theirishtimes--2020-11-06--Philip Dunbar sentenced to life for murder of Adam Muldoon

Adam Muldoon was “ the light in any room ” his sister said today in a powerful statement to the Central Criminal Court in which she pointed out that the man who stabbed her brother 183 times has shown no remorse for the “ gruesome ” murder .
In a second victim impact statement , Adam ’ s father Michael Bolger wrote that the family “ can ’ t understand how anyone could be so callous and brutal to inflict such a death on such a sweet and innocent person.
” Philip Dunbar ( 20 ) was on Friday sentenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23-year-old Adam “ Floater ” Muldoon at Butler Park , Jobstown Park , Tallaght on June 22nd or 23rd , 2018 .
Dunbar stabbed Mr Muldoon 183 times in an unprovoked attack with a fold-up knife and then went to a friend ’ s house where he boasted that he had “ slaughtered Floater ” and “ put him out of his misery ” as he “ begged for his life ” .
He was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court earlier this week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muldoon delivered a powerful statement to the Central Criminal Court on Friday saying that Adam had struggled from birth having been diagnosed with cerebral palsy .
He struggled to fit in , his sister said , and despite facing obstacles throughout his life , particularly following his mother ’ s death , he kept fighting .
“ He was the light in any room , ” she said .
When Adam and Katie ’ s mother died , Katie said the family became separated and Adam moved to Tallaght where other teenagers would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ overcame every challenge independently ” , she said , and would “ have a giggle with anybody .
He really wouldn ’ t hurt a fly.
” The day he was murdered , she said , her life crashed .
On the day she was supposed to be celebrating her 16th birthday her family held a wake for her brother .
She felt powerless and “ everything has been downhill from there ” .
“ My heart aches , ” she said , as she thinks of Adam ’ s final moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She imagines her brother crying for her help .
“ Hearing how he begged for his life haunts me , ” she said .
At times she couldn ’ t even say her brother ’ s name as it would cause her to have a panic attack .
She said that her physical and mental health began to suffer , adding : “ There was no good left in the world .
Everything was just dark.
” She said her brother didn ’ t deserve such a “ gruesome ” death and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial because Dunbar pleaded not guilty and then continued to lie .
She added : “ His lack of emotion shows he has no remorse for what he has done.
” She thanked the people of Tallaght who had given evidence that helped secure Dunbar ’ s conviction .
A second statement was written by Adam ’ s father Michael Bolger and read to the court by Det Gda Nuala Burke .
Mr Muldoon said the family was devastated by his death and “ can ’ t understand how anyone could be so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death on such a sweet and innocent person ” .
He said that Dunbar had caused “ unimaginable despair , grief and heartache.
” Det Garda Burke also told the court that Dunbar has a number of previous convictions under the Theft Act , for possession of drugs and for Road Traffic Act violations .
Mr Justice Paul McDermott said the deceased ’ s life and the challenges he faced had been brought to the forefront by the “ eloquent ” statements made by his family .
He sentenced Dunbar to life imprisonment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he first went into custody .
Counsel for Dunbar , Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC indicated that his client intends to appeal the murder verdict .
Outside court Supt Ian Lackey said the family and friends of Adam Muldoon had been suffering since Adam ’ s “ senseless murder ” .
He said he hopes the verdict and sentence handed down will offer them some comfort .
He also thanked the people of Jobstown who helped Adam during his life and who also came forward to provide the evidence that convicted his murderer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court had heard that Mr Muldoon was living as a homeless person in Tallaght before he died .
The community in Glenshane would support him by feeding him and giving him clothes .
He knew Dunbar and on the sunny summer evening before he died he was hanging out with a small group of young people from the area including his killer .
Most of the group went home some time around 11pm and at 11.50pm a camera attached to a house in Glenshane Drive caught Dunbar leading Mr Muldoon into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wall on the way in .
Twenty-three minutes later Dunbar , having carried out the murder , could be seen back in Glenshane Drive on his own .
At one point he held Mr Muldoon ’ s Zimmer frame over his head as he walked towards his grandmother ’ s house , where he was living at the time .
Having visited his own home Dunbar then went to a friend ’ s house where he admitted he had just stabbed “ Floater ” .
That friend gave evidence that Dunbar had arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knife and “ boasted ” about the murder , telling him he had put Mr Muldoon “ out of his misery ” .
He said Dunbar had said for a long time that he wanted to put Mr Muldoon out of his misery and that he wanted to know what it was like to kill someone .
He said the accused told him : “ Now I know what it ’ s like to be a killer .
I know how it feels to be a killer.
” The witness said Dunbar told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead “ the second I got him in the neck ” but that he “ kept going and kept going ” , changing the hand that he was holding the knife in so that he could keep going .
The following morning at about 9am the witness said Dunbar called to his home again and they went together to the Square in Tallaght and then to nearby Sean Walsh Park where the accused threw the knife into a lake .
Dunbar ’ s defence suggested to the jury that this witness , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court , was present when the stabbing took place , a suggestion the witness strongly denied .
Mr Muldoon ’ s body was discovered early the following morning and pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster identified 183 stab wounds .
Wounds to the carotid artery in the neck and to the liver and lungs were fatal and she further noted defensive wounds to his hands .
That Saturday night , about 24 hours after the stabbing , Dunbar went with his grandmother and other relatives to a Garda station .
He revealed that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muldoon and had a “ blackout ” but that he knew he had stabbed Mr Muldoon .
He would later claim to have drunk multiple bottles of Bulmers and to have taken numerous tablets .
His lawyers argued that he was too intoxicated to form an intent and therefore did not have the necessary intent for a murder conviction .
Prosecution counsel Pauline Walley SC described Dunbar ’ s claims of intoxication as “ self-serving ” and pointed out that the list of substances he said he was abusing grew over time as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychiatrists .
A jury of six men and five women took less than three hours to dismiss Dunbar ’ s defence and find him guilty of murder .

A woman whose brother died after being stabbed 183 times in a Dublin park two years ago has said she is haunted by the thought of him begging for his life during the attack.
Philip Dunbar (20) was jailed for life on Friday after a jury unanimously found him guilty of the murder of Adam “Floater” Muldoon (23) at the Central Criminal Court.
The trial heard that Dunbar attacked Mr Muldoon unprovoked with a knife at Butler Park, Jobstown Park, Tallaght on June 22nd or 23rd, 2018. The court heard Dunbar later went to a friend’s house and boasted that he had “slaughtered Floater” and “put him out of his misery” as he begged for his life.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 3 Adam Muldoon: a sweet and innocent person
Mr Muldoon’s younger sister, Katie Muldoon read a victim impact statement on Friday in which she said her brother, who had cerebral palsy, had struggled from early in his life but kept fighting despite the obstacles he faced.
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“He was the light in any room,” she said.
When their mother died, Ms Muldoon said, the siblings were separated and Adam moved to Tallaght, where other teenagers would take advantage of him.
But he “overcame every challenge independently”, she said, and would “have a giggle with anybody.
“He really wouldn’t hurt a fly,” she said.
‘Heart aches’
Ms Muldoon said the family held a wake for Adam on the day she was meant to celebrate her 16th birthday and that her “heart aches” when she thinks of the fear he must have felt during his final moments.
“Hearing how he begged for his life haunts me,” she said, adding that he did not deserve such a “gruesome” death.
Ms Muldoon said the family had to endure a trial because Dunbar pleaded not guilty and then continued to lie. She thanked the people of Tallaght who had given evidence that helped secure a conviction.
“His lack of emotion shows he has no remorse for what he has done.”
In another victim impact statement, Adam’s father, Michael Bolger wrote that the family “can’t understand how anyone could be so callous and brutal to inflict such a death on such a sweet and innocent person”.
In the statement, read to the court by Det Garda Nuala Burke, Mr Bolger said Dunbar had inflicted “unimaginable despair, grief and heartache” on the family.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott said Mr Muldoon’s life and the challenges he faced had been brought to the forefront by the “eloquent” statements made by his family as he sentenced Dunbar to life imprisonment. He had previous convictions under the Theft Act, for possession of drugs and for Road Traffic Act violations.
Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC, for Dunbar, indicated that his client intends to appeal the verdict.
‘Senseless’
Speaking outside the court, Supt Ian Lackey said hoped the verdict would offer Mr Muldoon’s family some comfort.
The trial heard that Mr Muldoon was living as a homeless person in Tallaght before he died and that people in Glenshane would feed him and give him clothes. He knew the accused and was hanging out with a small group of people from the area, including Dunbar, on the night he died.
Most of the group went home around 11pm and at 11.50pm a camera on Glenshane Drive caught Dunbar leading Mr Muldoon into the park, helping him over a low wall on the way in. Twenty-three minutes later Dunbar, having carried out the murder, could be seen back in Glenshane Drive on his own.
At one point he held Mr Muldoon’s Zimmer frame over his head as he walked towards his grandmother’s house, where he was living at the time. Mr Muldoon’s body was discovered the next morning.
About 24 hours after the stabbing, Dunbar and relatives went to a garda station. He revealed that he had gone into the park with Mr Muldoon and had a “blackout” due to drink and drugs but said he knew he had stabbed him. His lawyers argued that he was too intoxicated to form an intent and therefore did not have the necessary intent for a murder conviction.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--Ganley takes legal challenge to Level 5 ban on attending Mass

Businessman Declan Ganley has initiated a High Court challenge against certain regulations aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 which he claims breach his constitutional right to religious freedom .
The Co Galway based businessman , who is a practising Roman Catholic claims that as a result of the state implementing what are known as Level 5 restrictions , he can not leave his home and attend Mass .
He claims the measures , which were introduced last month and may expire on December 1st next , do allow certain religious activities to take place , including weddings and funerals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not allow him or any other person who wishes to attend Mass or a similar religious service , which he claims is protected under the Constitution .
This , he claims , is a breach of his constitutional rights to practise his religion .
As a result , he has launched judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Health .
Ireland and the Attorney General are notice parties to his proceedings .
The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Friday who said the proposed challenge related to measures included as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 plan to combat the pandemic .
Those particular measures , he said , may expire on December 1st , which he said may render Mr Ganley ’ s action moot , or pointless .
The judge added that there was no likelihood of what is a complex case , if the state respondents choose to challenge it , being heard by the end of the month .
The judge , who directed that the application for permission to bring the challenge be heard on notice to the State , adjourned the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court Mr Ganley represented by Neil Steen SC , Darren Lehane SC instructed by solicitor Eamonn Cuningham of Gateley Tweed seeks various orders and declarations from the court .
These include an order that certain temporary regulations introduced as part of the government ’ s efforts to deal with the pandemic , namely Regulation 5 ( 1 ) and ( 3 ) of the 1947 Health Act , are quashed .
He also seeks declarations from the court that the regulations challenged are incompatible with various articles , including Article 44 where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freely practise their religion , of the Constitution of Ireland .
In the alternative a declaration that the regulations challenged does not prevent him from leaving his residence for the purpose of practising his religion , including participation in public worship .

Businessman Declan Ganley has initiated a High Court challenge alleging certain regulations aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 breach his constitutional right to religious freedom.
The Co Galway based businessman, a practising Roman Catholic, claims that as a result of the Level 5 restrictions, he cannot leave his home and attend Mass. The measures, introduced last month and which may expire on December 1st, do allow certain religious activities to take place, including weddings and funerals but do not allow him or any other person who wishes to attend Mass or a similar religious service in breach of his constitutional right to practise his religion.
He has launched judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Health with Ireland and the Attorney General as notice parties.
When the matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Friday, the judge said the proposed challenge related to measures included as part of the Government's Level 5 plan to combat the pandemic. Those particular measures may expire on December 1st, which may render Mr Ganley's action moot (pointless), the judge said. There was no likelihood of this complex case, if the State respondents choose to challenge it, being heard by the end of the month, he said.
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The judge directed the application for permission to bring the challenge be heard on notice to the State and adjourned the matter to December 8th when he said circumstances can be reassessed. The judge said he presumed the matter would be opposed by the State but it was free to come to court at any time to say it was not doing so.
In reply, Mr Ganley’s lawyers said the matter was urgent and also argued that similar restrictions regarding attending religious services could be re-imposed in the future.
In his action, Mr Ganley represented by Neil Steen SC and Darren Lehane SC, instructed by solicitor Eamonn Cunningham of Gateley Tweed, seeks various orders and declarations, including an order that certain temporary regulations introduced as part of the Government’s efforts to deal with the pandemic – Regulation 5(1) and (3) of the 1947 Health Act – are quashed. He also seeks declarations the regulations at issue are incompatible with various articles of the Constitution, including article 44 where the State acknowledges the right of persons to freely practise their religion.
In the alternative, he wants a declaration the regulations do not prevent him from leaving his residence for the purpose of practising his religion, including participation in public worship. Mr Steen said the issue was extremely important for his client. It was accepted the vast majority of religious services, including Catholic Masses, have been cancelled by church leaders due to the pandemic. The regulations did not appear to prevent services like Masses but Catholic priests cannot leave their homes to perform a Mass nor can persons like Mr Ganley attend such services.
Counsel said the Constitution has express provisions protecting the freedom of religious practice. His client’s case was that the disputed regulations, which were introduced by the Minister for Health, cannot interfere with those rights. While it was accepted the restrictions might well be lifted by December 1st, there was a concern they could be re-imposed by the Government, he said. The case ultimately raised a net point and was very different to other challenges brought against Government measures in response to the Covid19 pandemic.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--HSE says visors may be an alternative to masks in some circumstances

Visors may be an alternative to face-coverings in certain circumstances to protect against Covid-19 , according to new guidance from the Health Service Executive .
The advice , which notes that visors reduce exposure to droplets “ to a certain extent ” , mentions circumstances such as people with breathing difficulties , or who are unable to remove masks or face-coverings without help .
Other circumstances where visors could be used are where people feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing face-coverings , or where people who have learning difficulties or are hard of hearing or deaf are present .
National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counselled that visors are inappropriate as protection against the virus for the vast majority of people .
However , the guidance from the HSE ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre stops short of recommending against their use .
It says good quality evidence to allow for assessment of differences in the degree of protection afforded by surgical masks , cloth face-coverings and visors is lacking , particularly for public settings .
Its recommendations related only to cloth face-coverings and visors because , it says , surgical masks are not currently recommended for use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ clear consensus ” surgical masks are generally preferred , particularly in high-risk situations , and that “ cloth face-coverings are preferred to visors ” .
Some international guidance recommends against the use of visors alone , but there is also a “ body of evidence and opinion ” that visors offer a “ significant degree of protection ” against droplet protection compared to no face protection .
“ Face coverings are always in addition to and never a substitute for other Public Health measures including limiting social contacts , maintaining social distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ etiquette.
” The HPSC said in public settings , expert opinion and international guidance generally favours cloth face-coverings .
“ There is a rationale and laboratory evidence in particular for favouring cloth face coverings over visors where the wearer is at a higher level ( standing ) than those potentially exposed at a lower level ( sitting ) .
” Where cloth face coverings are used , they should be of multiple layers of suitable fabric and correctly applied , it recommends .

Danny Healy Rae TD is seen wearing a protective visor at Leinster House on Kildare Street, Dublin, earlier this week. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Visors may be an alternative to face-coverings in certain circumstances to protect against Covid-19, according to new guidance from the Health Service Executive.
The advice, which notes that visors reduce exposure to droplets “to a certain extent”, mentions circumstances such as people with breathing difficulties, or who are unable to remove masks or face-coverings without help.
Other circumstances where visors could be used are where people feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing face-coverings, or where people who have learning difficulties or are hard of hearing or deaf are present.
National Public Health Emergency Team members have repeatedly counselled that visors are inappropriate as protection against the virus for the vast majority of people.
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However, the guidance from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre stops short of recommending against their use.
It says good quality evidence to allow for assessment of differences in the degree of protection afforded by surgical masks, cloth face-coverings and visors is lacking, particularly for public settings.
Its recommendations related only to cloth face-coverings and visors because, it says, surgical masks are not currently recommended for use outside healthcare settings.
There is a “clear consensus” surgical masks are generally preferred, particularly in high-risk situations, and that “cloth face-coverings are preferred to visors”.
Some international guidance recommends against the use of visors alone, but there is also a “body of evidence and opinion” that visors offer a “significant degree of protection” against droplet protection compared to no face protection.
“Face coverings are always in addition to and never a substitute for other Public Health measures including limiting social contacts, maintaining social distance, hand hygiene and practising appropriate respiratory etiquette.”
The HPSC said in public settings, expert opinion and international guidance generally favours cloth face-coverings.
“There is a rationale and laboratory evidence in particular for favouring cloth face coverings over visors where the wearer is at a higher level (standing) than those potentially exposed at a lower level (sitting).”
Where cloth face coverings are used, they should be of multiple layers of suitable fabric and correctly applied, it recommends.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--Ireland must not ‘let up too early’ with Covid-19 restrictions, says Dr Colm Henry

The prospect of people coming together for Christmas is looking good , but Level 5 measures must be continued for five weeks , according to Dr Colm Henry , Health Service Executive ( HSE ) chief clinical officer .
“ We want people to come together at Christmas , ” said Dr Henry on Friday .
But , he warned : “ we must see through the measures first ” as the figures could change very quickly “ if we let up too early.
” The Government announced Level 5 restrictions across the State for six weeks from Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bid to curtail the spread of Covid-19 .
“ We want Christmas to be safe , but we also want January and February to be safe , ” he told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland programme .
The stabilisation of the number of Covid-19 cases gave cause for hope , he said .
Ireland was now among only two countries in Europe ( with Finland ) where the rate is slowing .
People were behind this change in infection rates , especially young people , said Dr Henry , who said efforts were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks were still of major concern , he said .
Once the virus gets into a care setting it is “ virulent and vicious ” and that is inevitable when there was widespread community transmission .
“ Frankly , the figures are changing week to week .
If the people let up then that will change.
” The deaths of another three patients with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Thursday .
This brings to 1,933 the total number of deaths linked to the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases of Covid-19 , bringing the total number of cases to 64,046 .
“ Level 5 efforts over the last two weeks have succeeded in further reducing community transmission and disease incidence in Ireland , ” according to chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan , speaking on Thursday .
“ However , now is not the time to be complacent .
We must keep driving down this disease – we must keep going.
” Dr Holohan singled out for praise a “ dramatic reduction ” in cases among the 19- to 24-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the incidence has dropped from 450 per 100,000 people to 150 .
“ They have also halved their contacts in the past five weeks .
We all need to recognise the efforts of our young people and I thank them.
” Prof Philip Nolan , chair of the Nphet epidemiological modelling advisory group , on Friday said the public began modifying their behaviour seven to 10 days before Level 5 restrictions were introduced because “ the public realised we were in trouble ” .
Level 3 restrictions had helped stabilise figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News at One , but those measures did not bring about a reduction in cases , that had come about because of Level 5 .
“ The Reproductive ( R ) number is now below one and we believe it is decreasing ” he said .
Decreasing Covid numbers were “ testament to the collective actions that we ’ ve all made.
” Each case of Covid had infected fewer than one other person , he said .
A closer examination of the data highlighted that the number of close contacts for each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The number of cases in Dublin is decreasing now , said Prof Nolan , who added that it was not unusual for outbreaks to be resistant in a capital city given the population density .
“ People are doing what needs to be done , ” he said .
Prof Nolan said it is important to get virus levels down as low as possible and contain high-risk indoor gatherings to “ choke the virus ” .
The European Centre for Disease Control would advise Nphet what the high and low level risk situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , Dr Henry said the roll-out of quicker Covid-19 testing for places like airports is still being evaluated by the HSE .
He said it is unlikely to be ready in time for Christmas .
There is a wide range of fast testing being developed , said Dr Henry , adding that they would all have to be examined to ensure they were safe and effective .
Some tests were not as effective when tested in the field , he said .
“ We are dispassionate about testing these tests .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
There has been a reduction in testing with a 30 per cent fall off in GP referrals , the doctor said .
More than 42,000 contact tracing calls were made in one week , but there was a reduction in such calls because of the fall in the number of positive cases and the fall in the number of contacts for each person .
Dr Henry said that to lift restrictions too early could see figures go up again quickly , as had happened in Switzerland .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and open and he urged anyone experiencing cancer symptoms to go immediately to hospital .
“ Our services are open .
Patients will be kept safe there , ” he told the programme .

The deaths of a further eight patients with Covid-19 has been reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) this evening. This brings to 1,940 the total number of deaths during the pandemic.
Nphet also reported a further 499 confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total number of cases to 64,538.
Of today’s cases, 175 are in Dublin, 72 in Cork, 29 in Limerick, 26 in Mayo, 21 in Meath and the remaining 176 cases are spread across 19 other counties.
Hospital Report
This afternoon, there were 292 Covid-19 patients in hospital including 37 in ICU. There have been 24 new hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
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The 14-day incidence of the disease has dropped below the 200 mark for the first time in about a month, at 196.4 cases per 100,000 people.
Donegal has the highest county incidence at 299, followed by Meath at 280.4 and Cavan at 261.2.
Dublin now ranks tenth for incidence, at 201.1. The county with the lowest incidence is Leitrim, at 31.2.
Earlier, Dr Colm Henry, the Health Service Executive (HSE) chief clinical officer, said the prospect of people coming together for Christmas was looking good, but Level 5 measures must be continued.
“We want people to come together at Christmas,” said Dr Henry on Friday. But, he warned: “we must see through the measures first” as the figures could change very quickly “if we let up too early.”
The Government announced Level 5 restrictions across the State for six weeks from Wednesday, October 21st until December 1st in a bid to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
"We want Christmas to be safe, but we also want January and February to be safe," he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme.
The stabilisation of the number of Covid-19 cases gave cause for hope, he said. Ireland was now among only two countries in Europe (with Finland) where the rate is slowing.
People were behind this change in infection rates, especially young people, said Dr Henry, who said efforts were beginning to pay off.
Nursing home outbreaks were still of major concern, he said. Once the virus gets into a care setting it is “virulent and vicious” and that is inevitable when there was widespread community transmission.
“Frankly, the figures are changing week to week. If the people let up then that will change.”
The deaths of another three patients with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Thursday. This brings to 1,933 the total number of deaths linked to the disease.
Nphet also reported a further 591 confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases to 64,046.
Community transmission
“Level 5 efforts over the last two weeks have succeeded in further reducing community transmission and disease incidence in Ireland,” according to chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, speaking on Thursday. “However, now is not the time to be complacent. We must keep driving down this disease – we must keep going.”
Dr Holohan singled out for praise a “dramatic reduction” in cases among the 19- to 24-year-old age group in the past two weeks, where the incidence has dropped from 450 per 100,000 people to 150.
“They have also halved their contacts in the past five weeks. We all need to recognise the efforts of our young people and I thank them.”
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the Nphet epidemiological modelling advisory group, on Friday said the public began modifying their behaviour seven to 10 days before Level 5 restrictions were introduced because “the public realised we were in trouble”.
Level 3 restrictions had helped stabilise figures, he told RTÉ radio’s News at One, but those measures did not bring about a reduction in cases, that had come about because of Level 5.
“The Reproductive (R) number is now below one and we believe it is decreasing” he said. Decreasing Covid numbers were “testament to the collective actions that we’ve all made.”
Each case of Covid had infected fewer than one other person, he said. A closer examination of the data highlighted that the number of close contacts for each person had been decreasing since September.
The number of cases in Dublin is decreasing now, said Prof Nolan, who added that it was not unusual for outbreaks to be resistant in a capital city given the population density. “People are doing what needs to be done,” he said.
Prof Nolan said it is important to get virus levels down as low as possible and contain high-risk indoor gatherings to “choke the virus”.
The European Centre for Disease Control would advise Nphet what the high and low level risk situations would be, he said.
Testing
On Friday, Dr Henry said the roll-out of quicker Covid-19 testing for places like airports is still being evaluated by the HSE. He said it is unlikely to be ready in time for Christmas.
There is a wide range of fast testing being developed, said Dr Henry, adding that they would all have to be examined to ensure they were safe and effective.
Some tests were not as effective when tested in the field, he said. “We are dispassionate about testing these tests. It will take time to do it properly,” he said.
There has been a reduction in testing with a 30 per cent fall off in GP referrals, the doctor said.
More than 42,000 contact tracing calls were made in one week, but there was a reduction in such calls because of the fall in the number of positive cases and the fall in the number of contacts for each person.
Dr Henry said that to lift restrictions too early could see figures go up again quickly, as had happened in Switzerland.
In the meantime all hospital services remain safe and open and he urged anyone experiencing cancer symptoms to go immediately to hospital.
“Our services are open. Patients will be kept safe there,” he told the programme.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--Cyberbullying rates for Irish children among highest in EU - expert

Irish children experienced one of the highest rates of cyberbullying in Europe during the Covid-19 pandemic , an anti-bullying expert has said .
Dr Tijana Milosevic , from DCU ’ s National Anti- Bullying Centre , said a preliminary report shows children in Ireland experienced hurtful messages being sent to them , mean messages being passed around or posted where people could see them and are excluded from group activity online .
Speaking at the Oireachtas education committee on Thursday , Dr Milosevic said while the numbers for the frequency of this bullying type will be published later this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest in Europe , followed by Germany and Italy .
The representatives from the anti-bullying centre referred to another study they conducted , which found that 28 per cent of children have been the target of cyberbullying , while half of the children sampled reported to have seen others being cyberbullied .
Dr Milosevic added that there was a 20 per cent increase in “ cyberbullying victimisation ” during the lockdown .
However , the academic said the “ sharp increase ” during Covid-19 was only seen in certain groups , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it wasn ’ t evenly attributed across all age groups or across all platforms .
“ It ’ s not as huge of a spike that we might have expected through media reports that we were seeing during the lockdown , ” she added .
Dr Milosevic said there was also a need to “ bring in more attention ” to the educational platforms used to assist students during the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ As Teams and Zoom are being used for educational purposes , definitely cyber bullying can slip into that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same meeting , Dr Seline Keating , assistant professor and research fellow in anti-bullying studies at DCU , said SPHE ( Social , personal and health education ) was vital to educate chidren on bullying and the current allocation of 30 minutes per week to the subject is not adequate .
“ That [ SPHE ] is the subject area where all of the skillsets for bullying prevention happens .
We learn how to become a good decision maker , you learn how to manage and regulate feelings and emotions and you learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she explained .
She added that the education of the subject for teachers should be improved to ensure they can teach it competently .
Meanwhile , Dr Angela Mazzone , from the same centre , called for a national anti-bullying programme to be implemented .
She said tackling the issue should be a combined effort of students , parents and educators .
She described bullying as a “ complex phenomenon ” which happens when supervision is low , meaning everyone must be involved .
“ We recommend that anti-bullying prevention and intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and school curricula , ” she added .
The meeting was held on the first International Day Against Violence and Bullying in Schools , including cyberbullying , which aims to raise awareness of the help available to target and deal with bullying in schools .

Irish cyberbullying figures are one of the highest in Europe, followed by Germany and Italy. Photograph: iStock
Irish children experienced one of the highest rates of cyberbullying in Europe during the Covid-19 pandemic, an anti-bullying expert has said.
Dr Tijana Milosevic, from DCU's National Anti- Bullying Centre, said a preliminary report shows children in Ireland experienced hurtful messages being sent to them, mean messages being passed around or posted where people could see them and are excluded from group activity online.
Speaking at the Oireachtas education committee on Thursday, Dr Milosevic said while the numbers for the frequency of this bullying type will be published later this month, the Irish figures are one of the highest in Europe, followed by Germany and Italy.
The representatives from the anti-bullying centre referred to another study they conducted, which found that 28 per cent of children have been the target of cyberbullying, while half of the children sampled reported to have seen others being cyberbullied.
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Dr Milosevic added that there was a 20 per cent increase in “cyberbullying victimisation” during the lockdown.
However, the academic said the “sharp increase” during Covid-19 was only seen in certain groups, such as in younger boys, and that it wasn’t evenly attributed across all age groups or across all platforms.
“It’s not as huge of a spike that we might have expected through media reports that we were seeing during the lockdown,” she added.
Dr Milosevic said there was also a need to “bring in more attention” to the educational platforms used to assist students during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As Teams and Zoom are being used for educational purposes, definitely cyber bullying can slip into that,” she said.
Speaking at the same meeting, Dr Seline Keating, assistant professor and research fellow in anti-bullying studies at DCU, said SPHE (Social, personal and health education) was vital to educate chidren on bullying and the current allocation of 30 minutes per week to the subject is not adequate.
“That [SPHE]is the subject area where all of the skillsets for bullying prevention happens. We learn how to become a good decision maker, you learn how to manage and regulate feelings and emotions and you learn how to communicate and resolve conflict,” she explained.
She added that the education of the subject for teachers should be improved to ensure they can teach it competently.
Meanwhile, Dr Angela Mazzone, from the same centre, called for a national anti-bullying programme to be implemented. She said tackling the issue should be a combined effort of students, parents and educators.
She described bullying as a “complex phenomenon” which happens when supervision is low, meaning everyone must be involved.
“We recommend that anti-bullying prevention and intervention should be embedded into existing school policy and school curricula,” she added.
The meeting was held on the first International Day Against Violence and Bullying in Schools, including cyberbullying, which aims to raise awareness of the help available to target and deal with bullying in schools.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--November rain: Weekend weather set to be cloudy and drizzly

Scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle is forecast for much of the weekend , although Friday will be mostly dry with sunny spells .
Low cloud and fog patches will gradually clear this morning with sunny spells developing in most areas .
Much of Munster will be cloudy with the chance of patchy drizzle developing later , mainly in the southwest .
Cloud will also increase later in parts of south Connacht and south Leinster .
Highest temperatures will be between eight and 10 degrees in light to moderate east to southeast breezes .
Friday night will be dry but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between two and five degrees .
Some fog patches will also develop .
Saturday will be mostly cloudy , with persistent rain and drizzle developing in southern coastal areas during the morning , extending northwards , but becoming more scattered .
Rain is expected to turn heavier in parts of the south later .
Much of Ulster will remain dry until the evening with highest temperatures between nine and 14 degrees .
Saturday night will be cloudy and misty , with outbreaks of rain and drizzle with a few heavier bursts mainly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coastal fog are also forecast with lowest temperatures between six and 12 degrees .
Sunday will also be cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle , especially in the north and east during the morning , but dry intervals will develop in most areas during the day .
Highest temperatures will be between 11 to 14 or 15 degrees , in light to moderate southeasterly breezes .
A spell of persistent rain will develop in the southwest in the evening , extending northwards on Sunday night , but becoming patchy .
Minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 degrees .
Monday will be mostly overcast with occasional rain , persistent at times .
Conditions will be mild , with highest temperatures between 12 and 14 degrees , in mostly moderate southeasterly breezes .

Scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle is forecast for much of the weekend, although Friday will be mostly dry with sunny spells.
Low cloud and fog patches will gradually clear this morning with sunny spells developing in most areas. Much of Munster will be cloudy with the chance of patchy drizzle developing later, mainly in the southwest.
Cloud will also increase later in parts of south Connacht and south Leinster. Highest temperatures will be between eight and 10 degrees in light to moderate east to southeast breezes.
Friday night will be dry but cold in most areas with lowest temperatures between two and five degrees. Some fog patches will also develop.
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Saturday will be mostly cloudy, with persistent rain and drizzle developing in southern coastal areas during the morning, extending northwards, but becoming more scattered. Rain is expected to turn heavier in parts of the south later. Much of Ulster will remain dry until the evening with highest temperatures between nine and 14 degrees.
Saturday night will be cloudy and misty, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle with a few heavier bursts mainly in parts of the south. Hill and coastal fog are also forecast with lowest temperatures between six and 12 degrees.
Sunday will also be cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, especially in the north and east during the morning, but dry intervals will develop in most areas during the day. Highest temperatures will be between 11 to 14 or 15 degrees, in light to moderate southeasterly breezes.
A spell of persistent rain will develop in the southwest in the evening, extending northwards on Sunday night, but becoming patchy. Minimum overnight temperatures will be between nine to 12 degrees.
Monday will be mostly overcast with occasional rain, persistent at times. Conditions will be mild, with highest temperatures between 12 and 14 degrees, in mostly moderate southeasterly breezes.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--Aaron Brady arrested over alleged witness intimidation in murder case

Aaron Brady , the convicted killer of Garda Adrian Donohoe , is one of two men arrested over recent days @ @ @ @ @ related to the murder trial .
Bradywas last month sentenced to life imprisonment for the @ @ @ @ @ Co Louth in 2013 .
“ Gardaí attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal @ @ @ @ @ a male in his 20s as part of the ongoing investigation regarding allegations of witness @ @ @ @ @ of justice and the unlawful use of mobile phones in the prison environment related to @ @ @ @ @ DPP versus Aaron Brady , ” a Garda spokesman said on Friday .
The man @ @ @ @ @ Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 .
On Thursday @ @ @ @ @ 50s was arrested in relation to the investigation and was subsequently released .
A file @ @ @ @ @ Director of Public Prosecutions .
There have been seven arrests in this investigation .

Aaron Brady was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Det Garda Adrian Donohoe in 2013. File photograph: Collins Courts
Aaron Brady, the convicted killer of Garda Adrian Donohoe, is one of two men arrested over recent days over allegations of witness intimidation related to the murder trial.
Bradywas last month sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of the garda in Co Louth in 2013.
“Gardaí attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) arrested a male in his 20s as part of the ongoing investigation regarding allegations of witness intimidation, perverting the course of justice and the unlawful use of mobile phones in the prison environment related to the recent criminal trial of DPP versus Aaron Brady,” a Garda spokesman said on Friday.
The man is being detained at Portlaoise Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
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On Thursday, a man in his 50s was arrested in relation to the investigation and was subsequently released. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
There have been seven arrests in this investigation.


theirishtimes--2020-11-07--‘I’ve got a second chance at life’: The patients on the long road to recovery at the National Rehabi

‘I’ve got a second chance at life’: The patients on the long road to recovery at the National Rehabilitation Hospital

It's just after lunch time and Mayah Power, the youngest patient in the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), is lifting toys with her left hand and passing them to her right. Her eyebrows are furrowed, her lips pursed. Her eyes are focused on the task with laser-like precision.
The action is easy for most children, but for the three year old it is monumental. She previously had little to no movement in her left limbs as a result of two strokes she suffered more than a year ago.
“My husband and her were rolling around on the grass and her face was drooping and she couldn’t walk or speak. Straight away we knew it was the sign of a stroke but we never thought that would have happened to her at that age,” says her mother Kayleigh.
"The first one she had was an ischemic attack and then five days later she had a proper stroke. That's when they rushed her up to Crumlin. "
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“It just came out of the blue,” she adds.
The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) provides specialist rehabilitation services for people who have acquired disabilities through accident, injury or illness. On average, the hospital discharges 550 inpatients annually. Video: Bryan O'Brien
It’s a “long road to recovery” but they are beginning to see signs of progress. “Before we came up here, she was not using her hand whatsoever . . . the second or third week here, I started to notice a difference in Mayah. She would hold a pen in her left hand, which she had never done before,” Kayleigh says.
Mayah is one of more than a hundred patients receiving rehabilitative care in the Dún Laoghaire hospital's new "state of the art" facilities which opened in June.
Three-year-old Mayah Power from Galway with her mum Kayleigh. Mayah is currently the youngest patient at the National Rehabilitation Hospital Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Photograph: Bryan O Brien/The Irish Times
The Dublin hospital decanted from its old building to the new one mid-pandemic. However, the opening of one unit, which is specifically for people with the most severe brain damage, has been delayed, due to staffing shortages.
"We just don't have the staff to open it . . . It was a bad time [mid-pandemic] to look for a major tranche of nursing staff in particular," says clinical director Prof Mark Delargy.
The €100 million development includes 120 single, ensuite rooms, integrated therapy services, a hydrotherapy pool and sports facilities.
Built on lands owned by the Sisters of Mercy, but which are in the final stages of being transferred to the State, it is phase one of a larger development project. By the time all three phases are complete, there will be 240 rehabilitative beds.
Prof Delargy says it took a long time to get to this point. First proposed in the 1970s, it fell victim to two economic downturns.
“We re-gathered ourselves and re-budgeted. We changed from a building which was going to be twice this size. We decided it would be prudent to try and develop the services we needed for the country in stages,” he explains.
Exterior of new building at National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Photograph: Bryan O Brien/The Irish Times
The NRH also sold land it owned, putting the money it received from that sale towards the new hospital building, amounting to roughly one-tenth of the total cost.
The old building, which had been in use for 60 years, was “not fit for purpose”, he says.
Asked if the final 240 beds will be enough to meet national demand, Prof Delargy’s answer is simple: No, it’s not. “We do need a fully-fledged substantial unit, particularly in Cork,” he admits.
The old building required them to reduce the number of patients it could accept in order to adhere to social distancing on shared wards. But the hospital has remained Covid-free. “Covid in the building would have killed a lot of the rehabilitation. We had to keep it out.”
Despite the curtailing of visitors to patients undergoing rehab at the facility due to Covid-19, many remain upbeat.
Michael Keogh, who has a mild brain injury and had his right leg amputated in February, makes it his mission to keep other patients positive during their recovery.
Sitting in his room, in front of pictures of his two daughters Amelia and Ayda, the 34 year old says the car crash in which he sustained his injuries has given him a new outlook on life.
Michael Keogh from Mallow, Co Cork a patient at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Photograph: Bryan O Brien/The Irish Times
“I was in a coma for 28 days. They had given me 72 hours to live, but I pulled through, thank God. I broke my two legs, broke ribs and cheekbone and I had a bleed to the brain which weakened my left side,” he explains.
“I count myself lucky every day that I’m alive. I’ve got a second chance at life. There are a couple of lads here who are very down so I try and cheer them up a small bit. I think it’s important to remember that your life is not over.”
He worked as an electrician prior to the accident, but says he now has an opportunity to reinvent himself. “I might have to go back to college and do a computer course. My options are open. I can start over again. I got a second chance at life so I’d like to help people out. I’d like to do talks about road safety and cars and drink and everything. I would love to help people,” he adds.
The Cork man lost a lot in the accident, but not his sense of humour. “It’s like a little chicken wing,” he says laughing, lifting the amputated limb up from his wheelchair. “For a while, I think I thought it was going to grow back.”
Being able to speak to other people in similar circumstances is one of the biggest benefits of being in hospital, Mr Keogh says. It’s a sentiment that fellow patient Deirdre O’Connor shares. The former teacher (32), who has a mild brain injury following surgery, believes leaving that camaraderie when discharged will be difficult.
“We get through it with patient and peer support. When you come here nobody is, like, ‘poor you’. In here we’re not the minority, we’re the majority. But when you go outside, you’re going to be the minority and you need to understand and take it,” she says.
Deirdre O’Connor, a patient at the NRH. Photograph: Bryan O Brien/The Irish Times
Between 550 and 600 patients pass through the hospital annually on an inpatient and day-patient basis. The initial stringent Covid-19 restrictions increased its waiting list to around 300, but the hospital has brought it back down to 280 in the intervening months.
The waiting list generally ranges from between two and six months, but there are some “outliers”, who could be waiting for up to a year. This is a situation which, Prof Delargy says, is wrong. “We are shamed by that.”
Prof Mark Delargy NRH clinical director. Photograph: Bryan O Brien/The Irish Times
Brian Colleran misses visits due to Covid-19 restrictions. The 33 year old, who is paralysed, is in hospital with a pressure sore and is on bed rest. The only human interaction he has is with hospital staff, who turn him over from side to side every three hours.
How does he keep himself occupied? “I have football. There’s football all day Saturday, all day Sunday, two matches on Monday, football on Tuesday night, football on Wednesday. I’ll watch all of the matches.”
When social media erupted with outrage to the news the GAA championships could proceed under Level 5 restrictions, Mr Colleran breathed a sigh of relief. “I was delighted. It gives me something to watch.”
Barry O'Sullivan (52) is a bilateral amputee and lost his fingers after contracting septicaemia in February. After he finishes an archery session at the hospital, he laughs and shrugs helplessly: "I'm almost as bad as I used to be."
Irrespective of his self-deprecating comments, he has come a long way since he arrived at Cork University Hospital in septic shock in February.
“I was home all day chopping wood on the Sunday before I was in hospital. Three days later, I was in a coma.” His voice is surprised, like he still can’t believe how it all happened. “It was a frightening thing that it could come on so quickly with no warning.”
He says being in a coma was the “worst experience of my life”, comparing it to a dream-like state.
“For the first week, before Covid hit, my family were around me and they all thought I was dying. They expected me to die. That’s what the prognosis was. I was screaming for help, or trying to, but I knew my mouth was full of cables and tubes and things,” he explains.
“When the voices disappeared, when they stopped being allowed to come in, in my dream they had all been killed. When I woke up, I was experiencing what’s called ICU delirium. I thought the doctors were experimenting on me, trying to kill me and all that sort of thing.”
After getting through that, rehabilitation is nothing in comparison. He has relearned how to drive using prosthetic legs, is working on his stamina for standing and is trying to improve the movement in his hands.
“The fingers are almost a bigger hurdle because I can get prosthetic feet but I’m a person who does an awful lot with my hands, so although I still have quite a bit of function, that’s never going to be the same.”
Barry O’Sullivan from Middleton, Co Cork. Photograph: Bryan O Brien/The Irish Times
When patients are asked what keeps them going during difficult days here, their answers are the same: they want to regain some semblance of normality.
Mr O’Sullivan is no different, though he knows the initial move home will pose challenges. “I know when I go home . . . it’s where I’m going to meet my limitations. The things you used to like doing but can’t do anymore or won’t be able to do for a while at least. My aim is to get back to all of that,” he says.
“What’s motivating me is the need to get back to my life. The need to overcome this. I knew I had to stay focused and get back on my feet. For me, that becomes all consuming.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-07--60 years on: Why Irish soldiers who died in Niemba did not get medals

Medals for gallantry for nine Irish soldiers killed in the Niemba ambush 60 years ago were not awarded because it might look like a “ hand-out ” .
This has emerged in a 1968 letter written by the former chief of staff of the Defence Forces Lieut Gen Sean MacEoin which has been released to The Irish Times by the Military Archives coinciding with the anniversary of the ambush .
The Niemba ambush , which occurred on November 8th , 1960 , was the first incident in which Irish soldiers serving with the United Nations ( UN ) lost their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambush , a national campaign began to award the men involved in the ambush the military medal for gallantry , the Defence Forces ’ highest honour .
A platoon of 11 men from A Company of the 33rd battalion were ambushed by Luba tribesmen , known as Balubas , at a bridge near the village of Niemba in the Congo .
The Irish troops were in the country following a request by the UN for peacekeepers .
The resource-rich Katanga province had broken away from the newly independent Republic of the Congo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilians and government installations .
The men , led by Lieut Kevin Gleeson , went to repair a bridge which had been destroyed by Luba tribesmen who were trying to stop incursions into their territory by Katangese troops supported by Belgian mercenaries .
Eight of the men were killed on the spot , mostly by arrows tipped with poison .
Trooper Thomas Kenny and Private Joe Fitzpatrick escaped the fight and made their way back to safety .
Another man , Trooper Anthony Browne , was reported missing , presumed dead .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were killed in a case of mistaken identity as the Balubas believed they were hostile foreign mercenaries .
The funerals of the eight men who died at the scene and another soldier who was killed in a separate action were among the biggest that Ireland had ever seen .
However , the former chief of staff of the Defence Forces and commander of the UN forces in the Congo during 1961 and 1962 , Lieut Gen MacEoin , said any award of medals could not be made in the atmosphere of “ emotionalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1968 , MacEoin stated the awards of medals to those involved in Niemba might lead to fresh criticism of how Ireland ’ s operations in the Congo were conducted , according to the newly released letter .
MacEoin told then minister for defence Michael Hilliard that a military medal for gallantry or a distinguished service medal ( DSM ) can not be automatically awarded to a soldier who dies on duty .
Instead , it can only be awarded for conduct that is “ distinguished ” or “ meritorious ” .
Death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or cowardice could reduce any award to “ ridicule ” and it would lose all “ meaning and value ” , he believed .
The actions at Niemba were examined by two successive army boards and neither recommended the awarding of medals to those involved .
He continued : “ It is not the practice to provide for the posthumous award of a decoration unless the award is warranted by acts of service of the individual prior to his death in the circumstances leading to his death.
” Similarly , MacEoin believed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who died on active duty with the UN was unwise as such deaths could arise from “ misconduct , cowardice , disobedience or neglect ” .
He also ruled out a memorial to those who died in the ambush as it might be construed as an insult by relatives of those involved if it was not accompanied by a medal ceremony too .
Such proposals , he concluded , could “ do more harm than good ” .
Those killed in the Niemba ambush were finally given medals in 1998 , but only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Irish soldiers who died on UN duty overseas .
The only posthumous award arising out of the Niemba ambush was the military medal for gallantry for Browne , who was missing presumed dead when he received it in 1961 .
The citation stated that he had “ endeavoured to create an opportunity to allow an injured comrade to escape by firing his Gustaf [ submachine gun ] , thereby drawing attention to his own position which he must have been aware would endanger his life ” .
The story developed that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his life to save Kenny , who was a married man with a child .
Browne ’ s body had been carried away from the ambush site by the Balubas in tribute to his courage .
This narrative was challenged in later accounts of the ambush after Browne ’ s body was identified 5km away from the ambush site by an Irish search party in 1962 .
He had escaped the ambush and ended up some days later at the outskirts of a village where he asked for food and water .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribesmen and beaten to death .
Both Kenny and Fitzpatrick received apologies in the Dáil from the then minister for defence Willie O ’ Dea in 2006 arising out of the official army report into the incident .
The ambush was the subject of a bestselling book , The Peacemakers of Niemba , by then Irish Times journalist Tom McCaughren , which was first published in 1966 and republished in 2013 .
McCaughren wrote to the Department of Defence seeking to write a book “ based on official fact ” which would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in English Sunday papers ” .
He offered to submit his draft to the taoiseach or the Department of Defence at the time .
His request was granted .
A number of changes were recommended to his text including a claim that an ( unnamed ) soldier was only 16 years of age .
Such a claim “ admits to a breach of regulations which may prove embarrassing ” , an official concluded .
A claim that the ambushed men had “ the words of a Hail Mary on their lips ” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the circumstances ” .

Irish soldiers board a plane to leave Baldonnell airport for Congo as part of a UN peacekeeping mission on July 28th, 1960
Medals for gallantry for nine Irish soldiers killed in the Niemba ambush 60 years ago were not awarded because it might look like a “hand-out”.
This has emerged in a 1968 letter written by the former chief of staff of the Defence Forces Lieut Gen Sean MacEoin which has been released to The Irish Times by the Military Archives coinciding with the anniversary of the ambush.
The Niemba ambush, which occurred on November 8th, 1960, was the first incident in which Irish soldiers serving with the United Nations (UN) lost their lives in combat.
Shortly after the ambush, a national campaign began to award the men involved in the ambush the military medal for gallantry, the Defence Forces’ highest honour.
READ MORE
A platoon of 11 men from A Company of the 33rd battalion were ambushed by Luba tribesmen, known as Balubas, at a bridge near the village of Niemba in the Congo.
The Irish troops were in the country following a request by the UN for peacekeepers. The resource-rich Katanga province had broken away from the newly independent Republic of the Congo. The Irish were sent over to protect civilians and government installations.
The men, led by Lieut Kevin Gleeson, went to repair a bridge which had been destroyed by Luba tribesmen who were trying to stop incursions into their territory by Katangese troops supported by Belgian mercenaries.
The funerals of the eight men who died at the scene and another soldier who was killed in a separate action were among the biggest that Ireland had ever seen
Eight of the men were killed on the spot, mostly by arrows tipped with poison. Trooper Thomas Kenny and Private Joe Fitzpatrick escaped the fight and made their way back to safety.
Another man, Trooper Anthony Browne, was reported missing, presumed dead. It was believed afterwards that the Irish troops were killed in a case of mistaken identity as the Balubas believed they were hostile foreign mercenaries.
The funerals of the eight men who died at the scene and another soldier who was killed in a separate action were among the biggest that Ireland had ever seen.
‘Emotionalism’
However, the former chief of staff of the Defence Forces and commander of the UN forces in the Congo during 1961 and 1962, Lieut Gen MacEoin, said any award of medals could not be made in the atmosphere of “emotionalism” generated by the ambush.
Writing in 1968, MacEoin stated the awards of medals to those involved in Niemba might lead to fresh criticism of how Ireland’s operations in the Congo were conducted, according to the newly released letter.
MacEoin told then minister for defence Michael Hilliard that a military medal for gallantry or a distinguished service medal (DSM) cannot be automatically awarded to a soldier who dies on duty.
Instead, it can only be awarded for conduct that is “distinguished” or “meritorious”.
Death that occurs as a result of neglect or cowardice could reduce any award to “ridicule” and it would lose all “meaning and value”, he believed.
The actions at Niemba were examined by two successive army boards and neither recommended the awarding of medals to those involved.
Those killed in the Niemba ambush were finally given medals in 1998, but only as part of a general award to all Irish soldiers who died on UN duty overseas
He continued: “It is not the practice to provide for the posthumous award of a decoration unless the award is warranted by acts of service of the individual prior to his death in the circumstances leading to his death.”
Similarly, MacEoin believed the awarding of posthumous medals to all those who died on active duty with the UN was unwise as such deaths could arise from “misconduct, cowardice, disobedience or neglect”.
He also ruled out a memorial to those who died in the ambush as it might be construed as an insult by relatives of those involved if it was not accompanied by a medal ceremony too. Such proposals, he concluded, could “do more harm than good”.
Those killed in the Niemba ambush were finally given medals in 1998, but only as part of a general award to all Irish soldiers who died on UN duty overseas.
The only posthumous award arising out of the Niemba ambush was the military medal for gallantry for Browne, who was missing presumed dead when he received it in 1961.
Injured comrade
The citation stated that he had “endeavoured to create an opportunity to allow an injured comrade to escape by firing his Gustaf [submachine gun], thereby drawing attention to his own position which he must have been aware would endanger his life”.
The story developed that he, a single man, had given his life to save Kenny, who was a married man with a child. Browne’s body had been carried away from the ambush site by the Balubas in tribute to his courage.
This narrative was challenged in later accounts of the ambush after Browne’s body was identified 5km away from the ambush site by an Irish search party in 1962.
He had escaped the ambush and ended up some days later at the outskirts of a village where he asked for food and water. He was set upon and killed by local tribesmen and beaten to death.
Both Kenny and Fitzpatrick received apologies in the Dáil from the then minister for defence Willie O’Dea in 2006 arising out of the official army report into the incident.
The ambush was the subject of a bestselling book, The Peacemakers of Niemba, by then Irish Times journalist Tom McCaughren, which was first published in 1966 and republished in 2013.
McCaughren wrote to the Department of Defence seeking to write a book "based on official fact" which would be "eminently more desirable than unofficial accounts in English Sunday papers".
He offered to submit his draft to the taoiseach or the Department of Defence at the time.
His request was granted. A number of changes were recommended to his text including a claim that an (unnamed) soldier was only 16 years of age. Such a claim “admits to a breach of regulations which may prove embarrassing”, an official concluded.
A claim that the ambushed men had “the words of a Hail Mary on their lips” was dismissed as neither “factual nor probable in the circumstances”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-07--Three mental health centres forced to close following Covid outbreaks

Vulnerable people who urgently require admission to an inpatient mental health centre may be at risk after centres were forced to close following Covid-19 outbreaks , the Mental Health Commission has warned .
Three centres have had to close in recent weeks after 55 virus cases were reported among residents and staff .
The closure of the these centres to new admissions may have left a number of people on a waiting list while alternative accommodation was sought , according to the commission .
While accepting the closures were necessary , commission chief executive John Farrelly stressed that people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and required urgent care and treatment .
“ When people are very unwell , and perhaps suicidal , we can not afford any kind of delay before they start receiving treatment.
” There were 22 confirmed cases among residents and 61 among staff in mental health centres this week , compared to 23 and 58 respectively last week .
There have been 18 Covid-19 deaths in mental health centres , with the latest occurring in late September .
The deaths of a further eight patients with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
This brings to 1,940 the total number of deaths during the pandemic .
Nphet also reported a further 499 confirmed cases of the virus , bringing the total number confirmed to 64,538 .
Of the new cases 175 are in Dublin , 72 in Cork , 29 in Limerick , 26 in Mayo , 21 in Meath and the remaining 176 cases are spread across 19 other counties .
There were 292 people with Covid-19 in hospital , including 37 in intensive care , on Friday afternoon , with 24 peopled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 14-day incidence of the disease has fallen to 196.4 cases per 100,000 people .
Donegal has the highest county incidence at 299 , followed by Meath at 280.4 and Cavan at 261.2 .
Dublin now ranks 10th for incidence at 201.1 .
The county with the lowest incidence is Leitrim , at 31.2 .
Among the 31 countries reporting to the European Centre for Disease Control , only Norway , Latvia , Finland and Estonia had lower incidences of Covid-19 on Friday .
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on Friday called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a union tally showed over 200 patients a day had to wait for beds last month .
The highest trolley figures were recorded in hospitals in Limerick , Cork , Mayo , Sligo and Mullingar .
“ We were told at the beginning of this pandemic that there would be a zero tolerance policy toward overcrowding across the health service to ensure hospitals were safe , ” said INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha .
“ Unfortunately we ’ re now seeing an average of 200 patients per day without beds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is highly dangerous at the best of times , but this year we simply can not afford to accept this level of risk for patients or for staff .
We are over a month into the winter period and we ’ re seeing 4,500 patients per month on trolleys .
“ We ’ re very concerned about how this will play out for the rest of the winter .
We desperately need safe staffing levels across the entire service this winter if we want to keep staff and patients safe .
”

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for plans to combat overcrowding in hospitals as a union tally showed over 200 patients a day had to wait for beds last month. Photograph: Getty Images
Vulnerable people who urgently require admission to an inpatient mental health centre may be at risk after centres were forced to close following Covid-19 outbreaks, the Mental Health Commission has warned.
Three centres have had to close in recent weeks after 55 virus cases were reported among residents and staff.
The closure of the these centres to new admissions may have left a number of people on a waiting list while alternative accommodation was sought, according to the commission.
Hospital Report
While accepting the closures were necessary, commission chief executive John Farrelly stressed that people who require involuntary detention were obviously very unwell and required urgent care and treatment.
READ MORE
“When people are very unwell, and perhaps suicidal, we cannot afford any kind of delay before they start receiving treatment.”
There were 22 confirmed cases among residents and 61 among staff in mental health centres this week, compared to 23 and 58 respectively last week.
There have been 18 Covid-19 deaths in mental health centres, with the latest occurring in late September.
The deaths of a further eight patients with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Friday. This brings to 1,940 the total number of deaths during the pandemic.
Nphet also reported a further 499 confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total number confirmed to 64,538.
Of the new cases 175 are in Dublin, 72 in Cork, 29 in Limerick, 26 in Mayo, 21 in Meath and the remaining 176 cases are spread across 19 other counties.
There were 292 people with Covid-19 in hospital, including 37 in intensive care, on Friday afternoon, with 24 peopled hospitalised in the previous 24 hours.
The 14-day incidence of the disease has fallen to 196.4 cases per 100,000 people.
Donegal has the highest county incidence at 299, followed by Meath at 280.4 and Cavan at 261.2. Dublin now ranks 10th for incidence at 201.1.
The county with the lowest incidence is Leitrim, at 31.2.
Among the 31 countries reporting to the European Centre for Disease Control, only Norway, Latvia, Finland and Estonia had lower incidences of Covid-19 on Friday.
Overcrowding
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on Friday called for plans to combat overcrowding in hospitals as a union tally showed over 200 patients a day had to wait for beds last month.
The highest trolley figures were recorded in hospitals in Limerick, Cork, Mayo, Sligo and Mullingar.
“We were told at the beginning of this pandemic that there would be a zero tolerance policy toward overcrowding across the health service to ensure hospitals were safe,” said INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha. “Unfortunately we’re now seeing an average of 200 patients per day without beds, and the figures are climbing.
“This is highly dangerous at the best of times, but this year we simply cannot afford to accept this level of risk for patients or for staff. We are over a month into the winter period and we’re seeing 4,500 patients per month on trolleys.
“We’re very concerned about how this will play out for the rest of the winter. We desperately need safe staffing levels across the entire service this winter if we want to keep staff and patients safe.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-07--Covid-19: ICU admissions and deaths down to a fraction of first wave

Hospitalisations , intensive care admissions and deaths due to Covid-19 are running at a fraction of the level seen during the first wave of the pandemic , according to data released by the Central Statistics Office ( CSO ) .
The hospitalisation rate has fallen from 192 per 1,000 cases in March to a provisional figure of 32 last month .
The rate of admission to intensive care units , which was 27 per 1,000 in March , was five per 1,000 in September and three per 1,000 last month .
The age profile of cases in the current wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first .
The data show that more than 93 per cent of those who have died with Covid-19 in the State had an underlying condition .
The CSO said that , in all , 1,679 people with Covid-19 had died at the end of last month , with a further 229 deaths having a probable link to the virus .
It said 11 healthcare workers with Covid-19 have died , higher than the eight recorded by the HSE .
A further 499 Covid-19 cases and eight deaths were reported on Friday evening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been 1,940 deaths to date and 64,538 confirmed cases .
With the national 14-day incidence of the disease dropping below the 200 mark , Ireland now has the fifth-lowest incidence of Covid-19 in Europe .
Discussions are taking place in Government about a plan to exit the lockdown in December .
The leaders of the three Coalition parties discussed the issue earlier this week , and talks between officials are continuing on a regular basis .
Among the issues being discussed , it is understood , is the threat posed by hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Christmas period .
State airport operator DAA last year reported that up to 1.2 million people travelled through Dublin airport over the Christmas period .
Ministers and officials have also held preliminary discussions about what sort of restrictions might allow pubs and restaurants to reopen over the Christmas , though no conclusions have yet been reached .
There is currently research being conducted to establish the level of infection that has been seen in pubs , restaurants and homes .
The prospect of an early end to the Level 5 restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection levels .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told RTÉ on Friday night that the curbs needed to stay in place for six weeks “ to get the number really down to a very , very low level so that we have maximum flexibility then for December , and beyond ” .

Taoiseach Micheál Martin: told RTÉ on Friday night that the curbs needed to stay in place for six weeks ‘to get the number really down to a very, very low level’. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire
Hospitalisations, intensive care admissions and deaths due to Covid-19 are running at a fraction of the level seen during the first wave of the pandemic, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The hospitalisation rate has fallen from 192 per 1,000 cases in March to a provisional figure of 32 last month. The rate of admission to intensive care units, which was 27 per 1,000 in March, was five per 1,000 in September and three per 1,000 last month.
The age profile of cases in the current wave has been much lower than in the first.
Hospital Report
The data show that more than 93 per cent of those who have died with Covid-19 in the State had an underlying condition.
READ MORE
The CSO said that, in all, 1,679 people with Covid-19 had died at the end of last month, with a further 229 deaths having a probable link to the virus. It said 11 healthcare workers with Covid-19 have died, higher than the eight recorded by the HSE.
A further 499 Covid-19 cases and eight deaths were reported on Friday evening, with the Department of Health saying there have been 1,940 deaths to date and 64,538 confirmed cases.
With the national 14-day incidence of the disease dropping below the 200 mark, Ireland now has the fifth-lowest incidence of Covid-19 in Europe.
Exit plan
Discussions are taking place in Government about a plan to exit the lockdown in December. The leaders of the three Coalition parties discussed the issue earlier this week, and talks between officials are continuing on a regular basis.
Among the issues being discussed, it is understood, is the threat posed by hundreds of thousands of people returning to Ireland for the Christmas period.
State airport operator DAA last year reported that up to 1.2 million people travelled through Dublin airport over the Christmas period.
Ministers and officials have also held preliminary discussions about what sort of restrictions might allow pubs and restaurants to reopen over the Christmas, though no conclusions have yet been reached.
There is currently research being conducted to establish the level of infection that has been seen in pubs, restaurants and homes.
The prospect of an early end to the Level 5 restrictions has all but evaporated, despite falling infection levels.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told RTÉ on Friday night that the curbs needed to stay in place for six weeks “to get the number really down to a very, very low level so that we have maximum flexibility then for December, and beyond”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-07--Thinking Anew – Time to heed the wisdom of the young

Sibylle Berg was born in Weimar in 1962 .
She is one of Germany ’ s most famous and provocative current writers .
Her books have been translated into 30 languages .
In her book Did I Ever Tell You , she recounts the story of two children living close to each other , Anna and Max , growing up in East Germany .
They live in dysfunctional families and are not happy with their lives .
They feel that adults refuse to listen to children and how the world would be a far better place if more heed were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berg , through the minds of Anna and Max , argues that far too often children are simply afraid to express their thoughts out loud .
On reading the book , it dawned on me that as a child I often wondered what would happen if the world ran short of oil or coal .
But of course I always dismissed it as a silly idea because no adults would ever think of such a possibility .
When Greta Thunberg appeared on the world scene , there were those , including Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back to school .
But that young woman and her growing band of young followers have forced the world to think again about the catastrophic climate change crisis that is facing us .
Tomorrow ’ s Gospel is the well-known parable from St Matthew ( 25 : 1-13 ) where Jesus tells the story of the 10 wise bridesmaids , “ Five of them were foolish and five were sensible : the foolish ones did take their lamps , but they brought no oil , whereas the sensible ones took flasks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , the wise women were prepared for eventualities and were looking at the bigger picture .
Whereas the unwise women were just thinking of the now and gave no thought to what might happen if their oil ran out .
And so it did .
We have become so accustomed to our profligacy that we are no longer aware of how appallingly badly we are treating our environment .
A friend of mine , who spent his working life as an engineer , keeps repeating to me that if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us are bad , then how will we deal with the calamity that is facing us with the environment .
Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si ( Praised Be ) , writes : “ We know that approximately one-third of all food produced is discarded , and whatever food is thrown out it is as if it were stolen from the table of the poor.
” Pope Francis goes on to talk about the pollution caused by multinationals in the poorest areas of the world , behaving in a manner in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or in the so-called first world .
It ’ s as clear as day that the five wise bridesmaids took the sensible action in preparing for all eventualities .
They had the wisdom not to concentrate exclusively on the here and now but plan for the future .
There is a wonderful universal tone to tomorrow ’ s Gospel .
Jesus is talking to us right now .
But isn ’ t that the wonder of the Bible , and all good literature , in that its wisdom never dates and it always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us ?
Add to that the Christian belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God .
Anyone with an ounce of sense must now be aware that we have mistreated our planet and it is a matter of great urgency that we take the necessary steps to begin to do what we can to repair the damage that we have done .
In the first reading in tomorrow ’ s liturgy from the Book of Wisdom ( 6 : 12-16 ) , we are told : “ Wisdom is bright and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m back thinking of Sibylle Berg ’ s novella and how she describes two young children who have the wit and insight , indeed , the wisdom , to see when things are going wrong but also to know what is right .
Is it that adults become accustomed to what is happening and simply go with the prevailing wind ?
When it comes to our environment and the damage that we are doing to it , we might pause and turn to younger people and pay more attention to them .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Encyclicals can be heavy reading but Laudato Si is like no other .

Greta Thunberg and other young climate activists have forced the world to think again about the catastrophic climate change crisis that is facing us. Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP
Sibylle Berg was born in Weimar in 1962. She is one of Germany's most famous and provocative current writers. Her books have been translated into 30 languages. In her book Did I Ever Tell You, she recounts the story of two children living close to each other, Anna and Max, growing up in East Germany. They live in dysfunctional families and are not happy with their lives. They feel that adults refuse to listen to children and how the world would be a far better place if more heed were paid to children and their ideas.
Berg, through the minds of Anna and Max, argues that far too often children are simply afraid to express their thoughts out loud. On reading the book, it dawned on me that as a child I often wondered what would happen if the world ran short of oil or coal. But of course I always dismissed it as a silly idea because no adults would ever think of such a possibility. When Greta Thunberg appeared on the world scene, there were those, including Donald Trump, who dismissed her and suggested she go back to school. But that young woman and her growing band of young followers have forced the world to think again about the catastrophic climate change crisis that is facing us.
Tomorrow’s Gospel is the well-known parable from St Matthew (25: 1-13) where Jesus tells the story of the 10 wise bridesmaids, “Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.”
In other words, the wise women were prepared for eventualities and were looking at the bigger picture. Whereas the unwise women were just thinking of the now and gave no thought to what might happen if their oil ran out. And so it did.
READ MORE
We have become so accustomed to our profligacy that we are no longer aware of how appallingly badly we are treating our environment. A friend of mine, who spent his working life as an engineer, keeps repeating to me that if we think the effects Covid-19 are having on us are bad, then how will we deal with the calamity that is facing us with the environment.
Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si (Praised Be), writes: "We know that approximately one-third of all food produced is discarded, and whatever food is thrown out it is as if it were stolen from the table of the poor."
Pope Francis goes on to talk about the pollution caused by multinationals in the poorest areas of the world, behaving in a manner in which they would never in developed countries or in the so-called first world.
It’s as clear as day that the five wise bridesmaids took the sensible action in preparing for all eventualities. They had the wisdom not to concentrate exclusively on the here and now but plan for the future.
There is a wonderful universal tone to tomorrow’s Gospel. Jesus is talking to us right now.
But isn’t that the wonder of the Bible, and all good literature, in that its wisdom never dates and it always has the power to inform and inspire us? Add to that the Christian belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
Anyone with an ounce of sense must now be aware that we have mistreated our planet and it is a matter of great urgency that we take the necessary steps to begin to do what we can to repair the damage that we have done.
In the first reading in tomorrow’s liturgy from the Book of Wisdom (6: 12-16), we are told: “Wisdom is bright and does not grow dim.”
I’m back thinking of Sibylle Berg’s novella and how she describes two young children who have the wit and insight, indeed, the wisdom, to see when things are going wrong but also to know what is right. Is it that adults become accustomed to what is happening and simply go with the prevailing wind? When it comes to our environment and the damage that we are doing to it, we might pause and turn to younger people and pay more attention to them. I strongly recommend Pope Francis’ encyclical letter. Encyclicals can be heavy reading but Laudato Si is like no other.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--Covid-19 outbreak leaves 45 Naas hospital staff ‘unavailable’

Calls have been made for an immediate suspension of non-essential services at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare following an outbreak of Covid-19 among frontline nursing staff .
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) on Friday night said 35 nurses and 10 healthcare assistants were unavailable for work due to either being diagnosed with the virus or being a close contact .
A spokesman for the union said the situation had only emerged in the last couple of days and that it has had meetings with hospital management to try to address the problem .
Frontline staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested for the virus to detect any asymptomatic or as yet undetected cases to garner a more accurate picture of how far it has spread .
In the meantime , the INMO has written to hospital management seeking an immediate cessation of all elective day surgery and outpatient work to allow for the safe staffing of inpatient rosters .
It has asked the hospital and the HSE to inform the public of the situation and advise they only attend where absolutely necessary .
All catchment area GPs should also be advised of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other locations , it said .
“ It is unacceptable that the hospital remains fully operational while staffing levels are at such a critical level , ” said INMO industrial relations officer Joe Hoolan .
“ We need decisive action to avoid putting patients and staff at risk .
Our members have grave concerns regarding significant staffing deficits this weekend and next week .
There is an immense risk to safe patient care while staff struggle to maintain the service in unworkable conditions.
” Mr Hoolan said all frontline staff are to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view of this , all non-essential services must pause for a minimum of seven days .
Patients and staff welfare must be the absolute priority at this time , ” he said .
Naas General Hospital is a 243 bed acute public hospital serving the catchment area of Kildare and West-Wicklow .
The INMO stated that it is currently running at about 58 per cent of capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions .
However , it said the 35 frontline nurses affected account for about 10 per cent of a staffing roster of 320 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on wards .
The majority of care at the hospital is related to unscheduled inpatient admissions through the emergency department .
In a statement the hospital confirmed the issue and said an outbreak control team had been convened .
“ The outbreak is being managed to ensure hospital services can continue in a safe environment , ” it said in a statement on Friday night .
“ Plans have been developed to support continuity of services and guide senior management to identify the level of impact on service and staff and is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of activity into the weekend.
” Stressing the importance of adhering to public health advice , it said visiting hospitals is not permitted except when on compassionate grounds .

Calls have been made for an immediate suspension of non-essential services at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare following an outbreak of Covid-19 among frontline nursing staff.
Calls have been made for an immediate suspension of non-essential services at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare following an outbreak of Covid-19 among frontline nursing staff.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) on Friday night said 35 nurses and 10 healthcare assistants were unavailable for work due to either being diagnosed with the virus or being a close contact.
A spokesman for the union said the situation had only emerged in the last couple of days and that it has had meetings with hospital management to try to address the problem.
Frontline staff at the hospital are due to be tested for the virus to detect any asymptomatic or as yet undetected cases to garner a more accurate picture of how far it has spread.
READ MORE
In the meantime, the INMO has written to hospital management seeking an immediate cessation of all elective day surgery and outpatient work to allow for the safe staffing of inpatient rosters.
Absolutely necessary
It has asked the hospital and the HSE to inform the public of the situation and advise they only attend where absolutely necessary.
All catchment area GPs should also be advised of the “crisis” and send referrals to other locations, it said.
"It is unacceptable that the hospital remains fully operational while staffing levels are at such a critical level," said INMO industrial relations officer Joe Hoolan.
“We need decisive action to avoid putting patients and staff at risk. Our members have grave concerns regarding significant staffing deficits this weekend and next week. There is an immense risk to safe patient care while staff struggle to maintain the service in unworkable conditions.”
Mr Hoolan said all frontline staff are to be tested for Covid-19 immediately.
“In view of this, all non-essential services must pause for a minimum of seven days. Patients and staff welfare must be the absolute priority at this time,” he said.
Naas General Hospital is a 243 bed acute public hospital serving the catchment area of Kildare and West-Wicklow. The INMO stated that it is currently running at about 58 per cent of capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions.
However, it said the 35 frontline nurses affected account for about 10 per cent of a staffing roster of 320, not all of whom are based on wards. The majority of care at the hospital is related to unscheduled inpatient admissions through the emergency department.
In a statement the hospital confirmed the issue and said an outbreak control team had been convened.
“The outbreak is being managed to ensure hospital services can continue in a safe environment,” it said in a statement on Friday night.
“Plans have been developed to support continuity of services and guide senior management to identify the level of impact on service and staff and is being monitored on an ongoing basis against the levels of activity into the weekend.”
Stressing the importance of adhering to public health advice, it said visiting hospitals is not permitted except when on compassionate grounds.


theirishtimes--2020-11-06--Trump’s Doonbeg set to accept transition to Biden’s Ballina

Doonbeg is ready to accept the result of the US election and a peaceful transition to Ballina , Co Mayo as Ireland ’ s most connected place to the White House .
Residents of the west Clare village , the location of President Donald Trump ’ s Irish golf resort and the ancestral home of his vice-president Mike Pence , value Trump ’ s investment as a local employer in the area more than the interest that his presidency brought to their community .
Now , with the presumptive election of Joe Biden as the 46th US president , attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s family ties with Mayo where one of his great-grandfathers , Edward Blewitt , came from , and Carlingford , Co Louth , where another , James Finnegan , left in 1850 .
“ It ’ s absolutely great to spread it around , ” said Pence ’ s cousin Hugh McNally , the owner of Morrissey ’ s pub in Doonbeg who met both Trump and Pence on their recent visits to Co Clare .
“ You had Moneygall with Obama , Doonbeg with Trump and Pence , and Biden with Louth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong connection between Ireland and the US – long may it continue.
” In an area with limited economic prospects , Trump ’ s purchase of the golf resort in 2014 , his employment of 300 local people ( pre-Covid restrictions ) and his commitment to expand the resort with €50 million mean far more to Doonbeg ’ s villagers than his presidency or policies .
Locals are more concerned that a sea barrier is built to protect the golf course and Trump ’ s future investment from the Atlantic than the outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he fails to get re-elected , the whole place will be very disappointed for the Trump family because they have been such great supporters for us down the years .
On a personal level , I will be disappointed for Mike Pence , knowing the guy and the sacrifices he has made , ” said McNally .
Doonbeg pub owner Tommy Comerford said locals had no interest in US politics and that it was “ nothing to us who is elected – we support them as investors in our area ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayo and Louth , and Ireland generally , he said , given Ireland ’ s dependence on investment from the US .
“ We will appreciate it if he becomes the US president .
We don ’ t want to have any animosity between Doonbeg and Ballina .
If he becomes president , more luck to them , ” said Comerford .
Another publican , Tommy Tubridy , said he expected a Biden presidency to bring lots of publicity to Mayo and Louth given the attention Trump and Pence brought to Doonbeg .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be very good for tourism in Mayo , ” he said .
Rita McInerney , a local businesswoman , said she did not care whether the social media abuse she and others in Doonbeg received for their public support of investor Trump rather President Trump ( or his policies ) might stop now .
“ You don ’ t have to agree with everybody you do business with , ” she said .
McNally expects to see Trump in Doonbeg again after being voted out but maybe as a golfer rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ extremely hands-on ” at the resort .
“ Hopefully he will get over to enjoy the golf course a bit more now .
”

Tommy Tubridy and Brendan Walsh flying the flag for Trump in Doonbeg, Co Clare. Photograph: Eamon Ward
Doonbeg is ready to accept the result of the US election and a peaceful transition to Ballina, Co Mayo as Ireland's most connected place to the White House.
Residents of the west Clare village, the location of President Donald Trump's Irish golf resort and the ancestral home of his vice-president Mike Pence, value Trump's investment as a local employer in the area more than the interest that his presidency brought to their community.
Now, with the presumptive election of Joe Biden as the 46th US president, attention will inevitably turn to the Democrat's family ties with Mayo where one of his great-grandfathers, Edward Blewitt, came from, and Carlingford, Co Louth, where another, James Finnegan, left in 1850.
“It’s absolutely great to spread it around,” said Pence’s cousin Hugh McNally, the owner of Morrissey’s pub in Doonbeg who met both Trump and Pence on their recent visits to Co Clare.
READ MORE
"You had Moneygall with Obama, Doonbeg with Trump and Pence, and Biden with Louth and Mayo. It just reiterates the strong connection between Ireland and the US – long may it continue."
Investment vs policies
In an area with limited economic prospects, Trump’s purchase of the golf resort in 2014, his employment of 300 local people (pre-Covid restrictions) and his commitment to expand the resort with €50 million mean far more to Doonbeg’s villagers than his presidency or policies.
Locals are more concerned that a sea barrier is built to protect the golf course and Trump's future investment from the Atlantic than the outcome of the votes in Pennsylvania.
“If he fails to get re-elected, the whole place will be very disappointed for the Trump family because they have been such great supporters for us down the years. On a personal level, I will be disappointed for Mike Pence, knowing the guy and the sacrifices he has made,” said McNally.
Vice-president Mike Pence in Doonbeg in September 2019 to eat with relatives including his sister Anne Pence Poynter (left), his mother Nancy Pence Fritsch, Morrissey’s owner Hugh McNally and second lady Karen Pence (right). Photograph: Jacob King/PA
Doonbeg pub owner Tommy Comerford said locals had no interest in US politics and that it was "nothing to us who is elected – we support them as investors in our area".
‘Good for tourism’
A president Biden will be good for Mayo and Louth, and Ireland generally, he said, given Ireland’s dependence on investment from the US.
“We will appreciate it if he becomes the US president. We don’t want to have any animosity between Doonbeg and Ballina. If he becomes president, more luck to them,” said Comerford.
Another publican, Tommy Tubridy, said he expected a Biden presidency to bring lots of publicity to Mayo and Louth given the attention Trump and Pence brought to Doonbeg.
“If Mr Biden wins, it will be very good for tourism in Mayo,” he said.
Rita McInerney, a local businesswoman, said she did not care whether the social media abuse she and others in Doonbeg received for their public support of investor Trump rather President Trump (or his policies) might stop now.
“You don’t have to agree with everybody you do business with,” she said.
McNally expects to see Trump in Doonbeg again after being voted out but maybe as a golfer rather than as a businessman given that his sons are “extremely hands-on” at the resort.
“Hopefully he will get over to enjoy the golf course a bit more now.”