theirishtimes--2020-10-12--Child who suffered crush injury to finger at play school awarded €20,000

A child who got her finger stuck in a fire door at a Dublin play school has settled her High Court action for €20,000 .
Brooke Weldon was aged three years when she suffered a crush injury to her right ring finger tip and has no memory of the incident , the court heard .
Mr Justice Garrett Simons was told the play school disputed the account of the accident and that CCTV footage appeared to support a different narrative , where the child emerged from a bathroom with the injured finger .
Now aged 10 , with an address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child , through her mother Nikita Weldon , had sued Poppintree Early Education Centre Ltd , Poppintree Community Centre , Ballymun , as a result of the accident on the premises on January 13th , 2014 .
It was claimed there was failure to properly supervise the child at all times and to ensure the door , which led to the toilets , did not close on the child ’ s fingers .
The High Court heard the child was taken to the Temple Street children ’ s hospital , where it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her right fingertip .
She had surgery to repair the tip and her finger required dressings for three to four weeks afterwards .
She now uses her left hand to write and do everyday things and has slight scarring on the fingertip , the court heard .
Approving the settlement , the judge said there were significant issues on liability .
The full value of such a case would be €40,000 but the fact the child has no memory of the accident and there was a dispute on the account , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 per cent discount , reducing the settlement to €20,000 .
He said the settlement was a good and sensible result and he wished the young girl the best of luck .
He allowed a payment out of €250 so the child can celebrate the end of the case and what he described as a particular trauma for her .

A child who got her finger stuck in a fire door at a Dublin play school has settled her High Court action for €20,000.
Brooke Weldon was aged three years when she suffered a crush injury to her right ring finger tip and has no memory of the incident, the court heard.
Mr Justice Garrett Simons was told the play school disputed the account of the accident and that CCTV footage appeared to support a different narrative, where the child emerged from a bathroom with the injured finger.
Now aged 10, with an address at Seagrave Court, Finglas, the child, through her mother Nikita Weldon, had sued Poppintree Early Education Centre Ltd, Poppintree Community Centre, Ballymun, as a result of the accident on the premises on January 13th, 2014.
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Claims denied
It was claimed there was failure to properly supervise the child at all times and to ensure the door, which led to the toilets, did not close on the child’s fingers.
The claims were denied.
The High Court heard the child was taken to the Temple Street children’s hospital, where it was noted she had a crush injury to her right fingertip. She had surgery to repair the tip and her finger required dressings for three to four weeks afterwards.
She now uses her left hand to write and do everyday things and has slight scarring on the fingertip, the court heard.
Approving the settlement, the judge said there were significant issues on liability. The full value of such a case would be €40,000 but the fact the child has no memory of the accident and there was a dispute on the account, along with the CCTV, meant there was a 50 per cent discount, reducing the settlement to €20,000.
He said the settlement was a good and sensible result and he wished the young girl the best of luck. He allowed a payment out of €250 so the child can celebrate the end of the case and what he described as a particular trauma for her.


theirishtimes--2020-10-12--Ian Bailey extradition ruling closes another chapter, but is unlikely to end saga

Although Mr Justice Paul Burns has yet to formalise his order prohibiting Ian Bailey ’ s extradition to France to serve a sentence for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier , his ruling seems to close another chapter in the story .
It is still open to the State to appeal the ruling but , in his 64-page judgment , Mr Justice Burns provided a comprehensive review of the issues before concluding that Mr Bailey should not be surrendered to France .
In the judgment , which took almost an hour and a quarter to deliver , Mr Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both lawyers for Mr Bailey and for the State over 2½ days last July .
Both sides had sought to interpret previous Irish court judgments on previous attempts by the French to have Mr Bailey extradited to their advantage , but in the end it was Mr Bailey ’ s lawyers who won the day .
The issues centred around both the Supreme Court ruling in 2012 which overturned an earlier High Court decision to extradite Mr Bailey and a High Court decision from 2017 which again prohibited his extradition .
And while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the various judgments by the five judges of the Supreme Court in that 2012 ruling , the result was conclusive : Mr Bailey should not be extradited to France .
Essentially , the Supreme Court decision came down to two points .
Firstly it was not clear from the first 2010 French warrant if the extradition was for the purpose of trial as required under the Irish European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 .
Secondly , there was the more complex issue of reciprocity .
Under French law , France claims extraterritorial jurisdiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime committed against a French citizen outside of France .
Ireland , in contrast , only claims extraterritorial jurisdiction in the case where an offence is committed outside of Ireland and the alleged perpetrator rather than the victim is Irish .
The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that the Irish extraterritorial provision was not the equivalent of the French legislation and therefore they were not reciprocal and Mr Bailey could not be extradited to France .
Last July , lawyers for the State argued that issue of whether the current warrant was for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the fact the new warrant was for Mr Bailey to serve a sentence imposed by the French courts .
The three-judge Cour d ’ Assises in Paris found Mr Bailey guilty in absentia of the voluntary homicide of Ms Toscan du Plantier ( 39 ) at her isolated holiday home near Toormore outside in West Cork on December 23rd , 1996 .
And Judge Frederique Aline handed down a 25-year prison sentence to Mr Bailey – who was not legally represented at the trial – for “ the extreme gravity ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother of one .
Lawyers for the State further argued in July that Ireland ’ s extraterritorial jurisdiction for murder under Irish law was extended by the Criminal Law ( Extraterritorial Jurisdiction ) Act 2019 which came into effect in April 2019 .
This new legislation was in place when the French authorities issued the third and current EAW on June 21st , 2019 , after Mr Bailey ’ s conviction in absentia in Paris and his sentencing to 25 years for the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier .
Lawyers for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland to prosecute an alleged perpetrator for a murder outside of Ireland where they are an Irish citizen or ordinarily resident in Ireland .
However , lawyers for Mr Bailey argued the proper interpretation of Section 44 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 meant the new legislation , extended to include persons ordinarily resident in Ireland , still failed to establish the requisite reciprocity .
Mr Justice Burns found that the new legislation was not sufficient to address the issue of reciprocity as identified by the 2012 Supreme Court judgement and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrendered to the French .
Afterwards , lawyers for both Mr Bailey and for Ms Toscan du Plantier ’ s family in France said they both wished to study the judgment in more detail while lawyers for the State will also be subjecting the ruling to close scrutiny .
Whether or not the State chooses to appeal the ruling will only become apparent later this month but , while this chapter of the Ian Bailey/Sophie Toscan du Plantier story may close , the saga is unlikely to end any time soon .

Ian Bailey leaves the High Court in Dublin on Monday following the court’s decision to reject the French authorities’ request to extradite the British former journalist to serve a sentence for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996. Photograph Nick Bradshaw for The Irish Times
Although Mr Justice Paul Burns has yet to formalise his order prohibiting Ian Bailey's extradition to France to serve a sentence for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, his ruling seems to close another chapter in the story.
It is still open to the State to appeal the ruling but, in his 64-page judgment, Mr Justice Burns provided a comprehensive review of the issues before concluding that Mr Bailey should not be surrendered to France.
In the judgment, which took almost an hour and a quarter to deliver, Mr Justice Burns went through the arguments made by both lawyers for Mr Bailey and for the State over 2½ days last July.
Both sides had sought to interpret previous Irish court judgments on previous attempts by the French to have Mr Bailey extradited to their advantage, but in the end it was Mr Bailey’s lawyers who won the day.
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The issues centred around both the Supreme Court ruling in 2012 which overturned an earlier High Court decision to extradite Mr Bailey and a High Court decision from 2017 which again prohibited his extradition.
And while there may have been difference of emphasis in the various judgments by the five judges of the Supreme Court in that 2012 ruling, the result was conclusive: Mr Bailey should not be extradited to France.
Essentially, the Supreme Court decision came down to two points. Firstly it was not clear from the first 2010 French warrant if the extradition was for the purpose of trial as required under the Irish European Arrest Warrant Act 2003. Secondly, there was the more complex issue of reciprocity. Under French law, France claims extraterritorial jurisdiction to try an alleged perpetrator of a crime committed against a French citizen outside of France.
Alleged perpetrator
Ireland, in contrast, only claims extraterritorial jurisdiction in the case where an offence is committed outside of Ireland and the alleged perpetrator rather than the victim is Irish.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that the Irish extraterritorial provision was not the equivalent of the French legislation and therefore they were not reciprocal and Mr Bailey could not be extradited to France.
Last July, lawyers for the State argued that issue of whether the current warrant was for the purpose of trial had been resolved by the fact the new warrant was for Mr Bailey to serve a sentence imposed by the French courts.
The three-judge Cour d'Assises in Paris found Mr Bailey guilty in absentia of the voluntary homicide of Ms Toscan du Plantier (39) at her isolated holiday home near Toormore outside in West Cork on December 23rd, 1996.
And Judge Frederique Aline handed down a 25-year prison sentence to Mr Bailey – who was not legally represented at the trial – for "the extreme gravity" of the murder of the film producer and mother of one.
Lawyers for the State further argued in July that Ireland’s extraterritorial jurisdiction for murder under Irish law was extended by the Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Act 2019 which came into effect in April 2019.
Conviction
This new legislation was in place when the French authorities issued the third and current EAW on June 21st, 2019, after Mr Bailey’s conviction in absentia in Paris and his sentencing to 25 years for the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier.
Lawyers for the State argued that the new legislation allowed Ireland to prosecute an alleged perpetrator for a murder outside of Ireland where they are an Irish citizen or ordinarily resident in Ireland.
However, lawyers for Mr Bailey argued the proper interpretation of Section 44 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 meant the new legislation, extended to include persons ordinarily resident in Ireland, still failed to establish the requisite reciprocity.
Mr Justice Burns found that the new legislation was not sufficient to address the issue of reciprocity as identified by the 2012 Supreme Court judgement and he ruled that Mr Bailey should not be surrendered to the French.
Afterwards, lawyers for both Mr Bailey and for Ms Toscan du Plantier’s family in France said they both wished to study the judgment in more detail while lawyers for the State will also be subjecting the ruling to close scrutiny.
Whether or not the State chooses to appeal the ruling will only become apparent later this month but, while this chapter of the Ian Bailey/Sophie Toscan du Plantier story may close, the saga is unlikely to end any time soon.


theirishtimes--2020-10-12--Covid left doctor (23) in ICU ‘wondering would I die’

A 23-year-old doctor who had to be admitted to ICU after contracting Covid-19 has urged young people who believe themselves to be immune to the virus to “ think twice ” and to follow public health guidance .
Dr Owen O ’ Flynn , from Kerry , says he is still feeling the effects of the infection , months after he was hospitalised last April .
He says that while older people are most at risk of the disease , it can still have devastating effects on people of any age .
“ There is no real way of telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through it without severe symptoms.
” “ I am a 23-year-old , who maintained a high level of fitness and I ended up in ICU due to Covid-19 , ” he told Monday ’ s briefing by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) .
In late March , Dr O ’ Flynn said he started to experience a loss of sense of smell and taste , but no other symptoms .
Under the criteria at the time , he did not qualify for a test and recovered after a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he started to feel unwell after a day working in ICU , with symptoms such as stomach pain , temperature spikes , sweating , vomiting and diarrhoea .
He tested negative “ as I wasn ’ t actively shedding virus at that time ” .
Admitted to hospital for suspected gastroenteritis , he tested negative a second time .
After his heart tracing showed signs of damage and his oxygen levels dropped , he was re-swabbed .
“ The results showed I had had a Covid-19 infection around four to six weeks earlier.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly diagnosed inflammatory condition related to Kawasaki syndrome , he said .
“ Later that evening , I rapidly deteriorated .
My oxygen levels reduced and in the space of a minute I was unable to finish a sentence.
” He was admitted to ICU , and experienced acute respiratory and heart failure .
“ At that point I started to wonder would I ever get out of ICU , would I die in there ?
” “ Thankfully , everything slowly started to resolve .
I was discharged to the ward from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discharged home .
Dr O ’ Flynn said it took six weeks “ to regain a sense of normality ” and even today he has reduced levels of fitness .
Nphet reported 825 new cases on Monday evening and one further coronavirus-related death .
Some 78 per cent of new cases were under 45 years of age , and the median age was 30 .

Dr Owen O’Flynn (23) spoke at Monday evening’s Nphet briefing to warn young people not to think themselves to be immune to the virus. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
A 23-year-old doctor who had to be admitted to ICU after contracting Covid-19 has urged young people who believe themselves to be immune to the virus to “think twice” and to follow public health guidance.
Dr Owen O’Flynn, from Kerry, says he is still feeling the effects of the infection, months after he was hospitalised last April.
He says that while older people are most at risk of the disease, it can still have devastating effects on people of any age. “There is no real way of telling who will deteriorate and who will get through it without severe symptoms.”
“I am a 23-year-old, who maintained a high level of fitness and I ended up in ICU due to Covid-19,” he told Monday’s briefing by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
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In late March, Dr O’Flynn said he started to experience a loss of sense of smell and taste, but no other symptoms. Under the criteria at the time, he did not qualify for a test and recovered after a week.
However, on April 26th, he started to feel unwell after a day working in ICU, with symptoms such as stomach pain, temperature spikes, sweating, vomiting and diarrhoea. He tested negative “as I wasn’t actively shedding virus at that time”.
Admitted to hospital for suspected gastroenteritis, he tested negative a second time.
After his heart tracing showed signs of damage and his oxygen levels dropped, he was re-swabbed. “The results showed I had had a Covid-19 infection around four to six weeks earlier.”
Doctors informed him of a then newly diagnosed inflammatory condition related to Kawasaki syndrome, he said.
“Later that evening, I rapidly deteriorated. My oxygen levels reduced and in the space of a minute I was unable to finish a sentence.”
He was admitted to ICU, and experienced acute respiratory and heart failure. “At that point I started to wonder would I ever get out of ICU, would I die in there?”
“Thankfully, everything slowly started to resolve. I was discharged to the ward from ICU and a week later I was discharged home.
Dr O’Flynn said it took six weeks “to regain a sense of normality” and even today he has reduced levels of fitness.
Nphet reported 825 new cases on Monday evening and one further coronavirus-related death.
Some 78 per cent of new cases were under 45 years of age, and the median age was 30.


theirishtimes--2020-10-12--Gardaí seize ‘substantial quantity’ of alcohol after searching three ‘shebeens’

Three suspected “ shebeens ” , or unlicensed premises , in the midlands have been searched by gardaí following tip-offs from the public .
Gardaí carried out the searches at premises in counties Laois , Meath and Westmeath as part of Operation Navigation , which focuses on compliance with public health regulations by licensed premises .
Substantial quantities of alcohol were seized during the searches on Friday last along with beer taps , coolers , kegs , spirit dispensers and other bar wear .
All of those present were identified by gardaí .
No arrests were made .
Gardaí said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions .
“ The investigations were launched following a number of reports from the public , ” a spokesman for An Garda Síochána said on Monday .
John Twomey , Deputy Commissioner for Policing and Security , said the vast majority of licensed premises are complying with the public health guidelines and regulations put in place to try stop the spread of Covid-19 .
“ The operation of any unlicensed premises puts at risk individuals and communities .
This is not acceptable and under Operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take appropriate action , ” he said .
“ I would also like to thank members of the public who brought some of these matters to our attention.
” An Garda Síochána has appealed to anyone with information about the operation of illegal “ shebeens ” to contact their local Garda station .
Gardaí have conducted thousands of checks on licensed premises during the pandemic and said last month that they continued to find “ widespread compliance ” with the public health regulations .
The total number of potential breaches stood at 232 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations premises were selling alcohol without also providing food .
Under the latest Level 3 coronavirus restrictions , which came into effect on October 6th for the entire country , wet pubs , restaurants , cafes and bars serving food can remain open for take-away , delivery , and outdoor dining/services to a maximum of 15 people .
However , wet pubs in Dublin have remained closed .
Under Level 4 restrictions , which some of the border counties could be facing if the North goes ahead with introducing a lockdown , bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hotels , can offer takeaway food or delivery with outdoor dining only limited to a maximum of 15 people .
In terms of wet pubs , they would be limited to a maximum of 15 people outdoors .

One of the premises in the midlands searched by gardaí. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Three suspected “shebeens”, or unlicensed premises, in the midlands have been searched by gardaí following tip-offs from the public.
Gardaí carried out the searches at premises in counties Laois, Meath and Westmeath as part of Operation Navigation, which focuses on compliance with public health regulations by licensed premises.
Substantial quantities of alcohol were seized during the searches on Friday last along with beer taps, coolers, kegs, spirit dispensers and other bar wear. All of those present were identified by gardaí. No arrests were made.
Gardaí said their enquiries are ongoing and files will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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"The investigations were launched following a number of reports from the public," a spokesman for An Garda Síochána said on Monday.
A substantial quantity of alcohol was seized. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
John Twomey, Deputy Commissioner for Policing and Security, said the vast majority of licensed premises are complying with the public health guidelines and regulations put in place to try stop the spread of Covid-19.
“The operation of any unlicensed premises puts at risk individuals and communities. This is not acceptable and under Operation Navigation An Garda Síochána will continue to take appropriate action,” he said.
“I would also like to thank members of the public who brought some of these matters to our attention.”
Kegs and beer taps were seized as part of the operation. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
An Garda Síochána has appealed to anyone with information about the operation of illegal “shebeens” to contact their local Garda station.
Gardaí have conducted thousands of checks on licensed premises during the pandemic and said last month that they continued to find “widespread compliance” with the public health regulations.
One of the unlicensed premises which was searched. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
The total number of potential breaches stood at 232 as of mid-September and mainly related to allegations premises were selling alcohol without also providing food.
Under the latest Level 3 coronavirus restrictions, which came into effect on October 6th for the entire country, wet pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars serving food can remain open for take-away, delivery, and outdoor dining/services to a maximum of 15 people. However, wet pubs in Dublin have remained closed.
Under Level 4 restrictions, which some of the border counties could be facing if the North goes ahead with introducing a lockdown, bars, cafes and restaurants, including those in hotels, can offer takeaway food or delivery with outdoor dining only limited to a maximum of 15 people. In terms of wet pubs, they would be limited to a maximum of 15 people outdoors.


theirishtimes--2020-10-12--Gardaí seize 70kg of cannabis worth €1.4 million in Dublin

Gardaí in Coolock , Co Dublin have seized cannabis with an estimated street value of more than €1.4 million .
@ @ @ @ @ Service and An Garda Síochána , through the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau @ @ @ @ @ intelligence-led operation at a business premises in Coolock .
During the operation 70kg of herbal @ @ @ @ @ with an estimated street value of €1,412,000 was seized .
No arrests have been made @ @ @ @ @ On Saturday , in a separate investigation into organised crime groups in the area , @ @ @ @ @ Force carried out the search of a house on Moatview Drive in Darndale .
They @ @ @ @ @ , €15,000 in cash , a bulletproof vest and a silver BMW 5 Series .
@ @ @ @ @ , 38 and 36 – were arrested at the scene .
One man appeared before @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday in relation to the seizure .
The other two men will appear in @ @ @ @ @ .

Gardaí seized 70kg of herbal cannabis in Coolock. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Gardaí in Coolock, Co Dublin have seized cannabis with an estimated street value of more than €1.4 million.
On Friday the Revenue Customs Service and An Garda Síochána, through the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, participated in the joint intelligence-led operation at a business premises in Coolock.
During the operation 70kg of herbal cannabis (pending analysis) with an estimated street value of €1,412,000 was seized.
No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
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Gardaí also recovered €22,000 worth of cannabis, €15,000 in cash, a bulletproof vest and a silver BMW 5 Series in Darndale. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
On Saturday, in a separate investigation into organised crime groups in the area, gardaí from the Divisional Task Force carried out the search of a house on Moatview Drive in Darndale.
They recovered €22,000 worth of cannabis, €15,000 in cash, a bulletproof vest and a silver BMW 5 Series.
Three men – aged 48, 38 and 36 – were arrested at the scene.
One man appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday in relation to the seizure. The other two men will appear in court at a later date.


theirishtimes--2020-10-12--Inner-city activist Fergus McCabe ‘always available’, funeral told

Large crowds lined the roadside at Summerhill in Dublin ’ s north inner city on Monday to pay their respects to the veteran community activist Fergus McCabe who died last week .
Unable to attend a service due to Covid-19 restrictions , they stood along the route and sang the Inner City Song , as Mr McCabe ’ s family got out of their cars to look on .
It would be the last interaction the community would have with the 71-year-old who had served them throughout his life .
“ Driving here today and seeing people line the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inner City Song was just breathtaking and he would have absolutely loved it , ” his daughter Ella noted during a brief service streamed online to hundreds of people as far away as France and Sweden .
From Marino , Dublin , Mr McCabe was at the centre of the Inner City Organisations Network and the CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign .
He was also involved with the Young People At Risk organisation , the National Substance Misuse Strategy Committee and the National Oversight Group on the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been , Ella said he had served in much the same role for so many other young people in the city .
“ You always felt heard , you always felt special , and he was always available , ” she said .
She recalled a childhood shaped in part by his personality – games of musical chairs played out to protest songs ; pocket money stashed under books on the histories of Bizmark , Parnell and Lincoln .
“ At family gatherings or with friends the guitar would be out again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said , describing humour to the end .
“ Funny selfies ” sent while receiving radiation treatment ; a birthday dinner on the eve of his death in which he had kept his family “ in stitches ” .
“ I wanted especially to thank Helena in front of you , ” his daughter read out on his behalf .
“ Throughout our time together and no more than now in my dying days , her care and love , respect and wisdom , have been exceptional .
We had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun .
And anything I did in life or work bore her kind imprint.
” The life and work of Mr McCabe , who died on Thursday after a long illness , has left an imprint on the city – in tributes , President Michael D Higgins said the activist had chosen “ hope over cynicism ” as he “ advanced the goals of countless ” social justice and equality projects .
Also speaking at Monday ’ s service , Maureen O ’ Sullivan , the former TD and contemporary of Mr McCabe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cliche but said he had walked the walk in his pursuit of progress .
“ Fergus was a doer ; he looked for solutions that could be realised , ” she said , noting his belief in consensus building .
“ He challenged and he pushed and he shoved and he demanded and he held people and authorities to account .
And like in one of his songs , he never backed down.
” Mr McCabe is survived by his wife Helena and his three children Ella , Kathy and Eoin .

Crowds gather in Summerhill, Dublin, to pay their respects at the funeral of activist Fergus McCabe. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Large crowds lined the roadside at Summerhill in Dublin's north inner city on Monday to pay their respects to the veteran community activist Fergus McCabe who died last week.
Unable to attend a service due to Covid-19 restrictions, they stood along the route and sang the Inner City Song, as Mr McCabe’s family got out of their cars to look on. It would be the last interaction the community would have with the 71-year-old who had served them throughout his life.
"Driving here today and seeing people line the streets, wishing him well and singing the Inner City Song was just breathtaking and he would have absolutely loved it," his daughter Ella noted during a brief service streamed online to hundreds of people as far away as France and Sweden.
From Marino, Dublin, Mr McCabe was at the centre of the Inner City Organisations Network and the CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign. He was also involved with the Young People At Risk organisation, the National Substance Misuse Strategy Committee and the National Oversight Group on the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy.
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Reflecting on how good a father he had been, Ella said he had served in much the same role for so many other young people in the city.
Mourners throw flowers onto the hearse of Fergus McCabe at Summerhill. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
“You always felt heard, you always felt special, and he was always available,” she said.
She recalled a childhood shaped in part by his personality – games of musical chairs played out to protest songs; pocket money stashed under books on the histories of Bizmark, Parnell and Lincoln.
“At family gatherings or with friends the guitar would be out again and the political debates would be raging,” she said, describing humour to the end. “Funny selfies” sent while receiving radiation treatment; a birthday dinner on the eve of his death in which he had kept his family “in stitches”.
"I wanted especially to thank Helena in front of you," his daughter read out on his behalf. "Throughout our time together and no more than now in my dying days, her care and love, respect and wisdom, have been exceptional. We had a really happy time and so much fun. And anything I did in life or work bore her kind imprint."
The life and work of Mr McCabe, who died on Thursday after a long illness, has left an imprint on the city – in tributes, President Michael D Higgins said the activist had chosen "hope over cynicism" as he "advanced the goals of countless" social justice and equality projects.
Also speaking at Monday’s service, Maureen O’Sullivan, the former TD and contemporary of Mr McCabe’s, excused herself for the cliche but said he had walked the walk in his pursuit of progress.
“Fergus was a doer; he looked for solutions that could be realised,” she said, noting his belief in consensus building.
“He challenged and he pushed and he shoved and he demanded and he held people and authorities to account. And like in one of his songs, he never backed down.”
Mr McCabe is survived by his wife Helena and his three children Ella, Kathy and Eoin.


theirishtimes--2020-10-12--Man gets suspended sentence for assaulting man while in Superman costume

A father of one who was dressed as Superman when he headbutted a man at a nightclub on Halloween night in 2017 has been given a two-year suspended sentence .
Denis Ward ( 39 ) later told gardaí he had no recollection of the assault but accepted “ I took the book off him and went for him ” after he was shown CCTV footage from the nightclub showing him taking a pretend bible from the victim before he lunged at him .
The victim , Daragh Comerford , was left with a broken nose and later required surgery due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lynch told Diarmuid Collins BL , prosecuting , at an earlier sentence hearing last March , that when he arrived at the club having been alerted to the assault , he was informed by security staff that the culprit was dressed as Superman and had been with a woman dressed as Wonder Woman .
He said he later stopped Ward , who was no longer dressed up but was with a woman dressed as Wonder Woman .
The Superman costume was found discarded in a nearby bin .
Mr Comerford later told gardaí @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nightclub and was messing around with them when a man in a Superman costume took it from him .
He said he told the man to “ relax ” before Ward headbutted him .
Ward of Northern Close , Belcamp Lane , Dublin , pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Mr Comerford at D Two Nightclub , Harcourt Street , Dublin 2 on October 31st , 2017 .
He has four previous convictions which include three for road traffic offences .
Judge Melanie Greally heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had suffered a loss of €1,100 due to medical bills and having to take time off work .
She then adjourned the case to Monday when she handed down a two-year sentence which she suspended in full .
A victim-impact statement said the man was “ quite shook for a few weeks ” after the assault and had taken time off work .
He said it affected him both physically and mentally and photographs were given of his injuries .
Barry Ward BL , defending , said his client has not touched alcohol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alcohol was “ a significant factor ” in the offence .
He asked the court to take into account that his client was unknown to the gardaí at the time and that his behaviour was “ out of character ” .

The court heard the assault took place in a Dublin nightclub on Halloween night in 2017
A father of one who was dressed as Superman when he headbutted a man at a nightclub on Halloween night in 2017 has been given a two-year suspended sentence.
Denis Ward (39) later told gardaí he had no recollection of the assault but accepted “I took the book off him and went for him” after he was shown CCTV footage from the nightclub showing him taking a pretend bible from the victim before he lunged at him.
The victim, Daragh Comerford, was left with a broken nose and later required surgery due to a deviated septum.
Inspector Eamon Lynch told Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, at an earlier sentence hearing last March, that when he arrived at the club having been alerted to the assault, he was informed by security staff that the culprit was dressed as Superman and had been with a woman dressed as Wonder Woman.
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He said he later stopped Ward, who was no longer dressed up but was with a woman dressed as Wonder Woman.
The Superman costume was found discarded in a nearby bin.
Mr Comerford later told gardaí that he had spotted some pretend bibles in the nightclub and was messing around with them when a man in a Superman costume took it from him. He said he told the man to “relax” before Ward headbutted him.
Ward of Northern Close, Belcamp Lane, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Mr Comerford at D Two Nightclub, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 on October 31st, 2017. He has four previous convictions which include three for road traffic offences.
Judge Melanie Greally heard from a victim-impact statement that the man had suffered a loss of €1,100 due to medical bills and having to take time off work.
She then adjourned the case to Monday when she handed down a two-year sentence which she suspended in full.
A victim-impact statement said the man was “quite shook for a few weeks” after the assault and had taken time off work. He said it affected him both physically and mentally and photographs were given of his injuries.
Barry Ward BL, defending, said his client has not touched alcohol since the assault. Judge Greally noted alcohol was “a significant factor” in the offence.
He asked the court to take into account that his client was unknown to the gardaí at the time and that his behaviour was “out of character”.


theirishtimes--2020-10-13--Debenhams liquidators granted High Court injunction

The joint provisional liquidators of the Irish arm of fashion retailer Debenhams have been granted a High Court injunction preventing unlawful actions and interference with efforts to remove stock from its former high street stores .
The injunction applies to any persons with knowledge of the order which is to be affixed to the entrances of the stores and shopping centre entrances in which they are located .
Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted the injunction to Kieran Wallace and Andrew O ’ Leary of KPMG , who were appointed joint provisional liquidator to Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd ( DRIL ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephen Troy , Fairfield Close , Belvedere Manor , Co Waterford ; Denis O ’ Brien , Sunrise Crescent , Browns Road , Co Waterford ; and Carole Bridgeman , Meadowpark Lawn , Ballyvolane , Co Cork – gave undertakings to comply with the terms of the injunction .
Ms Bridgemen , a trade union rep who worked at Debenhams in Mahon Point , Cork , for 15 years , was in court where she denied the protests by workers at the various stores were unlawful .
Mr Troy and Mr O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the liquidators .
Ms Bridgeman said liquidator Mr Wallace , in a grounding affidavit , had attempted to smear the Debenhams ’ workers by saying the dispute had taken an altogether more sinister turn with most of the workers on the pickets wearing masks .
She said there was nothing sinister about pickets and most of the workers were mothers or grandmothers .
Masks were worn as part of Covid-19 advice .
“ Our industrial action and our campaign for a just settlement following our disgraceful treatment by Debenhams have at all times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in an affidavit .
However , she accepted under questioning from the judge she had been involved in an unlawful occupation of Patrick Street , Cork , Debenhams in September which ended peacefully .
She also accepted she was one of a number of people who would only allow a truck to leave Mahon Point empty last Saturday but said this was because the truck owner had contacted picketers so that he could remove the truck through agreement .
Ms Bridgeman said the objective of the dispute , voted for by 97 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure two weeks statutory redundancy plus two weeks pay for each year worked under an agreement made with Mandate the trade union and Debenhams in 2016 .
She said revenues at Debenhams Ireland had increased in the last five years and the UK parent , which is now dissolved , had “ siphoned off ” revenues from Ireland since lockdown .
Ms Bridgeman said the estimated value of stock in the stores is €25 million which would meet the workers ’ demands .
The Revenue and local authorities are owed some €20m which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their demands , she said .
Ms Bridgeman said there was a need for the liquidators to get back around the table to resolve the dispute which is going on now for six months .
She said granting an injunction would make more challenging their campaign for justice .
TDs Mary Lou McDonald , Bríd Smith and Mick Barry had provided appendices to Ms Bridgeman ’ s affidavit saying the protests were lawful and peaceful .
Lyndon MacCann SC , for the liquidators , said while everyone has the greatest of sympathy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , without success , to negotiate what was a duress payment of €1m to bring the dispute to an end .
It was not just creditors and workers who were affected by the preventing of removal of stock , but concessionaires who owned stalls in the Debenhams stores , he said .
There was also a deadline of the end of the month for stock to be removed or else it could be seized by licensors of leased stores over the termination of the leases .
There may be money in other Debenhams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has information in relation to this it should be brought to the attention of the liquidators who would be obliged to act on it , Mr McCann said .
The court heard that in a supplementary affidavit Mr Wallace denied he attempted to smear the workers but said it was third parties , not employees , who were involved in the sinister turn of events .
Mr Justice Reynolds accepted Ms Bridgeman undertaking and that of the other two defendants but said the injunction will now apply to all persons with knowledge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liquidators to re-open a line of communication particularly as there were certain matters that may have to be brought to the attention of KPMG .
This could be done through Mandate , which was not a party to the proceedings but the court heard had an observer there .
The judge also said Mandate should make it clear to its members of the nature of the injunction and the risk they run of imprisonment .

Debenhams workers Jane Crowe (left) and Mairead Fullam at the delivery entrance to the Debenhams store, Parnell Street, Dublin ahead of the High Court hearing on Tuesday. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
The joint provisional liquidators of the Irish arm of fashion retailer Debenhams have been granted a High Court injunction preventing unlawful actions and interference with efforts to remove stock from its former high street stores.
The injunction applies to any persons with knowledge of the order which is to be affixed to the entrances of the stores and shopping centre entrances in which they are located.
Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted the injunction to Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary of KPMG, who were appointed joint provisional liquidator to Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd (DRIL) last April.
Three named protesters – Stephen Troy, Fairfield Close, Belvedere Manor, Co Waterford; Denis O'Brien, Sunrise Crescent, Browns Road, Co Waterford; and Carole Bridgeman, Meadowpark Lawn, Ballyvolane, Co Cork – gave undertakings to comply with the terms of the injunction.
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Ms Bridgemen, a trade union rep who worked at Debenhams in Mahon Point, Cork, for 15 years, was in court where she denied the protests by workers at the various stores were unlawful. Mr Troy and Mr O'Brien gave their undertakings via email to the liquidators.
Ms Bridgeman said liquidator Mr Wallace, in a grounding affidavit, had attempted to smear the Debenhams’ workers by saying the dispute had taken an altogether more sinister turn with most of the workers on the pickets wearing masks.
She said there was nothing sinister about pickets and most of the workers were mothers or grandmothers. Masks were worn as part of Covid-19 advice.
‘Disgraceful treatment’
“Our industrial action and our campaign for a just settlement following our disgraceful treatment by Debenhams have at all times been peaceful and dignified,” she said in an affidavit.
However, she accepted under questioning from the judge she had been involved in an unlawful occupation of Patrick Street, Cork, Debenhams in September which ended peacefully. She also accepted she was one of a number of people who would only allow a truck to leave Mahon Point empty last Saturday but said this was because the truck owner had contacted picketers so that he could remove the truck through agreement.
Ms Bridgeman said the objective of the dispute, voted for by 97 per cent of staff, is to secure two weeks statutory redundancy plus two weeks pay for each year worked under an agreement made with Mandate the trade union and Debenhams in 2016.
She said revenues at Debenhams Ireland had increased in the last five years and the UK parent, which is now dissolved, had “siphoned off” revenues from Ireland since lockdown.
Ms Bridgeman said the estimated value of stock in the stores is €25 million which would meet the workers’ demands. The Revenue and local authorities are owed some €20m which the State could agree to have used for their demands, she said.
Ms Bridgeman said there was a need for the liquidators to get back around the table to resolve the dispute which is going on now for six months. She said granting an injunction would make more challenging their campaign for justice.
TDs Mary Lou McDonald, Bríd Smith and Mick Barry had provided appendices to Ms Bridgeman's affidavit saying the protests were lawful and peaceful.
Lyndon MacCann SC, for the liquidators, said while everyone has the greatest of sympathy for the workers the liquidator had tried, without success, to negotiate what was a duress payment of €1m to bring the dispute to an end.
Deadline
It was not just creditors and workers who were affected by the preventing of removal of stock, but concessionaires who owned stalls in the Debenhams stores, he said. There was also a deadline of the end of the month for stock to be removed or else it could be seized by licensors of leased stores over the termination of the leases.
There may be money in other Debenhams companies and if any of the workforce has information in relation to this it should be brought to the attention of the liquidators who would be obliged to act on it, Mr McCann said.
The court heard that in a supplementary affidavit Mr Wallace denied he attempted to smear the workers but said it was third parties, not employees, who were involved in the sinister turn of events.
Mr Justice Reynolds accepted Ms Bridgeman undertaking and that of the other two defendants but said the injunction will now apply to all persons with knowledge of the order.
She also urged the liquidators to re-open a line of communication particularly as there were certain matters that may have to be brought to the attention of KPMG. This could be done through Mandate, which was not a party to the proceedings but the court heard had an observer there.
The judge also said Mandate should make it clear to its members of the nature of the injunction and the risk they run of imprisonment.


theirishtimes--2020-10-13--Budget 2021: Transport infrastructure improvements for Cork, Dublin

A €215 million upgrade of the Dunkettle Interchange in Cork has been approved by Government in advance of Budget 2021 .
Dunkettle interchange is a road junction in east Cork City , forming a junction between the M8 , N25 and the N40 .
Minister of State for Transport Hildegarde Naughton described the upgrade as “ vital ” for Cork city and region .
The appointment of contractor Sisk to carry out the the upgrade had been delayed for over a year as Transport Infrastructure Ireland ( TII ) was not satisfied with initial bids .
It is understood TII @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the project out to tender for a second time .
The figure of €215 million includes land costs .
The project involves putting in place an interchange just north of the Jack Lynch Tunnel to allow traffic travelling north-south on the M8 and traffic travelling east-west on the N25 move freely in either direction freely with slip roads providing links between both major arteries .
Dunkettle Interchange is the only remaining project in the National Roads Programme scheduled to go to construction this year , although the Government will today announce progress will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funded under Budget 2021 .
Work is expected to begin three more schemes in 2021 .
These are : – the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue in Co Roscommon – the N69 Listowel Bypass in Co Kerry – the N59 Moycullen Bypass in Co Galway However doubt hangs over the progression of key projects such as the proposed M20 Cork-Limerick motorway , the Galway outer ring road and N11/M11 improvements , all of which which require ongoing planning funding in today ’ s budget .
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has already said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the Glen of the Downs , in Co Wicklow .
However M11 improvements between Oilgate , Co Wexford and Rosslare Harbour are seen as important in the light of Brexit .
Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics Hildegarde Naughton is on the record of being in favour of the Galway Outer Ring Road , for which Bord Pleanála is currently holding an oral hearing .
In the area of public transport the budget is expected to provide money for progression of Dart+ West to extend the Dart to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Dart station at Woodbrook , near Shankill , Co Dublin and ongoing planning works for the Dublin Metro and Fingal ’ s Luas .
The budget is also expected to feature a strong emphasis on “ smart travel ” initiatives such as walking and cycling .
A full list of the status of the 40 projects in the National Roads Programme is available at tii.ie .

The Dunkettle interchange is a road junction in east Cork City, forming a junction between the M8, N25 and the N40. Minister of State for Transport Hildegarde Naughton described the upgrade as ‘vital’ for Cork city and region. Photograph: iStock
A €215 million upgrade of the Dunkettle Interchange in Cork has been approved by Government in advance of Budget 2021 .
Dunkettle interchange is a road junction in east Cork City, forming a junction between the M8, N25 and the N40. Minister of State for Transport Hildegarde Naughton described the upgrade as "vital" for Cork city and region.
The appointment of contractor Sisk to carry out the the upgrade had been delayed for over a year as Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) was not satisfied with initial bids.
It is understood TII saved more than €40 million in putting the project out to tender for a second time. The figure of €215 million includes land costs.
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The project involves putting in place an interchange just north of the Jack Lynch Tunnel to allow traffic travelling north-south on the M8 and traffic travelling east-west on the N25 move freely in either direction freely with slip roads providing links between both major arteries.
Dunkettle Interchange is the only remaining project in the National Roads Programme scheduled to go to construction this year, although the Government will today announce progress will continue on a number of schemes, funded under Budget 2021.
Work is expected to begin three more schemes in 2021. These are:
– the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue in Co Roscommon
– the N69 Listowel Bypass in Co Kerry
– the N59 Moycullen Bypass in Co Galway
N11 pause
However doubt hangs over the progression of key projects such as the proposed M20 Cork-Limerick motorway, the Galway outer ring road and N11/M11 improvements, all of which which require ongoing planning funding in today's budget.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has already said he would pause the expansion of the N11 through the Glen of the Downs, in Co Wicklow. However M11 improvements between Oilgate, Co Wexford and Rosslare Harbour are seen as important in the light of Brexit.
Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics Hildegarde Naughton is on the record of being in favour of the Galway Outer Ring Road, for which Bord Pleanála is currently holding an oral hearing.
In the area of public transport the budget is expected to provide money for progression of Dart+ West to extend the Dart to Maynooth and the M3 interchange; a new Dart station at Woodbrook, near Shankill, Co Dublin and ongoing planning works for the Dublin Metro and Fingal's Luas.
The budget is also expected to feature a strong emphasis on “smart travel” initiatives such as walking and cycling.
A full list of the status of the 40 projects in the National Roads Programme is available at tii.ie.


theirishtimes--2020-10-13--Budget 2021: €250 payment for third-level students for move to online learning

All full-time third-level students are to receive a €250 payment in the coming year to help compensate for the move towards greater online learning .
It is one of a number of education measures set to be unveiled in Budget 2021 including the hiring of 565 additional teachers to bring the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level to a record low .
The financial assistance package for third-level students is understood to cost a total of €50 million and will be provided to students who have paid the €3,000 student registration fee or who are in receipt of Susi grants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid will be announced , with maximum payments rising from €2,000 to €3,500 .
The income threshold for eligibility for these grants will also rise , up from €31,500 , now €54,240 .
It is also likely that a wide-ranging review of the Susi grants scheme will be announced which will examine if adequate supports are available for part-time students and others .
There is also set to be additional capital funding for third-level - in the region of €15 million - for structural adjustments to buildings which were required due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be contained in a €3.3 billion allocation to the Simon Harris-led Department of Further and Higher Education .
Other measures include funding for 5,000 additional third level palces to accommodate demoographic growth and “ exceptional demand ” arising from the calculated grades process .
Separately , Minister for Education Norma Foley is set to announce that an additional 565 teachers will be hired next year .
They include 300 mainstream primary teachers , in addition to over 265 post required at second level needed to meet demographic pressures .
This will lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an average of 26 pupils to every teacher ( 26:1 ) to 25 pupils for every teacher ( 25:1 ) .
This will be the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level .
This move is likely to cost about €14 million over the course of a full year .
Overall , the education budget across primary , secondary and third-level is set to climb above €11 billion , the highest ever on record .
The bulk of the funding will go towards salaries for thousands of teachers and special needs assistants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Irish National Teachers ’ Organisation said it had made a reduction of at least one pupil per year in the staffing schedule a key aim .
“ Fuelled by support from teachers , parents and concerned members of the public , more than 20,000 emails to politicians were sent in just three short weeks , ” a spokesman said .
“ Tackling our supersized classes is imperative if we are to keep our schools open and move towards the EU average of 20 in a classroom .
The Irish average is 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a classroom of thirty or more pupils in this country .
”

Under Budget 2021, an additional 565 teachers will be hired. Photograph: David Sleator
Third-level students are to receive a payment of about €250 each in the coming year to help compensate for the move towards greater online learning.
It is one of a number of education measures in Budget 2021 including the smallest class sizes on record at primary level, hundreds of additional teachers, thousands of extra further education places and enhanced grants for postgraduate students.
The combined education budget across primary, secondary and third level is set to climb above €12 billion for the first time.
Minister for Education Norma Foley has secured additional teachers which will bring pupil-teacher ratios at primary level down to a historic low. Photograph: Niall Carson/ PA Wire
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris says the one-off payment to all third-level students is in recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on this group. Photograph: Julien Behal
Once-off payments for third-level students will cost a total of €50 million – or about €250 each – and will be provided to students who have paid the €3,000 student registration fee or who are in receipt of Susi grants.
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Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said the payment was in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on this group.
“For students, this year has been like no other. The majority of college will be online for this semester and we will provide financial assistance through a €50 million fund,” he said.
In addition, enhanced postgraduate supports will apply from next year with maximum payments rising from €2,000 to €3,500.
The income threshold for eligibility for these grants will also rise, up from €31,500, now €54,240.
In response to the need to reskill and upskill people affected by the pandemic, a €120 million fund will go towards 50,000 further education and training places, along with a new retrofitting training scheme and a climate action upskilling scheme.
Apprenticeship scheme
The apprenticeship incentivisation scheme – where employers are paid to take on apprentices – will be extended, while nearly €30 million will be invested in research to support researchers, build capacity, support Covid research and strengthen North-South research links.
Mr Harris also said his department would carry out a wider review of grants for students to ensure part-time students and others could be supported.
The total budget for newly created Department of Further and Higher Education will be €3.3 billion next year.
Minister for Education Norma Foley is set to announce details of her department’s allocation on Wednesday.
However, it will include an additional 565 mainstream teachers, bringing the average class size at primary level to a record low.
Average pupil-teacher ratios at primary level will fall from 26 pupils to every teacher (26:1) to 25 pupils for every teacher (25:1) next year.
These new hires will include 300 primary teachers, along with 265 secondary teachers who are required to meet demographic pressures.
Record funding of €2 billion will also go towards supporting children with special educational needs.
It will allow for the hiring of 990 additional special needs assistants and just over 400 additional teaching posts.
There will also be funding for teacher education to address the shortage of secondary teachers in maths, physics and Spanish.
Overall, the education budget across primary and secondary will be €8.9 billion.
The bulk of the funding will go towards salaries for thousands of teachers and special needs assistants.
There will also be capital funding for 145 new school buildings, along with part-funding for 20 higher education building projects.
Opposition parties cautiously welcomed the move to reduce classroom numbers at primary level, but criticised the absence of measures to ease costs facing parents.
Labour education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD said: “The Government had an opportunity to make free books a reality for all schools, but instead didn’t even expand the pilot scheme that commenced in September.”
Union response
Responding to the announcement, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said the move to reduce class sizes at primary level was “necessary and welcome”.
INTO general secretary John Boyle said: “While tens of thousands of children will continue to learn in classes above the EU average, we are at least on the right road now. This change will have a positive impact on the primary education landscape.”
However, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland said the package was a “sticking plaster for schools, and does little to address the prolonged underfunding of Irish second-level education”, while the Teachers’ Union of Ireland warned that a teacher recruitment crisis at second level would continue until the “scourge of pay discrimination is eliminated”.
At third level, the Irish Universities Association said that while there were some positives, there were many “missed opportunities” in areas such as research and retro-fitting college campuses.
The Union of Students in Ireland said funding ignored barriers preventing student access to higher education in favour of “piecemeal one-off funding”, while the Irish Federation of University Teachers cautioned that extra college places could not be delivered in a context of fewer and restricted staffing numbers.


theirishtimes--2020-10-13--Woman’s body found in Dublin house on Tuesday morning

The remains of a woman have been found in a house in Dublin , with gardaí investigating the circumstances surrounding her death .
The discovery was made on Tuesday morning at a house in Blanchardstown and gardaí are now trying to establish if the deceased met with foul play .
Her remains were still at the scene late on Tuesday morning and a pathologist was expected to carry out a preliminary examination of the body in situ before its removal for a full postmortem .
Gardaí said the results of the postmortem would dictate the direction of the investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman ’ s death was a homicide .
The woman ’ s body was discovered a day after a man was found on a road in the same Dublin suburb , though the two incidents are understood to be unrelated .
The man ( 40s ) was found unconscious on Snugborough Road Bridge , Blanchardstown , in the early hours of Monday morning .
When he was discovered in the road , at around 3.30am , he was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital , where he was pronounced dead a short @ @ @

The house where the body was found was sealed off immediately when gardaí arrived and has since been examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
Gardaí investigating the discovery of a woman’s body that was found in her home in west Dublin on Tuesday morning are treating her death as “unexplained” but they suspect she did not meet with foul play.
While the results of a post mortem on the remains were awaited before foul play could be conclusively ruled out, Garda sources said the case appeared to be a “tragedy” rather than one of homicide.
The woman, who was in her 30s, was found dead at a house on Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. Her remains were examined at the scene before being removed to Dublin City Mortuary, Whitehall, Dublin 9, for a full post mortem.
The house where the body was found was sealed off immediately when gardaí arrived and has since been examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
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Garda sources said while it may take some time before the post mortem and related tests, such as toxicology testing, became available early indications were that the woman had died in tragic circumstances.


theirishtimes--2020-10-13--Man suspected of three stabbings and two assaults of women in Belfast

Police in Belfast are trying to apprehend a man they believe was responsible for three separate stabbings and two separate physical assaults of women on Monday night .
Three women were hospitalised after the suspect , who was riding a bicycle , stabbed them over a period of less than two hours .
Their injuries are believed to be non life-threatening , according to the PSNI .
The first stabbing happened at approximately 8.10pm on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast city centre .
The second victim was stabbed around 9pm a few hundred metres away on Donegall Square West , again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stabbing happened about 10pm on University Road close to Queen ’ s University , about half a mile from the first incident .
Police are investigating a fourth incident where a woman was punched in the neck on the Upper Lisburn Road near Dunluce Avenue at around 9pm .
“ We believe this to have been carried out by the same man , ” said PSNI Chief Superintendent Simon Walls .
The four women were aged between 19 and 22 .
“ A fifth incident was reported this morning whereby a female was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Road at around 9pm yesterday evening by a male on a bicycle and we believe this report may be linked to the other four incidents , ” added Chief Superintendent Walls .
The man is described as wearing dark clothing , possibly including a hooded top , cycling a mountain bike which may have a light coloured frame with reflectors on the spokes .
He may have been wearing a black mask .
“ The injuries sustained were minor and not life threatening ; however this does not take away from the seriousness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior officer .
These were frightening random attacks for these young women but thankfully incidents like this are extremely rare .
I want to reassure the community that officers will be carrying out additional patrols across the city centre and doing everything we can to arrest this man , ” he said .
Added Chief Superintendent Walls : “ Detectives are currently conducting extensive CCTV enquiries throughout the relevant areas across the city and would appeal to any drivers who were in these areas at these times to review dash cam footage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relevant areas to review their CCTV.
” He appealed for anyone with information to bring it forward to the police .
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said she was “ horrified ” to learn of the attacks on the women .
“ While their injuries are not thought to be life threatening this was undoubtedly a highly distressing incident and my thoughts are with them , ” she said .
“ Nobody should feel unsafe on the streets of Belfast and the local community are shocked and upset at this attack .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ come forward to the PSNI , ” said Ms Hanna .
Sinn Féin councillor John Gormley in condemning the series of attacks welcomed assurances by the PSNI that increased resources are being urgently put in place in response .
“ The perpetrator of these attacks must be brought to justice .
Women must be free to live their lives without fear of such attacks , ” he said .

PSNI Chief Superintendent Simon Walls issues a statement at Musgrave St police station following attacks on five women in Belfast city centre. Photograph: David Young/PA Wire
Police in Belfast are trying to apprehend a man they believe was responsible for three separate stabbings and two separate physical assaults of women on Monday night.
Three women were hospitalised after the suspect, who was riding a bicycle, stabbed them over a period of less than two hours. Their injuries are believed to be non life-threatening, according to the PSNI.
The first stabbing happened at approximately 8.10pm on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast city centre. The second victim was stabbed around 9pm a few hundred metres away on Donegall Square West, again in the city centre.
The third stabbing happened about 10pm on University Road close to Queen's University, about half a mile from the first incident.
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Police are investigating a fourth incident where a woman was punched in the neck on the Upper Lisburn Road near Dunluce Avenue at around 9pm.
"We believe this to have been carried out by the same man," said PSNI Chief Superintendent Simon Walls.
The four women were aged between 19 and 22.
“A fifth incident was reported this morning whereby a female was punched to the head on the Dublin Road at around 9pm yesterday evening by a male on a bicycle and we believe this report may be linked to the other four incidents,” added Chief Superintendent Walls.
The man is described as wearing dark clothing, possibly including a hooded top, cycling a mountain bike which may have a light coloured frame with reflectors on the spokes. He may have been wearing a black mask.
“The injuries sustained were minor and not life threatening; however this does not take away from the seriousness of these incidents,” said the senior officer.
These were frightening random attacks for these young women but thankfully incidents like this are extremely rare. I want to reassure the community that officers will be carrying out additional patrols across the city centre and doing everything we can to arrest this man,” he said.
Added Chief Superintendent Walls: “Detectives are currently conducting extensive CCTV enquiries throughout the relevant areas across the city and would appeal to any drivers who were in these areas at these times to review dash cam footage, and for any business owners in the relevant areas to review their CCTV.”
He appealed for anyone with information to bring it forward to the police.
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said she was "horrified" to learn of the attacks on the women.
“While their injuries are not thought to be life threatening this was undoubtedly a highly distressing incident and my thoughts are with them,” she said.
“Nobody should feel unsafe on the streets of Belfast and the local community are shocked and upset at this attack. I urge anyone with any information to come forward to the PSNI,” said Ms Hanna.
Sinn Féin councillor John Gormley in condemning the series of attacks welcomed assurances by the PSNI that increased resources are being urgently put in place in response.
“The perpetrator of these attacks must be brought to justice. Women must be free to live their lives without fear of such attacks,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-10-13--Irish musicians post video in call for help from Budget 2021

A group representing some of Ireland ’ s best known musicians has posted a video online calling for the Government to restore the pandemic unemployment payment within the music industry .
Steve Wall of the Stunning , Phil Coulter , Nathan Carter , Mark Black , Pat Shortt , Mundy and Picture House are among the stars who appear in the video .
Coulter , one of Ireland ’ s best known songwriters described March 14th , the day the lockdown was announced as the “ day the music died ” .
The Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the closure of all live venues deprived the majority of musicians of their chief source of income .
Musicians want the reinstatement of the PUP at €350 per week , at a single tier , and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme ( EWSS ) at €410 per week until the industry can reopen without social distancing .
It also wants legislation which guarantees payment breaks of mortgages and loans from financial institutions without penal cost to those who work in the industry until venues reopen .
A third demand is for a hardship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs and Social Protection , the Department of Arts & Culture and the Arts Council funded by 5 per cent of the Arts Council ’ s overall budget .
Last year ’ s Arts Council budget was €193 million .
A 5 per cent share would be almost €10 million .
MEAI is also seeking a reduced VAT rate of 9 per cent for the music and entertainment sector , examination of high vehicle insurance costs and a review of the criteria for Arts Council funding to include funding for those who work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The video , which has been posted on YouTube and Facebook , has been retweeted by U2 .
“ This is a powerful endorsement of the case we are making ” , said MEAI founder Jackie Conboy .
“ Having the biggest band in the world supporting our case is incredible and we are very grateful to Bono , the Edge , Larry and Adam.
” Mr Conboy said most of the 5,000 members of the MEAI are “ on the breadline ” as they have not worked since March .
Since that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six month mortgage breaks have not been extended .
“ Unless the Government steps in to help , people are going to be in a drastic situation with some having to sell their equipment or even face the prospect of losing their car , van or family home , ” he said .
MEAI has already warned that things are so bad for some in the industry that they are having to sell off their instruments while some may even lose their family homes .
The organisation has also found that many members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of the shutdown and no work .

MEAI has already warned that things are so bad for some in the industry that they are having to sell off their instruments.
A group representing some of Ireland’s best known musicians has posted a video online calling for the Government to restore the pandemic unemployment payment within the music industry.
Steve Wall of the Stunning, Phil Coulter, Nathan Carter, Mark Black, Pat Shortt, Mundy and Picture House are among the stars who appear in the video.
Coulter, one of Ireland’s best known songwriters described March 14th, the day the lockdown was announced as the “day the music died”.
The Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) was formed in March after the closure of all live venues deprived the majority of musicians of their chief source of income.
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Musicians want the reinstatement of the PUP at €350 per week, at a single tier, and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) at €410 per week until the industry can reopen without social distancing.
It also wants legislation which guarantees payment breaks of mortgages and loans from financial institutions without penal cost to those who work in the industry until venues reopen.
A third demand is for a hardship fund created by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Department of Arts & Culture and the Arts Council funded by 5 per cent of the Arts Council's overall budget.
Last year’s Arts Council budget was €193 million. A 5 per cent share would be almost €10 million.
MEAI is also seeking a reduced VAT rate of 9 per cent for the music and entertainment sector, examination of high vehicle insurance costs and a review of the criteria for Arts Council funding to include funding for those who work in the “non-subsidised” sector.
The video, which has been posted on YouTube and Facebook, has been retweeted by U2.
"This is a powerful endorsement of the case we are making", said MEAI founder Jackie Conboy.
“Having the biggest band in the world supporting our case is incredible and we are very grateful to Bono, the Edge, Larry and Adam.”
Mr Conboy said most of the 5,000 members of the MEAI are “on the breadline” as they have not worked since March.
Since that time the PUP has been reduced and six month mortgage breaks have not been extended.
“Unless the Government steps in to help, people are going to be in a drastic situation with some having to sell their equipment or even face the prospect of losing their car, van or family home,” he said.
MEAI has already warned that things are so bad for some in the industry that they are having to sell off their instruments while some may even lose their family homes.
The organisation has also found that many members are suffering mental health issues as a result of the shutdown and no work.


theirishtimes--2020-10-13--Coronavirus: Researchers in US confirm case of reinfection

Researchers in the US have reported the country ’ s first confirmed case of coronavirus reinfection .
A 25-year-old man with no known immune disorders or underlying conditions was infected with Covid-19 on two separate occasions , according to a study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal .
While the authors said further research was required , they added the findings indicate previous exposure to the virus may not guarantee total immunity , and that all individuals should comply with control measures .
It is the fifth confirmation of reinfection worldwide , researchers said , with at least four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netherlands , Hong Kong , and Ecuador .
The second infection of the patient , who lives in Washoe County , Nevada , was more severe than the first and resulted in hospitalisation with oxygen support .
Researchers from the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and the University of Nevada , Reno School of Medicine said he tested positive for the virus in April this year , and later tested negative on two separate occasions .
Experiencing Covid-19 symptoms in June , including fever , headache , dizziness , cough , nausea and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tested positive for a second time .
Genetic sequencing of the virus showed he was infected twice by different strains of Sars-CoV-2 , according to researchers .
Lead author Mark Pandori , of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory , said : “ It is important to note this is a singular finding and does not provide generalisability of this phenomenon .
“ While more research is needed , the possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of Covid-19 immunity , especially in the absence of an effective vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals who have tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 should continue to take serious precautions when it comes to the virus , including social distancing , wearing face masks , and handwashing.
” He added that more research was needed to understand how long immunity may last for those exposed to the virus , and why second infections , while rare , present as more severe .
The authors gave several explanations on the severity of the second infection , including the patient encountering a very high dose of the virus when he was reinfected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with a more virulent version of the virus , according to researchers .
They added that confirmed reinfections had occurred among patients who showed symptoms , meaning that reinfections could occur among those who are asymptomatic and therefore go undetected .
Mr Pandori added : “ Overall , there is a lack of comprehensive genomic sequencing of positive Covid-19 cases both in the USA and worldwide , as well as a lack of screening and testing , which limits the ability of researchers and public health officials to diagnose , monitor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

The researchers said their findings indicate previous exposure to the virus may not guarantee total immunity.
Researchers in the US have reported the country’s first confirmed case of coronavirus reinfection.
A 25-year-old man with no known immune disorders or underlying conditions was infected with Covid-19 on two separate occasions, according to a study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.
While the authors said further research was required, they added the findings indicate previous exposure to the virus may not guarantee total immunity, and that all individuals should comply with control measures.
It is the fifth confirmation of reinfection worldwide, researchers said, with at least four other cases confirmed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Ecuador.
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The second infection of the patient, who lives in Washoe County, Nevada, was more severe than the first and resulted in hospitalisation with oxygen support.
Researchers from the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine said he tested positive for the virus in April this year, and later tested negative on two separate occasions.
Experiencing Covid-19 symptoms in June, including fever, headache, dizziness, cough, nausea and diarrhoea, he was admitted to hospital and tested positive for a second time.
Genetic sequencing of the virus showed he was infected twice by different strains of Sars-CoV-2, according to researchers.
Lead author Mark Pandori, of the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, said: "It is important to note this is a singular finding and does not provide generalisability of this phenomenon.
“While more research is needed, the possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of Covid-19 immunity, especially in the absence of an effective vaccine.
“It also strongly suggests that individuals who have tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 should continue to take serious precautions when it comes to the virus, including social distancing, wearing face masks, and handwashing.”
He added that more research was needed to understand how long immunity may last for those exposed to the virus, and why second infections, while rare, present as more severe.
The authors gave several explanations on the severity of the second infection, including the patient encountering a very high dose of the virus when he was reinfected.
He may have also come into contact with a more virulent version of the virus, according to researchers.
They added that confirmed reinfections had occurred among patients who showed symptoms, meaning that reinfections could occur among those who are asymptomatic and therefore go undetected.
Mr Pandori added: “Overall, there is a lack of comprehensive genomic sequencing of positive Covid-19 cases both in the USA and worldwide, as well as a lack of screening and testing, which limits the ability of researchers and public health officials to diagnose, monitor, and obtain genetic tracking for the virus.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-14--Covid ‘shebeens’ all set to pour hundreds of pints when raided

So-called shebeens raided by the Garda were so well set up , they had nearly 400 pints in kegs for serving .
Two of the three premises raided had four kegs hooked up and ready to pull pints from , and gardaí now expect to raid other similar illegal drinking dens .
They also had between 15 and 20 bottles of spirits hung in wall brackets and attached to dispensers , with more bottles of spirits in stock as well as a variety of other drinks in bottles and cans .
Garda sources familiar with the searches , which were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Operation Navigation , for Covid-19 enforcement , said the set-up of the shebeens – illegal drinking dens – was “ way beyond having a bar or a man-cave in your house and bringing your mates ” for drinks .
“ Some of these were set up to look and feel like a regular bar , and the quantity of alcohol involved included hundreds of pints in full-sized pub kegs ready to go .
This is not a load of lads piling into a man-cave , ” said one Garda source .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in counties Laois , Meath and Westmeath after gardaí received tip-offs from members of the public based on suspicions alcohol was being sold from the drinking dens .
Substantial quantities of alcohol were seized during the searches last Friday , along with beer taps , coolers , kegs , spirit dispensers and other barware .
Gardaí have identified the suspects who they believe were profiting from the shebeens and , while no arrests were made , files were being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) .
Before carrying out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the premises and those behind them and applied for warrants empowering them to carry out last Friday ’ s searches , which were at private homes .
Under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962 , it is a criminal offence to sell or supply alcohol to people at an “ unlicensed drinking premises ” or to supply alcohol to such premises .
The Act specifies that alcohol found stored on a premises and evidence alcohol had been “ frequently ” or “ habitually ” consumed there were effectively incriminating facts when prosecutions relating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Evidence that alcohol found stored had been brought to the premises more than 12 hours before being discovered was also regarded as incriminating under the Act .
Gardaí believe during the Covid-19 lockdown , when pubs closed , shebeens sprang up in a number of places across the country , though sources added the illegal premises were not new to the Republic and were not unique to the pandemic period .
“ This is something we have always dealt with and we will always deal with it , ” said one source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more shebeens had begun operating since the pandemic began .
“ We have others under review and we ’ ve had information from the public with their suspicions about neighbours or others living near them , ” said the same source , who added more searches of shebeens were likely .
However , other gardaí pointed out it was not illegal to install taps and kegs in any part of a private dwelling or in a so-called “ man-cave ” and to invite people there to drink .
The offence arises when alcohol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplied in a quantity or at a frequency in excess of what would arise in a “ socialising among friends scenario ” .
Gardaí have previously discovered shebeens whose customers had bought tickets to enter and drink as much as they wanted .
Because the tickets had been sold and purchased in advance , and not on the shebeen premises , the customers and those running the shebeens believed they were sidestepping the law , though this was not the case .

One of the premises in the midlands searched by gardaí. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
So-called shebeens raided by the Garda were so well set up, they had nearly 400 pints in kegs for serving.
Two of the three premises raided had four kegs hooked up and ready to pull pints from, and gardaí now expect to raid other similar illegal drinking dens.
They also had between 15 and 20 bottles of spirits hung in wall brackets and attached to dispensers, with more bottles of spirits in stock as well as a variety of other drinks in bottles and cans.
Hospital Report
Garda sources familiar with the searches, which were conducted as part of the Garda’s Operation Navigation, for Covid-19 enforcement, said the set-up of the shebeens – illegal drinking dens – was “way beyond having a bar or a man-cave in your house and bringing your mates” for drinks.
READ MORE
“Some of these were set up to look and feel like a regular bar, and the quantity of alcohol involved included hundreds of pints in full-sized pub kegs ready to go. This is not a load of lads piling into a man-cave,” said one Garda source.
The shebeens were found during searches at properties in counties Laois, Meath and Westmeath after gardaí received tip-offs from members of the public based on suspicions alcohol was being sold from the drinking dens.
Substantial quantities of alcohol were seized during the searches last Friday, along with beer taps, coolers, kegs, spirit dispensers and other barware. Gardaí have identified the suspects who they believe were profiting from the shebeens and, while no arrests were made, files were being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Warrants
Before carrying out the searches, gardaí had gathered intelligence on the premises and those behind them and applied for warrants empowering them to carry out last Friday’s searches, which were at private homes.
Under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962, it is a criminal offence to sell or supply alcohol to people at an “unlicensed drinking premises” or to supply alcohol to such premises.
The Act specifies that alcohol found stored on a premises and evidence alcohol had been “frequently” or “habitually” consumed there were effectively incriminating facts when prosecutions relating to shebeens were brought before the courts. Evidence that alcohol found stored had been brought to the premises more than 12 hours before being discovered was also regarded as incriminating under the Act.
Gardaí believe during the Covid-19 lockdown, when pubs closed, shebeens sprang up in a number of places across the country, though sources added the illegal premises were not new to the Republic and were not unique to the pandemic period.
“This is something we have always dealt with and we will always deal with it,” said one source, though he accepted there was evidence more shebeens had begun operating since the pandemic began.
Suspicions
“We have others under review and we’ve had information from the public with their suspicions about neighbours or others living near them,” said the same source, who added more searches of shebeens were likely.
However, other gardaí pointed out it was not illegal to install taps and kegs in any part of a private dwelling or in a so-called “man-cave” and to invite people there to drink. The offence arises when alcohol is sold without a licence or is supplied in a quantity or at a frequency in excess of what would arise in a “socialising among friends scenario”.
Gardaí have previously discovered shebeens whose customers had bought tickets to enter and drink as much as they wanted. Because the tickets had been sold and purchased in advance, and not on the shebeen premises, the customers and those running the shebeens believed they were sidestepping the law, though this was not the case.


theirishtimes--2020-10-14--Most Covid-19 infections could be missed by inefficient swabbing

Up to two out of every three Covid-19 infections could be missed through poor technique when patients are being swabbed for a test , new Irish research suggests .
With Covid-19 putting health systems under huge pressure , and public health measures to control the virus heavily reliant on testing , a team of researchers at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin decided to test the quality of swabbing , which is used to collect samples for analysis in the laboratory .
This is the first time the quality of nasopharyngeal swabbing technique has been tested in this way , they believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) announced three additional deaths from Covid-19 , bringing the total to 1,830 .
There were also 811 confirmed cases of the virus announced on Tuesday evening .
More than 1.3 million people in Ireland have so far been tested for Covid-19 , starting with a sample taken by a swab inserted inside the back of the throat and nose .
The sample is then placed in a fluid and transported to a laboratory for processing using a technique known as PCR ( Polymerase Chain Reaction ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
PCR is regarded as the “ gold standard ” of Covid-19 testing but is reliant on swabbing being carried out efficiently to pick up sputum from inside the patient ’ s nose and throat .
In the Beaumont study , the technique of 229 staff members was assessed using a swab navigated in a three-dimensional model head in the hospital over two days .
The model is normally used by ear , nose and throat ( ENT ) surgeons in the hospital to plan procedures , according to study co-author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by the “ guinea pig ” swabbers could be viewed and measured on a computer screen .
According to the study , technique was poor , with a success rate of swabbing the nasopharynx at 38.6 per cent .
The angle and length of insertion of the swab varied significantly between those with successful and unsuccessful technique .
Doctors were significantly more accurate at swabbing than nurses and non-healthcare professionals , the study found .
In a properly executed test , the swab is inserted deep into the nasal passages and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Barra , the swabbing “ shouldn ’ t hurt , but you ’ ll know when it ’ s done ” .
The authors say inaccurate specimen collection from poor swab technique could contribute to a high false negative rate of testing for Covid-19 .
They suggest the provision of training in the anatomy of the nose and throat and in swab technique to improve accuracy levels .
The study was presented by physician associate Kellie Nwaokorie last weekend at the academic meeting of the Irish Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Society , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presentation .

The GAA Handball alley at Croke Park is being used as a HSE Covid test centre for the public. Photograph: Alan Betson
Some Covid-19 infections could be missed through poor technique when patients are being swabbed for a test, new Irish research suggests*.
With Covid-19 putting health systems under huge pressure, and public health measures to control the virus heavily reliant on testing, a team of researchers at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin decided to test the quality of swabbing, which is used to collect samples for analysis in the laboratory.
This is the first time the quality of nasopharyngeal swabbing technique has been tested in this way, they believe.
Hospital Report
The study comes as the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) announced three additional deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total to 1,830. There were also 811 confirmed cases of the virus announced on Tuesday evening.
READ MORE
More than 1.3 million people in Ireland have so far been tested for Covid-19, starting with a sample taken by a swab inserted inside the back of the throat and nose. The sample is then placed in a fluid and transported to a laboratory for processing using a technique known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), which looks for DNA fragments of the virus.
PCR is regarded as the “gold standard” of Covid-19 testing but is reliant on swabbing being carried out efficiently to pick up sputum from inside the patient’s nose and throat.
In the Beaumont study, the technique of 229 staff members was assessed using a swab navigated in a three-dimensional model head in the hospital over two days.
The model is normally used by ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons in the hospital to plan procedures, according to study co-author Dr Eoghan de Barra. The progress made by the "guinea pig" swabbers could be viewed and measured on a computer screen.
Swab angle and length
According to the study, technique was poor, with a success rate of swabbing the nasopharynx at 38.6 per cent. The angle and length of insertion of the swab varied significantly between those with successful and unsuccessful technique.
Doctors were significantly more accurate at swabbing than nurses and non-healthcare professionals, the study found.
In a properly executed test, the swab is inserted deep into the nasal passages and then rotated 360 degrees. According to Dr de Barra, the swabbing “shouldn’t hurt, but you’ll know when it’s done”.
The authors say inaccurate specimen collection from poor swab technique could contribute to a high false negative rate of testing for Covid-19. They suggest the provision of training in the anatomy of the nose and throat and in swab technique to improve accuracy levels.
Dr de Barra said it wasn’t yet known whether bad technique ultimately impacted on the positivity of tests, adding that researchers in other countries had found that swabbing the front of the throat could provide acceptable samples.
The study was presented by physician associate Kellie Nwaokorie last weekend at the academic meeting of the Irish Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Society, where it won the prize for best oral presentation.
*Clarification: Dr de Barra added on Wednesday that the study was carried out in April at the height of pandemic. Since then, further training has been provided to testers which will have improved the quality of samples collected.


theirishtimes--2020-10-14--Lease decision looms on Citywest Covid-19 isolation centre

The Health Services Executive will decide in the next 10 days if it is to extend the lease on the Citywest Hotel and Conference Centre which has been used as an isolation centre during the Covid-19 pandemic at a cost to date of €21 million to the exchequer .
The hotel and conference centre , which can accommodate up to 1,700 patients , was leased by the HSE as an overspill facility for the health services in the event of a surge in hospital admissions .
While the cost of leasing the facility has led to public controversy , HSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus cases continues to increase , putting more pressure on hospitals , extra capacity might be required for isolation facilities and step-down beds .
The lease with hotel owners Tetrarch Capital , signed at the end of March , is due to expire on October 22nd .
There is a clause in the contract that allows the HSE to extend the lease until the end of the year .
“ The HSE licence agreement , in respect of both the Citywest Hotel and the Conference Centre runs to October 22nd , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In the meantime , the requirement for the ongoing provision of self-isolation facilities beyond October is being examined with a decision soon to be finalised.
” The coronavirus outbreak did not reach the level envisaged under worst-case scenario modelling .
Therefore , the centre has been underutilised since it began operations as a medical and step-down facility .
Some 600 people were transferred there during the height of the pandemic as a step-down or isolation centre .
The site includes a “ field hospital ” as well as the conference centre which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was used to help non-Irish-born workers in meat factories who had been in contact with the virus to self-isolate .
The cost of leasing the facility came under strong criticism from some public representatives .
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe claimed the lack of use of the centre was typical of the HSE ’ s lack of joined-up thinking .
“ I appreciate that contingencies and plans had to be put in place for surges and spikes in Covid cases .
That is only prudent .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost of over €20 million is a flagrant waste of money , ” he said .
During a recent hearing of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response , the HSE ’ s chief operations officer , Anne O ’ Connor , said there were about 100 people self-isolating at the facility , and an additional 60 healthcare workers also using it as an isolation facility .
Said Ms O ’ Connor : “ In the self-isolation facility , we provide two different types of accommodation , one of which is for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are referred through public health , their GP or acute hospitals .
“ The second cohort is healthcare workers who need self-isolation as they are returning to Ireland to work.
” She said the conference centre did not have residents but was being used as a drive-through glaucoma testing by the Mater hospital .

The Citywest centre can accommodate up to 1,700 patients. It was leased by the HSE as an Covid-19 overspill facility in the event of a surge in hospital admissions. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
The Health Services Executive will decide in the next 10 days if it is to extend the lease on the Citywest Hotel and Conference Centre which has been used as an isolation centre during the Covid-19 pandemic at a cost to date of €21 million to the exchequer.
The hotel and conference centre, which can accommodate up to 1,700 patients, was leased by the HSE as an overspill facility for the health services in the event of a surge in hospital admissions.
While the cost of leasing the facility has led to public controversy, HSE figures have indicated that if the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase, putting more pressure on hospitals, extra capacity might be required for isolation facilities and step-down beds.
Hospital Report
The lease with hotel owners Tetrarch Capital, signed at the end of March, is due to expire on October 22nd. There is a clause in the contract that allows the HSE to extend the lease until the end of the year.
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Underused site
“The HSE licence agreement, in respect of both the Citywest Hotel and the Conference Centre runs to October 22nd, 2020,” said a HSE spokeswoman. “In the meantime, the requirement for the ongoing provision of self-isolation facilities beyond October is being examined with a decision soon to be finalised.”
The coronavirus outbreak did not reach the level envisaged under worst-case scenario modelling. Therefore, the centre has been underutilised since it began operations as a medical and step-down facility.
Some 600 people were transferred there during the height of the pandemic as a step-down or isolation centre. The site includes a “field hospital” as well as the conference centre which is used for procedures.
The facility was used to help non-Irish-born workers in meat factories who had been in contact with the virus to self-isolate.
Criticism of expense
The cost of leasing the facility came under strong criticism from some public representatives.
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe claimed the lack of use of the centre was typical of the HSE's lack of joined-up thinking.
“I appreciate that contingencies and plans had to be put in place for surges and spikes in Covid cases. That is only prudent. However, the leasing of the Citywest complex at a cost of over €20 million is a flagrant waste of money,” he said.
During a recent hearing of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, the HSE's chief operations officer, Anne O'Connor, said there were about 100 people self-isolating at the facility, and an additional 60 healthcare workers also using it as an isolation facility.
Said Ms O’Connor: “In the self-isolation facility, we provide two different types of accommodation, one of which is for people in general who need to self-isolate and are referred through public health, their GP or acute hospitals.
"The second cohort is healthcare workers who need self-isolation as they are returning to Ireland to work."
She said the conference centre did not have residents but was being used as a drive-through glaucoma testing by the Mater hospital.