theirishtimes--2020-01-25--Thinking Anew – The power of forgiveness

Eva Kor was a Romanian-born Jewish survivor of the Holocaust .
In 1944 , aged 10 , she with her family was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp .
Her father , mother and her two older sisters were quickly murdered but she and her twin sister were spared for the purposes of the ghastly experimentation programme directed by the infamous Dr Josef Mengele .
She explains : “ Miriam and I were part of a group of children who were alive for one reason only – to be used as human guinea pigs .
.
.
Starved for food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ounce of strength just to stay alive.
” Few survived but somehow the Kor children did .
It is impossible to imagine the pain and terror they experienced at the time and the anguish that remained afterwards as they faced the future without family .
Eva had every reason to be filled with hatred and a desire for revenge .
However in 1993 she was challenged by a friend to forgive Mengele .
“ At first ” , she wrote , “ I was adamant that I could never forgive Dr Mengele but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
.
the power to forgive .
It was my right to use it .
No one could take it away.
” She forgave him and as she did she felt a burden of pain was lifted from her .
“ I was no longer in the grip of hate .
.
.
( forgiveness ) was a miracle medicine .
It is free , it works and has no side-effects.
” Eva Kor and others like her are exceptional because most of us find it hard to let go the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play victim .
Jackie Kennedy suggested that as a nation we were like that when she remarked to a historian : “ These Irish , they always seem to have a persecution thing about them , don ’ t they ?
” Her words speak to the recent controversy over the commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary .
This is not the place to discuss the political issues except to say that as a matter of fact terrible things have been done on all sides of the Irish conflict and holding on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gandhi , leader of the Indian nationalist movement , repudiated violence and those who would justify it .
He borrowed from the Old Testament to point out the futility of revenge when he suggested that an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind .
It has already done so for some on this island .
Writing from a Christian perspective , Fr Adrian Hastings points out in The Shaping of Prophecy that we are all part of a community of guilt .
“ We need to recognise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral being as humans that we are sinners , sharing every one of us in a quality of guiltiness .
Perhaps we can only help people to cope with guilt if , first of all , we can agree on that .
.
.
It is from within a community of the guilty that we have to approach guilt , not as people who stand outside or think that it is even possible to stand outside .
There is no us and them.
” The teaching of Jesus on prayer includes these words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass and Church service : “ Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
” Jesus goes on to explain what that means in the verses that follow : “ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you , your heavenly Father will also forgive you .
But if you do not forgive others their sins , your Father will not forgive your sins.
” Forgiveness can not be enforced ; it must be a voluntary act but Eva Kor shows that it can be transformative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation and indeed for the world .
Corrie ten Boom , another victim of Nazi cruelty , wrote : “ Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and hate .
It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness .
”

Eva Kor was a Romanian-born Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. In 1944, aged 10, she with her family was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Her father, mother and her two older sisters were quickly murdered but she and her twin sister were spared for the purposes of the ghastly experimentation programme directed by the infamous Dr Josef Mengele. She explains: “Miriam and I were part of a group of children who were alive for one reason only – to be used as human guinea pigs . . . Starved for food and human kindness, it took every ounce of strength just to stay alive.”
Few survived but somehow the Kor children did.
It is impossible to imagine the pain and terror they experienced at the time and the anguish that remained afterwards as they faced the future without family.
READ MORE
Eva had every reason to be filled with hatred and a desire for revenge.
However in 1993 she was challenged by a friend to forgive Mengele. “At first”, she wrote, “I was adamant that I could never forgive Dr Mengele but then I realized I had the power . . . the power to forgive. It was my right to use it. No one could take it away.” She forgave him and as she did she felt a burden of pain was lifted from her. “I was no longer in the grip of hate . . . (forgiveness) was a miracle medicine. It is free, it works and has no side-effects.”
Eva Kor and others like her are exceptional because most of us find it hard to let go the past; it’s much easier to play victim.
Jackie Kennedy suggested that as a nation we were like that when she remarked to a historian: “These Irish, they always seem to have a persecution thing about them, don’t they?”
Her words speak to the recent controversy over the commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary. This is not the place to discuss the political issues except to say that as a matter of fact terrible things have been done on all sides of the Irish conflict and holding on to bitterness does little for reconciliation.
Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian nationalist movement, repudiated violence and those who would justify it. He borrowed from the Old Testament to point out the futility of revenge when he suggested that an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
It has already done so for some on this island. Writing from a Christian perspective, Fr Adrian Hastings points out in The Shaping of Prophecy that we are all part of a community of guilt. “We need to recognise that it is an inevitable part of our moral being as humans that we are sinners, sharing every one of us in a quality of guiltiness. Perhaps we can only help people to cope with guilt if, first of all, we can agree on that . . . It is from within a community of the guilty that we have to approach guilt, not as people who stand outside or think that it is even possible to stand outside. There is no us and them.”
The teaching of Jesus on prayer includes these words which will be said tomorrow at every Mass and Church service: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Jesus goes on to explain what that means in the verses that follow: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Forgiveness cannot be enforced; it must be a voluntary act but Eva Kor shows that it can be transformative for us as individuals, as a nation and indeed for the world.
Corrie ten Boom, another victim of Nazi cruelty, wrote: “Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-25--Glens of lead: Exploring Wicklow’s rich mining heritage

The great glens at the heart of the Wicklow mountains are drenched in associations with natural wilderness and distant , often romanticised , historical moments .
It ’ s easy to imagine , as I did for much of my life as a native of the county , that the enchanting oak woods of Glendalough represent a surviving fragment of some pristine Irish ecosystem .
Easy , that is , until you see a photograph from the early 20th century showing much of the valley bare of trees .
Landscapes are much more than one frozen moment .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look , layer after layer of dynamic natural and cultural changes .
Visitors also flock to the same valley for a sense of history , to soak up the atmosphere of the medieval monastic university city linked to St Kevin , for whom a pilgrim path has recently been laid out in the adjacent valley of Glendasan .
A more adventurous minority climb over the Spinc and Mullacor into neighbouring Glenmalure , to conjure up the rebel spirits of Feagh McHugh O ’ Byrne and Michael Dwyer , with their heroic narratives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these hikers pass traces of a heritage revealing a very different layer of our history .
The exceptional industrial archaeology of these valleys is much more recent than St Kevin , O ’ Byrne or even Dwyer .
But it has long been neglected , and much of it has disappeared into the hillsides that gave it birth .
Now it has been rescued , thanks to the dedication of some local individuals , and the support of academics and State agencies .
If you walk the long path , so quiet today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lake , you might wonder at the unusual concentration of Scots pines towering all around you .
Walk a little further , and you will come on remnants of the Miners ’ Village , a misleading name because it was more production site than home place .
Lead , extracted by hard labour from galleries under the slopes above you , was processed here as recently as 1935 .
The pines were planted to make pit props .
“ People didn ’ t consider the ordinary things to be history , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glenmalure : The Wild Heart of the Mountains is a richly detailed hymn to the human communities of her native valley .
For most of us , the revelation that these quintessentially remote and rural valleys were once significant industrial centres is rather extraordinary .
But O ’ Toole is right .
Rural labourers , whether industrial or agricultural , are often the invisible people in our mainstream national narratives .
Many individuals and groups deserve credit for recovering the mining heritage of these glens , but O ’ Toole gives particular kudos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who worked as a teenager in the last active Wicklow lead mines , in Glendasan , until 1957 .
“ Only for you , none of this would have happened , ” she tells him .
He has certainly accumulated meticulous records .
He comes to our meeting with a box containing individual photographs of the 80 men who worked with him .
He also shows me a yellowed but carefully preserved Wicklow People clipping .
It ’ s a report on an inquest on his workmate , James Mernagh , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously injured Carter ( see below ) .
Despite , or perhaps because of , this grim experience , Carter has always wanted the lives and labour of the Wicklow miners to be recognised and remembered .
As a hill-walker , he sometimes encountered hikers who expressed curiosity about the slag heaps , ruined buildings and rusted machinery that are scattered over the valley slopes .
He enjoyed telling them what he knew .
Meanwhile , two valleys away in Glenmalure , O ’ Toole was completing research for her book .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her home , a worrying thought struck her .
The same fate could very easily befall the first-class granite stonework that had created the mining infrastructure in the valley , at Ballinafunshoge and Baravore , without anyone noticing .
To protect this heritage , it needed to be restored , and cherished .
She got the Pure Mile group in Glenmalure interested , and they contacted a mining heritage committee already active in Glendalough .
An integrated group called Glens of Lead was formed .
The outcome , with support from bodies including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Heritage Council , the County Council and Fáilte Ireland , was the restoration of collapsing buildings , and the creation of the Miners ’ Way .
This is an exceptionally scenic 18 km trail linking the three valleys by way of their 10 mining sites .
You can walk from either end , but starting at the high point in Glendasan , just off the Wicklow Gap road , gives a magical sense of penetrating ever more deeply into the mountains .
Or you could just do a section .
The easiest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Glendalough , or from there by the lakes to the Miners ’ Village .
The climb onwards runs via the Van Diemen ’ s Land mine ( grimly but appropriately nicknamed by exhausted miners ) and over the Spinc ridge to Glenmalure .
This is the most rewarding in terms of views .
Be warned , though : this section demands a map and compass , good footwear , hiking experience and plenty of puff .
The majestic glens landscape around you was forged into granite and schist when two continental shelves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of minerals such as lead ( and some zinc and silver ) developed , in the superheated quartz between the rock formations .
A mere 20,000 years ago , glaciers sculpted these distinctively U-shaped valleys , which would eventually give miners relatively easy horizontal access to the lead deposits .
Your hike will be enhanced by many plants and animals .
The mining buildings are often host to a profusion of ferns , maidenhair spleenwort , wall rue , polypody and rusty-backed fern among others .
In season , you will sometimes walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orchids , butterwort , bog asphodel and bog cotton .
You may easily see deer , hybrids between native red and introduced Sika .
Cast your eyes skyward , and you may spot a peregrine falcon .
The rare goosander duck fishes elusively on the rivers .
You will be accompanied everywhere by the raven ’ s croak .
But do pause at each mining site , where new informative signage is still being added .
There is plenty of technical detail , but it is the human stories that will grip most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , housing for miners who were all reputed to be musicians ; the landslide that took the lives of young girls in Ballinafunshoge ; the 100 candles that crossed the ford en route from Baravore to Christmas Eve Mass .
These beloved glens offer us an even richer experience today , thanks to this new trail .
Life , and death , underground in the uplands Robert Carter began working in the Glendasan mines at the age of 16 in 1953 .
He earned a shilling ( very roughly 5 cent ) an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , outdoors , over 48 hours .
Did he enjoy it ?
“ Absolutely not !
The frost and cold were dreadful in winter .
Your hand could freeze to anything you touched .
Gloves ?
Only gentlemen wore gloves.
” He went underground two years later , where the pay was slightly better but the risks much higher , drilling rocks to insert explosives .
The explosion and collapse that killed his cousin , James Mernagh , crushed one of Carter ’ s lungs .
He was in hospital for three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
He finds rock fragments under his skin to this day .
But he still walks the hills at the age of 83 .
He leads tours on the Miners ’ Trail during Heritage Week .
“ You could hear a pin drop when he talks , ” says local historian Carmel O ’ Toole .

The great glens at the heart of the Wicklow mountains are drenched in associations with natural wilderness and distant, often romanticised, historical moments.
It's easy to imagine, as I did for much of my life as a native of the county, that the enchanting oak woods of Glendalough represent a surviving fragment of some pristine Irish ecosystem. Easy, that is, until you see a photograph from the early 20th century showing much of the valley bare of trees.
Landscapes are much more than one frozen moment. They are palimpsests revealing, once you learn how to look, layer after layer of dynamic natural and cultural changes.
The exceptional industrial archaeology of these valleys is much more recent than St Kevin. But, long neglected, it has largely disappeared into the hillsides that gave it birth
Visitors also flock to the same valley for a sense of history, to soak up the atmosphere of the medieval monastic university city linked to St Kevin, for whom a pilgrim path has recently been laid out in the adjacent valley of Glendasan.
READ MORE
A more adventurous minority climb over the Spinc and Mullacor into neighbouring Glenmalure, to conjure up the rebel spirits of Feagh McHugh O'Byrne and Michael Dwyer, with their heroic narratives of anti-colonial resistance.
En route, these hikers pass traces of a heritage revealing a very different layer of our history. The exceptional industrial archaeology of these valleys is much more recent than St Kevin, O’Byrne or even Dwyer. But it has long been neglected, and much of it has disappeared into the hillsides that gave it birth.
Now it has been rescued, thanks to the dedication of some local individuals, and the support of academics and State agencies.
If you walk the long path, so quiet today, that borders Glendalough’s upper lake, you might wonder at the unusual concentration of Scots pines towering all around you. Walk a little further, and you will come on remnants of the Miners’ Village, a misleading name because it was more production site than home place.
Lead, extracted by hard labour from galleries under the slopes above you, was processed here as recently as 1935. The pines were planted to make pit props.
“People didn’t consider the ordinary things to be history,” says Carmel O’Toole, whose book Glenmalure: The Wild Heart of the Mountains is a richly detailed hymn to the human communities of her native valley.
For most of us, the revelation that these quintessentially remote and rural valleys were once significant industrial centres is rather extraordinary. But O’Toole is right. Rural labourers, whether industrial or agricultural, are often the invisible people in our mainstream national narratives.
Robert Carter, who worked as a teenager in the last active Wicklow lead mines until 1957, has always wanted the lives and labour of his fellow miners to be recognised
Many individuals and groups deserve credit for recovering the mining heritage of these glens, but O’Toole gives particular kudos to one remarkable man, Robert Carter, who worked as a teenager in the last active Wicklow lead mines, in Glendasan, until 1957.
“Only for you, none of this would have happened,” she tells him.
He has certainly accumulated meticulous records. He comes to our meeting with a box containing individual photographs of the 80 men who worked with him. He also shows me a yellowed but carefully preserved Wicklow People clipping. It’s a report on an inquest on his workmate, James Mernagh, who was killed in an accident that very seriously injured Carter (see below).
Despite, or perhaps because of, this grim experience, Carter has always wanted the lives and labour of the Wicklow miners to be recognised and remembered. As a hill-walker, he sometimes encountered hikers who expressed curiosity about the slag heaps, ruined buildings and rusted machinery that are scattered over the valley slopes. He enjoyed telling them what he knew.
Meanwhile, two valleys away in Glenmalure, O’Toole was completing research for her book. When some granite troughs were stolen from outside her home, a worrying thought struck her.
The same fate could very easily befall the first-class granite stonework that had created the mining infrastructure in the valley, at Ballinafunshoge and Baravore, without anyone noticing. To protect this heritage, it needed to be restored, and cherished.
She got the Pure Mile group in Glenmalure interested, and they contacted a mining heritage committee already active in Glendalough. An integrated group called Glens of Lead was formed.
The outcome, with support from bodies including the Wicklow Uplands Council, Coillte, the Heritage Council, the County Council and Fáilte Ireland, was the restoration of collapsing buildings, and the creation of the Miners' Way. This is an exceptionally scenic 18 km trail linking the three valleys by way of their 10 mining sites.
The Crusher House, where lead ore was extracted from mineral-rich rocks, at Baravore mine, Glenmalure, Co Wicklow. This is one of the buildings where the granite stonework was restored by the Miners' Trail project. Photograph: Joe Haughton
You can walk from either end, but starting at the high point in Glendasan, just off the Wicklow Gap road, gives a magical sense of penetrating ever more deeply into the mountains. Or you could just do a section. The easiest ones are the routes from upper Glendasan to Glendalough, or from there by the lakes to the Miners’ Village.
The climb onwards runs via the Van Diemen’s Land mine (grimly but appropriately nicknamed by exhausted miners) and over the Spinc ridge to Glenmalure. This is the most rewarding in terms of views. Be warned, though: this section demands a map and compass, good footwear, hiking experience and plenty of puff.
The majestic glens landscape around you was forged into granite and schist when two continental shelves collided 420 million years ago. Veins of minerals such as lead (and some zinc and silver) developed, in the superheated quartz between the rock formations. A mere 20,000 years ago, glaciers sculpted these distinctively U-shaped valleys, which would eventually give miners relatively easy horizontal access to the lead deposits.
It is the human stories that will grip most imaginations: Fiddlers' Row, a deadly landslide, 100 candles crossing the ford en route to Christmas Eve Mass
Your hike will be enhanced by many plants and animals. The mining buildings are often host to a profusion of ferns, maidenhair spleenwort, wall rue, polypody and rusty-backed fern among others.
In season, you will sometimes walk through carpets of bogland flowers, including orchids, butterwort, bog asphodel and bog cotton. You may easily see deer, hybrids between native red and introduced Sika. Cast your eyes skyward, and you may spot a peregrine falcon. The rare goosander duck fishes elusively on the rivers. You will be accompanied everywhere by the raven’s croak.
But do pause at each mining site, where new informative signage is still being added. There is plenty of technical detail, but it is the human stories that will grip most imaginations: Fiddlers’ Row in Glendasan, housing for miners who were all reputed to be musicians; the landslide that took the lives of young girls in Ballinafunshoge; the 100 candles that crossed the ford en route from Baravore to Christmas Eve Mass.
These beloved glens offer us an even richer experience today, thanks to this new trail.
An abandoned stone crusher in Glendalough
Life, and death, underground in the uplands
Robert Carter began working in the Glendasan mines at the age of 16 in 1953. He earned a shilling (very roughly 5c) an hour for sorting 10 tonnes of lead, outdoors, over 48 hours.
Did he enjoy it?
“Absolutely not! The frost and cold were dreadful in winter. Your hand could freeze to anything you touched. Gloves? Only gentlemen wore gloves.”
He went underground two years later, where the pay was slightly better but the risks much higher, drilling rocks to insert explosives. The explosion and collapse that killed his cousin, James Mernagh, crushed one of Carter’s lungs.
He was in hospital for three months, and out of work for five years.
He finds rock fragments under his skin to this day. But he still walks the hills at the age of 83. He leads tours on the Miners’ Trail during Heritage Week.
“You could hear a pin drop when he talks,” says local historian Carmel O’Toole.


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Teenager charged with murder of student stabbed at Cork house party

A teenager was remanded in detention on Friday night after he was charged with the murder of a 20-year-old student who died after being stabbed in Cork last week .
The 17-year-old teenager , who can not be named because he is a juvenile , was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Friday night .
He was charged with the murder of Cameron Blair at Bandon Road on January 16th .
A second year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology , Mr Blair died at Cork University Hospital after being stabbed in the neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bandon Road .
Det Garda Rory O ’ Connell of Togher Garda station gave evidence of arrest charge and caution .
He told the court he arrested the accused in the presence of his aunt and his solicitor outside Togher Garda station .
He said the accused made no reply to the charge following his arrest shortly after 8pm .
Det Insp Danny Coholan applied for a remand in detention to Oberstown Detention Campus in Co Dublin and confirmed to Judge Olann Kelleher that a place was available for him in the centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the accused remanded in detention to appear again at the juvenile sitting of Cork District Court on January 31st .
Judge Kelleher remanded him to that date .
Solicitor Eddie Burke pointed out his client could not apply for bail in the District Court on a murder charge so he was consenting to the remand .
He asked that his client receive all appropriate medical attention while in Oberstown .
Mr Burke said his client was neither a student nor working and in effect had no income .
He applied for free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remanding him in detention .
The accused , who wore a black quilted jacket and black jeans , did not speak during the two minute hearing which was attended by several gardaí as well as five members of the accused ’ s family .

A teenager was remanded in detention on Friday night after he was charged with the murder of a 20-year-old student who died after being stabbed in Cork last week.
The 17-year-old teenager, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Friday night. He was charged with the murder of Cameron Blair at Bandon Road on January 16th.
A second year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology, Mr Blair died at Cork University Hospital after being stabbed in the neck while attending a house party on the Bandon Road.
Det Garda Rory O'Connell of Togher Garda station gave evidence of arrest charge and caution. He told the court he arrested the accused in the presence of his aunt and his solicitor outside Togher Garda station. He said the accused made no reply to the charge following his arrest shortly after 8pm.
READ MORE
Det Insp Danny Coholan applied for a remand in detention to Oberstown Detention Campus in Co Dublin and confirmed to Judge Olann Kelleher that a place was available for him in the centre.
He said gardaí were seeking to have the accused remanded in detention to appear again at the juvenile sitting of Cork District Court on January 31st. Judge Kelleher remanded him to that date.
Solicitor Eddie Burke pointed out his client could not apply for bail in the District Court on a murder charge so he was consenting to the remand. He asked that his client receive all appropriate medical attention while in Oberstown.
Mr Burke said his client was neither a student nor working and in effect had no income. He applied for free legal aid which Judge Kelleher granted after remanding him in detention.
The accused, who wore a black quilted jacket and black jeans, did not speak during the two minute hearing which was attended by several gardaí as well as five members of the accused’s family.


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Bodies of three children found at house in Dublin

The bodies of three young children have been found in a house in Dublin and a woman in her 40s has been taken to hospital for treatment .
The discovery was made in a house on Parson ’ s Court , Newcastle , Co Dublin , after 7pm on Friday evening .
The children – two boys and a girl under the age of 10 – were pronounced dead at the scene .
It was unclear how long they had been dead .
Gardaí said their deaths are currently being treated as “ unexplained ” .
Gardaí believe the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all of whom are Irish .
It is understood all four were living at the house where the bodies were found .
When gardaí arrived at the scene , in an estate of private houses , the woman was found outside the property .
She was taken to Tallaght hospital , where she is said to be seriously ill but is expected to survive .
While the deaths of the three children were being treated by the Garda as “ sudden ” and “ unexplained ” , the inquiry into their deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman holds the information that will explain how the children died .
While the investigation was only beginning on Friday evening , gardaí have no evidence there was anyone else in the house around the time of the children ’ s deaths .
Gardaí are hoping to speak to the woman as soon as Saturday .
The scene has been sealed off by gardaí and the bodies of the children are set to remain in the house overnight pending the arrival of a pathologist .
Garda sources said a pathologist would carry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the scene before their removal for a full postmortem .
The same sources said while the results of the full postmortem were needed before the direction of the investigation would become clear , all the resources of a homicide investigation have been committed to the case .
Gardaí were due to remain at the house overnight to ensure it remained a secure crime scene .
The Garda Technical Bureau is set to examine the property over the course of the weekend .
Investigating gardaí have asked anyone with any information to contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where an incident room has been established .
By 10pm , gardaí had blocked all entry to the estate .
There was one Garda van and one Garda car outside the house , which was cordoned off with white and blue tape .
Locals described the area as “ nice and quiet ” with one neighbour saying “ Things like this just don ’ t happen around here.
” Austin Cooney , who lives on the next road said “ I was born and reared here and I ’ ve never seen anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , three small children ... it ’ s not pleasant to hear something like this anywhere .
“ I was driving by a half hour ago and saw the ambulances and the police .
Someone in my house rang and said ‘ Did you hear ?
I ’ m hearing a terrible rumour ’ .
” “ I ’ m involved with the local soccer team , I run the under 11s ...
I didn ’ t hear any names so that ’ s my main concern.
” A woman who gave her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m devastated .
Devastated is the only word I can think of .
The shock of it , three small children .
“ I wasn ’ t watching the news but my daughter in Canada was and she rang me to tell me .
“ Nobody seems to know who it is .
But anywhere with three little children ...
I just can ’ t comprehend it .
”

Gardaí at the scene at Parson’s Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin where the bodies of three children were discovered in a house. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
The bodies of three young children have been found in a house in Dublin and a woman in her 40s has been taken to hospital for treatment.
The discovery was made in a house on Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, after 7pm on Friday evening.
The children – two boys and a girl under the age of 10 – were pronounced dead at the scene. It was unclear how long they had been dead.
Gardaí said their deaths are currently being treated as “unexplained”.
READ MORE
Gardaí believe the woman is the mother of the three children, all of whom are Irish.
It is understood all four were living at the house where the bodies were found.
When gardaí arrived at the scene, in an estate of private houses, the woman was found outside the property. She was taken to Tallaght hospital, where she is said to be seriously ill but is expected to survive.
While the deaths of the three children were being treated by the Garda as “sudden” and “unexplained”, the inquiry into their deaths is criminal in nature.
Gardaí at the scene at Parson’s Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin where the bodies of three children were discovered in a house. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Gardaí believe the woman holds the information that will explain how the children died.
While the investigation was only beginning on Friday evening, gardaí have no evidence there was anyone else in the house around the time of the children’s deaths.
Gardaí are hoping to speak to the woman as soon as Saturday.
The scene has been sealed off by gardaí and the bodies of the children are set to remain in the house overnight pending the arrival of a pathologist.
Garda sources said a pathologist would carry out a preliminary examination of the bodies at the scene before their removal for a full postmortem.
The same sources said while the results of the full postmortem were needed before the direction of the investigation would become clear, all the resources of a homicide investigation have been committed to the case.
Gardaí were due to remain at the house overnight to ensure it remained a secure crime scene. The Garda Technical Bureau is set to examine the property over the course of the weekend.
The discovery was made in Parson’s Court in Newcastle, west Co Dublin on Friday night.
Investigating gardaí have asked anyone with any information to contact Clondalkin Garda station on 01 666 7600 where an incident room has been established.
By 10pm, gardaí had blocked all entry to the estate. There was one Garda van and one Garda car outside the house, which was cordoned off with white and blue tape.
Locals described the area as “nice and quiet” with one neighbour saying “Things like this just don’t happen around here.”
Austin Cooney, who lives on the next road said “I was born and reared here and I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s desperate, three small children... it’s not pleasant to hear something like this anywhere.
“I was driving by a half hour ago and saw the ambulances and the police. Someone in my house rang and said ‘Did you hear? I’m hearing a terrible rumour’.”
“I’m involved with the local soccer team, I run the under 11s... I didn’t hear any names so that’s my main concern.”
A woman who gave her name only as Caffrey said: “I’m devastated. Devastated is the only word I can think of. The shock of it, three small children.
“I wasn’t watching the news but my daughter in Canada was and she rang me to tell me.
“Nobody seems to know who it is. But anywhere with three little children... I just can’t comprehend it.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Murder accused captured on CCTV purchasing tools, court told

A man who is accused of murdering his mother-in-law was believed by gardai to be one of two people captured on CCTV purchasing tools some days after she was reported missing , a court heard on Friday .
The trial has heard the retired hospital worker ’ s body was dismembered into 15 separate parts and found at nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th 2017 .
Father-of-three Keith Greene ( 34 ) , has pleaded not guilty to murdering Patricia O ’ Connor ( 61 ) at her home in Mountainview Park , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 .
The deceased ’ s daughter Louise O ’ Connor ( 41 ) and granddaughter Stephanie O ’ Connor ( 22 ) , both of Millmount Court , Dundrum Road , Dublin 14 , and Louise O ’ Connor ’ s ex-partner Keith Johnston ( 43 ) , of Avonbeg Gardens , Tallaght , Dublin 24 are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Mr Greene , knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence , to wit the murder of Mrs O ’ Connor on May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charges .
Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie ’ s , Mr Price , B & Q and Shoe Zone , Tallaght , Dublin 24 on June 9th , 2017 , which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O ’ Connor On Friday the jury heard details of a number of controlled purchases carried out by gardaí in 2017 .
Garda James Doolan told prosecution counsel Gerardine Small BL on Friday that he brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to B & Q on the Belgard Road in Tallaght on June 20th , 2017 .
Gda Doolan said he viewed CCTV footage in B & Q of two men , whom he believed to be Mr Greene and Mr Johnston , purchasing a number of items on June 9th , 2017 .
The witness said the manager of B & Q looked up the point of sale and collected the exact items that had been bought by the men .
These items were 30 extra-strong black rubbish sacks , two pairs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw , two adjustable hacksaws and a light-duty protection sheet .
Garda Gareth Collins said another receipt had been found pertaining to purchases made at Woodies in Tallaght on June 9th , 2017 .
Gda Collins testified that he went to Woodies on June 20th , 2017 to view the CCTV footage .
Gda Collins said he observed two males in the footage , whom he believed to be Mr Greene and Mr Johnston .
The witness said he saw one of the men selecting two small axes and then both men had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Mr Greene paid for these items with cash .
Gda Collins said a receipt was found at Mountainview in relation to a transaction made at Shoe Zone in Tallaght on June 9th 2017 .
The witness said he went to Shoe Zone on June 20th 2017 and was told by the manager two pairs of green wellington boots in size nines had been bought on that date .
The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women .

Kieran Greene has pleaded not guilty to murdering Patricia O’Connor (above) at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin
A man who is accused of murdering his mother-in-law was believed by gardai to be one of two people captured on CCTV purchasing tools some days after she was reported missing, a court heard on Friday.
The trial has heard the retired hospital worker's body was dismembered into 15 separate parts and found at nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10th and 14th 2017.
Father-of-three Keith Greene (34), has pleaded not guilty to murdering Patricia O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29th, 2017.
The deceased's daughter Louise O'Connor (41) and granddaughter Stephanie O'Connor (22), both of Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14, and Louise O'Connor's ex-partner Keith Johnston (43), of Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin 24 are all charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Mr Greene, knowing or believing him to have committed an arrestable offence, to wit the murder of Mrs O'Connor on May 29th, 2017. They have denied the charges.
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Mr Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie’s, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9th, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O’Connor
On Friday the jury heard details of a number of controlled purchases carried out by gardaí in 2017.
Garda James Doolan told prosecution counsel Gerardine Small BL on Friday that he brought a receipt, found at Mountainview, to B&Q on the Belgard Road in Tallaght on June 20th, 2017.
Gda Doolan said he viewed CCTV footage in B&Q of two men, whom he believed to be Mr Greene and Mr Johnston, purchasing a number of items on June 9th, 2017.
The witness said the manager of B&Q looked up the point of sale and collected the exact items that had been bought by the men. These items were 30 extra-strong black rubbish sacks, two pairs of builders’ brick gloves, a tenon saw, two adjustable hacksaws and a light-duty protection sheet.
Garda Gareth Collins said another receipt had been found pertaining to purchases made at Woodies in Tallaght on June 9th, 2017. Gda Collins testified that he went to Woodies on June 20th, 2017 to view the CCTV footage.
Gda Collins said he observed two males in the footage, whom he believed to be Mr Greene and Mr Johnston. The witness said he saw one of the men selecting two small axes and then both men had picked up knife blades. Gda Collins said Mr Greene paid for these items with cash.
Gda Collins said a receipt was found at Mountainview in relation to a transaction made at Shoe Zone in Tallaght on June 9th 2017. The witness said he went to Shoe Zone on June 20th 2017 and was told by the manager two pairs of green wellington boots in size nines had been bought on that date.
The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of six men and six women.


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Family of Cork petrol attack victim describe life-changing injuries

The family of a Cork man who was doused in petrol and set alight have dismissed any talk of seeking revenge and said they are happy for the Garda to secure justice .
Shane Greaney told of the family ’ s shock and upset after learning that their cousin Keith Greaney ( 23 ) was attacked by three men in his home at Dunard in Mayfield in Cork at about 4am on Monday .
The three men broke into the house and attacked and father of three young children , with a machete before dousing him in petrol and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nicole O ’ Leary who raised the alarm .
Mr Greaney was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where doctors treated him for severe burns to his head and chest before putting him in an induced coma .
On Friday , Shane Greaney told The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork ’ s Red FM that his cousin was in great pain and hugely distressed as a result of the attack when he woke up from the induced coma on Thursday .
“ They put him into the coma first day because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s very badly burned , his face and arms so he ’ s facing skin grafts for those injuries and these are life-changing injuries .
“ Keith is going in for surgery on his hands today because they also attacked him with machetes , they cut his hands when he put his hands [ UP ] to try and protect himself and save his face and they cut all his hands.
” Mr Greaney said his cousin became hugely distressed and tried to get out of hospital when he woke up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family is also very worried about his mental wellbeing .
“ They ( the medical staff ) put him back into an induced coma and they want him to get him assessed through the psych ward because it ’ s going to affect him mentally now when he does come around again .
“ He has an infection on the lungs that they reckon is from the smoke inhalation and that was one of the reasons , they put him back in the coma because they were afraid he might end up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that whole incident has been hugely traumatic for the entire family in particular his cousin ’ s young children who have not been able to see their father since he went into hospital and was put in the induced coma .
He said that he and his family believed that his cousin ’ s attackers were trying to kill him and some in the family were fearful that those responsible may do something similar to others .
However , he insisted his family were not seeking revenge .
“ Other people say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just want to leave it in the hands of the gardai - we don ’ t want to cause any more trouble - two wrongs don ’ t make a right and it ’ s a true saying .
“ For us to go down and retaliate , not that we want to do , it ’ s not going to solve anything , it ’ s just going to cause more trouble - that ’ s what the guards are there for , ” he said .

Keith Greaney, who was attacked by three men at the home he shared with his girlfriend Nicole O’Leary in Dunard, Lotamore, Mayfield, Cork. Photograph: Provision
The family of a Cork man who was doused in petrol and set alight have dismissed any talk of seeking revenge and said they are happy for the Garda to secure justice .
Shane Greaney told of the family's shock and upset after learning that their cousin Keith Greaney (23) was attacked by three men in his home at Dunard in Mayfield in Cork at about 4am on Monday.
The three men broke into the house and attacked and father of three young children, with a machete before dousing him in petrol and set him alight in front of his partner, Nicole O’Leary who raised the alarm.
Mr Greaney was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where doctors treated him for severe burns to his head and chest before putting him in an induced coma.
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On Friday, Shane Greaney told The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's Red FM that his cousin was in great pain and hugely distressed as a result of the attack when he woke up from the induced coma on Thursday.
“They put him into the coma first day because he was in so much pain. He’s very badly burned, his face and arms so he’s facing skin grafts for those injuries and these are life-changing injuries.
“Keith is going in for surgery on his hands today because they also attacked him with machetes, they cut his hands when he put his hands [UP]to try and protect himself and save his face and they cut all his hands.”
Mr Greaney said his cousin became hugely distressed and tried to get out of hospital when he woke up from the induced coma . He said the family is also very worried about his mental wellbeing.
“They (the medical staff) put him back into an induced coma and they want him to get him assessed through the psych ward because it’s going to affect him mentally now when he does come around again.
“He has an infection on the lungs that they reckon is from the smoke inhalation and that was one of the reasons, they put him back in the coma because they were afraid he might end up getting a pneumonia. “
Mr Greaney said that whole incident has been hugely traumatic for the entire family in particular his cousin’s young children who have not been able to see their father since he went into hospital and was put in the induced coma.
He said that he and his family believed that his cousin’s attackers were trying to kill him and some in the family were fearful that those responsible may do something similar to others. However, he insisted his family were not seeking revenge.
“Other people say that they want revenge …. We just want to leave it in the hands of the gardai - we don’t want to cause any more trouble - two wrongs don’t make a right and it’s a true saying.
“For us to go down and retaliate, not that we want to do, it’s not going to solve anything, it’s just going to cause more trouble - that’s what the guards are there for,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Issues of domestic violence and abuse affect ‘hundreds of thousands’

Women ’ s Aid has called for parties contesting the general election to make domestic violence a central theme of their manifestos .
At a gathering outside Leinster House on Friday afternoon Women ’ s Aid chief executive Sarah Benson said the issue of domestic violence affected “ hundreds of thousands of women and families ” and yet was not a headline issue in the general election .
She asked voters to question candidates on the doorsteps as to their attitudes to domestic violence , before committing their vote .
She said candidates should address urgent issues including reform of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image based sexual abuse ( revenge pornography ) , a housing policy to support women made homeless by domestic abuse , more resources to support services and preventing domestic homicide .
Saying “ domestic violence and abuse is a crime ” she said said it “ can result in stress , short and long term trauma and physical injuries , an in extreme cases , death ” but was not seen as a priority for most candidates .
Ms Benson said the issue was one of “ serious public safety ” and pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force got up to 30,000 calls a year in relation to domestic violence .
“ Our own national freephone helpline and other support services responded to more than 19,000 contacts in 2018 , ” she said .
“ We need the public to ask their candidates key questions when they come canvassing ” , she said .
“ As of yet we are unaware of any party manifesto which addresses domestic violence completely ” .
“ We need to see real proposals to improve supports for women and children .
We need a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system tasked with providing safety and protection for victims .
As of yet , we are unaware of any party manifesto which addresses domestic violence comprehensively , ” she said .

Sarah Benson (centre), chief executive of Women’s Aid, and her colleagues launch their manifesto for general election 2020 outside the Dáil in Dublin on Friday. Photograph: Damien Eagers/The Irish Times
Women’s Aid has called for parties contesting the general election to make domestic violence a central theme of their manifestos.
At a gathering outside Leinster House on Friday afternoon Women’s Aid chief executive Sarah Benson said the issue of domestic violence affected “hundreds of thousands of women and families” and yet was not a headline issue in the general election.
She asked voters to question candidates on the doorsteps as to their attitudes to domestic violence, before committing their vote.
She said candidates should address urgent issues including reform of the family law system, legislating for image based sexual abuse (revenge pornography),a housing policy to support women made homeless by domestic abuse, more resources to support services and preventing domestic homicide.
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Saying “domestic violence and abuse is a crime” she said said it “can result in stress, short and long term trauma and physical injuries, an in extreme cases, death” but was not seen as a priority for most candidates.
‘Real proposals’
Ms Benson said the issue was one of “serious public safety” and pointed to recent Garda statistics which showed the force got up to 30,000 calls a year in relation to domestic violence.
“Our own national freephone helpline and other support services responded to more than 19,000 contacts in 2018,” she said.
“We need the public to ask their candidates key questions when they come canvassing”, she said. “ As of yet we are unaware of any party manifesto which addresses domestic violence completely”.
“We need to see real proposals to improve supports for women and children. We need a Government and elected representatives that will transform the system tasked with providing safety and protection for victims. As of yet, we are unaware of any party manifesto which addresses domestic violence comprehensively,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Man appointed as executor of €5.1m estate should be replaced, court rules

A man appointed by his late mother as executor of her €5.1m estate should be replaced in that role by a “ neutral ” person , a High Court judge has ruled .
Mr Justice Denis McDonald said Dermot Horan ’ s behaviour as executor concerning various matters , including his delay taking out a grant of probate , raised a “ very serious ” question as to his suitability and capability to properly and comprehensively administer the estate in a full and fair way .
Mr Horan ’ s brother Stephen Horan had made out a case for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act to pass over Dermot Horan as executor of the estate of their late mother , Mary Ann , otherwise Maureen Horan , for the purpose of seeking a grant of probate , he ruled .
While noting Dermot Horan would remain as trustee , having been so appointed under his mother ’ s will , the judge said the task of gathering in assets of an estate falls on an executor rather than a trustee .
He added he was expressing no view whether there might be a basis to challenge Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has deferred making formal orders to allow the sides try and agree on an independent person to be appointed as executor for the purpose of taking out a grant of probate .
Stephen Horan , represented by Vinog Faughnan SC , with Bonnie Hickey BL , instructed by Niall Kiernan , of Lawlor Partners solicitors , sought the section 27.4 order after unsuccessful efforts to have his brother take out a grant of probate .
In his judgment on Friday following a full hearing in November 2019 , the judge noted Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left a substantial estate with a gross value of more than €5.1 million .
It included the family home , valued at €400,000 ; a unit at Fonthill Industrial Park valued at €1.85m and currently rented to an NCT centre ; a property in Mulhuddart valued at €1m and owned by Westwood International Transport Ltd ( WIT ) , a company in which she had an interest ; and some €1.8m in various bank accounts .
Ms Horan , the judge said , had suffered from dementia since 2012 and was made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time of her death , she had four surviving children , two daughters , Josephine Horan and Yvonne Reynolds , and two sons , Stephen and Dermot .
In her last will , dated June 16th 2006 , she appointed Dermot as executor and trustee of her estate .
She made a specific bequest of all her interest in WIT to him and left her home and its contents to him .
She left the Fonthill property to him , as trustee , to , hold “ in trust for sale ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four children .
The will provided sale of that property was to be postponed for ten years after her death and , in the interim , Dermot would pay net income from the property to all four children .
The residue of the estate was to be paid to the trustee for distribution to the children on similar terms .
The judge noted Dermot Horan had apologised at a July 2019 High Court hearing over delay in seeking a grant of probate and referred to matters including a foot injury experienced by him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altercation with a neighbouring landowner who annexed a portion of the Westwood International Transport Ltd ’ s land ” .
He also expressed the view , under his mother ’ s will , any distribution of further funds to his siblings was to be postponed for ten years .
The judge held the executor had delayed “ for a significant period ” in taking out a grant of probate and “ inexplicably failed ” to answer reasonable correspondence from solicitors for his brother over a prolonged period .
He held various matters amounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other than Dermot Horan be appointed to administer Ms Horan ’ s estate .
His concerns included Dermot Horan had failed to make annual returns resulting in WIT being struck off the Companies Register and having to be restored to that .
A failure to pay rates due by WIT to Fingal County Council for the Fonthill unit raised similar concerns .
The foot injury incident raised a further concern as boundary disputes “ are not to be resolved by physical altercation ” .
Other concerns included about Dermot Horan ’ s interpretation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that trust had broken down between the brothers .

In her last will, dated June 16th 2006, Dermot Horan’s mother appointed him as executor and trustee of her estate. File image: iStock
A man appointed by his late mother as executor of her €5.1m estate should be replaced in that role by a “neutral” person, a High Court judge has ruled.
Mr Justice Denis McDonald said Dermot Horan’s behaviour as executor concerning various matters, including his delay taking out a grant of probate, raised a “very serious” question as to his suitability and capability to properly and comprehensively administer the estate in a full and fair way.
Mr Horan’s brother Stephen Horan had made out a case for an order under section 27.4 of the Succession Act to pass over Dermot Horan as executor of the estate of their late mother, Mary Ann, otherwise Maureen Horan, for the purpose of seeking a grant of probate, he ruled.
While noting Dermot Horan would remain as trustee, having been so appointed under his mother’s will, the judge said the task of gathering in assets of an estate falls on an executor rather than a trustee. He added he was expressing no view whether there might be a basis to challenge Mr Horan’s appointment as trustee.
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He has deferred making formal orders to allow the sides try and agree on an independent person to be appointed as executor for the purpose of taking out a grant of probate.
Stephen Horan, represented by Vinog Faughnan SC, with Bonnie Hickey BL, instructed by Niall Kiernan, of Lawlor Partners solicitors, sought the section 27.4 order after unsuccessful efforts to have his brother take out a grant of probate.
In his judgment on Friday following a full hearing in November 2019, the judge noted Ms Horan died testate in April 2018 and left a substantial estate with a gross value of more than €5.1 million. It included the family home, valued at €400,000; a unit at Fonthill Industrial Park valued at €1.85m and currently rented to an NCT centre; a property in Mulhuddart valued at €1m and owned by Westwood International Transport Ltd (WIT), a company in which she had an interest; and some €1.8m in various bank accounts.
Ms Horan, the judge said, had suffered from dementia since 2012 and was made a ward of court in 2015. At the time of her death, she had four surviving children, two daughters, Josephine Horan and Yvonne Reynolds, and two sons, Stephen and Dermot.
In her last will, dated June 16th 2006, she appointed Dermot as executor and trustee of her estate.
She made a specific bequest of all her interest in WIT to him and left her home and its contents to him. She left the Fonthill property to him, as trustee, to, hold “in trust for sale” with proceeds to be divided among all four children. The will provided sale of that property was to be postponed for ten years after her death and, in the interim, Dermot would pay net income from the property to all four children. The residue of the estate was to be paid to the trustee for distribution to the children on similar terms.
The judge noted Dermot Horan had apologised at a July 2019 High Court hearing over delay in seeking a grant of probate and referred to matters including a foot injury experienced by him during what he described as “an altercation with a neighbouring landowner who annexed a portion of the Westwood International Transport Ltd’s land”.
He also expressed the view, under his mother’s will, any distribution of further funds to his siblings was to be postponed for ten years.
The judge held the executor had delayed “for a significant period” in taking out a grant of probate and “inexplicably failed” to answer reasonable correspondence from solicitors for his brother over a prolonged period. He held various matters amounted to special circumstances making it necessary someone other than Dermot Horan be appointed to administer Ms Horan’s estate.
His concerns included Dermot Horan had failed to make annual returns resulting in WIT being struck off the Companies Register and having to be restored to that. A failure to pay rates due by WIT to Fingal County Council for the Fonthill unit raised similar concerns. The foot injury incident raised a further concern as boundary disputes “are not to be resolved by physical altercation”.
Other concerns included about Dermot Horan’s interpretation of his mother’s will and that trust had broken down between the brothers.


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Irish health sources say no suspected cases of coronavirus reported

The threat to Ireland from the new flu-like virus that has killed 26 people in China remains low , according to the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) .
As 14 people tested for the coronavirus in the UK were given the all-clear on Friday – including one patient in the North – the HSE said the likelihood of a case reported in the EU resulting in secondary cases within Ireland was low .
The HSE ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) said that while there was a “ moderate ” likelihood of detecting cases imported into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note that Ireland had no direct flights to Wuhan , the Chinese city where the virus originated .
Health sources said there were no cases suspected to involve the new virus reported in the Irish health service on Friday .
The HPSC , in an update , cautioned that outbreak investigations were ongoing in China , and it remained an “ emerging , rapidly evolving situation ” .
The new coronavirus , known as nCoV-2019 , first appeared in Wuhan in late December , but cases have been detected in eight Asian countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 people , and infected more than 900 .
Chief medical officer for England Prof Chris Whitty said on Friday that while all 14 people tested for the virus in the UK were clear , checks were continuing on other people .
He said the risk to the UK public remained low , “ but there may well be cases in the UK at some stage ” .
“ We have tried-and-tested measures in place to respond .
The UK is well prepared for these types of incidents , with excellent readiness against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be capable of spreading from person to person and between cities , according to new findings .
In two studies published in the Lancet , scientists also report the virus can cause symptoms similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome ( Sars ) such as fever , a dry cough and shortness of breath .
However , the absence of some symptoms typically found with Sars , such as a runny nose , sneezing or sore throat , may make the new virus harder to detect .
In Ireland , HSE officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency services in dealing with any suspected cases , and airports have been alerted to the threat posed by the virus .
Under the case definition being applied , anyone with a respiratory infection who has been in Wuhan over the past 14 days or was in close contact with someone who has the virus may be classified as a possible case .
The World Health Organisation has held back from classifying the virus as an “ international emergency ” for now , but says this may yet happen .

Chinese tourists at Narita airport in Japan. Japan is one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year holiday. Photograph: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images
The threat to Ireland from the new flu-like virus that has killed 26 people in China remains low, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE).
As 14 people tested for the coronavirus in the UK were given the all-clear on Friday – including one patient in the North – the HSE said the likelihood of a case reported in the EU resulting in secondary cases within Ireland was low.
The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said that while there was a "moderate" likelihood of detecting cases imported into EU countries, it was important to note that Ireland had no direct flights to Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus originated.
Health sources said there were no cases suspected to involve the new virus reported in the Irish health service on Friday.
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The HPSC, in an update, cautioned that outbreak investigations were ongoing in China, and it remained an “emerging, rapidly evolving situation”.
The new coronavirus, known as nCoV-2019, first appeared in Wuhan in late December, but cases have been detected in eight Asian countries and the US. It has killed 28 people, and infected more than 900.
Chief medical officer for England Prof Chris Whitty said on Friday that while all 14 people tested for the virus in the UK were clear, checks were continuing on other people.
He said the risk to the UK public remained low, “but there may well be cases in the UK at some stage”.
“We have tried-and-tested measures in place to respond. The UK is well prepared for these types of incidents, with excellent readiness against infectious diseases.”
Symptoms
The new coronavirus appears to be capable of spreading from person to person and between cities, according to new findings.
In two studies published in the Lancet, scientists also report the virus can cause symptoms similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) such as fever, a dry cough and shortness of breath.
However, the absence of some symptoms typically found with Sars, such as a runny nose, sneezing or sore throat, may make the new virus harder to detect.
In Ireland, HSE officials have said protocols are in place to guide emergency services in dealing with any suspected cases, and airports have been alerted to the threat posed by the virus.
Under the case definition being applied, anyone with a respiratory infection who has been in Wuhan over the past 14 days or was in close contact with someone who has the virus may be classified as a possible case.
The World Health Organisation has held back from classifying the virus as an “international emergency” for now, but says this may yet happen.


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Decent man who made crucial contribution to life in Northern Ireland

My first face-to-face meeting with the former Northern Ireland deputy first minister Seamus Mallon was on December 19th , 1975 , when members of the so-called Glenanne gang shot up and bombed our local bar and petrol pumps at Silverbridge in south Armagh , a short distance from the Border , about six miles from Dundalk .
The loyalist gang killed three people , including 14-year-old Michael Donnelly , son of Marie and Gerry Donnelly , owners of the business and very good friends of my late parents .
A relatively young reporter , I was dispatched by my producer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the atrocities .
He claimed in his recent autobiography that he was the first person I ever interviewed .
I am not disputing that .
He had been synonymous in our family home with the GAA and civil rights long before my meeting him for the first time that night in 1975 .
My professional encounters with him were not always straightforward in the ensuing years and in this article I will go over some of those experiences , which fortunately did not damage our long-term friendship .
I last had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armagh MP in October 2018 .
It was a delightful , reflective engagement .
He confessed to me : “ It ’ s a lonely stage of life.
” I witnessed this personally when his wife Gertrude died in 2016 .
When I visited the Mallon wake house I observed Séamus sitting in the armchair in the corner of the drawing room with his little pet dog Jessica on his knee .
I thought to myself that the dog would probably be the only company Mallon would have when everyone left after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only child , returned to her family home in Cookstown .
My most recent conversation with Mallon was on the phone around midday on January 8th when I called him to ask how he was .
I had learned he had fallen very seriously ill before Christmas .
He was scarcely audible and came close to breaking down in our conversation .
What a contrast to that wonderful oratorical voice that reverberated for many years across the floor of the House of Commons at Westminster and of the chamber at Stormont .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rivals listened .
His handsome frame was matched by his rich articulation .
Excesses of the IRA One of Mallon ’ s lowest points in politics was coping with the Hume/Adams ongoing discussions in 1994 in which he did not believe or trust .
I will come to that shortly .
Born and reared in a mainly Protestant area , Markethill , south Armagh , Mallon was exposed to the excesses of the IRA , particularly the 1976 IRA Kingsmill killings , the Glenanne gang killings of the three Reavey brothers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Dowd family , as well as the British army shooting dead in 1976 of schoolgirl Majella O ’ Hare in nearby village Ballymoyer .
Mallon bore the heat of the day , finding himself regularly having to challenge the behaviour of the RUC , the British army and the UDR while coping with habitual anxieties over alleged collusion between loyalists and the security services .
He had absolutely no time for the role played by the IRA .
He avowedly opposed violence from all quarters .
It was Mallon ’ s opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , death and hurt visited upon the Protestant community in south Armagh which made the Hume/Adams talks intolerable for him .
This clash in approach to bringing the IRA campaign of violence to a close came to a head on August 18th , 1994 .
The SDLP leader John Hume was ambushed at a meeting in the party ’ s headquarters on the Lisburn Road 13 days before the IRA ceasefire on August 31st .
Mallon was one of the most vocal that night in challenging his leader on the validity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gerry Adams while the violence was still happening .
Hume ended up that night isolated with as few as three people in the room supporting his talks with Adams , among those Joe Byrne MLA for West Tyrone and Mark Durkan , a future SDLP leader and MP .
When a member of the gathering told the SDLP leader that he was killing the party , Hume lifted his head and responded : “ You are telling me I am killing the party .
There are people being killed out there in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong and there is not an end to the violence I will quit as party leader but I will not apologise for trying to end the violence.
” When that notorious meeting ended in chaos , Mallon and his supporters reconvened at a venue not far from the party ’ s headquarters .
An individual at the gathering that night told me Mallon cried and spoke of “ the end of the SDLP ” .
Thirteen days later the IRA announced a ceasefire and in the wake of the Belfast Agreement Hume appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister .
Even that appointment was unconventional and was as much a surprise to Mallon as to everybody else in the party .
Members of the party faithful had convened a quickly-arranged celebratory get-together to salute the SDLP ’ s Belfast Agreement negotiating team the morning after in the Wellington Park Hotel .
Mallon told me : “ As we went into the room , John tugged on my coat-tail and said : ‘ Hi boy , you better take this deputy first minister ’ s post .
I am not well and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” No pomp , no ceremony .
I stated above my relationship with Mallon didn ’ t always run smoothly despite the fact our alma mater was Abbey CBS Newry and we both came from south Armagh .
Deep suspicion At the heart of that clash was Mallon ’ s deep suspicion that Hume was briefing me too much and not to his liking , given the accuracy of the insights I had into the Hume/Adams talks and so on .
An SDLP insider informed me Mallon told a party meeting : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on in this party than we do.
” Mallon sent me to Coventry for a long time and during the stand-off at Drumcree between the Orange Order and the police I was tipped off that he was corralled in Markethill , cut off with trees blocking roads into and out of the village .
I called the Newry Armagh representative to ask him was my information correct and he confirmed this .
I then asked him if he ’ d do an interview about his dilemma .
He agreed .
I turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question to which Mallon replied : “ Every highway and blyway is blocked in the village.
” I stopped the recording to remind him he had said “ blyway ” instead of byway , to which he replied : “ I don ’ t need you , you b*****d you , to teach me grammar.
” He slammed down the phone .
I called Mallon back and advised him I didn ’ t want him to “ sound silly ” .
“ Go on , ” he urged , “ turn on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I still have that recording .
In another exchange late at night I was interviewing Mallon in a corridor high up in the Europa Hotel .
I started with a fairly soft question , following up with what he considered a nasty question , to which he replied : “ What sort of a f***ing question is that ?
” Mallon was a very gifted man , a fine actor and producer .
He loved to punt .
He and the PUP ’ s Hughie Smyth acted as bookies during the Belfast Agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during an economics conference in New York when Ulster Unionist MP Roy Beggs , Dr Joe Hendron MP and Mallon raised the rafters well into the wee hours of the morning .
Sadly we will not enjoy the likes of that again .
Such was the precarious nature of politics in Northern Ireland that for years there were times when politicians such as Mallon had little regular income to speak of .
I recall one evening during the 1991-1992 Brooke/Mayhew talks this reality struck home in Mallon ’ s case .
His colleague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a number of American politicians at Parliament Buildings where efforts involving the British and Irish governments were afoot to get an Assembly off the ground .
Mallon informed me the Americans wanted to go to the Stormont Hotel for dinner but confessed to me he had no money .
I bailed him out .
I had a few pounds in my pocket and I gave them to him .
Six years later when he got back on his feet he spotted me in the Wellington Park Hotel and he called me over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few pounds.
” He handed £50 which I didn ’ t want to accept .
He added : “ Every time I saw you over the years I said to myself : ‘ I owe that man a bit of money.
’ ” Plain decency .
Unknown to many , the real reason why Mallon ceased to be deputy first minister in 2001 was because he took a decision to quit his high-profile job to become a full-time carer for Gertrude , who had been unwell for a long time .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jessica , his dog .
When Mallon ’ s health deteriorated he was confined to bed and he was very happy having his beloved Jessica by his side on the bed .
On Friday , January 17th , as the curtains of night fell , Órla advised her dad that she was taking the dog out for the night to her kennel .
When she lifted Jessica she discovered she was dead .
Mallon , when informed of this by Órla , said : “ God works in mysterious ways.
” Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seminal contribution to life in Northern Ireland .
The late Maurice Hayes underscored this in interview with me before his death .
He said : “ Without Séamus Mallon at Westminster the reform of policing in Northern Ireland could not have happened .
”

My first face-to-face meeting with the former Northern Ireland deputy first minister Seamus Mallon was on December 19th, 1975, when members of the so-called Glenanne gang shot up and bombed our local bar and petrol pumps at Silverbridge in south Armagh, a short distance from the Border, about six miles from Dundalk.
The loyalist gang killed three people, including 14-year-old Michael Donnelly, son of Marie and Gerry Donnelly, owners of the business and very good friends of my late parents.
A relatively young reporter, I was dispatched by my producer in BBC Radio Ulster to interview Mallon about the atrocities. He claimed in his recent autobiography that he was the first person I ever interviewed. I am not disputing that. He had been synonymous in our family home with the GAA and civil rights long before my meeting him for the first time that night in 1975.
Seamus Mallon pictured during a break from preceedings during the SDLP conference in 1998. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien/The Irish Times
My professional encounters with him were not always straightforward in the ensuing years and in this article I will go over some of those experiences, which fortunately did not damage our long-term friendship.
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You are telling me I am killing the party. There are people being killed out there in that street every day
I last had a very protracted lunch with the former Newry Armagh MP in October 2018. It was a delightful, reflective engagement. He confessed to me: "It's a lonely stage of life." I witnessed this personally when his wife Gertrude died in 2016.
When I visited the Mallon wake house I observed Séamus sitting in the armchair in the corner of the drawing room with his little pet dog Jessica on his knee. I thought to myself that the dog would probably be the only company Mallon would have when everyone left after the funeral and Órla, the Mallons’ only child, returned to her family home in Cookstown.
My most recent conversation with Mallon was on the phone around midday on January 8th when I called him to ask how he was. I had learned he had fallen very seriously ill before Christmas. He was scarcely audible and came close to breaking down in our conversation.
What a contrast to that wonderful oratorical voice that reverberated for many years across the floor of the House of Commons at Westminster and of the chamber at Stormont. When Mallon stood up, colleagues and political rivals listened. His handsome frame was matched by his rich articulation.
Excesses of the IRA One of
Mallon’s lowest points in politics was coping with the Hume/Adams ongoing discussions in 1994 in which he did not believe or trust. I will come to that shortly.
Born and reared in a mainly Protestant area, Markethill, south Armagh, Mallon was exposed to the excesses of the IRA, particularly the 1976 IRA Kingsmill killings, the Glenanne gang killings of the three Reavey brothers, the killings of three members of the O'Dowd family, as well as the British army shooting dead in 1976 of schoolgirl Majella O'Hare in nearby village Ballymoyer.
Mallon bore the heat of the day, finding himself regularly having to challenge the behaviour of the RUC, the British army and the UDR while coping with habitual anxieties over alleged collusion between loyalists and the security services. He had absolutely no time for the role played by the IRA. He avowedly opposed violence from all quarters. It was Mallon’s opposition to the IRA’s campaign of violence, death and hurt visited upon the Protestant community in south Armagh which made the Hume/Adams talks intolerable for him.
This clash in approach to bringing the IRA campaign of violence to a close came to a head on August 18th, 1994. The SDLP leader John Hume was ambushed at a meeting in the party's headquarters on the Lisburn Road 13 days before the IRA ceasefire on August 31st.
Mallon was one of the most vocal that night in challenging his leader on the validity of his continuing talks with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams while the violence was still happening. Hume ended up that night isolated with as few as three people in the room supporting his talks with Adams, among those Joe Byrne MLA for West Tyrone and Mark Durkan, a future SDLP leader and MP.
Mallon was a very gifted man, a fine actor and producer
When a member of the gathering told the SDLP leader that he was killing the party, Hume lifted his head and responded: “You are telling me I am killing the party. There are people being killed out there in that street every day. If I am wrong and there is not an end to the violence I will quit as party leader but I will not apologise for trying to end the violence.”
When that notorious meeting ended in chaos, Mallon and his supporters reconvened at a venue not far from the party’s headquarters. An individual at the gathering that night told me Mallon cried and spoke of “the end of the SDLP”.
Thirteen days later the IRA announced a ceasefire and in the wake of the Belfast Agreement Hume appointed his long- term colleague Mallon deputy first minister. Even that appointment was unconventional and was as much a surprise to Mallon as to everybody else in the party.
Members of the party faithful had convened a quickly-arranged celebratory get-together to salute the SDLP's Belfast Agreement negotiating team the morning after in the Wellington Park Hotel. Mallon told me: "As we went into the room, John tugged on my coat-tail and said: 'Hi boy, you better take this deputy first minister's post. I am not well and I have a lot to do.'" No pomp, no ceremony.
I stated above my relationship with Mallon didn’t always run smoothly despite the fact our alma mater was Abbey CBS Newry and we both came from south Armagh.
Deep suspicion At the heart of that clash was
Mallon’s deep suspicion that Hume was briefing me too much and not to his liking, given the accuracy of the insights I had into the Hume/Adams talks and so on.
An SDLP insider informed me Mallon told a party meeting: "Eamonn Mallie knows more about what is going on in this party than we do." Mallon sent me to Coventry for a long time and during the stand-off at Drumcree between the Orange Order and the police I was tipped off that he was corralled in Markethill, cut off with trees blocking roads into and out of the village. I called the Newry Armagh representative to ask him was my information correct and he confirmed this.
I then asked him if he’d do an interview about his dilemma. He agreed. I turned on my recorder and put my first question to which Mallon replied: “Every highway and blyway is blocked in the village.” I stopped the recording to remind him he had said “blyway” instead of byway, to which he replied: “I don’t need you, you b*****d you, to teach me grammar.” He slammed down the phone. I called Mallon back and advised him I didn’t want him to “sound silly”. “Go on,” he urged, “turn on your machine.” We did the interview. I still have that recording.
The real reason why Mallon ceased to be deputy first minister in 2001 was because he took a decision to quit his high-profile job to become a full-time carer for Gertrude
In another exchange late at night I was interviewing Mallon in a corridor high up in the Europa Hotel. I started with a fairly soft question, following up with what he considered a nasty question, to which he replied: "What sort of a f***ing question is that?"
Mallon was a very gifted man, a fine actor and producer. He loved to punt. He and the PUP’s Hughie Smyth acted as bookies during the Belfast Agreement negotiations.
I recall a historic night during an economics conference in New York when Ulster Unionist MP Roy Beggs, Dr Joe Hendron MP and Mallon raised the rafters well into the wee hours of the morning. Sadly we will not enjoy the likes of that again.
Such was the precarious nature of politics in Northern Ireland that for years there were times when politicians such as Mallon had little regular income to speak of. I recall one evening during the 1991-1992 Brooke/Mayhew talks this reality struck home in Mallon's case. His colleague and loyal friend Frank Feely was joined by a number of American politicians at Parliament Buildings where efforts involving the British and Irish governments were afoot to get an Assembly off the ground.
Mallon informed me the Americans wanted to go to the Stormont Hotel for dinner but confessed to me he had no money. I bailed him out. I had a few pounds in my pocket and I gave them to him. Six years later when he got back on his feet he spotted me in the Wellington Park Hotel and he called me over, declaring: "I owe you a few pounds." He handed £50 which I didn't want to accept. He added: "Every time I saw you over the years I said to myself: 'I owe that man a bit of money.' " Plain decency.
Full-time carer
Unknown to many, the real reason why Mallon ceased to be deputy first minister in 2001 was because he took a decision to quit his high-profile job to become a full-time carer for Gertrude, who had been unwell for a long time.
Earlier I spoke of the bond between himself and Jessica, his dog. When Mallon’s health deteriorated he was confined to bed and he was very happy having his beloved Jessica by his side on the bed.
On Friday, January 17th, as the curtains of night fell, Órla advised her dad that she was taking the dog out for the night to her kennel. When she lifted Jessica she discovered she was dead.
Mallon, when informed of this by Órla, said: “God works in mysterious ways.”
Perhaps history will ultimately thank Mallon for one seminal contribution to life in Northern Ireland.
The late Maurice Hayes underscored this in interview with me before his death. He said: "Without Séamus Mallon at Westminster the reform of policing in Northern Ireland could not have happened."


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Seamus Mallon: Fractured relationship with Irish political leaders

Charles Haughey never spoke to Seamus Mallon again after the SDLP deputy leader came out strongly in support of the Anglo- Irish Agreement negotiated by Garret FitzGerald in 1985 .
Up to that point , Mallon had regarded Haughey as a far closer political ally than FitzGerald but all that changed once he criticised the Fianna Fáil leader ’ s negative dismissal of the Agreement .
“ When he came back to power in 1987 , Haughey was pragmatic and rowed back from his initial opposition to that Agreement but he did not forgive me for my earlier support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more contact between us , ” Mallon recorded in his memoir , A Shared Home Place .
Only a few years earlier , Haughey had appointed Mallon to the Seanad to represent Northern nationalist opinion in the Oireachtas .
When Fianna Fáil returned to power in 1982 , Haughey ’ s adviser Martin Mansergh turned up out of the blue with the offer of a nomination as one of the Taoiseach ’ s 11 .
His term only lasted as long as the nine-month Haughey government of 1982 .
When Fine Gael came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that year , FitzGerald did not offer to reappoint Mallon but instead appointed his SDLP colleague Bríd Rodgers to the Seanad to speak for Northern nationalists .
Mallon had always regarded himself as much closer to Fianna Fáil than Fine Gael .
He identified with Fianna Fáil ’ s commitment to a united Ireland and felt more at home with people from the party who shared his political viewpoint and his passion for the GAA .
By contrast , he found himself at odds with FitzGerald during the New Ireland Forum as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aspiration to Irish unity .
The apparent bugging of the house where he stayed in Dublin and FitzGerald ’ s account of it in the Dáil led to a serious row between the two men .
He did get on much better with Fine Gael deputy leader and minister for foreign affairs Peter Barry .
“ I always got on well with Barry .
He was the southern politician who first used the phrase ‘ the nightmare of Northern nationalists ’ .
If people said we were both old-fashioned Irish nationalists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Row with FitzGerald Following his row with FitzGerald , Mallon was excluded from the discussions that led to the Anglo-Irish Agreement .
Nonetheless , when it was unveiled , Mallon gave it his unreserved backing as he regarded it as a great step forward .
The Irish Press said he had done the best sales job for the agreement of any constitutional nationalist politician .
In the 1990s , Mallon played an important role in negotiations with unionists in the run-up to the Belfast agreement , particularly in the Strand One talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Northern Ireland , but he was never particularly close to Bertie Ahern .
He argued with Ahern and Tony Blair that IRA decommissioning was an urgent necessity and he felt Sinn Féin was “ pampered ” by the two governments .
“ I know there was some sympathy for my views in government circles in Dublin but Bertie Ahern , backed by senior officials like the secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Justice , Dermot Gallagher and Tim Dalton , believed that by far the most important thing was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board.
” In his book , he records a strange episode preceding his appointment as deputy first minister .
He was playing golf in Kildare when he was told Ahern needed to see him urgently and he was whisked off in the taoiseach ’ s car for a meeting in Government Buildings .
“ We had a brief chat but to this day I don ’ t know why he wanted to see me , ” he wrote in 2019 .
Two days later , he was shocked to be told by John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy first minister .
Ultimately , he felt Ahern let down the cause of constitutional nationalism .
“ I had got the feeling even when I was deputy first minister that the Irish Government was making plans to abandon the SDLP for Sinn Féin and the British Government to leave the Ulster Unionists for the DUP .
”

Charles Haughey never spoke to Seamus Mallon again after the SDLP deputy leader came out strongly in support of the Anglo- Irish Agreement negotiated by Garret FitzGerald in 1985.
Up to that point, Mallon had regarded Haughey as a far closer political ally than FitzGerald but all that changed once he criticised the Fianna Fáil leader's negative dismissal of the Agreement.
“When he came back to power in 1987, Haughey was pragmatic and rowed back from his initial opposition to that Agreement but he did not forgive me for my earlier support for it: after that there was no more contact between us,” Mallon recorded in his memoir, A Shared Home Place.
Only a few years earlier, Haughey had appointed Mallon to the Seanad to represent Northern nationalist opinion in the Oireachtas. When Fianna Fáil returned to power in 1982, Haughey's adviser Martin Mansergh turned up out of the blue with the offer of a nomination as one of the Taoiseach's 11.
READ MORE
His term only lasted as long as the nine-month Haughey government of 1982. When Fine Gael came back to office at the end of that year, FitzGerald did not offer to reappoint Mallon but instead appointed his SDLP colleague Bríd Rodgers to the Seanad to speak for Northern nationalists.
Mallon had always regarded himself as much closer to Fianna Fáil than Fine Gael. He identified with Fianna Fáil's commitment to a united Ireland and felt more at home with people from the party who shared his political viewpoint and his passion for the GAA.
By contrast, he found himself at odds with FitzGerald during the New Ireland Forum as he felt the Fine Gael leader was downplaying the aspiration to Irish unity. The apparent bugging of the house where he stayed in Dublin and FitzGerald’s account of it in the Dáil led to a serious row between the two men.
He did get on much better with Fine Gael deputy leader and minister for foreign affairs Peter Barry. "I always got on well with Barry. He was the southern politician who first used the phrase 'the nightmare of Northern nationalists'. If people said we were both old-fashioned Irish nationalists, I would take that as a compliment.'
Row with FitzGerald Following his row with FitzGerald, Mallon was excluded from the discussions that led to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Nonetheless, when it was unveiled, Mallon gave it his unreserved backing as he regarded it as a great step forward. The Irish Press said he had done the best sales job for the agreement of any constitutional nationalist politician.
In the 1990s, Mallon played an important role in negotiations with unionists in the run-up to the Belfast agreement, particularly in the Strand One talks which dealt with the internal political arrangement for Northern Ireland, but he was never particularly close to Bertie Ahern.
He argued with Ahern and Tony Blair that IRA decommissioning was an urgent necessity and he felt Sinn Féin was "pampered" by the two governments. "I know there was some sympathy for my views in government circles in Dublin but Bertie Ahern, backed by senior officials like the secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Justice, Dermot Gallagher and Tim Dalton, believed that by far the most important thing was to keep the IRA and Sinn Féin on board."
In his book, he records a strange episode preceding his appointment as deputy first minister.
He was playing golf in Kildare when he was told Ahern needed to see him urgently and he was whisked off in the taoiseach's car for a meeting in Government Buildings. "We had a brief chat but to this day I don't know why he wanted to see me," he wrote in 2019. Two days later, he was shocked to be told by John Hume that he was going to be deputy first minister.
Ultimately, he felt Ahern let down the cause of constitutional nationalism. "I had got the feeling even when I was deputy first minister that the Irish Government was making plans to abandon the SDLP for Sinn Féin and the British Government to leave the Ulster Unionists for the DUP."


theirishtimes--2020-01-24--Courts Service re-issues 14,000 fine notices after date error

The Courts Service has had to re-issue approximately 14,000 fine notices after wrong dates were printed on them .
The @ @ @ @ @ people will be receiving letters cancelling their court date and notifying them that new fine @ @ @ @ @ in due course .
For the remaining approximately 6,000 people , the original court date @ @ @ @ @ concern people who are being summoned to court in relation to the non-payment of fines @ @ @ @ @ dates and fine dates but there were mistakes made in relation to the latter .
@ @ @ @ @ an error at the An Post printing works .
Judges and court offices have been @ @ @ @ @ .
A spokesman said the Courts Service is not aware of any court orders made @ @ @ @ @ who received the incorrectly dated fines enforcement notices .
– Colm Keena

The Courts Service said approximately 8,000 people will be receiving letters cancelling their court date and notifying them that new fine and court dates will issue in due course.
The Courts Service has had to re-issue approximately 14,000 fine notices after wrong dates were printed on them.
The service said that approximately 8,000 people will be receiving letters cancelling their court date and notifying them that new fine and court dates will issue in due course. For the remaining approximately 6,000 people, the original court date will remain.
The letters concern people who are being summoned to court in relation to the non-payment of fines. The letters contain court dates and fine dates but there were mistakes made in relation to the latter. The mistake arose due to an error at the An Post printing works.
Judges and court offices have been told of what has happened. A spokesman said the Courts Service is not aware of any court orders made that would adversely affect respondents who received the incorrectly dated fines enforcement notices. – Colm Keena