of euro to University College Cork ( UCC ) over its support for a family seeking asylum in Ireland .
The founder of Immigration Control Platform , which wants tougher immigration rules , said she made her will in 2009 , leaving almost her entire estate to the university , where the former Cork school teacher studied .
However , she said she would revoke this on Monday in protest at UCC ’ s backing of one of its students , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science under a Sanctuary Scholarship , granted to refugees and asylum seekers .
Mr Hamza ( 20 ) , his brothers Zubair ( 17 ) , Umair ( 16 ) and Mutjuba ( 14 ) , their sister Shazadi ( 21 ) and parents Mubeen and Hina were spared deportation this week after a last minute intervention by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan .
Their case is to reviewed following a campaign to let them stay in Ireland after they had been being refused international protection .
Ms Ní Chonaill said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been backed and praised for their performance by teachers and lecturers , and accused UCC of “ unacceptable arrogance ” by calling for the Khans to be allowed stay despite being refused protection by the authorities .
“ Have I anything particular against the Khan family ?
Nothing , except they are a classic case for deportation , ” she said .
The Khans came to Ireland through the UK in 2017 from Saudi Arabia where all five siblings were born .
The parents fled Pakistan in 1984 due to persecution and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave there when new laws imposed punitive taxes on foreigners .
The family , who live at the Direct Provision Centre on the Kinsale Road in Cork , applied for asylum but on December 18th were told they failed in their application .
Their plea to stay is being supported by their schools , UCC and the Edmund Rice Trust .
“ My quarrel is with UCC effectively taking the position that once they have given a sanctuary scholarship to someone in the asylum process they must not , and their family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , ” said Ms Ni Chonaill .
Ms Ní Chonaill said she did not object to appeals made through the official appeals process but claimed authorities have an “ overblown tendency ” to give leave to remain here to asylum seekers refused international protection .
Humanitarian leave to remain can be granted where deportation authorities assess family units as a single case , giving full consideration to all aspects of the case , including rights under the European Convention of Human Rights .
Latest published figures from the Department of Justice show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain in Ireland has fell from 638 in 2015 to 152 last year .
Ms Ní Chonaill also claimed the minister ’ s power to revoke deportation order after a review is “ used far too generously and particularly where there is public pressure ” .
She said she would be “ annoyed ” if it was decided not to deport the Khans and that she would not reinstate her bequest to UCC even if a judicial or ministerial review found in favour of the family staying .
It is presently worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ euro .
Asked how many people are involved in Immigration Control Platform , she said : “ I never get into that ” .
In a statement , UCC said : “ Since becoming a University of Sanctuary in 2018 , UCC offers a pathway to education for asylum seekers and refugees , who obtain the required academic merit .
UCC will continue to support equality and diversity in society.
” Three of the Khan brothers attend Coláiste Eamonn Rís , formerly Deerpark CBS in Cork , where principal Aaron Wolfe said staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have become an integral part of the school community since their arrival in the city .
Before gaining a place at UCC , Hamza also attended the same school , where he won the Most Improved Student award 2018 and Student of the Year award in 2019 .

The founder of Immigration Control Platform, which wants tougher immigration rules, Áine Ní Chonaill said she made her will in 2009, leaving almost her entire estate to the university, where the former Cork school teacher studied.
Immigration campaigner Áine Ní Chonaill has said she is revoking a bequest worth “several hundreds of thousands” of euro to University College Cork (UCC) over its support for a family seeking asylum in Ireland.
The founder of Immigration Control Platform, which wants tougher immigration rules, said she made her will in 2009, leaving almost her entire estate to the university, where the former Cork school teacher studied.
However, she said she would revoke this on Monday in protest at UCC’s backing of one of its students, Hamza Khan, who is studying computer science under a Sanctuary Scholarship, granted to refugees and asylum seekers.
Mr Hamza (20), his brothers Zubair (17), Umair (16) and Mutjuba (14), their sister Shazadi (21) and parents Mubeen and Hina were spared deportation this week after a last minute intervention by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan.
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Their case is to reviewed following a campaign to let them stay in Ireland after they had been being refused international protection.
Ms Ní Chonaill said it was “utterly irrelevant” that the siblings have been backed and praised for their performance by teachers and lecturers, and accused UCC of “unacceptable arrogance” by calling for the Khans to be allowed stay despite being refused protection by the authorities.
“Have I anything particular against the Khan family? Nothing, except they are a classic case for deportation,” she said.
The Khans came to Ireland through the UK in 2017 from Saudi Arabia where all five siblings were born.
The parents fled Pakistan in 1984 due to persecution and moved to Saudi Arabia but were forced to leave there when new laws imposed punitive taxes on foreigners.
The family, who live at the Direct Provision Centre on the Kinsale Road in Cork, applied for asylum but on December 18th were told they failed in their application.
Their plea to stay is being supported by their schools, UCC and the Edmund Rice Trust.
“My quarrel is with UCC effectively taking the position that once they have given a sanctuary scholarship to someone in the asylum process they must not, and their family must not, be removed from the country,” said Ms Ni Chonaill.
Ms Ní Chonaill said she did not object to appeals made through the official appeals process but claimed authorities have an “overblown tendency” to give leave to remain here to asylum seekers refused international protection.
‘Annoyed’
Humanitarian leave to remain can be granted where deportation authorities assess family units as a single case, giving full consideration to all aspects of the case, including rights under the European Convention of Human Rights.
Latest published figures from the Department of Justice show the number of children granted humanitarian leave to remain in Ireland has fell from 638 in 2015 to 152 last year.
Ms Ní Chonaill also claimed the minister’s power to revoke deportation order after a review is “used far too generously and particularly where there is public pressure”.
She said she would be “annoyed” if it was decided not to deport the Khans and that she would not reinstate her bequest to UCC even if a judicial or ministerial review found in favour of the family staying.
It is presently worth “several hundreds of thousands” of euro.
Asked how many people are involved in Immigration Control Platform, she said: “I never get into that”.
In a statement, UCC said: “Since becoming a University of Sanctuary in 2018, UCC offers a pathway to education for asylum seekers and refugees, who obtain the required academic merit. UCC will continue to support equality and diversity in society.”
Three of the Khan brothers attend Coláiste Eamonn Rís, formerly Deerpark CBS in Cork, where principal Aaron Wolfe said staff and pupils fully support the Khans, who have become an integral part of the school community since their arrival in the city.
Before gaining a place at UCC, Hamza also attended the same school, where he won the Most Improved Student award 2018 and Student of the Year award in 2019.


theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Huge drop in cases of young people addicted to heroin

There has been a near complete drop in the number of young people addicted to heroin compared to the height of the drug epidemic which gripped inner city Dublin over two decades ago .
At the peak of the drug problem in the mid-1990s there was on average 180 adolescents treated for heroin addiction in Dublin each year .
That figure has fallen to nearly zero in recent years , according to research by two senior medical clinicians published this month in the Irish Medical Journal .
There was a 94 per cent drop in the number of 15 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2014 .
More recent figures up to last March show that downward trend had continued into the second half of the last decade , the research said .
In late 2018 , a drug programme set-up to treat young people addicted to heroin Dublin shut its doors due to a lack of new patients .
“ It was nothing to do with funding cut-backs or staff recruitment problems .
The closure occurred as the patients for whom it was designed two decades earlier had largely disappeared , ” the research stated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bobby Smyth , a clinical lecturer on addiction at Trinity College Dublin , and Dr Gerry McCarney , clinical director of a Health Service Executive drug treatment programme for young people .
“ The dramatic decline in the use of heroin by adolescents in Ireland in the past 25 years has meant that specialist services for heroin dependent teenagers were no longer required in Dublin , ” the authors said .
Research looking into why young people no longer started taking heroin found the dramatic decline was linked to an extremely negative view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the 1990s .
The pattern of a sharp spike in heroin use followed by a consistent decline was seen in other countries such as England , Italy and the Netherlands .
The drop in heroin use follows younger people witnessing the damage the drug inflicted on previous generations creating a negative image , the research said .
The academics said it was remarkable that the “ near elimination of new cases of adolescent heroin dependence has been completely ignored in the on-going discourse about drug policy in Ireland ” .

The drop in heroin use follows younger people witnessing the damage the drug inflicted on previous generations creating a negative image, the research said. Photograph: iStock
There has been a near complete drop in the number of young people addicted to heroin compared to the height of the drug epidemic which gripped inner city Dublin over two decades ago.
At the peak of the drug problem in the mid-1990s there was on average 180 adolescents treated for heroin addiction in Dublin each year. That figure has fallen to nearly zero in recent years, according to research by two senior medical clinicians published this month in the Irish Medical Journal.
There was a 94 per cent drop in the number of 15 to 19-year-olds treated for opioid addiction between 1996 and 2014. More recent figures up to last March show that downward trend had continued into the second half of the last decade, the research said.
In late 2018, a drug programme set-up to treat young people addicted to heroin Dublin shut its doors due to a lack of new patients.
READ MORE
“It was nothing to do with funding cut-backs or staff recruitment problems. The closure occurred as the patients for whom it was designed two decades earlier had largely disappeared,” the research stated.
The authors of the research were Dr Bobby Smyth, a clinical lecturer on addiction at Trinity College Dublin, and Dr Gerry McCarney, clinical director of a Health Service Executive drug treatment programme for young people.
“The dramatic decline in the use of heroin by adolescents in Ireland in the past 25 years has meant that specialist services for heroin dependent teenagers were no longer required in Dublin,” the authors said.
Research looking into why young people no longer started taking heroin found the dramatic decline was linked to an extremely negative view the drug came to be associated with since the 1990s.
The pattern of a sharp spike in heroin use followed by a consistent decline was seen in other countries such as England, Italy and the Netherlands.
The drop in heroin use follows younger people witnessing the damage the drug inflicted on previous generations creating a negative image, the research said.
The academics said it was remarkable that the “near elimination of new cases of adolescent heroin dependence has been completely ignored in the on-going discourse about drug policy in Ireland”.


theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Man accused of sexually assaulting young girl denies he was ever alone with her

A man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl his wife was minding in their family home denies he was ever alone with the child , his trial has heard .
The 59-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of sexually assaulting the then four-year-old child on dates between July 27th , 2016 and July 11th , 2017 .
The child ’ s mother and the accused ’ s family had been very friendly for a number of years and her daughter had been minded by both the man ’ s daughter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one year old .
On the fourth day of his trial on Friday , Garda Eoin Mulvaney told Pauline Walley SC , prosecuting , that he interviewed the accused man regarding the allegations on August 15th , 2017 .
During the interview , the man said the complainant had been minded in his house since she was a baby .
He said the child was minded by his wife while the girl ’ s mother was at work .
The accused man said he had nothing to do with her at all and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said the only contact he had with the child on the day before the allegations were made was that she put her hand in his mouth messing and that was a regular occurrence .
He said that none of the allegations had ever happened and that he was never alone with the child .
He said he did not hold any anger towards her or her mother , he just did not understand why the allegations were made .
The accused man said that he was family-orientated and that he knew what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of his daughters .
Gda Mulvaney agreed with John Fitzgerald SC , defending , that an accused person had a perfect entitlement to say nothing when interviewed by gardaí .
He agreed that the accused man absolutely denied all allegations .
The trial resumes on Monday before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury .

A man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl his wife was minding in their family home denies he was ever alone with the child, his trial has heard.
The 59-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of sexually assaulting the then four-year-old child on dates between July 27th, 2016 and July 11th, 2017.
The child’s mother and the accused’s family had been very friendly for a number of years and her daughter had been minded by both the man’s daughter and wife from the time the child was one year old.
On the fourth day of his trial on Friday, Garda Eoin Mulvaney told Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, that he interviewed the accused man regarding the allegations on August 15th, 2017.
READ MORE
During the interview, the man said the complainant had been minded in his house since she was a baby. He said the child was minded by his wife while the girl’s mother was at work.
The accused man said he had nothing to do with her at all and he had never babysat any child. He said the only contact he had with the child on the day before the allegations were made was that she put her hand in his mouth messing and that was a regular occurrence.
He said that none of the allegations had ever happened and that he was never alone with the child. He said he did not hold any anger towards her or her mother, he just did not understand why the allegations were made.
The accused man said that he was family-orientated and that he knew what way he would feel if anyone touched any of his daughters.
Gda Mulvaney agreed with John Fitzgerald SC, defending, that an accused person had a perfect entitlement to say nothing when interviewed by gardaí. He agreed that the accused man absolutely denied all allegations.
The trial resumes on Monday before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.


theirishtimes--2020-01-17--Supreme Court to hear State appeal over refugee marriage laws

The Supreme Court is to hear an appeal by the State over a finding of unconstitutionality concerning a law preventing recognition , for family reunification purposes , of marriages of refugees which took place after they sought protection here .
The High Court ’ s Mr Justice Max Barrett made the declaration of unconstitutionality last July in relation to Section 56.9.a of the International Protection Act 2015 , which states a refugee can apply for permission for a spouse to enter and reside with them in Ireland provided they had married before the applicant sought international protection here .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 that section 56.9.a is incompatible with the State ’ s anti-discrimination obligations under Article 14 of the convention , read in conjunction with Article 8 of the convention , providing a right to respect for private and family life .
As a result of his findings in favour of an Afghan man who brought the case , he ruled the man is entitled to an order quashing the Minister for Justice ’ s refusal to recognise his marriage for family reunification purposes .
The Minister and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal , one direct from the High Court to the Supreme Court , against his decision .
The Supreme Court judges considered the application and , in a determination published on Friday , said the court would hear the appeal on a date to be fixed later .
The appeal raised a net issue of law of general importance , they said .
Arising from the State ’ s arguments that Mr Justice Barrett had declined to follow another High Court decision , the Supreme Court said the appeal also raised questions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court judge may depart from a decision of the judge of the same court .
The case concerns a man who got refugee status here in July 2015 after fleeing Afghanistan .
On April 3rd 2017 , he went to Pakistan to marry a woman who was born there but whom he had grown up with in Afghanistan .
He returned to Ireland and on April 19th submitted a family reunification application .
In October 2017 , his application was refused by the Minister under section 56.9.a on grounds the marriage was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 .
The man challenged the refusal in judicial review proceedings against the Minister and State with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission as a notice party .
In his July judgment , Mr Justice Barrett accepted the man ’ s arguments that section 56.9.a meant his marriage is treated less favourably than refugees who married before they applied for international protection .
The judge ruled that distinction is unconstitutional .
In dealing with the human rights convention incompatibility argument , the judge followed a 2013 decision of the European Court of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Abdi v the United Kingdom .
In that decision , the European court stated that , inter alia , if domestic law confers a right to be joined by spouses of certain categories of immigrant , it must do so in a manner compatible with Article 14 of the convention .

The Supreme Court is to hear an appeal by the State over a finding of unconstitutionality concerning a law preventing recognition, for family reunification purposes, of marriages of refugees which took place after they sought protection here.
The High Court's Mr Justice Max Barrett made the declaration of unconstitutionality last July in relation to Section 56.9.a of the International Protection Act 2015, which states a refugee can apply for permission for a spouse to enter and reside with them in Ireland provided they had married before the applicant sought international protection here.
He also granted a declaration under the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 that section 56.9.a is incompatible with the State’s anti-discrimination obligations under Article 14 of the convention, read in conjunction with Article 8 of the convention, providing a right to respect for private and family life.
As a result of his findings in favour of an Afghan man who brought the case, he ruled the man is entitled to an order quashing the Minister for Justice’s refusal to recognise his marriage for family reunification purposes.
READ MORE
The Minister and the State later sought a "leapfrog" appeal, one direct from the High Court to the Supreme Court, against his decision.
The Supreme Court judges considered the application and, in a determination published on Friday, said the court would hear the appeal on a date to be fixed later.
Afghanistan
The appeal raised a net issue of law of general importance, they said. Arising from the State’s arguments that Mr Justice Barrett had declined to follow another High Court decision, the Supreme Court said the appeal also raised questions as to the circumstances in which a High Court judge may depart from a decision of the judge of the same court.
The case concerns a man who got refugee status here in July 2015 after fleeing Afghanistan.
On April 3rd 2017, he went to Pakistan to marry a woman who was born there but whom he had grown up with in Afghanistan. He returned to Ireland and on April 19th submitted a family reunification application.
In October 2017, his application was refused by the Minister under section 56.9.a on grounds the marriage was not subsisting when he applied for protection in 2015.
The man challenged the refusal in judicial review proceedings against the Minister and State with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission as a notice party.
In his July judgment, Mr Justice Barrett accepted the man’s arguments that section 56.9.a meant his marriage is treated less favourably than refugees who married before they applied for international protection.
The judge ruled that distinction is unconstitutional. In dealing with the human rights convention incompatibility argument, the judge followed a 2013 decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Hode and Abdi v the United Kingdom.
In that decision, the European court stated that, inter alia, if domestic law confers a right to be joined by spouses of certain categories of immigrant, it must do so in a manner compatible with Article 14 of the convention.


theirishtimes--2020-01-18--Cold weather to continue as temperatures fall to -4 degrees

Another freezing night has been forecast for Saturday after temperatures reached as low as -4 degrees early this morning .
@ @ @ @ @ be mainly dry with good sunny spells with highest temperatures of just 4 to 7 @ @ @ @ @ .
Frost will develop quickly after dark on Saturday night and turn sharp or severe @ @ @ @ @ Éireann said temperatures as low as zero to -4 could be expected .
Temperatures of @ @ @ @ @ across the midlands early on Saturday morning while temperatues in Athenry , Co Galway , @ @ @ @ @ should be slightly less cold with temperatures of 8 degrees forecast for Munster .
Frost @ @ @ @ @ in the morning and the day will be dry and bright with good sunny spells @ @ @ @ @ Éireann said .

Frost is expected to be severe in some areas over the weekend.
Another freezing night has been forecast for Saturday after temperatures reached as low as -4 degrees early this morning.
Saturday daytime is expected to be mainly dry with good sunny spells with highest temperatures of just 4 to 7 degrees, Met Éireann said.
Frost will develop quickly after dark on Saturday night and turn sharp or severe under clear skies.
Met Éireann said temperatures as low as zero to -4 could be expected. Temperatures of about -2 degrees were recorded across the midlands early on Saturday morning while temperatues in Athenry, Co Galway, were -4 degrees.
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Sunday should be slightly less cold with temperatures of 8 degrees forecast for Munster. Frost and mist will clear slowly in the morning and the day will be dry and bright with good sunny spells in most areas, Met Éireann said.


theirishtimes--2020-01-18--Beetles and fire kill dozens of ‘indestructible’ giant sequoia trees

Giant sequoia trees , the largest living organisms on the planet – some more than 3,000 years old – have started dying from beetle attacks linked to the climate emergency , the preliminary findings of a new study have revealed .
The deaths of the trees , some of which lived through the rise and fall of hundreds of empires , caliphates and kingdoms – not to mention the inauguration of every US president – have shocked researchers in their speed and novelty .
In Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks in the Sierra Nevada , California , 28 giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interaction between bark beetles , drought and fire damage since 2014 , according to a joint National Park Service and US Geological Survey study that will be published later this year .
Beetle attacks appear to have killed the trees in previously unseen ways , claiming mature standing giant sequoia trees known as monarchs .
In addition to the beetle attacks , high-severity fires strengthened by drought and decades of natural wildfire suppression have killed 12 giant sequoias since 2015 in the national parks .
The deaths have challenged age-old assumptions about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and is fabled for its near-indestructibility , attracting visitors from across the world .
“ It ’ s unheard of .
It ’ s never happened before , ” said Dr Christy Brigham , chief of resource management and science for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks , who oversees the welfare of ecosystems in the parks .
“ You think giant sequoias don ’ t die in fire , you think giant sequoias can ’ t be killed by insects .
That ’ s not true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 years of records preceding California ’ s 2012-16 drought , sequoia trees either died by falling over or suffering near total crown scorch in wildfires , never while standing upright .
But since the historically hot and dry drought , researchers have recorded trees dying “ from the top down ” with the notable presence of bark beetles in their crown .
Although the number of trees that have died is a small proportion of the approximately 6,000 sequoias in the park , Dr Nathan Stephenson , the US Geological Survey forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he expected more to succumb to beetle attacks if , as expected , droughts become more severe and frequent in the future due to the climate crisis .
“ I don ’ t expect a threshold to be passed , at least in my lifetime , when there ’ s suddenly gigantic outbreaks taking out whole groves of giant sequoias .
I suspect it will be [ beetles continuing to hit ] the most stressed sequoias but they will be doing more sequoias , because there will be more stressed sequoias.
” Stephenson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marked in park records , he suspected it might have happened before “ deep in history ” , but more needed to be done to understand what the insects were doing to the trees .
Climate crisis contingency plans for giant sequoia tree deaths and high severity wildfires made for the 2050s are being enacted now , the National Park Service said .
Ecologists have taken measures such as planting seedlings at higher elevations outside the areas sequoia trees usually grow and increasing prescribed burns to thin the forest as much as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sierra Nevada mountains , clearing the forest floor and allowing new seedlings to establish themselves .
The sequoia tree needs slow burning fire to reproduce , but decades of fire suppression has meant that burns have not taken place in some parts of the forest for over a century .
As a result , the buildup of fuel in the forest means that when fires do take place , they are more intense than usual , killing sequoia trees in the process .
“ For the sequoias that died in fires , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management practices plus the hotter drought that ganged up to kill so many , ” Stephenson explained .
“ Sequoias have died in past fires when it hasn ’ t been an extreme hot drought , but it was fewer .
Again , it might be a warning shot across the bow that if it continues to warm as projected , you might get more severe , longer-lasting , hotter droughts and sequoias will be exposed to those kinds of wildfires.
” Tens of millions of trees have died across the US , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects of the climate crisis , research in August found .
In February 2019 , the US Forest Service announced 18 million trees had died since 2017 in California , bringing the total to more than 147 million for the years since the drought began in 2010 .
– Guardian

Some giant sequoias in in California are more than 3,000 years old. Photograph: Getty Images
Giant sequoia trees, the largest living organisms on the planet – some more than 3,000 years old – have started dying from beetle attacks linked to the climate emergency, the preliminary findings of a new study have revealed.
The deaths of the trees, some of which lived through the rise and fall of hundreds of empires, caliphates and kingdoms – not to mention the inauguration of every US president – have shocked researchers in their speed and novelty.
In Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks in the Sierra Nevada, California, 28 giant sequoias have died from a seemingly deadly interaction between bark beetles, drought and fire damage since 2014, according to a joint National Park Service and US Geological Survey study that will be published later this year.
Beetle attacks appear to have killed the trees in previously unseen ways, claiming mature standing giant sequoia trees known as monarchs. In addition to the beetle attacks, high-severity fires strengthened by drought and decades of natural wildfire suppression have killed 12 giant sequoias since 2015 in the national parks.
READ MORE
The deaths have challenged age-old assumptions about the tree, which only grows on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and is fabled for its near-indestructibility, attracting visitors from across the world.
"It's unheard of. It's never happened before," said Dr Christy Brigham, chief of resource management and science for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, who oversees the welfare of ecosystems in the parks. "You think giant sequoias don't die in fire, you think giant sequoias can't be killed by insects. That's not true any more."
Fire is essential for sequoia reproduction. Photograph: Getty Images
According to more than 100 years of records preceding California’s 2012-16 drought, sequoia trees either died by falling over or suffering near total crown scorch in wildfires, never while standing upright. But since the historically hot and dry drought, researchers have recorded trees dying “from the top down” with the notable presence of bark beetles in their crown.
Although the number of trees that have died is a small proportion of the approximately 6,000 sequoias in the park, Dr Nathan Stephenson, the US Geological Survey forest ecologist who conducted the research, said he expected more to succumb to beetle attacks if, as expected, droughts become more severe and frequent in the future due to the climate crisis.
“I don’t expect a threshold to be passed, at least in my lifetime, when there’s suddenly gigantic outbreaks taking out whole groves of giant sequoias. I suspect it will be [beetles continuing to hit] the most stressed sequoias but they will be doing more sequoias, because there will be more stressed sequoias.”
Stephenson said while there were no beetle attacks marked in park records, he suspected it might have happened before “deep in history”, but more needed to be done to understand what the insects were doing to the trees.
Climate crisis contingency plans for giant sequoia tree deaths and high severity wildfires made for the 2050s are being enacted now, the National Park Service said. Ecologists have taken measures such as planting seedlings at higher elevations outside the areas sequoia trees usually grow and increasing prescribed burns to thin the forest as much as possible.
Sequoia trees usually die by falling over or suffering near total crown scorch in wildfires, never while standing upright. Photograph: Getty Images
Fire is vital to ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada mountains, clearing the forest floor and allowing new seedlings to establish themselves. The sequoia tree needs slow burning fire to reproduce, but decades of fire suppression has meant that burns have not taken place in some parts of the forest for over a century.
As a result, the buildup of fuel in the forest means that when fires do take place, they are more intense than usual, killing sequoia trees in the process.
“For the sequoias that died in fires, it’s a combination of past management practices plus the hotter drought that ganged up to kill so many,” Stephenson explained. “Sequoias have died in past fires when it hasn’t been an extreme hot drought, but it was fewer. Again, it might be a warning shot across the bow that if it continues to warm as projected, you might get more severe, longer-lasting, hotter droughts and sequoias will be exposed to those kinds of wildfires.”
Tens of millions of trees have died across the US, ravaged by pests, wildfires and the effects of the climate crisis, research in August found. In February 2019, the US Forest Service announced 18 million trees had died since 2017 in California, bringing the total to more than 147 million for the years since the drought began in 2010. – Guardian


theirishtimes--2020-01-18--Two men injured in Co Clare shooting

Two men injured in Co Clare shooting

Two men have been injured in a shooting at Sixmilebridge , Co Clare .
Gardaí have appealed for information following @ @ @ @ @ place outside a pub in the village around midnight on Saturday morning .
The injured @ @ @ @ @ ) were discovered withgunshot wounds .
They were treated at the scene and then taken @ @ @ @ @ Limerick .
Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening .
No arrests have @ @ @ @ @ scene was preserved for forensic and technical examination .
An incident room has been set @ @ @ @ @ .
Investigators will hold a case conference on Saturday morning and are appealing for witnesses @ @ @ @ @ information to contact Shannon Garda Station 061-365900 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 @

Gardaí asked anyone with information to contact Shannon Garda Station 061-365900 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
Two men have been injured in a shooting at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare.
Gardaí have appealed for information following the incident which took place outside a pub in the village around midnight on Saturday morning.
The injured men (aged 21 and 66 years) were discovered withgunshot wounds. They were treated at the scene before being removed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick. Their injuries are not thought be life threatening.
It is believed the young man was out celebrating his 21st birthday when the shooting took place.
READ MORE
No arrests have been made and the scene was preserved for forensic and technical examination. An incident room has been set up at Shannon Garda Station. Investigators will hold a case conference on Saturday morning and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Gardaí asked anyone with information to contact Shannon Garda Station 061-365900 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.


theirishtimes--2020-01-18--How do we choose which endangered species to save?

At the Moscow Arts Theatre in 1903 , director Constantin Stanislavski was preparing the premiere of Anton Chekhov ’ s The Cherry Orchard .
Offstage sounds were essential to Stanislavski ’ s theatrical style and for Act II , set in a graveyard , he planned a lot of them .
Gusts of wind , rustling leaves and snapping twigs were all to be heard , plus , for mournful repetition , a corncrake and frogs .
Chekhov took particular objection to these .
“ Haymaking usually takes place between June 20th and 25th , ” he said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer cries and frogs also are silent.
” There are still , as always , plenty of corncrakes in Russia .
In 2015 , BirdLife International estimated between one million and 1.5 million pairs in European Russia alone , pushing the species ’ global total up to some six million pairs .
The corncrake ’ s migrations embrace 84 countries , from Albania to Zimbabwe .
By the Red List criteria of international conservation , the bird is thus of “ least concern ” .
Yet in Ireland this month , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gaeltacht will begin spending some €5.9 million on a five-year conservation project at the corncrake ’ s last Irish strongholds on the coasts and islands of Donegal and Connacht .
More than €4 million of this is an award from the EU ’ s LIFE Programme , part of the €3.4 billion LIFE has spent on various conservation proposals since 2014 .
Ireland ’ s case for the corncrake is straightforward .
In Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive , Crex crex “ though widespread in the EU is declining ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to LIFE that its corncrake population had dropped by 85 per cent since 1978 and that the bird ’ s range had reduced by 92 per cent .
The male ’ s rasping chants of early summer are now confined in Ireland to some 150 males at the last Atlantic fringe of a range that extends from Connacht to western Siberia .
BirdLife International describes major historical declines of the corncrake in western Europe , notably in the second half of the 20th century .
These were mainly due , as in Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover in reseeded grasslands , and early machine mowing for silage of the bird ’ s breeding meadows .
Declines have been reversed by conservation in some states , notably the UK .
But there have also been big natural fluctuations in the species .
In Finland , for example , the corncrake population in 2003-2008 was some five times that in the 1990s .
As a ground-nesting bird , it can be extinguished by repeated years of flooding , as has happened on the Shannon Callows .
Seeming scarcity on its wintering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the droughts of climate change .
Impacts of extreme weather and agricultural change make predictions difficult .
BirdLife International considers that key parts of the corncrake ’ s breeding range in Russia and Kazakhstan are unlikely to change dramatically .
But the chance of declines in western Europe keeps its conservation status “ unfavourable ’ .
Ireland ’ s new drive to raise numbers , in the “ Life Atlantic Crex ” project , follows years of paying farmers with corncrakes in their silage meadows to mow them from the centre outwards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escape .
It will focus such changes on nine sites in the northwest that are already Special Protection Areas ( SPAs ) and in the surrounding farmland .
About 1,000 hectares will grow nettles , grasses and wildflowers for the vital nesting cover , including land bought for special measures .
An MSc thesis will study which plants do best and a PhD student will track birds with listening-posts and thermal imaging to refine “ precision environmental management ” .
Such costly attention , for five years , should indeed improve corncrake fortunes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the current global extinction crisis is testing a basic challenge of conservation : how to choose which endangered species to save .
The corncrake , for example , is hardly a keystone species for its ecosystem ( though more flowering meadows would help pollinating insects ) .
Nor is it threatened by total loss from the planet ’ s biodiversity , given its breeding populations in eastern Europe .
The EU ’ s aim to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020 is still well short of achievement , even with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected areas .
Its lists of target species are sometimes questioned , both for omitting many endangered species and including others in least need of conservation .
Asked to choose between the corncrake and a threatened but obscure or ugly but important insect , the popular ( and thus political ) priority seems obvious .
When a species has such distinctive character and even national cultural significance , its appeal for protection reaches beyond ecology into social history .
Wikipedia ’ s corncrake entry attends to its place in literature .
It records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London , Shane McGowan “ uses the corncrake ’ s cry as a motif to illustrate his alienation in the city .
He sings : ‘ Though there is no lonesome corncrake ’ s cry/ Of sorrow and delight/ You can hear the cars/ And the shouts from bars/ And the laughter and the fights ... ’ ”

At the Moscow Arts Theatre in 1903, director Constantin Stanislavski was preparing the premiere of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. Offstage sounds were essential to Stanislavski’s theatrical style and for Act II, set in a graveyard, he planned a lot of them.
Gusts of wind, rustling leaves and snapping twigs were all to be heard, plus, for mournful repetition, a corncrake and frogs. Chekhov took particular objection to these. “Haymaking usually takes place between June 20th and 25th,” he said, “at which time I think the corncrake no longer cries and frogs also are silent.”
There are still, as always, plenty of corncrakes in Russia. In 2015, BirdLife International estimated between one million and 1.5 million pairs in European Russia alone, pushing the species' global total up to some six million pairs. The corncrake's migrations embrace 84 countries, from Albania to Zimbabwe.
By the Red List criteria of international conservation, the bird is thus of "least concern". Yet in Ireland this month, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will begin spending some €5.9 million on a five-year conservation project at the corncrake's last Irish strongholds on the coasts and islands of Donegal and Connacht.
READ MORE
Declines have been reversed by conservation in some states, notably the UK
More than €4 million of this is an award from the EU’s LIFE Programme, part of the €3.4 billion LIFE has spent on various conservation proposals since 2014.
Ireland’s case for the corncrake is straightforward. In Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive, Crex crex “though widespread in the EU is declining” and in need of conservation. Ireland reported to LIFE that its corncrake population had dropped by 85 per cent since 1978 and that the bird’s range had reduced by 92 per cent. The male’s rasping chants of early summer are now confined in Ireland to some 150 males at the last Atlantic fringe of a range that extends from Connacht to western Siberia.
Conservation
BirdLife International describes major historical declines of the corncrake in western Europe, notably in the second half of the 20th century. These were mainly due, as in Ireland, to the loss of tall plant cover in reseeded grasslands, and early machine mowing for silage of the bird’s breeding meadows.
Declines have been reversed by conservation in some states, notably the UK. But there have also been big natural fluctuations in the species. In Finland, for example, the corncrake population in 2003-2008 was some five times that in the 1990s.
As a ground-nesting bird, it can be extinguished by repeated years of flooding, as has happened on the Shannon Callows. Seeming scarcity on its wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa may be due to the droughts of climate change.
Impacts of extreme weather and agricultural change make predictions difficult. BirdLife International considers that key parts of the corncrake’s breeding range in Russia and Kazakhstan are unlikely to change dramatically. But the chance of declines in western Europe keeps its conservation status “unfavourable’.
Ireland’s new drive to raise numbers, in the “Life Atlantic Crex” project, follows years of paying farmers with corncrakes in their silage meadows to mow them from the centre outwards, giving the birds a chance of escape. It will focus such changes on nine sites in the northwest that are already Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and in the surrounding farmland.
About 1,000 hectares will grow nettles, grasses and wildflowers for the vital nesting cover, including land bought for special measures. An MSc thesis will study which plants do best and a PhD student will track birds with listening-posts and thermal imaging to refine “precision environmental management”.
Endangered species
Such costly attention, for five years, should indeed improve corncrake fortunes at the geographic limit of its range. But the current global extinction crisis is testing a basic challenge of conservation: how to choose which endangered species to save.
The corncrake, for example, is hardly a keystone species for its ecosystem (though more flowering meadows would help pollinating insects). Nor is it threatened by total loss from the planet’s biodiversity, given its breeding populations in eastern Europe.
When a species has such distinctive character and even national cultural significance, its appeal for protection reaches beyond ecology into social history
The EU’s aim to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020 is still well short of achievement, even with the world’s largest network of protected areas. Its lists of target species are sometimes questioned, both for omitting many endangered species and including others in least need of conservation.
Asked to choose between the corncrake and a threatened but obscure or ugly but important insect, the popular (and thus political) priority seems obvious. When a species has such distinctive character and even national cultural significance, its appeal for protection reaches beyond ecology into social history.
Wikipedia’s corncrake entry attends to its place in literature. It records that in The Pogues’ Lullaby of London, Shane McGowan “uses the corncrake’s cry as a motif to illustrate his alienation in the city. He sings: ‘Though there is no lonesome corncrake’s cry/ Of sorrow and delight/ You can hear the cars/ And the shouts from bars/ And the laughter and the fights ...’”
Crex crex ... Crex crex ... Crex crex ...


theirishtimes--2020-01-18--Can you identify this beautiful fungus? Readers’ nature queries

I saw this unusual ladybird on December 27th in a garden in Co Carlow .
Is it an invasive species ?
Michael Duffy , Ongar , Dublin 15 I think this is a harlequin ladybird , which crawled across my kitchen floor .
I know that they are an invasive species , so what should I do ?
Martina Dempsey , Wexford It is not the invasive alien harlequin ladybird .
Both are the eyed ladybird , which is widespread in Britain and found mainly in Leinster in this country .
It frequents conifers .
Can you identify this beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ log pile in our yard ?
Liz Butler , Naas , Co Kildare It ’ s Auricularia auricula-judea , jelly ear fungus , also commonly called Jew ’ s ear because of an early misspelling of Judas .
It is edible , though without much flavour , and is used in Chinese soup recipes .
This bee was buzzing around our allotment on December 30th .
It was cleaning its legs and wings and performing some lengthy stretches in the sun .
We wondered if it was a a queen emerging .
Emma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most likely the buff-tailed bumblebee and , yes , a queen that emerged early because of the unseasonably warm weather .
She was grooming herself after hibernation .
It was so mild in Kerry on December 28th that the honey bees were flying and feeding on mahonia .
Tara Robinson , Killorglin , Co Kerry There have been a two swallows on the river Corrib between Nimmo ’ s Pier and the Salmon Weir for the last few months .
On December 27th they were joined by two more .
Have they any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of insect life around the river : brown trout were rising to small black flies on December 18th .
Niall O ’ Donoghue , Galway The swallows will survive only if a cold spell doesn ’ t kill off the flying insects .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Please include a postal address

I saw this unusual ladybird on December 27th in a garden in Co Carlow. Is it an invasive species?
Michael Duffy, Ongar, Dublin 15
Ladybird
I think this is a harlequin ladybird, which crawled across my kitchen floor. I know that they are an invasive species, so what should I do?
Martina Dempsey, Wexford
It is not the invasive alien harlequin ladybird. Both are the eyed ladybird, which is widespread in Britain and found mainly in Leinster in this country. It frequents conifers.
Can you identify this beautiful fungus, which is growing on a log pile in our yard?
Liz Butler, Naas, Co Kildare
It's Auricularia auricula-judea, jelly ear fungus, also commonly called Jew's ear because of an early misspelling of Judas. It is edible, though without much flavour, and is used in Chinese soup recipes.
Auricularia auricula-judea, jelly ear fungus
This bee was buzzing around our allotment on December 30th. It was cleaning its legs and wings and performing some lengthy stretches in the sun. We wondered if it was a a queen emerging.
Emma Pallant, London N6
The bee is most likely the buff-tailed bumblebee and, yes, a queen that emerged early because of the unseasonably warm weather. She was grooming herself after hibernation.
READ MORE
Bumblebee
It was so mild in Kerry on December 28th that the honey bees were flying and feeding on mahonia.
Tara Robinson, Killorglin, Co Kerry
There have been a two swallows on the river Corrib between Nimmo's Pier and the Salmon Weir for the last few months. On December 27th they were joined by two more. Have they any chance of survival? There is still a lot of insect life around the river: brown trout were rising to small black flies on December 18th.
Niall O'Donoghue, Galway
The swallows will survive only if a cold spell doesn't kill off the flying insects.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address


theirishtimes--2020-01-18--‘You’re on your own down here after 5pm’

John Doherty ’ s pains started last December 14th .
Unfortunately for him , it was a Saturday morning .
In Waterford , it matters which day of the week you have your heart attack .
“ I had pockets of air stuck in my lungs .
It was just very , very sore pains , ” recalls the 54-year-old , who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) but no prior history of heart disease .
He went to the local GP out-of-hours service , Caredoc first , and was sent to the emergency department at University Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told me : ‘ You probably need an angiogram to see what ’ s going on.
’ ” But it was Saturday and “ the cath lab was closed .
There was no cardiologist there.
” After a normal electrocardiogram ( ECG ) and some other tests which seemed to rule out a heart issue , he was sent home with steroids for his COPD .
By Monday , December 16th , the pains in his chest were “ wicked ” .
“ I had an appointment with my own doctor.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doherty back to UHW .
“ Within minutes , a cardiologist came out to me .
He said , what are the pains like ?
I had three pains : one of the top of my chest , one in the middle , and a massive pain right in the centre .
They gave me a spray underneath the tongue .
If this works , we know we ’ re dealing with the heart.
” After that , he says “ all hell broke loose ” .
Because the cath lab was busy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t go ahead immediately .
He was stabilised , and ultimately , he didn ’ t get it until Christmas Eve , when he had his second major cardiac event .
“ They put in a stent there and then.
” “ If I was anywhere else in the country , it would have been dealt with straight away , ” Doherty says .
“ I went out on the Saturday .
The staff were fantastic , but the cath lab was closed , and there was nothing they could do.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign for a second cath lab for Waterford since 2012 .
“ You don ’ t know when you ’ ll need it .
I found out the hard way .
That ’ s when reality hits you in the face .
You ’ re on your own down here after 5pm .
”

John Doherty's pains started last December 14th. Unfortunately for him, it was a Saturday morning. In Waterford, it matters which day of the week you have your heart attack.
“I had pockets of air stuck in my lungs. It was just very, very sore pains,” recalls the 54-year-old, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but no prior history of heart disease.
He went to the local GP out-of-hours service, Caredoc first, and was sent to the emergency department at University Hospital Waterford (UHW). “They told me: ‘You probably need an angiogram to see what’s going on.’” But it was Saturday and “the cath lab was closed. There was no cardiologist there.”
After a normal electrocardiogram (ECG) and some other tests which seemed to rule out a heart issue, he was sent home with steroids for his COPD.
READ MORE
By Monday, December 16th, the pains in his chest were “wicked”. “I had an appointment with my own doctor.” He suggested it might be angina and sent Doherty back to UHW.
“Within minutes, a cardiologist came out to me. He said, what are the pains like? I had three pains: one of the top of my chest, one in the middle, and a massive pain right in the centre. They gave me a spray underneath the tongue. If this works, we know we’re dealing with the heart.” After that, he says “all hell broke loose”.
Because the cath lab was busy with other emergency cases, his angiogram couldn’t go ahead immediately. He was stabilised, and ultimately, he didn’t get it until Christmas Eve, when he had his second major cardiac event. “They put in a stent there and then.”
“If I was anywhere else in the country, it would have been dealt with straight away,” Doherty says. “I went out on the Saturday. The staff were fantastic, but the cath lab was closed, and there was nothing they could do.”
Doherty has been part of the campaign for a second cath lab for Waterford since 2012. “You don’t know when you’ll need it. I found out the hard way. That’s when reality hits you in the face. You’re on your own down here after 5pm.”